The present invention relates to a chair for handicapped or elderly persons walking with difficulty.
It is well-known that the mobility of handicapped and elderly persons walking with difficulty may be improved when they may lean on and push a supporting device provided with wheels or rollers. Such known rolling supporting devices - the so-called rollators - are provided with a pair of hand grips and a braking device which may be controlled by actuating or control means arranged adjacent to the hand grips so that the user may selectively brake the wheels or rollers. Such handicapped or elderly person may also need a transporting chair provided with wheels or rollers so that he or she may be transported by another person in a sitting position. Furthermore, the handicapped or elderly person may need a wheel chair in which he or she may be transported by another person outdoors. This means that a handicapped or elderly person may require three different aids to fulfil the needs for movement and transportation. The necessity of three different aids is not only economically disadvantageous, but the transportation devices also require much storing space when they are not in use.
The present invention provides a chair which is adapted to be used by handicapped or elderly persons walking with difficulty, and which may be used more universally than the prior art chairs of that type. A wheel chair which converts into a walker is for example known from US-A-5 224 731.
Thus, the present invention provides a chair for handicapped or elderly persons walking with difficulty, as set out in claim 1.
A rollable supporting device to be pushed by the handicapped person must be very stable and this is also true for a transporting chair for indoor use. This means that a downwardly directed pressure applied to the hand grips by the user should not tilt the chair or supporting device unintentionally. In other words, the downwardly directed forces should most likely intersect the ground or floor surface inside the polygon defined by the position of the wheels or rollers.
However, in case of a wheel chair the requirements are different. A person pushing a wheel chair with a handicapped person or patient should be able to tilt the wheel chair so as to lift the front wheels in order to be able to pass kerbs, elevations in the ground surface, doorsteps and other hindrances. This means that it should be possible to apply downwardly directed forces to the hand grips intersecting the ground surface outside the polygon defined by the wheels of the wheel chair, which is outside the side of the polygon defined by the contact points of the rear wheels.
The chair according to the invention may fulfil all these requirements and may be converted from a supporting or leaning device to a wheel chair and vice versa by changing the position of at least one of the rear wheels and/or the position of the hand grips, and possibly also by changing the wheel diameter.
Thus, the wheels may comprise first and second sets of releasable wheels to be mounted in said first and second positions, respectively, the diameter of the wheel or wheels of the second set exceeding that of the first set.
The vertical projection of the hand grips falls inside the polygon defined by the wheels and is spaced substantially from the sides of the polygon in said first position of the releasably mounted wheel or wheels, while the vertical projection of the hand grips falls outside said polygon or closely adjacent to a side thereof in the second position.
When the wheels of the chair according to the invention comprise two or more sets of wheels having different diameters, the center or shaft of the releasable wheel or wheels is preferably adjustable in relation to the seat so that the vertical distance of the seat surface above the ground or floor surface may be kept substantially unchanged when a wheel or wheels of a small diameter is replaced by a wheel or wheels of larger diameter, or vice versa. Such adjustment may, for example, be obtained when each releasable wheel is mounted on a frame part which is telescopically moveable in relation to a main frame part. The telescopically moveable frame part may then be locked in predetermined positions in relation to the main frame part by means of releasable locking means.
Releasable mounting means for releasably mounting at least one of the wheels of the chair in said first and second alternative positions may, for example, comprise means for allowing mounting of the shaft of the wheel or wheels at different locations of the chair frame. In a preferred embodiment, however, at least one of the wheels of the chair is mounted on a frame part moveable in relation to a main frame part so as to position said at least one wheel in said first and second alternative positions. The moveable frame part may be displaceably mounted in the relation to the main frame part in any suitable manner, such as by guide tracks, linkage systems, etc. preferably, however, the moveable frame part is swingably mounted in relation to the main frame part. Alternatively, the center of said at least one wheel may be mounted displaceably along a track or path between said first and second alternative positions.
The wheels may additionally comprise a third set of at least one releasable wheel which may be mounted in a third position of the chair frame. As an example, the first set of wheels may be used when the chair should function as a supporting or leaning device which may be pushed by the user, the second set of wheels may be used when the chair should be converted to a transporting chair mainly for indoor use, and the third set of wheels may be used when the chair should be converted into a wheel chair where the rear wheels could be gripped and driven by the handicapped person sitting in the chair.
