GB2276863A - Stairlift - Google Patents

Stairlift Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2276863A
GB2276863A GB9307163A GB9307163A GB2276863A GB 2276863 A GB2276863 A GB 2276863A GB 9307163 A GB9307163 A GB 9307163A GB 9307163 A GB9307163 A GB 9307163A GB 2276863 A GB2276863 A GB 2276863A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
barrier
carriage
stairlift
extended position
seat
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9307163A
Other versions
GB9307163D0 (en
Inventor
Philip John Radway Smyth
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sunrise Medical Ltd
Original Assignee
Sunrise Medical Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sunrise Medical Ltd filed Critical Sunrise Medical Ltd
Priority to GB9307163A priority Critical patent/GB2276863A/en
Publication of GB9307163D0 publication Critical patent/GB9307163D0/en
Publication of GB2276863A publication Critical patent/GB2276863A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66BELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
    • B66B9/00Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures
    • B66B9/06Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures inclined, e.g. serving blast furnaces
    • B66B9/08Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures inclined, e.g. serving blast furnaces associated with stairways, e.g. for transporting disabled persons
    • B66B9/0853Lifting platforms, e.g. constructional features

Abstract

A stairlift includes a carriage which runs on a track (13). On the carriage, there are mounted a folding seat (15), a folding footrest (17) and a barrier or gate 23 which lies beside the seat and extends down to the level of the footrest. The barrier is spaced from the wall (12) sufficiently to prevent fingers being trapped but close enough to prevent limbs being caught. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Stairlift" Description of Invention The present invention reiates to a stairlift comprising a track which extends up a flight of stair j carriage which runs up and down the track, when in use, a seat on the carriage and a footrest on the carriage.
An example of such a stairlift is disclosed in GB 2,184,707A.The seat of this stairlift can swivel between a position in which it faces downstairs and a position in which it faces across the stairs.
A person who does not have good control over the movement of his limbs would not feel secure, when using the stairlift disclosed in GB 2,184,707.
According to the present invention, there is provided a stairlift comprising a track, a carriage which runs up and down the track when in use, a seat on the carriage, a footrest on the carriage and a foldable barrier on the carriage, the barrier being foldable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein a top of the barrier, when in the extended position, lies at a level above or substantially the same as the level of the seat and wherein a bottom of the barrier, when in the extended position, lies at a level which is substantially the same as the level of the footrest.
In the preferred stairlifi, the barrier lies at one side of the seat and the seat faces in a direction across the stairs away from the track.
The centre of gravity of the barrier is preferably at a higher level when the barrier is in the retracted position than when the barrier is in the extended position. A biasing means may be provided for maintaining the barrier in the retracted position until a suitable force is applied to the barrier to overcome the action of the biasing means and drive the barrier towards the extended position.
When the stairlift is installed in a building having a flight of stairs between opposite structures which define opposite lateral boundaries of the stairway, the track being on or adjacent to one of said structures. the barrier, when in the extended position, preferably approaches the other of said structures more closely than does the seat.
An example of a stairlift embodying the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 shows diagrammatically a side elevation of the stairlift; FIGURE 2 shows an end view of the stairlift with a barrier of the stairlift in a lowered position; and FIGURE 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the stairlift with the barrier a seat and a footrest all folded to retracted positions.
The stairlift illustrated in the accompanying drawings is installed in a building having a flight of stairs 10 between opposite structures 11 and 12 which define opposite lateral boundaries of the stairway. Each of these structures may be a masonry wall, a partition, a bannister or any other structure which defines a lateral boundarv of the stairwav.
The stairlift comprises a track 13 which, in the example illustrated, is mounted on the stairs 10. Alternatively, the track could be mounted on the wall 11. The stairlift further comprises a carriage 14 which runs on the track 13.
The carriage includes known drive means for driving the carriage up the stairs and for controlling movement of the carriage down the stairs. Alternatively, the drive means may be mounted on the track 13 and connected with the carriage 14 by a cahle or other flexible element.
A foldable seat 15 is mounted on the carriage 14 and facing towards the structure 12. A backrest 16 is mounted on the carriage above the seat 15 and a foldable footrest 17 is mounted on the carriage at a position below the seat 15.
The seat 15 and the footrest 17 are foldable about respective, mutually parallel, horizontal axes between the extended positions represented in Figure 2 and the retracted positions presented in Figure 3.
The stairlift further comprises a barrier 18 which is mounted on the carriage 14. The barrier is foldable between an extended position represented in Figure 2, in which the barrier lies beside the seat 15, and a retracted position represented in Figure 3, in which the barrier is well spaced from the structure 12 and lies mainly above the level of the seat 15, when the seat is in the extended position.
A pair of armrests also may be mounted on the carriage 14 at opposite sides of the backrest 16 and the armrests also may be foldable. Alternatively, one armrest may be incorporated in the barrier 18.
When in the extended position, the barrier 18 approaches the structure 12 sufficiently closely to avoid a user inadvertently inserting a limb between the barrier and the structure 12. However, the barrier is always spaced sufficiently far from the structure 12 to avoid trapping a finger between the barrier and the structure. The separation between the barrier and the structure 12 is preferably within the range 200mum to 20mm and more preferably within the range 150mm to 25mm but is less than the respective spacings between the structure 12 and each of the seat and the footrest.
When the barrier 18 is in the extended position, a top of the barrier lies at a level which is above the level of the seat 15, when the seat is in its extended position. Typically, the top of the barrier is at a level which is approximately the same as that of the armrest 19. Also when the barrier is in the extended position, a bottom of the barrier lies at a level which is appr()ximately the same as the level of the footrest 17, xchen in the extended position.
