GB2564728B

GB2564728B - Seat device

Info

Publication number: GB2564728B
Application number: GB1720889.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Liao Chun-Yi
Original assignee: Karma Medical Products Co Ltd
Current assignee: Karma Medical Products Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-07-19
Filing date: 2017-12-14
Publication date: 2019-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2037-12-14
Also published as: TWM554785U; CN208726087U; GB2564728A; GB201720889D0

Description

SEAT DEVICE

The disclosure relates to a seat device, and more particularly to a reclining seat device. A conventional reclining seat device includes a seat module for supporting the lower foody of a user, and a backrest module that is pivoted to the seat module at a seat pivot point for supporting the upper body of the user .

However, since the seat pivot point about which the backrest module pivots relative to the seat module is spaced apart from a body pivot point about which the upper body of the user pivots relative to the lower foody, ..........when.....the backrest"module pivots relative to the seat module to adjust a recline angle thereof, a relative slide movement between the upper foody of the user and the backrest module would, occur to cause discomfort to the user.

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a seat device that can alleviate the drawback of the prior art.

According to the disclosure, the seat device includes a seat module and a backrest module. The seat, module includes a seat unit, and two inner frames that are respectively located at left and right sides of the seat unit. The backrest module includes a backrest unit that is located at a rear side of the seat unit, two linkage units that are respectively connected to left and right sides of a bottom portion of the backrest unit and that are respectively connected to the inner frames , and two backrest driving units that are respectively provided on the inner frames for respectively driving the linkage units. Each of the linkage units includes a mount member that, is connected to the backrest unit, a rocker member that is pivotally connected to a bottom portion of the mount member and a lower portion of the corresponding one of the inner frames, and a link member that is pivotally connected to a front portion of the mount member and an upper portion of the corresponding one of the inner frames. The backrest, unit is movable relative to the seat module between an upright position and an inclined position. The mount member of each of the linkage units has an indication portion that is located right behind the seat unit when the backrest unit is at the upright position. The indication portion of the mount member of each of the linkage units is located below the seat unit when the backrest unit is moved to the inclined position.

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view .illustrating a first embodiment of the seat device according to the disclosure ;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, partly exploded perspective, view illustrating the first embodiment;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side view illustrating a backrest unit of the first embodiment at an upright position and a seat module of the first embodiment at a non-tiited position;

Figure 4 is another fragmentary side view illustrating the backrest unit at an inclined position;

Figure 5 is still another fragmentary side view illustrating the seat module at a tilted position;

Figure '5 is a fragmentary side view illustrating a backrest unit of a second embodiment, of the seat device accord i n g t o t In e d i s c 1 o s u r e a t a n upright p c s i t i ο n; a n d

Figure 7 is another fragmentary side view illustrating the backrest unit at an inclined position .

Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference, numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics,

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the first embodiment of the seat device according to the disclosure is configured as a wheelchair. In a modification, the seat device may he configured as a medical chair, an electric vehicle, a leisure chair or an office chair. The first embodiment of the seat device includes a base module 1, a seat module 2 and a backrest module 3.

The base module 1 includes two outer frames 11 that are spaced apart from each other in a left-right direction, two front wheels 12 each of which is rotatably mounted to a front portion of a respective one of the outer frames 11, and two rear wheels 13 each of which is rotatably mounted to a rear portion of a respective one of the outer frames 11. Each of the outer frames 11 has upper and lower rods ill, 112 that are spaced apart from each other in a top-bottom direction, a front rod 113 that is connected between front portions of the upper and lower rods 111, 112 and that permits the corresponding one of the front wheels 12 to be rotatably mounted thereon, a rear rod 114 that is connected between rear portions of the upper and lower rods 111, 112 and that permits the corresponding one of the rear wheels 13 to be rotatably mounted thereon, and front and rear guide plates 115, 116 that are spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction and that are connected between the upper and lower rods 111, 112, The front guide plate 115 of each of the outer frames 11 is formed with an arc-shaped front groove 117 , The rear guide plate 116 of each of the outer frames 11 is formed with an arc-shaped rear groove 118. For each of the outer frames II, the front and rear grooves 117, 118 are centered at the same point.

The seat module 2 is pivoted to the base module 1, and. is disposed between the outer frames 11 of the base module 1. The seat module 2 includes a seat unit 21 for supporting the lower body of a user, two inner frames 22 that are respectively located below left and right sides of the seat unit 21 and that are located between the outer frames 11 of the base module 1, two connecting units 23 that are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction and that are connected among the seat unit 21 and the inner frames 22, two pivot units 24 each of which pivotally interconnects a respective one of the inner frames 22 and a corresponding one of the outer frames 11, and. two seat driving units 25 that are respectively mounted to the outer frames 11 for respectively driving the inner frames 22.

