EP0754442A1 - Chair especially made for disabled people with restricted mobility - Google Patents

Abstract

The chair consists of a frame (1) with a rectangular vertical section (11), a base (10) with rollers (12), a seat (20) and a back (21). The seat and back are made so they can be removed from the frame and placed on a bed. The seat is made from a supporting panel (23) and a cushion which can be rotated relative to one another about a vertical axis, and the back is fastened to the frame by a locking mechanism which holds it perpendicular to the seat. The chair has arm rests (22) located on either side of the back (21) and capable of being raised in line with the back or set perpendicular to it, while the seat's supporting panel is attached to the frame by a stirrup. The height of the seat is adjustable by means of a sliding sub-frame and power cylinder.

Description

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for lifting and transporting a person with reduced mobility. Such a device is usually called a patient lift chair.

When a person can no longer get up and move around, his relatives, if he is at home, or the nursing staff, if he is hospitalized, must wear him each time he has to change position, for example for the move from bed to chair.

This requires great strength and a great habit because it is necessary to lift the patient, carry him and move around, at least make a quarter turn on himself to deposit him.

There are many facilities designed to provide assistance to people in charge of patients with reduced mobility.

Some equipment is generally in the form of a bracket to which a harness or straps are attached that have been placed under the body of the bedridden patient. These devices make it possible to lift a patient from his bed and transport him.

These devices have many drawbacks. They are generally bulky which limits their use in hospitals where space is provided below and around beds, armchairs, bathtubs. The installation and removal of the harness or straps is not easy. The patient is more or less curled up on himself in an uncomfortable position during the transfer and undergoes an unpleasant pendulum movement.

Equipment has been proposed which makes it possible to resolve certain drawbacks of harness or strap devices.

It is an armchair made up of a frame carrying, movably in translation in the vertical direction, a seat on which the patient sits.

The chassis has a base carrying four casters and a vertical beam. The base is of low height in order to pass under beds or armchairs arranged close to the ground like those which one generally has at home, said base is moreover shaped in a U so as to be able to have the seat above a toilet bowl

To lift a patient, we approach the chair from the bed and adjust the height of the seat so that it rests on the bed next to the patient. This one sits on the seat on which it can be maintained if necessary by a belt, a file and a support bar are arranged respectively behind and in front of the patient. The seat is then raised so as to move it away from the bed and allow the chair to move.

The patient thus seated on the chair can be transported to any other place.

This chair solves the problems of space, ease of use and discomfort of the previous devices but does not provide a complete answer to the problems encountered by people in charge of patients with reduced mobility.

To be able to be transported using such a chair, the patient must be sufficiently toned to be able to lift and sit by himself otherwise it is necessary to carry it. He must also be able to sit, since the backrest provides only support and cannot keep the patient in a sitting position. This limits the possibilities of using the wheelchair.

In addition, the vertical beam is on the side of the patient when he is seated on the seat which prohibits certain uses, for example, one cannot approach the armchair of a table for the taking meals and it is necessary to transfer the patient to another chair or chair.

The present invention aims to provide a chair of small size, easy to use even for a patient who can not move by itself, and which can be used in a large number of circumstances so as to avoid the transfer of the patient on another medium.

To this end, the invention provides a chair particularly intended for patients with reduced mobility, comprising a frame composed of a generally rectangular vertical frame and a base carrying casters, and a seat consisting of at least one seat and a back , characterized in that said seat is removable to be separable said frame 1 and capable of being laid flat to be placed on a bed.

