GB2479861A - Lift-up armrest unit for mounting on a rise and recline chair to allow side access to the chair - Google Patents

Abstract

An armrest unit suitable for replacing the static arm of a rise-and-recline chair comprises a main body, e.g. bottom wooden frame 5, and an armrest portion, e.g. top frame section 1, that is pivotally connected to the bottom frame and which can be elevated by an electrically powered motor 3. The bottom frame 5 may include a foam portion which serves to extend the existing seat surface of the chair. The top armrest frame may be pivotally connected to the lower frame by a hinge 2. The electric motor 2 lifts the arm to a raised position at the touch of a button to allow easy side access to the chair, e.g. for someone transferring to the chair from a wheelchair.

Description

An Electric Lift Up Chair Arm This invention reiates to a device for a eiectronicaliy raising top section of a chair arm for a person to perform a wheei chair side transfer.

When somebody is in a wheel chair and would like to transfer into a rise and recline chair, it is very difficult as the arm is in the way and the conventual methods of manually lifting up, removable and drop down arms are very difficult for somebody with very little mobility.

However, the use of conventional manual lift up can lead to a number of difficulties.

The arm can be to heavy to lift due to the weight and possibly the person could have arthritic joints, difficult to pull down, which would involve the person having to twist round when your in the chair and garbing the arm as long as there able too.

Getting over the lowered section of the arm which can cause a small lip against the seat, making it harder for a person to transfer.

To overcome these problems, the present invention proposes a Electronic Lift Up Arm mechanism that can be attached to a rise and recline chair to replace the original arm.

This Unit once attached to the side of a chair frame, replacing the normal static arm, will lift up at a touch of a button.

The arm is hinged at the back, so when the motor extends, pushing up the top half of the arm away from the client,this would be leaving a clear way to side transfer.

In the wooden frame design there is a 3" drop, which is replaced with 3" of seat foam.

This is to replicate and extend the seat surface when the arm is lifted.

Allowing the seat surface to be closer to the wheel chair.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of the Electric Lift Up unit and its motor in the lifted up position, Figure 2 shows a side view of the Electric Lift Up unit and its motor in the closed position, In figure l,Electric lift up arm includes a top frame 1 which is joined to 5 which is hinge by 2 to allow the open movement.

7 and 4 are 3's fixing points. 8 is a locating and locking into place when 1 and are closed.

6 is the seat foam.

Claims (5)

1. Claims 1. An Electric lift up arm unit attachment means you can attach the unit to a rise and recline chair frame, so the electric arm can extend with in the wooden frame, elevating the top of the arm at a touch of a button.
2. 2. An Electric lift up arm unit according to claim 1, so the electric motor can extend with in the wooden frame, elevating the top part of the arm.
3. 3. An Electric lift up arm unit according to claim 1, is attached by 2 and 3 is mounted between 4 and 7 allowing a hinged motion to happen.
4. 4. An Electric lift up arm unit according to claim 1, 3 will extend from its closed position to an open position causing the top part of the arm to elevate.
5. 5. A Electric lift up arm unit according to any of the preceding claims, has a 3" foam mounting which will help bring the seat closer to the wheel chair.