GB2257032A

GB2257032A - Nursing chair and cushion therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2257032A
Application number: GB9212959A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Alan Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-06-19
Filing date: 1992-06-18
Publication date: 1993-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 2012-06-18
Also published as: GB9212959D0; GB2257032B

Abstract

A nursing chair for aged or infirm persons and which comprises an upholstered tubular metal frame structure (10) having a base portion (17) supported by floor engaging wheels (21 + 22). Back rest and seat portions (23 + 28) are pivotably mounted to the base portion (17) independently of one another, and a leg rest (32) is pivotably mounted to a forward edge of the seat portion (28). The chair includes arm rests (38) and side wings (40) to restrain a person falling to one side or the other of the chair, and both the arm rest (38) and the wing (40) at one side or both sides of the chair are hinged to permit side entry to or exit from the chair. A cushion Figs 4 - 8 is also provided for the chair, the cushion having a base portion (50) formed from a compressible cellular plastics material, a water impervious plastics material envelope (63) carried by the base portion (50) and a water-containing bladder (56) located within the envelope. <IMAGE>

Description

This invention relates to a chair which is suitable for use by persons who, by reason of age or physical impediment, require body support of a type which cannot be provided by existing lounge or invalid chairs.

Some lounge chairs can be adjusted to a limited extent to provide variable body support, usually by effecting integrated pivoting of both the seat and back rest portions and/or by tilting movable leg support portions of the chairs. Similar adjustments, some of a more comprehensive nature, may be made in known invalid chairs, particularly those which are intended for use by chronically disabled or aged persons. However, no chair is known to be available which is adaptable to a broad range of nursing requirements, including institutional and domestic requirements, and which is adjustable to provide variable body support.

The present invention seeks to provide a chair which meets these needs.

Also, in the context of a seat cushion which is proposed for use in the present invention, it is mentioned that water filled cushions currently are employed in various types of seats to provide a uniformly distributed form of support for users. The cushions typically comprise a water impermeable bag which is filled or partially filled with water and the bag is located within an envelope which usually forms a part of seat upholstery.

However, whilst these known water cushions provide high levels of comfort, particularly for persons who are troubled by localised pressure points when seated in conventionally sprung or padded chairs, such water cushions do present difficulties to some users and persons who care for the users. The cushions are quite heavy and inherently floppy and, as a result, are inconvenient to handle. It is difficult to fit the water-filled cushions into and to remove them from enveloping covers and this can present a special problem if regular laundering is required to satisfy hygiene requirements. A further problem with the existing seat cushions is that, because of the relatively high water volume required to provide a satisfactory degree of body support, there is a potential for major damage if water leakage occurs.

The present invention seeks to provide a nursing chair which is adaptable to a broad range of nursing requirements and which comprises an upholstered frame structure having a base portion supported upon floor-engaging wheels, a back rest portion pivotably mounted to the base portion and means for adjusting the pivotal position of the back rest portion. A seat portion is pivotably mounted to the base portion in a manner such that it may be pivoted independently of the back rest portion, and means are provided for adjusting the pivotal position of the seat portion. A leg rest portion is pivotably mounted adjacent a forward edge of the seat portion and means are provided for adjusting the pivotable position of the leg rest portion.Arm rest portions are mounted to opposite sides of the seat portion and at least one of the arm rest portions is pivotably mounted to or removable from the seat portion to permit side entry to and exit from the chair.

The frame structure may be formed from timber but preferably is formed from metal.

Side wings preferably are mounted to opposite sides of the back rest portion, so as to restrain a user from falling to one side or the other of the chair and at least one of the side wings is preferably pivotable with respect to or removable from the back rest portion, again so as to permit side entry to and exit from the chair.

A foot rest is preferably mounted to the leg rest and means are most preferably provided for adjusting the pivotal position of the foot rest relative to the leg rest.

As a result of the chair structure having its seat, back rest and leg rest portions independently pivotable with respect to each other, the structure may be adjusted to assume any desired configuration; for example with all of the portions disposed horizontally (as in the manner of a bed), with the various portions positioned to form a straight-backed chair or with the various portions in any one of a large number of possible intermediate positions.

The chair may be constructed as a self-propelled or motorised wheelchair, that is with rearward driving wheels and forward guiding wheels. However, it is expected that the chair would normally be used more particularly as a nursing chair and be provided with wheels for the sole purpose of moving it short distances within an institutional or domestic nursing situation.