The seat unit 21 includes two seat rods 211 that extend in the front-rear direction and that are respectively located above the inner frames 22, and a seat pad 212 that is mounted on the seat rods 211.

Each of the inner frames 22 has upper and lower bars 221, 222 that are spaced apart from each other in the top-bottom direction, a front bar 223 that is connected between front portions of the upper and lower bars 221, 222, a rear bar 224 that is connected between rear portions of the upper and lower bars 221, 222, a front guide member 225 that is disposed on the lower bar 222 and that slidably engages the front groove 117 of a corresponding one of the outer frames 11, a rear guide member 226 that is disposed on the rear bar 224 and that slidably engages the rear groove 118 of the corresponding one of the outer frames 11, and a limiting member 227 that is disposed on a junction between the upper bar 221 and the rear bar 224,

Each of the connecting units 23 is configured as a scissor-linkage, and includes two support links 231 that are pivoted to each other. The support links 231 of each of the connecting units 23 are respectively connected to the seat rods 211 of the seat unit 21 and respectively connected to the lower bars 222 of the inner frames 22 . When the connecting units 23 are folded, the inner frames 22 are close to each other, and the seat unit 21 Is folded. When the. connecting units 23 are unfolded, the inner frames 22 are spaced apart from each other, and the seat unit 21 is unfolded.

Each of the pivot units 24 pivotally interconnects the upper rod ill of a respective one of the outer frames 11 and the upper bar 221 of a corresponding one of the inner frames 22. Each of the pivot units 24 includes an outer lug 241 that is fixedly provided on the upper rod 111 of the respective one of the outer frames 11, an inner lug 242 that is fixedly provided on the upper bar 221 of the corresponding one of the inner frames 22,. and a pivot pin 243 that pivotally interconnects the outer lug 241 and the inner lug 242 and that passes though a pivot point at which the front and rear grooves 117, 118 of the respective one of the outer frames 11 centered, such that the corresponding one of the inner frames 22 is pivotable relative to the respective one of the outer frames 11 about the pivot pin 243, In a modification, the outer and inner lugs 241, 242 of each of the pivot units 24 can he omitted, and the pivot pin 243 of each of the pivot units 24 directly and pivotally interconnects the upper rod 111 of the respective one of the outer frames 11 and the upper bar 221 of the corresponding one of the inner frames 22.

Each of the seat driving units 25 is configured as a pneumatic cylinder that has two opposite ends respectively connected to the upper rod 111 of a respective one of the outer frames II and the lower bar 222 of a corresponding one of the inner frames 22. The configuration of each of the seat driving units 25 is not limited to such.

The backrest module 3 includes a backrest unit 31 that is located at a rear side of the seat unit 21 for supporting the upper body of the user, two linkage units 4 that are respectively connected to left and right sides of a bottom portion of the backrest unit 31 and that are respectively connected to the inner frames 22, and two backrest driving units 32 that are respectively provided on the inner frames 22 for respectively driving the linkage units 4,

The backrest unit 31 includes two backrest rods 311 that respectively extend upwardly from rear sides of the seat rods 211, and a backrest pad 312 that is mounted on the backrest rods 311,

Each of the backrest driving units 32 is configured as a pneumatic cylinder that has two opposite ends respectively connected to the upper bar 221 of a respective one of the inner frames 22 and a corresponding one of the linkage units 4. The configuration of each of the backrest driving units 32 is not limited to such.

Each of the linkage units 4 includes a mount member 41 that is connected to the backrest unit 31, a rocker member 42 that is pivotally connected to a bottom portion of the mount member 41 and the lower bar 222 of the corresponding one of the inner frames 22, an adjusting pin 43 that pivotally interconnects the mount member 41, the rocker member 42 and the corresponding one of the backrest driving units 32, a link member 44 that is pivotally connected to a front portion of the mount member 41 and the upper bar 221 of the corresponding one of the inner frames 22, and a connecting pin 4 5 that pivotally interconnects the mount member 41 and the link member 44. In one embodiment, for each of the linkage units 4, the mount member 41 cooperates with the rocker member 42, the link member 44 and the corresponding one of the inner frames 22 to constitute a double-rocker four-bar linkage.

For the sake of brevity, only one of the linkage units 4 is described in the .following paragraphs.

