Armrest for wheelchairs, especially for wheelchairs for people with reduced mobility

Abstract

TITLE. Armrest for wheelchair, in particular for wheelchair for person with reduced mobility The invention relates to an armrest (6) for wheelchair (1), in particular for wheelchair for person with reduced mobility, this armrest (6) comprises, on the one hand, an armrest support (7), on the other hand, an armrest (8) which is configured to equip the armrest support (7) and, on the other hand, fixing means which are configured to fix such an armrest (8) on the armrest support (7).This armrest (6) is characterized in that the armrest support (7) is made of a polymer material that is non-toxic to humans, the armrest (8) is configured to fit only a portion of the armrest support (7), while the fastening means are reversible and comprise, on the one hand, attachment means that the armrest (8) has and, on the other hand, complementary attachment means, which are configured to cooperate with the attachment means, that the armrest support (7) has. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Armrest for a wheelchair, in particular for a wheelchair for a person with reduced mobility

[0001] The present invention relates to an armrest for a chair, more particularly an armrest for a wheelchair intended for a person with reduced mobility.

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of manufacturing medical equipment, more particularly to the manufacture of furniture for people with reduced mobility.

[0003] The present invention will find its application mainly in the field of manufacturing wheelchairs for people with reduced mobility.

[0004] Wheelchairs are already known which comprise, on the one hand, a chassis equipped with wheels and, on the other hand, a shell, intended to accommodate a person, and which is fixed to the chassis. Such a shell comprises, on the one hand, a seat, on the other hand, a backrest extending behind the seat and, on the other hand, armrests extending on either side of the seat.

[0005] This seat, backrest, and / or armrests may each comprise a panel of oriented strand board (OSB) bonded together with a binder commonly known as oriented strand board (OSB). Such a panel incorporates chemical compounds that are toxic and harmful to the health of a person seated in the shell. To remedy this drawback, such an OSB panel is covered by a trim element that completely covers its surface. Covering this OSB panel surface with the trim element represents a particularly long and tedious step in the wheelchair manufacturing process and requires the intervention of a highly skilled operator, thus increasing the cost of the wheelchair. Furthermore, the trim element is usually glued (or even stapled) to the OSB panel, which complicates the repair and recycling of the shell.Finally, the seat, backrest, and armrests are assembled to form the shell, which complicates the cleaning and disinfection of this shell.

[0006] The present invention is intended to remedy, at least in part, the disadvantages of the chairs of the prior art.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to an armrest for a chair, in particular for a wheelchair for a person with reduced mobility, this armrest comprises, on the one hand, an armrest support, on the other hand, an armrest which is configured to equip the armrest support and, on the other hand, fixing means which are configured to fix such an armrest on the armrest support.

[0008] This armrest is characterized by the fact that:

[0009] - the armrest support is made of a polymer material that is non-toxic to humans;

[0010] - the armrest is configured to equip only part of the armrest support;

[0011] - the fastening means are reversible and comprise, on the one hand, means attachment means that the armrest includes and, on the other hand, complementary attachment means, which are configured to cooperate with the attachment means, and which the armrest support includes.

[0012] According to another feature, the armrest is configured to equip an upper part that the armrest support comprises.

[0013] Another characteristic relates to the fact that, on the one hand, the armrest support has at least one through hole and, on the other hand, the armrest has at least one tongue, which passes through said at least one through hole of the armrest support, and which has the means for attaching.

[0014] Said at least one through hole is provided in the upper part of the armrest support.

[0015] According to another feature, said at least one tab, on the one hand, extends from an internal part of the cover of the armrest trim element and, on the other hand, passes through said at least one through hole in the armrest support, this to cooperate with the additional fastening means that an external side of the armrest support comprises.

[0016] Yet another feature relates to the fact that the armrest has additional fastening means, which are configured to additionally and reversibly fix the armrest to the armrest support, and which include, on the one hand, additional attachment means that the external part of the cover has, on the other hand, additional complementary attachment means that the external side of the armrest support has.

[0017] According to another feature, the armrest has a cap, on the one hand, which is configured to cap the upper edge as well as a portion of the upper part of the armrest support and, on the other hand, which is interposed between the armrest support and the armrest.

