Arm and plate cantilevered over a bed or armchair, as a versatile support for objects.

Abstract

The invention relates to the use and configuration of a cantilevered arm and a plate suspended at the end of this arm above a bed or an armchair, as a multipurpose support for objects. The arm and its suspended plate according to the invention are characterized on the one hand in that the assembly extends from back to front above the user lying down or sitting, and that the user can vary in front of him the position and inclination of the plate along a concave trajectory in an arc of a circle for the benefit of ergonomics, according to the different uses he makes of the object in place on the plate; the arm and its plate are further characterized by the possible mobilization, simultaneously or separately, of several other movements to bring greater practicality and flexibility of use to the device. Abstract figure: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Arm and plate cantilevered above a bed or armchair, as a versatile support for objects. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of supports intended to receive various objects for use by people who are bedridden or in an armchair. Prior art

[0002] People sitting, lying down or semi-lying in a bed or in an armchair may need a suitable support to use various objects such as a mobile phone, reading material, multimedia equipment, computers, utensils for support or others. With a tray or a turntable mounted in front of them on various types of existing supporting structures, this need is often met in a more or less ergonomic, practical, comfortable or versatile way.

[0003] Many turntables are based on a ground-based structure and require ground space both during use and before and after use. They are bulky and can hinder some of the movements of their users. They offer them only limited options for positioning their turntables.

[0004] Other plates emanate from supports fixed on one side of the bed or armchair, or high up at the head of the bed and develop a horizontal cantilevered arm, at the end of which descends a vertical arm, to end in a plate which is adjustable by various means of sliding, articulation, pivoting, blocking; they are not very conducive to allowing to vary easily, quickly, flexibly and as often as one would wish, the combination between the height, the distance and the inclination of their plate in relation to the hands and eyes of their users, because they require a series of successive manipulations.

[0005] There is also a family reclining armchair device incorporating a plate supported by three aluminum alloy arms successively articulated together by means of ball joints, and the first of which is attached to the upper side of the armchair. This device relates exclusively to a reclining armchair, it does not allow its plate to be placed in a horizontal position, and being mechanically complex, it is relatively expensive to produce. Statement of the invention

[0006] The present invention aims in particular to avoid these drawbacks of the prior art.

[0007] It proposes in fact the use of an object support by seated or bedridden people, consisting of a plate at the end of a cantilevered arm whose support point is located above a headboard or the back of an armchair which it overhangs, and whose plate is mobile and variously adjustable, more or less low within reach of the user or more or less high and distant, by displacement along an arc-shaped trajectory, generally on a vertical plane following the axis of symmetry of the user's body, with the inclination of said plate which varies in proportion to the variations in the tilting of the arm of the device on this arc-shaped trajectory, as an ergonomic support allowing different adaptations, to allow this user to optimize his comfort of use, including that of his neck, as in the case of the use of a portable computer which one needs to approach to use its keyboard, and which one has the advantage of being able to move away by raising it to watch a video for example.

[0008] The present invention provides ergonomic features of practicality and flexibility of use. According to certain embodiments, the invention allows the almost simultaneous mobilization of five different movement settings to facilitate the rapid, easy and frequent modification of the positioning of the plate; its use offers even more advantages from the ergonomic point of view when it is associated with the use of an articulated bed or an armchair with a reclining backrest; it also allows possibilities of releasing the arm and the plate to store them high up or to the sides.

[0009] To make this use possible, the present invention provides a cantilever arm and a plate which it supports above a bed or an armchair for use by people lying down, semi-lying down or sitting down, comprising:

[0010] a base characterized in that it is fixed by an assembly means to any stable reception structure, above a headboard or the back of an armchair, at an adequate height relative to the level of the top of the bed or the seat of the armchair, and that it comprises on a face facing the bed or the armchair, the fixed part of a hinge with a horizontal axis intended to receive in a pivoting manner the complementary mobile part of this hinge present at the origin of the arm which follows, to allow the latter to tilt vertically from top to bottom and vice versa;

[0011] an arm characterized in that it is pivotally assembled at its origin "lever arm support point" to the base by means of the hinge that it shares with the latter, and that it extends lengthwise on a vertical plane forming a concavity in view of the user, and that it receives at its end a support under a cantilever plate by an assembly means;

[0012] a plate facing the user lying down, semi-lying down or sitting down so that he can place various objects there, characterized in that it is assembled to the aforementioned plate support;

[0013] raising and lowering means combined with holding means in chosen position of the arm by braking and blocking, characterized in that they exert at various points of the device, driving forces or reaction forces, so as to allow various positions of the plate on a trajectory in an arc of a circle with a radius centered on the axis of the hinge at the origin of the arm.

