WO2013149677A1

WO2013149677A1 - Foot-rest for a wheelchair

Info

Publication number: WO2013149677A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/056367
Authority: WO
Inventors: François Porcheron
Original assignee: 4Power Sprl
Priority date: 2012-04-05
Filing date: 2012-04-05
Publication date: 2013-10-10
Also published as: EP2833850A1; EP2833850B1

Abstract

Foot-rest (1) for a wheelchair (10), having: a telescopic upright (2); a plate (3) connected to the end of the upright; an actuator (4) coupled to the telescopic upright (2) and designed to permit extension and retraction of the latter; an end-of-travel detector (5) coupled to the axial actuator (4) and arranged in such a way as to detect a contact between the plate (3) and an obstacle situated in the direction of extension of the upright (2).

Description

EPOSE-FOOT FOR WHEELCHAIR

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a chair footrest for persons with reduced mobility. It also relates to an armchair comprising such a footrest. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to a wheelchair, for example but not exclusively to an electric wheelchair.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

Wheelchairs equipped with a fixed footrest are known in the state of the art. The transfer of patients who wish to access the wheelchair or get off the wheelchair is hampered by the footrest.

In the case of a relatively light manual wheelchair, it also happens that the wheelchair tilts forward when the user stands up and presses his weight on the footrest that is not in contact with the ground .

Also known in the state of the art wheelchairs provided with a retractable footrest inward or outwardly to facilitate the transfer of patients. Adjusting the height of the footrest to the ideal height depending on the morphology of the patient is often difficult and requires tools.

Also known in the state of the art wheelchairs provided with a retractable footrest (inward or outward) and furthermore detachable to facilitate the transfer of patients. The problem remains the same as before.

The document EP 2 179 715 describes a wheelchair comprising a footrest and a calf support arranged to ensure the comfort of the legs to the occupant of the chair. The calf support is fixed, the footrest is connected to the frame member by a hinge mechanism that allows, after unlocking a lock, to reverse the amount to the rear and lift the pallet. This one is then stuck behind the support of calf. The positioning of the footrest in one or other of the intended positions involves tedious manipulations often requiring the presence of another person when the chair is used by a person with reduced mobility whose movements are restricted.

EP 1 872 762 discloses a wheelchair provided with independent footrests on each side, folding and height-adjustable manually. A lever mechanism connected to a cable makes it possible to implement the function of folding a footrest to one side. Another lever adjusts the height of a footrest on one side. To perform these functions on both footrests, four levers are required. In addition to the complexity of the systems implemented, it is common to meet wheelchair users who do not have the ability to manipulate this type of lever on one or both sides. These last users are then deprived of the use of these functions.

There is therefore a need for a simpler and more ergonomic solution from the point of view of the user. To overcome these various disadvantages, the invention provides various technical means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

First, a first object of the invention is to provide a footrest for a wheelchair for a transfer of the user to access or get off the chair in a simple way and without being bothered by the presence of the footrest.

An object of the invention is also to allow a third person, for example a caregiver or a caregiver, to assist the patient in his transfers without being bothered by the presence of footrests.

An object of the invention is also to allow a transfer of the user by placing the foot flat on the footrest.

An object of the invention is also to avoid the risk of tilting the wheelchair forward when the user stands on the footrest. Another object of the invention is to provide a footrest, including a footrest for electric wheelchair, the height of which can be adjusted electrically.

Another object of the invention is to provide a footrest, including a footrest for an electric wheelchair, more

ergonomic than the existing footrests.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a footrest whose height can be adjusted easily and without tools to obtain a sitting position that best corresponds to the wishes, morphology and pathology of the user. Another object of the present invention is to provide a footrest that allows the user to easily adjust, at any time of the day, the height of the footrest to improve comfort and / or to prevent bedsores.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a footrest whose height can be easily adjusted throughout the day to prevent the risk of pressure ulcers.

To do this, the invention provides a footrest for a wheelchair comprising: a telescopic post;

a tray at the lower end of the telescopic post;

an actuator adapted to allow extension and retraction of the telescopic upright;

an end-of-travel detector, coupled to the actuator and arranged to detect an obstacle under the footrest.

The limit switch can for example be located in the extension direction of the telescopic post.

The footrest can be electrified and controlled by a control box.

With such an architecture, the user can easily adjust the height of the footrest according to his needs, at any time, without having to use the help of another person to make manual adjustments often tedious. For people with reduced mobility looking for a certain independence in the realization of the daily actions, this aspect presents a notable progress. In particular, the user can control the positioning of the footrest to place it at ground level. He thus has easy access to his chair to sit or stand up. Once seated, he can adjust the vertical position of the footrest to a level that gives him the maximum comfort. According to an advantageous embodiment, the platform of the footrest is pivoted from top to bottom and from bottom to top, so that the remote portion of the footrest can approach or move away from the telescopic post.

Advantageously, the footrest comprises a motor for actuating the pivoting of the footrest plate.

