Programmable adjustable chair for medical and dental applications

• US 5,214,360 A
• Filed: 03/13/1992
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Den-Tal-EZ, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Den-Tal-EZ, Inc.
• Inventors: Gonser, Donald I., Butchko, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US07/851,095
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 297/330, 297/354, 297/361, 318/280-286, 318/551, 318/603, 318/54, 318/59, 318/266, 318/267, 318/466-469, 318/625, 318/696
• US Class Current: 318/551
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 15/02 Chairs with means to adjust position of patient; Controls therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/063 Casings hermetically closed by a diaphragm through which passes an actuating member vacuum switches H01H33/66
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/16 adapted for operation by a part of the human body other than the hand, e.g. by foot

Abstract

A position programmable adjustable chair particularly useful in dental and medical procedures. The chair is hydraulically powered and controlled by microprocessors which enable chair seat and back positions to be memorized and automatically captured upon command by use of a single control button. The control button may be located either on the chair or on a footswitch. A sealed omnidirectionally operable footswitch is provided which is particularly suited for use in combination with the chair.

Claims

1. In a powered, programmable chair having a base, a seat supported by the base for vertical movement between upper and lower limit positions, a back mounted to the seat for pivotal movement between upright and recline limit positions, means for displacing the seat and back into selected positions between their respective limits and programmable control means for controlling said seat and back displacements, the improvement comprising a single dual function switch operable from a location in proximity with the chair for cooperating with said programmable control means for both causing selected chairback and seat positions to be memorized in said programmable control means and for initiating automatic capture of a selected one of said positions, and indicator means operable in response to said switch and said programmable control means for cooperating therewith to provide different sensible indications of different selected seat and back position memorizations, whereby dual functions can be performed by utilizing the same actuator.

2. The chair according to claim 1 wherein said indicator means provides an audible sensible indication of position memorization and arming for automatic position capture.

3. The chair according to claim 2 wherein said actuator means includes a switch on said chairback, and a footswitch located adjacent said base, either of which is operable to perform said actuator means functions.

4. The chair according to claim 1 wherein said single dual function switch is a footswitch comprising a sealed housing having a molded cover with at least one integral annular flexible hinge region, a momentary contact switch assembly resiliently mounted in said housing beneath said flexible hinge region, and an actuator button connected centrally of said flexible hinge region for displacing it downwardly to actuate said switch assembly, said resilient switch assembly mounting accommodating displacement of said switch in response to excessive foot pressure.

5. In a powered, programmable chair having a base, a seat supported by the base for vertical movement between upper and lower limit positions, a back mounted to the seat for pivotal movement between upright and recline limit positions, means for displacing the seat and back into selected positions between their respective limits, and programmable control means for controlling said seat and back displacements, the improvement comprising a single dual function switch for cooperating with said programmable control means for both inputting a plurality of selected memorized chairback and seat positions to said programmable control means and initiating automatic capture of a selected one of said plurality of positions, and indicator means cooperable with said actuator and said programmable control means to provide a sensible indication of position memorization and initiation of arming for automatic position capture.

6. The chair according to claim 5 wherein said switch is located on said chair.

7. The chair according to claim 5 wherein said switch is a footswitch.

8. The chair according to claim 5 wherein said switch is a sealed footswitch comprising a housing having a molded cover with at least one integral annular flexible hinge region, a momentary contact switch assembly mounted in said housing below said hinge region, means resiliently mounting said switch assembly in said housing, and an actuator button projecting upwardly from said hinge region for engagement by a person'"'"'s foot, whereby ordinary foot pressure on the button can actuate the switch while excessive foot pressure is accommodated by the resilient mounting means to prevent damage to the switch assembly.

9. In a powered, programmable chair having a base, a seat supported by the base for vertical movement between upper and lower limit positions, a back mounted to the seat for pivotal movement between upright and recline limit positions, means for displacing the seat and back into selected positions between their respective limits, and programmable control means for controlling said seat and back displacements, the improvement comprising a single dual function switch for both inputting a plurality of pre-selected chairback and seat positions into memory in said programmable control means and initiating automatic capture of a selected one of said plurality of positions, and audible indicator means operable in response to operation of said switch and programmable control means for providing separate identifying signals corresponding to different memorized ones of said plurality of positions.

10. The chair according to claim 9 wherein said switch is a sealed footswitch comprising a housing having a molded cover with at least one integral annular flexible hinge region, a momentary contact switch assembly mounted in said housing below said hinge region, means resiliently mounting said switch assembly in said housing, and an actuator button projecting upwardly from a central portion of said hinge region for engagement by a person'"'"'s foot, whereby ordinary foot pressure on the button can actuate the switch while excessive foot pressure is accommodated by the resilient mounting means to prevent damage to the switch.

11. The chair according to claim 9 wherein said audible indicator means includes means for generating discrete tones providing separate identifying signals.

12. In a powered, programmable chair having a base, a seat supported by the base for movement between limit positions, a back mounted for pivotal movement between upright and recline limit positions, means for displacing at least the seat and the back into selected positions between their respective limits and programmable control means for controlling said seat and back displacements, the improvement comprising a single dual function switch operable from a location in proximity with the chair for cooperating with said programmable control means for both causing selected chairback and seat positions to be memorized in said programmable control means and for initiating automatic capture of a selected one of said positions, said programmable control means storing in memory a plurality of selected memorized chairback and seat positions and initiating automatic capture of a selected one of said plurality of positions in response to predetermined operations of said switch, said chair also including indicator means cooperable with said switch and said programmable control means to provide a sensible indication of position memorization and initiation of arming for automatic position capture, said sensible indication providing separate discrete audible signals corresponding to each preselected memorized chairback and seat position, whereby dual functions can be performed by utilizing the same actuator.