ES2462390T3 - A chair for a disabled person - Google Patents

Abstract

A chair for a physically disabled person, comprising a seat base (10), a backrest (18), a pad (28) to support the sacral region of a person sitting in the chair, such that the position of the seat pad (28) is adjustable with respect to the base; characterized in that a pair of thigh support plates (50) are slidably and rotatably mounted, side by side, on the base for an independent depth adjustment with respect to the base (10) and rotation with respect to the base around a vertical axis.

Description

A chair for a disabled person

This invention relates to a chair for a disabled person and, in particular, to a chair that has been designed to provide a correct posture while sitting, and to be adaptable to a large number of body shapes / sizes and which is intended, in particular, to be used by children. Such a chair is known from US 6,378,947.

Background of the invention

Young children, particularly those in the category between 4 and 12 years of age, who have physical disabilities will often have difficulty finding a seat that is suitable for their needs. The seat can play a very important role in the lives of these children as a result of their disabilities and is often an essential part of many daily activities such as food, playtime, school, therapy and interaction. General with family and friends. Improper seating will cause discomfort and, therefore, distraction, and, due to the amount of time you are sitting, it can begin to seriously affect the quality of life for these children. There are, however, a large number of challenges to face when it comes to adapting to the position of the pelvis while sitting, for example, rotation, pelvic tilt, medial alignment and obliqueness.

The "rotation" of the pelvis occurs when a child is not sitting with his pelvis straight in the chair. The base of your back is not aligned with the back of the chair. The rotation can be presented as a shortening of one of the femurs or as a “tilted hip” [abduction and external rotation of one hip, and adduction and internal rotation of the other]. If a chair cannot accommodate the shortening, the pelvis can be carried forward on the shortest side. If a chair cannot accommodate a child's hip tilting, their femurs must often be placed straight forward and in parallel. This also pulls the pelvis out of its alignment, in rotation.

Many children with these special needs have not had the possibility to benefit from activities such as crawling, sitting or getting up. These activities normally contribute to development from the fetal curve, to the secondary and tertiary curvatures of the spine. This means that they tend to sit on the sacrum, which is known as "pelvic tilt." This will be done to fit the spine, which gives them a stable position.

The medial alignment of the pelvis is also very important, as is the adaptation to, or the correction of, the obliqueness, in the event that a child presents the pelvis in a laterally inclined position.

Children with special needs will often need physical therapy in order to work on their postural needs, whether resulting from a flexible or fixed deformity.

It is, therefore, a purpose of the present invention to provide a chair that is configured to accommodate people with various physical disabilities and, therefore, postural needs.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide a chair that is configured to maintain or correct a flexible deformity and / or adapt to a fixed deformity.

Summary of the invention

In accordance with the present invention, a chair is provided for a physically disabled person, having the characteristics of claim 1.

Preferably, the height, depth and angular position of the seat pad around a substantially horizontal and transverse axis are independently adjustable with respect to the base.

Preferably, the side edges of the seat pad can be adjusted to different depths.

Preferably, the chair comprises an elastically flexible lumbar support member, fixed at its lower end to the seat pad and extending upwardly therefrom.

Preferably, an upper end of the lumbar support member is slidably captured by the backrest.

Preferably, the base comprises a transverse rib intended to engage, during use, in the crease between the buttocks, or sacral hollow, of a person sitting in the chair.

The chair comprises a pair of thigh support members, slidably and rotatably mounted, side by side on the base, for an independent depth adjustment with respect to the base, and a rotation with respect to the base around an axis vertical.

Preferably, each mulso support is capable of rotating with respect to the base in such a way that it extends over a central line that goes from the rear to the front of the base.

Preferably, the substantially horizontal and transverse axis passes, during use, at least approximately through a position corresponding to the ischial tuberosity of the pelvic base of a person sitting in the chair.

Preferably, the chair comprises a pelvic harness releasably secured to the seat pad.

Preferably, the pelvic harness is secured to the seat pad by means of a pair of coupling elements whose position can be modified.

Preferably, the pelvic harness is adjustable in achura.

Preferably, the pelvic harness has been shaped and sized to provide an anatomical fit with the iliac crests.

Preferably, the pelvic harness is releasably anchored in the base.

Preferably, the chair comprises a pair of articulated footrests with respect to the base.

Preferably, each footrest is attached to a respective one of the thigh support members.

Preferably, each thigh support member comprises a pair of vertical thigh retainers.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a chair is provided for a physically disabled person, comprising a seat base and a backrest, in which the angular position of the backrest is adjustable with respect to the base around a substantially axis. horizontal and transverse that passes, during use, at least approximately through the ischial tuberosity of the base of the pelvis of a person sitting in the chair.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, a chair is provided for a physically disabled person, comprising a seat base, a backrest and a pair of thigh and buttock support members, slidably and rotatably mounted, side with side, in the base, for an independent adjustment of the depth with respect to the base and for the rotation with respect to the base around a vertical axis.

