WO2007020356A1

WO2007020356A1 - Removable covering for a backrest seat, particularly for wheelchairs

Info

Publication number: WO2007020356A1
Application number: PCT/FR2006/001955
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marie Decker; Myriam Lefort-Brunet
Original assignee: Technical Design (Sarl)
Priority date: 2005-08-19
Filing date: 2006-08-17
Publication date: 2007-02-22
Also published as: FR2889799A1; FR2889799B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a removable covering for backrest seats, particularly for wheelchairs, comprising a fitted sheet made of a flexible material and having an approximately rectangular shape. This fitted sheet (1) is provided as a single piece and comprises: a front panel (3) making it possible to cover the front of the backrest of this seat: a back panel (4) making it possible to cover the rear of the backrest of this seat; attaching means consisting of flexible connector elements (5, 6a, 6b) laterally extending with regard to the front panel (3), and; longitudinal edges of side (END) of the back panel (4) that are provided with a succession of level holders (17a) in which said flexible connector elements can selectively engage when the back panel (4) is placed behind the backrest of a chair.

Description

Removable cover for seat with backrest, in particular for wheelchairs.

The present invention relates to a removable covering for seats with backrest, in particular for wheelchairs used for the movement of people facing locomotion problems.

The use of a wheelchair can be temporary, or temporary or permanent. Short-term use cases occur in hospitals, clinics, homes or other care facilities where it is necessary to move people from one department to another to perform various tests or treatments. Temporary use is for wheelchairs that are loaned or rented to people temporarily immobilized as a result of an accident or curable illness, while those with permanent loss of locomotory function most often have their own wheelchairs .

When wheelchairs are used in community (hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, retirement homes, ...), successively for the displacement of several people, according to the needs, it is conceived that it would be highly recommended, if not obligatory they should be thoroughly cleaned or disinfected after each use.

The same applies when wheelchairs are loaned or rented to private individuals, for varying periods of time, depending on the time required for them to regain the use of their locomotive members. In this case, renters of specialized locomotion equipment must ensure that they provide their customers with perfectly clean and hygienic wheelchairs.

Finally, it goes without saying that wheelchairs belonging to their own users must be periodically cleaned because, like any domestic or professional equipment, they are exposed to dirt or stains of different origin and nature.

On the other hand, the seats and the wheelchair folders currently on the market, both for communities and for businesses rental, or that for individuals, are most often of neutral color and dull, generally dark and lacking in pleasure. Some manufacturers offer wheelchairs with brightly colored seats and backrests, but on the one hand the choice of colors is very limited and the available colors do not necessarily appeal to all users, while on the other hand the daily existence in the same chair is a factor of monotony.

To overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, it has been proposed (US Pat. No. 5,121,938) a removable cover specifically intended for the dressing of wheelchairs.

This removable cover consists of three independent elements including a first element for the dressing of the backrest, a second element to cover the seat and a third element to wrap a seat cushion. This embodiment of the multi-part cover complicates its manufacture, storage, installation and removal, maintenance and, moreover, adversely affects its cost. On the other hand, some of the elements of the cover require adaptation of the chairs on receipt of said elements.

In GB-1.143.275, a cover for an apartment chair is described comprising seat cover panels, front and back of the backrest, and side faces of the seat and backrest. This cover is attached to the chair by means of flexible fasteners and self-gripping tapes.

This cover is made of elastic fabric to adapt to different sizes of indoor armchairs, provided that they are armchairs of the same type or model. It is not adaptable to different wheelchair models and is not suitable for the coverage of special items such as wheelchairs, especially considering the variety of configurations of these types of chairs available on the market.

The document FR-2.830.175 describes a furniture cover of the type sofa beds or convertible benches, that is to say, a piece of cover specific to this particular type of furniture; such a cover is totally inappropriate for wheelchair coverage. In addition, it is not adaptable to the cover of convertible sofa beds or convertible banquettes of different dimensions, nor to different models of such items.

