WO1984002647A1

WO1984002647A1 - Foldable wheeled chair

Info

Publication number: WO1984002647A1
Application number: PCT/EP1983/000006
Authority: WO
Inventors: Derek F Wrigley
Original assignee: Lemercier Daniel; Derek F Wrigley
Priority date: 1983-01-14
Filing date: 1983-01-14
Publication date: 1984-07-19
Also published as: EP0162835A1; DE3380587D1; EP0162835B1; NO843628L; JPS60500359A; DK437284A; DK437284D0; ATE46432T1; AU1102783A

Abstract

A foldable wheeled chair comprising a chair (2) mounted on a wheeled frame (1) is provided with a plurality of joint means (9, 10, 11, 23) enabling different parts (3, 4, 5, 24) of the chair (2) to give an infinity of positions one relative to another and the chair (2) to give an infinity of positions relative to the frame (1). Both frame (1) and chair (2) comprise modular adjustable elements so as to permit the construction of a large number of models each being well adapted to meet the particular size and infirmity of the occupant.

Description

FOLDABLE WHEELED CHAIR

The invention relates to a foldabie wheeled chair principally but not exhaustively developed- for transporting an infirm person or patient. This wheeled chair is intended for propulsion either by the occupant himself or by another person. ^' Foldabie wheeled chairs are well-known on the market.

One of the most important short-comings of previous foldabie wheeled chairs is that the occupant who is confined in it cannot change his posture by him self.

Heretofore, it has been suggested, as described for instance in US patents 3,198,575, 3,053,568 and German published specification 2,150,525 to provide the chair with Joint means to articulate the chair, but the improve- ments are not fuliy successful.

The German specification 2,150,525 describes a chair with several joints which allow many postures but the chair as described is not foldabie and the different adjustments cannot be achieved by the occupant him¬ self.

The chair-bed combination described in the US patent 3,053,568 has the short-comings of being heavy, not foldabie and in fact is not a foldabie wheeled chair as usually used by injured or other infirm persons. The wheeled chair described in US patent 3,198,575 is a conventional type of foldabie wheeled chair and is provided with a Joint and a locking device on each side of the chair which permits the chair to be tilted by the occupant himself. But it has the disadvantage that on the one hand the tilting action is very limited and concerns the chair as a unit and on the other hand, necessitates the use of both hands, so that amputees or hemiplegics cannot use such a wheeled chair.

Another important short-coming of the previous chairs is that all convenient improvements necessitate complicated constructions which makes the very expensive. To keep the cost reasonable, it has been suggested, as described in the UK patent 2,090,564, that a modular wheelchair would allow a large number of adjustments and re-arrangements of its modular components. But such a wheeled chair is not fully foldabie and one or two adjustments of the chair cannot be effected by the occupant himself.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a foldabie wheeled chair capable of supporting a patient in almost every position he wishes.

OMPI Another object of the invention is to provide a foldabie wheeled chair whereby all parts may be separately adjusted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldabie wheeled chair which may be coήstructed at low cost by providing optional modular and adjustable components.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a foldabie wheeled chair which may be used by the greatest possible number of disabied persons and whereby all the adjustments may be effected by the occupant him- - seif. 0 The foldabie wheeled chair of the invention is of the type eomprising a chair mounted on a wheeled frame, said chair having at least a seat, back-rest and foot-supports.

To -achieve the af oresaid objects the foldabie wheeled chair of the invention is characterized by: 5 - a plurality of modular elements adapted to allow the mounting of the chair on the frame so as to make several modeis of different sizes and uses, said modular elements being located to each other in an adjustable way,

- a plurality of Joint means adapted to allow the several parts of the chair to give an infinity of relative positions to each other and the chair 0 to give an infinity of positions relative to the frame,

- transmission means adapted to activate the Joint means so as to obtain the infinities of positions,

- and control means for activating said transmission means located to enable the occupant himself to effect various adjustments. 5 The modular characteristics of all parts of the chair permit the construction of a large number of modeis each being well adapted to meet the particuiar size and infirmity of the occupant.

Further, the control means, the transmission means and the. Joint means are adapted and located, on the one hand, to retain the foldability 0 of the chair without any troubies as is the case in conventional foldabie wheeled chairs, and on the other hand to allow the occupant tp effect all the adjustments to obtain the required position of the chair among an infinity of positions. The foldabie wheeled chair according to the invention is further characterized by foldabie or flexible transmission devices to achieve the 5 transmission of movement from one side to the other of the chair.

This particuiar construction allows a symmetrical movement of parts on both sides of the chair, the control means which may be-remote control means being activated by the occupant himself. The control means can be operated by one hand only and may be fixed in the most practical location for him.

The invention will be better understood and still further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings which are a part of the invention and in which:

- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a foldabie wheeled chair embodying the invention, - Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same,

- Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation to illustrate possible relative positions of the chair embodying the invention,

- Figure is a schematic view of the adjustability of the handle- bar, and of the possible extensions of the chair and wheeled frame. - Figures 5 to 8 are schematic side elevations illustrating different kinds of wheels or castors that may be used with the chair embodying the invention,

-. Figure 9 is a side elevation of a joint means,

- Figure 10 is a plan of the same joint, - Figure 11 is a schematic side elevation to explain the necessity of a compensating device,

- and Figure 12 is a cross section of the foot-support according to the invention and eomprising the automatically compensating device.

