Sheet

Abstract

It is known to provide seats for physically disabled users requiring posture support that allow for adjustment of the seat inclination. A problem with such seats is that the inclination adjustment mechanism is not particularly smooth or difficult to use. A preferred embodiment of the present invention aims to address this. To this end, a seat is provided that includes a backrest, a base for receiving the buttocks of a human user, and an inclination adjustment device. The inclination adjustment device has a non-uniformly curved track 6 and at least one pair of spaced apart brackets 27, each supporting a roller 16. To adjust the inclination of the backrest and the base, the inclination adjustment device is adapted to be activated so that at least one of the brackets 27 can tilt relative to the other while the track 6 runs on the rollers 16 and the brackets are on different curved portions of the track.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat for users who require special posture care, for example. [Background technology]

[0002] It is known to provide seats for disabled users with specific postural needs that have adjustable seat tilt, but a problem with such seats is that the tilt adjustment mechanism is not particularly smooth or difficult to use. (the purpose)

[0003] It is an objective of the preferred embodiments of the present invention to at least partially assist in addressing the above-mentioned problems. While this applies to the preferred embodiments, the objectives of the present invention are not limited thereto. The objectives of the present invention are merely to provide useful options. Thus, any objectives or advantages applicable to the preferred embodiments should not be considered limitations on the broader scope of the claims. (definition)

[0004] The terms "comprise" and "have", when used in relation to a combination of features, should not be taken to exclude the possibility of combinations with other features not mentioned. The same applies to derivatives of these words, such as "comprising" and "having". Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet comprising: The backrest and a base for receiving the buttocks of a human user; A tilt adjustment device, Unevenly curved tracks and at least one pair of spaced apart brackets, each supporting a roller; and a tilt adjustment device having A seat is provided, characterized in that, to adjust the inclination of the backrest and the base, the inclination adjustment device can be activated so that at least one of the brackets can be tilted relative to the other while the track runs on the rollers and the brackets are on different curved parts of the track.

[0006] Optionally, the track and bracket are on one side of the seat, and a substantially identical second track and at least one pair of substantially identical second brackets are arranged on the opposite side of the seat, with the track and brackets on each side functioning substantially similarly relative to each other.

[0007] Optionally, each track is provided with curved rails.

[0008] Optionally, each bracket has a set of said rollers, or two, three or four of said rollers, with all of the rollers in each set engaging the track.

[0009] Optionally, said track has a curvature in the form of at least two radius arcs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] Some preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a seat. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the angle adjustment device. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an inclined rail. [Figure 5]FIG. 10 is a side view showing details of components of an alternative seat. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a side view of some components of a wheelchair. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a side view showing details of the wheelchair components. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a side view showing the details of the wheelchair components. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view showing details of the wheelchair components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Referring to Figure 1, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a seat 1 comprises a backrest 2, a base 3 for a user to sit on, and a tilt adjustment device 4. In this example, the seat is a commode, but in other embodiments the invention may be in a different form, for example it may be a wheelchair or some other form of seat for a disabled person.

[0013] Figure 2 shows the seat when the internal parts of the tilt adjuster 4 are hidden, and Figure 3 shows them when they are exposed. The tilt adjuster 4 has a support base or chassis base 5, a curved tilt rail 6, a roller mount 7, and a foot-operated pedal 8. The pedal 8 is connected to a tilt rod 9 (see Figure 3), which in turn is connected to a lever or tilt lock cam 10. A connector rod (not shown) resides within space 11 to connect cam 10 to a second lever or tilt lock cam 12.

[0014] Each cam 10, 12 contacts a ramp lock follower 13. The rail 6 is preferably tubular and has a curved rack 15 enclosed within the rail 6. The follower 13 has a number of teeth 14 that mesh with corresponding teeth 15a on the rack 15.

[0015] The roller mount 7 is located on the chassis base 5 and has four pairs of rollers 16 near the top thereof. In some embodiments, the rollers may be in the form of casters.

[0016] When the teeth 14 of the follower 13 are engaged with the teeth 15a of the rack 15, the adjustment device 4 is in a locked position, the rail 6 cannot move and the backrest 2 and base 3 connected to the rail 6 are in a fixed position.

[0017] To adjust the angle of the backrest 2 and base 3, the user presses pedal 8, which moves rod 9 from right to left, which in turn pushes against the lower part of cam 10, which in turn moves cam 10 clockwise about pivot point 17. As cam 10 rotates, its upper part engages follower 13.

[0018] Movement of rod 9 also urges a connector rod (not shown but located in space 11) towards second cam 12, which also moves cam 12 clockwise about second pivot point 18 towards the more distal portion of follower 13. The connector rod compresses spring 19, which is kept under pressure while pedal 8 is depressed.

[0019] As the cams 10, 12 rotate clockwise, they move the follower 13 downwards, causing the teeth 14 to disengage from the rack teeth 15a. The rail 6 is then free to run back and forth on the rollers 16.

[0020] Once unlocked, the user can manually move rail 6 to adjust the amount of tilt of backrest 2 and base 3. Once the desired angle is reached, the user removes their foot from pedal 8, thereby releasing pressure on spring 19. This causes connector rod and rod 9 to move from left to right, rotating cams 10, 12 counterclockwise. As a result, tooth 14 re-engages tooth 15a, thereby locking rail 6 relative to mount 7.

