GB2575287A

GB2575287A - Improvements in or relating to stairlifts

Info

Publication number: GB2575287A
Application number: GB1811006.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henry Gage Wilson Alexander
Original assignee: Stannah Stairlifts Ltd
Current assignee: Stannah Stairlifts Ltd
Priority date: 2018-07-04
Filing date: 2018-07-04
Publication date: 2020-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 2038-07-04
Also published as: WO2020008179A1; GB201811006D0; GB2575287B

Abstract

A stairlift chair 10 has a seat belt 15 which extends between a pair of armrests 13, 14 and retracts into the interior of one armrest 13. A hook 17 at the free end of the seat belt 15 hooks over an upper surface of a second armrest 14 and engages in a socket mounted (33 fig. 9) on the underside of the second armrest 14. A reel 30 may draw the seat belt 15 to a stowed or retracted position aligned along the length of the armrest 13.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELA TING TO STAIRLIFTS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to stairlifts and, in particular, to aspects of a stairlift chair.

Background to the Invention

A stairlift is typically used by persons having one or more physical limitations. The inability to climb stairs unaided is an obvious limitation but is often accompanied by a lack of dexterity in limbs other than the legs. For example, stairlift users often exhibit limited hand dexterity which can lead to difficulties in safely operating the stairlift.

Typically stairlift chairs are provided with a seatbelt but, for a variety of reasons, users often do not fasten the belt before using the stairlift. In cases where the belt reel and socket are positioned, respectively, at the rear comers of the seat base, users may find it difficult to reach down, grasp the free end of the belt, draw it across the body, and engage the free end in the socket. In our European Patent No. 1 606 206 we address this problem by mounting a seatbelt reel on one armrest of the chair, and a fixing point on the opposite armrest. When seated prior to travel a user draws the reel across toward the opposite armrest, unwinding the belt from the reel while doing so. The reel is then engaged with the fixing point. While this arrangement functions well from a safety perspective, some users with impaired hand dexterity have difficulty holding and manoeuvring the reel, and engaging the reel with the fixing point. Further the reel is quite bulky and detracts from the aesthetics of the stairlift.

It is an object of the invention to provide a stairlift chair or parts thereof which will go at least some way in addressing the aforementioned problems; or which will at least provide a novel and useful choice.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention provides a stairlift chair having a seat base; a backrest; a pair of armrests; and a seat belt configured to, in a use position, extend between said armrests, wherein seat belt comprises a strap having a stowed position within one of said armrests.

Preferably said one of said armrests has a length, said strap being aligned along said length when in said stowed position.

Preferably said length has a forward end and a rear end, said strap exiting said armrest at a position closer to said forward end than to said rear end.

Preferably said strap is configured into a loop when in said stowed position.

Preferably said stairlift chair further includes a biasing facility operable to draw said strap into said stowed position.

Preferably said biasing facility includes a reel.

Preferably said reel is positioned on or adjacent to said rear end.

Alternatively said reel is positioned on said backrest or on a backrest support.

Preferably a free end of said strap includes a hook member engageable over an outer surface part of another of said pair of armrests.

Preferably said another of said pair of armrests has an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein said lower surface includes a socket to receive said hook member and wherein said hook member is configured to overlie said upper surface when engaged with said socket.

Preferably part of the length of each armrest is defined by a flexible sleeve.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a stairlift chair having a seat base; a backrest; a pair of armrests having upper and lower surfaces; and a seat belt configured to, in a use position, extend between said armrests, said seat belt being anchored to a first of said armrests and having a displaceable free end releasably engageable with a second of said armrests wherein said free end includes a hook member configured to overlie an upper surface of said second armrest and engage in a socket located beneath said upper surface.

Preferably said socket is located on the lower surface of said second armrest.

Preferably said seat belt has a stowed position within said first of said armrests.

In a third aspect the invention provides a stairlift including a stairlift chair as set forth above.

Many variations in the way the present invention can be performed will present themselves to those skilled in the art. The description which follows is intended as an illustration only of one means of performing the invention and the lack of description of variants or equivalents should not be regarded as limiting. While being limited to the scope of the appended claims, wherever possible, a description of a specific element should be deemed to include any and all equivalents thereof whether in existence now or in the future.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The various aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to the example shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1:	shows an isometric side view of a stairlift chair according to the invention;
Figure 2:	shows a plan view of the chair shown in Figure 1 with a seat belt partially deployed;
Figure 3:	shows a view similar to Figure 2 but with the seat belt fully deployed and in a use position;
Figure 4:	shows an isometric view, from the opposite side of that shown in Figure 1, with parts of the chair not shown to assist with the description of those parts that are shown;
Figure 5:	shows a plan view of that which is shown in Figure 4 with the seat belt partially deployed;
Figure 6:	shows a view similar to Figure 5 but with the seat belt fully deployed and in a use position.
Figure 7:	shows a partial cross-section through one armrest;

Figure 8: shows an elevation of a seat belt end fitting engaged over an armrest; and

Figure 9: shows an underside view of the section of armrest shown in

Figure 8.

