FR2856281A1 - Stand up wheelchair for e.g. handicapped, has neutralization units linked to handle body and support so that in normal position control unit action is neutralized and in working position control unit acts on assisting and blocking units - Google Patents

Abstract

The chair has an operating handle (49) with a body (50) on a support (55) integrated with a lever (43) for movement between a working position and a normal position (R). Neutralization units are associated to the body and the support such that in the position (R) the action of a control unit is neutralized and in the working position the control unit acts on an assisting and blocking units.

Description

The present invention relates to armchairs used by the disabled

and the

  disabled and it applies, independently, to wheelchairs, folding or not, with manual or electric propulsion.

  The invention relates, more particularly, to armchairs, known as "verticalizers", which allow their user to occupy a seated or standing position.

  Such an armchair, as for example described in patent FR 2 769 830, comprises a frame supporting an articulated structure which comprises a seat, a footrest, a backrest, as well as two articulated symmetrical lateral systems 10 ensuring a verticalization-lowering function of seat, backrest and footrest, to allow the user of the wheelchair to move from a seated position to a standing position.

  To this end, each lateral articulated system comprises a first deformable polygon or quadrilateral contributing to the support of the seat, composed of two bars, respectively upper and lower, articulated on a front part of the chassis and linked, towards their rear part, by a spacer.

  Each lateral articulated system also comprises a second deformable polygon or quadrilateral contributing to the support of the footrest, as well as a backrest frame articulated on the first quadrilateral, opposite the second quadrilateral, via the spacer at least.

  Each articulated lateral system comprises, finally, an operating assembly, interposed between the first quadrilateral and the chassis which comprises, on the one hand, a first lever articulated on the rear part of the chassis and at the end of a second lever, the other end is articulated on the first quadrilateral, as well as an operating handle integral with the second lever and assuming a command and control function for the relative pivoting of the lateral system from a lowering position to a verticalization position of the structure with respect to the chassis and vice versa. The operating assembly further comprises a member for assisting the verticalization-lowering movement, such as, for example, an air spring. In order to allow its easy gripping, whatever the position of the articulated structure, the operating handle offers a gripping zone in "U" open in its center, having two branches connected by a core, all offering a back of support for the palm of a user's hand.

  Such a standing chair gives complete satisfaction with regard to its vertical-lowering function of its user who is able to pass from a seated position to a standing station without any assistance, human or mechanical, than that provided by the spring pneumatic.

  However, despite the satisfaction brought by the great ease of transition to both standing and sitting positions, it appeared necessary, in order to reinforce the feeling of security of the user who has lost the total use of his lower limbs, to put in place employs means for blocking the verticalization-lowering movement, capable of preventing an inadvertent passage from the standing position to the sitting position but also allowing a stop in an intermediate phase, between the sitting position and the standing position, by example to allow the user to regain strength or, again, to adjust his posture. In order to meet this need, it is proposed to use, for example but not exclusively as a blocking means, a pneumatic spring with automatic blocking controlled by means of a control member disposed on the handle.

for example.

  It then appears the need to guarantee the user against any risk of untimely unlocking. A similar need arises when the user's and / or blocking means are motorized and do not require any muscular effort from the user. To this end, it has been proposed to associate the control member with a locking member which must be pressed during action on the control member. However, this double action is sometimes difficult to perform and causes some discomfort for the user.

  The invention therefore aims to offer neutralization means which are simple to use and nevertheless reliable.

  In order to meet this objective, the invention relates to a stand-up chair for the disabled and disabled, which includes a frame supporting an articulated structure which includes a seat, a footrest, a backrest, as well as two symmetrical articulated lateral systems each comprising: * a first deformable polygon or quadrilateral contributing to the support of the seat, composed of two bars, respectively upper and lower, articulated on the front part of the frame and linked towards their rear parts by a spacer, * a second polygon or quadrilateral deformable, contributing to the support of the footrest, * a back frame articulated on the first quadrilateral, opposite the second quadrilateral, by means of the spacer at least, * a maneuvering assembly, interposed between the first quadrilateral and the chassis, which includes a first lever articulated on the rear part of the chassis and, at the end of a second lever whose other end is articulated on the first quadrilateral, as well as an operating handle integral with the second lever and assuming a command and control function for the relative pivoting of the 10 lateral systems, a lowering position to a verticalization position of the structure with respect to the chassis and vice versa * assistance means and / or release of the lowering movement, * an assistance means control member adapted on one to less than 15 operating handles (49), * and means for neutralizing at least the action of the control member.

