EP0565453B1 - Medical seat - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a medical seat.

People with motor disabilities, especially children, must stay in a medical seat for very long periods. It is therefore necessary that these seats are perfectly suited to the morphology of the person and that they have optimum comfort in addition to the necessary holding qualities.

There are already armchairs which include a chassis, on which is attached a shell more generally molded and well suited to the morphology of the user by the very principle of the embodiment.

It is this type of product that currently offers the best comfort and gives the best results.

It nevertheless has several drawbacks, the first being the own production of the hull which requires "fittings" and delays without taking into account the necessarily high cost price. It is also understood that such a shell must be regularly changed, especially for children as the size and / or weight changes.

This type of shell seat also has another drawback which is that it does not allow any adjustment.

It is therefore designed for optimum results, but in a limited range of positions. In certain embodiments, wedging cushions are provided, but in addition to the fact that they are added elements, they are not satisfactory. because it is necessary to regularly change these cushions which do not follow the morphological evolutions of the person.

Another solution consists in preparing a given range of shells according to the sizes but the adaptation to the morphology remains in this case very approximate and the shell seat loses most of the qualities previously indicated due to molding.

The prior art offers many wheelchairs for the disabled, but this type of wheelchair is rarely suitable for children. On the other hand, the wheels and the whole chassis are fixed to the seat which prevents any transfer of the child seat assembly in a vehicle or on a specific support during the meal, for example.

On the other hand, certain lateral holding devices such as that described in French patent No. 2,190,013 are of some interest since they allow adjustment vertically, horizontally and angularly thanks to two double crossed slots of lateral supports.

Likewise, there is provision in this patent for a lumbar support adjustable in depth and in height, which improves the comfort of the wheelchair described.

There are also commercially available seats provided in the middle of the seat with a fixed separator adjustable in length. So the user in the seated position is in abduction thanks to this separator, which is nothing but a wedge, which keeps the legs slightly separated and which prevents the forward movement of the pelvis of the person, displacement which in the absence of a separator, can lead to the fall out of the seat.

We also know that people with disabilities can have morphological asymmetries both in the length of the legs and in their size or even deformities in the hips or pelvis.

Likewise in the case of significant loss of motor skills, the person should be kept on all parts of the body and controlled for any sudden and uncoordinated movements. It is also necessary to provide a seat and a removable movable support itself folding so that the assembly can be easily transported, in particular in a vehicle of the conventional type.

The qualities of stability, rigidity of the frame and suspension must obviously be improved in order to achieve an optimum degree of comfort.

The materials used for the manufacture of such a seat must imperatively be adapted to the conditions listed above. It therefore requires a light material, easily transformable by folding, gluing, welding and machinable.

It should also be possible to have colored materials in the mass in order to give the seat thus produced a pleasant aesthetic appearance and to partially compensate for the medical functional side of this seat.

The prior art discloses medical seats which have vainly attempted to respond to the problem posed by people with severe disabilities.

Thus, patent US-A-1,527,754, on which the preamble of claim 1 is based, describes a chair with a backrest adjustable in inclination, lumbar and sub-axillary supports, armrests, a headrest and thigh supports with a height-adjustable seat. However, the thigh supports mentioned in this document are articulated to the frame, and by a complex mechanism allow height adjustment while maintaining a constant gap between the pads that compose it, to follow the seat adjustments while avoiding the blockage of blood circulation in the patient's legs.

Likewise, document GB-A-2,107,975 describes a simplistic seat but with a seat adjustable in extension in the rear-front direction. On the other hand, such a seat does not have a thigh support.

The present invention is particularly disclosed in claim 1 which offers a medical seat, in particular for the physically handicapped, which has precise settings for all of the body's support elements, including asymmetrically, which, thanks to its adaptability, requires only a small number of models to constitute a complete range, which is light, functional and aesthetic, which can be removably mounted on a mobile support also included in this patent application, which can receive numerous accessories as required, which is perfectly stable while having a certain degree of flexibility, whose manufacture is easy and whose assembly can be carried out at the places of use or sale which facilitates transport.

The medical seat, in particular for the physically handicapped, may comprise two substantially parallel thigh supports each composed of a horizontal flap and a vertical separator each provided with means of articulation respectively with respect to the seat and to the separator, so as to adjust the flap in height and in length with respect to the seat and the separator in length and angularly with respect to the flap.

