GB2060363A

GB2060363A - A mobile chair

Info

Publication number: GB2060363A
Application number: GB7936137A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-10-18
Filing date: 1979-10-18
Publication date: 1981-05-07
Also published as: DE2942610A1; FR2467571A1

Abstract

A mobile chair for use primarily by handicapped persons, for instance in a boat, or for use at a working machine, comprises a seat 14 and a foot rest 17 slidable along guide rails 12, 13 and rotatable about a vertical trunnion 22 mounting the foot rest onto a base plate 23 (slidable on rail 13), the seat 14 being slidably carried (20) for movement along an arcuate path, on an arcuate guide 18, which guide 18 has an extension of at least 180 DEG and is slidably (19) carried on guide rails 12. In another embodiment the arcuate guide (18a) is a full annulus, and is then carried by supports (43) from the base plate (23a), slidable along two guide rails (41). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A mobile chair The present invention refersto a mobile chair, primarily adapted for use by handicapped persons in sailing boats, where it is essential for the person handling the sails to be able to move forwards and aftwards, and also rapidly to shift position from port to starboard, and vice versa. The invention is however not limited to this field of use, but may be used also in other surroundings, for instance at a working machine. The aim of the invention is thus to provide a mounting for the chair permitting movement forwards and back, as well as permitting a rotational movement of at least a half turn in arbitrary forward/aft position.

A chair according to the invention comprises a seat and a foot-rest characterised by a base plate displaceable along at least one guide rail on a support, a vertical trunnion for pivotably mounting the foot-rest relatively to the base plate and an arcuate guide carrying the seat and being concentric with the trunnion, having an extension of at least 1809 and being movable, together with the base plate, and means for mounting the seat upon said arcuate guide for sliding movement thereupon.

The chair may be supported by three parallel guide rails, ofwhich a middle one is arranged to carry the base plate, and the side ones are mounted at a higher level than the middle one, the arcuate guide being carried by said guide rails for axial displacement thereon, and the seat being mounted upon said guide by sliding members permitting a rotational movement with respect to the trunnion.

The arcuate guide preferably has an extension of about 220 , a pair of sliding members being provided at each side guide rail for carrying the arcuate guide, each of said pair of sliding members being mounted substantially symmetrically with respect to an immaginary diameter at the arcuate guide and extending normal to the guide rails.

Alternatively the base plate may be provided with rollers for movement along two parallel guide rails, the guide being a full annulus concentric with the trunnion, and adapted to carry the foot-rest and supports are provided for carrying the guide from the base plate.

The rollers carrying the base plate arse preferably provided with peripheral grooves for co-operation with the guide rails and a support rail is mounted parallel with and above each guide rail.

In a boat having a fore and aft running well and thwarts located at opposite sides thereof, the arcuate guide preferably has a diameter permitting the seat to be swung to positions above either thwart.

Brakes operable from the seat are preferably fitted to lock the seat in relation to the arcuate guide and the foot-rest in relation to its rail, or rails, respectively.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of part of a well in a sailing boat provided with a chair constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 shows a front view of the chair, Figure 3 shows a side view of the chair, and Figures 4 to 6 show similar view of a chair construction according to a modified embodiment.

Figures 1 to 3 show a chair as fitted in a sailing boat to be operated by a handicapped person. The shape and the dimensions of the wall may vary depending upon the type and size of the boat, and in Figure 2 the well is schematically defined by a floor 10 and two longitudinal thwarts 11. A longitudinally running guide rail 12 is provided at each of the thwarts, and athird guide rail 13 is located centrally upon the floor, and parallel to the two first mentioned guide rails.

The cross sections of the guide rails may vary to suit various conditions, and the rails may be sunk below the surfaces of the thwarts and of the floor, respectively.

Achair 14 is axially displaceable along guide rails 12 and 13, and comprises a seat 15 with back-rest 16 and a foot rest 17. The arrangement is made to suit handicapped persons and the shape may vary within wide limits to meet different demands. The seat may thus, for instance, be provided with a safety belt.

In addition to the axial movement it is also necessark to provide means permitting the seat to be shifted at least 1800 to positions above either of the thwarts. To that end the seat is carried by an arcuate guide 18 which, as shown, has an extension of about 220". Each end of the arcuate guide rests upon a pair of sliding members 19, which are displaceable along guide rails 12. The sliding members 19 of each pair are fitted substantially symmetrically with respect to an imaginary diameter of the arcuate guide and extending in a direction normal to the guide rails.

