CA1238568A - Foldable wheeled chair - Google Patents
Foldable wheeled chairInfo
- Publication number
- CA1238568A CA1238568A CA000474201A CA474201A CA1238568A CA 1238568 A CA1238568 A CA 1238568A CA 000474201 A CA000474201 A CA 000474201A CA 474201 A CA474201 A CA 474201A CA 1238568 A CA1238568 A CA 1238568A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- chair
- positions
- wheeled
- frame
- relative
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
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- Special Chairs (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Disclosed is a foldable wheeled chair of the type comprising a chair mounted on a wheeled frame, the chair having at least a seat, back-rest and foot-supports. The chair has a plurality of modular elements adapted to allow the mounting of the chair on the frame so as to make several models of different sizes and uses, the modular elements being located to each other in an adjustable way. A plurality of joints allow the several parts of the chair to give an infinity of relative positions to each other and the chair to give an infinity of positions relative to the frame. A transmission arrangement is provided to activate the joint means so as to obtain the infinities of positions and a control arrangement allows activating the transmission means and is located to enable the occupant himself to effect various adjustments.
Disclosed is a foldable wheeled chair of the type comprising a chair mounted on a wheeled frame, the chair having at least a seat, back-rest and foot-supports. The chair has a plurality of modular elements adapted to allow the mounting of the chair on the frame so as to make several models of different sizes and uses, the modular elements being located to each other in an adjustable way. A plurality of joints allow the several parts of the chair to give an infinity of relative positions to each other and the chair to give an infinity of positions relative to the frame. A transmission arrangement is provided to activate the joint means so as to obtain the infinities of positions and a control arrangement allows activating the transmission means and is located to enable the occupant himself to effect various adjustments.
Description
r3 9-0274.e 1 ~ 3 8 5 6 8 Revised specification:
. _ .
FOLDABLE WE~EELED CE~AIR
The inven-tion relates to a foldable wheeled chair, principally for infirm patients, comprising a chair which is mounted on a wheeled frame, said chair comprising at least a seat, a back-rest and foot-supports, a plura]ity of jointsbeing provided to allow the several parts of the chair to take an infinity of mutual relative positions and an infinity of positions relative to the frame.
Such a foldable wheeled chair is known from DE-A-2517418.
This known wheeled chair comprises at both sides a horizontal beam for supporting the wheels and castors, said beams being provided with two expandableupright elements for adj~lsting the elevation and inclination of the seat. The known wheeled chair therefore is relatively heavy.
A more important drawback of the known wheeled chair, however, is that it is a so-called one-dimension and one-type wheeled chair, which means that shop-owners have to keep a stock of wheeled chairs of different dimensions and types, which is very inefficient of course.
.,.
The invention aims at improving the above. According to the invention this has been reached in that a plurality of unitary elements are connected the one in relation with the other in such an ad~ustable way that wheeled chairs of different sizes and uses can be made, in that the unitary elements of the frame comprlse a telescopic element composed of a part which is fixed to said element in a vertically adjustable way and a second part slidable relative to the first part and adapted to support the chalr,and in that transmission means and control means are provided to activate the joint means so as to obtain the infinities of positions.
Preerably the transmission means comprise a driven means which is fixed . to the pivoting part and cooperates with a driving means which is fixed to the other part relative to which pivots the pivoting part, said driven means and said driving means being adapted to remain in position without any locking means when driving means is released.
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The invention will be better understood and still further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings in which:
- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a foldable wheeled chair, - Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same, - Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation to illustrate possible positions of the wheeled chair, - Figure ~ is a schematic view of the adjuslability of the handlebar, and of the possible extensions of the chair and wheeled frame.
- Figure 5 to 8 are schematic side elevations illustrating different kinds of wheels or castors that may be used, - Figure 9 is a side elevation of a joint, - Figure 10 is a plan of the same joint of figure 9, - Figure 11 is a schematic side elevation to explain the necessity of a compensating devic0, - and Figure 12 is a cross section of the foot-support comprising an automatic compensating device.
As illustrated on the drawings, the foldable wheeled chair comprises awheeled frame 1 and a chair 2. The chair comprises at least a seat 3, a back-rest 4 and foot-supports 5. As ls the case for conventional chairs, additional components may be added such as arm-rests 6,head-rests ~not shown), leg-rests 7 and a handle-bar 8.