[0014] An advantage of this device is to be able to gradually, easily and simultaneously bring its plate closer to the user's hands and eyes in distance and level, or on the contrary, to be able to give him field simultaneously in distance and elevation for greater comfort of the arms and to raise his gaze for the comfort of the neck, for example, non-limiting, to watch a video on a portable computer. By raising the arm supporting the plate even further, the assembly reaches a release position which frees up space above the bed or armchair.

[0015] The cantilever arm and plate according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, which may be combined with each other:

[0016] * the support under the plate of the plate can be a secondary arm extending the arm at its end, in the same plane as the latter, including an elbow bringing the secondary arm towards the user; which secondary arm supports the plate by means of a ball joint inserted between the underside of the plate and the secondary arm;

[0017] * the driving force of the means for raising or lowering the arm and the plate can be produced by manual pushing or pulling by the user;

[0018] * the braking and locking means sufficient to support the arm and the plate can be achieved by the measured tightening of surfaces in friction between fixed parts and moving parts of the hinge joint at the origin of the arm;

[0019] * the braking and locking means for supporting the arm and the plate can be made by a biocable gas cylinder;

[0020] * the means for raising, lowering and locking the arm and the plate can be produced by an electromechanical means of animating linear or rotary movements combining driving force and blocking means;

[0021] * the arm may comprise two distinct successive parts, each having its clean pivot stroke in the same vertical plane:

[0022] - a first short part extending from the hinge connecting the arm to the base up to the fixed part of a new hinge with a horizontal axis, which part of the arm benefits from means of raising and lowering and maintaining in an intermediate position such as friction braking, manual pushes and pulls, biocable gas cylinder, spring-effect gas cylinder or electromechanical means of animating linear or rotary movements, with a downward limitation of the circular sector on which this part of the arm can pivot;

[0023] - and the remaining part of the arm starting at the pivoting part of the new hinge, which has a stroke over a vertical circular sector limited in height; height below which this part of the arm pivots by means of raising, lowering and maintaining in an intermediate position such as friction braking, manual pushes and pulls or biocable gas cylinder, so that the user lying down or sitting down is able to manually vary the position of the plate up to the limit of reach on this circular sector limited in stroke height; to continue this stroke higher, he needs either to stand up, or to use the assistance of an electromechanical means, or the help of a third person to raise the whole of the two parts of the arm;

[0024] * the connecting base of the arm on a stable host structure can integrate an arti pivoting hinge type with vertical axis in the plane containing the arm, in addition to the horizontal axis hinge that the base shares with the arm, which vertical axis hinge is not braked and allows the arm to pivot freely horizontally;

[0025] * the end of the arm, when it is straight, can receive a sleeve which is coaxial, sliding or not and mounted in rotation around their common axis, which sleeve and a cantilevered support under plate are assembled in a pivoting manner by means of a hinge whose axis is perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve, which support under plate tilts from bottom to top and vice versa, which tilting is moreover conditioned by a braking and / or blocking means;

[0026] * the plate can be mounted in rotation, flat on the support under plate, around of an axis perpendicular to their two surfaces in contact;

[0027] * the arm can be telescopic over a limited portion to allow adjustment of its elongation;

[0028] * the arm can be provided with sheaths or cable guides and the plate can be provided specific means such as edges, flanges, straps or other means for maintaining and operating the objects it accommodates, as well as any accompanying accessories.

[0029] Among the advantages provided by certain combinations of these characteristics, there is the possibility offered to always be able to adjust and readjust the plate in a wide variety of non-fixed positions.

