IES65479B2 - Armchair with integral heating means - Google Patents

Abstract

An armchair (10) with integral means is heated by means of a framework of interconnected hollow metal pipes (21) filled with oil, the oil being heated by a heating unit (22). The framework of interconnected hollow metal pips (21) is disposed within the body of the armchair (10) such that heat is provided to all parts of the armchair (10) contacted by an occupant in use resulting in even heating of the occupant. Thus the occupant is comfortably heated when seated in the armchair (10) and the temperature of the room in which the armchair (10) is located may be reduced accordingly, thereby saving energy.

Description

Armchair with integral heating means This invention relates to armchairs with integral heating means and, in particular, to armchairs for use by invalids or elderly people.

Invalids and elderly people, with poor mobility, can be quite sensitive to the surrounding air temperature in a room, particularly when they are seated in a chair for prolonged periods of time. Thus, it is necessary to keep the room warm and this can prove quite costly in certain climates.

DE-A-2541543 describes a chair having heating elements installed in the seat, arms or back rest thereof, so that the occupant is kept at a comfortable temperature while the rest of the room is kept at a lower temperature. The heating elements may consist of wires, tubes or foils.

Use of such a chair can result in considerable savings in energy by heating the chair rather than the whole room.

However a disadvantage of such a chair is that a person seated thereon is not heated uniformly, which could lead to some discomfort. In particular, heating of the occupant's lower legs is not catered for, and quite often it is at their extremities that elderly or immobile people feel the cold most.

Another disadvantage of such a chair, where the seat is heated by means of electric wires embedded therein, is the danger of electric shock, if the seat becomes wet. This could happen if liquid, for example a beverage, is spilt over the seat while the chair is occupied. It could also happen when the person using the chair suffers from incontinence.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the chair described above and to provide an armchair with integral heating means which will heat an occupant evenly and safely.

Accordingly, the invention provides an armchair comprising integral heating means disposed within the body thereof such that heat is provided to all parts of the armchair contacted by an occupant in use, including the occupant's lower legs, resulting in even heating of the occupant.

By disposing the heating means within the body such that heat is provided to all parts of the armchair contacted by an occupant, the occupant is thus evenly heated including his lower legs. The occupant is effectively cocooned in the heated area of the chair and is not affected by the temperature in the rest of the room where the chair is located. Thus the-room temperature can be kept at a lower level than would normally be required.

In one embodiment of the invention the heating means comprise a framework of interconnected hollow metal pipes filled with oil, the oil being heated, in use, by an integral heating unit.

The advantage of using a framework of interconnected oil filled pipes is that heating such an armchair is economical, as the oil is an efficient retainer of the heat supplied. Also the framework of pipes can provide structural support for the armchair. In fact, an armchair could be provided which would use the framework of pipes as its only means of structural support, the upholstery of the armchair being attached directly thereto.

The armchair, being heated by a framework of oil filled pipes, will not be affected by spills on the seat area, and therefore can be safely used by incontinent occupants or occupants who might spill liquid over the seat area of the armchair.

Preferably, the integral heating unit includes adjusting means for providing a range of working temperatures for the armchair.

Thus, the heat provided by the armchair can be adjusted to suit a particular occupant or in response to changing room temperatures.

In another embodiment of the invention the armchair further comprises a sensor which detects when the armchair is unoccupied and means, linked to the sensor, for automatically switching off the heating means when the armchair remains unoccupied for a fixed period of time.

The advantage of such an arrangement is that energy is not needlessly wasted by heating an unoccupied armchair which has been left switched on. Furthermore, the armchair will not cool down every time it is vacated for a short period of time. This arrangement allows an occupant to leave the armchair for short periods without having to turn the heating means of the armchair back on again when reseated.

The means for automatically switching off the heating means can be in the form of controlling circuitry which allows the user to adjust the length of time after which the heating means will be automatically switched off, in accordance with the user's preference.

The armchair could also be provided with a controlling mechanism which would allow independent control of the temperature of each section thereof i.e. back, seat, side-arms and front. Such an armchair could, thus, be adjusted to provide only the amount of heat required for each area of an occupant's body.

Preferably, the armchair is provided with a set of castors for ease of movement about the room in which it is located.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following description of an embodiment thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an armchair according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the armchair of Fig. 1 with part of the upholstery cut away; and Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the framework of interconnected pipes disposed within the body of the armchair of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is indicated generally at 10 an 5 armchair according to the invention having a conventional body formed of a back 11, two side-arms 12,13 a seat 14 and a front section 15 for contacting the lower legs of an occupant. The seat 14 is provided with a removable cushion 16. A heating means shown generally at 20 (Fig. 2), is disposed within the body of the armchair 10 such that heat is provided to all parts of the armchair contacted by the occupant in use.

Referring to Fig. 2, the heating means 20 comprises a framework of interconnected hollow metal pipes 21 disposed throughout the body of the armchair 10 and connected to an integral heating unit 22 located internally of the body of the armchair 10 in side-arm 12. Knob 23 on the integral heating unit 22 is used for turning on and off the integral heating unit 22 and for adjusting the heat level. The integral heating unit 22 is powered by mains electricity through flex 24 (cutaway). The heating unit 22 may be plugged into a standard three pin socket of a mains electricity supply.

Referring to Fig. 3, the heating means 20 is shown in schematic form and comprises the framework of interconnected hollow metal pipes 21 connected to the integral heating unit 22. Pipes 25,26 are located within the front section 15 of the armchair 10 and heat the occupant's legs in use. Pipes 27,28 are located in side-arm 12 and pipes 29,30 in side-arm 13 and heat the occupant's sides and arms in use. Pipes 31,32,33,34,35 are located in the back 11 and pipes 36,37,38,39 are located in the seat 14. The pipes 21 are oil filled and are heated by the integral heating unit 22 to the required temperature.

The armchair 10 is provided with a set of castors (not shown) for ease of movement around the room in which it is located.

The armchair 10 is also provided with a sensor (not shown) which detects when the armchair 10 is unoccupied and means, linked to the sensor, for automatically switching off the heating means 20 when the armchair 10 remains unoccupied for a fixed period of time.

Thus, in use, the armchair 10 is switched on for a suitable interval before it is occupied. Once occupied, the heat level may be adjusted using knob 23 to provide the appropriate level of heat for a particular occupant.

If the occupant leaves the armchair 10 for a fixed period of time, which has been preset, the heating means 20 will be automatically turned off, thus saving energy.

As the occupant is sitting in an area of localised heat the heat in the remainder of the room may be reduced accordingly without affecting the comfort of the occupant.

Claims (5)

1. Claims:1. An armchair comprising integral heating means disposed within the body thereof such that heat is provided to all parts of the armchair contacted by an occupant in use, including the occupant's lower legs, resulting in even heating of the occupant.

2. An armchair according to Claim 1, wherein the heating means comprise a framework of interconnected hollow metal pipes filled with oil, the oil being heated, in use, by an integral heating unit.

3. An armchair according to Claim 2, wherein the integral heating unit includes adjusting means for providing a range of working temperatures for the armchair.

4. An armchair according to any preceding claim, further comprising a sensor which detects when the armchair is unoccupied and means, linked to the sensor, for automatically switching off the heating means when the armchair remains unoccupied for a fixed period of time.

5. An armchair according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. ANNE RYAN & CO., Agents for the Applicants.