GB2205235A

GB2205235A - Invalid seat

Info

Publication number: GB2205235A
Application number: GB08812162A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Edmund Talbot Garman; Richard Michael Rimington
Original assignee: Mangar Aids Ltd
Current assignee: Mangar Aids Ltd
Priority date: 1987-05-23
Filing date: 1988-05-23
Publication date: 1988-12-07
Also published as: GB8812162D0; GB8712262D0

Abstract

A bath chair 1 has a seat 2 provided with a removable pommel 7 having a pommel frame 7a and removable foam parts 7b encased in cover 7d. The pommel 7 is releasably securable to the seat 2 and received in tubular mounting hole 8a of seat mounting 8, adapted such that movement into the supporting position and locking can be accomplished using a single hand. The pommel is preferably retained in position by a mechanical interlocking means e.g. in reform of a pawl, mounted on a spring loaded bar, cooperating with a serrated upper surface of re seat. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO INVALID SEATING This invention relates to improvements in or relating to invalid seating and in particular for the support or posture of the invalid on the seat.

Problems still tend to exist in the transfer of an invalid person, for example a paraplegic, from one form of seating to another such as from a wheelchair onto a bath chair. The seat of the bath chair is generally raised and lowered by means of a supporting bellows or scissor-action linkage, whilst the person is transferred on and off the seat by a generally lateral movement of the person from the wheelchair along a horizontal supporting section onto the bath seat itself. A pelvic harness will usually be provided to strap the person in the seat and help prevent the body slumping forward. Even so, particularly where heavy individuals or individuals with movement disorders are concerned it is not always easy to transfer and maintain the person in an adequate posture on the bathseat.Of course aids other than straps, for example pommels, are known for helping to maintain the body in a more comfortable and correct posture. However, where such pommels are provided at the front of the seat, more particularly in the instance already referred to, there could be considerable difficulty encountered in manoeuvring the person onto the seat because of the very presence of the pommel itself acting as an obstacle to the lateral transfer of the body onto the seat.

Additionally, such pommels are usually fixed, integral portions of the seat or parts permanently bolted thereto, and as such may not suit the posture requirements for every individual, more particularly as regards the forward to back location of the pommel on the seat.

Chairs have been previously proposed having a removable and slidably adjustable post designed to inhibit leg adduction. The post is slidably adjustable after appropriate unscrewing of retention means retaining or locking the post to the seat, in order to re-position the post to cater for a different size of individual. Additionally, chairs have been proposed having a support cradle which is designed to be removed from the seat before the person is seated thereon and then attached and locked thereto after the person is seated, to help maintain a correct posture of the person on the seat. The firstmentioned arrangement tends to be disadvantageous in that the post cannot be readily and easily attached and detached (or moved to an out of the way position) from the seat during transfer of a person on or off the seat.Indeed, it is not designed for such quick attachment and removal, it is merely designed to be adjustable to cater for individuals of different sizes and is not designed for removal before a person is seated in the chair. Additionally, such an operation generally requires the use of two hands and unscrewing of tightened retention or locking means (or tightly screwing up the retention means) from underneath the seat. Similarly, the second-mentioned arrangement tends to be disadvantageous in that retention means holding the cradle onto the seat is again screw-operated from underneath the seat and again it would appear to be more complicated and more difficult to retain and detach the cradle than might otherwise be provided for.Both the aforementioned arrangements generally require a two-handed operation by an able-bodied person and even then difficulty could well be encountered in tightening up the screw-operated retention means (which is generally in any case obscured from view) sufficiently or even in managing to unscrew the retention means itself.

It is an object of the present invention to at least alleviate one or more of the aforementioned problems.

According to the present invention there is provided an invalid seat comprising a pommel which is movable into and out of a position supporting an invalid person on the seat, the pommel being movable out of the way during the transfer of the invalid person on or off the seat, and into said supporting position once the person is in place on the seat, to thereby help maintain a correct posture of the invalid body in the seat, and in which said pommel is adapted for quick movement into said supporting position and quick locking in said supporting position all with the use of a single hand.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a chair, for example a wheelchair or bath chair, including an invalid seat in accordance with the immediately preceding paragraph. The chair may be height adjustable.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of transferring an invalid person on or off an invalid seat said method comprising: (a) moving a seat pommel out of the way of the invalid person whilst that person is transferred (normally generally laterally) on or off the seat, (b) moving the pommel into or out of a lockable position supporting the person on the seat and quickly locking or unlocking the pommel in said position all by means of a single hand, in which supporting position the invalid body is helped to be maintained in a correct posture by the pommel.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the pommel is completely removable from the seat whilst the invalid person is manoeuvred thereon, and most preferably, is such as to be engageable onto the seat with the use of one hand only, leaving the other hand free for supporting the person until the pommel is in its supporting position. In an alternative arrangement, it is possible that the pommel remains attached to the seat (perhaps hinged thereto) but movable to an inoperative, out of the way position.

