Adjustable folding planar seat

• US 20040000806A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Convaid Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Convaid Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Watkins, Mervyn M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,840,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/378.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/10 for orthopedics
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/085 folding up and down, e.g. reducing or expanding the overall height of the wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/0883 having locking means for maintaining a folded or unfolded condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/0891 having rigid supports, e.g. seat or back supports which retain their shape after folding of the wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1064 adjusting the depth of the seat
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1067 adjusting the backrest relative to the seat portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1091 Cushions, seats or abduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/12 Rests specially adapted therefor, e.g. for the head or the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/128 for feet

Abstract

Systems and techniques are disclosed for a planar seating apparatus having a seat support in a first plane, a back support in a second plane and coupled to the seat support, and a plurality of side supports coupled to the back support. The plurality of side supports are adjustable and capable of folding, as is the back support, to provide a compact and easily transportable and storable device. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A seating apparatus comprising:

a seat support in a first plane;

a back support in a second plane and coupled to the seat support; and

a plurality of side supports coupled to the back support, the plurality of side supports including a pair of lateral supports and a pair of pelvic supports,

wherein the pair of lateral supports are adjustable and capable of folding relative to the back support such that the back support and the pair of lateral supports are substantially positioned in the second plane, and wherein the pair of pelvic supports are adjustable and capable of folding relative to the seat support such that the seat support and the pair of pelvic supports are substantially positioned in the first plane, and wherein the back support is configured to fold relative to the seat support.

2. The seating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hip abductor coupled to the seat support.

3. The seating apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a hip abductor release mechanism, wherein the hip abductor is adjustable and foldable relative to the seat support by activating the hip abductor release mechanism.

4. The seating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a seat support release mechanism coupled to the seat support and the back support, wherein a depth of the seat support relative to the back support is adjustable by activating the seat support release mechanism and moving the seat support to the desired seat depth.

5. The seating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pelvic supports are extendable from a position in the first plane to a substantially perpendicular position relative to the seat support.

6. The seating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pair of lateral support release mechanisms, a pair of lateral support arms, and a plurality of brackets coupling a lateral support to the back support, wherein each lateral support is coupled to a lateral support arm and a vertical bracket in the plurality of brackets.

7. The seating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the lateral supports are horizontally adjustable by activating a lateral support release mechanism and horizontally sliding a vertical bracket and a lateral support arm to a desired position,

8. The seating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the lateral supports are vertically adjustable by activating the lateral support release mechanism and vertically sliding the lateral support arm along the vertical bracket to a desired position.

9. The seating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the lateral supports are simultaneously adjustable in a horizontal direction and in a vertical direction.

10. The seating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lateral supports are extendable from a position in the second plane to a substantially perpendicular position relative to the back support.

11. The seating apparatus of claim 5, wherein the distance between each pelvic support is adjustable by activating a pelvic support release mechanism and moving each pelvic support horizontally.

12. The seating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the pelvic supports are foldable by activating the pelvic support release mechanism.

13. The seating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one foot rest coupled to the seat support.

27. The method of claim 2, further comprising positioning the hip abductor according to the needs of the user.

14. A seating apparatus comprising:

a seating system including a seat support in a first plane, a back support in a second plane, a pair of lateral supports coupled to the back support, and a pair of pelvic supports coupled to the back support;

folding means configured to allow the back support and the pair of pelvic supports to fold relative to the seat support and the pair of lateral supports to fold relative to the back support; and

adjustment means configured to allow for the adjustment of the back support, the pair of lateral supports, and the pair of pelvic supports according to the needs of a user.

15. The seating apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a hip abductor coupled to the seat support.

16. The seating apparatus of claim 14, wherein the folding means includes a hip abductor release mechanism configured to allow the hip abductor to fold relative to the seat support.

17. The seating apparatus of claim 14, wherein the adjustment means include a seat support release mechanism to slidably adjust a depth of the seat support relative to the back support.

18. The seating apparatus of claim 14, wherein the adjustment means include a pair of lateral support release mechanisms, which, when activated, allow for horizontal and vertical adjustment of the lateral supports.

19. The seating apparatus of claim 14, wherein the adjustment means include a pair of pelvic support release mechanisms to allow for adjustment of the pelvic supports.

20. The seating apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pelvic supports are extendable from a position in the first plane to a substantially perpendicular position relative to the seat support.

21. The seating apparatus of claim 20, wherein the distance between each pelvic support is adjustable by activating a pelvic support release mechanism and moving each pelvic support horizontally.

22. The seating apparatus of claim 21, wherein the pelvic supports are foldable by activating the pelvic support release mechanism.

23. The seating apparatus of claim 14, wherein the lateral supports are extendable from a position in the second plane to a substantially perpendicular position relative to the back support.

24. The seating apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a pair of lateral support release mechanisms, each of the lateral support release mechanisms coupling a lateral support to the back support.

25. A method of providing a planar seating apparatus, comprising:

providing a system of planar supports, including a seat support in a first plane, a back support in a second plane and coupled to the seat support, a lateral support apparatus coupled to the back support and having a pair of lateral supports, and a pelvic support apparatus coupled to the back support and having a pair of pelvic supports; and

positioning the back support, the lateral supports and the pelvic supports according to the needs of a user,

wherein the lateral supports are configured to fold relative to the back support, the pelvic supports are configured to fold relative to the seat support, and the back support is configured to fold relative to the seat support.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing a hip abductor.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing a plurality of release mechanisms to position the seat support, the lateral supports, and the pelvic supports according to the needs of the user.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein plurality of release mechanisms include a seat support release mechanism to slidably adjust a depth of the seat support.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein plurality of release mechanisms include a pair of lateral support release mechanisms.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising a pair of lateral support arms and plurality of brackets to allow for horizontal and vertical adjustment of the lateral supports.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein plurality of release mechanisms include a pair of pelvic support release mechanisms to allow for adjustment of the pelvic supports.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising providing a plurality of release mechanisms to fold the lateral supports, the back support, and the pelvic supports.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the plurality of release mechanisms include a seat support release mechanism to slidably adjust a depth of the seat support.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the plurality of release mechanisms include a pair of lateral support release mechanisms.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising a pair of lateral support arms and plurality of brackets to allow for horizontal and vertical adjustment of the lateral supports.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the plurality of release mechanisms include a pair of pelvic support release mechanisms to allow for adjustment of the pelvic supports.

41. The seating apparatus of claim 32, further comprising providing at least one foot rest coupled to the seat support.

33. A method of folding an adjustable planar seating apparatus, comprising:

providing a system of planar supports, including a seat support in a first plane, a back support in a second plane, a lateral support apparatus coupled to the back support, and a pelvic support apparatus coupled to the back support; and

folding the lateral support apparatus relative to the back support such that the lateral support apparatus lies substantially in the second plane, and folding the back support and the pelvic support apparatus relative to the seat support such that the back support and pelvic support apparatus lay substantially in the first plane.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising providing a hip abductor.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising folding the hip abductor relative to the seat support so that the hip abductor lies substantially in the second plane.