Especially when the chair is used as a supporting or leaning device it is important that the user may brake the wheels or rollers of the chair. Therefore, the chair according to the invention preferably comprises a braking device for braking at least one of the wheels of the chair, and brake actuating means for selectively operating the braking device and being positioned at or adjacent to the hand grips. The user may then operate the braking device so that the supporting device remains stationary when desired and release the braking device when the leaning device is to be used for supporting the user while walking.
The hand grips of the chair according to the invention may be mounted on the chair frame movably between said first and second alternative positions. As an example, the frame parts on which a hand grips are mounted may be swingable or tiltable between said alternative positions. Alternatively, the hand grips may be mounted rotatably about upright or substantially vertical axes between said first and second alternative positions. As an example, the hand grips may be rotated substantially 180° between rewardly directed and forwardly directed positions.
According to the present invention the chair may comprise a braking device for braking at least one of the chair wheels and brake actuating means positioned at or adjacent to the hand grips for selectively operating the braking device, which may be maintained in and released from its actuated position. Such chair may be used not only as a chair for transporting a handicapped or elderly person by another person gripping the hand grips and pushing the chair, but also as a leaning or supporting device for a handicapped or elderly person using the device as a walking aid.
The chair frame may be made from rigidly interconnected frame parts or frame members. Alternatively, the chair frame may comprise pivotally interconnected frame parts which may be moved between a position of use and a collapsed storing position, releasable locking means being provided for locking the frame parts mutually in their position of use. When not in use the chair may then be stored in its collapsed position in which it occupies little space, only. When the chair is to be used, the frame parts may be moved into the position of use and may be releasably locked in that position.
The chair seat may then be pivotally mounted to one of the frame parts so as to be rotatable between a substantially horizontal position of use and an upright storing position, and if desired the chair seat or a pivotally mounted frame part supporting the seat may be shaped so as to form part of the releasable locking means.
The chair frame may, for example, comprise a pair of mutually spaced forelegs each carrying a caster wheel at its lower end and a pair of mutually spaced hind legs each having wheel mounting means positioned at different levels above the ground or floor surface. These wheel mounting means positioned at different levels may then be used for mounting different wheels, such as wheels of different diameter, and in plan view the wheel mounting means positioned at different levels are preferably also positioned so as to be differently spaced from the hand grips of the chair. Such different spacing may, for example, be obtained when the lower end portion of each hind leg extends obliquely backwards. The wheel mounting means may, for example, comprise transverse bores or openings in the hind legs for receiving a bolt, spindle or journal for the wheels.
When the chair is used for transporting a sitting handicapped person the feet of that person should preferably not unintentionally come into contact with the ground or floor surface during transportation. Therefore, the chair preferably comprises a foot rest which may be movable between an advanced position of use and a retracted position.
When the chair is used as a leaning or supporting device it is useful that a handicapped person who has been pushing the device and has been gripping the hand grips is able to take a rest and lean against or sit on the device in a standing position. Thus, the chair may further comprise a chair member mounted so as to be movable between a first position in which it may serve as a chair back for a person sitting on the chair seat, and a second position in which a person standing at the hand grips may sit on the chair member or lean against it. Thus, the chair back may serve a dual function.
In its unstressed condition the chair seat may define a substantially plane upper surface and may then serve as a tray on which a handicapped person using the chair as a leaning or supporting device may place various objects or items.
Furthermore, the chair according to the invention may comprise an upwardly open receptacle, container or back positioned immediately below the pivotally mounted chair seat which may function as a lid covering the open end of the receptacle or container. The receptacle or container may serve as a storing container in which a person using the chair may carry personal items. In order to allow access to the receptacle or container when a person is sitting on the chair seat, the receptacle or container may be mounted so as to be transversely displaceable in relation to the chair seat to a position in which a person sitting on the chair seat may have access to the inner space of the receptacle or container.
The invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings, wherein
The chair shown in Figs. 1-3 comprises a chair frame 10 which may be made from metal tubes, a chair seat 11 and a chair back 12 mounted on the frame 10. The frame 10 comprises a front frame part 13 forming a pair of front legs 14 and a rear frame part 15 forming a pair of rear legs 16. A pair of rear wheels or rear rollers 17 are rotatably mounted at the lower ends of the rear legs 16, and a pair of caster wheels 18 are mounted at the lower ends of the front legs 14. A pair of rearwardly directed hand grips 19 positioned behind the chair seat 11 are formed at the upper ends of the rear frame part 15. Braking devices (not shown) for selectively braking the rear wheels 17 may be selectively operated by means of brake actuating members 20 which are positioned immediately below the hand grips 19 and which are connected to the braking devices via cables 21.
The frame parts 13 and 15 are interconnected by link members 22 so that the frame parts 13 and 15 may be moved between a collapsed position shown in Fig. 3 and a position of use shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the position of use the front legs 14 and the rear legs 16 are spaced apart and may be locked in this position by a link member. The chair seat 11 may be pivotally mounted to the rear frame part 15 at its rear edge so that the seat may be tilted between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position of use, and the link members may also comprise a frame part for supporting the chair seat 11 in its substantially horizontal position of use.
An upwardly open container or basket 23 which may, for example, be made from wire, is mounted under the chair seat 11, vide Figs. 2 and 3, so that the chair seat 11 may form a lid closing the upper open end of the container or basket 23. The container or basket 23 may be mounted so that it may be displaced transversely in relation to the seat 11 whereby a person sitting on the chair seat 11 may gain access to the inner space of the basket or container.
Fig. 4 illustrates how the chair shown in Figs. 1-3 may be used as a supporting or leaning device (a so-called rollator) by a handicapped person who needs a walking aid. The person then grips around the hand grips 19 and pushes the chair in front of him. When necessary, the user may operate the brakes by means of the brake actuating members 20.
When the user needs a rest he may operate the braking devices so as to make the chair stationary and may then lean against the back side of the chair as illustrated in Fig. 5. The chair bag 12 may be mounted pivotally about a horizontal axis so that the chair back may be moved between a substantially vertical position as shown in Fig. 1 and a substantially horizontal or an inclined position. As shown in Fig. 5 the user of the chair may then lean against and partly sit on the substantially horizontal or inclined chair back 12 so as to get a small rest in an upright, almost standing position.
As illustrated in Fig. 6 the chair may also be used for transporting a handicapped person sitting on the chair seat 11 and leaning against the substantially vertical chair back 12. An assisting person may then grip the hand grips 19 and push the chair. The chair shown in Figs. 1-3 is preferably provided with a foot rest 24 (shown only in Fig. 6) for supporting the feet of the sitting person so that the feet do not come into contact with the floor or ground surface during transportation.
Finally, as illustrated in Fig. 7 the chair may also be used as a chair for a person sitting at a table or at a similar working place. In that case the braking devices should be operated so that the chair does not move.
Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate an embodiment similar to that shown in Figs. 1-3, and similar parts are provided with the same reference numerals. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the rearwardly inclining rear legs 16 are provided with three different wheel mounting bores or openings 25, 26 and 27 positioned in different levels and in different transverse positions in relation to the hand grips 19. The small diameter rear wheels 17 may then be replaced by large diameter rear wheels 28 which may be gripped and moved by a user sitting in the chair. Thereby the chair may be converted into a wheel chair which is also suited for outdoor use.
A person gripping the hand grips 19 and pushing the chair forwards usually applies a downwardly and forwardly directed force F to each of the hand grips 19. When the small diameter rear wheels 17 are mounted on the chair such force intersects the floor or ground surface between the contact points 29 and 30 between the floor or ground surface and the front and rear wheels 18 and 17, respectively. However, when the large diameter rear wheels 28 are mounted the downwardly directed forces F may intersect the ground surface adjacent to the contact point 31 between the rear wheels and the ground surface. This means that a person gripping the hand grips 19 and pushing the wheel chair may rather easily tilt the chair about and axis defined by the contact points 31 whereby the front wheels 18 may be lifted for passing small elevations in the ground surface, such as kerbs, doorsteps and other hindrances.
Fig. 10 diagrammatically illustrates an embodiment of the chair according to the invention in which the center of each of the rear wheels 17 may be moved between alternative positions along a track 32 which may extend in a substantially direction or may form a small acute angle with the horizontal direction as indicated. The rear wheels 17 may then be releasably locked in two alternative positions, namely a rearward position shown in solid lines in which the chair may be used as a supporting device to be pushed by the handicapped person, and a forward position shown in broken lines. In the latter position the handicapped person may be seated in the chair and be transported by an assisting person.