The chair in its preferred form is intended largely for use by persons who have limited body movement. When it is desirable that a patient with limited body movement should be discouraged from moving from the chair, the various portions of the chair may be positioned in such a manner that the person is effectively constrained by his or her own weight and body disposition against moving from the chair.

The chair may be upholstered in any desired manner, depending upon the needs of a user. Thus, the seat, back rest and arm rest portions of the chair may be covered or fitted with cushioning material and such material may in turn be covered by a fabric or simulated leather cladding. The cushions themselves may be formed from a resilient plastics or textile material or be constituted by water cushions of the type disclosed in United States patent no. 4,838,613.

However, the chair seat cushion most preferably is in the form of a composite cushion which comprises a base portion formed from a compressible plastics material and a water impervious plastics material bladder supported on an upper surface of the cushion base portion and arranged to receive water. A cover portion extends over the bladder in a manner such that the bladder is sandwiched between the base and cover portions. The cushion base portion preferably comprises a cellular, compressible plastics material.

As a consequence of forming the total cushion as a composite structure, the quantity of water required to provide support for a user is reduced without significantly reducing the level of comfort which characteristically is derived from a water-filled cushion. Also, with a reduction in the quantity of water required, a significant weight saving is achieved, and by sandwiching the water bladder between the base and cover portions the overall shape of the cushion can be maintained.

The bladder is preferably contained within an envelope which is itself formed from a water impervious plastics material.

The cover portion is preferably formed from a compressible cellular plastics material and, most preferably, from a material which is softer than that from which the cushion base portion is formed.

The bladder preferably has a contained volume significantly smaller than the volume of the base portion of the cushion.

The cover portion preferably extends over and is secured to a front edge of the base portion of the cushion. Also, the cover portion preferably is removably secured to the base portion adjacent side and rear marginal edges of the base portion. Furthermore, the envelope and contained bladder preferably are removably secured to the base portion of the cushion. Thus, the envelope and the contained water bladder are retained in situ between the base and cover portions of the cushion.

The water bladder preferably is removably secured within the envelope and is thereby prevented from folding or creasing.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment of a chair and a seat cushion therefor which is intended for use in a nursing situation. The chair and cushion are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the complete upholstered chair, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a metal frame of the chair with upholstered cushions removed and with some of the chair portions shown in positions different from those shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a side view of the metal frame when in a folded condition, Figure 4 shows a perspective view of base and cover portions of a seat cushion for the chair with the cover portion folded forwardly to reveal the upper surface of the base portion, Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the cushion with the cover portion folded to its normal position but with one corner of the cover portion removed to reveal a portion of a bladder-containing envelope resting upon the upper surface of the base portion, Figure 6 shows a sectional elevation view of the cushion as seen in the direction of section plane 6-6 in Figure 5, Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the envelope removed from the remaining portion of the cushion, with marginal portions of the envelope being shown broken away to illustrate the detailed construction of the envelope, and Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the bladder removed from its normal position within the envelope, with marginal portions of the bladder being shown broken away in the same manner as the envelope.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the chair has a metal skeletal frame 10 which is fitted with upholstered seat and back cushions 11 and 12. Additionally, the chair is fitted with arm rest, leg rest, foot rest and wing cushions 13 to 16. The cushions may be formed in various ways and be removably mounted to the frame 10 by way of stretched sheet material supports (not shown) or Velcro fastenings, but the cushion construction and method of attaching the cushions are not particularly important in the context of the invention. The more important aspect of the chair resides in the construction of the frame 10 and the inter-relationship of the various parts of the frame.

The metal frame 10 comprises a base portion 17 which includes two side frames 18 and connecting cross-members 19 and 20. Swivel mounted steering wheels 21 are mounted to the forward end of the base portion 17, and non-swivelling drive wheels 22 are mounted to the rearward end of the base portion.

A back rest portion 23 is pivotably mounted to the base portion 17 by pivot pins 24, the pins being positioned adjacent the rearward end of the base portion 17. The back rest' portion 23 is formed generally as an inverted U-shaped frame and it includes a rail 26.

The rail 26 is connected to the cross-member 20 of the base portion by-a tree-type connecting rod 27 or, in an alternative arrangement, by an extensible pneumatic cylinder. The connecting rod 27 may be located in any desired position, so as to engage the cross member 20 with one of the limbs 27a, and thus be employed to hold the back rest in a selected pivotal position.

A seat portion 28 is also pivotably mounted to the base portion 17 by pivot pins 29 which are positioned adjacent the back rest pivot pins 24. The seat portion 28 has a generally rectangular metal frame and it is connected to the base portion 17 by a tree-type connecting rod 30 or, alternatively, by an extensible pneumatic cylinder. The connecting rod 30 may be adjusted to pivot the seat portion to a desired position using a selected limb 30a. The pivotal movement of the seat portion is independent of the pivotal movement imparted to the back rest portion 23.