Detailed Description of Working Embodiment

The present invention is applied to a stairlift chair 10 having a seat base 11, a backrest 12, and a pair of spaced armrests 13 & 14. The chair 10 further includes a seat belt 15 which, in a use position, extends between the armrests 13 & 14 and which, as will be described in greater detail below is stowed within one of the armrests when not in use. In the form shown the seat belt is stowed within the armrest 13 and, in use, a free end 16 is drawn across and engaged with armrest 14. To this end the free end 16 is provided with a hook member 17 which engages with the armrest 14 in a manner described in greater detail below.

Each of the armrests has a length L, an upper surface 18, a lower surface 19, a forward end 20 and a rear end 21. The forward end 20 of each armrest is defined by an upper end of a rigid upstanding pillar 22 while the rear edges are defined by opposite ends of backrest support 23. In this particular example, although by no means essential, a flexible section 24 which is preferably formed from a hollow sleeve of flexible material defines a central section of each armrest.

In the form shown the seat belt 15, when stowed within the armrest 13, is aligned along the length L of the armrest. The belt 15 comprises a length of strap, one end 26 of which is anchored to an interior surface 27 of the pillar

22. The strap is then looped through yoke 28 and directed forward to emerge from the armrest 13 through aperture 29. The yoke 28 is attached to selfrewinding reel 30 by cable 31.

As can be seen in a comparison of Figures 5 & 6, in use, as the free end 16 is drawn across from the armrest 13 to be engaged with the armrest 14, the strap is displaced through the yoke 28 and draws the yoke along the interior of the armrest against the resistance imposed by the reel 30. When in the engaged position as shown in Figure 6 the yoke 28 is closely adjacent to the rear edge of pillar 22 and, acts as a limit stop in the event the seat belt is displaced to an undue extent in the direction of arrow 32 when in the use position.

The reel 30 may be positioned in the rear end of armrest 13 or may be mounted on the backrest 12 or backrest support 23.

Turning now to Figures 8 & 9, the hook 17 on the free end of the belt is configured to loop over the upper surface 18 of the armrest 14 and engage in socket 33 formed in or mounted on the under surface 19 of the armrest 14. In the example shown, the socket 33 has inwardly tapering entry surfaces 34 to help guide the hook 17 into a locking position.

It will thus be appreciated that the various aspects of the invention, at least in the case of the embodiment described, provides a stairlift chair that has a number of significant benefits including:

i) When the seat belt is in the stowed position, the hook 17 is conveniently located to be grasped by a user and drawn over to engage the opposite armrest.

ii) The arrangement of hook 17 and socket 32 requires minimum hand dexterity to fix or lock the seat belt in the use position.

iii) When the seat belt is in the stowed position the hook 17 is suspended discretely beneath the outer end of armrest 13 and has low visual impact.

Claims

1. A stairlift chair having a seat base; a backrest; a pair of armrests; and a seat belt configured to, in a use position, extend between said armrests, wherein seat belt comprises a strap having a stowed position within one of said armrests.

2. A stairlift chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one of said armrests has a length, said strap being aligned along said length when in said stowed position.

3. A stairlift chair as claimed in claim 2 wherein said length has a forward end and a rear end, said strap exiting said armrest at a position closer to said forward end than to said rear end.

4. A stairlift chair as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said strap is configured into a loop when in said stowed position.

5. A stairlift chair as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 further including a biasing facility operable to draw said strap into said stowed position.

6. A stairlift chair as claimed in claim 5 wherein said biasing facility includes a reel.

7. A stairlift chair as claimed in claim 6 wherein said reel is positioned on or adjacent to said rear end.

8. A stairlift chair as claimed in claim 6 wherein said reel is positioned on said backrest or on a backrest support.

9. A stairlift chair as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a free end of said strap includes a hook member engageable over an outer surface part of another of said pair of armrests.

10. A stairlift chair as claimed in claim 9 wherein said another of said pair of armrests has an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein said lower surface includes a socket to receive said hook member and wherein said hook member is configured to overlie said upper surface when engaged with said socket.

11. A stairlift chair as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein part of the length of each armrest is defined by a flexible sleeve.

12. A stairlift chair having a seat base; a backrest; a pair of armrests having upper and lower surfaces; and a seat belt configured to, in a use position, extend between said armrests, said seat belt being anchored to a first of said armrests and having a displaceable free end releasably engageable with a second of said armrests wherein said free end includes a hook member configured to overlie an upper surface of said second armrest and engage in a socket located beneath said upper surface.

13. A stairlift chair as claimed in claim 12 wherein said socket is located on the lower surface of said second armrest.

14. A stairlift chair as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13 wherein said seat belt has a stowed position within said first of said armrests.

15. A stairlift including a stairlift chair as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.