The mount member 41 has an indication portion 411 that is proximate to a rear portion of the seat unit 21, a mount portion 412 that is located, above the indication portion 411 and that is fixedly connected to a bottom portion of a respective one of the backrest, rods 311, a firs t pivot port ion 413 that is located below the indication portion 411 and that is pivotally connected to the rocker member 4 2 and the corresponding backrest driving member 32, a second pivot portion 414 that is located between the indication portion 411 and the first pivot portion 413, and a limiting groove 415 that is located behind the indication portion 41.1 and that is engaged -with the limiting member 227 of the corresponding inner frame 22.

The rocker member 42 has a lower portion 421 that is pivotally connected to the lower bar 222 of the corresponding inner frame 22, and an upper' portion 422 that is pivotally connected to the first pivot portion 413 of the mount member 41. An angle Θ (see Figure 3) formed between a rear side of the rocker member 4 2 and a rear side of the mount member 41 is smaller than 18 0 degrees .

The adjusting pin 43 pivotally interconnects the first pivot portion 413 of the mount member 41, the upper portion 422 of the rocker member 42 and the corresponding backrest driving unit 32.

The link member 44 has a front portion 441 that is pivotally connected to the upper bar 221 of the corresponding inner frame 22, and a rear portion 442 that is pivotally connected to the second pivot portion 414 of the mount member 41.

The connecting pin 45 pivotally interconnects the second pivot portion 414 of the mount member 41 and the rear portion 442 of the link member 44,

The backrest, unit 31 is movable relative to the seat module 2 between an upright position (see Figure 3) and an inclined position (see Figure 4} . When the backrest unit 31 is at the upright position, each of the backrest driving units 32 is extended, the indication portion 411 of the mount member 41 of each of the linkage units 4 is located behind the seat unit 2.1, and the rocker member 42 of each of the linkage units 4 is inclined rearwardly,

Referring to Figure 4, to move the backrest unit 31 toward the inclined position, each of the backrest driving units 32 is retracted to pivot the corresponding rocker member 42 forwardly, so as to drive the backrest unit 31 to incline rearwardly. When the backrest unit 31 is at the inclined position, the indication portion 411 of the mount member 41 of each of the linkage units 4 is located below the seat unit 21, and the angle Θ (see Figure 4) formed between the rear .side of the rocker member 4 2 and. the rear side of the mount member 41 is reduced. The relative movement between the indication portion 411 of the mount member 41 of each of the linkage units 4 and the seat unit 21 is not limited to such. During the movement of the backrest unit 31 between the upright posi tion and the incl ined posi tion, the limiting member 227 of each of the inner frames 22 moves between two opposite ends of the limiting groove 415 of the corresponding linkage unit 4, so as to limit the range of movement of the backrest unit 31 relative to the seat module 2.

The seat module 2 is movable relative to the base module 1 between a non-tilted position (see Figures 3 and 4) and a tilted position (see Figure 5). When the seat module 2 is at the non-tilted position, each of the seat driving units 25 is extended, the front guide member 225 of each of the inner frames 22 is at a rear end of the front groove 117 of the corresponding outer frame 11, and the rear guide member 226 of each of the inner frames 22 is at a rear end of the rear groove 118 of the corresponding outer frame 11.

Referring to Figure 5 , to move the seat module 2 toward the tilted position, each of the seat driving units 25 is retracted so that the seat module 2 pivots rearwardly relative to the base module 1 about the pivot units 24, When the seat module 2 is at the tilted position, the front guide member 225 of each of the inner frames 22 is at a front end of the front groove 117 of the corresponding outer frame 11, and the rear guide member 226 of each of the inner frames 22 is at a front end of the rear groove 118 of the corresponding outer frame 11, In a modification, the seat module 2 maybe configured to pivot forwardly relative to the base module 1 about the pivot units 24 for aiding the user to leave the seat device ,

It should be noted that the movement between the base module 1 and the seat module 2 and the movement between the seat module 2 and the backrest unit 31 are independent, and the position of the seat module 2 and the position of the backrest unit 31 can be individually adjusted.

It should be further noted that, by virtue of the linkage units 4, an equivalent center of rotation of the backrest unit 31 relative to the seat module 2 during the movement of the backrest unit 31 between the upright position and the inclined position is relatively close to a body pivot point about which the upper body of the user pivots relative to the lower body. Therefore, the relative slide movement between the upper body of the user and the backrest unit 31 during the movement of the backrest unit 31 between the upright position and the inclined position can be considerably alleviated.

