EP3292792A1

EP3292792A1 - Adjustable armrest

Info

Publication number: EP3292792A1
Application number: EP16188134.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bo Lindqvist
Original assignee: Etac Supply Center AB
Current assignee: Etac Supply Center AB
Priority date: 2016-09-09
Filing date: 2016-09-09
Publication date: 2018-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 2036-09-09
Also published as: DK3292792T3; EP3292792B1

Abstract

An adjustable armrest comprises a main portion (3) with one free end and one connected end (9). The connected end (9) of the main portion (3) is pivotably arranged around an approximately horizontal pivot axis (12). An enclosure (4) is arranged around the pivot axis (12) and the connected end (9) of the main portion (3).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention concerns an adjustable armrest, comprising a main portion with one free end and one connected end, which is pivotably arranged around an approximately horizontal pivot axis.

PRIOR ART

There are a number of adjustable and pivotable armrests for various seats and chairs, especially seats and chairs for elderly and disabled people. Some examples of seats with adjustable armrests may be seen in WO2014/077473 , US5561872 , and DE202006018219 . One common denominator for these examples of armrests is that they form part of complex and bulky apparatuses. The possibilities to adjust the armrests is limited to either a pivoting movement for facilitating sitting down on or standing up from the seat, or to a possibility of raising or lowering the height of the armrests for accommodating the height and needs of the user. The possibility of both types of adjustment is very rare.
One particular problem with pivoting armrests is that while they need to be positioned close to the seat, to be useful to the user, this position also entails a risk that parts of the user's clothing get caught in the pivoting mechanism or that there is actually a risk of pinching body parts in the pivoting mechanism. A risk of pinching is not only uncomfortable, but could also mean a risk of injury. Considering that disabled or weak persons are the intended users of many of the seats and armrests, such a risk of pinching is not acceptable.
Many of the armrests of the prior art are included in equipment intended to be used either in an institution, such as a hospital or a nursing home, or in the private home of a user. The available space in a private home is often limited, and there is usually a desire that the equipment is not cumbersome to family members or visitors to the user. Another desire is that the equipment is as aesthetically pleasing as possible, and blends in well with the surroundings.

PROBLEM STRUCTURE

There is hence a need for a reliable and secure armrest, which may be pivoted in order to accommodate the user's need for space, where the risk of pinching has been eliminated. Preferably the armrest is also height adjustable.