[0018] In addition, the armrest includes a removable pouch which includes, on the one hand, first accessory attachment means which are configured to cooperate with first complementary accessory attachment means which the armrest support includes and, on the other hand, second accessory attachment means which are configured to cooperate with second complementary accessory attachment means which the armrest includes.

[0019] Thus, the armrest according to the invention comprises an armrest support made of a polymer material that is non-toxic to humans. This feature advantageously allows a user to be near, or even in contact with, such a This armrest design is safe for the user's health and eliminates the need to equip the entire armrest support with an armrest, as the armrest is configured to fit only a portion of the support. This feature reduces the manufacturing cost of such an armrest (and consequently, the cost of a chair with such an armrest) and ensures quick and effective cleaning (or even disinfection).

[0020] The armrest according to the invention also includes fixing means which are reversible and which include, on the one hand, attachment means which the armrest includes and, on the other hand, complementary attachment means which are configured to cooperate with the attachment means, and which the armrest support includes.

[0021] Such fastening means advantageously allow the armrest to be fixed to the armrest support easily and quickly without requiring the use of specific tools or the intervention of an operator who has specific and appropriate training.

[0022] Such fixing means also allow, advantageously, the armrest to be removed from the armrest support, for the purpose of cleaning (or even disinfecting) this armrest and / or the armrest support, such cleaning (or even disinfection) being, then, greatly facilitated.

[0023] The armrest support has at least one through hole, while the armrest has at least one tab that passes through said at least one hole, and whose attachment means cooperate with the complementary attachment means of the armrest support. The presence of such a through hole and such a tab advantageously allows the armrest to be positioned simply, quickly, and appropriately relative to the armrest support without requiring the intervention of an operator with specific and appropriate training.

[0024] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the following description relating to embodiments which are given only by way of indicative and non-limiting examples.

[0025] Understanding this description will be facilitated by referring to the drawings attached in the appendix, in which:

[0026] [Fig-1] represents a schematic and perspective view of the armrest according to the invention, this from the inner side of an armchair.

[0027] [Fig.2] represents a schematic and perspective view of the armrest conforming to the invention, this on the external side of an armchair.

[0028] [Fig.3] represents a schematic, top and exploded view of the conforming armrest to the invention.

[0029] [Fig.4] represents a schematic and perspective view of the armrest, this during of a first step of installing the armrest on the armrest support.

[0030] [Fig.5] represents a schematic and perspective view of the armrest, this during of a second stage of installing the armrest on the armrest support.

[0031] [Fig.6] represents a schematic top view of the armrest, this during a third step of installing the armrest on the armrest support.

[0032] [Fig.7] represents a schematic side view of the armrest, this during a fourth step of installing the armrest on the armrest support.

[0033] The present invention relates to the field of manufacturing medical equipment, more particularly to the manufacture of furniture for people with reduced mobility, in particular to the manufacture of an armchair for a person with reduced mobility.

[0034] Such a chair 1 comprises a chassis 2 which, in the case of a chair 1 consisting of a wheelchair, is provided with rolling means 3.

[0035] Such an armchair 1 also includes a seat 4 which is mounted (more particularly fixed or rotating) on ​​said frame 2 and a backrest 5 which is mounted (more particularly fixed or tilting) on ​​the frame 2 and / or on the seat 4.

[0036] Such an armchair 1 also includes armrests 6, which are mounted on the frame 2 and / or on the seat 4, and which are positioned on either side of the seat 4.

[0037] Such an armrest 6 comprises an armrest support 7 which includes, on the one hand, an inner side 70 which is configured to be oriented towards the inside of the chair 1 and / or towards the seat 4 which this chair 1 comprises and / or towards another armrest 6 which this chair 1 comprises, on the other hand, an outer side 71 which is configured to be oriented towards the outside of the chair 1 and / or in a direction opposite to that of the inner side 70, on the other hand, a top edge 72, in particular from which the inner side 70 and the outer side 71 extend, and, on the other hand also, a bottom edge 73, in particular from which the inner side 70 and the outer side 71 extend, this in the direction of the top edge 72.

[0038] Such an armrest support 7 further comprises an upper part 74, which extends from the upper edge 72 towards the lower edge 73, over a part of the height of the armrest support 7, more particularly over an upper half (or even over an upper third) of the height of the armrest support 7.