In the embodiment shown in Figs. 11 and 12 each of the rear wheels 17 are mounted at a free end of a supporting arm 33, which may be rotated between a forwardly directed position (shown in solid lines in Figs. 11 and 12) and a rearwardly directed position (shown in broken lines in Figs. 11 and 12) about a pivot 34. In its alternative positions the supporting arm 33 is engaging with a tilting limiting bracket 35 forming part of the chair frame 10. The supporting arm 33 is biassed towards its alternative positions by means of a spring 36. As shown in Fig. 12 the bracket 35 restricts backwards tilting of the chair about the axis of the rear wheels 17 when the rear wheels are in their forward position shown in Fig. 12.
In the embodiment shown in Figs. 13 and 14 the front frame part 13 and the rear frame part 15 are mounted so as to be mutually pivotable about a pivot 37. Furthermore, a pin or cam follower 38 formed on each of the rear legs 16 is cooperating with a corresponding slot or track 39. The pins 38 may be releasably locked in alternative positions in which they are engaging with the opposite ends of the slots 39 whereby the chair may be converted from the position shown in Fig. 13 in which it is adapted to be pushed by the handicapped person, into the position shown in Fig. 14, in which the handicapped person may sit in the chair and be pushed by an assisting person.
Figs. 15 and 16 show an embodiment in which the chair back 12 may be swung from a position shown in Fig. 15 in which it is in abutting engagement with the seat 11, into a position of use shown in Fig. 16. Furthermore, each rear leg 16 comprises telescopically moveable parts which may be mutually locked in predetermined positions so that the height of the mounting bore 25 for receiving the shaft or pivot of the corresponding rear wheel 17 may be adapted to the diameter of the rear wheel chosen.
The embodiment shown in Figs. 17 and 18 corresponds to the embodiment shown in Figs. 15 and 16. However, in Figs. 17 and 18 the chair seat 11 and the chair back 12 are formed as an integral unit which is tiltably mounted on the chair frame 10 about a pivot axis 40. Thus, when the chair is used for transporting a handicapped person in a sitting position, the seat and back is tilted to the position shown in Fig. 17. However, when the chair is to be pushed by the handicapped person the seat and back may be tilted to the position shown in Fig. 18.
In the embodiment shown in Figs. 19 and 20 the front frame part 13 and the rear frame part 15 may perform a mutually pivotal movement about the pivot 37. In order to allow such pivotal movement the front frame part 13 comprises telescopically inter-engaging parts,and the rear frame part 15 is connected to the interconnecting link members 22 via pin and slot connections 41. Thus, in Fig. 19 the chair is adapted to be pushed by and to support a standing or walking handicapped person. In this position the telescopic parts of the front frame part 13 are pushed together and the pins of the connections 41 are in their upper end positions within the corresponding slots. In Fig. 20, however, the front frame part 13 is in its extended position and the pins of the pin and slot connections 41 are in their lower position. In this condition the chair is adapted to support a sitting handicapped person and to be pushed by an assisting person.
In the embodiment shown in Figs. 21 and 22 the hand grips 19 are telescopically received in upper end portions of the rear frame part 15 so that the hand grips may be releasably locked to the rear frame part 15 in a forwardly directed position as shown in Fig. 21 or in a rearwardly directed position as shown in Fig. 22. The chair seat 11 and the chair back 12 may be divided into three pivotally interconnected parts so that these parts may be arranged in a sandwiched position shown in Fig. 21 or in a position of use shown in Fig. 22. When the chair is in the condition shown in Fig. 21 it may be used for supporting a standing or walking handicapped person who may stand between the horizontally spaced rear legs 16. When the user needs a rest he or she may partially sit on the sandwiched seat. In the condition shown in Fig. 22 the chair is adapted to transport a sitting handicapped person, and the chair is then pushed by an assistant person gripping the rear wardly directed hand grips 19.
It should be understood that the features of the various embodiments shown and described could be combined in numerals other ways than shown and described above, and such combinations should be interpreted as being within the scope of the present invention when falling within the scope of the following claims.