Patent Description:
Dependent claims state embodiments according to the invention.

The present disclosure, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a chair for assisting a user to stand or reach a vertical position, and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a tilting or lifting chair capable of reaching any position and/or angle between sitting, lying flat, lying at a negative angle (Trendelenburg), and tilted at any angle up to fully vertical (standing).

According to an aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a chair including a base component, a seat component connected to the base component by a central hinge, and a back-rest component connected to the seat component by a back hinge, wherein when the chair is in a sitting position, the seat component is lower than the central hinge, the chair further includes a leg-rest actuator for changing an angle between a leg-rest and the seat component of the chair.

When the chair is tilted, the central hinge enables the seat with the leg-rest hinge to rise while tilting, thereby providing enough height of the seat to achieve full tilt, corresponding to a substantially standing position.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, further including a seat tilt actuator for changing an angle between the seat component and the base component. According to some embodiments of the disclosure, further including a back-rest actuator for changing an angle between the back component and the seat component.

The chair includes a leg-rest component, connected to the seat component by a leg-rest hinge, the chair further including a leg-rest actuator for changing an angle between the leg-rest component and the seat component.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, further including a footboard component connected to the leg-rest component.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the footboard is designed to move toward and away-from feet of a user sitting in the chair.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, further including a footboard actuator for moving the footboard component toward and away-from feet of a user sitting in the chair.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, further including a contact sensor for sensing contact of the contact sensor with an object. According to some embodiments of the disclosure, further including a controller for controlling at least one actuator.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, further including a processor for programming the controller.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, at least one of the actuators is an electric actuator. According to some embodiments of the disclosure, at least one of the actuators is a hydraulic actuator.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, further including an arm-rest component.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the arm-rest component is configured to change angle relative to the seat component according to a change of angle between the back rest and the seat.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, further including a handle component attached to the arm-rest component.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the handle component is configured to change angle relative to the arm-rest component when the back-rest changes angle relative to the seat.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the handle component is configured to change angle relative to the seat when the back-rest changes angle relative to the seat. According to some embodiments of the disclosure, further including an inflatable sleeve for supporting a user. According to some embodiments of the disclosure, further including an air compressor for inflating the inflatable sleeve.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the chair is configured to automatically inflate and deflate the inflatable sleeve.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, further including a pressure sensor for measuring pressure in the inflatable sleeve.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, further including a tablet for controlling the chair.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the controlling the chair is designed to be performed by a method selected from a group consisting of activating a touch-screen control, pressing a button, voice recognition, detecting eye movement, and detecting gaze direction.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the tablet includes a camera, and the tablet is further configured to perform at least one action selected from a group consisting of producing an image of a user in the chair, producing a video of a user in the chair, and analyzing user position in the chair.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, further including components for providing a massage action.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method for assisting a user to stand up from a chair, the method including providing a chair according to the invention, changing an angle of the leg-rest component relative to the seat component to make the leg-rest component substantially parallel to the seat component, enabling a user's leg to be approximately straight, and using chair components to raise the user to a substantially standing position, thereby assisting the user to stand up.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, using chair components to raise the user to a substantially standing position includes using the seat component to raise the user to a substantially standing position.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, using chair components to raise the user to a substantially standing position includes using the back-rest component to raise the user to a substantially standing position. According to some embodiments of the disclosure, using chair components to raise the user to a substantially standing position includes using the back-rest component and the seat component to raise the user to a substantially standing position.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, using chair components to raise the user to a substantially standing position includes using the leg-rest component to raise the user to a substantially standing position.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the chair includes a footboard component, and the footboard is brought to touch the user's feet before lifting the user to the standing position.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, when the user is tilted to a standing position, the footboard moves towards the floor and substantially touches the floor.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, further providing at least one handle positioned for the user to grasp while being assisted to stand up to prevent the user from falling forward.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, further providing at least one arm-rest positioned approximately parallel to the floor for the user to rest the user's arm while being assisted to stand up, to at least partially support the user's weight.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, movement of the chair is controlled by a tablet.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, a rate of assisting the user to stand up from the chair is automatically changed based on an elapsed time programmed in the tablet.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method for assisting a user to stand up from a chair, the method including providing a chair according to the invention, the chair including a base component, a seat component connected to the base component by a central hinge such that when the chair is in a sitting position, the seat component is lower than the central hinge, a back-rest component connected to the seat component by a back hinge, and a footboard component, bringing the footboard to touch the user's feet before lifting the user to the standing position, and using chair components to raise and tilt the user to a substantially standing position, thereby assisting the user to stand up.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, using chair components to raise the user to a substantially standing position includes using the seat component to raise the user to a substantially standing position. According to some embodiments of the disclosure, using chair components to raise the user to a substantially standing position includes using the back-rest component to raise the user to a substantially standing position.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, using chair components to raise the user to a substantially standing position includes using the back-rest component and the seat component to raise the user to a substantially standing position.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the disclosure, exemplary methods and/or materials are described below.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, some embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, some embodiments of the present disclosure may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a "circuit," "module" or "system. " Furthermore, some embodiments of the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon. Implementation of the method and/or system of some embodiments of the disclosure can involve performing and/or completing selected tasks manually, automatically, or a combination thereof. Moreover, according to actual instrumentation and equipment of some embodiments of the method and/or system of the disclosure, several selected tasks could be implemented by hardware, by software or by firmware and/or by a combination thereof, e.g., using an operating system.