I'he chair 2 comprises a plurality of joints 9-12: joint 9 between back-rest ~ and seat 3,joint 10 between seat 3 and leg-rest 7, joint 11 between leg-rest 7 and foot-support 5, and jolnt 12 between hack-rest ~
and handle-bar 8~ The joints allow the chair to show an infinity of positions, as each part of the chair can pivot relative to the other part with which it is articulated.
On each side of the frame 1 are located unitary elements 13 on wh,ich wheels 19 or castors 15 of diEferent sizes and types may ~Ze mounted.
For instance, as shown on figure 5, the front wheel 15 is a castor with a diameter of about 200 mm and the backwheel 1~ has a diameter of about 600 mm and is provided with a well-known hand-rim 16.
On figure 6, front wheels 15 are castors of about 200 mm and back wheels 1 are about 300 ~Zm diameter.
83 90027~.8 - 3 - ~ Z ~
On figure 7, front wheels 15 have a diameter of about 600 mrn and back wheels 1~ are 200 mm diameter castors. Figure 8 shows the case where both front 15 and back wheels 14 are about 300 mm diameter.
It is evident that many other types of wheels may be mounted on the frame and that the preferred embodiments shown and described have been given as examples and do not constitute a limiting list.
Referring back to figure 2, the unitary elemant 13 is adapted to support 10 two replaceable members 17 and 18. These members are adapted to slide into the element 13 so as to allow different length of the frame 1.
Each member comprises several holes 19, located at a plurality of positions to receive the axles of the different wheels.
Located almost on the vertical of the gravity center of an occupant a telescopic element 20 comprises a part 21, fixed to unitary element 13, and relative to which can slide a second part 22 in a vertically adjustable way. Inside this second part 22 is located a slide which allows the chair to be folded as it is well-known in the art.
The height of the seat may be adjusted by raising or lowering part 22 relative to part 21. Locking means such as bolts or other well-known means maintain part 22 in the required position. Part 22 is adapted to support the chair 2 through a joint 23.
As shown in figure 3 the ~oints 9, 10 and 23 allow the chair to give an lnfinity of posltions between a sitting position B-B and a lying or sleeping position F-F. Joint 23 give the seat 3 an infinity of position between two alrnost vertical positions G-G and G'-G'. Almost vertical positions means positions as near as possible to vertical positions.
In fact these positions depend upon the height where joint 23 is raised.
The higher it is raised, the more vertical will be these positions.
The limitation is not caused by joint 23 but by the foot-support touching the ground.
Some particular positions are shown on figure 3:
- Position A-A is a transferring or stepping in or out position, which retains the chair position B-B gently tilted forward to help front transfer, ~i - Position s-B is an active sitting-up position.
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- Position C-C is a semi-active position, - Position D-D is a relaxing position, - Position E.E. is a resting position.
Joint 9 enables back rest 4 to assume an infinity of positions relative . to seat 3 at angles between about 80 and 180, that is to say between a position a little more.closed.th&n sitting position and lying position.
W.hen the angle becomes less than 80 the joint 9 allows the back-rest 4 to be quickly folded.on to seat 3 so as to reduce the volume of the chair.
On the rear side of the back-rest 4 is located a handle-bar 8 whic-n may be adjusted in a pivoting way so as to give a plurality of heights as shown by H, I and J on figure 4.
. One of the most .important advantages of the unitary elements 13 and 24 is that they can comprise a central part relative to which the joints 9, 10 and 11 may be extended or contracted. Each part of the chair may thus be adjusted to the particular sizes of the occupant making the chair, in effect, made to measure as shown by positions K, I.,M, N, O, P on 20 figure 4.
Referring now to figures 11 and 12 it must be realized that the knee joints 25 of the occupant and the joints 10 between seat 3 and leg-res-ts 7 not coincide. Knee joints 25 are higher than joints 10 and the mutual distance depends upon the thickness.of.the seat 3 and whether or no~ the occupant uses a cushion. So when the leg is in a horizontal posltion, the leg rest needs to be longer than when.the ley is in a vertical position.
To compensate Eor this difference oE length the leg tube 2~ is provided 30 with an ou-ter tube 26 in which can slide an inner tube 27. This inner . tube 27 has a head part 29 whlch fits in the outer tube 26 and a narrower part 30 around which is located a compression spring 31. Spr:Lng 31 abuts on one end against the head part 29 of the inner tube 27 and on the o-ther end against the closed end 32 of outer tube 26. A locking device such as a screw 33 permits the fixing of inner tube 27 relative.to outer tube 26 in the required position.
