Traveling seat

• US 6,488,332 B1
• Filed: 10/21/1998
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Interco Gesellschaft Fur Die Planung Und Den Vertrieb Von Reha Hilfen MbH
• Original Assignee: Interco Gesellschaft Fur Die Planung Und Den Vertrieb Von Reha Hilfen MbH
• Inventors: Markwald, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US09/176,719
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 297/317, 297/320, 297/322, 297/343, 297/342, 297/DIG.4, 297/68
• US Class Current: 297/68
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1054 Large wheels, e.g. higher than the seat portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1067 adjusting the backrest relative to the seat portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/107 positioning the whole seat forward or rearward
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/14 Standing-up or sitting-down aids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/04 Wheelchair

Abstract

Described herein is a traveling seat, such as a wheelchair, for physically handicapped persons. The seat has a seat shell mounted on a frame, where the shell includes a backrest and a seat surface, connected with one another with articulation, with a footrest being articulated pivotably to the forward end of the seat surface. In order to provide a seat that can follow the bodily movements caused by spasms of the person seated in the seat, the seat surface and backrest are connected, freely pivotably, with one another. A tensioning device generating a tensioning force that holds the seat surface and the backrest in the bent sitting position relative to one another is provided. In addition, the footrest is articulated in a freely pivotable fashion to the seat surface, with a tensioning device generating the tensioning force that holds the footrest in the bent sitting position relative to the seat surface.

Claims

1. A traveling seat, comprising:

a frame;

a shell fastened to said frame and including a backrest and a footrest that are freely pivotably actuatable through a range of positions from a bent sitting position to a position of maximum extent;

a first tensioning device, coupled to said shell to bias said backrest and said footrest back to the bent sitting position through said range of positions wherein said first tensioning device biases said backrest and said footrest back to the bent sitting position when said backrest and said footrest are at the position of maximum extent;

a mobility mechanism, coupled to said frame, to provide for movement of the traveling seat;

wherein said shell includes a seat part and wherein said backrest and said footrest are pivotably attached to said seat part;

a displaceable contact surface corresponding to an upper portion of said backrest; and

a second tensioning device coupled to said contact to maintain a relative position of said contact surface.

2. The traveling seat, according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pelvic restraint, coupled to said shell, to secure a person to said shell.

3. The traveling seat, according to claim 1, wherein said first tensioning device includes at least one tensioning spring.

4. The traveling seat, according to claim 3, wherein said first tensioning device includes two springs and wherein one of said springs is coupled to said footrest.

5. The traveling seat, according to claim 4, wherein said second tensioning device includes at least one tensioning spring.

6. The traveling seat, according to claim 4, further comprising:

a sliding guide that is pivotably articulated at a rear strut of the frame and guides the contact surface.

7. A traveling seat comprising:

a frame;

a shell fastened to said frame and including a backrest and a footrest that are freely pivotably actuatable through a range of positions from a bent sitting position to a position of maximum extent;

a first tensioning device, coupled to said shell bias said backrest and said footrest back to the bent sitting position through said range of positions, wherein said first tensioning device biases said backrest and said footrest back to the bent sitting position when said backrest and said footrest are at the position of maximum extent;

a mobility mechanism, coupled to said frame, to provide for movement of the traveling seat;

wherein said shell includes a seat part and wherein said backrest and said footrest are pivotably attached to said seat part;

a linear guide disposed below said seat part to couple said seat part to said frame.

8. The traveling seat, according to claim 7, wherein said first tensioning device includes at least one tensioning spring.

9. The traveling seat, according claim 8, wherein said first tensioning device includes two spring and wherein one of said springs is coupled to said footrest.

10. The traveling seat, according to claim 7, further comprising:

a pelvic restraint, coupled to said shell, to secure said person to said shell.

11. A traveling seat, comprising:

a frame;

a shell fastened to said frame and including a backrest and a footrest that are freely pivotably actuable through a range of positions from a bent sitting position to a position of maximum extent;

a first tensioning device, coupled to said shell to bias said backrest and said footrest back to the bent sitting position through said range of positions, wherein said first tensioning device biases said backrest and said footrest back to the bent sitting position when said backrest and said footrest are at the position of maximum extent;

a mobility mechanism, coupled to said frame, to provide for movement of the traveling seat;

wherein said shell includes seat part and wherein said backrest and said footrest are pivotably attached to said seat part; and

cover strip that covers a gap between a rear edge of said surface and a lower edge of said backrest.

12. The traveling seat, according to claim 11, wherein said first tensioning device includes at least one tensioning spring.

13. The traveling seat, according to claim 12, wherein said shell includes a seat part and wherein said backrest and said footrest are pivotably attached to said seat part.

14. The traveling seat, according to claim 11, further comprising:

a pelvic restraint, coupled to said shell, to secure a person to said shell.

15. The traveling seat, according to claim 14, further comprising:

a linear guide disposed below said seat part to provide for lateral motion of said seat part.

17. The traveling seat, according to claim 12, further comprising:

a displaceable contact surface coupled to said backrest; and

a second tensioning device coupled to said contact surface to maintain a relative position of said contact surface.

16. A traveling seat, comprising:

a frame;

a shell fastened to said frame and including a backrest and a footrest that are freely pivotably actuatable through a range of positions from a bent sitting position to a position of maximum extent in response to force applied by an occupant of the traveling seat;

a first tensioning device coupled to the shell to bias said backrest and said footrest back to the bent sitting position through said range of positions, wherein said first tensioning device biases said backrest and said footrest back to the bent sitting position when said backrest and said footrest are at the position of maximum extent;

wheels coupled to said frame to transport the traveling seat; and

wherein said shell includes a seat part and wherein said backrest and said footrest are pivotably attached to said seat part; and

a linear guide disposed below said seat part to couple said seat part to said frame.

21. The traveling seat, according to claim 16, further comprising:

said linear guide disposed below said seat part to provide for lateral motion of said seat part.

18. A traveling seat, comprising:

a frame;

a shell fastened to said frame and including a backrest and a footrest that are freely pivotably actuatable through a range of positions from a bent sitting position to a position of maximum extent in response to force applied by an occupant of the traveling seat;

a first tensioning device coupled to the shell to bias said backrest and said footrest back to the bent sitting position through said range of positions, wherein said first tensioning device biases said backrest and said footrest back to the bent sitting position when said backrest and said footrest are at the position of maximum extent;

wheels coupled to said frame to transport the traveling seat;

a displaceable contact surface coupled to said backrest; and

a second tensioning device coupled to said contact surface to maintain a relative position of said contact surface.

19. The traveling seat, according to claim 18, wherein said shell includes a seat part and wherein said backrest and said footrest are pivotably attached to said seat part.

20. A traveling seat, comprising:

a seat part;

a backrest, pivotably coupled to said seat part;

a footrest, pivotably coupled to said seat part, said backrest and said footrest being pivotably actuatable through a range of positions from a bent sitting position to a position of maximum extent;

a first tensioning device, coupled to said seat part to bias said backrest and said footrest back to the bent sitting position through said range of positions, wherein said first tensioning device to the bent said backrest and said footrest back to the bent sitting position when said backrest and said footrest are at the position of maximum extent;

transporting means for providing movement of said traveling seat;

a displaceable contact surface corresponding to an upper portion of said backrest; and

a second tensioning device coupled to said contact surface to maintain a relative position of said contact surface.

22. A mobile chair comprising:

a frame;

a shell fastened to the frame, said shell including a seat part with a linear guide disposed below a surface of said seat part coupling said seat part to said frame;

means for absorbing muscular forces of a person in the mobile shair, said means for absorbing muscular forces including a movable backrest and a footrest that are freely pivotably actuatable through a range of positions from a bent sitting position to a position of maximum extent;

a tensioning device coupled to the shell to bias the backrest and the footrest back to the bent sitting position through said range of positions, wherein said tensioning device biases said backrest and said footrest back to the bent sitting position when said backrest and said footrest are at the position of maximum extent; and

means, coupled to said frame, for transporting said mobile chair.

23. A traveling seat, comprising:

a frame;

a shell fastened to said frame and including a backrest and a footrest that are freely pivotably actuatable through a range of positions from a bent sitting position to a position of maximum extent, said shell including a seat part, wherein a linear guide is disposed below a surface of said seat coupling said seat part to said frame;

a first tensioning device, coupled to said shell to bias said backrest and said footrest in the bent sitting position through said range of positions, wherein said first tensioning device biases said backrest and said footrest back to the bent sitting position when said backrest and said footrest are at the maximum extent; and

a mobility mechanism, coupled to said frame, to provide for movement of the traveling seat.

24. The traveling seat, according to claim 23, wherein the seat part is articulated to the moveable part of said linear guide.

25. The traveling seat, according to claim 23, wherein said first tensioning device includes at least one tensioning spring.

26. The traveling seat, according to claim 25, wherein said first tensioning device includes two springs and wherein one of said springs is coupled to said footrest.

27. The traveling seat, according to claim 23, further comprising:

a displaceable contact surface corresponding to an upper portion of said backrest; and

a second tensioning device coupled to said contact surface to maintain a relative position of said contact surface.

28. The traveling seat, according to claim 27, wherein said second tensioning device includes at least one tensioning spring.

29. The traveling seat, according to claim 27, further comprising:

a sliding guide that is pivotably articulated at a rear strut of the frame and guides the contact surface.