[0030] Another advantage provided by certain combinations of these characteristics is that there is the possibility of installing the device in various ways, either above a single bed or above an armchair, or above a double bed to serve one of the occupants or the other, or both jointly, or between a bed and an armchair placed side by side, to alternately serve a person sometimes in bed, sometimes in the armchair. Brief description of the drawings

[0031] The invention will be better understood and other characteristics and advantages will appear more clearly on reading the description given below by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0032] * the attached [Fig.l] shows an arm and a plate cantilevered above a bed, as a support for objects according to claim 2 of the invention, shown in perspective view; and

[0033] * [Fig.2] shows in perspective an arm and a cantilevered plate according to the invention, above a double bed, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. Detailed description

[0034] [Fig. 2] shows an arm and a cantilevered plate according to the invention, above a double bed 17, comprising:

[0035] * a base 1 fixed to any stable host structure, which base incorporates a vertical axis hinge 10 and a horizontal axis hinge 2 shared with the shaft 3;

[0036] * a shaft 3 pivoting vertically around the hinge 2 and horizontally around of the hinge 10, oriented towards the bed, forming a concavity in view of the user; which arm is extendable for adjustment of its length in its telescopic part 15;

[0037] * a locking gas cylinder 7 to block the lowering of the arm 3 without preventing its recovery;

[0038] * a support under plate 4 in overhang consisting of a sleeve 11 coaxial with the end of the shaft 3 and rotating around it, and a cantilevered projection articulated relative to the sleeve in a pivoting manner along an axis 12 perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve; it being further provided that the articulation means incorporates a braking or blocking means 14 of the articulation to allow different degrees of inclination of the support under plate (4);

[0039] * a plate 5 carried by the support under plate 4 and mounted in rotation on the flat upper bearing surface thereof around an axis 13 perpendicular to their two surfaces in contact;

[0040] * a lower rim 16 on the lower edge of the plate 5 for holding a computer portable by way of non-limiting example;

[0041] * one or more specific means such as edges, flanges, straps or other means for the maintenance and operation of the objects that the plate accommodates, including any accompanying accessories.

[0042] The user currently lying or semi-lying on the right side of the bed can, with one hand, or both, thanks to the availability of five pivots or rotations, push or attract the plate while making it rise or fall, straighten it, pivot it, tilt it, bring it back in line with the bed, transmit it to its possible neighbor who can make his own adjustments. He can use the computer at hand or move it away to move it away and simultaneously raise the screen; in doing so, the screen will tilt while accompanying the tilting of the arm and its surface can remain more or less orthogonal to the direction of the gaze of the user whose neck will not be forced to bend. He can also, by gyration, store the device practically against the plane of the head of the bed. A standing person can maneuver the arm and the plate to raise them even further to a raised folding position.

[0043] This preferred embodiment presented above a double bed can just as easily be envisaged above a single bed, an armchair or between a bed and an armchair placed side by side to serve one or the other alternately. List of reference signs

[0044] 1: base

[0045] 2: hinge with horizontal axis

[0046] 3: arms

[0047] 4: support under plate

[0048] 5: platinum

[0049] 6: lifting and lowering means combined with braking means and blocking

[0050] 7: biocable gas cylinder

[0051] 8: manual pushes or pulls

[0052] 9: arc-shaped trajectory

[0053] 10: hinge with vertical axis

[0054] 11: sleeve

[0055] 12: hinge

[0056] 13: axis of rotation

[0057] 14: braking and / or blocking means

[0058] 15: telescopic part

[0059] 16 lower edge

[0060] 17: double bed.

Claims

Claims

1. Use of an object support by seated or bedridden persons, consisting of a plate and a cantilevered arm whose support point is located above a headboard or the back of an armchair which it overhangs, and whose plate is mobile and variously adjustable, more or less low within reach of the user or more or less high and distant, by displacement along a trajectory in the form of an arc of a circle concave to the user's gaze, generally on a vertical plane following the axis of symmetry of the user's body, with the inclination of said plate which varies in proportion to the variations in the inclination of the arm of the device on this trajectory in the form of an arc of a circle, as an ergonomic support allowing different adaptations of the inclination, the height and the distance of the object installed on the plate, in relation to the hands, the eyes and the direction of gaze,to allow this user to optimize their comfort of use, including the comfort of their neck.,