• l'assise du siège comporte une plaque de support et un coussin montés l'un sur l'autre de façon à être mobiles en rotation l'un par rapport à l'autre autour d'un axe, vertical, qui leur est perpendiculaire, ledit coussin constituant la partie supérieure de l'assise sur laquelle est assis le malade,
• l'ensemble constitué par le coussin et le dossier est pivotant par rapport à la plaque de support,
• un dispositif de blocage du dossier assure le maintien de celui-ci au moins dans la position pour laquelle il est perpendiculaire à l'assise,
• des accoudoirs sont montés de part et d'autre du dossier en étant mobiles en rotation entre une position pour laquelle ils sont globalement disposés dans le plan dudit dossier, et une position pour laquelle ils sont perpendiculaires audit dossier, lesdits accoudoirs pouvant être bloqués dans la position pour laquelle ils sont perpendiculaires au dossier,
• la plaque de support est montée sur le châssis par l'intermédiaire d'un étrier de support,
• l'étrier de support présente des moyens se fixant à la plaque de support et des moyens se fixant au bâti du fauteuil,
• l'étrier de support se fixe sur des embouts du châssis faisant partie d'un dispositif de levage du siège permettant de régler à volonté la hauteur dudit siège par rapport au sol,
• le dispositif de levage est constitué d'un cadre monté mobile en translation sur le bâti vertical et d'un moyen de commande assurant le déplacement dudit cadre vers le haut ou vers le bas,
• la plaque de support est mobile par rapport au coussin par la mise en place d'un montage comportant des rainures circulaires formées dans la surface supérieure de la plaque de support et dans la surface inférieure du coussin.

The armchair according to the invention is also remarkable in that

• the seat base comprises a support plate and a cushion mounted one on the other so as to be movable in rotation relative to each other about a vertical axis which is perpendicular to them, said cushion constituting the upper part of the seat on which the patient sits,
• the assembly consisting of the cushion and the backrest is pivotable relative to the support plate,
• a backrest locking device keeps it at least in the position for which it is perpendicular to the seat,
• armrests are mounted on either side of the backrest being movable in rotation between a position for which they are generally arranged in the plane of said backrest, and a position for which they are perpendicular to said backrest, said armrests being able to be locked in the position for which they are perpendicular to the backrest,
• the support plate is mounted on the chassis by means of a support bracket,
• the support bracket has means which are fixed to the support plate and means which are fixed to the frame of the chair,
• the support bracket is fixed on end caps of the chassis forming part of a seat lifting device making it possible to adjust the height of said seat at will relative to the ground,
• the lifting device consists of a frame mounted movable in translation on the vertical frame and of a control means ensuring the movement of said frame up or down,
• the support plate is movable relative to the cushion by the installation of a mounting comprising circular grooves formed in the upper surface of the support plate and in the lower surface of the cushion.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective du fauteuil selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique en perspective du châssis du fauteuil selon l'invention,
• la figure 3 est une vue de dessus de l'étrier de support du siège,
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus du siège mis à plat.

The invention will be better understood thanks to the description which follows given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the chair according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the frame of the chair according to the invention,
• FIG. 3 is a top view of the seat support bracket,
• Figure 4 is a top view of the seat laid flat.

The armchair according to the invention is generally made up of a frame 1 and a seat 2. The frame consists of a vertical frame 11 generally rectangular and of a U-shaped base 10 carrying rollers 12, the at least one is equipped with a brake.

For reasons which will be better understood later, the U-shaped base 10 has a first branch 13 merged with the bottom of the vertical frame, a second branch 14 arranged parallel to said frame and at a distance therefrom and a third branch 15 connecting said first and second branches arranged perpendicularly to these and to the frame. This third branch connects said first and second branches at one of their ends which gives the base 10 its U-shape.

The vertical frame 11 and the base 10 can be designed in the form of two separate parts which are connected to one another, for example by fitting fingers intended for this purpose with the installation of a means safety avoiding untimely disassembly. Such an embodiment makes it possible to dismantle the chair in order to store it, for example in a car trunk.

To facilitate understanding of the description, the front of the chair defines the space located on the side of the seat relative to the vertical frame, the rear of the chair the space located on the side of the vertical frame opposite the chair. The left and the right will be defined in relation to these directions by looking from the back towards the front of the chair.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the third branch 15 of the base 10 is arranged on the left of the chair.

A seat 2 is carried by the chassis. According to the invention, the mounting of said seat 2 on the chassis is such that said seat is removable, that is to say that it can be separated from chassis 1.

The seat 2 consists of a seat 20, a backrest 21 and, in the embodiment shown in the drawing, two armrests 22, preferably ergonomic.

According to the invention, the seat 20 of the seat is composed of two parts, a support plate 23 and a cushion 26 constituting the upper part of the seat on which the patient sits. The support plate 23 and the cushion 26 are mounted one on the other so as to be movable in rotation relative to each other about a vertical axis which is perpendicular to them.