... . .
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So when screw 33 released, spring 31 pushes 35 head part 29 toward joint - 10: leg tube 24 is thus in its shortest position, appropriate to the lower leg of the occupant when seated in the normal seating position.
When raising toward a horizontal position the occupants legs push the foot-rests thus compressing.spring 31. When in requi.red position, the occupant screws in knob.33, thus fixing the foot-rests in the most suitable position.
Joints can be activated by transmission.means so as to obtain infinities 10 of positions. Figures 9 and 10 show the joint 10 between the seat 3 and the leg tube 24 which comprises a driven means 34 fixed to the pivoting part that is the leg tube 2~. The driven means 34 cooperates with a driving means. 35 fixed to the part relative to which pivots the pi~oting part, in this case seat rail 3. Driven means 34 and driving means 35, each comprising a toothed wheel 36, 37 connected together by a cam-shaft 38 so as to form a well-known planetary transmission. Transmission means generally are activated by a control means, in this case, a knob 39 fixed to the cam-shaft 38. One of the advantages.of such a transmission means is that a locking mechanism.is not necessar.y to make the pivoting 20 part keeps its position when the driving means is released. It is evident that the described transmission means.36-38 are only given as an example and that many other types of transmission.such as wormgears may be used within the scope of invention.
All transmission means are activated by control.means which may be remote control means so that they can be located in the most suitable location to enable.the occupant himself to obtain the most desirable position.
The control means may be located on either side of the chair. But, due to the fact that the chair is built up from modular elements without any 30 transvcrse rigidity transmission of desired.movement to the other side of the chair must be achieved by a foldable or a flexible transmission.
Such kran~mission.may comprise cable,. universal ~oint, belt, .... or other well-~cnown flexible or foldable.transmission device.
The description set forth illustrates the preferred embodiment of the foldable wheel chair of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that many variations to the drawings and~description may be adopted within the scope of the invention and may never consitute any limitation of said invention.
:;~- ,.
. . .
. .
. .
'
. _ .
FOLDABLE WE~EELED CE~AIR
The inven-tion relates to a foldable wheeled chair, principally for infirm patients, comprising a chair which is mounted on a wheeled frame, said chair comprising at least a seat, a back-rest and foot-supports, a plura]ity of jointsbeing provided to allow the several parts of the chair to take an infinity of mutual relative positions and an infinity of positions relative to the frame.
Such a foldable wheeled chair is known from DE-A-2517418.
This known wheeled chair comprises at both sides a horizontal beam for supporting the wheels and castors, said beams being provided with two expandableupright elements for adj~lsting the elevation and inclination of the seat. The known wheeled chair therefore is relatively heavy.
A more important drawback of the known wheeled chair, however, is that it is a so-called one-dimension and one-type wheeled chair, which means that shop-owners have to keep a stock of wheeled chairs of different dimensions and types, which is very inefficient of course.
.,.
The invention aims at improving the above. According to the invention this has been reached in that a plurality of unitary elements are connected the one in relation with the other in such an ad~ustable way that wheeled chairs of different sizes and uses can be made, in that the unitary elements of the frame comprlse a telescopic element composed of a part which is fixed to said element in a vertically adjustable way and a second part slidable relative to the first part and adapted to support the chalr,and in that transmission means and control means are provided to activate the joint means so as to obtain the infinities of positions.
Preerably the transmission means comprise a driven means which is fixed . to the pivoting part and cooperates with a driving means which is fixed to the other part relative to which pivots the pivoting part, said driven means and said driving means being adapted to remain in position without any locking means when driving means is released.
, ~`
$~
~. .
, :
.: . :
" ':, ': ' 8390`~274.8 - 2 -~23~
The invention will be better understood and still further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings in which:
- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a foldable wheeled chair, - Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same, - Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation to illustrate possible positions of the wheeled chair, - Figure ~ is a schematic view of the adjuslability of the handlebar, and of the possible extensions of the chair and wheeled frame.