The invention proposes to remedy the drawbacks and insufficiencies mentioned above of the state of the art while providing some advantages of its own.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of a removable and adaptable covering comprising a cover piece or fitted sheet made of a flexible material (fabric or non-woven fabric) of elongate, approximately rectangular shape, characterized in that this sheet cover is made in one piece and comprises:

- A first area or pan to cover the upper face of the seat of a seat back, particularly a wheelchair;

a second zone or pan for covering the front of the back of this seat;

a third zone or pan for covering the back of the back of said seat;

- Fastening means constituted by flexible links extending laterally with respect to the front cover of the backrest;

this covering being particularly remarkable in that the longitudinal edges of the face of at least the third zone or pan for covering the rear of the back of said seat, are provided with a succession of floor loops, preferably consisting of bridge tapes, and in which can be engaged, selectively, said flexible links, when said third pan is folded back of the back of a chair.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the attachment means comprise a first adjustable fastening system, disposed in the lower part of the second cover of the front face of the backrest, adjacent to the area of attachment of said second pan to the first cover of the seat cushion.

The prediction of the level walkway alignments and the determination of the location of the flexible links of the first fastening system, greatly facilitate the initial positioning of the fitted sheet on the seat intended to receive it and the execution of the following operations of implementation. place and stable attachment thereof on said seat. It also allows easy adaptation of the fitted sheet according to the height variations of the backs of the different wheelchair models.

According to an interesting embodiment, the first attachment system is constituted by a strap formed in one piece and fixed, for example by stitching, on the face of the fitted sheet.

With this arrangement, when the strap firmly surrounds the seat back, it tightly clings the fitted sheet against the back of the chair, strengthening it.

According to another characteristic arrangement, the attachment means comprise a second adjustable fastening system, disposed in the upper part of the second section adjacent to the zone of attachment of said second section to the third section of the rear of the backrest or dorsal portion of said fitted sheet. Preferably, this second attachment system is constituted by two self-gripping tapes fixed, each, for example by sewing, and preferably on the face of the fitted sheet.

The choice of the location and the constituent elements of this second fastening system contribute to obtaining a good positioning and a good fixing of the fitted sheet on the back of the chairs.

These fastening systems allow easy and quick installation of the fitted sheet on a seat back and easy removal and fast said fitted sheet. In addition, the adjustable straps as positioned to maintain the fitted sheet properly tensioned, which prevents the formation of folds unsightly and which, above all, could hurt the user (pressure ulcer) or at least generate a feeling of discomfort.

According to another characteristic arrangement, the covering portion of the seat and the covering portion of the front of the backrest have, respectively, projecting lateral portions forming lateral flaps.

With this arrangement, the fitted sheet can also cover the lateral edges of the seat and the back of the seats.

Preferably, the side flaps attached to the second pan, are covered and held by the straps of the second attachment system, when the fitted sheet is positioned on a chair.

According to a preferred embodiment, the fitted sheet comprises, at the front, a fourth pan or drooping portion disposed in the extension of the front edge of the seat cover portion, this falling portion may be provided with a poached.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the fourth or drooping portion has, along its longitudinal edges and on its face, a succession of floor loops, preferably constituted by bridging ribbons.

These loops allow the selective positioning, depending on the configuration of the wheelchair frame elements, flexible fasteners through which said falling portion can be attached to a lower element of said frame; they also allow the attachment of various accessories such as pockets likely to contain various objects or products.

According to another characteristic arrangement, the covering further comprises an over-cover sized to cover the fitted sheet, the back side of this cover and the face of the fitted sheet being provided with means for their rapid assembly and disassembly. . According to an advantageous embodiment, the means for rapid assembly and disassembly of the over-cover and the fitted sheet are constituted by strips of tissue or self-gripping tapes.

According to a preferred embodiment, the self-gripping tapes are arranged longitudinally near the edges of the fitted sheet and the overcloth, respectively.

It is conceivable that the over-cover which is mainly exposed to soiling can be easily removed to be cleaned, without necessarily having to remove the fitted sheet constituting the essential element of the dressing.

On the other hand, the removable and interchangeable on-cover can allow modifications of the ornamental aspect of the dressing to adapt it to the needs and desires of each, by choosing it from an assortment of on-covers available.

The above and other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure ^'1 is a plan view of the fitted sheet following its face considered "place"

Figure 2 is a plan view of the back of this fitted sheet.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the over-seat considered according to its face

"in law".

Figure 4 is a plan view of the back of this cover.

FIG. 5 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of an exemplary embodiment of a means that can be equipped with the face of the hanging part of the fitted sheet to allow attachment thereof, by means of a flexible fastener, to an element of the rigid frame of the seat.