[0039] Such an armrest support 7 preferably adopts the form of a plate 75 (preferably flat) which then comprises the inner side 70, the outer side 71, the upper edge 72, the lower edge 73 and the upper part 74.

[0040] According to another feature, such an armrest support 7 is made of a polymer material that is non-toxic to humans, which is preferably an ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene).

[0041] Yet another characteristic relates to the fact that the armrest support 7 has at least one through hole 76.

[0042] Said at least one through hole 76 is elongated in shape and extends in a direction that is parallel to the upper edge 72 of the armrest support 7 and / or to the lower edge 73 of the armrest support 7 and / or to the seat 4.

[0043] Said at least one through hole 76 is provided in the upper part 74 of the armrest support 7. More particularly, said at least one through hole 76 is provided in an upper half (or even in an upper third) of the armrest support 7, in particular of the plate 75.

[0044] According to another feature, such an armrest 6 also includes an armrest 8 which is configured to equip the armrest support 7.

[0045] According to the invention, this armrest 8 is configured to equip only a part of the armrest support 7. In fact, this armrest 8 is, more particularly, configured to equip the upper part 74 that this armrest support 7 comprises.

[0046] This armrest 8 includes a trim element 80 which is configured to cover only part of the armrest support 7, more particularly the upper part 74 of this armrest support 7.

[0047] According to another feature, said trim element 80 includes a cover 81 which is configured to wrap only a part of the armrest support 7, more particularly the upper part 74 of this armrest support 7.

[0048] This cover 81 comprises, on the one hand, an inner part 82 which is configured to be positioned on the inner side of the chair 1 and / or to be oriented towards another armrest 6 which this chair 1 comprises, on the other hand, an outer part 83 which is configured to be positioned on the outer side of the chair 1 and / or to be oriented in a direction opposite to that of the inner part 82 and, on the other hand, an upper part 84 which is interposed between the inner part 82 and the outer part 83 of the cover 81.

[0049] In particular, the inner part 82 of the cover 81 extends from the upper part 84 of the cover 81, and has, on the one hand, a proximal end 820 from which the upper part 84 extends, and, on the other hand, a distal end 821 (which is free), which is opposite the proximal end 820, and which has an end border 822.

[0050] In this regard, it will be noted that the inner part 82 of this cover 81 encloses a part of the inner side 70 of the armrest support 7 (more particularly the upper part of this inner side 70), the outer part 83 of this cover 81 encloses a part of the outer side 71 of the armrest support 7 (more particularly the upper part of this outer side 71) while the upper part 84 of this cover 81 wraps around the upper edge 72 of this armrest support 7.

[0051] Another feature relates to the fact that the armrest 8 also includes at least one tongue 85 which passes through said at least one hole through 76 of the armrest support 7.

[0052] In this regard, it will be observed that said at least one tab 85 extends from the internal part 82 of the cover 81 of the trim element 80 of the armrest 8.

[0053] More precisely, this tab 85 extends from the distal end 821 that the internal part 82 of the cover 81 presents.

[0054] Alternatively or (and preferably) additionally, said at least one tab 85 extends longitudinally from and out of the end edge 822 (present at the distal end 821 of the inner part 82 of the cover 81 present).

[0055] Yet another feature relates to the fact that the armrest 8 has padding 86 (preferably in the form of a foam block) which is positioned inside the trim element 80 and which is interposed between the inner side 70 of the armrest support 7 (more particularly the upper part of this inner side 70 of the armrest support 7) and the inner part 82 of the cover 81 of the trim element 80.

[0056] Yet another feature relates to the fact that the armrest 6 has fastening means 9 which are configured to fix said armrest 8 (more particularly the trim element 80 which this armrest 8 has) on the armrest support 7.

[0057] Such fastening means 9 are reversible and comprise, on the one hand, attachment means 90 which the armrest 8 comprises and, on the other hand, complementary attachment means 91, which are configured to cooperate with the attachment means 90, and which the armrest support 7 comprises.

[0058] In this regard, it will be observed that it is, more particularly, the said at least one tongue 85 which includes the said fastening means 90.

[0059] With regard to the additional attachment means 91, it will be observed that it is, more particularly, the external side 71 of the armrest support 7 which includes or receives these additional attachment means 91.