In the present context, the depth dimension is the backward distance from the front edge of the base, and a transverse axis is a substantially normal axis to the center line that goes from the front to the back of the base.

As used herein, the term "chair" is intended to mean an autonomous element that has a support structure intended for it, such as conventional legs or similar elements. Additionally, a "chair" can be an insert or similar element, intended to be arranged as an interface with an existing chair or other support, for example, a height-adjustable base, motorized and non-motorized wheelchairs, and trolleys for children.

Brief description of the drawings

An embodiment of the invention will be described below, by way of example, with reference to the drawings to be accompany, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chair according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a side view of the chair of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the chair of Figure 1, in which the backrest has been omitted. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the chair of Figure 1, in which the cushions of seat.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the chair of Figure 1, in which the pelvic harness has been omitted. Figure 6 is a perspective view from behind the chair of Figure 5, in which the various have been omitted cushions

Detailed description of the drawings

It will be appreciated that, although Figures 4, 5 and 6 show an aesthetic design of a chair slightly different from that of Figures 1 to 3, they are functionally the same and will be considered as the same chair for the purposes of the present specification.

Referring to the drawings, a chair for a disabled person comprises a rigid base 10, which has a three-part seat cushion comprising a pair of front cushions 12A, located side by side, and a rear cushion 12B. The base 10 has preferably been molded of a plastic material, although any other suitable arrangement can be used. The front seat bearings 12A are mounted on the front ends of respective thigh and buttock support plates 50, which are adjustable in a sliding and rotational manner with respect to the base 10, as will be described later. The rear seat cushion 12B extends in common through the rear ends of the plates 50, behind the cushions 12A. Adjustable footrest brackets 11 extend downward from the front parts of the support plates 50, respectively, and terminate on footrests 52. The seat base 10 may be mounted on legs (not shown) or other means to support the base 10 at a suitable height above the ground. It will be appreciated that the particular arrangement of the cushions described above can be modified without affecting the overall functional capacity of the chair.

The rear seat cushion 12B has been contoured to define a depression 14 intended to accommodate the buttocks, and a transverse rib 16 to engage the crease between the buttocks, or sacral hollow, of a person sitting in the chair. Depression 14 receives the buttocks and, with the addition of the rib 16 located in the sacral hollow, helps prevent the pelvis from sliding forward until a posture is established on the sacral bone. The front end of each support plate 50 has a pair of vertical mulch retainers at their opposite edges, in the form of wings 54, in order to ensure that a user's thigh remains centered on the plate 50.

The chair includes a padded backrest 18 (the padding has been omitted in Figures 4 and 6), mounted on a rigid frame for rotation around a horizontal and transverse axis XX, defined by pivot points 20 located on each side of the base 10. The frame includes a wide bracket 22 generally formed in a U-shape, whose opposite free ends are pivotally mounted at points 20, as well as two arms 24 that extend rigidly upward from the center of the bracket 22 , such that the backrest 18 is mounted on the arms 24. This arrangement allows the angular position of the backrest 18 to be adjusted with respect to the base 10, such that the backrest is maintained at any selected angle by means of some posts 26 telescopic adjustable anchor. The sides 23 of the bracket 22 are telescopically adjustable to allow adjustment of the depth of the backrest 18 with respect to the front of the base 10.

The chair also includes a pad 28 intended to support the lower sacral and lumbar region of a person sitting in the chair. The seat pad 28 is mounted on two arms 30 which are pivotally arranged with respect to the arms 24, at respective pivot points defined by a pair of bolts 32. The pivot points (bolts) 32 define a horizontal axis and transverse YY which is substantially parallel to the axis XX defined by the pivot points 20, and, for any given position of the backrest 18, allow to adjust the angular position of the seat pad 28 with respect to the base 10 by the rotation around to that axis. The depth of the seat pad 28, that is, its distance back from the leading edge of the base 10, as well as its height above the base, can also be adjusted by sliding the bolts 32 into slots. 33 existing in arms 24 and 30.

Preferably, and as seen in Figure 3, the arms 30 are pivoted towards the rear of the seat pad 28 in order to allow the arms 30 to be adjusted at different depths with respect to the arms 24. This allows that the side edges of the pad 28 be adjusted at different depths, which makes it possible to effectively rotate the pad about an axis normal to the YY axis.

