EP2833850B1 - Foot-rest for a wheelchair - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a chair footrest for persons with reduced mobility. It also relates to an armchair comprising such a footrest.

The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to a wheelchair, for example but not exclusively to an electric wheelchair.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

Wheelchairs equipped with a fixed footrest are known in the state of the art. The transfer of patients who wish to access the wheelchair or get off the wheelchair is hampered by the footrest.

In the case of a relatively light manual wheelchair, it also happens that the wheelchair tilts forward when the user stands up and presses his weight on the footrest that is not in contact with the ground .

Also known in the state of the art wheelchairs provided with a retractable footrest inward or outwardly to facilitate the transfer of patients. Adjusting the height of the footrest to the ideal height depending on the morphology of the patient is often difficult and requires tools.
Also known in the state of the art wheelchairs provided with a retractable footrest (inward or outward) and further detachable to facilitate the transfer of patients. The problem remains the same as before.

The document EP 2 179 715 discloses a wheelchair having a footrest and a calf support arranged to provide comfort of the legs to the occupant of the chair. The calf support is fixed, the footrest is connected to the frame member by a hinge mechanism that allows, after unlocking a lock, to reverse the amount to the rear and lift the pallet. This one is then stuck behind the support of calf. The positioning of the footrest in one or other of the intended positions involves tedious manipulations often requiring the presence of another person when the chair is used by a person with reduced mobility whose movements are restricted.

The document EP 1 872 762 describes a wheelchair with independent footrests on each side, folding and adjustable in height manually. A lever mechanism connected to a cable makes it possible to implement the function of folding a footrest on one side. Another lever adjusts the height of a footrest on one side. To perform these functions on both footrests, four levers are required. In addition to the complexity of the systems implemented, it is common to meet wheelchair users who do not have the ability to manipulate this type of lever on one or both sides. These last users are then deprived of the use of these functions.

The document EP 1,522,297 discloses a footrest for a wheelchair according to the preamble of claim 1.

There is therefore a need for a simpler and more ergonomic solution from the point of view of the user.

To overcome these various disadvantages, the invention provides various technical means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

First, a first object of the invention is to provide a footrest for a wheelchair for a transfer of the user to access or get off the chair in a simple way and without being bothered by the presence of the footrest.

An object of the invention is also to allow a third person, for example a caregiver or a caregiver, to assist the patient in his transfers without being bothered by the presence of footrests.

An object of the invention is also to allow a transfer of the user by placing the foot flat on the footrest.

An object of the invention is also to avoid the risk of tilting the wheelchair forward when the user stands on the footrest.

Another object of the invention is to provide a footrest, including a footrest for electric wheelchair, the height of which can be adjusted electrically.

Another object of the invention to provide a footrest, including a footrest for electric wheelchair, more ergonomic than existing footrest.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a footrest whose height can be adjusted easily and without tools to obtain a sitting position that best corresponds to the wishes, morphology and pathology of the user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a footrest that allows the user to easily adjust, at any time of the day, the height of the footrest to improve comfort and / or to prevent bedsores.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a footrest whose height can be easily adjusted throughout the day to prevent the risk of pressure ulcers.

• un montant télescopique ;
• un plateau à l'extrémité inférieure du montant télescopique;
• un actionneur adapté pour permettre l'extension et la rétraction du montant télescopique ;
• un détecteur de fin de course, couplé à l'actionneur et agencé de façon à détecter un obstacle sous le repose-pied.

To do this, the invention provides a footrest for a wheelchair comprising:

• a telescopic post;
• a tray at the lower end of the telescopic post;
• an actuator adapted to allow extension and retraction of the telescopic post;
• an end-of-travel detector, coupled to the actuator and arranged to detect an obstacle under the footrest.

The limit switch can for example be located in the extension direction of the telescopic post.

The footrest can be electrified and controlled by a control box.

With such an architecture, the user can easily adjust the height of the footrest according to his needs, at any time, without having to use the help of another person to make manual adjustments often tedious. For people with reduced mobility looking for a certain independence in the realization of the daily actions, this aspect presents a notable progress.

In particular, the user can control the positioning of the footrest to place it at ground level. He thus has easy access to his chair to sit or stand up. Once seated, he can adjust the vertical position of the footrest to a level that gives him the maximum comfort.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the platform of the footrest is pivoted from top to bottom and from bottom to top, so that the remote portion of the footrest can approach or move away from the telescopic post.

Advantageously, the footrest comprises a motor for actuating the pivoting of the footrest plate.

Joystick control or any other control member may be provided to adjust the height of the telescopic post

Also advantageously, the platform of the footrest is coupled to a stroke limiter limiting the pivoting of the footrest so as to place it automatically in a position parallel to the ground

According to another advantageous embodiment, the footrest further comprises a position detector, arranged to limit the stroke of the telescopic post in retraction mode. The position detector is preferably adjustable. This detector is used for example to allow to automatically find a favorite position of the user, previously selected.

The invention further provides a chair with a footrest as previously described.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un exemple de repose-pied selon l'invention;
• la figure 2 est une vue de côté en élévation du repose-pied de la figure 1 en mode d'extension maximale ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de côté en élévation du repose-pied de la figure 1 en mode d'extension minimale ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de côté en élévation du repose-pied de la figure 1 en mode d'extension minimale et avec pivotement du plateau repose-pied ;
• la figure 5 est une vue agrandie du repose-pied dans la configuration présentée à la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 montre un fauteuil pourvu d'un repose-pied selon l'invention.