2. Support for objects for seated or bedridden persons, characterized in that it comprises: - a base (1) characterized in that it is fixed by an assembly means to any stable reception structure, above a headboard or the back of an armchair, at an adequate height relative to the level of the top of the bed or the seat of the armchair, and that it comprises on a face facing the bed or the armchair, the fixed part of a hinge with a horizontal axis (2) intended to receive in a pivoting manner the complementary mobile part of this hinge present at the origin of the arm which follows, to allow the latter to tilt vertically from top to bottom and vice versa; - an arm (3) characterized in that it is pivotally assembled at its origin "lever arm support point" to the base (1) by means of the hinge that it shares with the latter, and that it extends lengthwise on a vertical plane forming a concavity in view of the user, and characterized in that it receives at its end by an assembly means a cantilevered support under plate (4); - a plate (5) for placing various objects thereon for use by people lying down or sitting down, characterized in that it is assembled to the support under the plate (4) in overhang; - lifting and lowering means (6) combined with means for holding the arm in the chosen position by braking and blocking, characterized in that they exert at various points of the device, driving forces or reaction forces, so as to allow various positions of the plate on a trajectory in an arc of a circle (9) with a radius centered on the axis of the hinge (2).

3. Object support according to claim 2 characterized in that the support under the plate (4) of the plate (5) is a secondary arm extending the arm (3) at its end, in the same plane as that of the arm (3), including an elbow bringing the secondary arm back towards the user; which secondary arm supports the plate (5) by means of a ball joint inserted between the underside of the plate and the secondary arm.

4. Object support according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the driving force of the means (6) for raising or lowering the arm and the plate is produced by manual pushing or pulling (8) by the user.

5. Object support according to any one of claims 2 to 4 characterized in that a braking and blocking means sufficient to support the arm and the plate is produced by the measured tightening of surfaces in friction between fixed parts and mobile parts of the hinge joint (2) at the origin of the arm.

6. Object support according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the braking and locking means for supporting the arm and the plate is produced by a biocable gas cylinder (7).

7. Object support according to claim 2 or 3 characterized in that the raising, lowering and locking of the arm and the plate are carried out by an electromechanical means for animating linear or rotary movements.

8. Object support according to claim 2 or 3 characterized in that the arm (3) comprises two successive distinct parts each having its own vertical travel: - a short part extending from the hinge connecting the arm to the base (1) to the fixed part of a new hinge with a horizontal axis, which part of the arm benefits from means of lifting and lowering and holding in intermediate position such as friction braking, manual pushes and pulls, biocable gas cylinder, spring-effect gas cylinder or electromechanical means for animating linear or rotary movements, with a downward limitation of the circular sector on which this part of the arm can pivot; - and the remaining part of the arm starting at the pivoting part of the new hinge with horizontal axis, which has a stroke on a vertical circular sector limited in height; height below which this part of the arm pivots by means of lifting, lowering and holding in intermediate position such as friction braking, manual pushes and pulls or biocable gas cylinder.

9. Object support according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the base (1) incorporates a pivoting articulation of the hinge type with a vertical axis (10) in the plane containing the arm, in addition to the hinge with a horizontal axis (2) that the base (1) shares with the arm, allowing the latter to also pivot horizontally.

10. Object support according to claim 2 and any one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the end of the arm is rectilinear and receives a sleeve (11) which is coaxial with it, sliding or not and mounted in rotation around their common axis, which sleeve and a cantilevered support under plate (4) are assembled in a pivoting manner by means of a hinge (12) with an axis perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve, which support under plate tilts from bottom to top and vice versa while being subject to a braking and / or blocking means (14) for its tilting.

11. Object support according to any one of claims 2 or 4 to 10, characterized in that the plate (5) is mounted in rotation, flat on the support under the plate (4), around an axis (13) perpendicular to their two surfaces in contact.

12. Object support according to any one of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that the arm is telescopic over a limited portion (15) to allow adjustment of its elongation.

13. Object support according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 12, characterized in that the arm is provided with sheaths or guides cables and the plate may be provided with specific means such as edges, flanges, straps or other means for maintaining and operating the objects it accommodates, as well as any accompanying accessories.

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