Standing Support System for Pets with Adjustable Slings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to efficiently support disabled, immobilized, or paralyzed pets or animals in a natural standing position, making it difficult for owners or handlers to perform care activities like bladder expression and diaper changing with both hands.
Innovation Solution
A standing support system comprising a frame with adjustable slings and stirrups, allowing pets or animals to be supported in a natural standing position, enabling owners or handlers to use both hands for care activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the animal is supported in a lying down position on the floor, then the handler can access the animal's body for bladder expression, but the handler becomes uncomfortable and tired, and cannot completely empty the bladder due to the unnatural position
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions the animal from a horizontal lying position to a vertical standing position by introducing a support frame with elevated platform. This dimensional change in positioning allows the handler to work at a more natural height, improving both comfort and effectiveness in bladder expression.
Solution Approach 2:
The support frame acts as an intermediary device between the handler and the animal. It provides the necessary elevation and stability to hold the animal in an upright position, enabling the handler to perform care tasks more effectively without direct physical strain.
2Productivity
If the handler holds the animal upright with one hand, then the animal is in a standing position, but the handler cannot use both hands freely for bladder expression and diaper changing
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame serves as a mediator that takes over the function of supporting the animal's weight, freeing both of the handler's hands. The frame's structure with side supports and platform provides stable upright positioning without requiring manual support.
Solution Approach 2:
The support system is divided into separate functional components: the frame structure provides overall support, the platform holds the animal, and the side supports maintain upright positioning. This segmentation allows the handler to interact with the animal without bearing the support burden.
3Ease of operation
If the animal is laid on its side for bladder expression, then the handler can reach underneath the animal, but the position is unnatural and makes complete bladder emptying difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the spatial orientation from horizontal (lying on side) to vertical (standing upright). This dimensional repositioning places the animal in a more natural physiological position that facilitates complete bladder emptying while maintaining handler accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of bringing the handler down to the animal's level on the floor, the invention inverts the arrangement by elevating the animal to a higher, more natural standing position, thereby improving both accessibility and physiological appropriateness.
4Productivity
If the handler works while sitting or kneeling on the floor, then the animal can be positioned for care, but the handler experiences discomfort and fatigue during repeated care activities
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame elevates the animal from floor level to a height that aligns with the handler's standing waist level. This vertical repositioning eliminates the need for the handler to sit or kneel, enabling comfortable repeated care activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame height is designed to create an equipotential working level where the animal's bladder and body areas are accessible to the handler at the same height, eliminating the need for the handler to lower themselves to floor level for repeated care.
Data Source
AI summary
A system (or apparatus) for supporting a disabled, immobilized, injured, sick, or partially or fully paralyzed pet or animal in a standing or substantially standing position so as to facilitate various activities, care, diagnosis, or treatment is disclosed. The system may include a foundation or frame to which one or more slings and/or stirrups may be selectively attached or tied using one or more strips in order to support the animal in a standing or substantially standing position. The front of the frame may be substantially open. Different slings (e.g., seat-like slings) and/or stirrups may be attached to the frame or bathrub depending on the individual needs, purpose, and support needed for the pet or animal. The frame and sling may be configured and sized to accommodate pets or animals of different shapes, sizes, and/or weights, and may be ideal for, but not limited to, medium-sized dogs. Because the system supports the animal in a natural standing or substantially standing position rather than laying on its side, the owner or handler can advantageously use both hands freely to work on the animal. The ability to use both hands to express the bladder and/or bowels of the animal, while in a normal standing or substantially standing position, results in a more complete emptying of the animal's bladder and/or bowels, which provides health benefits for the animal such as prevention of urinary tract infection and consequent infectious diseases, which are common in disabled animals. In addition, the use of both hands freely allows the owner or handler to clean the animal and/or change its diapers in a more clean and efficient manner. The system is versatile and may also be suitable for use in one or more additional exemplary applications such as physical therapy rehabilitation (especially for in-home use), the stretching of muscles, exercise through placement over a small, portable treadmill, improving circulation (especially when there is a need to manipulate the limbs), massage therapy, chiropractic treatment, acupuncture treatment, wrapping of bandages, support for bathing in a bathtub, diagnostic evaluations, etc. such that the system or aparatus is adapted for use over a treadmill for rehabilitation. An aluminum frame, when selected, allows easy lifting and placement on an elevated surface, such as a bed, making it easier and more comfortable for the owner or caregiver to work with the animal at approximately waist height rather than in an uncomfortable position on the floor or ground.