The backrest 21 is carried by the cushion 26 of the seat. It is articulated relative to said cushion 26 by means not shown in the drawing so as to be movable in rotation relative to said cushion 26 and able to pass from a position for which it is perpendicular to the cushion 26 as shown in FIG. 1, at a position for which it is in the same plane as the cushion 26 as shown in FIG. 4. The means ensuring the movable mounting in rotation of the backrest 21 relative to the cushion 26 comprise a device for locking said backrest in the position for which it is perpendicular to the cushion 26, possibly with at least one stable intermediate locking position, at around 60 °.

When armrests 22 are provided, they are mounted on either side of the backrest 21 while being mobile in rotation between a position for which they are generally arranged in the plane of said backrest either upwards as shown in FIG. 4 or towards the bottom, and a position for which they are perpendicular to said backrest as shown in Figure 1. Said armrests can be locked in the position for which they are perpendicular to the backrest.

The seat 2 can thus be laid flat with the backrest and the armrests in the same plane as the seat.

The mounting of the cushion 26 on the support plate 23 with the possibility of rotation can use any mounting of known type, for example a mounting comprising circular grooves, shown diagrammatically by the circle 24 in dotted lines in FIG. 4, formed in the upper surface of the support plate 23 and in the lower surface of the cushion 26 between which, for example, balls can circulate.

Such an assembly using large diameter circular grooves is preferably chosen so as to release a large central space symbolized by the circle 25 in FIG. 4. This central space can then be hollowed out to allow the positioning of a wardrobe.

In this case, the support plate 23 is cut so as to have a wide opening in this central space while the seat 20 has removable portions allowing this central space to be freed. It is then possible to position a hygienic bucket under the seat or to position the chair above a toilet bowl.

The particular arrangement of the base 10 allows, after rotating the seat cushion so that the patient is directed to the left of the chair, to position the seat above the toilet bowl in arranging the branches 13 and 14 of the base part and; else of this bowl.

This possibility makes it possible to preserve the patient's privacy, which can be installed properly and safely and left alone.

Thanks to the means described above, an assembly is created consisting of the cushion 26, the backrest 21 and the armrests 22 when they are provided, which can pivot relative to the support plate 23. This assembly is also pivotable relative to the frame of the chair when the seat is mounted on said frame, the support plate remaining fixed in position relative to said frame. We will of course take care to size and conform the various elements of the seat to allow this rotation.

The support plate 23 is mounted on the chassis 1 by means of a support bracket 4 having means attaching to the support plate formed by two branches 42 parallel to each other and means attaching to the frame 11 of the chair formed of two branches 41 parallel to each other. The branches 42 and 41 are arranged on either side of an upright 40.

Different means of fixing the legs 42 to the support plate can be used, such as insertion into bores drilled in the thickness of said support plate or in flanges fixed to said plate.

The branches 41 are fixed to the frame by any known means, for example as shown in the drawing by fitting into end pieces 31 carried by said frame.

Said end pieces 31 form part of a device 3 for lifting the seat making it possible to adjust the height of said seat relative to the ground at will.

This lifting device consists of a frame 30 mounted movable in translation on two bars 16 of the vertical frame 11.

The frame 30 carries said end pieces 31. A control means 32 such as a manual assembly, an electric motor, a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is disposed between the branch 13 of the frame 11 and the frame 30 so as to ensure the movement of said frame 30 up or down along the bars 16.

When it is desired to position a bedridden patient on the chair, it is first of all necessary to rotate the cushion - backrest - armrest assembly relative to the support plate so as to position the backrest 21 perpendicularly to the vertical frame 11. The the chair is then approached the bed while adjusting the height of the support plate 23 relative to the ground so that said support plate rests on the patient's bed.

The backrest and the armrests are then brought into the position for which they are in the same plane as the seat 20.

The seat being thus laid flat on the bed, the patient can be dragged so that it is properly positioned relative to the seat and the backrest, this operation is facilitated when the armrests are ergonomic and have an upper surface inclined towards the outside.

The armrests 22 are then returned to their position perpendicular to the backrest and locked in this position, which ensures that the patient is held in place for the first time.