The arcuate guide may thus be displaced from one end of the well to the other, along guide rails 12. The overhung portion of guide 18 between guide rails 12 may be reinforced in any suitable manner, not shown.

The seat 14 is carried by two sliding members 20 engaged on the arcuate guide 18 and may be swung along the latter from a position at one thwart to a position at the otherthwart, in arbitrary position along guide rails 12.

The foot-rest t7, which may be provided with means (not shown) for adjusting its foot supporting surface to a individually suitable height, is rigidly connected to the seat 14 by a back stay 30, and terminates in a plate 21. This is pivotably mounted on a vertical trunnion 22, projecting from a base plate 23, which is slidably mounted upon the central guide rail 13 on the floor 10. The foot rest is arranged in such a manner, that trunnion 23 will be located at the centre ofthe are formed by guide 18.

The sliding members may be shaped in various ways, but should be designed so that, in cooperation with the guide rails, they will prevent unintentional sliding of the chair off its guide and rails.

The member may thus be formed as a stool covered by antifriction material, or as a trolley running on balls.

In order to lock the chair in arbitary positions there is a first brake 24 co-operating with the guide rail, and a second brake 25 co-operating with the central guide rail 13.

The brakes are preferably of the type being spring loaded towards locking position, and are operable by means of hand levers 26,27. The movement is, in a well known manner, transferred by way of Bowden cables 28,29, and will temporarily remove the spring load to permit the desired movement, axially and/or rotationally.

The embodiment shown in Figures 4 to 6 isoper- able in basically the same manner, and the same reference numerals are used whenever applicable.

The well is defined by a floor 10 and two thwarts 11, and the chair comprises a seat 14 connected to a foot rest 17 by a back stay 30. A plate 21 on the foot rest 17 is connected by a trunnion 22 to a base plate 23a, which here is much biggerthan in the previous embodiment. The base plate 23a is provided with a number of grooved rollers 40 running along two parallel guide rails 41 on the floor. A support rail 42 runs parallel to each guide rail 41 a suitable distance above the same to safely retain the wheels in position at the latter.

The guide 18a carrying the seat by way of the sliding members 19 is here a full annulus, that is, it extends over a full circle, and is carried by supports 43. The latter are fitted at the corners of base plate 23a and do not hamperthe movements thereof and do not reach to the thwarts 11.

The foot rest 17 may be provided with a sliding support 44 acting against the top face of base plate 23a. Persons suitable for this type of exercise are those having weak legs, and the annular arc 18a will, together with its supports 43, form a favourable guard for the legs. Those persons often have strong arms and the guide will provide a good hand grip for the pivotal movement abouttrunnion 22.

Claims

1. A mobile chair including a seat and a foot rest characterised by a base plate displaceable along at least one guide rail on a support, a vertical trunnion for pivotably mounting the foot rest relatively to the base plate and an arcuate guide carrying the seat and being concentric with the trunnion, having an extension of at least 180 , and being movable, together with the base plate, and means for mounting the seat upon said arcuate guide for sliding movement thereupon.

2. A mobile chair according to claim 1, which is formed to be supported by three panel guide rails of which a middle one is arranged to carry the base plate and the side ones are mounted at a higher level than the middle one, the arcuate guide being carried by said side guide rails for axial displacement thereon, and the seat being mounted upon said guide by sliding members permitting rotational movement with respect to the trunnion.

3. A mobile chair according to claim 2, wherein the arcuate guide has an extension of about 220 and a pair of sliding members are provided at each side guide rail for carrying the arcuate guide, each of said pair of sliding members being mounted substan tially symetricallywith respect to an imaginary diameter of the arcuate guide and extending normal to the guide rails.

4. A mobile chair according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is provided with rollers for movement along two parallel guide rails, the guide being a full annulus concentric with the trunnion for carrying the annular guide from the base plate.

5. A mobile chair according to claim 4, in which the rollers carrying the base plate have peripheral grooves for co-operation with the guide rails as well as with a support rail mounted parallel with and above each guide rail.

6. A mobile chair according to any one of the preceding claims, as used in a boat having a fore and aft running well and thwarts located at opposite sides thereof, and having the arcuate guide with a diameter permitting the seat to be swung to positions above either thwart.

7. A mobile chair according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there are brakes operable from the seat and adapted to lock the seat in relation to the arcuate guide, and the foot rest in relation to its rail, or rails respectively.

8. A mobile chair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1,2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A mobile chair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 4,5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.