The articulation means each comprise a first axis cooperating with a bore in the movable part flap or separator and an oblong hole in the seat support part or flap, and a second axis cooperating with two crossed oblong holes, one provided for the movable part shutter or separator and the other in the support part.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the thigh supports are completed by lateral holding means articulated with respect to the seat as well as by two independent underarm supports, also provided with means for adjusting in height, in width and in angle in the back plane.

The seat according to the invention also comprises a lumbar support provided with projecting adjustment means as well as a headrest which is also adjustable and designed to receive accessories.

The backrest comprises, according to a particular embodiment, means for adjusting the inclination with household notches in the seat and provided with return means.

As for the mobile support associated with this seat, it comprises a chassis, comprising two front bolts, provided at one of their ends with a steerable wheel, a central plate provided for receiving the seat, the said plate being mounted on a shock absorber whose body is secured to the two arms on the one hand and secured to its lower part of a rear axle on the other hand, this axle carrying a wheel at each of its ends, the assembly being completed by two legs of force interposed between the arms and the rear axle.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the mobile support comprises a thrust arm adjustable in inclination in the vertical plane and provided with removable connection means with the chassis.

• la figure 1 représente une vue en perspective d'un siège selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 représente une vue éclatée de détail de l'assise,
• la figure 3 représente une vue en perspective d'un support de cuisse monté sur l'assise,
• la figure 4 représente une vue éclatée de détail du dossier,
• la figure 5 représente une vue variante du séparateur, et
• la figure 6 représente une vue en perspective du support mobile selon l'invention.

The invention is described below according to a particular embodiment with reference to the appended figures in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a seat according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 represents an exploded detail view of the seat,
• FIG. 3 represents a perspective view of a thigh support mounted on the seat,
• FIG. 4 represents an exploded detail view of the file,
• FIG. 5 represents a variant view of the separator, and
• FIG. 6 represents a perspective view of the mobile support according to the invention.

In Figure 1 there is shown a seat according to the invention which comprises a seat 14, a folder 12 articulated relative to the seat so as to allow its inclination and the removable movable support in the lower part.

As shown in FIG. 2, the seat comprises a base 14, of substantially inverted U section, and provided with two pairs of lateral lights 16 and 17 formed on the wings 18 of the U in the immediate vicinity of the base 20 .

On the other hand, this base includes holes 22 intended to receive fastening rivets for a stiffener 24 provided with holes 25, also of inverted U section, and also comprising two pairs of lights 26 and 27 coinciding with the lights 16 and 17 of the base.

The base also includes a pair of oblong holes 21 oriented longitudinally as well as two pairs of holes 23.

The seat also comprises a pair of ears 28, connected to each other by a connection plate 30 having bores 32 coinciding with those of the stiffener and the base.

These ears also include oblong holes 34 oriented vertically.

The right and left wings 36 of the stiffener 24 are located approximately one third and two thirds of the width between the wings of the base.

They each have on the front two oblong holes 38 and 40 respectively vertical and horizontal and on the rear an oblong hole 42 horizontal and notched.

The stiffener 24 further comprises two oblong holes 43 oriented longitudinally and superimposed with the holes 23 of the base.

The seat is completed by thigh supports 44, comprising a flap 46 curved downward on its front part 48 and provided with two crossed oblong holes 50 and 52 oriented respectively transversely and longitudinally.

The partial tearing of the drawing of this part shows a connecting tab 54 secured to the curved front part of the flap and free on its rear part. This thigh support is shown in Figure 3.

In addition, a screw / nut assembly 59 is provided at the rear of the flap which comprises a plating spring 57 interposed between the nut and the flap.

This tab includes an oblong hole 56 on its front part oriented along the longitudinal axis of the tab and a hole 58 at its rear end.

The seat also consists of a separator 60, with an L-shaped section. The horizontal wing 62 includes an oblong hole 64 on its longitudinally oriented front part and a bore 66 in its rear part. As for the vertical wing, it has a progressive height passing from h at the rear to H towards the front.

The lateral holding means 68 comprise a plate with an L-shaped section, the horizontal wing 70 comprising two oblong slots 72 and 74 for transverse adjustment.

In Figure 4 there is shown the folder 12 which is composed of a vertical plate with a U- section with two folded right and left lateral extensions 15 forming a stiffener.

On the wings of the U there are provided two lights 76, oriented longitudinally as well as two pairs of oblong holes 80 also oriented longitudinally, to the right of the lights.

At its upper part, the backrest comprises two holes 84 and at its lower part two oblong holes 86 oriented longitudinally.