For example, hardware for performing selected tasks according to some embodiments of the disclosure could be implemented as a chip or a circuit. As software, selected tasks according to some embodiments of the disclosure could be implemented as a plurality of software instructions being executed by a computer using any suitable operating system. In an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, one or more tasks according to some exemplary embodiments of method and/or system as described herein are performed by a data processor, such as a computing platform for executing a plurality of instructions.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized for some embodiments of the disclosure. More specific examples (a non-exhau stive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium and/or data used thereby may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for some embodiments of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure may be described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure.

Some of the methods described herein are generally designed only for use by a computer, and may not be feasible or practical for performing purely manually, by a human expert. A human expert who wanted to manually perform similar tasks, such as controlling the chair, might be expected to use completely different methods, e.g., making use of expert knowledge and/or the pattern recognition capabilities of the human brain, which would be vastly more efficient than manually going through the steps of the methods described herein.

Some embodiments of the disclosure are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the disclosure. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced.

The present disclosure, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a chair for assisting a user to stand or reach a vertical position, and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a tilting or lifting chair capable of reaching any position and/or angle between sitting, lying flat, at a negative angle (Trendelenburg), and tilted at any angle up to fully vertical (standing).

In some embodiments, the chair includes technically innovative movements, providing potential medical benefits.

An aspect of some embodiments includes the chair assisting a user to stand up from other positions such as sitting, lying down, and other positions. Existing devices for lifting a user from a chair typically lift the user's seat up, but the user needs to perform a final shift of weight from having his/her weight on the seat to placing his/her weight on the feet, causing a sudden increase from a small weight to full weight on the knees or feet.

In some embodiment the chair straightens the user's legs relative to the user's thighs, allowing the user to lock his/her knees before transferring weight to the knees or feet. Such a locking of knees is not provided by existing devices.

In some embodiments the chair transfers the user's weight to the user's feet gradually. Such a gradual transfer of weight is not provided by existing devices, which typically require a last action of transferring weight from the chair to standing.

The user is assisted to stand up starting from a normal sitting height.

An aspect of some embodiments includes the chair having a relatively small footprint on the floor, despite supporting a user in all the various positions listed herein, such as a seat, arecliner, a flat rest, angles in between, and when lifting the user to a standing position.

In some embodiments the chair is sized and/or designed to fit in a home, optionally taking up a footprint on the floor approximately equal to a footprint of a typical armchair.

In some embodiments the chair is sized and/or designed so that a volume swept by the chair, when moving between a sitting position and a standing position, fits within the volume of space directly above the chair when the chair is in the sitting position. In some embodiments a height of the seat of the chair, at least when the chair is in a sitting position, is equivalent to a height of a standard armchair.

In some embodiments a height of the seat of the chair, at least when the chair is in a sitting position, is equivalent to a height of a standard dining chair.

An aspect of some embodiments includes providing handles instead of or in addition to arm-rests. Existing assistive arm chairs which have only arm-rests typically raise a user to a standing position, while the arm-rests gradually tilt with the seat, and "pour" a user out of the arm chair. Furthermore, arm-rests of existing assistive arm chairs typically present a padded flat surface, which supports the arms while sitting, but are difficult to hold on to. In some embodiments, the chair provides handles which a user can grab while being assisted to stand, so that the user can decide when let go of the handles and step away from the chair. For example, the user has the handles to hold on to while straightening and/or locking his/her knees. The handles are optionally not necessarily at the same angle, relative to the seat, as the arm-rests. In some embodiments, the handles are optionally presented/controlled to provide physical support, and the arm-rests are optionally presented/controlled to provide conventional padded support while sitting/lying down.

An aspect of some embodiments includes specific placement of hinges between chair components.

For example, hinges between a back-rest and a seat, so the chair can serve as a seat, as a flat rest, and all angles in between.

According to the invention, hinges are between leg-rests and the seat, so the chair can serve as a seat, as a flat rest, and all angles in between.

For example, hinges between armrests and a base of the chair, so the armrests can support a user's arms when serving as a seat, when serving as a flat rest, and when lifting the user to a standing position.

For example, hinges between footboards and leg-rests, so the chair can serve as a seat, as a flat rest, and all angles in between, and can support a user's feet when lifting the user to a standing position.