  According to the invention, the operating handle, equipped with the control member, comprises a body adapted on a support, integral with the second lever, so as to be movable between a working position and a rest position and the means of 20 neutralization are then associated with the handle body and the support, so that in the rest position the action of the control member is neutralized and that in the working position the control member is capable of acting on assistance and / or blocking means.

  The double security, provided by the neutralization means, cancels the risks of inadvertent triggering of the assistance and / or unlocking means, so that the user of the wheelchair can be assured that he will not be involved in a change. position, regardless of his will.

  According to a characteristic of the invention, the handle body is movable relative to the rotating support, along a substantially horizontal axis contained in a frontal plane.

  Preferably, the stand-up chair then comprises means for locking the operating handle, in one or other of its positions.

  According to yet another preferred but not strictly necessary feature of the invention, the neutralization means comprise a rod, integral with the handle body on which the control member acts, and a plunger which is integral with the support of the handle body and arranged so as to be opposite the rod in the working position and offset with respect to the rod in the rest position.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the second operating handle is also mobile, so as to be able to occupy two positions similar to those of the multi-socket handle. Preferably but not strictly necessary, the stand-up chair then comprises means for locking the second operating handle, in one or other of its positions.

  According to the invention, the assistance and blocking means can be produced in any suitable manner and, preferably, the blocking and assistance functions are integrated in the same mechanical assembly.

  According to a preferred embodiment, but not strictly necessary, the assistance and blocking means are produced in the form of a gas spring, with automatic blocking, fitted to each of the operating assemblies.

  Various other characteristics of the invention emerge from the description below made in connection with the appended drawings which show a preferred nonlimiting embodiment of a stand-up chair according to the invention and the neutralization means implemented by the latter.

  Fig. 1 is a perspective of a wheelchair wheelchair according to the invention.

  Fig. 2 is an elevation, in right view, of the chair illustrated in FIG. 1, in the sitting position for lowering the chair.

  Fig. 3 is a partial elevation, similar to FIG. 2, from the chair in the upright or standing position.

  Figs. 4 and 5 are elevations of a detail of embodiment of a handle for implementing the chair illustrated in FIG. 1.

  Figs. 6 to 9 are elevations, partially broken away, of an operating handle equipped with neutralization means in accordance with the invention.

  Fig. 10 illustrates another embodiment of an operating handle incorporating means for neutralizing the control.

  In a preferred application, the invention relates to a wheelchair with manual propulsion, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

  Such an armchair comprises a chassis, composed of lateral half-chassis 3 and 4, joined together by crosspieces 5 and 6. These different constituent elements 5 define a carrying frame provided with driving wheels 10 and steerable steerable wheels 11.

  As illustrated, the frame 2 corresponds to a chair of rigid design, but it is obvious that a substantially similar conformation could be retained for a folding chair. In fact, in such a case, the rigid crosspieces 5 and 6 are then replaced by folding elements of a design known per se.

  The chassis 2, described above, is equipped with a stand-up device which is produced in the form of an articulated structure 12 carried by the chassis 2. The articulated structure 12 is constituted by two lateral articulated systems, symmetrical with respect to a sagittal plane P, more particularly visible in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each articulated system 13 is intended to be adapted laterally on the chassis 2, for example at each of the half-chassis 3 and 4.

  Each articulated system 13 comprises a first deformable polygon and, according to the illustrated example, deformable quadrilateral 17 consisting of two bars 18 and 19, respectively called upper and lower, although they are not arranged, 20 in the representation illustrated in FIG. 3, in the same vertical plane. The bars 18 and 19 are joined, by their rear end part, by an element or a spacer 20 and are mounted on the frame 2, near the front part of the latter, by a first articulation point 21 concerning the upper bar 18 and by a second articulation point 22 concerning the lower bar 19. In the present case 25, the articulation point 21 is provided in the upper part of the corresponding half-frame 3, 4 while the point d hinge 22 is located on this same half-chassis behind and below the hinge point 21.

