Abstract:
A health care chair includes a base and a seating portion attached to the base. A lift assist mechanism connects the base and seating portion and assists in moving the seating portion from a first reclined position to a second inclined position without electrical power. The chair also includes moveable arms attached to the seating portion that rotate between a first substantially horizontal position and a second substantially vertical position.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The disclosed embodiments relate generally to a health care chair. More specifically, the present subject matter relates to chair that transitions between a first position and a second inclined position using an over-center locking mechanism to prevent unwanted movement between positions and that has pivoting arms that lock in first and second positions. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The health care industry is preparing for an increase in care required for the aging baby-boom generation. In addition to the baby-boomers, there is also a trend towards obesity in health care industry patients. As a result, there is a demand for useful health care furniture that can support the weight of obese patients without taking up critical floor space. Of critical importance are hospital room chairs as it has been shown that the more time a patient spends in a chair, rather than a bed, the speedier the recovery. 
         [0003]    Existing chairs used in health care facilities tend to be bulky, get in the way of caregivers and are hard to move around the room, for example to clean. Further, existing reclining or angled chairs are difficult for patients to get out of and for caregivers to assist patients out of. There are problems both with the seat angles as well as the arms interfering with caregiver&#39;s assistance. Lift assist chairs often require a power source which limits the movability of the chair. 
         [0004]    The chair covering is important for cleaning as well as to prevent the user from sticking to or slipping on the chair. Existing cloth covered chairs are often difficult to clean and existing vinyl covered chairs are often sticky and slippery. Additionally, current chair coverings typically do not provide for adequate air flow and dispersion of pressure across the seating contact surfaces. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there exists a clear need for a chair with a functional covering, moveable arms, tiltability and reclinability without electrical power, a small footprint and stable structure that is portable when empty and stable when occupied. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The above and other needs are met by the disclosed embodiments which provide a chair with a functional covering, moveable arms, tiltability and reclinability without electrical power, a small footprint and stable structure that is portable when empty and stable when occupied. 
         [0007]    In one example, the disclosed embodiments solve these problems and meet these objectives, at least in part, by utilizing a chair including a base and a seating portion attached to the base. A lift assist mechanism connects the base and seating portion and assists in moving the seating portion from a first reclined position to a second inclined position without electrical power. The chair also includes moveable arms attached to the seating portion that rotate between a first substantially horizontal position and a second substantially vertical position and that lock in each of the first and second positions. 
         [0008]    In another example, the disclosed embodiments solve these problems and meet these objectives, at least in part, by utilizing a chair including a seating portion adjustable between two positions, including a first reclined position and a second inclined position and an over-center locking mechanism including a spring loaded or air powered activator that locks when the seating portion is in the first reclined position and assists in moving the seating portion to the second inclined position. 
         [0009]    In yet another example, the disclosed embodiments solve these problems and meet these objectives, at least in part, by utilizing a chair including a seating portion adjustable between an approximately ten degree reclined position and an approximately three degree inclined position. The chair also includes an activator that biases the seating portion towards the inclined position and movable arms attached to the seating portion that rotate between a first substantially horizontal position and a second substantially vertical position. 
         [0010]    Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the examples will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following description and, the accompanying drawings or may be learned by production or operation of the examples. The objects and advantages of the concepts may be realized and attained by means of the methodologies, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a top side perspective view of a chair of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a bottom side perspective view of the chair shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the chair shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the seat and arm are both in a first position, respectively. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the chair shown in  FIG. 1 , where in the seat is inclined to a second position and the right arm is rotated into a second position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the chair shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the seat and arm are both in a first position shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the chair shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the seat and right arm are both in the second position shown in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a cross-section side view of the chair shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the seat is in the first position shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section side view of the chair shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the seat is in the second position shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    It is contemplated that the subject matter described herein may be embodied in many forms. Accordingly, the embodiments described in detail below are the presently preferred embodiments, and are not to be considered limitations. 
