FR2899078A3 - Folding chair for handicapped person, has frames articulated by cut bearings, elements sliding into respective articulative elements, and cut bearings allowing to obtain variation of angulation of backrest, base and support in points - Google Patents

Abstract

The chairs has frames connected with each other and articulated by using cut bearings (9, 10). Movement of a backrest (1) of one of the frames, a base (2) and a leg support (3) is obtained by the articulated connection of the frames, in points (11-14) for obtaining an articulated parallelogram. The movement of the parallelogram is obtained by sliding elements (15) into respective articulative elements (16) placed below armrests (4). Simultaneous variation of angulation of the backrest, base and the support is obtained by cut bearings (12a-14a) in the points.

Description

Folding chairs are commonly known, especially chairs

  folds which allow to take several positions, from the sitting position to the extended position through intermediate positions. These types of chairs are composed of a seat, a backrest and an element adapted to support the legs. In the most economical models of chairs of this type, the inclination of the backrest can be modified by moving and fixing more forward or further back from their longitudinal axis the position of the armrests whose one end is hinged to the backrest .

  In some more expensive models, changing the backrest inclination simultaneously changes the inclination of the seat and the support for the legs. Examples of this second type of chair are known, for example through the French Patent 2,082,887 of Lafuma Frères of 12/10/1971, which describes a type of chair called relax, consisting of an articulated metal frame which thanks to appropriate connections between the seat, the backrest and the support for the legs, makes it possible to modify the position of the seat and the support for the legs when the position of the file is modified. In essence, by tilting the back of the chair in this type of chair, the seat plan is tilted simultaneously and automatically and the position of the leg support is raised until it assumes a position in the chair. which the head el: the feet are on the same line. The concept expressed in the mentioned patent was perfected in patent EP 0 689 784 with two caps on which are arranged the upper articulated points of the chassis. By moving said caps along a scroll axis, it articulates the movement of the seat back and support for the legs, getting a more fluid scroll. The object of the present invention is to provide a folding rest chair, which by starting from the basic idea presented in the patent 208 288 of 1971, with modifications and appropriate methods, makes it possible to make a folding chair of rest equipped with interchangeable wheels, a removable tray for depositing objects, a folding step for the feet, a removable electric motor controlled by a removable joystick, thus offering a chair of rest particularly adapted to the needs of the disabled, who

  can be closed and transported with extreme ease and can move, thanks to the interchangeable wheels, on smooth surfaces, such as the floor of a housing, on disjoint surfaces such as a road, and on surfaces soft as for example sand or earth.

  The folding chair according to the present invention is composed of a frame which realizes the structure for the plane of the seat, a support for the back and a support for the legs; a second frame connected to the first by appropriate means, which realizes the feet of the chair; both the first and second frames are composed of elements at least partially articulated to each other or directly or by means of cut plates and / or connecting pins, and the first and second frames are interconnected and articulated directly or by means of plates and / or axes duly cut, so that the assembly can lower, or be folded, so as to reduce the space it occupies and so that the variation of the inclination of the backrest forwards or backwards entails an inclination (tilting) of the plane of the seat, such that the point on which the thighs support is higher than the point at which the back supports, and that simultaneously the support plane legs are lifted so that the weight of the person, who rests totally on the posterior in the seated position, is transferred partly in the back. In order to allow the simultaneous and coordinated movement of the backrest, the seat and the support for the legs, they are linked together by means of properly cut and articulated stirrups; the backrest is also provided with a tube which brakingly runs in an articulable element integral with the lower part of the armrest on which the support for the legs is also articulated; the support for the legs is also articulated on the tube on which the plane of the seat is stopped; the assembly described forms an articulated parallelogram which thanks to the duly calculated distances of the sides, their inclination and the position of the hinge points, allows the simultaneous movement of the backrest, the plane of the seat and the support for the legs . The invention is described with reference to a preferred embodiment related to the accompanying drawings in which:

  - Figure 1 shows a side view of the chair semi-elongated position;

  - Figure 2 shows a top view of the chair in a semi-recumbent position; FIG. 3 illustrates a three-quarter view of the top of the chair in the upright position and the detail of the enlarged closure; - Figure 4 illustrates a rear three-quarter view of the chair in the upright position;

  - Figure 5 shows a view from the top of the chair in the upright position; FIG. 6 shows a three-quarter view of the bottom of the chair in a partially elongated position equipped with wheels for the sand;

  - Figure 7 shows a side view of the closed chair; FIG. 8 illustrates a detail of the transmission of the movement from the engine to the wheels;

  - Figure 9 shows a bottom view of the rear wheels with the engine partially exploded.