The barrier approaches sufficiently closely to the footrest 17 to avoid a user inadvertently inserting a limb between the barrier and the footrest.
Preferably, the separation between the barrier and the footrest, when both are in their respective extended positions, is within the range l()Omm to 20mm and more preferably within the range 60mm to 25mm.
The barrier 18 includes a top carrier 21, a bottom carrier 22 and a number of intermediate elements, each extending between the top and bottom carriers and being carried thereby. In the example illustrated, each of the top and bottom carriers is a rectilinear rail and the intermediate elements also are rectilinear rails. When the barrier is in the extended position, the intermediate elements are substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom carriers and those carriers are mutuallv parallel.
The top carrier 21 is connected with the carriage 14 for pivoting relative thereto about a horizontal axis 24 which lies near to the backrest 16 and preferably just behind the backrest. The bottom carrier 22 is connected with the carriage 14 for pivoting relative thereto about an axis 25 which is parallel to the axis 24 and which may be directly beneath that axis. Each of the intermediate elements 23 is pivotally connected with both the top carrier and the bottom carrier.
When the barrier is in the extended position, the separation between adjacent intermediate elements 23 is considerably greater than the width of these elements but is preferably no more than 150mm. More preferably, the separation between adjacent elements 23 is no more than 125mm.
By piv)ting of the carriers 21 and 22 about the axes 24 and 25 respectively, the harrier can be folded from the extended position to the retracted position.
When the barrier is in the retracted position, the elements 23 lie much closer to one another than when in the extended position. The minimum spacing between the elements 23 is preferably at least 20mm and more preferably somewhat greater than 20mm, to avoid the risk of a finger being trapped between adjacent intermediate elements when the barrier is folded to the retracted position.
Ii will be noted that the carriers 21 and 22 are pivoted upwardly when the barrier is folded to the retracted position. The centre of gravity of the barrier is considerably higher, when the barrier is in the retracted position, than when in the extended position. Accordingly, the barrier is urged by gravity towards the extended position.
For holding the barrier in the retracted position, there is provided biasing means in the form of a known gas strut 26. This strut acts between the top carrier 21 and a support 27 for the barrier. This support is attached to the carriage 14 and supports the pivots for the carriers 1 and 22.
A stop 28 is provided on the support 27 for engaging with an abutment element 29 on the barrier 1S to limit downward folding of the barrier to the extended position. Folding to the retracted position is limited by the strut 26.
It will be noted that, when the barrier 18 is in the retracted position, it is spaced somewhat further from the structure 12 than is the seat 15. Thus, the barrier does not encroach significantly on the space above the stairs 10.
The action of gravity and of the strut 16, in combination, on the barrier 18 ensures stability of the barrier when in its extended position and when in its retracted position but not when in an intermediate position. If the barrier is moved to an intermediate position by the user and is then released, it will move to either the retracted position or the extended position.
The support 27 is preferably adjustable relative to the carriage 14 so that the position of the barrier 18 relative to the seat 15 can be selected to make the user feel secure and to make use of the stairlift convenient for the user.
If the track 13 is to be positioned on the stairs 10 near to the structure 12, then the support 27 can be positioned at the opposite side of the carriage 14.
The components of the barrier 18 and the support 27 are not handed and can be fitted to either the lefthand or the righthand side of the carriage.
The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in the terms of means for performing the desired function, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS:
1. A stairlift comprising a track, a carriage which runs up and down the track when in use, a seat on the carriage, a footrest on the carriage and a foldable barrier on the carriage, the barrier being foldable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein a top of the barrier, when in the extended position, lies at a level above or substantially the same as the level of the seat and wherein a bottom of the barrier, when in the extended position, lies at a level which is substantially the same as the level of the footrest.
2. A stairlift according to Claim 1 wherein the barrier includes a top carrier, a bottom carrier and a number of intermediate elements, each carried by the top and bottom carriers collectively.
3. A stairlift according to Claim 2 wherein the top carrier is mounted for pivoting relative to the carriage about an upper axis and the bottom carrier is mounted for pivoting relative to the carriage about a lower axis.
4. A stairlift according to Claim 2 wherein, when the barrier is in the extended position, the spacing between adjacent intermediate elements is no more than 150mm.
5. A stairlift according to Claim 2 or Claim 4 wherein, when the barrier is in the retracted position, the spacing between adjacent intermediate elements is at least 15mm.
ó. A stairlift according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the barrier is arranged to be urged by gravity into the extended position.
7. A stairlift according to Claim 6 wherein biasing means is provided for holding the barrier in the retracted position against the action of gravity.
8. A stairlift according to any one of the preceding claims installed in a building having a flight of stairs between opposite structures which define opposite lateral boundaries of the stairway, the track being on or adjacent to one of said structures, wherein the barrier, when in the extended position, approaches the other of said structures more closely than does the seat.
9 A stairlift according to Claim 8 wherein the barrier approaches to within 200mm of said other structure.
10. A stairlift according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein the barrier approaches said other slructure no more closely than 25mm.
11. A stairlift substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
12. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
GB9307163A 1993-04-06 1993-04-06 Stairlift Withdrawn GB2276863A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9307163A GB2276863A (en) 1993-04-06 1993-04-06 Stairlift