Preferably, the pommel is adjustable (usually in the forwards/backwards directions of the seat only) on the seat throughout a plurality of person support positions (usually slidably adjustable), in order to cater for various shapes and sizes of individual in order to provide a comfortable supporting position.

The pommel may be secured or locked on the seat by any suitable retention means, for example friction and/or mechanical interlocking means.

One embodiment of the present invention comprises a frame with a cushion provided thereon, and the cushion, preferably, comprises foam parts or 'halves' which are fitted around the frame and secured thereto, for example by a flexible cover or bag. Part of the frame may be used as a handle. The frame may have a portion slidably engaging in a mounting hole on the seat and the mounting hole may be provided on an individual mounting fitted to the seat, for example by bolts. The frame may be generally C-shaped. Preferably, friction retention means is provided by a rotatable cam (preferably of hard rubber) mounted on a carrier piece of the frame. The cam may be rotated by means of a lever into and out of engagement with a surface of the seat or mounting adjacent thereto to lock and unlock the pommel to the seat.Conveniently, the pivotable axis of the cam is transverse to the frame. Alternatively, the retention means may be provided by mechanical interlocking means in the form of a pawl cooperable with a serrated upper surface of the seat/mounting. In such an arrangement the pawl may be mounted on a spring loaded pivotable bar. Additionally, in order to avoid unintentional unlocking an overcentre action mechanism may be provided.

Other modifications (in particular alternative retention means) and advantageous features should be gathered from the following description.

Still further according to the present invention there is provided an invalid seat comprising a pommel which is movable into and out of a position supporting an invalid person on the seat, the pommel being movable out of the way during the transfer of the invalid person on or off the seat, and into said supporting position once the person is in place on the seat, to thereby help maintain a correct posture of the invalid body in the seat, said seat having one or more Df the following features:: (a) a pommel which is adapted for movement into said supporting position and locking in said supporting position all with the use of a single hand, (b) a pommel which is adapted for movement into said supporting position and automatic locking in said supporting position, (c) a pommel which is adapted for movement into said supporting position and locking in said supporting position on movement of a lever, preferably pivotable through less than 180 , and most preferably through less than 900 between locking and unlocking positions, (d) a pommel which is adapted for movement into said supporting position and locking in said supporting position on operation of non-screw operated retention means, (e) a pommel which is adapted for movement into said supporting position and locking in said supporting position on operation of retention means operated from above the seat, (f) a pommel which is adapted for movement into said supporting portion and locking in said supporting position on operation of retention means located adjacent to a handle of the pommel, said retention means, preferably, being operable by use of a single hand whilst said hand remains on the handle.

(g) a pommel which is adapted for movement into said supporting position and locking in said supporting position in less than ten seconds and, preferably, in less than five seconds.

Still further according to the present invention there is provided a method of transferring an invalid person on or off an invalid seat said method comprising: (a) moving a seat pommel out of the way of the invalid person whilst that person is transferred on or off the seat, (b) moving the pommel into or out of a lockable position supporting the person on the seat, in which supporting position the invalid body is helped to be maintained in a correct posture by the pommel, said method including one or more of the following features:: (1) transferring the person generally laterally on or off the seat, (2) quickly moving the pommel into said supporting position and locking the pommel in said supporting position all with the use of a single hand, (3) automatically locking the pommel in said supporting position, (4) locking the pommel in said supporting position on movement of a lever, by preferably pivoting the lever through less than 1800, and most preferably through less than 900, and preferably in a plane at right angles to said seat, (5) locking the pommel in said supporting position by operating non screw operated retention means, (6) locking the pommel in said supporting position on operation of retention means from above the seat, (7) operating retention means located adjacent to a handle of the pommel, preferably by means of a single hand whilst said hand remains on the handle, (8) moving said pommel into said supporting position and locking the pommel in said supporting position in less than ten seconds and, preferably, in less than five seconds.