  With reference to said figures, the chair according to the present invention is composed of a first frame consisting of a backrest (1), a seat (2), a support for the legs (3), two armrests (4) , and a second frame consisting of a pair of front legs (5), a pair of rear legs (6), a pair of opening rods (7) and a pair of transverse stiffening rods (8), the first and second frames being joined together and articulated by means of the cut stirrups (9 and 10) so that the assembly can be easily closed for transport.

  The simultaneous movement of the backrest (1) of the seat plane (2) and the support for the legs (3) is obtained thanks to the articulated connection of the frame of these elements, in the points (11, 12, 13, 14) so as to obtain an articulated parallelogram. The movement of the parallelogram is possible thanks to the scrolling of the two elements (15) in the articulables (16) respectively placed below the armrests (4); while the simultaneous variation of the angulation of the backrest (1), the seat (2) and the support for the legs (3) is obtained thanks to the presence in the articulation points of the cut stirrups (12a , 13a, 14a).

  The frame is completed as usual by the web (16) fixed to the frame removably in one of the known ways, for example by means of elastics passing through holes prepared on the fabric and around the frame or in appropriate attachment points. As indicated above, the chair according to the present invention is particularly studied to solve the problems of people affected by motor problems; for this purpose, the two feet (5 and 6) are equipped at the front with pivoting forks (17) which are triggered quickly, with a trigger system or the like, at the end of the tube which constitutes the feet (5) in order to be able to be assembled or disassembled quickly if necessary; obviously, the pivoting forks (17) are supplemented by wheels (18). On the rear legs (6), with a method analogous to that described for the front legs (5), a hub (19) into which the wheels (20) are inserted can be installed fast together by a system triggered or the like.

  As indicated above, in order to guarantee the mobility of the chair on any ground on the rear hubs (19), large diameter wheels such as the wheels (20a) illustrated in FIG. installed in solidarity with appropriate referrals. The attached figures illustrate the chair according to the present invention equipped with electric motors (21) fixed on a plate (40), one per side, which can be released from the help of others; in order to allow the mounting of rear wheels of at least two different diameters, two methods have been developed; a first method according to which the point of tangency of the pinion (33) of the motors (21) is the same for the small-diameter wheel (20) which comprises

  the gear wheel (34) for taking the movement outside the spokes of the tire, than for the larger diameter wheel (20a) which comprises the gearing toothed wheel (35) internal to the spokes of the tire; it has been calculated that the small wheel (20) has a radius of about 50% smaller than that of the larger diameter wheel (20a). To ensure the maximum strength of the assembly, the tires and the gears are made in a single element. The second method, in order to facilitate the mounting of the larger diameter rear wheel, is the presence of a service wheel (23) on each of the two rear legs, which can be easily folded or dismounted when the diameter wheel plus small is used; the rollers (23) hold the chair at the correct height from the ground and in the correct position to allow the assembly or disassembly of the wheels. Another function of the rollers (23) is to allow the traction of the chair without any fatigue when it is lowered or closed as shown in Figure 7.

  A tube (24) is connected to the frame of the chair at the armrests (4), on each side thereof, to allow the mounting of accessories such as: the joystick (29) for actuating the motor and the guiding the chair; the object support plate (25); the fitting of accessories for gymnastics such as the manocyclette which allows to exercise the muscles of the arms by acting on a kind of cyclette moved by the hands. Other accessories, such as for example the retractable support (26) intended to support a diseased leg or plaster, can be inserted into the tubes of the frame which are to the right and left of the plane of the seat. An element which is of great importance for the safety of the chair is the block (27) sliding by friction on one or both of the frames (6) of the hind feet, said block (27) preventing the movement of the stirrups (9) thanks to the tongue (9a) integral with the stirrup (9) which, in the locking stop position (27) is folded below the closure and preventing the rotation of the stirrups (9) prevents the approximation from the front legs (5) to the rear legs (6) or vice versa; said approximation could be accidentally caused by a collision of the wheels against an obstacle such as a sidewalk, a hole or the like, and could cause the folding of the chair.