In addition, the wings each have two holes 88, 90 respectively provided to cooperate with an axis of rotation and to receive fixing means.

At the lower part of the backrest, there are two legs 92 parallel to the wings of the U , also provided with two holes 94, 96 respectively provided for receiving an axis of rotation and fixing means.

The lower ends of the two legs are connected by a rod 98 provided with return means 100 in the form of a helical spring 102 connected to the seat as will be explained later.

Axillary supports 104 are provided to also be mounted on the backrest. These sub axillary supports include a plate 105 with a substantially L-shaped profile, the horizontal part 106 of the L being provided with two oblong holes 108. As for the vertical part 110 of the L , it has a slightly curved profile as shown in this figure 3.

A lumbar support 112 is also provided to be mounted on this backrest. It comprises a slightly curved plate 114 provided with threaded rods 116 for fixing.

The headrest 118 comprises a plate 120 provided with a curved central portion 122. The lateral parts 124 of this headrest have two oblong holes 126 oriented longitudinally as well as two holes 127. An accessory of this headrest 118 is also shown in this figure 3. It consists of a semi-circular arch 130 provided with holes 132 .

The assembly of the entire seat is described below.

The base 14 receives at its lower part the stiffener 24. The wings 18 and 36 respectively of the base and the stiffener being parallel.

The base 14 and the stiffener 24 thus positioned receive, through the slots 17 and 27, the ears 28 secured to the plate 30.

All three elements are then fixed by riveting.

The thigh supports 44 are positioned at the front of this new assembly constituting the seat so that the flap 46 is parallel to the plane of the seat. For each support, a bolt / nut assembly passes through the hole 58 of the connecting lug 54 and slides in the oblong hole 40 of the corresponding wing 36 of the stiffener.

Furthermore, a second bolt / nut assembly is mounted through the oblong hole 56 of this same tab and slides in the oblong hole 38 of the corresponding wing 36 of the stiffener.

The flap 46 of the thigh support 44 is thus fixed at two points so as to be adjustable relative to the seat. It is the same for the second thigh support.

The spring 57 interposed between the underside of the stiffener and the nut of the bolt-nut assembly 59 ensures the plating of the rear part of the flap on the upper face of the base.

The right and left dividers are each mounted on the corresponding thigh support. by means of two bolt-nut assemblies passing respectively through the bore 66 of the horizontal wing of the separator 62 and through the oblong hole 52 of the flap 46 and through the oblong holes 64 of the separator and 50 of the flap, oriented in crossed directions.

The lateral holding means 68 are introduced through the slots 16 and 26 of the base and the stiffener.

The assembly of the file is carried out as follows.

The legs 92 are fixed to the right and left wings of the backrest by riveting in the holes 90 of these wings.

The legs 92 are introduced through the slots 27 and 17 of the stiffener and the base to project above the seat, parallel to the ears 28.

The rod 98 is fixed in the corresponding holes of the legs, this rod passing through the notched slots 42 of the wings 36 of the stiffener.

An axis of rotation, not shown, is introduced through the holes 94 of the legs and 88 of the wings of the backrest and through the oblong holes 34 of the ears 28.

The return means 100, comprising the spring 102, already fixed to the rod 98 by one end are connected to a point of attachment of the stiffener, not shown for clarity of the drawing.

The under axillary supports 104 can be placed on the backrest by introducing the horizontal part 106 in a vertical position through the openings 76 in the backrest.

Screw / nut assemblies pass through the oblong holes 108 of these axillary supports and through the oblong holes 80 of the backrest.

The headrest 118 is mounted by means of two screw-nut assemblies passing through the holes 84 in the backrest and the oblong holes 126 formed in the wings 124 of this headrest.

The accessory 128 is assembled using two screw / nut assemblies by passing them through the holes 132 of the accessory and 127 of the headrest.

The last element of the backrest, namely the lumbar support 112, is mounted in a similar manner by positioning the threaded rods 116 through the oblong holes 86 in the backrest. It is also necessary to provide ecru accessible from the back of the backrest. A spring with high stiffness is interposed between the support and the backrest in the manner of a shock absorber.

The seat thus assembled is used in the manner described below.

The person is seated in the seat and correctly positioned according to their handicap. Then, the necessary adjustments are made manually, the inclination of the thigh supports is effected by making the flaps 46 play by sliding the screw / nut assemblies through the slots 40 and the crossed slots 38 and 56.

Thus, each right and left thigh support can be independently adjusted in length and inclination.

