IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO A CHAIR DESIGNED FOR DISABLED PERSONS

Abstract: The invention relates to a chair adapted for use by handicapped persons and comprising a chassis (2) supporting a seat (3) and a back support (4), which has at least one lateral arm rest (5, 6) and, at each side, projecting trunk supports (9, 10) which can be swung towards and away from each other and are vertically adjustable by means of a first control device (11) and, by means of a second control device (12), movable in a direction towards the body of a seated person to a desired, body-supporting position in which they can be fixed and, upon release of a locking member (13) forming part of said second control device (12), can be conveniently swung outwards when the person sits down on or rises from the chair.

Description: Improvements in and relatine to a πhair designed for disabled persons The present invention relates to a chair adapted for use by handicapped persons and comprising a chassis supporting a seat and a back support which has at least one lateral armrest . In the market there do today exist various types of chairs which are adapted for use by handicapped persons. However, all of them lack arrangements which could offer seriously handicapped persons a steady seating position. At present a handicapped person can only rely on the arm rests giving him a proper position in the chair and protecting him from unintentionally leaning over to either side. While it is possible to adjust the arm rests to a more elevated position in order to create a more steady support, this is most often not sufficient in grave handicap cases. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to eliminate the problems mentioned above and to provide a chair adapted for use by handicapped persons which has support arrangements above the arm rests, so that also very gravely handicapped persons can sit steady in the chair without falling over to either side. The characteristics of the invention are set out in the subsequent claims. Thanks to the invention there has now been provided an arrangement of the type mentioned above which in a secure manner retains the body in the chair. Such a safe retainment of the person sitting in the chair is attained thanks to the fact that the back support exhibits trunk supports which project from both of its sides, can be swung towards and from each other and fixed in their position. They can be brought into positions matching the shape of the body with the aid of control devices connecting them with the back support. Adjustment of their position vertically is carried out by means of vertically oriented rods, located at the back rest, and along which the trunk suports can be fixed. The rods are part of a first control device. The pivoting movement of the trunk supports m a direction to and from the person sitting in the chair is carried out with the aid of a second control device, whereby the pivoting movement can be halted in a determined adjustment position matching the body of the user. The trunk supports can be temporarily released from that position by actuation of special locking means. The curved support members, constituting the trunk supports, are likewise adjustable in the horizontal direction to match the user's body. Since the trunk supports can, by use of the locking means, conveniently be released in connection with the person taking place in the chair or leaving it, they do not, when not in use form any obstacle. The invention will be described below, more in detail, with reference to a preferred embodiment and to the drawing. Fig. 1 shows a chair which is adapted for use by handicapped persons and of the type now available on the market, only including vertically adjustable arm rests. Fig. 2 shows a chair similar to that in Fig. 1 but provided with trunk supports according to the invention. Fig. 3 shows, on a large scale, the chair illustrated in Fig. 2, the trunk supports according to the invention being shown in a position which they assume when the chair is in use. Fig. 4 is a perspective view, showing the chair according to the invention seen m an oblique front view, the right hand side trunk support being swung to a position permitting a person to sit down m the chair or to rise therefrom. Fig. 5 is a horizontal view showing a level adjustment member located where the trunk support is connected with the guide rods of the back support . Fig. 6 is a horizontal view showing an attachment constituting the connection between the trunk support and the guide rod and, with its fork portion, mcompassmg the level adjustment member. Fig. 7 shows a lateral view of the attachment illustrated in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a lateral view of the lock core mounted inside the level adjustment member to maintain the trunk support in a fixed horizontal position and forming part of the fork device of the trunk support attachment . Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the lock core of Fig. 8 as seen from above . Numeral 1 m Fig. 1 is a chair of the type now available m the market and having a chassis 2, a seat 3 and a back support 4. The chair 1 does also, at each side of the seat 3, have arm rests 5 and 6, which are adjustable m the vertical direction. This chair does also include a braking deice 7 and a brake control lever 8. Figs. 2-4 show a chair of the type mentioned above which is provided with pivotable trunk supports 9 and 10, projecting from each side of the back support 4 and pivotable to and from each other. Trunk supports 9 and 10 are vertically adjustable by means of a first control device 11 and by means of a second control device 12 adjustable towards the body of the person sitting in the chair 1 to a preset, desired position offering a safe holding of the body. The fixation of trunk supports 9 and 10 in that position close to the body is attained with the aid of a locking member 13 which, when released, permits that each trunk support can be swung out when a person shall sit down in the chair or rise to leave it. As appears from Figs. 2 and 4, trunk supports 9 and 10 are constituted by a padded and somewhat curved support member 14 which matches the body contour of the user. The member 14 is mounted on a vertically extending guide rod 15 which is secured to the back support and along which is displaceable a holder 16 comprising a vertical position adjustment member 17 which together with the guide rod 15 forms said first control device 11. In Figs. 5-9 there are shown components forming part of the attachment between the trunk supports and the back support. The second control device 12 is constituted by a locking core 18 which is mounted in the vertical position adjustment member 17 of the holder 16 and is shown more in detail in Figs. 8 and 9. The locking core 18 is provided with a hole 19 for the guide rod 15 and is located inside an orifice 20 in member 17 which in turn is swingably mounted in a fork-shaped portion 21 of holder 16. The portion 21 does also have an opening 25 for the locking member 13 and a hole 26 for the guide rod 15. A screw 22, which is arranged to engage a groove 24 in the locking core 18, can clamp in order to fix the holder 16 in a desired vertical position along guide rod 15. Locking core 18 does also have at least one locking hole 23 cooperating with the locking member 13 for release and/or fixation of the related trunk support 9; 10 in a rotational position. Figs. 8 and 9 show a magnified view of the locking core 18 mounted at the end of holder 16 inside the fork-shaped portion 21. As appears more clearly from Fig. 2-4, the support member 14 is mounted horizontally displaceable in the holder 16 so that it can be brought into a position at a suitable distance from the back support 4, where is locked by use of a socket head cap screw 27. When the chair is used, one or both of trunk supports 9 and 10 is swung to a position shown in Fig. 4 after a preceding release trunk support 9 effected by means of locking member 13 which is then caused to leave hole 23 in the locking core 18 by a downward pulling movement.