Thus various embodiments in the present invention have significant advantages over other arrangements.

The present invention envisages an arrangement having one or more of a variety of advantages including the very quick and easy attachment and locking of the pommel to the seat preferably by the means of a single hand, thereby leaving the other hand free for manoeuvring the patient whilst securing the pommel. The pommel may have a neat handle (which may be part of frame structure) and the retention means may be a lever (or possibly a push-button) which can easily be moved into and out of its locking position by a finger whilst the handle is still gripped by the hand, thus maintaining the pommel in the desired position while it is locked to seat. Therefore, the operation of the retention means is ideally from above the seat (where it can be seen easily) and located adjacent to the handle. The lever itself is preferably movable through about 90 .Alternatively, the retention means may be such that the pommel is automatically locked to seat on introduction of the pommel on the seat; An embodiment of an invalid seat in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying simplified, diagrammatic drawings in which: - FIGURE 1 shows the invalid seat incorporated into a bath chair which is generally of a known type; FIGURE 2 shows a side view of a pommel for supporting a person on the seat; FIGURE 3 shows a sectional end view of the pommel taken on line III III of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 4 shows a sectional view of a mounting which receives the pommel on the seat; FIGURE 5 shows an exploded view of some component parts of the pommel, and FIGURES 6 to 8 show various modifications to the pommel and mounting.

FIGURE 1 shows a height adjustable bath chair 1 which is generally of a known type, having a seat 2 and hinged side flaps 3a,3b. As depicted, the seat 2 may be raised or lowered by means of bellows 4 in known manner. The chair 1 has a back 5 and straps 6 which are part of a pelvic harness used to help hold the invalid person in place in the chair. As shown, flap 3a rests in a horizontal position and would be supported, in use, by the edge of a bath (not shown) into which the chair is fitted. The flap 3a acts as a horizontal supporting section for an invalid person as that person is moved laterally onto the seat 2, for example. from out of a wheelchair. The wheelchair may be provided with a similar hinged flap which in use overlaps the flap 3a yielding a firmer support for the person during transfer onto the invalid seat 2.

In order to provide sufficient support for, or help maintain the correct posture of, an invalid person (not shown) on the seat 2, without causing an obstacle to the generally lateral transfer of the person onto the seat, this embodiment of the present invention provides a removable pommel 7 which is releasably securable-to the seat 2 by means of a mounting 8 permanently fitted on the seat.

For ease of illustration, only the pommel frame 7a is shown in FIGURE 1, foam parts 7b,7c and the flexible cover 7d (see FIGURE 5) being omitted. Foam parts 7b.7c fit onto either side of pommel frame 7a in a manner which should be self-evident from FIGURE 2 which represents the fitted position of parts 7b.7c and cover 7d by means of a chain-dotted line C. Foam parts 7b,7c are mirror images. of one another and comprise two respective halves of a pommel cushion which are fitted together around the pnmmel frame 7a, recessed parts matching the frame parts around which the cushion is fitted. Once the 'halves' 7b,7c are in position the flexible cover or bag 7 is pulled over the halves 7b,7c to retain them securely in position on the frame 7a.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the pommel 7 is detached from the seat 2, and is movable into a position supporting an invalid person on the seat (with one leg of the person on each side of the pommel and the person straddling the pommel) with the lower, square tubular section frame portion 7e engaging in the square, tubular mounting hole 8a of the mounting 8. Whilst the pommel 7 is detached from the seat it is out of the way during the transfer of a person onto or off the seat 2, and, once engaged on the mounting 8, can be arranged to support the person in place on the seat, to thereby help maintain the correct posture of the invalid body in the seat.

Preferably, and as shown, the design of the pommel 7 is such that it can be attached and/or detached from the seat 2 with the use of one hand, thereby, advantageously, leaving the other hand free to attend to the person.

The pommel 7 itself will now be described in further detail with reference to FIGURES 1,2,3 and 5.

Pommel frame 7a has a generally C-shaped portion 7f of circular section which is attached at one end to an upper end of lower frame portion 7e. The part 7'f of C-shaped portion 7f lying between cushion outline C and part 7e forms a handle by means of which the pommel can be slidably attached or detached from the seat 2 with the aid of one hand. A generally wedge-shaped, U-section, carrier piece 7g is provided at the other end of C-shaped portion 7f and a generally oval, hard rubber cam 7h is pivotally mounted on the carrier piece 7g by a single pivot pin 7i (see FIGURE 3 in particular). The axis of the pin 7i is arranged generally transverse to the pommel frame 7a and thus generally transverse to the introduction direction of the frame of the seat 2.