A horizontally disposed rail 31 interconnects the opposite sides of the seat portion 28 and carries the connecting rod 30.

A leg rest portion 32 is pivotably connected by hinge pins 33 to the forward end of the seat portion 28.

The leg rest portion comprises a generally rectangular metal frame having cross-members 34, and a multi-position locking clamp 35 connects the metal frame to the hinge pins 33. By adjusting the locking clamp 35 the leg rest portion 32 may be pivoted to and fixed in any desired position relative to the seat portion 28.

A foot rest portion 36 is pivotably connected to the outer end of the leg rest portions 32 by hinge pins 37, and the foot rest portion may be manually located in either a supporting position, as shown in Figure 1, or in a stowed condition as shown in Figure 3.

As a consequence of the independent pivotal connections made between the various portions of the chair frame 10, the chair may be adjusted to assume any desired configuration, ranging from that of a bed (not shown) through the positions indicated in Figures 1 and 2 and, finally, to the stowing or travelling condition shown in Figure 3.

Arm rest portions 38 in the form of generally rectangular metal frames are pivotably mounted to opposite sides of the seat portion 28 by hinges 39. The arm rest portions 38 are pivotably mounted in the manner indicated to permit a user of the chair to make a side entry to or exit from the chair, and the hinges 39 may be arranged to permit complete removal of the arm rest portions from the remainder of the chair.

Side wing cushion frames 40 are mounted to opposite sides of the back rest portion 23 by hinges 41, and the side wings may be moved between each of the conditions shown in Figure 2 to permit side entry to and exit from the chair.

The side wing cushion frames 40 may be used as hand grips for pushing or pulling the chair.

Both the arm rest portions 38 and the side wings 40, including their cushions 13 and 16, would normally be removed from the chair when it is being folded to the condition shown in Figure 3 to permit stowage and transportation of the chair.

A removable table 42 is provided for attachment to the chair after a person is seated in position. The table includes fingers 43 which are sized and positioned to locate within tubular end regions of the arm rest portions 38.

Ancillary elements (not shown) may be incorporated in the chair. For example, mechanically operated brakes may be provided for one or other of the wheels, with a brake cable attachment being made to a handle which would normally be secured to the upper rail 25 of the back rest portion 23.

The seat cushion as shown in Figures 4 to 8 of the drawings comprises a base portion 50 which is formed or otherwise shaped from a compressible, foamed, cellular plastics material of a type which customarily is used in soft furnishings. The base portion has a flat underside 51, a slightly concave upper surface 52 and a flat land 53 around side and rear margins of the upper surface 52. A strip 54 of Velcro fastening material is adhered to the land 53 around the side and rear margins of the upper surface 52 of the base portion.

A plurality of holes 55 is formed within the base portion 50 to facilitate the transfer of heat from a heating pad (not shown) which may be located below the cushion. The heating pad, which would normally be chosen to provide a power output in the order of 50 watts, may be used to apply heat to water within a bladder 56.

The bladder 56 is formed from water impervious PVC sheeting and has a forward edge 57 which is closed by folding the sheeting rather than by formation of a seam.

The forward edge 57 of the bladder is intended to locate adjacent the front edge 58 of the cushion, that is immediately behind the knees of a person seated upon the cushion. It has been determined that stress induced rupturing may be minimised if this region of the cushion is formed in a manner which avoids stress concentrating seams.

The side and rear edges 59 and 60 of the bladder 56 are closed and sealed by welding together the marginal edges of the PVC sheeting.

A removable filler cap 61 is located in the upper surface of the bladder 56 to permit water to be poured into and removed from the bladder. Also, four rectangular pads 62 of Velcro fastening material are adhered to the upper surface of the bladder 56 adjacent the corners of the bladder.

The bladder 56 is normally located within an envelope 63 and has a contained volume slightly smaller than that of the envelope. Also, the bladder 56 has a contained volume which is significantly smaller than that of the base portion 50 and this is to be contrasted with conventional water cushions that have water bags which, when filled, occupy the greater part of the total volume of the cushions.

The envelope 63 is also formed from a water impervious plastic sheeting and it has a forward edge 64 which is formed by folding in the same manner as the forward edge 57 of the bladder 56. Side edges 65 of the envelope are closed by welded seams and the rear edge 66 of the envelope is initially left open to permit insertion of the bladder 56. However, as indicated in Figure 7, strips 67 of Velcro fastening material are adhered to the inside surfaces of the envelope adjacent the rear edge 66, so that the envelope may be closed after the bladder has been inserted.