According to the invention, a central hinge for tilting the chair is placed higher than a seat of the chair. In a typical medical bed, even a bed which has hinges between bed portions and hinges for tilting the bed, the hinges are lower or on the same level of a bed mattress support surface or frame, which limits the angle of tilt of the bed. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the central hinge is located within or below arm-rests of the chair. According to the invention, the central hinge is located above a seat of the chair. An aspect of some embodiments includes specific placement of electrically controlled and/or activated actuators which push and/or pull components of the chair, so as to change angles between the components, so the chair can serve as a seat, as a flat rest, and all angles in between, and can support lifting the user to a standing position and/or lowering a standing user into the chair in all its positions.

An aspect of some embodiments, the chair includes computerized control.

In some embodiments the chair includes a user-interface to a chair controller, whereby the user can control positions of the chair, transitions between positions of the chair, lifting the user to a standing position, lowering the user from a standing position, activating sleeves to retain the user from falling away from the chair, and so on.

In some embodiments the controller may optionally receive remote control commands over a communication link.

In some embodiments, the chair can potentially function as an arm-chair and/or a recliner, able to tilt a user from a seating or lying position to a standing position, optionally including all in- between positions.

In some embodiments, the chair optionally includes a computerized control, for example such as a tablet to control the chair's position. In some embodiments, the chair includes connectivity to, for example, a smart home, a phone, an emergency remote connection, a hospital, a physician, a caretaker, a smart television and various communicating computers and/or communication devices.

The term "tablet" is used herein to include various computing devices providing a user interface and electronic communication capability, such as, by way of some non-limiting examples, a tablet, a smart-phone, a voice-actuated computing device (e.g. Echo by Amazon, Google Home by Google) and so on.

Present day chairs intended for lifting typically lift a user to a dangerous position, in which the user may potentially slide, fall, lose balance and get injured.

In some embodiments, the chair described herein relates to a Smart Tilt Chair concept.

An object of some embodiments of this disclosure is to provide a chair which allows a user to lift himself from seating, lying or other position, to a full standing position, allowing him to walk from the chair. The chair is able to keep the user in a straight position over a footprint of the chair on the floor, that is, a support base of the chair, and optionally in any angle between approximately minus fifteen (-<NUM>) degrees to approximately plus ninety (<NUM>) degrees relative to horizontal, which potentially provides medical advantages. Sedentary behavior, such as sitting, is associated with a variety of biopsychosocial outcomes in older adults. Clinically, sedentary lifestyle contributes to markers of poor plasma lipids, glucose and insulin levels, suppressed skeletal muscle lipoprotein lipase and increased biomarkers associated with obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Emerging evidence suggests that time spent sedentary also interacts with mental health.

Some existing Lift Chairs in the market may be dangerous and can allow a user to fall. One in five falls causes a serious injury such as a broken bone, morbidity, reduced functionality or head injury. Fear of falling can also seriously affect an aging adult's quality of life and sadly, can keep a person from being active and thriving.

In some embodiments, the chair includes a movable footboard, optionally a motorized movable footboard, which can move in and out of its central position, in one direction to extend leg space, and in the other direction to move towards the user's feet, optionally to touch the feet before tilting so the user will not slide while tilting.

In some embodiments, the footboard optionally changes its position during a tilt movement, so that at an end of the tilt the footboard touches the floor, potentially allowing the user to step out of the chair with minimal step-down.

In some embodiments, the chair is optionally designed with a central hinge or central pivot configured so that when the chair is tilted, the seat support tilts and also rises, which potentially provides space for a full tilt while keeping the seat support surface at a height for support a user's seat. In some embodiments the central pivot is optionally implemented by a track or tracks and a pin or pins sliding in the track. In some embodiments the track(s) are configured in the base component and the pin(s) are attached to the moving chair components. In some embodiments the track(s) are attached to the moving chair components and the pin(s) are attached to the base component.

In some embodiments, the chair optionally includes one or two arm rests which optionally change their position according to the angle of the back-rest, to enable comfortable and safe use by the user.

In some embodiments, the chair optionally includes one or two handles which optionally change their position according to the angle of the back-rest, to enable a user to grab the handle for support. In some embodiments the handles include one or more control buttons for controlling the chair positions or movement.

In various embodiments, the chair may include one or more or even all of the following features:.

In various embodiments the tablet may use any of:.

In some embodiments the tablet is optionally included as a part of the chair and is able to operate the chair, and can also be used for various available tablet operations such as: operate as a phone for the user; control electronic devices such as Smart Home devices; operate tablet applications, such as emergency call, medicine reminder and control, communication applications etc.; recording application(s); and
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth / RF (Radio Frequency) wireless connectivity or other connectivity available in the tablet.

In some embodiments the tablet optionally includes a program, for example a program which stores settings for actuator operation according to pre-stored chair positions. The settings includes one or more of: extent of actuator movement, order of operating actuators, speed of actuator movement, which actuators move simultaneously with which, and so on.