The file 21 is then brought back and locked in its position perpendicular to the seat 20, possibly with an intermediate blocking at around 60 °. This phase can be carried out using the tilting head of the bed if it exists.

At this instant, the patient is seated in the seat and supported by the back and the armrests with his legs still stretched out on his bed. A patient support belt on the seat can be put in place if the latter is not able to maintain themselves properly.

The control means 3 is then used to lift the seat and move it away from the mattress, then the chair is moved away from the bed.

The patient is thus seated in his chair while being turned to the right or to the left, it only remains to rotate the cushion 26 of the seat relative to the support plate to bring the seat in the position shown in Figure 1 for which the patient looks forward. A means not shown in the drawing ensures the blocking of the seat in the various useful positions.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention consists in enabling the support bracket 4, the support plate 23 and the end pieces 31 to be separated.

This alternative embodiment allows a more flexible use said chair according to the invention.

The seat 2 can be detached from the chassis, which makes it easy to place it on the bed. The chair is then reassembled by fixing the end pieces 31 on the support bracket 4 after having mounted the latter on the support plate 23.

The seat detached from the chassis can be used as a means of keeping the patient in a seated position and can be placed on a bed, a bench, a car seat.

This variant embodiment of the chair according to the invention is the only way to install a patient in a vehicle without having to carry him in the arms and contort to make him pass the door.

This variant also has the advantage of allowing the movement of several patients using a single frame on which the seat of a patient is fixed in turn. We can thus limit the need for equipment in retirement homes, hospitals, etc.

Another advantage of the chair according to the invention is that it can be used to position the patient in front of a table, possibly placing the armrests in the plane of the backrest so as not to impede the movements of the patient.

The seat of the chair according to the invention can be produced in different, more or less comfortable ways.

We can thus provide a plastic seat to allow its use in the shower.

A frame carrying legs can be supplied as an accessory to transform the mobile chair into a fixed chair. This frame is arranged and fixed to the seat 2 and the frame 1 is removed.

In known manner, it is possible to adapt to the chair according to the invention large wheels with handrails to allow the patient to move alone.

It is also possible to adapt footrests.

As we could understand, the chair according to the invention allows very easy handling of a patient even seriously affected by anyone around him without requiring significant effort.

Claims (10)

Chair particularly intended for patients with reduced mobility, comprising a frame (1) composed of a vertical frame (11) generally rectangular and a base (10) carrying castors (12), and a seat (2) consisting of at least one seat (20) and a back (21), characterized in that said seat (2) is removable to be separable said frame 1 and capable of being laid flat to be placed on a bed. Chair according to claim 1, characterized in that the seat (20) said seat comprises a support plate (23) and a cushion (26) mounted one on the other so as to be movable in rotation one relative to each other about a vertical axis which is perpendicular to them, said cushion (26) constituting the upper part of the seat (20) on which the patient sits. Chair according to claim 2, characterized in that the assembly constituted by the cushion (26) and the backrest (21) is pivotable relative to the support plate (23). Armchair according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a backrest locking device ensures that the backrest is maintained at least in the position for which it is perpendicular to the seat (20). Armchair according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that armrests (22) are mounted on either side of said backrest (21) being movable in rotation between a position for which they are generally arranged in the plane of said backrest, and a position for which they are perpendicular to said backrest, said armrests (22) being able to be locked in the position for which they are perpendicular to the backrest. Chair according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support plate (23) is mounted on the frame (1) by means of a support bracket (4). Chair according to claim 6, characterized in that the support bracket (4) has means (42) which are fixed to the support plate (23) and means (41) which are fixed to the frame (11) of the chair. Chair according to claim 7, characterized in that the support bracket (4) is fixed on end pieces (31) of the chassis forming part of a device (3) for lifting the seat allowing the height of said seat to be adjusted as desired. relative to the ground. Chair according to claim 8, characterized in that the lifting device (3) consists of a frame (30) mounted movable in translation on the vertical frame (11) and a control means (32) ensuring the movement of said frame (30) upwards or downwards. Armchair according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support plate (23) is movable relative to the cushion (26) by the installation of a mounting comprising circular grooves (24) formed in the surface upper of the support plate (23) and in the lower surface of the cushion (26).

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