Patent ID: 6382725
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: A47C,A61G

Abstract:
An electrically powered tilt and lift chair for use in medical and dental procedures, the chair comprising:a patient support including seat and back support surfaces attached in fixed relation with respect to one another for accommodating a patient; a base including a stationary support portion and a lift mechanism with a raising and lowering element coupled with the patient support for raising and lowering the patient support; a seat support member connected to the patient support below the seat support surface and further connected to the raising and lowering element of the lift mechanism; tilting structure coupled between the stationary base and the patient support and operative to allow the patient support to be tilted with respect to the stationary base with the seat and back support surfaces remaining in the fixed relation with respect to one another while the patient support moves between a first upright seating position and a second tilted position in which the patient is reclined for examination or treatment; a first electric motor operatively coupled to the tilting structure and operative to provide motive force to move the tilting structure in a manner that drives the patient support in a purely arcuate path defined by a center of rotation fixed at a distance from said chair between the first upright seating position and the second fully tilted position while the seat and back support surfaces are in the fixed relation; and a second electric motor operatively coupled with the lift mechanism and operative to provide motive force to move the raising and lowering element and thereby raise and lower the patient support relative to the stationary support portion.