         [0021]    Referring now to the Figures, and specifically to  FIG. 1 , a chair  10  is illustrated. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the chair  10  includes a base  12 , an inclining and reclining seating portion  14 , a lift assist mechanism  16  and adjustable arms  18 . The base  12  shown in  FIG. 1  is a standard four legged chair base, however, it is understood that the base  12  may be any type of chair base, using any number of legs or other support members in any configuration that provides support for the inclining seat portion  14  and the lift assist mechanism  16 , as further described herein. As further illustrated in the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the base  12  may include castors  20  on any of the legs, or other support members, to enable ease of relocating the chair  10 . For example, with castors  20  on the two back legs, the chair  10  is easily movable when empty. The base  12  may also include stoppers  22  or brakes (not shown) or any other mechanism useful in preventing movement of the chair  10  in use. Further, the base  12  may be formed from any structurally appropriate material, such as, for example, woods, metals, plastics, etc. In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the base  12  is constructed primarily from aluminum. 
         [0022]    As further shown in  FIG. 1 , the seating portion  14  is supported by the base  12  through the lift assist mechanism  16 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the seating portion  14  includes a seat  24  and a back  26 . In one embodiment the angle between the seat  24  and the back  26  is fixed. Accordingly, the seat  24  and back  26  work together to form a seating portion, in this case, an inclining and reclining seating portion  14 . The seating portion  14  includes appropriate bracing and other structural support to enable the seating portion  14  to support a person sitting in the chair. The seating portion  14  shown in  FIG. 1  also includes appropriate materials that increase the comfort level of the chair in use. For example, in the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the seating portion  14  includes a seating surface  28  and a back surface that is a mesh/knit textile constructed of a polyurethane based elastic monofilament warp fiber supporting a polyester yarn weft fiber. Accordingly, the seating surface  28  is a breathable fabric that is preferably non-slip and is easily cleaned. However, it is contemplated that any materials and design appropriate for supporting a user may be incorporated into the seating portion  14 . 
         [0023]    An example of the lift assist mechanism  16  is shown in FIGS.  2  and  5 - 8  to illustrate the various components. In the example shown, the lift assist mechanism  16  includes a spring  30  assisting an over-center locking control lever  32  that is used to reposition the chair  10  between a first “sitting” position (as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ,  5  and  7 ) and a second “inclined” position (and shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  6  and  8 ). 
         [0024]    Although the lift assist mechanism  16  shown in  FIGS. 1-8  is merely one example of a lift assist mechanism  16  that may be employed to meet the needs and provide the solutions described herein, this lift assist mechanism  16  is the presently preferred embodiment of the multitude of contemplated lift assist mechanisms  16 . For example, although the spring  30  shown is a gas spring  30 , it is contemplated that any number of types of springs, actuators or other mechanisms or energy sources, including those that provide resistance in opposition to compression may be used in place. Similarly, the inclusion or exclusion and orientation of the various members described below or additional members that may be utilized, the direction and degrees of rotation, the location of the lift assist mechanisms  16  with respect to the base  12  and seating portion  14  shown in and described in reference to  FIGS. 1-8  may be altered without departing from the solutions provided herein. For example, in the example shown, the sitting position is reclined at approximately ten degrees from horizontal and the inclined position is inclined at approximately three degrees from the horizontal. However, it is understood that these angles are merely one example and a variety of ranges may be utilized with departing from the scope of the solutions provided herein. 
         [0025]    As shown, the lift assist mechanism  16  illustrated in the Figures includes a control lever  32 . The control lever  32  shown in the Figs. includes a rotating handle  34  that provides a gripping portion  36  that is easy for a user to grasp regardless of the position of the handle  34 . As shown, this handle  34  includes a looped gripping portion  36  for ease of grasping the handle  34 . Rotation of the control lever  32  manipulates a four bar linkage mechanism including a rear cross bar  37 , an over-center locking arm  38  and a front cross bar  39 . In the mechanism, rotation of the handle  34  rotates a mounting bar  41  around the front cross-bar  39 , which in turn moves the over-center locking arm  38  as will be described further herein. 