The seat pad 28 can be secured at any selected depth, height and angular position, by tightening the bolts 32 at the pivot points. The ability to independently adjust the seat pad 28 with respect to height, depth and angular position allows the pad 28 to adapt to the pelvic position and the antero-posterior inclination. Referring, in particular, to Figure 6, each of the arms 30 has preferably been provided as a certain number of interleaved plates, although any other suitable configuration may be employed.

An elastically flexible lumbar support member 34 has been fixed at its lower end in the seat pad 28 and extends upwardly therefrom. As seen in Figure 2, the upper end of the lumbar support member 34 is slidably captured by the padded backrest 18 (the upper end of the member 34 has been shown free of the backrest in Figures 1, 4 and 6) . During use, since the seat pad 28 is angled, the flexible support member 34 adjusts and distributes the load over the lower back. In this way, the combination of the seat pad 28 and the lumbar support member 34 can help a child to adopt a more extended posture, in which he has the desired lower spinal curve and an improved upper trunk position. Likewise, in the event that a child has a lumbar lordosis, the seat pad 28 and the lumbar support member 34 will help bring them back to a more neutral position. In the event that lumbar kyphosis or lordosis is fixed, the seat pad 28 and the support member 34, being flexible, have been designed to adapt to this by conforming to the shape of the child, in order to maintain a position comfortable.

The chair additionally includes a pair of wing-shaped coupling elements 36, each of which extends forward from a respective side end of the seat pad 28. The coupling elements 36 are preferably , elastically flexible or likely to move laterally to adapt to pelvic growth and medial alignment. Each coupling element 36 has preferably been shaped as an L-shaped leg so as to project laterally and then outward from the seat pad 28. Each coupling element 36 is sliding in and out of the seat pad 28, and can be fixed in any desired position by means of a bolt or other appropriate fastener.

A padded pelvic harness 38 has been attached to the coupling elements 36 of the seat pad 28, such that the pelvic harness will follow the angular, height and depth adjustments made to the seat pad 28. The harness 38 is preferably secured to the coupling elements 36 using conventional buckle type joints, although any other suitable fastening element can be used. The harness 38 can be adjusted in width by a buckle 40 located in the front, such that the harness pads located on each side of the buckle 40 fit correctly over the iliac crests (the bony prominence located in the front of the pelvis). Two additional straps 42 anchor the harness 38 to the base 10, in order to prevent the harness 38 and the seat pad 28 from rising in the event that the user pulls his pelvis forward. The lengths of the tapes 42 can be adjusted in order to provide the correct fit, and to allow the growth of a child.

The axis of rotation of the backrest 18, as defined by the pivot points 20, is located sufficiently below the backrest 18, and ahead with respect thereto, so as to pass, at least approximately, through the ischial tuberosity of the base from the pelvis of a person sitting in the chair. Thus, when a user is seated and the backrest 18 reclines, the user does not rotate around the knee joint located at the head of the femur and the acetabulum of the pelvis, but by the ischial tuberosity of the base of the pelvis . This means that the rib 16 for the buttocks, the pelvic harness 38 and the lumbar support member 34 are always in the correct anatomical position when the backrest 18 is tilted, which ensures that this region is properly supported.

The seat pad 28, the lumbar support member 34 and the pelvic harness 38 have been combined in a single dynamic assembly in order to place the pelvis in an optimal neutral position, for improved postural support and to maximize functional capacity. As indicated by the four arrows pointing inwards in Figure 2, the pelvis is captured by opposing forces through the seat pad 28, the contoured seat cushion 12B located at the back of the buttocks, the rib 16 for the buttocks located in the sacral hollow, and the pelvic harness 38, which is located above the iliac crests of the pelvis. This four-point pelvic placement helps a child sit with the pelvis in a more horizontal position, and corrects the flexible obliqueness.

In order to ensure that the pelvis is always parallel to the backrest 18, and in the event that the user cannot be taken to recover a midline, it is necessary to adapt to a leg tilt. Thus, and referring, in particular, to Figures 3 to 5, each thigh and buttock support plate 50 has a pair of grooves 56A, 56B which are coupled by respective pins 58A, 58B, carried by the base 10. This allows each support plate 50 to be individually adjusted in depth with respect to the base 10, as the pins 58A, 58B slide along the grooves 56A, 56B, respectively. On the other hand, although the pin 58A is fixed with respect to the base 10, the pin 58B can slide along a curved groove 60 formed in the base 10, edged on the pin 58A. This allows each support plate 50 to be rotated about a substantially vertical axis, in particular, such that the inner edge of one of the support plates 50 can rotate beyond the rear center line CC of the base 10 In this way, each support plate 50 can be rotated to a position that extends above the center line CC. Since the footrests 52 are mounted on the lower ends of the supports 11, and the latter are attached to the front edges of the support plates 50, the footrests 52 will be adjusted with the plates 50.

