Abstract:
An un-automated lift assist for the physically challenged whereby a user may push against a pair of armrests causing a portion of the armrest to initially compress, and later rebound when the individual is transitioning from a seated to an upright position. The lift assist has two upright side members with armrests and a base member with a support panel that are placed between a removable cushion of a article of furniture and the support frame of the article of furniture, so that the in-situ cushion is between a seated individual and the base member.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
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     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
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     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Simple un-automated riser aids to enable a physically challenged or senior citizen to rise from a seated position to a standing position have been described in the past. One such device has a bracket attached to the lower portion and affixed to the frame of the furniture that uses the mass of the furniture as a counterweight in order to prevent the device from tilting forward. While such a device works well for its intended use, and offers a low cost alternative to so-called automated riser seats, what is needed is a simple un-automated lift assist for the physically challenged that may be applied to an article or furniture without the need of altering the furniture, and provides a rebounding effect when a individual transitions from a sitting to a standing position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a mobility aid for the challenged, and specifically to a simple un-automated lift assist providing a means for such an individual to transition from a seated position to a standing position, and more specifically, to such a device having two armrests that compress slightly when an individual leans on them, and rebound when the individual&#39;s weight is shifted sufficiently forward as occurs naturally when transitioning from a sitting to a standing position. 
     One object of the present invention is to provide a device assistive of the physically challenged in transitioning from a seated position to a standing position. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a means of rising from a sitting position to a standing position while maintaining stability and preventing a physically challenged user from falling forward. 
     Another object of the present invention is to offer a low cost alternative to expensive automated riser chairs. 
     Another object of the present invention is a to provide a fully manual device having a portion that rebounds as an assist in transitioning a seated person to a standing position. 
     Another object of the present invention is to offer an assistive device that may be fitted to most articles of furniture having removable cushions. 
     Another object of the present invention is to offer an assistive device that may be installed in an article of furniture without any alteration of the furniture or the device. 
     Another object of the present invention, in view of the physical demands made upon such a device, is to provide a lift assist with the requisite strength to support larger individuals, while maintaining a light weight construction. 
     Another object of the present invention is to maintain the comfort provided by a standard seat cushion, with the benefits of a lift assist. 
     For a further understanding of the nature and objectives of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are given the same or analogous reference numbers in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a rearward perspective view of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-2 , in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along lines  8 ′- 8 ′ of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation of an alternate embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the alternate embodiment of  FIG. 5 , in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevation of an alternate embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the alternate embodiment of  FIG. 7 , in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial sectional view taken along lines  7 ′- 7 ′ of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention showing an individual seated within the bounds of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention showing an individual rising from within the bounds of the present invention; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-11 , a fully manual assistive device  10 ′ in support of a physically challenged individual as an aid in transitioning from a seated to a standing position, and which is fitted to various furniture items including, but not limited to chairs, sofas and beds is described. While optimally, the assistive device is used with furniture items with removable cushions; it may also be used by sliding between a mattress and box springs. The assistive device is of lightweight tubular construction with a base member  14  that is positioned in use beneath a seat cushion; the base member being contiguously joined to a pair of upright members  12 ′ that each include (1) a vertical section  12   a , bent at a generally 90 degree angle to the base member, and having a horizontal section capped with an armrest  16 ,  16   b ,  16   c , and (2) a generally ‘S’ shaped reinforcement section  12   b . Both the base and upright members are made of tubular sections that are joined together contiguously by mating sections having distal portions of unreduced diameter over reduced diameter distal portions of adjacent sections, however it is possible that the tubular sections may be butt welded end to end, or a the entire unit may be made of a single continuous length of bent tubular channel. Each vertical section  12   a  is bent at the bottom to a radii preferably between 5-20 centimeters where it joins the base member, and has a horizontal section that transitions into the generally ‘S’ shaped reinforcement section  12   b  that is in communication with both the base member  14  and vertical section  12   a . A generally rectangular spacer panel  18  of rigid material is fixed between the upright members  12 ′, to maintain structural stability and fix the distance between the vertical sections. Preferably, the spacer panel is made of sheet steel or aluminum, although other materials such a rigid plastic sheet may be used. The spacer panel may be affixed to the tubular sections by riveting to the base member, or by bolts and nuts, or by gluing directly to the base member  14 . Owing to generally high ductility, the tubular sections are preferably steel tubing having an outside diameter between 1.24 centimeters and 2.6 centimeters with a wall thickness of between 0.8 millimeters and 2.4 millimeters, however, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, aluminum alloy tubing and fiber reinforced resin of varying diameter and wall thicknesses may be used. 
     Referring generally to  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , the present invention is used by placing base member  14  under a removable seat cushion of a sofa or a chair. An individual sits upon the seat cushion between the upright members. By shifting his or her weight forward while grasping the armrests  16 ,  16   b ,  16   c , the individual may transition from a seated position to a substantially upright position. In order to complete the transition from a seated to a standing position, the individual grips the armrests at that position roughly corresponding to his or her center of gravity; generally to each side of the pelvic arch and aligning with the front one-thirds of each armrest, and pushes against the armrests to raise himself to an upright position. In the early stage of the transition, the armrests compress slightly, tilting down at the rear as the individual applies weight to the frame. When the individual&#39;s center of gravity is shifted forward relieving the armrests of the load, this causes the armrests to act like springs rebounding and releasing kinetic energy to help boost an individual to a standing position. Most preferably, the present invention is installed as is shown in  FIGS. 10-11  corresponding to the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , with the vertical sections  12   a  against the rear back cushion, although conceivably the lift assist may be reversed (not shown), using the armrests configured as in the embodiments of  FIGS. 5-8 , with the vertical sections facing out in situations where the possible tilting of the lift assist is not an issue, for example, where a user has sufficient leg strength to steady themselves, but weaker upper extremities. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a partial sectional view taken along lines  7 ′- 7 ′ of  FIG. 3 , shows the generally spacer panel  18  curled up and over both vertical section  12   a  and the ‘S’ shaped reinforcement section  12   b . The spacer panel may be affixed at its distal ends to the sections  12   a ,  12   b  by rivets, bolts or adhesive (not shown), thereby maintaining a set distance between vertical sections  12 ′.  FIG. 4 , a sectional view taken along lines  8 ′- 8 ′ of  FIG. 2  shows the framework of tubular sections joined contiguously with the uppermost horizontal section running lengthwise through the armrest.  FIGS. 10-11  show a typical use of the present invention, where respectively 1) a individual is shown within the bounds of the lift assist that has been installed in a typical three cushion sofa with removable cushions, and 2) the individual rising from the sofa by pushing off against the armrests,  16  causing the front of each armrest to bow downward slightly to rebound slightly during the transition from a seated to an upright position. Conceivably, all of the aforementioned embodiments may include a cup holder either molded into, or attached to the armrests (not shown), and additionally, a swing away table may be affixed to either the frame or the armrest 
     (not shown). It should also be understood that the lengths of sections  12   a  and  12   b  and  14  may be sized to accommodate most articles of furniture with any thickness of cushion. 
     While the invention has been described by the embodiments and examples given, these are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.