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A device for assisting a user in getting into and out of sitting and prone positions on a piece of furniture, like a bed, which has a large base to fit between the mattress and box springs of a bed and that includes a receiving portion and an adjustable handle for the user to grasp while getting int

A device for assisting a user in getting into and out of sitting and prone positions on a piece of furniture, like a bed, which has a large base to fit between the mattress and box springs of a bed and that includes a receiving portion and an adjustable handle for the user to grasp while getting into an out of bed and while adjusting positions in the bed.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An assistance device for assisting a user in getting into and out of various positions on a piece of furniture, comprising: a base having dimensions configured to fit under a cushion-type portion of the furniture; a first bracket coupled to a portion the base the first

The invention claimed is: 1. An assistance device for assisting a user in getting into and out of various positions on a piece of furniture, comprising: a base having dimensions configured to fit under a cushion-type portion of the furniture; a first bracket coupled to a portion the base the first bracket comprising at least two flanges; and a pivoting handle having first and second ends, the first end comprising a single leg, the single leg providing the only support to the handle, the first end coupled to the first bracket through an axle and a disengagable anchor, the axle comprising a pin extending transversely through the flanges of the bracket and first end of the handle such that the axle is substantially parallel to the portion of the base coupled to the bracket and the disengagable anchor comprising a pin that extends transversely through the bracket and first end of the handle, such that the handle is positionable in a vertical position substantially perpendicular relative to the base, wherein the handle is configured to pivot about the axle to a reclined position approximately parallel to the base when the anchor is disengaged from the first bracket, such that the axle maintains the handle in a fixed pivoting position preventing movement of the handle in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular relative to the base, the first end extending beyond the axle, such that when the handle is in the vertical position the first end abuts the first bracket in such a manner to prevent the handle from pivoting in a direction away from the cushion-type portion of the furniture, and the second end being free and not coupled to any structure, wherein the handle has an arcuate shape, such that the portion configured to be grasped by the user is in the shape of a hook; wherein the base comprises a single rigid planar member having a width that extends on both sides of the single leg and across a substantial width of a cushion under the cushion-type portion of the furniture, the base further provides support to the handle without the base or handle receiving direct support from the ground, and wherein the bracket is configured to restrain the handle in the vertical position such that the handle is incapable of rotating in a plane formed by the handle. 2. The assistance device of claim 1, further comprising a strap having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the base and the second end being configured to attach to a frame or other rigid portion of the furniture on an opposite side from where the handle is positioned. 3. An assistance device for assisting a user in getting into and out of various positions on a piece of furniture, comprising: a base comprising a single rigid member having dimensions configured to fit under a cushion-type portion of furniture, such that the dimensions of the base are co-planar and are configured to extend across a substantial width of a cushion of the cushion-type portion of furniture; a pivoting handle to provide support for the user, the handle having first and second ends, the first end of the pivoting handle coupled to the base such that the base provides support to the handle without the base or handle receiving direct support from the ground, the first end comprising a single leg, the single leg providing the only support to the handle, and the second end of the handle being free and not coupled to any structure, wherein the handle has an arcuate shape, such that a portion configured to be grasped by the user is in the shape of a hook; a first bracket interconnecting the base and the handle, the bracket comprising at least two flanges; and an axle and a disengagable anchor for coupling the handle to the first bracket, the axle comprising a pin extending transversely through the bracket and first end of the handle such that the axle is substantially parallel to the bracket and a disengagable anchor comprising a pin that extends transversely through the bracket and handle, the anchor being configured extend through the flanges of the bracket; wherein the handle is secured in a vertical position substantially perpendicular to the base when both the axle and the disengageable anchor couple the handle to the first bracket, and the handle is configured to pivot about the axle to a reclined position adjacent the base when the anchor is disengaged from the bracket, such that the axle maintains the handle in a fixed pivoting position preventing movement of the handle in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular relative to the base and the flanges of the bracket are configured to render the handle incapable of rotating in a plane formed by the handle, the handle including a portion extending beyond the axle, such that when the handle is in the vertical position the extending handle portion abuts the first bracket in such a manner to prevent the handle from pivoting in a direction away from the cushion-type portion of furniture, and wherein the single rigid planar member has a width that extends on both sides of the single leg. 4. The assistance device of claim 3, further comprising a strap having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the base and the second end configured to attach to a frame or other rigid portion of the furniture. 5. The assistance device of claim 3 wherein the handle is substantially parallel to the base in the reclined position. 6. An assistance device for assisting a user in getting into and out of various body positions on a piece of furniture comprising: an arcuate U-shaped base having a horizontal and vertical dimension configured to fit under a cushion-type portion of the furniture, the U-shaped base having a first and second end facing a same direction, the first and second ends rigidly connected through a U-shaped portion of the base; a first and second attachment bracket coupled to the first and second end of the base respectively, each bracket comprising at least two flanges; an arcuate U-shaped handle having a first and second handle end respectively coupled to the first and second brackets to enable the handle to maintain a vertical position with respect to the base while in a locked position, and to maintain a folded position with the handle being parallel to the base while in an unlocked position, the base providing support to the U-shaped handle without the base or U-shaped handle receiving direct support from the ground, wherein the U-shaped handle is coupled to the first and second brackets each through a fixed axle and a removable anchor, each fixed axle and removable anchor comprising pins that extend transversely and completely through the flanges of each bracket and the first and second ends of the U-shaped handle, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction that the first and second base ends face, such that each removable anchor is completely removed from the brackets when the handle is in the unlocked position and each fixed axle maintains the U-shaped handle in a fixed pivoting position preventing movement of the U-shaped handle in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular relative to the base; wherein, the first and second handle ends each extend beyond their respective axle, such that when the handle is in the vertical position the first and second ends abut the first and second bracket, respectively, in such a manner to prevent the handle from pivoting in a direction away from the cushion-type portion of furniture. 7. The assistance device of claim 6, wherein the base is formed of a tubular member. 8. The assistance device of claim 6, wherein the first and second brackets each comprise an axle coupled to the bracket and respective first and second ends of the handle to allow the handle to rotate about the axles. 9. The assistance device of claim 6, wherein the removable anchors are configured to retain the handle in the vertical position when coupled to both the handle and first and second brackets, but allows for the folded position of the handle when the removable anchor is dislocated from connecting to both the first and second brackets and the handle. 10. The assistance device of claim 6, further comprising a stabilizing cross member attached near the first end and second end of the U-shaped base. 11. The assistance device of claim 6, wherein the U-shaped base and the U-shaped handle are configured to be aligned with each other when in the folded position.