Accordingly, the support plates 50 can be individually adjusted to adapt to varying degrees of abduction or adduction on each leg, and the rotation of the plates 50 allows an angular adjustment with respect to the plane of the backrest 18. Like the footrests 52 also fit with calf brackets 50, the position of the foot is always in line with the femurs. The supports 11 for the left leg and the right leg are locked at the desired depth and angle by means of a mechanical fastener to the base of the seat. Although the footrests 52 are designed to follow the leg supports 50 as they pivot laterally, the footrests 52 are preferably configured to remain in position as the leg support 50 moves forward. This is to allow the placement of the feet to be more and more behind the knee line as the child grows.

In addition, when a child has tense posterior ligaments, which puts him in a sitting position with his knees at 90 °, this can easily disturb his pelvic tilt, forcing him to "seat on the sacrum." For this reason, the backrests 52 can be adjusted in height with respect to the base 10. On the other hand, the angle of the backrests 52 can be adjusted, for example, by swinging the backrests 52, in order to adapt both to the flexion. plant as dorsiflexion, or dorsal flexion.

The chair can be provided with removable armrests (not shown), which can be arranged on each side of the base 10, preferably in an advanced position with respect to the pivot points 20. The armrests (not shown) are preferably adjustable in height and angle.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the chair of the present invention provides a greater number of adjustments in order to

5 adapt to a range of physical disabilities. In addition to adapting to a fixed deformity, the chair has been configured to correct a flexible deformity and, thus, replace or complement the physiotherapist's hands by holding the pelvis in the desired position, as tightly as possible. The chair of the invention has been configured to adapt to the user's growth, and may have been configured according to the user's current activity. In particular, adjustments for growth have been designed in such a way as to ensure that

10 the rib 16 for the buttocks, the seat pad 28 and the pelvic harness 38 are always in the correct position. In this way, the bracket 22 is adjustable backwards and articulated from the pivot points 20, which substantially correspond to the position with the rib 16 for the buttocks. In addition, the support plates 50 are capable of moving forward, in order to increase the length thereof to adapt to the growth, from being directly in front of the rib 16 for the buttocks, as it becomes

15 shown in Figure 3. In this way, by means of all available adjustments, the rib 16 for the buttocks and the back cushion 12B, which define the recess 14, remain fixed in their position, as a reference point.

Claims (16)

1.-A chair for a physically disabled person, comprising a seat base (10), a backrest (18), a pad (28) to support the sacral region of a person sitting in the chair, in such a way that the position of the seat pad (28) is adjustable with respect to the base; characterized in that a pair of thigh support plates (50) are slidably and rotatably mounted, side by side, on the base for an independent depth adjustment with respect to the base (10) and rotation with respect to the base around a vertical axis. 2. A chair according to claim 1, wherein the height, depth and angular position of the seat pad around a substantially horizontal and transverse axis are independently adjustable with respect to the base (10) . 3. A chair according to claim 2, wherein the side edges of the seat pad (28) can be adjusted at different depths. 4. A chair according to any of the preceding claims, comprising an elastically flexible lumbar support member (34), mounted at its lower end on the seat pad (28) and extending upwardly therefrom. 5. A chair according to claim 4, wherein an upper end of the lumbar support member (34) is slidably captured by the backrest (18). 6. A chair according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the base (10) comprises a transverse rib (16) for the buttocks, intended to engage, during use, with the fold between the buttocks, or hollow sacrum, of a person sitting in the chair. 7. A chair according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each thigh support plate (50) is able to rotate with respect to the base in such a way that it extends over a central line that goes from the part front to back of the base. 8. A chair according to any of claims 2 to 7, wherein the substantially horizontal and transverse axis passes, during use, at least approximately through a position corresponding to the ischial tuberosity existing at the base of the pelvis of A person who is sitting in the chair. 9. A chair according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a pelvic harness (38) releasably secured to the seat pad (28). 10. A chair according to claim 9, wherein the pelvic harness (38) is secured to the seat pad (28) by means of a pair of coupling elements whose position can be modified. 11. A chair according to claim 10, wherein the pelvic harness (38) is adjustable in width. 12. A chair according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the pelvic harness (38) has been shaped and sized to provide an anatomical fit with the iliac crests. 13. A chair according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the pelvic harness (38) is releasably anchored to the base (10). 14. A chair according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a pair of footrests (52) articulated with respect to the base (10). 15. A chair according to claim 14, wherein each footrest (52) is attached to a respective of the mulso support plates (50). 16. A chair according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each thigh support plate (50) comprises a pair of vertical thigh retainers (54).