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of Figure 5. Figure 7 is a plan view showing the positioning of a cushion on a fitted sheet, two corners of the over-cover being partially raised.

Figure 8 is a partial view, in plan and on an enlarged scale, of the fitted sheet according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings to describe an advantageous embodiment, although not limiting, of the removable dressing for seat back according to the invention.

In the following description, terms such as "front", "back", "front", "back", "upper", "lower", and "back" are used in relation to the position of use of the dressing put in place on a seat to file, but it is obvious that these terms are not restrictive.

On the other hand, reference is made hereinafter to a particularly interesting use for the dressing of wheelchairs, but it is further emphasized that the invention is also applicable to other types of seats with backrest such as chairs and chairs intended to valid persons and to the equipment of various places, the use, for the sake of brevity, of the expression "wheelchair", having, as a result, no restrictive character.

This removable covering comprises a cover piece or fitted sheet 1 of elongated shape which, according to the invention is made in one piece in a flexible material. This fitted sheet may have a roughly rectangular general shape, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and be made of any flexible material or textile material compatible with its use, for example of various types of fabric or nonwoven fabric. It may have one or more thicknesses and have been treated to exhibit absorption qualities, or impermeability, or to hinder the formation of bedsores.

This fitted sheet mainly comprises:

a first zone or pan 2 for covering the upper face of the seat of the wheelchair and which will be called hereinafter seat pan; a second zone or pan 3 for covering the front of the wheelchair backrest and which will be referred to hereinafter pan front;

a third zone or pan 4 making it possible to cover the rear of said backrest and which is called the back panel in the rest of the description;

- Fastening means for fixing the dressing on said wheelchair, these attachment means being constituted by flexible links extending laterally with respect to the front panel 3.

According to a first characteristic arrangement of the invention, the longitudinal edges of the end face END of at least the third zone or dorsal panel 4 making it possible to cover the back of the back of the chair, are provided with a succession of floor passers 17a preferably constituted by ribbons with bridges 17, and in which can be engaged, selectively, the flexible links described below, when said dorsal fold is folded back of the back of a chair.

According to another characteristic arrangement, the fastening means comprise a first adjustable fastening system 5 arranged at the bottom of the front panel 3 and adjoining the zone Z1 for attaching the seat panel 2 and the front panel. 3.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first attachment system is constituted by a strap formed integrally, preferably of textile material, and fixed transversely, for example by stitching, and by means of its intermediate portion, on END face of the fitted sheet 1. The strap 5 thus produced and positioned has two protruding portions 5a, 5b on the opposite sides of the fitted sheet.

One of the projecting end portions 5a of this strap 5, extends outwardly from one side of the front panel 3, while the other end portion 5b of said extension strap extends outwardly from the opposite side of said front panel. At least one of the projecting end portions 5a, 5b of the strap 5 is provided with a connecting means for easy and fast assembly and disassembly of said end portions. This means may be constituted by a loop 5b 'tensioning and fastening known per se, or by a system of self-gripping tapes, or by any other suitable adjustable fastening device, for connecting the corresponding ends of the straps at the back of the chair back, facilitating the installation of the same size of fitted sheet on wheelchairs of different conformations and widths.

According to another characteristic arrangement, the attachment means comprise a second adjustable fastening system arranged at the top of the front panel 3, adjacent to the zone of attachment Z2 of the latter to the dorsal panel 4.

Preferably, this second attachment system is constituted by two self-gripping tapes 6a, 6b, each fixed, for example by sewing, on the end face END of the fitted sheet 1.

One of these self-gripping tapes 6a, 6b extends outwardly, from one side of the front panel 3, while the other self-gripping tape extends outwards, from the other side of said front panel 3.

The execution of the first one-piece webbing fastening system provides the very important advantage of distributing the tension forces over the entire width of the fitted sheet, which also makes it possible to suppress the formation. folds, and reinforce this as previously stated.

According to another characteristic arrangement, the seat portion 2 and the front portion 3 have, respectively, projecting portions 2a and 3a forming flaps for wrapping the sides of the backs of the chairs.