SOLUTION

The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the armrest indicated in the introduction is characterized in that an enclosure is arranged around the pivot axis and the connected end of the main portion.
Further advantages will be attained if the armrest is given one or more of the features of the subclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1: is a perspective view of a toilet seat comprising two armrests according to the invention;
Fig. 2: is an exploded perspective view of a part of the armrest, with parts of the side walls cut out;
Fig. 3: is a partial sectional view of the armrest;
Fig. 4a: is a partial side view of the armrest, with parts of the side walls cut out; and
Fig. 4b: is a section according to line A-A in fig. 4a.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A toilet seat 1 including two armrests 2 according to the invention, is shown in Fig. 1. The toilet seat 1 includes conventional parts of a toilet seat 1, such as a ring 5, a lid 6 and fastening screws 7, for mounting the seat 1 on a regular commode. Hence the toilet seat 1 may be mounted on a standard commode, which makes it ideal for use in the home of a user, where a commode is already installed, and where a modification of the bathroom is needed, in order to enable a user to continue living in their own home at a reasonable cost.
The seat 1 is provided with two armrests 2, one on either side of the seat 1. In Fig. 1, the armrests 2 are shown in a regular position of use, i. e. where they are pivoted to extend along the sides of the seat 1, at a level some distance above the seat 1, where a user may easily grip one or both of the armrests 2 for support.
Each of the armrests 2 includes a main portion 3 with a free, forward end 8 and a connected, rear end 9. The connected end 9 is pivotably arranged around an approximately horizontal pivot axis, which is not visible in fig 1. The connected end 9 and the pivot axis are arranged inside an enclosure 4 at the side of the toilet seat 1. When the main portion 3 of the armrest 2 is pivoted upwards to an approximately vertical position, the user will be able to move into the space otherwise occupied by the main portion 3, e. g. for gaining access to the seat 1 from the side. Pivoting the main portion 3 upwards would also allow an assistant better access to the user sitting on the toilet seat 1, thereby allowing a better assistance. Another advantage, if space is limited, is that there is no particular demand for space next to the seat 1, for allowing the main portion 3 to pivot.
After the user has gained their position on the toilet seat 1, there may be a need for pivoting the main portion 3 again. Regardless of the direction where the main portion 3 is pivoted, the connected end 9 of the main portion 3 moves inside the enclosure 4, thereby eliminating the risk that the user is pinched or that their clothing or other equipment get caught in the pivoting mechanism or between the connected end 9 and an abutment at the end position of the pivoting movement.
The main parts of the connected end 9 and the enclosure 4 are shown in the exploded view of Fig 2. A height adjustment device 10 is shown separated from the connected end 9, where it is arranged in a position of use. Parts of the side walls 14, 15 of the enclosure 4 and of the connected end 9 are cut away in Fig. 2, so that it is possible to see the insides of these two components.
The connected end 9 is provided with an oblong recess 11 at its rear side, i. e. the side facing away from the forward free end of the main portion 3. The recess 11 will cooperate with a pivot axis 12 in the enclosure 4, when the armrest 2 is in its position of use. The pivot axis 12 extends between the two sidewalls 14 of the enclosure 4. During the mounting of the main portion 3 in the enclosure 4, the main portion 3 is preferably held in an upright position and lowered into the enclosure 4, so that the pivot axis 12 is inserted into the recess 11.
A slight extra pressure in the longitudinal direction of the recess 11 will be needed, in order to let the pivot axis 12 pass a shoulder 16, which is provided at one side in the recess 11, in order to prevent accidental disconnection of the main portion 3 from the enclosure 4, once it has been mounted. In order to loosen the main portion 3 from the enclosure 4, it will have to be pivoted upwards, to a dismounting position, and thereafter the main portion is pulled in its longitudinal direction, in order to let the shoulder 16 pass the pivot axis 12.
The dismounting position is preferably located close to the position where the main portion 3 is pivoted maximally upwards, but other locations are possible, depending on the exact shapes of the shoulder 16 and the pivot axis 12.
In the mounted state, i. e. the state wherein the armrest 2 will be supplied to the user, the pivot axis 12 will be in direct contact with the rounded inner end 17 of the recess 11. The main portion 3 is pivotable around the pivot axis 12, but the enclosure 4 will limit the pivoting movement to approximately ¼ of a turn, which corresponds to the movement needed for switching the main portion 3 between an upright position and a lowered position.
In the mounted state, the recess 11 and its opening are arranged inside the enclosure 4, thereby eliminating the risk for injuries or discomfort to the user due to pinching.
The height adjustment device 10 is arranged at the rear end of the main portion 3. It is designed to enable positioning thereof in several different positions along the rear end of the main portion 3. The height adjustment device 10 includes an inclined surface 13, which is designed to come into contact with a stepped structure 25 on the inside of a rear wall 18 of the enclosure 4. The rear wall 18 extends between the two side walls 14. Depending on the position of the height adjustment device 10, the inclined surface 13 will come into contact with different parts of the stepped structure 25 at different degrees of pivoting of the main portion 13. The different degrees of pivoting correspond to different lowered positions of the main portion 3, which is perceived by the user as different heights of the armrest 2.