In some embodiments the tablet optionally includes one or more forbidden volumes, that is, volumes in three-dimensional space as measured relative to the chair base, so the chair does not contact objects in the forbidden spaces.

In some embodiments the tablet optionally stores programs including: exercise programs which move the chair to exercise a user.

In some embodiments the tablet optionally controls a rate of moving chair components. In some embodiments the tablet optionally includes stores programs which optionally control a rate of moving chair components over time. By way of a non-limiting example a user who has just had surgery, for example, hip replacement or knee replacement, is optionally raised to a standing position slowly at first, and as the day following surgery pass, the rate at which the user is raised to a standing position is gradually made faster, as the user recuperates.

In some embodiments, the tablet may optionally include a camera. The camera may optionally be programmed to perform one or more of the following: the camera can send pictures of the user, optionally doing so in case the user is in a certain position. In some embodiments image analysis is used to determine whether a user is asleep; sitting straight, slouched or fallen; or determine some other problem with the user; can identify if the user is sitting in the chair. If the user is not sitting at a defined time, the tablet may optionally send a signal or call a pre-defined third party or system, giving an alert; can identify a bad position of the user (such as the user's head falling to the side or the front); can view and identify other important pre-defined characteristics of the user and in case the user current condition does not meet such pre-defined characteristics, the tablet may optionally notify a pre-defined third party / system, of such incident. By way of a non-limiting example, image analysis may optionally be used to determine whether a user is asleep; sitting straight, slouched or fallen; determine whether a user's face changes due to a stroke, whether a usually clean-shaven person is now un-shaven, or determine some other problem with the user;.

In some embodiments, the tablet can optionally remind the user to take medication. In some embodiments, the tablet can optionally remind the user to exercise.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the disclosure in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components and/or methods set forth in the following description and/or illustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

The features described herein are to be considered optional, as not all features listed herein need be provided in an exemplary chair.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which are simplified illustrations of example embodiments of a chair in accordance with the disclosure.

Reference is now additionally made to <FIG>, which are simplified illustrations of example embodiments of a chair in accordance with the disclosure.

<FIG> shows a chair <NUM> in a sitting position; <FIG> shows the chair <NUM> of <FIG> in a standing position; <FIG> shows a chair <NUM> in a horizontal position; and <FIG> shows the chair <NUM> of <FIG> in a standing position.

<FIG> shows a view from the right side of the chair <NUM> in a sitting position, with a plane of a seat <NUM> reclined to an angle of approximately (-<NUM>) degrees relative to the floor, or relative to horizontal.

The chair <NUM> optionally includes one or more hinges <NUM><NUM><NUM>. In some embodiments, a back hinge <NUM> connects a back rest <NUM> to the seat <NUM>. In some embodiments, a central hinge <NUM> connects the back-rest <NUM> or the arm-rest <NUM> to a base <NUM>. In some embodiments, a leg-rest hinge <NUM> connects the leg-rest <NUM> to the seat <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the leg-rest <NUM> is connected to a footboard <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the footboard <NUM> is optionally connected to a footboard actuator <NUM> for acting upon the footboard <NUM> to move toward the feet (head side) of a user/patient and to the opposite direction. In some embodiments, the footboard actuator <NUM> is an electric actuator. In some embodiments, the footboard actuator <NUM> is a hydraulic actuator.

In some embodiments, the chair optionally includes both an arm-rest, such as the arm-rest
<NUM> shown, for example, in <FIG>, <FIG>, and a handle, such as the handles 114a shown, for example, in <FIG>, and the handles 114b shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, and the handle <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

In some embodiments, the handles optionally include and extended handle 114c and a gripping handle 114b, for example see <FIG>, <FIG>.

In various embodiments there are specific linkages and/or actuators between the arm-rest <NUM> and the base <NUM>, between the arm-rest <NUM> and the back-rest <NUM>, or between the arm-rest <NUM> and the seat <NUM>. The linkages and/or the actuators optionally act to position the arm-rest <NUM> at an angle suitable for each position and/or movement of the chair.

In various embodiments there are specific linkages and/or actuators between the handle 114a 114b and the arm-rest <NUM>. The linkages and/or the actuators optionally act to position the handle 114a 114b at an angle suitable for each position and/or movement of the chair.

<FIG> shows a sitting position, with the arm rest <NUM> approximately parallel to the floor, and the handle 114a approximately parallel to the arm-rest <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a standing position, with the arm rest <NUM> pointing approximately toward the floor, and the handle 114a approximately parallel to the floor and approximately perpendicular to the arm-rest <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a reclining position, with the arm rest <NUM> pointing up at an angle to the floor, and the handle 114b approximately perpendicular to the arm-rest <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a standing position, different from the standing position shown by <FIG>, with the arm rest <NUM> pointing approximately parallel to the floor, and the handle 114b approximately perpendicular to the arm-rest <NUM>.