The upward inclination of this flap prevents any sliding of the lower part of the body forward.

The length is adjusted so that the entire thigh bears on the flap, which decreases the contact pressure since the contact surface is increased. On the other hand, this length adjustment makes it possible to compensate for an inequality of the femoral segment.

In addition, this inclination allows the femoral segment to flex on the trunk, which leads to the closure of the pelvis-femur angle, in order to avoid the diagram in extension.

In turn, the two right and left separators integral with the flap are adjusted in length and angularly so as to give the two legs a given opening angle.

Then just bring the lateral holding means 68 right and left of each of the corresponding legs.

The different inclinations and the orientation of these lateral support means allows a thigh to be abducted from the femoral segment.

The backrest is adjusted in inclination relative to the seat by pressing from top to bottom and along the longitudinal axis of the backrest, which has the effect of canceling the spring return force and unlocking the rod 98 of the notches 42. The backrest, still pressing, can therefore pivot around the axis passing through the ears 34 and the holes 88 of the backrest.

As soon as the pressure is released, the rod 98 is housed in one of the notches of the notched hole 42. Under the spring return effect, the backrest is maintained in the position thus defined.

The lumbar support 112 is adjusted from the rear of the backrest, using a nut, lock nut and the spring.

The adjustment of the under axillary supports 104, right and left, is carried out easily in width, in height and in orientation around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the backrest.

This adjustment is obtained thanks to the four crossed oblong holes of the armpit support and the backrest.

In the same way, we proceed to the adjustment of the headrest and the fitting or removing of the accessory 128.

The adjustment and adaptation possibilities of this seat are very important anywhere in the body.

Thus, 2 to 4 models are enough to cover the evolution from child to adult both in size and in weight.

The material used is a plastic sold under the name ABS in a preferred embodiment of the invention, which leads to a light structure. Certain parts, such as the stiffener in particular, can be made of aluminum.

On the other hand, the profiles are obtained by hot deformation of cut plates which gives the different elements, flap, support under the axillary, headrest, a certain elasticity and rounded angles which go in the direction of safety.

In FIG. 5, the variant of separator 148 shown comprises a vertical axis 150 movable between the thigh supports in an additional slot 152 and 154 formed in the base 14 and the stiffener 24. The separators 60 are eliminated as well as the oblong holes 52 and 50.

The variant of separator 148 comprises two orientable plates 149 mounted for rotation about the axis by one of their ends.

The axial tightening of the axis by means of the nut 156 allows the plates to be locked in orientation and the axis proper in translation.

In Figure 6, there is shown a movable support intended to cooperate in particular with the medical seat described above.

This mobile support comprises two front arms 210, each provided at one of their ends 212 with steerable wheels 214 while their other end 216 is fixed on a plate 218.

These two arms make a given angle α of the order of 60 ° at the start of the plate 218.

This plate receives a sheath 220, arranged substantially vertically, sheath which is rotatably mounted about the axis 217 relative to the plate 218 at its upper end and which receives at its lower end a tab 222 provided with a screw 224 intended for cooperate with a rear axle 226 at the ends of which wheels 228 are rotatably mounted.

This rear axle 226 comprises two struts 230, each welded in the immediate vicinity from one of the ends of the axle, while the other end of these struts 230 is rotatably mounted about axes 232 relative to the corresponding arm 210.

Inside the sheath 220, a jack 234 is provided, the body 236 of which is secured to the sheath, while the piston 238 is secured to a base 240 provided for receiving the seat by means of engagement slots 242.

These slots 242 are formed in the wings 244 of the base 240 whose section is U-shaped .

At the lower part of the base 240, there are provided flanges 246 provided with curvilinear holes 248 intended to receive legs 250 at the end of which are provided footrests 252, articulated with respect to this same leg around an axis 254.

At the rear part of the plate 218 there is provided a push arm 256 at the end of which are mounted handles 258 fixed on a bar 260 perpendicular to the push arm 256.

At the connecting end 262 of the pushing arm 256 with the plate 218, there is provided a removable fixing system which cooperates with notches 264 formed in the rear part of said plate so that the arm can be adjusted angularly in the vertical plane or completely removed.

The operation of the mobile support according to the invention is now described.

The medical seat is fixed to the base 240, by having two connecting bars secured by example of the stiffener 24 and the base 14 in the slots 242, these bars being transverse and having a spacing corresponding to that of the positioning slots 242.