Referring to Figure 6, the second embodiment of the seat device according to the disclosure is similar to the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the second pivot portion 414 of the mount member 41 of each of the linkage units 4 to which the rear portion 442 of the corresponding link member 44 is pivoted is located above the indicationportion411. By such, the equivalent center of rotation of the backrest unit 31 relative to the seat module 2 during the movement of the backrest unit 31 between the upright position (see Figure 6) and the inclined position (see Figure 7) is much closer to the body pivot point, about which the upper body of the user pivots relative to the lower body.

In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments maybe practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in. the understanding of various inventive aspects.

Claims

CLAIMS 5

1. A seat device comprising: a seat module including a seat unit, and two inner frames that are respectively located at left and right sides of said seat unit; and a backrest module including a backrest unit that is located at a rear side of said seat unit, two linkage units that are respectively connected to left and right sides of a bottom portion of said backrest unit and that are respectively connected to said inner frames, and two backrest driving units that are respectively provided on said inner frames for respectively driving said linkage units, each of said linkage units including a mount member that is connected to said backrest unit, a rocker member that is pivotally connected to a bottom portion of said mount member and a lower portion of the corresponding one of said inner frames , and a link member that is pivotally connected to a front portion of said mount member and an upper portion of the corresponding one of said inner frames; wherein said backrest unit is movable relative to said seat module between an upright position and an inclined position, said mount member of each of said linkage units having an indication portion that is located right behind said seat unit when said backrest unit, is at the upright position, said indication portion of said mount member of each of said linkage units being located below said seat unit 'when said backrest unit is moved to the inclined position,

2, The seat device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said inner frames has upper and lower bars that are spaced apart from each other in a top-bottom direction, said mount member of each of said linkage units further having a mount portion that is located above said indication portion and that is fixedly connected to said backrest unit., and a f irst, pivot portion that is located below said indication portion and that is pivotally connected to said rocker member and a corresponding one of said backrest driving members, said rocker member of each of said linkage units having a lower portion that is pivotally connected to said lower bar of the corresponding one of said inner frames, and an upper portion that is pivotally connected to said first pivot portion of said corresponding mount member, an angle formed, between a rear side of said rocker member of each of said linkage units and a rear side of said corresponding mount member being constantly smaller than 180 degrees during the movement of said backrest unit between the upright position and the inclined position, said angle at the time that said backrest unit is at the inclined position being smaller than said angle at the time that said backrest unit is at the upright position .

3. The seat device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said mount member of each of said linkage units further has a second pivot portion that is located below said indication portion, said link, member of each of said linkage units having a front portion that is pivotally connected to said upper bar of the corresponding one of said inner f rames , and a rear port ion that is pivotally connected to said second pivot portion of said corresponding mount member.

4. The seat device as claimed in claim 2,, wherein said mount member of each of said linkage units further has a second pivot portion that is located above said indication portion, said link member of each of said linkage units having a front portion that is pivotally connected to said upper bar of the corresponding one of said inner frames , and. a rear portion that is pivotally connected to said second pivot portion of said corresponding mount member.

5. The seat device as claimed in any one of claims 3 and < , wherein said mount member of each of said linkage units further has a limiting groove that is located behind said indication portion, each of said inner frames further having a limiting member that engages said limiting groove of the corresponding one of said linkage units, during the movement of said backrest unit between the upright position and the inclined position, said .limiting member of each of said inner frames moving between two opposite ends of said limiting groove of the corresponding one of said linkage unit so as to limit, the range of movement of said backrest unit relative to said seat module.

6. The seat device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a base module, said base module including two outer frames between which said inner frames of said seat module is disposed, said seat module further including two pivot units each of which pivotally interconnects a respective one of said inner frames and a corresponding one of said outer frames, and two seat driving units that are respectively mounted to said outer frames for respectively driving said inner frames, said seat module being movable relative to said base module about said pivot units between a non-tilted position and a tilted position.

7. The seat device as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said outer frames is formed with an arc-shaped front groove and an arc-shaped rear groove that are spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction and that are centered at a respective one of said pivot units, each of said inner frames of said seat module further including a front guide member that slidably engages said front groove of a corresponding one of said outer frames, and a rear guide member that slidably engages said rear groove of fche corresponding one of said outer frames, when said seat module moves between the non-1 i 11ed pos i t iοn and the tilt e d pos i t i on, said f rent e member of each of said inner frames moving between two opposite ends of said front groove of the corresponding one of said outer frames and said rear guide member of each of said inner frames moving between two opposite ends of said rear groove of the corresponding one of said outer frames,

8. The seat device as claimed in claim v , wherein said base module further* includes two front wheels each of which is rotatably mounted to a front portion of a respective one of said outer frames, and two rear wheels each of which is rotatably mounted to a rear portion of a respective one of said outer frames.