Advantageously, the flexible links of at least one of the attachment systems 5-5a-5b or 6a-6b cover the side flaps 3a attached to the front panel (3), when the fitted sheet 1 is positioned on a chair, in order to press and hold said flaps against the sides of the backrest of the latter. In Figure 1, the end portions 5a, 5b of the strap 5 and the self-gripping tapes 6a, 6b, cover the flaps 3a, while in Figure 8, only the self-gripping tapes 6a, 6b overlap said flaps.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the fitted sheet is provided, laterally and symmetrically, with slits or notches 7, oriented and arranged at the zone Z1 of attachment of the seat part 2 and the front part 3, between the flaps 2a and 3a.

According to a preferred embodiment, the fitted sheet comprises, at the front, a fourth panel consisting of a hanging part 8 arranged in the extension of the seat pan 2, this hanging part being able to be provided with a pocket ( not shown).

On its end face END, this falling portion 8 can be advantageously provided, near each of its side edges, an adjustable fastening system. Each of these adjustable fastening systems is, for example, constituted by a band or ribbon with bridges 9 creating a succession of floor loops 9a (FIGS. 5 and 6) allowing the positioning to be adjustable, depending on the configuration of the framing members. wheelchairs, a flexible fastener 10 through which said drooping portion 8 can be attached to a lower member of said frame. The flexible fasteners 10 may be constituted by ribbons having self-gripping assembly surfaces.

Passers 9a also allow the attachment of various accessories such as pockets in which can be accommodated objects (books, glasses, ...) or products (care products, cosmetics, ...) varied.

On the other hand, on its back face ENV, the dorsal portion 4 may be provided, preferably near each of its lateral edges, a self-gripping strip 11 to fold, if necessary, the excess length of said dorsal portion, at the rear of the wheelchair backrest, when the fitted sheet is put in place. According to another characteristic arrangement, the covering according to the invention also comprises an over-cover 12, preferably rectangular in shape and sized to cover the fitted sheet 1. The back face of this overcap 12 and the end face END of the cover cover 1 are provided with complementary means for their rapid assembly and disassembly.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the means allowing this rapid assembly and disassembly are, for example, constituted by strips of tissue or self-gripping tapes 13, 14, preferably arranged longitudinally, near the edges of the fitted sheet. 1 and the outer cover 12, respectively, with an equal spacing and, for example, reported by stitching on the face of the fitted sheet 1 and the back side of the overlay 12, respectively.

The over-cover can be made of any suitable flexible material (fabric, plastic, nonwoven, ...). Its economic realization is envisaged in the form of a disposable article, for example a nonwoven; in this case, the self-gripping tapes 14 may be replaced by strips of self-adhesive material applied on the back side of the over-cover.

The over-cover may have, at the front, a drooping portion 12a and this drooping portion is advantageously provided with a pocket 15, for receiving objects, devices and various products for medical or domestic use.

A longitudinal slot 16 (dashed line of FIGS. 1 and 2) may be provided in the dorsal portion 4 of the fitted sheet 1, from the zone Z2 of attachment of the latter to the front zone 3, so as to allow the passage of the foot of the head restraint when the wheelchair is equipped with such a device. In this case, the overcap 12 may be provided with a similar corresponding slot 16 '.

The removable covering according to the invention may also comprise different accessories. For example, it may comprise armrest protections consisting of a flexible piece of fabric or nonwoven, rectangular or other shape and provided with small straps and quick fasteners, wrap the armrest, these protections can be used as supports for different pockets, for example for receiving keys, glasses, cell phones, papers, etc.

The installation of the removable covering according to the invention on a wheelchair or other seat with file can operate easily and quickly.

The fitted sheet is placed on the wheelchair so that its slots or lateral notches 7 are at the angle formed by the seat and the front of the back of said chair and that the strap 5 is located at the level of the seat. lower part of the front of the latter; after which it is proceeded to the fixing of the fitted sheet on the back of the chair by means of said strap, after passage of it in one of the bridges or passers 17a of the bridge ribbons 17 and whose end portions provided 5b 'quick coupler system are assembled together, the back of said folder. If necessary, if the dorsal panel 4 has too much length, the surplus of said pan is folded on itself and maintained in the folded position by the action of self-gripping ribbons 11.

In the same manner, the fitted sheet is then fixed to the upper part of the wheelchair backrest using the second quick-attach system 6a-6b. Each small self-gripping strap 6a, 6b is engaged in one of the loops 17a of the bridge tape 17 and folded on itself to achieve the fixing.