As illustrated on the drawings, the foldabie wheeled chair of the invention comprises a wheeled frame 1 and a chair 2. The chair comprises at least a seat 3, back.rest and foot-supports 5. As is the case or conventional chairs, additional components may be added such as arm-rests 6 head-rests (not shown ^ leg-rests 7 and a handle-bar 8.

The chair 2 comprises a plurality of Joint means as 9 between back-rest 4 and seat 3, 10 between seat 3 and leg-rest 7, 11 between leg-rest 7 and foot-support 5, and 12 between back-rest 4 and handle-bar 8. All these Joint means allow the chair to give an infinity of positions, as each part of the chair can pivot relative to the other part with which it is articulated. These positions will be further explained iater. On each side of the frame 1 are located modular elements 13 on which wheels 14 or castors 15 of different sizes and types may be mounted. For instance, as shown on figure 5, the front wheel 15 is a castor with a diameter

QV.Z-1 of about 200 mm and the backwheel 14 has a diameter of about 600 mm and is provided with a well-known hand-rim 16.

On figure 6, front wheels 15 are castors of about 200 mm and back wheels 14 are about 300 mm diameter.

On figure 7, front wheels 15 have a diameter of about 600 mm and back wheels 14 are 200 mm diameter castors. Figure 8 shows the case where both front 15 and back wheels 14 are about 300 mm diameter.

It is evident that many other types of wheels may be mounted on the frame and that the preferred embodiments shown and described have been given as examples and do not constitute a iimiting list. Referring back to figure 2, the modular element 13 is adapted to support two adjustable members 17 and 18. These members can for instance slide into the element 13 so as to allow different length of the frame 1.

Each member comprises several holes 19, located at the plurality of positions to receive the axles of the different wheels. Located almost on the vertical of the gravity center of the occupant a telescopic element 20 comprises a part 21, fixed to said element 13, and relative to which can slide a second part 22 in a vertically adjustable way.

Inside this second part 22 is located a slide which allows the chair to be folded as it is well-known in the art. The ^" height of the. Seat may be adjusted by raising. Or lowering part 22 relative to part 21. Locking means such as bolts or other well-known means maintain part 22 in the required position. Part 22 is adapted to support the chair 2 through a joint means 23.

Referring now to figure 3 the plurality of Joint means allow the chair to give an infinity of positions between a sitting position B-B and a lying or sleeping position F-F. Joint means 23 give the seat 3 an infinity of position between two almost vertical positions G-G and G'-G '. Almost vertical positions means positions as near as possible to vertical positions. In fact these positions depend upon the height where Joint means 23 is raised. The higher it is raised, the more vertical will be these positions. The limitation do not come from Joint means 23 but by the foot-support touching the ground.

Some particuiar positions are dräwn on figure 3: - Position AA is a transferring or stepping in or out position; which ^" retains the ^' chair position BB geatly tilted' f orward to help front transf er, - Position BB is an active sitting-up position. - position CC is a semi-active position,

- Position D-D is a relaxing position,

- Position E.E. is a resting position.

Joint means 9 enables back rest 4 to assume an infinity of positions relative to seat 3 at angles between about 80 ° and 180 °, that is to say between a position a little more closed than sitting position and lying position. When the angle becomes less than 80 the Joint means 9 allows the back-rest 4 to be quickly folded on to seat 3 so as to reduce the volume of the chair when folded. On the rear side of the back-rest 4 is located a handle-bar 8 which may be adjusted in a pivoting way so as to give a plurality of heights as shown by H, I and J on figure 4.

One of the most important advantages of .the chair is that all the parts are modular, that is they comprise a central part, as for instance 24 in figure 2, relative to which the Joint means (10,11) in this example may be extended or contracted. Each part of the chair may thus be adjusted to the particuiar sizes of the occupant making the chair, in effect, made to measure as shown by positions K, L, tV;, N, 0, P on figure 4.

Referring now to figures I I and 12 it ust be understood that the knee joints 25 of the occupant and the Joint means 10 between seat 3 and leg-rests 7 are not coincidental. Knee joints 25 are higher than Joint means 10 and the distance between them depends upon the thickness of the seat 3 and whether or not the occupant uses a cushion. So when the leg is in a horizontal position, the leg rest needs to be longer than when the leg is in a vertical position.

To compensate for this difference of length the leg tube 24 is provided with an outer tube 26 in which can slide an inner tube 27. This inner tube 27 has the form of a position with a head part 29 which fit the outer tube 26 and a narrower part.30 around which is located a compressioπ spring 31. Spring 31 abuts on one end against the head part 29 of the inner tube 27 and on the other end against the closed extremity 32 of outer tube 26. A locking device such as a screw knqb 33 perrhits the fixlng of inner tube 27 relative to outer ^' ; tube 26 in the required position.

