A Chair For Persons Of Reduced Physical Ability

Abstract

A chair suitable for a person with limited mobility comprises: a seat 2; a backrest 1; a scissor support frame 70; and a control mechanism (51, figure 3). The support frame comprises at least two cros

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a chair for persons of reduced physical ability, so as to permit greater freedom to live independently and accomplish typically unattainable tasks. Background Many people have compromised mobility, with decreasing life chances for disabled and elderly people in many societies. Compromised mobility leads to decreased life chances for many disabled and elderly people. Discovering an inability to accomplish tasks that previously were attainable may lead to depression and increasing loss of ability through lack of exercise. Frustrations of having to rely on others may be upsetting for both those who are disabled and carers. It can be problematic for people with reduced mobility to access low level storage or items. Prior Art US 2019 0 200 766 (HUANG) discloses a dual-purpose work chair includes a base frame including a transverse portion, a longitudinal portion vertically located on the transverse portion and a plurality of rollers provided at the bottom side thereof, a first pivoting frame pivotally connected to the transverse portion and protruding beyond the base frame and biasable between a horizontal position and a vertical position, a lower seat cushion located on the first pivoting frame, a second pivoting frame pivotally connected to the longitudinal portion and biasable from a vertical position to a horizontal position across the first pivoting frame, and an upper seat cushion located on the second pivoting frame. US 2018 0 140 487 (GEISELMAN) discloses a lifting device comprising: a) a base for resting upon a support surface; b) a seating surface configured to support a person; c) an elevator mechanism in mechanical communication with the base and the seating surface for raising and lowering the seating surface; and d) a back rest arranged substantially orthogonally proximate the seating surface; and wherein the seating surface is configured to be lowerable to rest on the support surface, and further wherein the seating surface is configured to be raiseable to a desired seated height. EP 2 734 342 (BRITTINGHAM et al) discloses a creeper assembly comprising: a frame assembly supported on a plurality of wheels for movement along a support surface. EP2792275A1 (THERGOFIT) discloses an adjustable seat allowing adjustment between variations in an upright posture. US2014339783A1 (DALLARMI) discloses a seat adjustable between a seating and a recumbent position by means of a complex arrangement of levers. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a chair for persons of reduced physical ability comprises: a seat; a backrest; and a scissor support frame formed by at least two crossed support frame members comprising at least one seat member and at least one backrest member, crossing at a central pivot, wherein the at least one seat member is attached to the seat by at least one seat pivot and the at least one backrest member is attached to the backrest by at least one sliding hinge; and a control mechanism adapted to extend and retract, and is connected to the at least one seat member and the at least one backrest member, so as to displace the seat along a vertical axis and tilt the backrest about said vertical axis, the seat (14) and the backrest (41) being pivotally connected (61) and connected at an end remote from the seat pivot and the sliding hinge respectively. This chair then aims to enable users regain self-worth and live more independently, by giving them the means to continue their lives in a manageable way regardless of their mobility problems. No longer will the user struggle to reach a bottom shelf or need to ask someone to paint a skirting board. The chair enables users to manage low level activities like gardening or checking tyre pressures without assistance. The chair further enables the user to sit at a kitchen counter to prepare a meal when it is too tiring to stand, before using the chair as a walker. The chair may be envisaged to provide ability to do a physio session, which requires the user to sit on the floor, and advantageously in an emergency the chair may provide peace of mind to know that after a fall there is a way to get back up even when the user is alone. In this way the chair enables a user to progressively move the seat and backrest from a first position, for standard seating, to a second position where the backrest is lowered and inclined with respect to the seat to a third position where the seat is lowered and the backrest is lowered and inclined. This may thereby enable the user to lower themselves down towards the ground progressively and as required, for example so as to access low items and / or views comfortably and with support. Additionally or alternatively it may also allow the user to independently raise themselves from the floor, for example after floor yoga exercises or in an emergency after a fall. It may be envisaged that although the chair of the present invention in use has three main user usage positions, namely seating at counter-height, seating at table height and floor level, the chair can be fixed at any height from counter-height to floor level. In some embodiments the chair comprises two sets of two members, which sets are arranged to either side of the seat and backrest, so as to provide a well-supported chair. In other embodiments there may be a unit providing single members, centrally supportive. In some embodiments the chair comprises a pneumatic mechanism, whereas in some other embodiments the chair comprises a hydraulic mechanism. The mechanism may comprise a jack, which is attached at its ends to different parts of the chair, for example where one end of the jack is attached to an upper section of the backrest member and the distal end attached to a lower section of the seat member, for example. In such manner the extension and retraction of the jack will push and pull the relative arrangement of the members around the central pivot. In some embodiments the chair comprises a lever operated mechanism. Advantageously such a mechanism enables easier manual control with greater forces of leverage possible for users with limited mobility. In other embodiments the mechanism may comprise an electrically driven mechanism. In some embodiments the mechanism is wholly displaceable from the chair, so as to allow the chair to mechanism to be located on either side of the chair for left- and right-handed users; wherein in some such embodiments the members comprise locations on both sides to attach the mechanism. In some embodiments the chair comprises armrests extending above the seat. In some such embodiments the armrests are arranged on pivoting struts, wherein the armrests are enabled to move in an arc above the seat. This enables the arm rests to be of use in more than one position. Additionally or alternatively the arm rests may enable a user to use them to pull their body up the chair. For example the arm rests may be spring biased so as to return to an upright position. In other embodiments the arm rests may additionally or alternatively comprise a position locking means. In some embodiments the armrests comprise storage containers. This may enable a user to have easy access to small items during use of the chair, so as to aid in limitations on access to such items. In some embodiments the frame comprises wheels, so as to advantageously allow the user to move in the chair easily and quickly to a location for use. In some such embodiments the wheels comprise locking castor wheels. Advantageously this may allow the chair to lock in a position and thereby enable the user to brace themselves on the chair when using the chair as a support surface. In some embodiments the seat pivot is arranged to slide on the seat underside. In some embodiments for example the backrest member is connected to the seat underside, for example by a brace, which may be envisaged to aid in smooth and controlled movement of the seat during movement between positions. It may be envisaged that the backrest member is connected to the seat underside at a pivot, and it may be envisaged that the pivot may be arranged to slide in or on the underside of the seat, so as to allow for tilting movement of the backrest members, without tilting the seat, which will be supported by the brace. In other embodiments the backrest member may provide a displacing end to the brace. In some embodiments the sliding hinge comprises a hinge sliding on rails, so as to advantageously provide a smooth linear action. Such sliding may be longitudinal on rails arranged longitudinally on the backrest underside. In some embodiment the mechanism is displaceable from the members. Advantageously this may allow for the mechanism to be relocated to either side of the frame, wherein its activation may be subsequently controlled by the user’s left or right hand as appropriate. According to a further aspect of the present invention there may be provided apparatus comprising a chair substantially as described herein and a slanted floor cushion. The cushion may be used to aid when the chair is in the third position for example, and / or when the user is trying to get onto or off the seat from a low location, whereby the cushion provides an extension to the seat, for example a continuation of the seat plane in the third position. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which: Brief Description of Figures Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the chair according to the present invention in a second position; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the chair as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the chair as shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the chair as shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a sketch of an isometric view of apparatus comprising the embodiment of the chair shown in Figure 1, in a third position; Figure 6 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the chair as shown in Figure 1; and Figure 7 shows a sketch of an isometric view of the embodiment of the chair shown in Figure 1, in a first position. Detailed Description of Figures With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of a chair 99 for persons of reduced physical ability comprises: a seat 2; a backrest 1; and a scissor support frame 70 formed by four crossed support frame members comprising two seat members 12 and two backrest members 11, crossing at a central pivot 13, wherein the seat members are attached to the seat by seat pivots 31 and the backrest members are attached to the backrest by a sliding hinge 45; and a control mechanism 51 adapted to extend and retract is connected to a seat member and a backrest member, so as to displace the seat along a vertical axis and tilt the backrest about said vertical axis. In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises a metal frame, formed of two sets of two frame members formed in mild steel with a powder coating. The backrest includes a headrest 4 which extends above. The central pivot 13 is formed by a stainless steel cylinder, passing through mating circular holes in the crossed members. The seat pivot 31 is below the underside of the seat and is formed by a stainless steel cylinder 47, passing through mating circular holes in the seat members and on depending brackets from a unit on the seat underside. The backrest hinge 45 is arranged to slide on two longitudinal rails 43 formed of stainless steel cylinders, whereby the hinge is supported on a block 44 which slides along these rails, the rails having stops 42 at either end permanently secured to the seat. The hinge comprises two spaced apart brackets 46 which have holes mating with holes near the ends of the backrest members 11, allowing passage of a stainless steel cylinder. The seat members have a connecting cylinder through holes near their ends providing an axle for two fixed larger wheels 7, and the backrest members have a connecting cylinder through holes near their ends providing an axle for two smaller locking castor wheels 10. The mechanism is provided by a hydraulic jack 15, which may be placed in use on either side of the frame, wherein the jack is displaceable from the frame, and placed into holes in the frame, wherein the jack has an anchor provided by a lateral cylindrical spur 16 at either end, which spurs pass through holes in the jack’s ends, and mating holes in the frame. The jack includes a lever control 5 which extends above the seat and is for use so as to extend and retract the jack length. The upper of the anchors is connected with the backrest member and the lower of the anchors of the jack is connected with the seat member, with a lateral cylinder 52 passing from seat member to seat member below the central pivot 13. Two armrests 3 are located to either side of seat, and supported on hinging struts 9. The armrests include trays 8, with hinged lids 6. The seat pivot 13 further comprises a sliding pivot which comprises a strut 53 that slides in a slot 55 in the seat underside. The apparatus 199 shown in Figure 5 further comprises a padded cushion 100 with an inclined upper surface, which provides a continuation of the plane of the seat when the chair is in the third position. In this way the embodiment shown in the Figures provides a chair that is adapted to provide a seat that travels from counter-height seating to proximate floor level by manual means, and vice versa. 5 The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

1. A chair (99) for persons of reduced physical ability comprises: a seat (14); a backrest (41); and a scissor support frame (11,12) formed by at least two crossed support frame members comprising at least one seat member (12) and at least one backrest member (11) , crossing at a central pivot (13), wherein the at least one seat member (11) is attached to the seat (14) by at least one seat pivot (31) and the at least one backrest member (11) is attached to the backrest (41) by at least one sliding hinge (45); and a control mechanism (15) adapted to extend and retract, and is connected to the at least one seat member (11) and the at least one backrest member (13), so as to displace the seat along a vertical axis and tilt the backrest about said vertical axis the seat (14) and the backrest (451) being pivotally connected (61) and connected at an end remote from the seat pivot and the sliding hinge respectively.

2. A chair according to claim 1 comprises two sets of two members.

3. A chair according to claim 1 or 2 comprises a pneumatic mechanism.

4. A chair according to claim 1 or 2 comprises a hydraulic mechanism.

5. A chair according to claim 1 or 2 comprises a lever operated mechanism.

6. A chair according to any preceding claim wherein the mechanism is wholly displaceable from the chair.

7. A chair according to any preceding claim wherein the members comprise locations on both sides to attach the mechanism.

8. A chair according to any preceding claim comprising armrests arranged on pivoting struts.

9. A chair according to claim 8 wherein the armrests comprise storage containers.

10. A chair according to any preceding claim wherein the frame comprises wheels.

11. A chair according to claim 10 wherein the wheels comprise locking castor wheels.

12. A chair according to any preceding claim wherein the seat pivot is arranged to slide on the seat underside.

13. A chair according to any preceding claim wherein the backrest member is connected to the seat underside.

14. A chair according to any preceding claim wherein the hinge slides longitudinally on the backrest underside.

15. A chair according to any preceding claim wherein the sliding hinge comprises a hinge sliding on rails.

16. A chair according to any preceding claim wherein the mechanism is displaceable from the members.

17. A chair according to any of the preceding claims adapted to travel from counterheight to floor level by manual means.

18. A chair according to any of the preceding claims adapted to travel from floor level to counter-height by manual means.

19. Apparatus comprises a chair according to any of the preceding claims and a slanted back or floor cushion.

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