- Figure 5 to 8 are schematic side elevations illustrating different kinds of wheels or castors that may be used, - Figure 9 is a side elevation of a joint, - Figure 10 is a plan of the same joint of figure 9, - Figure 11 is a schematic side elevation to explain the necessity of a compensating devic0, - and Figure 12 is a cross section of the foot-support comprising an automatic compensating device.
As illustrated on the drawings, the foldable wheeled chair comprises awheeled frame 1 and a chair 2. The chair comprises at least a seat 3, a back-rest 4 and foot-supports 5. As ls the case for conventional chairs, additional components may be added such as arm-rests 6,head-rests ~not shown), leg-rests 7 and a handle-bar 8.
I'he chair 2 comprises a plurality of joints 9-12: joint 9 between back-rest ~ and seat 3,joint 10 between seat 3 and leg-rest 7, joint 11 between leg-rest 7 and foot-support 5, and jolnt 12 between hack-rest ~
and handle-bar 8~ The joints allow the chair to show an infinity of positions, as each part of the chair can pivot relative to the other part with which it is articulated.
On each side of the frame 1 are located unitary elements 13 on wh,ich wheels 19 or castors 15 of diEferent sizes and types may ~Ze mounted.
For instance, as shown on figure 5, the front wheel 15 is a castor with a diameter of about 200 mm and the backwheel 1~ has a diameter of about 600 mm and is provided with a well-known hand-rim 16.
On figure 6, front wheels 15 are castors of about 200 mm and back wheels 1 are about 300 ~Zm diameter.
83 90027~.8 - 3 - ~ Z ~
On figure 7, front wheels 15 have a diameter of about 600 mrn and back wheels 1~ are 200 mm diameter castors. Figure 8 shows the case where both front 15 and back wheels 14 are about 300 mm diameter.
It is evident that many other types of wheels may be mounted on the frame and that the preferred embodiments shown and described have been given as examples and do not constitute a limiting list.
Referring back to figure 2, the unitary elemant 13 is adapted to support 10 two replaceable members 17 and 18. These members are adapted to slide into the element 13 so as to allow different length of the frame 1.
Each member comprises several holes 19, located at a plurality of positions to receive the axles of the different wheels.
Located almost on the vertical of the gravity center of an occupant a telescopic element 20 comprises a part 21, fixed to unitary element 13, and relative to which can slide a second part 22 in a vertically adjustable way. Inside this second part 22 is located a slide which allows the chair to be folded as it is well-known in the art.
The height of the seat may be adjusted by raising or lowering part 22 relative to part 21. Locking means such as bolts or other well-known means maintain part 22 in the required position. Part 22 is adapted to support the chair 2 through a joint 23.
As shown in figure 3 the ~oints 9, 10 and 23 allow the chair to give an lnfinity of posltions between a sitting position B-B and a lying or sleeping position F-F. Joint 23 give the seat 3 an infinity of position between two alrnost vertical positions G-G and G'-G'. Almost vertical positions means positions as near as possible to vertical positions.
In fact these positions depend upon the height where joint 23 is raised.
The higher it is raised, the more vertical will be these positions.
The limitation is not caused by joint 23 but by the foot-support touching the ground.
Some particular positions are shown on figure 3:
- Position A-A is a transferring or stepping in or out position, which retains the chair position B-B gently tilted forward to help front transfer, ~i - Position s-B is an active sitting-up position.
... ...
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. 839Qa274.8 - 4 -~ 3~5~
- Position C-C is a semi-active position, - Position D-D is a relaxing position, - Position E.E. is a resting position.
Joint 9 enables back rest 4 to assume an infinity of positions relative . to seat 3 at angles between about 80 and 180, that is to say between a position a little more.closed.th&n sitting position and lying position.
W.hen the angle becomes less than 80 the joint 9 allows the back-rest 4 to be quickly folded.on to seat 3 so as to reduce the volume of the chair.
On the rear side of the back-rest 4 is located a handle-bar 8 whic-n may be adjusted in a pivoting way so as to give a plurality of heights as shown by H, I and J on figure 4.
. One of the most .important advantages of the unitary elements 13 and 24 is that they can comprise a central part relative to which the joints 9, 10 and 11 may be extended or contracted. Each part of the chair may thus be adjusted to the particular sizes of the occupant making the chair, in effect, made to measure as shown by positions K, I.,M, N, O, P on 20 figure 4.