  As indicated above, another of the innovative characteristics of the chair according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 6, that is to say the possibility of mounting roller wheels (28-41) which allow to move the chair on soft surfaces, such as sand, for example. Another element of comfort which makes the chair particularly suitable for use by persons with motor difficulties is the presence of the step (30) inserted in a telescopic tube, at the ends of the frame of the support for the legs (3) and adjustable in distance by means of a spring pawl engaging in a series of holes (31); to better explain its operation, it is specified that the step (30) rolls on supports (30a) and on supports (32) and can slide axially in the frame (3). The chair according to the present invention is particularly dedicated to the disabled; therefore, to allow perfect functionality for these individuals, it may be provided with orthopedic supports (38) and a headrest (37); it can also be equipped with a support for objects fixed on the backside of the backrest. A handle (36) is present in the upper part of the back of the chair which can thus be pushed without problem or be dragged, also thanks to the service rollers (23) when it is folded.

Claims (18)

  1) Folding chair particularly adapted for disabled persons consisting of a first frame consisting of a backrest (1), a seating plane (2), a support for the legs (3), two armrests (4); and a second consisting of a pair of front legs (5), a pair of rear legs (6), a pair of opening rods (7) and a pair of transverse stiffening rods (8); the first and second frames being united to one another and articulated by means of the cut-out stirrups (9 and 10) so that the simultaneous movement of the backrest (1), the plane of the seat (2) and the support for the legs (3) is obtained thanks to the articulated connection of the frame of these elements in the points (11, 12, 13, 14) so as to obtain an articulated parallelogram, characterized in that the movement of the parallelogram is possible thanks to the sliding of the two elements (15) in the articulable elements (16) respectively placed below the armrests (4); while the simultaneous variation of the angle of the backrest (1), the seat (2) and the support for the legs (3) is obtained thanks to the presence in the articulation points of cut stirrups ( 12a, 13a, 14a).   2) Folding chair particularly adapted to disabled people according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the end portion of the frame of the front legs (5) is capable of receiving pivoting forks (17) with wheels (18) and in that the end portion of the frame of the rear legs (6) is able to receive and retain a hub (19) on which the wheels (20) are engaged.   3) folding chair particularly suitable for disabled persons according to the preceding claims, characterized in that large diameter wheels (20a) can be secured to the rear hubs (19).   4) folding chair particularly suitable for disabled persons according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said wheels (20, 20a) can be actuated by electric motors (21) secured to the frame by means of the plate (40) with quick couplings which allows them to be positioned and removed quickly.   5) Folding chair particularly suitable for disabled persons according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the toothed gear (35) PTO for the large diameter wheel (20a) and for that (34) small diameter (20) has the same point of tangency with the motor gear (33).   6) folding chair particularly suitable for disabled persons according to the preceding claims, characterized in that a folding service wheel (23) is provided to be removably attached to the frame of the rear wheels on each side.   7) folding chair particularly suitable for disabled persons according to the preceding claims, characterized in that a tube (24) is connected to the frame of the chair at each of the armrests (4).   8) Folding chair particularly suitable for disabled persons according to the preceding claims, characterized in that a joystick is connected to said tube (24) for actuating the motor and guiding the chair.   9) folding chair particularly suitable for disabled persons according to the preceding claims, characterized in that an object support plate (25) is connected to said tube (24).   10) Folding chair particularly suitable for disabled persons according to the preceding claims, characterized in that an accessory for gymnastics, operable with the hands, is mounted on said tube (24).   11) Folding chair particularly suitable for disabled persons according to the preceding claims, characterized in that in the frame tubes which are on the right and left of the plane of the seat, the retractable support (26) can be inserted in order to to support a diseased or plastered leg.   12) Folding chair particularly suitable for disabled persons according to the preceding claims, characterized in that on one or both frames (6) of the rear legs is a friction block (27) which blocks the movement of the articulated stirrups (9). ) encompassing in the locking position the tongue (9a) integral with the stirrups (9) and preventing the accidental folding of the chair.   13) Folding chair particularly suitable for disabled persons according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the wheels are rollers (28-41) adapted to allow movement of the chair on soft surfaces such as sand.   14) Folding chair particularly suitable for disabled persons according to the preceding claims, characterized in that a step (3) is present, inserted in the telescopic tube, at the ends of the frame of the support for the legs (3) and adjustable in distance by means of a spring pawl which engages in a series of holes (31), said step running on supports (30a) and on supports (32) and axially slidable in the frame (3).   15) folding chair particularly suitable for disabled persons according to the preceding claims, characterized in that orthopedic supports (38) and a headrest (37) are present.   16) Folding chair particularly suitable for disabled persons according to the preceding claims, characterized in that a support for objects is present on the back side of the folder.   17) folding chair particularly suitable for disabled persons according to the preceding claims, characterized in that a handle (36) is present to be grasped by the person pushing the chair.   18) Folding chair particularly suitable for disabled persons according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the service rollers (23) facilitate the transport of the folded chair.