  In the example illustrated, the spacer 20 is provided to correspond to the distance separating the articulation points 21 and 22, so that the quadrilateral 17 has the preferred shape of a deformable parallelogram. However, such a form of parallelogram should not be considered as strictly necessary for the production of an armchair according to the invention.

  Each articulated system 13 further comprises a second deformable polygon, in this case, deformable quadrilateral 26, shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 2 and 3 in dashed lines, connecting the first deformable quadrilateral to a jamb or upright 27 intended to support, alone or in combination with the homologous jamb or upright, a footrest 33.

  Each articulated system 13 comprises, finally, a back frame comprising two uprights, each articulated on the first quadrilateral 13, opposite the second quadrilateral 26, via the spacer 20. According to the illustrated example , the backrest uprights 35 are, moreover, connected by a cross-member 36.

  In order to allow the articulated structure 12 to pass from the seated lowering position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, in the verticalization or standing position, as illustrated in FIG. 3, each articulated system comprises an operating assembly 40, interposed between the first quadrilateral 17 and the chassis 2 and, more particularly, the corresponding half-chassis 4.

  Each operating assembly 40 comprises a first lever 41, articulated on the rear part of the chassis, by means of a pivot 42 and, at the end of a second lever 43, by means of a pivot 44 The other end of the second lever 43 is then articulated on the first quadrilateral and, according to the example illustrated, on the lower bar 19, by means of a pivot 45 and a fixing piece 46 secured to the second lever 43.

  Each operating assembly also includes an operating handle 49 which could be qualified as multiple sockets, insofar as it must allow the user of the wheelchair to apply a force to this handle, both in the context of the lowered or seated position illustrated in fig. 2, that in the box of the verticalization position illustrated in FIG. 3 and during the transition phase or verticalization-lowering movement.

  To this end, each multi-socket handle comprises, as shown more particularly in FIGS. 4 and 6, a handle body 50, having a gripping zone 51 in a "U" shape, open at its center 52. Thus, the gripping zone 51 has two branches 53, connected by a core 54. The branches 53 and the core 54 then all three offer a back support for the palm of a hand of a user who can, moreover, grip the handle by placing his fingers at its center 52.

  The handle body 50 is integral with the lever 43, as has been said previously, by being fixed or movable relative to the latter. According to Example 5 illustrated, the handle body 50 is adapted to the second lever 43, by means of a support 55, so as to be movable, between a folded down or rest position R, as illustrated in fig. 1, 2 and 4 in solid lines, and a deployed or working position D, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 and in solid lines in FIG. 5. To this end, the handle body 50 is connected to the support 55 by a pivot 56, with a substantially horizontal axis 10 and contained in a frontal plane F perpendicular to the sagittal plane P. This possibility of passing, alternately from the retracted position or rest R in the raised or working position D of the handle, allows to clear the lateral space of the user when no movement of the articulated structure 15 is desired, both in the seated position and in the standing or standing.

  In order to ensure the stability of the working position D or of rest R of the operating handle 50, the latter is equipped with means 57 for locking the handle in one or other of its positions R or D. The means 57 can be made in any suitable way and are, according to the example illustrated, constituted by a finger 58 operated by means of a trigger 59 and intended to be inserted, according to its position, in one or the other of two bores 60 arranged in the support 55.

  Furthermore, it should be noted that, according to the example illustrated, in order to allow a perfect adaptation of the chair to the morphology of its user, the support 55 of the operating handles 50 is adjustable in position on the second lever, so as to 25 can be placed at different intermediate positions between the two ends of said lever 43.

  To this end, according to the example illustrated, the adjustment is ensured by means of a series of bores 61, arranged in the lever 2 and making it possible to fix, by means of screws and bolts, not shown, the support 55 at different positions, so that it is possible to move it away from or closer to the file, depending on the morphology of the patient.