[0021] Referring again to FIG. 1, a cross member or bar 20 extends from the second pivot point 18 for connection to the second tilt adjuster. The second adjuster includes a similar or identical second roller mount and locking mechanism (not shown in FIG. 1) and an identical second tilt rail 21 on the other side of the seat 1. When the referenced first adjuster 4 is operated, the second adjuster moves accordingly. The two are constructed similarly or substantially similarly, and both lock and release in response to the pedal 8 being pressed and released.

[0022] 4 shows a cross section of rail 6 without the rack 15 that would normally be on the inside. The underside of rail 6 has an opening 22 that receives mounting portion 7 when seat 1 is assembled. Each pair of rollers 16 runs along a groove 23 on either side of this opening 22. Slot 24 is sized to receive rack 15 and teeth 15a that can engage and disengage follower teeth 14.

[0023] Referring again to Figures 2 and 3, rod 9 and spring 19 are housed within chassis base panel 5a, and mounting portion 7 is housed within mounting panel 7a. As shown above, rack 15 is housed within rail 6. Follower 13 is attached to mounting portion 7 while extending partially within rail 6 when follower teeth 14 engage rack teeth 15a. Again, roller 16 is housed within rail 6 along a groove. Thus, when seat 1 is assembled and in use, the moving parts of adjustment device 4 are substantially enclosed. This helps protect these parts from dirt, moisture, spills of bodily fluids, and various other contaminants that could damage or otherwise injure exposed parts. This also addresses the risk of a user's fingers accidentally getting caught in the moving parts when adjusting the tilt of seat 1.

[0024] In some embodiments of the invention, the rails 6 may be non-uniformly curved. For example, the curvature of each rail 6 may include a combination of arcs having different radii. This is shown in Figure 5, where the rail arc is based on a larger radius curvature 25 that leads to a smaller radius curvature 26. The embodiment of Figure 5 is a wheelchair, and in principle, each section functions in the same or substantially the same way as described above. However, due to the change in curvature, the arrangement of the rollers 16 has been modified. As shown, the rollers are divided into two sets of four on each side of the seat. The rollers in each set can rotate normally to allow the rail 6 to run smoothly over them. However, in this case, the rollers 16 in each set are journaled on separate brackets 27, which can pivot about their respective pivot points 28. This means that one bracket 27, and therefore its rollers 16, can tilt at a different angle than the other bracket and roller. This is useful because, at various times, one set of rollers will be in a more curved portion of the rail 6 than the other set. This arrangement allows each bracket 27 to tilt back and forth, preventing the rail 6 from getting stuck on the rollers. This arrangement therefore facilitates smooth adjustment of the seat tilt.

[0025] FIG. 6 shows the same embodiment as mentioned in FIG. 5, except that each set of rollers has only three rollers 16 arranged in a triangular configuration. FIGS. 7 and 8 show some components of the embodiment of FIG. 6, with like reference numerals used to indicate like parts. FIG. 9 shows how teeth 14 of follower 13 of FIG. 6 engage teeth 15a of rack 15. FIGS. 6-9 omit certain features for clarity, but preferably other components are the same or substantially the same as those described for any of the other embodiments above. The mechanisms described in FIGS. 5-9 are preferably the same for both sides of the seat.

[0026] With respect to the present disclosure, the specification hereby contemplates each item, feature, or step mentioned herein being combined with one or more of the same or any other items, features, or steps disclosed herein, in each case whether or not the combination is claimed.

[0027] While certain preferred forms of the invention have been described by way of example, it is to be understood that modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sheet, The backrest and a base for receiving the buttocks of a human user; A tilt adjustment device, a non-uniformly curved track connecting said backrest and said base; a roller mount having at least one pair of spaced apart brackets pivotally supporting sets of rollers, each set including two, three, or four rollers; a support base on which the roller mounting portion is disposed; a tilt lock follower having a plurality of teeth that engage with teeth on a curved rack included in the track to fix the tilt of the backrest and the pedestal relative to the support base; and a tilt adjustment device having the tilt adjuster is activated to allow the track to run on the rollers when the teeth of the tilt lock follower disengage from the teeth of the curved rack, and when the tilt adjuster is activated, the set of rollers supported on at least one of the brackets is tiltable relative to the set of rollers supported on the other bracket while the track runs on the rollers and the brackets are on different curved portions of the track to adjust the tilt of the backrest and the pedestal relative to the support base; The track has a curvature in the form of at least two radius arcs with respect to the front and rear ends such that the center curves toward the support base, and the radius of the arc on the rear end side is smaller than the radius of the arc on the front end side.

2. 2. The seat of claim 1, wherein the track and the bracket are on one side of the seat, and a substantially identical second track and at least one pair of substantially identical second brackets are arranged on the opposite side of the seat so that the track and the bracket on each side function substantially similarly relative to each other.

3. The seat of claim 1 or 2, wherein the track comprises a curved rail.

4. 4. The sheet of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein all of the rollers of each set engage the track.

5. A seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4 forming part of a commode.

6. A seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4 forming part of a wheelchair.

7. 7. A seat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rollers of each set are journalled on respective respective brackets, each bracket pivoting about a respective pivot point.

8. A seat as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tilt adjustment device further has a foot-operated pedal for operating the engagement and disengagement of the plurality of teeth of the tilt lock follower with the teeth of the curved rack.

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