         [0026]      FIG. 7  shows the various components of the lift assist mechanism  16  in cross section when the seating portion  14  is in the first position.  FIG. 8  shows the various components of the lift assist mechanism  16  in cross section when the seating portion  14  is in the second position. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , there are three axis that are important to the operation of the over-center locking mechanism: axis A, the axis on which the over-center locking arm  38  joins the rotating mounting bar  41 ; axis B, the axis through the front cross bar  39  about which the mounting bar  41  rotates; and axis C, the axis on which the over-center locking arm  38  joins a pivoting rear seating mount  40 . The combination of the over-center locking mechanism, the pivoting rear seating mount  40  and a pair of pivoting front seating mounts  42  enables the seating portion  14  to be repositioned between the first and second positions described above. 
         [0027]    As described above, the lift assist mechanism  16  illustrated in the Figures enables a user sitting in the chair  10  to rotate the handle  34  backwards to place the seating portion  14  in its first position as shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , the rotation of the handle  34  in turn rotates the mounting bar  41 , which is hingedly connected to the over-center locking arm  38  along axis A, in the opposite rotational direction of the handle  34 . This movement is important to the operation of the over-center locking mechanism. Due to the orientation of the components, as well as the inclusion of the spring  30 , a compression force is generated within the various components of the over-center locking mechanism. When axis A, axis B and axis C are all contained in a single plane, the compressive force is highest. When axis B passes “over-center” of the line between axis A and axis C in either direction, the compression force lowers. Accordingly, once axis B has been rotated “over-center” in either direction, it will not spontaneously rotate back over-center the other direction without the user&#39;s assistance. Thus, when the handle  34  moves the seating portion  14  into either position, the seating portion  14  is “locked” into position, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0028]    In the example shown in the Figures, the spring  30  acts upon the pivoting rear seating mount  40  to bias the over-center locking mechanism towards the second position shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  6  and  8 . Thus, when the user rotates the handle  34  forwards, the spring  30  assists in pushing the seating portion  14  to the second inclined position shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  6  and  8 . When the user rotates the handle  34  backwards, the user must overcome the spring force to return the seating portion  14  to the first position. However, when a user sits into the chair  10 , the weight of the user assists in compressing the spring  30 , thereby enabling a user to more easily manipulate the chair  10  into the first position, even for those users without great upper body strength. 
         [0029]    Some of the benefits of the over-center locking mechanism of the lift assist mechanism  16  are: (a) strong locking forces are generated without excessive user forces due to the gear effects based on the size of the handle  34  and the size of the rotating mounting bar  41 ; (b) the over-center locking mechanism gives the user tactile feedback as to whether the mechanism is locked; (c) the forces required to operate the over-center locking mechanism can be altered by modifying the components to match the desired actions and reactions; (d) the relatively large motion of the seating portion  14  from the first to second positions can be achieved with a relatively short motion of the handle  34 ; (e) most users will be able to lock the over-center locking mechanism with one hand. 
         [0030]    As further shown in  FIG. 1 , the adjustable arms  18  are attached to the seating portion  14  of the chair  10 . Although this configuration is helpful in keeping consistency in orientation between the adjustable arms  18  and the seating portion  14 , it is understood that other configurations, such as, for example, attaching the adjustable arms  18  to the base  12  may be preferable for other purposes. As shown, the adjustable arms  18  each may rotate between a first “lowered” position shown in  FIG. 3  and a second “raised” position shown in  FIG. 5 . The rotation of the adjustable arms  18  occurs around a pivot  44  where the adjustable arms  18  attach to the seating portion  14 . The pivot  44  includes a defeatable lock  46  to maintain the adjustable arms  18  in either the lowered or raised position, regardless of the position of the seating portion  14 . The defeatable lock  46  shown in the Figs. holds the adjustable arms  18  in position and is “defeated,” in other words the locking mechanism is released, when the user depresses a button in the lock  46 . The button in the lock  46  is a spring loaded button that mates with a corresponding locking hole in the lock  46 . Thus, the arms can be adjusted between positions, locked in place and easily unlocked by a user. The adjustable arms  18  allow the user to reach outside of the chair  10  for additional support or enable another person to assist the user of the chair  10  in sitting down or standing up from the chair  10 . Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 4 , when the one or both of the arms  18  are raised, and the seating portion  14  is inclined, the arms  18  are completely out of the way to allow another person, such as a caregiver, to assist the user of the chair in getting into or out of the chair  10 . 
         [0031]    It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages.