Chairs for treatment units, particularly but not exclusively ophthalmology units

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of treatment units, i.e., equipment for medical facilities, etc., which combine a chair and analytical and / or treatment instruments, as well as various accessories, such as lighting means, in one unit. In particular, the object of the invention is a chair for treatment units specifically intended for use in ophthalmology, although this does not exclude its use in other types of treatment units.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to the field of treatment units combining chairs and analytical and / or treatment instruments, as well as various accessories, such as lighting means, in one unit, i.e. equipment for medical facilities etc. In particular, the subject of the invention is a chair for treatment units specifically intended for use in ophthalmology, without excluding its use in other types of treatment units. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Background of the Invention In ophthalmology, various eye diagnostic and treatment devices are used, which are generally mounted on individual tables or on multiple structures and form so-called treatment units, with a support arrangement which may be more or less complex but which generally consists of an instrument support group and a chair for the patient.

[0003] The need for displacement (particularly with regard to chairs in this disclosure) arises when extreme size or distance is required due to the needs of a particular patient (physical appearance, condition, etc.). A fairly common case arises from the need to examine a wheelchair-bound patient who simply cannot move to a chair. In such cases, it is necessary to move the chair so that it can be completely removed from the treatment unit, making room for the wheelchair.

[0004] Treatment units are known in which the chair is removable through a system of mechanical, electromechanical or electrical hooks, but this entails a certain structural complexity and a complex handling, which among other things requires several additional controls. In certain cases, the movement possibilities are directional limited (especially on the track), which makes this solution unsuitable when space is tight or in any case when the exit displacement direction of the chair needs to be changed as desired.

[0005] Also, a known chair support is disclosed in German Patent No. 102010020129. It comprises a platform for resting on the ground and a movable part fixed to the seat and movable relative to the platform along a height axis. Motorization controls the displacement of the movable part relative to the platform and, in turn, varies the height of the seat. The platform comprises a base that rests on the ground and thereby generates static friction with the ground and is operatively engaged with the movable part, and a trolley arrangement that moves over the ground with rolling resistance and is unlocked relative to the base at least along the height axis and does not prevent the base from contacting the ground and assuming a chair lock position. A pusher member is fixed to the trolley arrangement and protrudes upwards, and is struck by the movable part when the movable part moves downwards along the height axis below a predetermined reference height, and is adapted to exert a reaction force that lifts the base off the ground towards the release position of the chair according to further downward movement of the movable part. Conversely, in the release position of the chair, the weight of the chair is supported only by the trolley arrangement. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Summary of the Invention Once released from its normal operating position, the chair can be removed in virtually any direction and the space previously occupied is left completely free of obstacles impeding the entry of the wheelchair. In connection with such a solution, the object of the present invention is to provide a structural arrangement which, contrary to known solutions, is at the same time highly effective and reliable, compact and aesthetically appealing.

[0007] This and other objects are achieved according to the invention by a chair for a treatment unit, in particular but not exclusively an ophthalmologic unit, the essential features of which are defined in the first claim of the appended claims.

[0008] Further important features are the subject matter of the appended claims.

[0009] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features and advantages of the treatment unit according to the invention, in particular, but not exclusively, a chair for an ophthalmic unit, will become apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof, given as non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an axonometric view of a chair for a treatment unit according to the invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the support base of the chair of FIG. 1 in a locked configuration (i.e., release system deactivated). [Diagram 3] 3 shows an enlarged view of the cross-sectional area of ​​FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is another side view of the chair with the support base sectioned, in the released configuration (and therefore with the release system active). [Diagram 5] 5 shows an enlarged cross-sectional area of ​​FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the telescoping column of the base shown in the previous figure, taken along a horizontal plane (i.e., parallel to the ground supporting the chair) near the ground support platform that is part of the support base. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Detailed Description of the Invention With reference to the above figures, the chair according to the invention comprises a seat 1 of any form and configuration known per se, which is not the object of the present invention, and a supporting base 2 which supports the seat and thus forms a structure resting on the ground, indicated by S. The base 2, again in a known manner, comprises a telescopic column 3 rising from a platform 4, which defines the contact and resting surface of the chair on the ground. The column 3 comprises a fixed core 5 rising from the platform 4, and a mobile tubular sheath 6 with a lower free end 61, which slides on the fixed core along a height elevation axis or direction Z perpendicular to the platform and to the seat surface, and which is fixed to the seat itself. The sheath 6 comprises at its height a motor, together with relative drive means, which actuate the sheath 6 with respect to the core 5 in order to control the elevation of the seat. The motor and drive means are not depicted, since they are of known type and are not themselves within the scope of this invention.

[0012] The platform 4 defines a contact surface with the ground to which the fixed part of the support 3, in particular the core 5 in this case, is fixed and which supports the weight of the structure (and its user) in a stable position of use, as in the locked configuration of Figures 2 and 3, and comprises a pedestal 7 to which the seat can be raised above a given reference height, as described below.

[0013] In accordance with the invention, the base 7 comprises a generally cup-shaped outer box-like body having an upper wall 71 and a peripheral skirt 72, the lower end of which rests on a plane S, thereby generating static friction which stabilizes the structure against displacement above the plane itself.

[0014] The platform according to the invention further comprises rolling means 8, here in the form of a trolley 8 having a frame 81 and wheels 82 (but generally rolling bodies such as spheres) housed in a body or base 7. A pusher member 9 protruding beyond the top wall 71 of the base 7 rises from (is fixed to) the frame 81 and is thus freely slidably inserted in a window 73 formed in the top wall itself. More specifically, the pusher member, and therefore also the associated passage window, is arranged adjacent to two or more side walls of the core 5 of the support 3. When the support 3 has a substantially rectangular cross section, there can advantageously be two pusher members, as in the example, for two mutually opposing walls of the core. The members may also be parallelepipeds with suitable dimensions depending on the needs of the function and the load. The size in height of the trolley is such that when the base rests on the ground in the locked configuration (stable position of use), the trolley itself does not interfere with the base, but rather preferably leaves a given clearance in height direction. In practice, the trolley has a height dimension that is less than or at most equal to the height of the skirt 72 .

[0015] The position of the pusher member 9 is such that, when the sheet 1 descends and, with it, the lower end of the movable sheath 6, which ends in an edge 61, descends past (i.e. below) a given height, which is predetermined by the height of the pusher member 9, the edge of said sheath strikes the pusher means. At this point, continuing the actuation of the relative movement between the sheath and the core and continuing the lowering of the sheet, generates a reaction force by the impact on the pusher member 9, which causes the base 7 to be raised from the ground, assisted and guided by the sliding engagement between the pusher member 8 and the passage window 73.

[0016] As shown in figures 4 and 5, the weight of the structure at this point is supported only by the trolley 8, the base being slightly elevated from the ground, removing the friction for the stabilization of the (locked) configuration described above. The chair can therefore be moved freely in basically any direction. For the chair to assume the released configuration, it is sufficient to raise the platform slightly, and for this purpose the height of the pusher means may be limited to the height strictly necessary to be actuated, close to the lower stroke end of the sheath 6. To make the engagement more secure and stable, the lower edge 61 of the sheath may advantageously be provided with one or more feet 62 made of a suitable material. With regard to the material, due to the mechanical, wear-resistant and cushioning needs, the preferred material of the pusher member 9 and possibly the feet 62, at least at the level of the lining layer, may comprise a material such as hard rubber. With regard to cushioning, a solution is also feasible to soften the pusher member, for example by a spring or a section of a material with some elastic or viscoelastic properties.

[0017] The invention therefore comprises a platform providing a trolley means and a base for resting on the ground with good static friction (in the use state of the chair when the seat is elevated above a predetermined reference height), the base being liftable relative to the trolley, i.e. released along a height direction Z, and liftable relative to a relative pusher means for raising a solid object from the trolley itself, the pusher means being adapted to exert a reaction force which lifts the base resting on the ground from the ground when the seat descends below said predetermined reference height, thus absorbing the load of the chair and supporting it against the trolley, which is then ready to be displaced.

[0018] From the above it is clear how, according to the invention, the release system is in fact managed very simply by the same system for operating the lifting of the seat, and therefore through minimal structural adaptations making use of the elements that are practically already in place, without any complications caused by additional (also control) devices or systems. Note also how this system does not impose any restrictions on the direction in which the chair can be left, does not use any guide or locking system on the ground, and remains completely free and smooth when the structure is moved.

[0019] The construction of the base having a generally cup-shaped outer box-like body having an upper wall and a peripheral skirt resting on the ground at its lower edge, containing, concealing and protecting the trolley means, makes the arrangement compact, aesthetically pleasing, safe, effective and reliable, and ensures a particularly secure and positive locking in the locked position.

[0020] Again, it should be noted that, although the telescoping column as described above is essentially the preferred embodiment, the invention can be implemented more generally in different movable configurations.

[0021] The present invention has been described herein with reference to its preferred embodiments, it is intended that there may be other embodiments related to the same inventive core that fall within the scope of protection of the claims presented below.

Claims

1. A chair for a treatment unit, in particular an ophthalmology unit, comprising: A sheet (1); a support base (2) that supports the seat (1) at a certain height from the ground along a height axis (Z); Equipped with The support base (2) is a platform (4) for resting on the ground; a movable part fixed to the seat and movable relative to the platform along the height axis (Z); - electric drive means for controlling the displacement of the movable part relative to the platform (4) so ​​as to vary the height of the seat (1) relative to the ground along the height axis (Z); Equipped with The platform (4) A base (7) placed on the ground and operably engaged with the movable part so as to generate static friction between the base (7) and the ground; a trolley means (8) that is not locked relative to the base (7) at least about the height axis (Z) so as to move over the ground surface with rolling resistance and that does not prevent the base (7) from contacting the ground surface and assuming a chair lock position; a pusher means (9) fixed to the trolley means (8) and provided so as to protrude upward, wherein when the movable part moves downward from a predetermined reference height along the height axis (Z), the pusher means (9) collides with the movable part, and as the movable part moves further downward, the pusher means (9) exerts a reaction force on the base (7) to lift the base (7) from the ground toward a chair release position of the chair, thereby allowing the weight of the chair to be supported only by the trolley means (8) at the chair release position; Equipped with The trolley means (8) a frame (81) from which the pusher means (9) rises; A rolling element (82) rotatably supported by the frame (81); Equipped with The base (7) comprises a generally cup-shaped outer box-like body having an upper wall (71) and a peripheral skirt (72) whose lower edge is adapted to rest on the ground; said trolley means (8) is arranged inside said box-like body and has a size, measured along said height axis (Z), equal to or smaller than the size of said skirt (72); chair.

2. The pusher means (9) protrudes above the upper wall (71) of the base (7) and is freely slidably inserted into a window (73) formed in the upper wall.

2. The chair of claim 1.

3. The movable part of the support base (2) comprises a tubular sheath (6) which is connected to the seat (1) and which rises from the base (7) and engages with a fixed core (5) fixed to the base (7) to form a telescopic strut (3); The sheath (6) is configured to abut the pusher means (9) at its lower free end (61).

3. A chair according to claim 1 or 2.

4. said lower free end (61) of said sheath (6) presents at least one foot (62) for impacting said pusher means (9); 4. The chair of claim 3.

5. The motorized drive means is arranged within the sheath (6).

5. A chair according to claim 3 or 4.

6. The pusher means (9) comprises two or more pushing locks arranged adjacent to each side wall of the core (5); A chair according to any one of claims 3 to 5.

7. the pusher means includes two or more pushing locks having a parallelepiped shape; A chair according to any one of claims 3 to 6.

8. at least said pusher means (9) comprises, at least in a lining layer, a wear-resistant material and / or a cushioning material; A chair according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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