Wherever the term actuator is used herein, the term actuator is intended to refer to either an electric actuator or to a hydraulic actuator. In some embodiments, the central hinge <NUM> is, when the chair <NUM> is in a sitting position, higher than a plane of the seat <NUM>. The arrangement of the central hinge <NUM> enables the chair <NUM> to be low enough to function as a regular armchair. The arrangement of the central hinge <NUM> enables the seating support surface, which is connected to the leg-rest <NUM>, to raise while tilting, providing enough height of the seat <NUM> from the floor to achieve full tilt as shown in in <FIG> and <FIG>.

In some embodiments the chair <NUM> optionally includes two or more electric actuators. references <NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM> shown in <FIG>, for moving the chair <NUM> to various positions, including a Seating/Reclining position as shown in <FIG>, a Lying position as shown in <FIG>, and a Standing position as shown in <FIG>.

In some embodiments the actuators are optionally connected to a controller which can be pre-programmed to define and synchronize the movement of the different components of the chair.

<FIG> shows a view from the right side of the chair <NUM> in a fully tilted position, approximately flat at a plane close to <NUM> degrees to the floor, and having the footboard <NUM> almost touching the floor, or even touching the floor.

<FIG> shows a view from the right side of the chair <NUM> approximately flat at an approximately horizontal position relative to the floor.

<FIG> shows the chair <NUM> in a horizontal position, having the leg-rest <NUM> raised to approximately the level of the seat <NUM>, being almost parallel to the back-rest <NUM>, and the arm-rest <NUM> changing its position respectively. The leg-rest <NUM>, the seat <NUM>, and the back-rest <NUM>, and the arm-rest <NUM>, can optionally be all in a straight line, optionally flat, horizontal to the floor, or at other angles relative to the follow, both positive angles and negative angles, up to approximately -<NUM> degrees relative to the floor.

<FIG> shows the chair <NUM> in an almost vertical position. The arm-rest <NUM> is shown approximately parallel to the floor, and approximately perpendicular to the seat <NUM> and the back rest <NUM>.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which is a simplified illustration of an armrest of a chair and chair control components in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

<FIG> shows an example of an arm-rest <NUM> of the chair, showing an optional control button <NUM> on the arm-rest <NUM> and an optional control button <NUM> on top of an optional support handle 114b. In some embodiments, one or both of the control buttons <NUM><NUM> may be used for operation of the chair <NUM>.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which is a simplified illustration of a chair and a tablet attached thereto in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. <FIG> shows an optional attachment of a tablet <NUM> to a chair <NUM>. In some embodiments, the tablet communicates with a controller or controllers which control actuators as described herein. In various embodiments the communication may include wireless communication by using one or more wireless communication functions included in a tablet, or wired communication, e.g. by a USB connection.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which are simplified illustrations of an example embodiment of a chair in accordance with the disclosure.

<FIG> show an embodiment of a chair <NUM> with a handle <NUM> attached to the chair <NUM> approximately at a middle of an arm-rest <NUM>.

<FIG> show an embodiment of the chair <NUM> with a control/interface unit <NUM> also termed a hand pendant <NUM>. In some embodiments the hand pendant <NUM> is connected to a chair controller by a wire <NUM>. In some embodiments the hand pendant <NUM> is optionally attached to the chair <NUM> by a magnet.

Additional components shown in <FIG> include: a back-rest <NUM>, a seat <NUM>, a leg-rest <NUM> and a footboard <NUM>.

<FIG> show an embodiment of a chair including upholstery.

<FIG> shows an optional actuator cover <NUM>.

Reference is now additionally made to <FIG>, which is a simplified illustration of a chair in a reclining position in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure;.

<FIG> shows a chair <NUM> in a reclining position. <FIG> shows a footboard <NUM> raised so as to support feet <NUM> of a user <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the chair in a reclining position, with a plane of the seat of the chair <NUM> at a negative angle relative to the floor.

Reference is now additionally made to <FIG>, which is a simplified illustration of a chair in a horizontal position in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

<FIG> shows the chair <NUM> in an approximately horizontal position, with a user <NUM> lying on the chair <NUM>. <FIG> shows the arm-rest <NUM> at an angle relative to the floor, to potentially help the user to use the arm-rest <NUM>. <FIG> shows the arm-rest <NUM> at a different angle relative to the floor, or relative to the back-rest <NUM>, or relative to additional components of the chair <NUM>, than for example, the angle shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows the chair in an approximately horizontal position, with a plane of the back, rest, the seat and the leg-rest of the chair <NUM> approximately parallel to the floor. It is noted that in positions similar to the shown in <FIG>, the plane of the seat of the chair <NUM> may optionally be at a negative angle relative to the floor. Reference is now made to <FIG>, which is a simplified illustration of a chair in a standing position, showing a person stepping out of the chair in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

<FIG> shows a chair <NUM>, showing how a person <NUM> can step out of the chair <NUM> while the chair <NUM> is in a vertical or almost vertical position.

In some embodiments the footboard (such as the footboard <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>) will touch or almost touch the floor, being parallel or almost parallel to the floor.