Locking means can be usefully provided in the form of a clip-on pivoting lever or quarter-turn screws, not shown for clarity of the drawing, but within the reach of those skilled in the art and well known in the technical field of medical seats.

The user can therefore move the mobile support like a stroller since the front wheels are steerable which allows it to be steered, and the rear wheels being fixed ensure a large part of the load recovery.

It can be seen that the stability of the assembly is preserved by the spacing of the front arms and the transfer of the center of gravity relatively close to the ground.

The pushing arm 256 is moreover adjustable, which allows the attendant to position the transverse bar 260 and thereby the handles 258 at his convenience.

It is also found in use that this type of mobile support is excessively manoeuvrable since the thrust arm constitutes an important lever with respect to the distance separating the center of gravity from the rear axle, so that the passage of sidewalks or of obstacles is greatly facilitated.

Furthermore, during movement, the cylinder which has a damping function on a low stroke greatly improves the comfort of this medical seat and limits the transmission of irregularities from the taxiway to the seat and therefore to the person installed there.

Furthermore, if necessary, the known type of cylinder also has a height adjustment in steps so that the height of the base 240 can be easily adjusted relative to the ground.

As mounted, the footrest is also adjustable both in inclination and in length, which also facilitates adjustments.

The mobile support according to the invention is also intended to be folded so as to reduce its size, in particular when it is not used and that it must be transported in a conventional vehicle.

After removing the medical seat, the screw 224 is loosened so that the connecting member 222 is detached from the rear axle 226.

The axle / wheel and strut 230 assembly being released, it can be folded forward under the arms 210.

The pushing arm 256 is also removed from the assembly by detaching the connecting member 262 from the plate 218. It then suffices to rotate the sheath 220 containing the piston 234 around the axis 217 to bring the end lower of this sheath in the immediate vicinity of the arms 210.

Thus the base 240 is found substantially perpendicular to the arm 210, while the sheath is found substantially parallel to these same arms.

The assembly is compact and the space requirement is therefore reduced.

It is specified that the footrest assembly being movable in rotation and in length is also adequately folded in order to be brought close to the same arms 210.

Claims (10)

1. Medical chair comprising a seat (14), a back-rest (12) joined to the said seat, and at least one thigh support (44) equipped with a means of joining this to the seat, characterized in that the thigh support (44) is disposed at the front of this seat and is equipped with a means of adjusting its length, height and angle.
2. Medical chair as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one separator (60, 148) which is disposed in the middle of the thigh support (44) and fixed onto this thigh support.
3. Medical chair as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the separator (148) comprises a vertical axis (150) and two plates (149) which rotate around this vertical axis, together with a means of locking the plates into a given angled position.
4. Medical chair as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the separator (60) is in two pieces formed from two L-shaped parts (62) equipped with a means of joining these to the thigh support (44).
5. Medical chair as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thigh support (44) is formed from two pieces and comprises two flaps (46), right and left, which are roughly parallel and horizontal, equipped with a means (54, 56, 58) of joining these to the seat (14) in such a way that each flap can be adjusted separately to the required height, length and angle in relation to the seat.
6. Medical chair as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the means of joining the flap comprises a first transverse axis which cooperates with a bore (58) in the flap and an oblong hole (40) formed in the seat, together with a second transverse axis which cooperates with two oblong holes, one in the seat (38) and one in the flap (56).
7. Medical chair as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the separator (148) comprises a vertical axis (150) and two plates (149) which rotate around this vertical axis, together with a means of locking the plates in a given angled position, the vertical axis being mounted directly on the seat between the two flaps.
8. Medical chair as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, it further comprises means of lateral support (68) and underarm supports (104) which are equipped with a means of adjusting the movement and direction respectively of these in relation to the seat (14) and the back-rest (12),
      a lumbar support (112), the projection of which can be adjusted in relation to the back-rest, as well as a head-rest (118), which can be adjusted in height, and which comprises a means to which accessories may be attached.
9. Mobile frame used in combination with the medical chair as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a chassis formed from two front brackets (210), each equipped at one end with a directionable wheel (214), a central plate (218) designed to receive the seat (14) of the chair, the said central plate being mounted on a shock absorber (234), and joined at its lower part to a back axle (236), this axle having a wheel (226) at each end, the assembly being completed by two struts (230) disposed between the brackets and the back axle.
10. Mobile frame, used in combination with the medical chair, as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a push bar (256), the angle of which can be adjusted in the vertical plane, equipped with a removable means of attaching it to the chassis.

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