Joystick control or any other control member may be provided to adjust the height of the telescopic post Also advantageously, the footrest plate is coupled to a stroke limiter limiting the pivoting of the footrest so as to place it automatically in a position parallel to the ground

According to another advantageous embodiment, the footrest further comprises a position detector, arranged to limit the stroke of the telescopic post in retraction mode. The position detector is preferably adjustable. This detector is used for example to automatically find a favorite position of the user,

previously selected. The invention further provides a chair with a footrest as previously described.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

All the details of embodiment are given in the description which follows, supplemented by FIGS. 1 to 6, presented solely for purposes of non-limiting examples, and in which:

FIG 1 is a perspective view of an example of footrest according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the footrest of FIG. 1 in maximum extension mode;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the footrest of FIG. 1 in the minimum extension mode;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the footrest of FIG. 1 in the minimum extension and pivoting mode of the footrest plate;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the footrest in the configuration shown in FIG. 4; FIG 6 shows an armchair provided with a footrest according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 illustrates in a perspective view an embodiment of a footrest 1 according to the invention. A telescopic post 2 is connected to a chair adapter 9. In the conventional operating position, the telescopic post 2 is provided to be positioned substantially vertically and extends between the area under the seat of the chair 10 and a footrest plate 3 provided at the opposite end. The upright 2 is advantageously telescopic between a retracted position, shown in FIG. 3, and an extended position, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. An axial actuator 4, such as a cylinder or a linear motor with electric or hydraulic control or pneumatic, cooperating with the telescopic amount 2, allows the latter to adopt an appropriate elongation according to the needs of the user. The user can thus easily position the footrest at the level giving it the best comfort, between the two extreme positions permitted by the telescopic post 2. In addition, the telescopic post 2 allows the footrest plate 3 to reach the ground level.

To avoid any excessive extension, an end-of-travel detector 5 is advantageously provided in cooperation with the telescopic upright and the actuator 4. The end-of-stroke detector makes it possible to stop the extension of the upright 2 when an obstacle is reached. In current use, when the footrest 3 contacts the ground, the limit switch 5 stops the extension of the amount. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the end-of-stroke detector is provided at the level of the axial actuator 4.

During contact with the ground or another obstacle, the limit switch is engaged by the actuator 4 which undergoes a slight axial displacement against the detector 5 due to the axial locking of the remote end of the telescopic post. In an alternative embodiment, the end-of-travel detector is a switch positioned under the plate 3 and intended to be operated when in contact with the ground. In another variant, the end-of-travel detector is a torque sensor, which is engaged when the axial actuator 4 generates a torque beyond a certain threshold, signifying that the footrest plate is likely in contact with the ground, or with an obstacle. Other limit switches can be devised to detect contact of the footrest with the ground.

For greater comfort, one or more preferred intermediate heights of the footrest 3 are adjustable or selected for example to allow it to automatically stop at a pre-adjusted position during a repositioning uphill or downhill footrest tray. One or more axial position detectors 8 of the footrest plate or one or more adjustable stops may allow the implementation of this function. The user can thus benefit from one or more favorite positions easily obtainable at any time. As seen in Figures 2 to 5, the footrest 3 is connected to the upright 2 so as to be pivotable between a position substantially parallel to the ground, as shown in Figure 2, provided to facilitate transfers in or from the chair, and a comfort position, in which the footrest is slightly inclined towards the telescopic upright 2, as shown in Figure 4. A radial actuator 6, electrically or hydraulically or pneumatically controls this rotation. The rotation can for example be performed automatically as soon as contact of the footrest with the ground has been detected. A pivoting stroke limiter 7 is advantageously provided at the pivoting connection of the plate 3 so as to prevent the latter from tilting away from the upright 2 beyond a plane substantially parallel to the ground.

The tilting and vertical positioning of the footrest plate are advantageously provided in close proximity to the hands of the user. They may be push buttons, lever or joysticks, joysticks, or any other type of known type of control interface.

Alternatively, to prevent the footrest is at ground level with an angular position not parallel to the ground, a contactor solicits the radial actuator to position the footrest in a substantially flat position. The limit switch 5 can be used for this function.

Figure 6 shows a wheelchair 10 having an adjustable footrest 1 according to the invention. In this example, the footrest is fixed to the frame of the chair.

The invention can also be adapted to non-electric footrests, for example to manual footrests or with gas struts.

Claims

Footrest (1) for a wheelchair (10) comprising:

a telescopic post (2);

a tray (3) at the lower end of the telescopic post (2);

an actuator (4) adapted to allow extension and retraction of the telescopic post (2);

an end-of-travel detector (5), coupled to the actuator (4) and arranged to detect an obstacle under the plate (3).

2. The footrest of claim 1, wherein the plate (3) is pivotable so that the remote portion of the footrest can approach or move away from the telescopic post (2).

Footrest according to claim 2, further comprising a

actuator (6) providing motorized pivoting of the plate (3).

4. footrest according to claim 3, arranged to rotate the plate (3) in a position substantially parallel to the ground as soon as the footrest is in contact with the ground.

5. footrest according to claim 4, comprising a stroke limiter (7) limiting the pivotal movement of the plate so that it is substantially parallel to the ground when the plate is in contact with the ground.

6. Footrest according to one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a position detector (8) arranged to limit the stroke of the telescopic post (2) in retraction mode.

7. Footrest according to claim 6, wherein the position detector (8) is adjustable.

8. Armchair (10) comprising a footrest (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7.