In some embodiment the chair <NUM> includes an arm-rest <NUM> which is connected to the chair <NUM> by a linkage (not shown) and/or by an actuator (for example, actuator <NUM> in <FIG>), which sets the arm-rest <NUM> approximately perpendicular to the back-rest, or approximately parallel to the floor, to support the user resting his arms on the arm-rest <NUM>, optionally supporting the user's weight on the arm-rest <NUM>.

In some embodiment the chair <NUM> includes a handle 114b connected to the chair <NUM> or to the arm-rest <NUM> by a linkage (not shown) and/or by an actuator (not shown), which sets the handle 114b approximately perpendicular to the arm-rest <NUM>, or approximately perpendicular to the floor, to assist the user using his arms to prevent from falling forward.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which is a simplified illustration of a chair in a tilted position in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

<FIG> shows a chair <NUM> at an angle of approximately <NUM> degrees relative to the floor, showing an axis of the central hinge <NUM>.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which is a simplified block diagram illustration of a chair in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

<FIG> shows a chair <NUM> including: a base component <NUM>; a seat component <NUM> connected to the base component <NUM> by a central hinge <NUM>; a back-rest component <NUM> connected to the seat component <NUM> by a back hinge <NUM>; and a leg-rest component <NUM>, connected to the seat component <NUM> by a leg-rest hinge <NUM>,
When the chair <NUM> is in a sitting position, the seat component <NUM> is lower than the central hinge <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the central hinge <NUM> is located so that when a user uses the chair <NUM> to assist in standing, the user ends up standing at one edge of the base component <NUM>, ready to step away from the chair.

In some embodiments, when the user is brought to a standing position, the user is brought to a standing position with his feet outside the footprint of the base component <NUM>. In some embodiments, the footprint of the base component on the floor is optionally U- shaped, or H-shaped, or shaped as two parallel lines, e.g. "I -shaped, so that when a user is brought to a standing position, the feet of the user are optionally on the floor, between arms of the U-shaped base component.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which are simplified block diagram illustrations of a foot print of a base component of a chair in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

<FIG> show a view from above of a footprint of a base component 1122a 1122b 1122c. The base components 112a 1122b 1122c shown by <FIG> respectively optionally include an indent <NUM> or a central space <NUM> for the footboard to come down to touch the floor.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which are simplified illustrations of example embodiments of inflatable support components of a chair in accordance with the disclosure.

<FIG> and <FIG> shows a chair <NUM> with inflatable torso or shoulder supports 1303a 1303b. <FIG> shows the inflatable torso or shoulder supports 1303a 1303b in an inflated state, and <FIG> shows the inflatable torso or shoulder supports 1303a 1303b in a not-inflated state.

The chair <NUM> optionally includes a back-rest <NUM>, a seat <NUM> and a footboard <NUM>. In some embodiments the chair <NUM> optionally includes a leg-rest <NUM>.

In some embodiments a chair such as the chair <NUM> may optionally include inflatable waist supports (not shown) such as the inflatable torso or shoulder supports 1303a 1303b. In some embodiments the optional waist supports may be attached to the seat <NUM>.

In some embodiments a chair such as the chair <NUM> may optionally include inflatable leg supports (not shown) such as the inflatable torso or shoulder supports 1303a 1303b. In some embodiments the optional leg supports may be attached to the leg-rest <NUM>.

In some embodiments a chair such as the chair <NUM> may optionally include inflatable foot supports (not shown) such as the inflatable torso or shoulder supports 1303a 1303b. In some embodiments the optional foot supports may be attached to the footboard <NUM>.

It is noted that in some embodiments, movements of any part of the chair, i.e. back-rest, leg-rest, footboard, and seat, can optionally be moved independently by moving an actuator which moves the respective part.

In some embodiments, the chair may have a support handle 114a 114b <NUM> connected to at least one of the arm-rests <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the chair <NUM> may have an arm-rest <NUM> or arm-rests <NUM> which can optionally be connected to a side of the back-rest <NUM> or the arm-rest <NUM>. In some embodiments, the arm-rest <NUM> optionally include a mechanism <NUM> configured to change the angle between the seat <NUM> and the back- rest <NUM>.

In some embodiments, an angle change of the arm-rests is optionally performed by an electric actuator <NUM> (see <FIG>) connected to the arm-rest, optionally controlled by a controller, optionally having a program which define chair component positions in respect to other chair component positions, or actuator positions relative to other actuator positions, or moves independently of other actuators, optionally by user command.

In some embodiments, an angle between the arm-rest <NUM> and the back-rest <NUM> and/or the angle between the arm-rest <NUM> and the seat <NUM> may change, as can be seen in <FIG>.

In some embodiments, the chair enables a user to change a position of the chair to any position, with legs down, up, back-rest up, down, to a tilting position, to a Trendelenburg position, and so on (see <FIG>, <FIG>).