  In order to facilitate the verticalization-lowering movement, the verticalizing chair described above also includes assistance means 65. According to this example, these assistance means are constituted, for each of the articulated systems, by a gas spring, interposed between the first quadrilateral 13 and the front part of the chassis 2.

  According to the example illustrated, each gas spring 65 also incorporates automatic locking means which prevent any movement of the spring and therefore of the articulated system which is linked to it, as long as an unlocking command is not applied to the spring locking system. Thus, it is necessary to make available to the user of the wheelchair, control means which are easy to implement.

  Thus, at least one of the two handles, preferably that corresponding to the dominant hand of the user as shown in figs. 6 to 9, comprises a control member 70 which is located inside the central opening 52 of the grip zone of the body of the handle 50 and open at its center. Thus, the control member 70 comprises, at its center, an internal gripping zone 15 in a "U" 71, corresponding to the gripping zone 51 which could be described as external to the handle body 50 and having two branches 72 , connected by a core 73. The branches 72 and the core 73 then all three provide a support area for the fingers of the corresponding hand of the user.

  According to the example illustrated, the control member 70 has, opposite its core 73, a cross member 74, intended to allow the fixing of an element to be controlled which will be described in more detail later.

  The control member 70 comprises, opposite the core and on either side of the cross-member, two pivoting heels 76, with which two bearing surfaces 77 are associated, offered by the handle body 50 It should be noted that, according to the example 25 illustrated, the control member 70 is located inside the handle body 50, at the level of a chamber 78 which is open towards the center 52 of the zone. grip 51 of the handle 50. Thus, the control member 70 is enclosed, in part, inside the body 50 of the handle, only its grip area 71 being accessible from the outside of the handle to the level of its central opening 52.

  According to the example illustrated, the element to be controlled 75 is a connecting rod, connected by a pivot to one end of a lifting beam 80, the other end of which acts on a rod 81. Said rod 81 is located, when the body of handle 50 is in working position D, as illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, opposite a pusher 82 also fixed to one end of a lifting beam 83 the other end of which is intended to be connected to a cable control device, not shown, either by being fixed to the cable in itself, either to the protective sheath, the cable control device acting on the locking means of the gas springs.

  Given the movement transformation chain described above, it is necessary to exert traction on the element to be controlled or link 75 to obtain an unlocking of the movement of the gas springs. However, the particular configuration of the control member 70, as well as, according to the example illustrated, the use of the pivoting heels 76, associated with the corresponding bearing surfaces 10 77, makes it possible to exert such traction, regardless of where the multi-grip handle is taken in hand, at one or other of the three gripping zones defined by the core and the branches of the handle body 50 and of the control member 70.

  Indeed, as shown more particularly in FIG. 8, when the handle 15 is grasped at the level of the lower branch 72 of the grip zone and a force is exerted on the control member in the direction of the arrows F1, the lower bearing heel 76 abuts on the corresponding surface 77, then causing the control member 70 to pivot in the direction of arrow F2 and therefore pulling the element to be controlled 75.

  In the same way and as shown in fig. 9, a grip at the level of the upper branch of the grip zone, with the application of a force in the direction of the arrows F3, causes the control member 70 to pivot in the direction of the arrow F4, pivoting which ensures , also, a traction of the element to be controlled 75.

  Finally, when a force is exerted at the level of the core of the grip zone in the direction of the arrows F5, it is ensured a translation in the direction of the arrow F6, of the control member 70 which performs, well heard, a traction of the element to be controlled.

  Thus, whatever the zone where the user comes to grip the handle 49, it is possible for him to easily control the release of the gas springs 65, either to ensure a verticalization movement, or, on the contrary, to return to the position seated. It should be noted that, if the user releases the control member 70 during maneuver, the automatic blocking allows an immediate stop of the movement, thus providing comfort and a feeling of increased security to the user. Furthermore, it also allows him to stop in intermediate positions according to his needs.