Cam 7h is pivotable on said pin 7i by means of cam lever 7j, and as shown in FIGURE 2, rotation of the lever in direction A will urge the bottom of the cam surface against the upper surface of plastics seat cover 9 (see FIGURE 1), which cover is arranged smoothly and tightly over the mounting 8, to lock the pommel to the mounting 8, and thereby to the seat 2. Rotation of the lever 7i in the opposite sense, i.e. in the direction of arrow B, frees or unlocks the cam from the surface of the plastics cover 9, and allows the pommel to be withdrawn from the mounting 8 and from the seat 2. The lever 7i is rotatable through about 900 between locking and unlocked positions.

The lever is operated to lock the pommel to the seat once the pommel has been slid to the desired position and the lever can be operated by the fingers of the hand which still grips the handle 7'f.

A sectional view of the mounting 8 is shown in FIGURE 4, and this is also shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 3 by means of chain-dotted line D. The upper surface of the mounting 8 is suitably contoured as shown and when in position on seat 2 is relatively unobstrusive so that it is not an obstacle to the transfer of a person onto the seat.

The mounting 8 may be secured to the seat 2 itself by bolts (not shown) passing through the flanges 8b,8c in a manner which should be readily envisaged or, depending on the material chosen for the mounting, suitable adhesives or other fixing means may be used.

In the embodiment as shown, the mounting 8 is on the upper surface of the seat 2 because the bellows 4 is directly underneath the seat. In an alternative embodiment (for example where a scissor action linkage is used rather than a bellows) the mounting means may be provided on the underside of the seat 2, leaving the upper surface entirely flat. In such an arrangement, the cam 7h could be arranged to act against the underside of the seat if desired.

Any convenient means may be provided for receiving and engaging the pommel on the seat.

Most advantageously, this embodiment of the present invention allows the pommel to be attached to the seat in any one of a plurality of person support positions i.e. it is adjustable forwards and backwards along the mounting 8 into various different positions where it may be locked by rotation of the cam 7h. This provides for a more comfortable positioning of individuals of widely differing sizes on the seat.

FIGURES 6 to 8 depict other possible modifications to the pommel and mounting.

FIGURE 6 shows a pommel frame P which is of similar form to pommel frame 7a. However, the rubber friction cam 7h has been dispensed with. Instead a rotatable, hinged locking bar b has a pawl 100 lockingly engageable with the serrated top surface 101 of a mounting 102 located on the seat 2 (not shown here). Bar 6 is spring loaded by vertical spring means 103. Clearly, the pawl 100 automatically locks the frame P to the mounting 102 and seat as the square tubular part 7e is introduced into mounting by engagement with serrations 101 and may be unlocked by upwards rotation of the bar as shown by the single arrow in the FIGURE. The serrated mounting and pawl comprise mechanical interlocking means.

In order to alleviate possibility of the bar b becoming unlocked unintentionally with the arrangement as shown in FIGURE 6, the further modified arrangement of FIGURE 7 might be utilised. Here, lever 104 must be operated in the direction of the arrow to release the pawl 100 from the serrations 101. Thus, FIGURE 7 illustrates an overcentre mechanism which prevents inadvertent release.

Although not illustrated, the general arrangement shown in FIGURE 7 may be utilised with a plain mounting having no serrations 101, by replacing the pawl with a friction pad to engage the smooth surface of the mounting or plastic covering on the seat.

FIGURE 8 shows an alternative arrangement in which a frictional engagement is provided within the mounting itself rather than by engagement of a cam, pawl or friction pad on the upper surface of a seat cover/mounting.

The mounting M receives the lower frame part 7e' which is again of square tubular section, but now incorporates a spring-loaded rubber friction block supported by lower wedge W. The upper part of block f extends through a slot in part 7e' to engage the inner upper surface of the mounting M. The block f holds the frame in position by friction but on depressing plunger 105, attached to the block, as shown, the block becomes unseated from wedge W against the action of spring force provided by horizontal spring means 106, thereby unlocking the frame from the mounting.

Advantageously, the present invention as described and illustrated in the afore-described examples provides the quick and ready attachment and locking or detachment of the pommel on/off the seat. The pommel can be attached and locked in position in about five seconds or less by means of a single hand. Usually, the retention means is, advantageously, located above the seat so that it is clearly visible and easily operable.