In previous actions, the flanging side portions or flaps

3a, 3b of the front flap 3 have covered or "dress" the lateral sides of the back of the chair and are held pressed against said sides by the action of the straps 5, 6a and 6b.

The drooping front portion 8 is finally attached to a lower element of the frame of the chair (tube of the footrest, for example) by means of the fasteners 10 engaged in one of the loops 9a of the tapes with bridges 9.

Claims

1. Removable covering for seats with backrest, in particular for wheelchairs, comprising a cover piece or fitted sheet made of a flexible material and having an elongated shape, approximately rectangular, this fitted sheet (1) being made of a single piece and comprising:

- A first area or seat pan (2) for covering the upper face of the seat of a seat back;

a second zone or front panel (3) for covering the front of the back of this seat;

- A third area or dorsal (4) to cover the back of the seat back said seat;

- Fastening means constituted by flexible links (5, 6a, 6b) extending laterally relative to the front panel (3) of the cover of the front of the file;

characterized in that the longitudinal edges of the end face (END) of the dorsal panel (4) making it possible to cover the rear of the back of said seat, are provided with a succession of floor loops (17a) preferably constituted by bridges (17), and in which can be engaged, selectively, said flexible links, when said dorsal (4) is folded back to the back of the back of a chair.

2. Removable covering according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment means comprises a first adjustable fastening system (5-5a- 5b-5b ') arranged in the lower part of the frontal panel (3) adjoining the zone connecting (Z1) said front panel (3) to the seat pan (2).

3. removable dressing according to claim 2, characterized in that the first fastening system is constituted by a strap (5-5a-5b) formed of a single piece and fixed, for example by sewing, on the face (END) of the fitted sheet.

4. Removable covering according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the attachment means comprises a second fastening system (6a-6b) arranged in the upper part of the frontal panel adjacent to the zone ( Z2) of said front panel and of the dorsal panel (4) of said fitted sheet (1).

5. removable dressing according to claim 4, characterized in that the second fastening system is constituted by two self-gripping tapes (6a-6b) fixed, each, for example by sewing, and preferably on the face side (END ) fitted sheet (1).

6. Removable covering according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the seat pan (2) and the front panel (3) of the fitted sheet (1) have, respectively, flanking side portions. (2a, 3a) forming lateral flaps.

7. Removable covering according to claim 6, characterized in that the flexible links of at least one of the attachment systems (5, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b) cover the lateral flaps attached to the front panel (3), when the fitted sheet (1) is positioned on a chair.

8. Removable covering according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the fitted sheet (1) is provided, laterally and symmetrically, slots or notches (7) arranged at the zone (Z1) of attachment of the seat pan (2) of the front panel (3) covering the front of the back of said seat.

9. Removable covering according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the fitted sheet (1) comprises, in the front, a hanging portion or fourth pan (8) disposed in the extension of the front edge of the seat pan (2), this falling portion may be provided with a pocket.

10. Removable covering according to claim 9, characterized in that the face (END) of the sloping portion (8) is provided with an adjustable fastening system, near each of its lateral edges, each of these systems. Adjustable fastening means being constituted by a succession of floor loops (9a) preferably constituted by bridge tapes (9), allowing the adjustable positioning of a flexible fastener (10).

11. Removable cover according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the dorsal panel (4) covering the back of the folder, is provided on its reverse side (ENV), preferably in the vicinity each of its lateral edges is provided with a self-gripping strip (11) making it possible to fold back, if necessary, the excess length of said dorsal panel (4).

12. Removable covering according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said dressing further comprises an over-cover (12) sized to cover the fitted sheet (1), the back side of this cover ( 12) and the end face (END) of the fitted sheet (1) being provided with means (13, 14) complementary for their rapid assembly and disassembly.

13. Removable covering according to claim 12, characterized in that the means for rapid assembly and disassembly of the cover (12) and the fitted sheet (1) consist of:

- By strips of tissue or self-gripping tapes, these self-gripping tapes (13, 14) being preferably arranged longitudinally near the edges of the fitted sheet (1) and the over-cover (12) respectively , with equal spacing,

or,

by strips of self-adhesive material applied on the back side of the over-cover (12).

14. Removable covering according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the over-cover (12) comprises, in the front, a drooping portion (12a) and the drooping portion is preferably provided with a pocket (15).