In some embodiments, the chair <NUM> may have a size of a standard chair or arm-chair. The chair <NUM> is provided in different dimensions, to allow smaller and bigger users.

In some embodiments, the footboard <NUM> is optionally connected with slides to the leg-rest <NUM>, so that the footboard <NUM> may move in and out. In some embodiments, the movement in and out is potentially useful for physical therapy of the user. In some embodiments, the footboard optionally includes a sensor, which optionally sends a signal when the footboard is pressed by the user.

In some embodiments, the footboard includes an integrated scale, for optional use in weighing a user.

In some embodiments, the footboard optionally includes a sensor on its outer side, which can be used for potentially preventing the footboard from pressing on an object or a person.

In some embodiments, the chair includes one or two armrests. In some embodiments, the armrests may optionally include one or two handles 114a 114b <NUM>. In some embodiments, the handle(s) control operation of at least some functions of the chair by the user. Potentially also providing a safe grip.

The arm-rest <NUM> and/or the support handle 114a 114b <NUM> optionally have a control button <NUM> and/or <NUM> to electrically operate the chair to move the chair to various positions, such as a standing or lying position, but can also move the user to any seating angle position.

In some embodiments, the arm-rest may optionally include an additional operating button, such as reference <NUM> in <FIG>, at a location which enables the user to reach the operating button while in lying position or other positions of the chair.

In some embodiments, the chair optionally includes a tablet <NUM> connected to an operating system and/or controller of the chair via one or more of Wi-Fi, Infra - Red, physical wire, Bluetooth, and/or other commercial connectivity methods.

In various embodiments, the tablet is optionally running one of the following operations systems, or an operating system compatible with: IOS (typically used for Apple and Mac systems), Android, Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi, and so on.

In various embodiments, the tablet is part of the chair and is able to operate the chair. In some embodiments, the tablet may also be used for one or more of the following operations:.

In some embodiments, the tablet may include a camera. In some embodiments, the camera sends pictures of the user when a user is detected to be in a certain position.

In some embodiments the pictures of the user are optionally compared to pictures of the same user taken when the user is considered in a reference state, and if a change is detected from the reference state an alert and/or warning is optionally initiated, and/or a message is sent to a caretaker.

In some embodiments the pictures of the user on the chair are optionally compared to a picture of the chair, and if the user's body extends out of a specific outline, an alert and/or warning is optionally initiated, and/or a message is optionally sent to the user and/or to a caretaker.

In some embodiments, the camera optionally detects when a user is sitting in the chair. In some embodiments, if the user is not sitting in the chair at a specific defined time, the tablet optionally sends a signal or calls a pre-defined third party or system, optionally providing an alert.

In some embodiments, the camera optionally identifies a bad position of the user, for example the user's head falling to the side or to the front.

In some embodiments, the camera optionally views and detects other pre-defined characteristics of the user, and in case the user's characteristics do not meet pre-defined characteristics, the tablet optionally notifies a pre-defined third party / system, of such incident.

In some embodiments, the tablet optionally reminds the user to take medication.

In some embodiments, the tablet optionally reminds the user to exercise.

In some embodiments, the chair is optionally operated by voice recognition.

In some embodiments, the tablet is optionally connected to a Vital Signs diagnostic program, and collects, optionally stores, and optionally transmits, vital signs of the user.

In some embodiments, the tablet optionally sends information to a predefined contact in case the vital signs do not meet a predefined range.

In some embodiments, the Vital Sign connectivity optionally sends information to the "Cloud" and/or to a predefined program for determining the medical condition of the user, and to optionally signal in case of a health problem of the user.

In some embodiments, the tablet optionally collects and records and/or transmits chair positions, potentially enabling providing a history of the chair use.

In some embodiments, the chair optionally includes a power drive for driving the chair and a user along the floor.

In some embodiments, the chair optionally includes one or more inflatable sleeves for preventing a user from falling out of the chair and to support the user in a standing position. In some embodiments, the inflatable sleeve(s) may come from one or both sides of the chair or components of the chair (arm-rests, back-rest, leg-rest, seat) supporting different areas of the body, such as arms, chest, knees, feet, waist etc..

In some embodiments, the sleeves are optionally connected to an air compressor and can be controlled in a way that the user is enabled to activate and deactivate the sleeves. In some embodiments, inflation and/or deflation of the inflatable sleeves is optionally automatically controlled, optionally based on chair position.

In some embodiments, the inflatable sleeves optionally include a pressure sensor for adjusting the amount or pressure on the body.

In some embodiments, the chair optionally includes a massage function.