Four pads 68 of Velcro fastening material are located within the envelope 63 (ie., inside the upper wall of the envelope) and are positioned to make contact with the Velcro pads 62 on the upper surface of the bladder 56. The pads 68 function to connect with the matching pads 62 when the bladder is located within the envelope, and the bladder is thereby held in an unfolded condition within the envelope. This prevents creasing of and subsequent damage to the bladder.

In order to assist with assembly of the bladder 56 and the envelope 63, the envelope may conveniently be turned inside-out. The bladder 56 (which has been partially filled to the required extent with water) is then laid upon the envelope so that the Velcro pads 62 and 68 make connecting contact, and the envelope 63 is then turned outside-in so as to locate the bladder within the envelope. Finally, the envelope 63 is closed along what previously was the opening 66 to wholly contain the bladder.

A further four Velcro material fastening pads 69 are located on the undersurface of the envelope 63 and are positioned to make contact with complementary Velcro pads 70 which are located 'on the upper surface 52 of the base portion 50 of the cushion. The envelope 63 and contained bladder 56 are held in position by the matching pads 69 and 70 when the envelope is placed on the upper surface 52 of the base portion of the cushion as indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings.

A cover portion 72 of the cushion is adhered to the forward edge 58 of the base portion 50 of the cushion, and strips 73 of Velcro fastening material are adhered to the side and rear marginal portions of the cover. The strips 73 of fastening material are positioned to align with and connect to the strips 54 which are adhered to the base portion 50 of the cushion, and the cover portion 65 is thereby connected to the base portion 50 when the cover portion is folded over the envelope 63 and secured around the marginal edges of the base portion.

The cover portion 72 is formed from a compressible, cellular, foamed plastics material which is similar to that from which the base portion 50 is formed but which is softer than that of the base material. When the cover 72 is folded over the envelope 63, the envelope and contained bladder 56 are sandwiched between the base and cover portions, and a person who is seated upon the cushion will be totally protected from any leakage that may occur within the bladder.

Claims

The claims:

1. A nursing chair comprising an upholstered frame structure having a base portion supported upon floor-engaging wheels, a back rest portion pivotably mounted to the base portion, means for adjusting the pivotal position of the back rest portion1 a seat portion pivotably mounted to the base portion in a manner such that it may be pivoted independently of the back rest portion, means for adjusting the pivotal position of the seat portion, a leg rest portion pivotably mounted adjacent a forward edge of the seat portion, means for adjusting the pivotal position of the leg rest portion relative to the seat portion, and arm rest portions mounted to opposite sides of the seat portion, at least one of the arm rest portions being pivotably mounted to or removable from the seat portion to permit side entry to and exit from the chair.

2. The nursing chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame structure is formed at least predominantly from tubular metal.

3. The nursing chair as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein side wings are mounted to opposite sides of the back rest portion.

4. The nursing chair as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least one of the side wings is pivotably mounted to or removable from the back rest portion.

5. The nursing chair as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each of the seat, back and arm rest portions of the chair is covered with a removable cushioning material.

6. The nursing chair as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein a foot rest is pivotably mounted to the leg rest portion.

7. The nursing chair as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the means for adjusting the pivotal positions of the back rest and seat portions comprise tree-type connecting rods, each of which is formed with a plurality of limbs which are selectively engagable with a frame portion of the chair to determine the pivotal position of the associated back rest or seat portion.

8. The nursing chair as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and including a seat cushion having a base portion formed from a compressible plastics material, a water impervious plastics material bladder supported on an upper surface of the base portion and arranged to receive water, and a cover portion extending over the bladder in a manner such that the bladder is sandwiched between the base and cover portions.

9. The nursing chair as claimed in claim 8 wherein the bladder is located within an envelope.

10. The nursing chair as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the cushion base portion is formed from a cellular, compressible plastics material.

11. The nursing chair as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the bladder has a contained volume significantly smaller than the volume of the cushion base portion.

12. The nursing chair as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein the cover portion is formed from a compressible cellular plastics material that is softer than that from which the cushion base portion is formed.

13. The nursing chair as claimed in claim 12 wherein the cover portion extends over and is secured to a front edge of the cushion base portion, and wherein the cover portion is removably secured to the cushion base portion adjacent side and rear marginal edges of the base portion.

14. The nursing chair substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference thereto.