[0060] In this case, said at least one tongue 85 passes through said at least one through hole 76 of the armrest support 7, this to cooperate with the additional fastening means 91 that the external side 71 of the armrest support 7 comprises.

[0061] In this regard, it will be noted that the additional attachment means 91 are positioned upstream of said at least one through hole 76.

[0062] In fact, the hanging means 90 comprise velvet while the complementary hanging means comprise hooks which are configured to cooperate with the velvet, this by hooking.

[0063] According to another feature, the armrest 6 has additional fastening means 10 which are configured to additionally and reversibly fix the armrest 8 (more particularly the trim element 80) onto the armrest support 7.

[0064] These additional fastening means 10 comprise, on the one hand, additional attachment means 100 which the external part 83 of the cover 81 comprises (more particularly than a distal end 831, which the external part 83 of the cover 81 comprises, and which is opposed to a proximal end 830, which the external part 83 of the cover 81 comprises, and from which the upper part 84 extends), on the other hand, additional complementary attachment means 101 which the external side 71 of the armrest support 7 comprises.

[0065] In this regard, it will be noted that these additional complementary attachment means 101 are located downstream of said at least one through hole 76. This advantageously allows a covering (and, thus, a concealment) of said at least one tab 85 and of said at least one through hole 76 by the covering element 80, more particularly by the cover 81, in particular by the external part 83 of this cover 81.

[0066] It will be observed that the additional hanging means 100 include velvet while the additional complementary hanging means 101 include hooks which are configured to cooperate with the velvet, this by hooking.

[0067] According to another feature, the armrest 6 also includes a cap 11, on the one hand, which is configured to cap the upper edge 72 as well as a portion of the upper part 74 (more particularly an upper portion of the upper part 74 and / or a portion adjacent to the upper edge 72) of the armrest support 7 and, on the other hand, which is interposed between this armrest support 7 and the armrest 8, more particularly the trim element 80.

[0068] The presence of this cover 11 advantageously reduces wear, by friction on the upper edge 72, of the covering element 80 and improves the comfort of a user of the chair 1.

[0069] Another feature concerns the fact that the armrest 6 also includes a removable pouch 12 which comprises, on the one hand, first accessory attachment means 120 which are configured to cooperate (in particular reversibly) with first complementary accessory attachment means that the armrest support 7 comprises (more particularly than the outer side 71 of this support) armrest 7 includes), and which can advantageously be constituted by the additional complementary attachment means 101.

[0070] On the other hand, this removable pouch 12 includes second accessory attachment means 121, which are configured to cooperate (in particular reversibly) with second complementary accessory attachment means, which the armrest 8 includes (more particularly, which the covering element 80 includes, in particular the cover 81, more specifically the external part 83 of the cover 81 includes), and which can advantageously consist of the additional attachment means 100 which the external part 83 of the cover 81 includes, more particularly the distal end of the external part 83 of the cover 81 includes.

[0071] In this regard, it will be observed that the first accessory hanging means 120 include velvet while the second accessory hanging means 121 include hooks which are configured to cooperate with the velvet, this by hooking.

[0072] According to another feature, the removable pouch 12 has an upper edge 122 which has, on one side and on a first side, the first accessory attachment means 120 and, on the other side and on a second side (opposite to the first side), the second accessory attachment means 121.

Claims

Demands

1. Armrest (6) for a chair (1), in particular for a wheelchair for a person with reduced mobility, this armrest (6) comprises, on the one hand, an armrest support (7), on the other hand, an armrest (8) which is configured to equip the armrest support (7) and, on the other hand, fixing means (9) which are configured to fix such an armrest (8) on the armrest support (7), characterized in that: - the armrest support (7) is made of a polymer material that is non-toxic to humans; - the armrest (8) is configured to equip only a part of the armrest support (7); - the fastening means (9) are reversible and include, on the one hand, attachment means (90) which the armrest (8) includes and, on the other hand, complementary attachment means (91), which are configured to cooperate with the attachment means (90), and which the armrest support (7) includes.