In order to adapt the armrests 2 to one particular user, the height adjustment device 10 is placed in the position that best corresponds to the needs of the user, and will not need to be adjusted further. For armrests 2 that are used by many users, an intermediate position that suits the average user may be selected.
The lateral sides of the height adjustment device 10 are provided with at least one angled part 20, which registers with either of the corresponding angled recesses 21 at the connected end 9 of the main portion 3. The angled parts 20 are flexible, so that it is possible to snap the adjustment device into its desired position.
In order to stop the armrest from being lifted to an upright position, there is the option of inserting a stop screw 19 through one of the walls of the enclosure 4 and the main portion 3, as suggested in fig 2.
In Fig. 3, which is a section through the connected end 9 of the main portion 3 and the enclosure 4, the inside of these parts are shown in greater detail. The direction and width of the recess 11 ensure that the main portion 3 must first be pivoted to its upright position, before it can be removed from the enclosure 4.
The height adjustment device 10 is shown in its innermost position in Fig. 3. It may be moved into a different position by manipulation of the actuator 22. When the height adjustment device 10 is pulled slightly outwards from the position shown in Fig. 3, the inclined surface 13 will contact another part of the stepped structure 25 at earlier stage of the pivoting, when the main portion 3 is pivoted downwards, thereby resulting in a higher position of the armrest 2. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the actuator 22 is also dimensioned such that it will contact the inside of the rear wall 18 at the same time as the inclined surface 13 contacts the stepped structure 25.
The inside of the connected end 9 of the main portion 3 is provided with a number of strengthening walls 23, and snap-fasteners 24 which are designed in accordance with the skilled person's knowledge, and which could be varied further according to the common general knowledge in the field. Further well-known elements, such as screw pockets, ribs, other types of fasteners etc, may also be included.
Fig 4a which shows the connected end 9 of the main portion, is a planar view from the side, where the side walls 14, 15 of the enclosure 4 and the connected end 9 are partly cut away. The stepped structure 25 and the height adjustment device 10 with its slanted surface 13 are clearly visible, in accordance with what is shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.
Fig. 4b shows a section along line A-A in Fig. 4a, mainly disclosing the height adjustment device 10 in a planar view. The angled part 20 on the side of the height adjustment device 10 cooperates with one of the angled recesses 21. For the sake of clarity, it should be pointed out that the angled recesses 21 on the opposite side of the height adjustment device 10 are not shown, as they are situated on the cut away part of the wall 15. As the angled parts 20 are thin-walled, they are resilient, and will flex back into another angled recess 20, if the height adjustment device 10 is shifted to a different position.
The side projections 26 are slightly angled, in order to facilitate insertion of the height adjustment device 10 past the angled recesses 21. The angle of the side projections 26 will, however, restrict a passage in the opposite direction past the angled recesses 21, so that the height adjustment 10 may be adjusted if needed, but it will be difficult to pull out completely. As the height of the armrest 1 will only be adjusted once, in most cases, when the seat is installed for a particular user, the limited access thereto is not a problem. In fact, it would often be an advantage that the height of the armrest 2 is not easily changed by accident.
In the preferred embodiment that has been described above, the armrest 2 is shown in connection with a toilet seat. It would of course be useful in connection with other types of seats, where an armrest 2 would be needed, not only for disabled users. Some examples are shower chairs or stools, chairs used during medical or dental examinations or treatments, chairs for waiting rooms etc.
The invention may be varied further within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Adjustable armrest (2), comprising a main portion (3) with one free end (8) and one connected end (9), which is pivotably arranged around an approximately horizontal pivot axis (12), characterized in that an enclosure (4) is arranged around the pivot axis (12) and the connected end (9) of the main portion (3).
Adjustable armrest (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the enclosure (4) has two sidewalls (14), and that the pivot axis (12) extends between the side walls (14).
Adjustable armrest (2) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the connected end (9) of the main portion (3) has an open recess (11) for the pivot axis (12), and the opening thereof is covered by the enclosure (4), regardless of the pivotal position of the main portion (3).
Adjustable armrest (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the recess (11) is provided with a shoulder (16), for preventing accidental disconnection of the main portion (3) from the enclosure (4).
Adjustable armrest (2) according to any of claim 1 to 4, characterized in that a height adjustment device (10) is arranged in the main portion (3), for abutment against the inside of the enclosure (4).
Adjustable armrest (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the height adjustment device (10) is positionable in two or more positions, thereby providing alternate heights of the main portion (3).
Adjustable armrest (2) according to either of claim 3 or claim 4, as dependent on claim 2, characterized in that the height adjustment device (10) has an inclined surface (13), for abutment against the inside of an end wall (18), extending between the side walls (14) of the enclosure (4).
Toilet seat (1) comprising an adjustable armrest (2) according to any of claims 1 to 7.