Claims: Claims 1. A chair (1) adapted for use by handicapped persons and comprising a chassis (2) supporting a seat (3) and a back support (4), which has at least one lateral arm rest (5;6) and, at each side, projecting trunk supports (9; 10) which can be swung towards and away from each other and are vertically adjustable by means of a first control device (11) and, by means of a second control device (12), movable in a direction towards the body of a seated person to a desired, body- supporting position in which they can be fixed and, upon release of a locking member (13) forming part of said second control device (12), can be conveniently swung outwards when the person sits down on or rises from the chair, characterized in that each of the trunk supports (9;.10) is mounted on a vertical guide rod (15) , secured to the back support (4) , via a holder (16) displaceable along the rod and comprising a vertical position adjustment member (17) which, together with said guide rod (15), constitutes said first control device (11), said second control device (12) being constituted by a locking core (18) located in the vertical position adjustment member (17) of the holder (16) and having at least one locking hole (23) arranged, in cooperation with the locking member (13), to lock the trunk supports (9;10) in their rotated positions. 2. A chair as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said trunk supports (9,10) comprise elongated, padded support members (14) which are adapted to the shape of a body and in a horizontal direction displaceable mounted in the free ends of said holders (16) in order to determine their positions at a suitable distance from the back support (4) .

Inventors: DU REES STEPHAN, TESKE ANDREAS, DU REES, STEPHAN, TESKE, ANDREAS
Applicants: MERCADO MEDIC AB, REES STEPHAN DU, TESKE ANDREAS, DU REES, STEPHAN, TESKE, ANDREAS
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A61G5
IPC codes: A61G5