2. Armrest (6) according to claim 1, characterized in that the armrest support (7) comprises, on the one hand, an inner side (70) which is configured to be oriented towards the inside of a chair (1) and / or towards a seat (4) that this chair (1) comprises and / or towards another armrest (6) that this chair (1) comprises, on the other hand, an outer side (71), which is configured to be oriented towards the outside of the chair (1) and / or in a direction opposite to that of the inner side (70), and which comprises or receives the complementary attachment means (91), on the other hand, an upper edge (72) as well as a lower edge (73) and, on the other hand, also, an upper portion (74), which extends from the upper edge (72) towards the lower edge (73), this over a portion of the height of the armrest support (7).

3. Armrest (6) according to claim 2, characterized in that the armrest (8) is configured to equip the upper part (74) that the armrest support (7) comprises.

4. Armrest according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the armrest (8) comprises a trim element (80), which is configured to cover only a portion of the armrest support (7), and which comprises a cover (81), which is configured to wrap only part of the armrest support (7), and which comprises, on the one hand, an inner part (82) which is configured to be positioned on the inner side of a chair (1) and / or to be oriented towards another armrest (6) than that chair (1) comprises, on the other hand, an outer part (83) which is configured to be positioned on the outer side of the chair (1) and / or to be oriented in a direction opposite to that of the inner part (82) and, on the other hand, an upper part (84) which is interposed between the inner part (82) and the outer part (83) of the cover (81).

5. Armrest (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, on the one hand, the armrest support (7) has at least one through hole (76) and, on the other hand, the armrest (8) has at least one tongue (85), which passes through said at least one through hole (76) of the armrest support (7), and which has the attachment means (90).

6. Armrest (6) according to claims 2 and 5, characterized in that said at least one through hole (76) is provided in the upper part (74) that the armrest support (7) comprises.

7. Armrest (6) according to claims 2, 4 and 5, characterized in that said at least one tongue (85), on the one hand, extends from the inner part (82) of the cover (81) of the trim element (80) of the armrest (8) and, on the other hand, passes through said at least one through hole (76) of the armrest support (7), this to cooperate with the additional attachment means (91) that the outer side (71) of the armrest support (7) comprises.

8. Armrest (6) according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the inner part (82) of the cover (81) extends from the upper part (84) of the cover (81), and has, on the one hand, a proximal end (820), from which the upper part (84) extends, and, on the other hand, a distal end (821), which is opposite the proximal end (820), and from which said at least one tab (85) extends.

9. Armrest (6) according to claim 8, characterized in that the distal end (821) of the inner part (82) of the cover (81) has an end border (822) while said at least one tab (85) extends longitudinally with respect to the end border (822) and from this end border (822).

10. Armrest (6) according to claims 2 and 4 characterized in that the armrest (8) has padding (86) which is positioned inside the trim element (80) and which is interposed between the inner side (70) of the armrest support (7) and the inner part (82) of the cover (81) of the trim element (80).

11. Armrest (6) according to claim 5, characterized in that the additional attachment means (91) are positioned upstream of said at least one through hole (76).

12. Armrest (6) according to claims 2 and 4, characterized in that it comprises additional fastening means (10), which are configured to additionally and reversibly fix the armrest (8) to the armrest support (7), and which comprise, on the one hand, additional attachment means (100) that the external part (83) of the cover (81) comprises, on the other hand, additional complementary attachment means (101) that the external side (71) of the armrest support (7) comprises.

13. Armrest (6) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a cap (11), on the one hand, which is configured to cap the upper edge (72) as well as a portion of the upper part (74) of the armrest support (7) and, on the other hand, which is interposed between the armrest support (7) and the armrest (8).

14. Armrest (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a removable pouch (12) which includes, on the one hand, first accessory attachment means (120) which are configured to cooperate with first complementary accessory attachment means which the armrest support (7) includes and, on the other hand, second accessory attachment means (121) which are configured to cooperate with second complementary accessory attachment means which the armrest (8) includes.

15. Armrest (6) according to claim 1 or 12 or 14, characterized in that, on the one hand, as the case may be, the attachment means (90), the additional attachment means (100) or the first accessory attachment means (120) comprise velvet and, on the other hand, the complementary attachment means (91), the additional complementary attachment means (101) or the second

16. complementary accessory hanging means (121) include hooks which are configured to cooperate with the velvet, this by hooking. Armrest (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the polymer material is non-toxic to humans and is ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene).

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