So when locking means 33 is unscrewd, spring 31 pushes head part 29 up inner tube 27 toward Joint means 10: leg tube 24 is thus in its shortest position, appropriate to the lower leg of the occupant when seated in the normeil seating position. When raising toward a horizontal location the

OM-PI occupants legs push the foot-rests thus compressing spring 31. When in required position, the occupant screws in knob 33, thus fixing the foot-rests in the most suitable position.

As generally described previously, Joint means are activated by transmission means so as to obtain infinities of positions. Referring now to figures 9 and 10 which show for example the Joint means 10 between the seat 3 and the leg tube 24, said Joint means 10 comprises a driven means 34 fixed to the pivoting part that is the leg tube 24. The driven means 34 cooperates with a driving means 35 fixed to the part relative to which pivots the pivoting part, in this case seat rail 3.Driven means 34 and driving means 35, each eomprising a toothed wheel 36, 37 connected together by a cam-shaft 38 so as to form a well-known pianetary transmission. Transmission means generally are activated by a control means, in this case, a knob 39 fixed to the cam-shaft 38. One of the advantages of such a transmission means is that a locking mechanism is not necessary to make the pivoting part keeps its position when the driving means is released. It is evident that the described transmission means 10 is only given as an example and that many other types of transmission such as worm ears may be used within the scope of invention.

All transmission means are activated by control means which may be remote control mea s so that they can be located in the most suitable location to enable the occupant himself to obtain the most desirabie position. The control means may be located on either side of the chair. But, due to the fact that the chair is built up from modular elements without any transverse rigidity transmission of desired movement to the other side of the ^" chair must be achieved by a foldabie or a flexible transmission. Such transmission may comprise cable, universal joint , belt, ... or other well-known flexible or foldabie transmission device. εr: ^• The description .. s.e_ ... forth illustrates the preferred embodiment of the foldabie wheel chair of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that many variations to the drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention and may never constitute any limitation of said invention.

Claims

CLAIMS -

1. Foldabie wheeled chair, principally for infirm patients, eomprising a chair (2) which is mounted on a wheeled frame (1), said chair (2) eomprising at least a seat (3), back-rest (4) and foot -supports (5), said foldabie wheeled chair being characterized by: r plurality of modular elements (13,24) adapted to allow the mounting of the chair (2) on the frame (1) so as to make several modeis of different sizes and uses, said modular elements being located to each other in an adjustable way,

- a plurality of Joint means (9,10,11,23) adapted to allow the several parts of the chair to give an infinity of relative positions to each other and the chair to give an infinity of positions relative to the frame,

- transmission means (35-38) adapted to activate the Joint means so as to obtain the infinities of positions,

- and control means (39) for activating said transmission means located to enable the occupant himself to effect various adjustments.

2. Foldabie wheeled chair according to Claim 1, characterized in that the Joint means (9,10,1 1) are adapted to give to the chair (2) an infinity of positions between a sitting position and a lying position, said Joint means being separately. activated.

3. Foldabie wheeled chair according to one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the Joint means (23) between the chair (2) and the frame (1) are adapted to give to the seat (3) an infinity of positions between two almost vertical positions.

4. Foldabie wheeled chair according to one of the Claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the transmission means comprise a driven means (34) which is fixed to the pivoting part and cooperates with a driving means (35) which is fixed to the other part relative to which pivots the pivoting part, said driven means (34) and said driving means (35) being adapted to remain in position without any locking means when driving means (35) is reteased.

5. Foldabie wheeled chair according to one of the Claims 1, 2

3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the modular elements of the frame comprise, located on each side of the chair:

- an element (13) on which wheels or castors (14,15) of different sizes and types may be mounted at a plurality of positions,

OMPΣ - and a telescoplc element (20) eomprising a part (21) which is fixed to said element (13) in a vertically adjustable way and a second part (22), slidable relative to the first part (21) and adapted to support the chair (21).

6. Foldabie wheeled chair according to one of the Claims 1,2,3,4 or 5, characterized in that control means for Joint means are located on one side of the chair, transmission of movement to the other side being achieved by a foldabie or flexible transmission means.

7.Foldabie wheeled chair according to one of the Claims 1,2,3,4,5 or 6 whereby foot-supports are adjustable to an infinity of positions between a vertical position and a horizontal position, characterized in that said foot-supports comprise a device (26-33) adapted to compensate the difference of length between the leg of the occupant and the foot-supports when pivoting.

8. Foldabie wheeled chair according to one of the Claims 1,2,3,4,5,6 or 7 characterized in that the modular elements of the chair (2) comprise a central part (24) relative to which the Joint means may be extended or contracted so as to obtain modes of different sizes.

9. Foldabie wheeled chair according to one of the Claims 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 or 8, characterized in that the back-rest (4) is adjustable to an infinity of positions so as to form with the seat (3) when the angle is smaller than 80 so as to reduee the volume of the chair when folded and comprise an adjustable handle-bar (8) fixed to it in a pivoting way. lO.Foldable wheeled chair according to one of the Claims 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 or 9, characterized in that the control means (39) are re ote control means to be fixed in the most practic ^' al location for the occupant.

O H