Individual features of the invalid seat or pommel of the present invention, functions, method or combinations thereof may be patentably inventive, and the terminology used throughout this specification should not be construed as being unduly limiting. It is to be understood that the use of any particular term herein may extend to the use of any reasonable generally equivalent term and/or generic term where sensible.

Claims

1. An invalid seat comprising a pommel which is movable into and out of a position supporting an invalid person on the seat, the pommel being movable out of the way during the transfer of the invalid person on or off the seat, and into said supporting position once the person is in place on the seat, to thereby help maintain al correct posture of the invalid body in the seat, and in which the pommel is adapted for movement into said supporting position and locking in said supporting position all with the use of a single hand.

2. A seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the pommel is completely removable from the remainder of the seat.

3. A seat as claimed in Claim 2 in which the pommel has a handle.

4. A seat as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the pommel remains attached to the seat (e.g. hinged thereto) but is movable to an inoperative, out of the way position.

5. A seat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the pommel is adjustable on the seat throughout a plurality of person support positions.

6. A seat as claimed in Claim 5 in which the pommel is adjustable in the forwards/backwards direction of the seat.

7. A seat as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 in which the pommel is slidably adjustable.

8. A seat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the pommel is securable or lockable on the seat by non-screw operated retention means.

9. A seat as claimed in Claim 8 in which said retention means is a friction and/or mechanical interlocking means.

10. A seat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the pommel has a frame with a cushion provided thereon.

11. A seat as claimed in Claim 10 in which the cushion comprises foam parts or 'halves' which are fitted around the frame and secured thereto.

12. A seat as claimed in Claim 11 in which the parts or 'halves' are secured to the frame by a flexible cover or bag.

13. A seat as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 12 when dependent from Claim 2 in which part of the frame is usable as the handle.

14. A seat as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 13 in which the frame has a portion slidably engaging in a mounting hole on the seat.

15. A seat as claimed in Claim 14 in which the mounting hole is provided on an individual mounting fitted to the seat, for example by bolts.

16. A seat as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 15 in which the frame is generally C-shaped.

17. A seat as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 16 when dependent from Claim 9 in which said friction retention means is provided by a rotatable cam (preferably of hard rubber) mounted on a carrier piece of the frame.

18. A seat as claimed in Claim 17 in which the cam is rotatable by means of a lever into and out of engagement with a surface of the seat or mounting adjacent thereto to lock and unlock the pommel to the seat.

19. A seat as claimed in Claim 17 or Claim 18 in which the pivotable axis of the cam is transverse to the frame.

20. A seat as claimed in Claim 9 or any one of Claims 10 to 16 when dependent therefrom in which the retention means is provided by mechanical interlocking means in the form of a pawl co-operable with a serrated upper surface of the seat/mounting.

21. A seat as claimed in Claim 20 in which the pawl is mounted on a spring loaded pivotable bar.

22. A seat as claimed in Claim 21 in which in order to avoid unintentional unlocking an overcentre action mechanism is provided.

23. An invalid seat substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURES 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings or when modified substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURE 6, or 7, or 8 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the pommel is substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURES 2 to 5 or when modified in accordance with FIGURES 6 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A chair including an invalid seat in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, and which preferably allows transfer of the person generally laterally on or off the seat.

26. A chair as claimed in Claim 25 which is height adjustable, and which preferably allows transfer of the person generally laterally on or off the seat.

27. A method of transferring an invalid person on or off an invalid seat said method comprising: (a) moving a seat pommel out of the way of the invalid person whilst that person is transferred on or off the seat, (b) moving the pommel into or out of a lockable position supporting the person on the seat and locking or unlocking the pommel in said position all by means of a single hand, in which supporting position the invalid body is helped to be maintained in a correct posture by the pommel.

28. A method as claimed in Claim 27 in which the pommel is completely removable from the remainder of the seat, whilst the invalid person is manoeuvred thereon.

29. A method as claimed in Claim 28 in which the person is transferred generally laterally on or off the seat.

30. A method as claimed in Claim 28 in which the pommel remains attached to the seat (e.g. hinged thereto) during transfer of said person but movable to an inoperative, out of the way position before the invalid person is transferred on or off the seat.

31. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 28 to 30 in which the pommel is adjustable on the seat throughout a plurality of person support positions.