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9307163A GB2276863A (en) 1993-04-06 1993-04-06 Stairlift

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9307163D0 GB9307163D0 (en) 1993-05-26
GB2276863A true GB2276863A (en) 1994-10-12

Family

ID=10733415

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9307163A Withdrawn GB2276863A (en) 1993-04-06 1993-04-06 Stairlift

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2276863A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2827588A1 (en) * 2001-07-23 2003-01-24 Jean Yves Deboffles Mechanical lock for gate on lifting cage for the disabled has lock having bolt with release arm and locking hook

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1397250A (en) * 1971-08-02 1975-06-11 Price P E D Childs safety gate
GB1530715A (en) * 1975-07-17 1978-11-01 Reus Bv J De Stairway elevator
GB2184707A (en) * 1985-12-18 1987-07-01 Ease Limited Stairlift
GB2205344A (en) * 1987-01-08 1988-12-07 J T Lowe Consultants Limited Safety gate

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1397250A (en) * 1971-08-02 1975-06-11 Price P E D Childs safety gate
GB1530715A (en) * 1975-07-17 1978-11-01 Reus Bv J De Stairway elevator
GB2184707A (en) * 1985-12-18 1987-07-01 Ease Limited Stairlift
GB2205344A (en) * 1987-01-08 1988-12-07 J T Lowe Consultants Limited Safety gate

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2827588A1 (en) * 2001-07-23 2003-01-24 Jean Yves Deboffles Mechanical lock for gate on lifting cage for the disabled has lock having bolt with release arm and locking hook

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9307163D0 (en) 1993-05-26

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)