GB2620743A

GB2620743A - An armrest device

Info

Publication number: GB2620743A
Application number: GB2210540.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stott Jill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-07-19
Filing date: 2022-07-19
Publication date: 2024-01-24
Also published as: GB202210540D0

Abstract

An armrest device comprising a panel 1 and a connection means (4, figure 1) for a wheelchair. The connection means enables the armrest to move from a first position where the panel is vertical to a second position where the panel is horizontal. In the second position the panel extends laterally from the wheelchair so as to support a user transferring from the wheelchair to another surface.

Description

AN ARMREST DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an armrest device, in particular an armrest device for a wheelchair or similar.

Background

Many more people have access to wheelchairs in many societies.

Wheelchairs can be very helpful to people, but it can be problematic to enter and exit the wheelchair, where a wheelchair user will need to transfer themselves using their* arms, for the wheelchair seat to another surface, such as a chair.

Often the user will use a transfer board which is slid under them, and stretched to the next surface, supporting the users weight as the slide between the wheelchair and further surface, It can be problematic to have access to a long rigid board when travelling or in unfamiliar places.

Prior Art

IN 2015 02 955 (NITESH et al) discloses a wheelchair having a bi-lateral foldable type armrest attached through a hinge mechanism which when opened forms a firm transfer board along the side of the seating surface. The armrest has two flaps which when opened forms a firm transfer board allowing the patient to have access of transfer board any time without the inconvenience of carrying the transfer board separately. The board further has multi-rubber guts at the end attached with wire and break lever mechanism as anti-skid mechanism.

CN 203 493 835 (ZHANG et al) discloses a wheelchair comprises a wheelchair body and an unfolding mechanism, wherein the unfolding mechanism comprises a 35 handrail, an inner sleeve and a V-shaped connecting piece; the inner sleeve comprises an L-shaped structure formed by an inner sleeve transverse pipe and an inner sleeve vertical pipe; inner sleeve holes are formed in the inner sleeve vertical pipe; the inner sleeve transverse pipe is, connected with the wheelchair body at the lower, part through butterfly hinges; the inner sleeve can rotate outwards around the butterfly hinges; the handrail comprises an inverted L-shaped structure formed by a handrail transverse pipe and a handrail vertical pipe; handrail holes are formed in the handrail vertical pipe; when the handrail is positioned at the lowest position, the handrail transverse pipe is clamped into the clamping block JP 2011 130 939 (IGARASHI) discloses a transfer beard for the wheelchair is composed of a rectangular plate attached to a frame of a wheelchair side, hinges attached to the rectangular plate, a fixed side transfer board attached to the hinges, ,telescopic slide guides attached to the fixed side transfer board, a moving side transfer board attached to the slide guides, hinges attached to the moving side transfer board, an armrest attached to the hinges, an armrest cover covering the armrest, a clamp plate spring attached to the moving side transfer board, and a release knob attached to the clamp plate spring. The moving side transfer board is stored/taken out of the fixed side transfer 'board connected by the slide guides to be extended and used as,a bridge to a destination of transfer, or to be contracted to be stored in the vertical direction in a side of the wheelchair.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices. '

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invertion there is provided an armrest device for a wheelchair, comprising a panel and a wheelchair connection means, wherein the connection means enables the device to move from a first position where the panel is substantially vertical to a second position where the panel is substantially horizontal, and wherein in the second position the panel extends laterally from the wheelchair so as to support a user transferring from the wheelchair to another surface. ' In this way the device enables a user to move the panel from a position where it is in use as an armrest to a position where it may be used as a transfer board for transfer 35 to a seat or other structure from the wheelchair.

In some embodiments the connection 'means is arranged to allow the device to articulate around more than one axis. Advantageously this allows for the device to be elongated and in this way of greater use in both positions.

The connection means may also comprise a clip means for connecting the panel to the wheelchair in one or both positions so as to prevent unauthorised movement.

In some embodiments the device includes a first pivot arranged to allow the panel to exit the first position, such that the panel may enter an intermediate position, for example pivoting through 90 degrees and remaining substantially upright. It may be envisaged for example that the panel may be connected to the wheelchair back or frame in the first position, so as to be a horizontally extending part, and then disconnected from the wheelchair back or frame in an intermediate position, so as to be a vertically extending part. Advantageously this may mean that the first position may be located towards the front of the wheelchair, allowing the panel to extend from the front of the wheelchair in the second position, thereby minimising interference with the wheels, and maximising use as a transfer board.

In some embodiments the device includes a second pivot on the wheelchair arranged to allow the panel to move into the-second position. This second pivot may be located on the wheelchair seat or seat frame. It may be envisaged that in some embodiments the second pivot may comprise an overcentre or double pivot, extending arm, or other extension or displacement means, so as to accommodate elevation of the end of the panel over a wheel or similar.

In some embodiments the panel is rectangular. It may be envisaged that the panel may include rounded corners, to prevent snagging.

In some embodiments the device has an armrest along one long side.

In some embodiments the device comprises raised ribs arranged longitudinally in the second position, so as to provide a direction of sliding for a user when the panel is used as a transfer board.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobility aid* comprising a wheelchair having at least one armrest device substantially as described herein.

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 device according to the present invention; in a first position; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown 15 in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1 Figure 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a front view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1; 25 Figure 6 shows a top view of the embodiment of the'device as shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, in a third intermediate position between the first and second positions; * 30 Figure 8 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, in a second position; and La * Figure 10 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 9.

Detailed Desoription of Figures Wilth reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of an armrest device 99 for a wheelchair, generally comprising a panel 1 and a wheelchair connection means 3,4, wherein the connection means enables the device to move from a first position where the panel is substantially vertical to a second position where the panel is 10-substantially horizontal, and wherein in the second position the panel extends laterally from the wheelchair so as to support a user transferring from the wheelchair to another surface.

In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises a clip 15 means 3 for attachment to the wheelchair back frame and a panel 1.

The panel 1 is planar and substantially rectangular, with long top and lower edges.

A resiliently deformable armrest 2 extends along one long edge of the panel, namely 20 the top edge when the panel is in the first position as shown in Figure 1. The armrest comprises a covered padding 22 and a rigid base 21.

The panel further comprises a front face 13 and a rear face 12, and has a substantially rectangular lower edge and a top edge which has rounded corners to 25 either side of the armrest.

The front face of the panel is provided with a plurality of upstanding ribs 11, which extend longitudinally between the sides, parallel the edges. * The ribs are progressively longer towards the armrest or top edge and aid in directing a sliding 30 user.

The panel further comprises a first side and an opposed second side, which extend between the top and lower edges.

The clip means 3 is located in use on a backrest of a wheelchair. The pictured embodiment of the clip means is arranged to locate on a tubular member of the backrest, comprising a tube collar connector and a laterally extending clip member.

* 5 The clip member is adapted to clip into a slot 221 in the side of the panel, such that the first position may be connected securely. Other clips or connections may be envisaged such as ferromagnetic or a male part extending from the panel.

In the pictured embodiment the member comprises a laterally extending plate, such 10 that the panel clips around said plate in the first position.

The panel as shown in the pictured embodiment comprises a slot 221 along the first side, and some of the lower edge, into which slot the clip member is slid to form or lock the first position.

Distally the second side of the panel provides a seat connection means 4 for the panel to the wheelchair, or more particularly the seat frame of the wheelchair.

The connection means comprises an elongate tubular collar 41. The collar is 20 envisaged to slide onto or over tubular frame members of a wheelchair as known in the art, on one or both sides of the seat in use.

The collar includes semicircular blocks 43, fixed in place proximate the ends of the collar.

The pictured embodiment of the device provides a second pivot in the panel, and arranged to rotate about the coRar, the second pivot including a basal part 42 extending away from the collar 41 of seat connection means, the basal part 42 arranged such that the collar end of the basal part is envisaged to contact the blocks 43 so as to prevent further pivoting and thereby lock two positions against the block, the first position being 180 degrees of rotation from the second position.

As shown in Figure 3 the panel is comprised of tWo main parts 12,13 and an annular cover 14.

The parts form a sandwich for the basal part 42, which provides a tab that extends orthogonally away from the collar towards a distal rounded end with a hole.

A pin passes through the hole from the part of the panel 13 forming the front face, to 5 the part of the panel 12 forming the rear face.

This pin enables the first pivot, such that the panel is enabled to rotate about the pin between the first position, and an intermediate position as shown in Figure 7.

From this intermediate position the panel may be pivoted on the second pivot, into the second position, as shown in Figure 9, and the panel used as a transfer board from the seat.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated 15 that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims.

Claims

Claims * 1. An armrest device for a wheelchair, comprising a panel and a wheelchair connection means, wherein the connection means enables the device to move from a first position where the panel is substantially vertical to a second position where the panel is substantially horizontal, and wherein in the second position the panel extends laterally from the wheelchair so as to support a user transferring from the wheelchair to another surface.;2. An armrest device for a wheelchair according to claim 1 wherein the connection means is arranged to allow the device to articulate around more than one axis.;3. An armrest device for a wheelchair according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the device includes a first pivot to exit the first position.;4. An armrest device for a wheelchair according to any preceding claim comprising a second pivot on the wheelchair into the second position.;5. An armrest device for a wheelchair according to any preceding claim wherein the panel is rectangular.;6. An armrest device for a wheelchair according to any preceding claim*comprising a resiliently deformable armrest along one long edge of the panel.

7. An armrest device for a wheelchair according to any preceding claim comprising raised ribs arranged longitudinally in the second position.

8. An armrest device for a wheelchair according to any preceding claim comprising a clip means arranged for location on wheelchair.

9. An armrest device for a wheelchair according to claim 8 wherein the clip means is arranged to locate onto the backrest of a wheelchair.

10. An armrest device for a wheelchair according to claim 8 or 9 wherein the clip means comprises a wheelchair connection means and a clip.

11. An arthrest device for a wheelchair according to claim 8, 9 or 10 wherein the clip means is arranged to clip together to the panel in the firSt position.

12. A mobility aid comprising a wheelchair having at least one armrest device according to any of the preceding claims.