32. A method as claimed in Claim 31 in which the pommel is adjustable in the forwards/backwards direction of the seat.

33. A method as claimed in Claim 31 or Claim 32 in which the pommel is slidably adjustable.

34. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 28 to 33 in which the pommel is securable or lockable on the seat by retention means.

35. A method as claimed in Claim 34 in which said retention means is a friction and/or mechanical interlocking means.

36. A method as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 35 in which the pommel has a frame with a cushion provided thereon.

37. A method as claimed in Claim 36 in which the cushion comprises foam parts or 'halves' which are fitted around the frame and secured thereto.

38. A method as claimed in Claim 37 in which the parts or 'halves' are secured to the frame by a flexible cover or bag.

39. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 36 to 38 in which part of the frame is used as a handle.

40. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 36 to 39 in which the frame has a portion slidably engaging in a mounting hole on the seat.

41. A method as claimed in Claim 40 in which the mounting hole is provided on an individual mounting fitted to the seat, for example by bolts.

42. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 36 to 41 in which the frame is generally C-shaped.

43. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 36 to 42 when dependent from Claim 35 in which said friction retention means is provided by a rotatable cam (preferably of hard rubber) mounted on a carrier piece of the frame.

44. A method as claimed in Claim 43 in which the cam is rotatable by means of a lever into and out of engagement with a surface of the seat or mounting adjacent thereto to lock and unlock the pommel to the seat.

45. A method as claimed in Claim 43 or Claim 44 in which the pivotable axis of the cam is transverse to the frame.

46. A method as claimed in Claim 35 or any one of Claims 36 to 42 when dependent therefrom in which the retention means is provided by mechanical interlocking means in the form of a pawl co-operable with a serrated'upper surface of the seat/mounting.

47. A method as claimed in Claim 46 in which the pawl is mounted on a spring loaded pivotable bar.

48. A method as claimed in Claim 47 in which in order to avoid unintentional unlocking an overcentre action mechanism is provided.

49. A method of transferring an invalid person on or off an invalid seat substantially as herein described.

50. An invalid seat comprising a pommel which is movable into and out of a position supporting an invalid person on the seat, the pommel being movable out of the way during the transfer of the invalid person on or off the seat, and into said supporting position once the person is in place on the seat, to thereby help maintain a correct posture of the invalid body in the seat, said seat having one or more of the following features: (a) a pommel which is adapted for movement into said supporting position and locking in said supporting position all with the use of a single hand, (b) a pommel which is adapted for movement into said supporting position and automatic locking in said supporting position, (c) a pommel which is adapted for movement into said supporting position and locking in said supporting position on movement of a lever, preferably pivotable through less than 1800, and most preferably through less than 90 between locking and unlocking positions, (d) a pommel which is adapted for movement into said supporting position and locking in said supporting position on operation of non-screw operated retention means, (e) a pommel which is adapted, for movement into said supporting position and locking in said supporting position on operation of retention means operated from above the seat, (f) a pommel which is adapted for movement into said supporting portion and locking in said supporting position on operation of retention means located adjacent to a handle of the pommel, said retention means, preferably, being operable by use of a single hand whilst said hand remains on the handle.

(g) a pommel which is adapted for movement into said supporting position and locking in said supporting position is less than ten seconds and, preferably, in less than five seconds.

51. A method of transferring an invalid person on or off an invalid seat said method comprising: (a) moving a seat pommel out of the way of the invalid person whilst that person is transferred on or off the seat, (b) moving the pommel into our out of a lockable position supporting the person on the seat, in which supporting position the invalid body is helped to be maintained in a correct posture by the pommel, said method including one or more of the following features:: (1) transferring the person generally laterally on or off the seat, (2) quickly moving the pommel into said supporting position and locking the pommel in said supporting position all with the use of a single hand, (3) automatically locking the pommel in said supporting position, (4) locking the pommel in said supporting position on movement of a lever, by preferably pivoting the lever through less than 1800 and most preferably through less than 900, and preferably in a plane at right angles to said seat, (5) locking the pommel in said supporting position by operating non screw operated retention means, (6) locking the pommel in said supporting position on operation of retention means from above the seat, (7) operating retention means located adjacent to a handle of the pommel, preferably by means of a single hand whilst said hand remains on the handle, (8) moving said pommel into said supporting position and locking the pommel in said supporting position in less than ten seconds and, preferably, in less than five seconds.