STAIR CHAIR

• US 20010040358A1
• Filed: 07/27/1999
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ferno-Washington Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ferno-Washington Incorporated
• Inventors: WARD, PHILIP IAN, ELLIS, JONATHAN STEWART
• Granted Patent: US 6,435,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/650
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/013 foldable or collapsible A61G1/017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/017 convertible into chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/061 for climbing stairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/065 with three or more wheels mounted on a rotary cross member, e.g. spiders or spoked wheels with small wheels at the end of the spokes
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/08 foldable
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/0833 folding front to back, e.g. reducing or expanding the overall depth of the wheelchair
• 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 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/101 of the parking brake type, e.g. holding the wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1027 Hub elements, e.g. drums
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1032 engaging an element of the drive or transmission, e.g. drive belt, electrodynamic brake
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1035 manipulated by wheelchair user
• 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: B62K 11/007 Automatic balancing machines with single main ground engaging wheel or coaxial wheels supporting a rider
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 280/10 Stair climbing chairs

Abstract

A stair chair is provided and includes a seat 30, a backrest 34, a foot rest 32, upper handles 84 and lower handles 82. Three wheels 62 are mounted at each side of the chair. The wheels are pivotal about their own axis and also a common axis. Rotation about the common axis can be braked or locked. The chair can be lowered downstairs with a person pulling on the upper handle 84 and another person pushing on the lower handles 82 in order to slow movement of the chair down the stairs.

Claims

1. A chair including at least one wheel assembly having an assembly axis, said wheel assembly being constrained to rotate about the assembly axis, the at least one wheel assembly comprising a plurality of wheels, each of said wheels being rotatable about its own axis.

2. A chair as claimed in

claim 1

including means arranged to resist rotation of said wheel assembly about said assembly axis.

3. A chair as claimed in

claim 2

in which the means to resist rotation about the assembly axis comprises means to prevent rotation about the assembly axis.

4. A chair as claimed in

claim 2

in which the means to resist rotation about the assembly axis comprises a brake.

5. A chair as claimed in

claim 1

in which the at least one wheel assembly comprises three wheels.

6. A chair as claimed in

claim 1

including two wheel assemblies at opposed side regions of the chair.

7. A chair as claimed in

claim 6

in which the two wheel assemblies are constrained to rotate together about a common axis.

8. A chair as claimed in

claim 1

including a backrest, a seat and a foot rest, the seat and foot rest being movable relative to the backrest from an operative position in which the backrest projects upwardly, the seat projects forwardly and the foot rest is located at a lower elevation than the seat to a folded, storage position in which the seat is located adjacent to the backrest and the foot rest is located adjacent to the seat.

9. A chair as claimed in

claim 8

in which, in the storage position, the backrest, seat and foot rest are generally parallel to each other.

10. A chair as claimed in

claim 8

in which the seat is pivotally mounted on the chair and is pivotally movable between the operative and the inoperative position.

11. A chair as claimed in

claim 8

in which the foot rest is pivotally mounted on the chair and is pivotally movable between the operative and the inoperative position.

12. A chair as claimed in

claim 1

, including a backrest, a seat and a foot rest, the seat being pivotally mounted on the chair between an operative position in which the seat extends forwardly and a folded, storage position in which the seat is pivoted upwardly, the seat, in the operative position, abutting with a portion of the foot rest to resist further downwards movement of the seat abouts its pivotal mounting.

13. A chair as claimed in

claim 12

in which the foot rest is pivotally mounted on the chair.

14. A chair as claimed in

claim 13

in which the seat abuts with the foot rest in the region of the pivotal mounting of the foot rest when the seat is in the operative position.

15. A chair as claimed in

claim 12

including a handle portion in which the configuration of the handle portion is adjustable between a plurality of different positions, one position of adjustment of the handle portion being such that the handle portion extends to an elevation substantially co-extensive with the elevation of the other parts of the chair and another position in which the handle portion is at a higher elevation than the other parts of the chair.

16. A chair as claimed in

claim 1

incorporating a seat, a backrest and a handle portion, the seat and the backrest being movable relative to each other between an operative position and a storage position in which, in the storage position, the handle portion is arranged to retain the seat and backrest together.

17. A chair as claimed in

claim 16

in which the movement of the handle portion is pivotal movement.

18. A chair as claimed in

claim 16

including a foot rest, said foot rest is also arranged to be retained in the storage position by the handle portion.

19. A method of moving a chair including at least one wheel assembly that is constrained to rotate about an assembly axis in which the or each wheel assembly comprises a plurality of wheels with each wheel being rotatable about its own wheel axis comprising the steps of providing a support for the chair by at least one wheel from the at least one wheel assembly and rolling the chair on at least one wheel.

20. A method as claimed in

claim 19

comprising providing suppprt for the chair by at least two wheels of the at least one wheel assembly.

21. A method as claimed in

claim 19

comprising preventing rotation of the assembly axis relative to the remainder of the chair whereby a single wheel of the or each assembly is able to provide the support for the chair.

22. A method as claimed in

claim 19

comprising imposing a braking force on the assembly axis whereby resistance to rotation about the assembly axis is imposed.

23. A method as claimed in

claim 22

comprising imposing the resistance to rotation about the assembly axis when the chair is being moved down steps or down stairs.

24. A method as claimed in

claim 19

comprising the wheel assembly rotating about the assembly axis when the chair is being moved up or down steps or stairs such that successive wheels of the or each wheel assembly are caused to engage with the step or stairs.

25. A method as claimed in

claim 19

comprising the chair pivoting about both a wheel axis and the assembly as the chair undergoes at least a part of its movement relative to steps or stairs.

26. A method as claimed in

claim 19

comprising at least two wheels engaging the step or stairs as the chair undergoes movement relative to the step or stairs.

27. A method as claimed in

claim 19

comprising at least two wheels of the at least one wheel assembly rotating about their wheel axis as the chair undergoes movement along the step or stairs.

28. A method as claimed in

claim 19

comprising one wheel rotating about its wheel axis and engaging an upwardly facing portion of the step or stairs and another wheel engaging a generally horizontal portion of the step or stairs and rotating about its wheel axis simultaneously as the chair is moved relative to the step or stairs.

29. A method as claimed in

claim 19

in which the chair includes a handle portion, said method comprising pulling the handle portion to maneuver the chair up a step or stairs or down a step or stairs or along the horizontal or any combination thereof.

30. A method as claimed in

claim 19

in which said chair includes a lower handle portion, said method comprising pushing against the lower handle portion to resist movement of the chair down a step or stairs or to urge the chair up a step or stairs.