In some embodiments, the chair optionally includes an inflatable part on the back side of user, to prevent the user from feeling massage components when not in use. The inflatable part is optionally inflated when the massage function is not in use and deflated when the massage function is in use.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which is a simplified illustration of a flow chart of a method for assisting a user to stand up from a chair in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

The method shown by <FIG> includes: providing a chair (<NUM>), the chair including: a base component; a seat component connected to the base component by a central hinge; a leg-rest component, connected to the seat component by a leg-rest hinge; and a back-rest component connected to the seat component by a back hinge; changing an angle of the leg-rest component relative to the seat component (<NUM>) to make the leg -rest component substantially parallel to the seat component, enabling a user's leg to be approximately straight; using the back-rest component and/or the seat component, to raise and/or tilt the user to a substantially standing position (<NUM>), thereby assisting the user to stand up from the chair.

In some embodiments, enabling a user's leg to be approximately straight enables the user's knee to be locked, to support the user's weight.

In some embodiments, the chair includes a footboard component, and the footboard is brought to touch the user' s feet before lifting the user to the standing position, optionally supporting a gradually and/or smoothly increasing percentage of the user's weight on the footboard. In some embodiments, when the user is tilted toward a standing position, the footboard optionally moves out, and when the chair is almost vertical, the footboard optionally substantially touches the floor.

In some embodiments, at least one handle is included in the chair and positioned for the user to grasp while being assisted to stand up, to prevent the user from falling forward.

In some embodiments, the chair includes at least one arm-rest arranged to be approximately parallel to the floor while the user is being assisted to stand up, for the user to rest the user's arm and at least partially support the user's weight.

It is noted that in some embodiments of the handle, such as reference 114a of <FIG>, reference 114b 114c of <FIG>, and <FIG>, reference <NUM> of <FIG>, are designed, by virtue of their linkages and/or actuators, to change angle with respect to the floor, when the chair tilts and/or changes its position, and when the back-rest changes its angle with respect to the seat.

In some embodiments, a rate of assisting the user to stand up from the chair is optionally automatically changed based on an elapsed time from a time when the user had a surgical procedure. For example, the rate is increased as the time elapsed following a knee surgery or a hip surgery increases.

The method shown by <FIG> includes: providing a chair (<NUM>), the chair including: a base component; a seat component connected to the base component by a central hinge; a back-rest component connected to the seat component by a back hinge; and a footboard component; bringing the footboard to touch the user's feet (<NUM>) before lifting the user to the standing position; and using the back-rest component and the seat component, to raise the user to a substantially standing position (<NUM>), thereby assisting the user to stand up from the chair.

In some embodiments, the chairs of the methods of <FIG> and <FIG> are chairs in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure, as described herein. The chairs include a base component; a seat component connected to the base component by a central hinge; and a back-rest component connected to the seat component by a back hinge, such that when the chair is in a sitting position, the seat component is lower than the central tilting hinge.

As used herein with reference to quantity or value, the term "approximately" means "within ± <NUM> % of'.

The terms "comprising", "including", "having" and their conjugates mean "including but not limited to".

The term "consisting of' is intended to mean "including and limited to".

The term "consisting essentially of' means that the composition, method or structure may include additional ingredients, steps and/or parts, but only if the additional ingredients, steps and/or parts do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, method or structure.

For example, the term "a unit" or "at least one unit" may include a plurality of units, including combinations thereof.

The words "example" and "exemplary" are used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance or illustration". Any embodiment described as an "example or "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of features from other embodiments.

Any particular embodiment of the disclosure may include a plurality of "optional" features unless such features conflict.

Throughout this application, various embodiments of this disclosure may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible sub-ranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from <NUM> to <NUM> should be considered to have specifically disclosed sub-ranges such as from <NUM> to <NUM>, from <NUM> to <NUM>, from <NUM> to <NUM>, from <NUM> to <NUM>, from <NUM> to <NUM>, from <NUM> to <NUM> etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

Unless otherwise indicated, numbers used herein and any number ranges based thereon are approximations within the accuracy of reasonable measurement and rounding errors as understood by persons skilled in the art.

It is appreciated that certain features of the disclosure, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the disclosure, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the disclosure.

Claim 1:
A chair (<NUM>) comprising:
a base (<NUM>);
a seat (<NUM>) connected to the base (<NUM>) by a central hinge (<NUM>).;
a back-rest (<NUM>) connected to the seat (<NUM>) by a back hinge (<NUM>), and
a leg-rest (<NUM>), connected to the seat (<NUM>) by a leg-rest hinge (<NUM>) configured to change an angle of the leg-rest (<NUM>) relative to the seat (<NUM>) to make the leg-rest (<NUM>) substantially parallel to the seat (<NUM>), and further including a leg-rest actuator for changing an angle between the leg-rest (<NUM>) and the seat (<NUM>);
wherein, when the chair (<NUM>) is in a sitting position, the seat (<NUM>) is lower than the central hinge (<NUM>), and,
wherein, when the chair (<NUM>) is tilted, the central hinge (<NUM>) enables the seat (<NUM>) with the leg-rest hinge (<NUM>) to rise while tilting, thereby providing enough height of the seat (<NUM>) to achieve full tilt, corresponding to
a substantially standing position of a user,