All the details of realization are given in the description which follows, completed by the Figures 1 to 6 , presented solely for purposes of non-limiting examples, and in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of a footrest according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a side elevation view of the footrest of the figure 1 in maximum extension mode;
• the figure 3 is a side elevation view of the footrest of the figure 1 in minimal extension mode;
• the figure 4 is a side elevation view of the footrest of the figure 1 in minimum extension mode and with pivoting of the footrest plate;
• the figure 5 is an enlarged view of the footrest in the configuration presented at figure 4 ;
• the figure 6 shows an armchair provided with a footrest according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The figure 1 illustrates in perspective view an embodiment of a footrest 1 according to the invention. A telescopic post 2 is connected to a chair adapter 9. In the conventional operating position, the telescopic post 2 is provided to be positioned substantially vertically and extends between the area under the seat of the chair 10 and a footrest plate 3 provided at the opposite end. The amount 2 is advantageously telescopic between a retracted position, shown at figure 3 , and an extended position, shown to Figures 1 and 2 . An axial actuator 4, such as a jack or a linear motor with electric or hydraulic or pneumatic control cooperating with the telescopic upright 2, allows the latter to adopt an appropriate elongation according to the needs of the user. The user can thus easily position the footrest at the level giving it the best comfort, between the two extreme positions permitted by the telescopic post 2. In addition, the telescopic post 2 allows the footrest plate 3 to reach the ground level.

To avoid any excessive extension, an end-of-travel detector 5 is advantageously provided in cooperation with the telescopic upright and the actuator 4. The end-of-stroke detector makes it possible to stop the extension of the upright 2 when an obstacle is reached. In current use, when the footrest 3 contacts the ground, the limit switch 5 stops the extension of the amount. In the example shown in figure 4 , the end-of-stroke detector is provided at the level of the axial actuator 4.

During contact with the ground or another obstacle, the limit switch is engaged by the actuator 4 which undergoes a slight axial displacement against the detector 5 due to the axial locking of the remote end of the telescopic upright. In an alternative embodiment, the end-of-travel detector is a switch positioned under the plate 3 and intended to be operated when in contact with the ground. In another variant, the end-of-stroke detector is a torque sensor, which is engaged when the axial actuator 4 generates a torque beyond a certain threshold, signifying that the footrest plate is likely in contact with the ground, or with an obstacle. Other limit switches can be devised to detect contact of the footrest with the ground.

For greater comfort, one or more preferred intermediate heights of the footrest 3 are adjustable or selectable so as to allow it to automatically stop at a pre-adjusted position during a repositioning uphill or downhill footrest tray. One or more axial position detectors 8 of the footrest plate or one or more adjustable stops may allow the implementation of this function. The user can thus benefit from one or more favorite positions easily obtainable at any time.

As we see in Figures 2 to 5 , the footrest 3 is connected to the upright 2 so as to be pivotable between a position substantially parallel to the ground, as illustrated in FIG. figure 2 , intended to facilitate transfers in or from the chair, and a comfort position, in which the footrest is slightly inclined towards the telescopic post 2, as shown in FIG. figure 4 . A radial actuator 6, electrically or hydraulically or pneumatically controlled to control this rotation. The rotation can for example be performed automatically as soon as contact of the footrest with the ground has been detected. A pivot stroke limiter 7 is advantageously provided at the pivoting connection of the plate 3 so as to prevent the latter from tilting away from the upright 2 beyond a plane substantially parallel to the ground.

The tilting and vertical positioning of the footrest plate are advantageously provided in close proximity to the hands of the user. They may be push buttons, lever or joysticks, joysticks, or any other type of known type of control interface.

Alternatively, to prevent the footrest is at ground level with an angular position not parallel to the ground, a contactor solicits the radial actuator to position the footrest in a substantially flat position. The limit switch 5 can be used for this function.

The figure 6 shows a wheelchair 10 having an adjustable footrest 1 according to the invention. In this example, the footrest is fixed to the frame of the chair.

The invention can also be adapted to non-electric footrests, for example to manual footrests or with gas struts.

Claims (8)

1. A wheelchair (10) foot-rest (1) including:

   - a telescoping upright (2);

   - a plate (3), at the lower end of the telescoping upright (2); and

   - an actuator (4) suitable for allowing the extension and retraction of the telescoping upright (2)

   characterized in that

   - an end-of-travel detector (5) is coupled to the actuator (4) and arranged to detect an obstacle below the plate (3).
2. The foot-rest according to claim 1, wherein the plate (3) pivots such that the distant portion of the foot-rest can come closer to or further from the telescoping upright (2).
3. The foot-rest according to claim 2, further including an actuator (6) ensuring the motorized pivoting of the plate (3).
4. The foot-rest according to claim 3, arranged so as to pivot the plate (3) into a position substantially parallel to the ground once the foot-rest is in contact with the ground.
5. The foot-rest according to claim 4, including a travel limiter (7) limiting the pivoting movement of the plate such that the latter is substantially parallel to the ground when the plate is in contact with the ground.
6. The foot-rest according to one of claims 1 to 5, further including a position detector (8), arranged to limit the travel of the telescoping upright (2) in retraction mode.
7. The foot-rest according to claim 6, wherein the position detector (8) is adjustable.
8. A chair (10) including a foot-rest (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7.

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