  According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the stand-up chair 5 further comprises means 90 for neutralizing at least the action of the control member 70. These means for neutralizing or declutching 90 result from the setting to take advantage of the movement of the operating handle 49, between its working position D and its rest position R, to ensure disengagement of the control system. Indeed, as far as in the rest position and as shown more particularly in FIG. 6, the push rod 81 is not opposite the finger 82, an action on the control member 70 has no consequence on the means for blocking the movement, so that it is not possible to drive accidental unlocking of the movement, which contributes to user safety. In fact, untimely unlocking, in the sitting position in particular, could cause the user to stand upright, given the power of the air spring, when the latter did not wish it.

  It should be noted that, according to the example illustrated, the movement assistance member is a pneumatic system. However, it could be an electrical system that the control member could control, either directly or through the linkage described above, so as to retain the declutching function.

  In the same way, it could be envisaged to adapt a control member 70 on the two handles 49 of the chair, so that the user can, indifferently, unblock the movement verticalization25 lowering by means of his right hand or his left hand.

  Similarly, according to the example illustrated, the control member is adapted to exert traction on the element to be controlled or received, but it could also be adapted to exert pressure on the latter.

  In addition, according to the example described above, the control member is located, in part, outside the handle body, however it could be located outside the latter by being placed, nevertheless, at the central opening level 52.

  Similarly, according to the examples illustrated above, the control member, associated with the operating handle, can be described as multiple sockets and offers three gripping zones. However, this form of the control member is not necessary for the invention.

  Thus, fig. 10 illustrates another embodiment of an operating handle, incorporating neutralization means, according to which the control member 70 is produced in the form of a simple lever and disposed in the center of the handle and having a similar shape that of the brake handles for two wheels.

  Of course, various other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (8)

  1 - Armchair for the disabled and disabled, comprising a frame (2) supporting an articulated structure (12) which includes a seat (4), a footrest (33), a backrest, as well as two articulated lateral symmetrical systems (13) comprising each: a first deformable polygon or quadrilateral (17) contributing to the support of the seat, composed of two bars, respectively upper (18) and lower (19), articulated on the front part of the frame (2) and linked towards their parts rear by a spacer (20), * a second deformable polygon or quadrilateral (26), contributing to the support of the footrest, * a back frame (34, 35) articulated on the first quadrilateral (17), the opposite of the second quadrilateral (26), via at least the spacer (28), * an operating assembly (40), interposed between the first quadrilateral and the chassis, which comprises a first lever ( 41) articulated on the part rear of the chassis (2) and, at the end of a second lever (43), the other end of which is articulated on the first quadrilateral (17), as well as an operating handle (49) integral with the second lever ( 43) and assuming a command and control function for the relative pivoting of the lateral systems, from a lowering position (A) to a verticalization position (E) of the structure relative to the chassis and vice versa, * means assistance and / or unlocking of the verticalization-lowering movement, * a control member of the assistance means adapted on at least one of the operating handles (49), * and means (90) of neutralization at least l action of the control member (70), characterized in that the operating handle (49) comprises a body (50) 30 fitted on a support (55), integral with the second lever (43), so as to be mobile, between a working position (D) and a rested position (R) and in that the means of neu tralisation are associated with the handle body and the support, so that in the rest position, the action of the control member is neutralized and that in the working position the control member is capable of acting on the assistance and / or blocking means.   2 - Stander chair according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle body (50) is movable relative to the support (55) in rotation, along a substantially horizontal axis contained in a front plane (F).   3 - Stander chair according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises locking means (57) of the multi-socket handle (49), in one or the other of its positions.   4 - Stand-up chair according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the neutralization means comprise a rod (81), integral with the handle body (50) on which the control member and a pusher ( 62) which is integral with the support (55) of the handle body and arranged so as to be opposite the rod (81), in the working position (D), and offset with respect to the rod (81) in the rest.   5 - Stand-up chair according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second operating handle (49) is also mobile, so as to be able to occupy two positions (D, R) similar to those of the multi-grip handle.   6. A stand-up chair according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises locking means (57) of the second operating handle in one or the other of its two positions (D, R).   7 - Stand-up chair according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the blocking means are integrated into an assistance member (65) of the verticalization-lowering movement which equips each articulated system.   8 - Stand-up chair according to claim 7, characterized in that each assistance member comprises a gas spring (6), with automatic locking, interposed between the first quadrilateral (17) and the front part of the chassis (2).