Referring now to figures 11 and 12 it must be realized that the knee joints 25 of the occupant and the joints 10 between seat 3 and leg-res-ts 7 not coincide. Knee joints 25 are higher than joints 10 and the mutual distance depends upon the thickness.of.the seat 3 and whether or no~ the occupant uses a cushion. So when the leg is in a horizontal posltion, the leg rest needs to be longer than when.the ley is in a vertical position.
To compensate Eor this difference oE length the leg tube 2~ is provided 30 with an ou-ter tube 26 in which can slide an inner tube 27. This inner . tube 27 has a head part 29 whlch fits in the outer tube 26 and a narrower part 30 around which is located a compression spring 31. Spr:Lng 31 abuts on one end against the head part 29 of the inner tube 27 and on the o-ther end against the closed end 32 of outer tube 26. A locking device such as a screw 33 permits the fixing of inner tube 27 relative.to outer tube 26 in the required position.
... . .
8~900274.8 - 5 -`. ~ 3~5~i~
So when screw 33 released, spring 31 pushes 35 head part 29 toward joint - 10: leg tube 24 is thus in its shortest position, appropriate to the lower leg of the occupant when seated in the normal seating position.
When raising toward a horizontal position the occupants legs push the foot-rests thus compressing.spring 31. When in requi.red position, the occupant screws in knob.33, thus fixing the foot-rests in the most suitable position.
Joints can be activated by transmission.means so as to obtain infinities 10 of positions. Figures 9 and 10 show the joint 10 between the seat 3 and the leg tube 24 which comprises a driven means 34 fixed to the pivoting part that is the leg tube 2~. The driven means 34 cooperates with a driving means. 35 fixed to the part relative to which pivots the pi~oting part, in this case seat rail 3. Driven means 34 and driving means 35, each comprising a toothed wheel 36, 37 connected together by a cam-shaft 38 so as to form a well-known planetary transmission. Transmission means generally are activated by a control means, in this case, a knob 39 fixed to the cam-shaft 38. One of the advantages.of such a transmission means is that a locking mechanism.is not necessar.y to make the pivoting 20 part keeps its position when the driving means is released. It is evident that the described transmission means.36-38 are only given as an example and that many other types of transmission.such as wormgears may be used within the scope of invention.
All transmission means are activated by control.means which may be remote control means so that they can be located in the most suitable location to enable.the occupant himself to obtain the most desirable position.
The control means may be located on either side of the chair. But, due to the fact that the chair is built up from modular elements without any 30 transvcrse rigidity transmission of desired.movement to the other side of the chair must be achieved by a foldable or a flexible transmission.
Such kran~mission.may comprise cable,. universal ~oint, belt, .... or other well-~cnown flexible or foldable.transmission device.
The description set forth illustrates the preferred embodiment of the foldable wheel chair of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that many variations to the drawings and~description may be adopted within the scope of the invention and may never consitute any limitation of said invention.
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Claims (2)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A foldable wheeled chair, principally for infirm patients, comprising a chair which is mounted on a wheeled frame, said chair comprising at least a seat, a back-rest and foot-supports, a plurality of joints being provided to allow the several parts of the chair to take an infinity of mutual relative positions and an infinity of positions relative to the frame characterized in that a plurality of unitary elements are connected the one in relation with the other in such an adjustable way that wheeled chairs of different sizes and uses can be made, that the unitary elements of the frame comprise a telescopic element composed of a part which is fixed to said element in a vertically adjustable way and a second part, slidable relative to the first part and adapted to support the chair and in that transmission means and control means are provided to activate the joint means so as to obtain the infinities of positions.
2, Foldable wheeled chair according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission means comprise a driven means which is fixed to the pivoting part and cooperates with a driving means which is fixed to the other part relative to which pivots the pivoting part, said driven means and said driving means being adapted to remain in position without any locking means when driving means is released.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000474201A CA1238568A (en) | 1985-02-13 | 1985-02-13 | Foldable wheeled chair |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000474201A CA1238568A (en) | 1985-02-13 | 1985-02-13 | Foldable wheeled chair |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1238568A true CA1238568A (en) | 1988-06-28 |
Family
ID=4129823
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000474201A Expired CA1238568A (en) | 1985-02-13 | 1985-02-13 | Foldable wheeled chair |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1238568A (en) |
-
1985
- 1985-02-13 CA CA000474201A patent/CA1238568A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |