US 11,612,530 B2Granted

Device for the simulation of a seated position in a wheelchair

OwnerDimitrios Gkaintatzisinventor

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Abstract

The invention relates to the field of wheelchairs and has been designed for the measurement of parameters for the adjustment of a seated position of the user. It relates to a device for the simulation of a seated position in a wheelchair, which includes a seat backrest (1) adjustable horizontally, vertically and during its reclination, two side seat pans (27) with armrests (3) with adjustable distance, a foldable seat pan (2) with adjustable reclination, two wheels (4) with adjustable horizontal and vertical position, and a footrest (5) with adjustable vertical position and its reclination, at least one electric motor or an electric piston (15) for the adjustment of the position of the adjustable components, an electronic circuit with special software for the control of the motors and the display of the measurements, as well as a virtual reality software. With this device, it is possible to measure the adjustment parameters for the seated position of a wheelchair user automatically and digitally by means of a software which is installed in the simulation device.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A system for the simulation of a seated position in a wheelchair, the system comprising:

one or more adjustable components selected from the group consisting of:
a seat backrest, whose horizontal position being adjustable by a horizontal adjustment means, the seat backrest whose vertical position being adjustable by a vertical adjustment means and whose inclination being adjustable by an inclination adjustment means,
two armrests whose horizontal distance, which defines a seat width, being adjustable by a means for an adjustment of a horizontal position of the armrests,
a foldable seat pan, whose inclination around a shaft of one modular frame being adjustable by a means for an adjustment of a seat inclination, and
a footrest whose vertical position being adjustable by a means for a vertical adjustment of the footrest;
two wheels each having a wheel shaft, whose vertical and horizontal position being adjustable by a means for an adjustment of a vertical and a horizontal position of the wheels;
and
at least one means for position measurement for determining at least one position of at least one of the adjustable components;
wherein the adjustable components is a plurality of adjustable components including the seat backrest, the two armrests, the foldable seat pan and the footrest, and wherein the adjustable components being used for a determination of all positions of all the adjustable components and allow for a determination of dimensions selected from the group consisting of and which are used for a manufacture of a personalized wheelchair:
a height of a seat backrest of the personalized wheelchair, and tilt of the seat backrest of the personalized wheelchair;
a seat width of the personalized wheelchair;
a horizontal depth of a seat of the personalized wheelchair;
a seat inclination of the personalized wheelchair, and a front height of the personalized wheelchair;
a horizontal distance between the seat backrest and a wheel shaft of the personalized wheelchair, and a vertical distance between a seat pan of the personalized wheelchair and the wheel shaft result in a back height of the personalized wheelchair;
and
a distance between a seat pan and a footrest of the personalized wheelchair, and an inclination of the footrest of the personalized wheelchair.

13 more elements

A wheelchair simulator system comprising

a frame;
a modular frame articulatably coupled to the frame, the modular frame including a modular frame adjustment mechanism configured to adjust an inclination of the modular frame in relation to the frame;
a backrest connectable to the modular frame, the backrest including a backrest adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a vertical distance of the backrest from a seat, a horizontal distance of the backrest from a front point of the seat, and an inclination of the backrest;
a footrest connectable to the modular frame, the footrest including a footrest adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a vertical position and an inclination of the footrest;
a pair of vertically orientable seat pans connectable to the modular frame, the seat pans including a seat pan adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a distance between the seat pans, each of the seat pans includes a wheel adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a vertical and horizontal position of a wheel supported thereto by way of a wheel shaft, respectively;
and
an armrest attachable to each of the seat pans.

4 more elements

A wheelchair seating simulation system for acquiring and adjusting measurements associated with manufacturing a personalized wheelchair while providing a simulated wheelchair based on the measurements to a user, the system comprising:

a simulated wheelchair configured to seat a user, the simulated wheelchair comprising:
a modular frame articulatably coupled to a frame, the modular frame including a modular frame adjustment mechanism configured to adjust an inclination of the modular frame in relation to the frame, the modular frame adjustment mechanism including one or more modular frame position sensors;
a backrest connectable to the modular frame, the backrest including a backrest adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a vertical distance of the backrest, a horizontal distance of the backrest, the backrest adjustment mechanism including one or more backrest position sensors;
a footrest connectable to the modular frame, the footrest including a footrest adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a vertical position and an inclination of the footrest, the footrest adjustment mechanism including one or more footrest position sensors;
and
a pair of vertically orientable seat pans connectable to the modular frame, the seat pans including a seat pan adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a distance between the seat pans, each of the seat pans includes a wheel adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a vertical and horizontal position of wheels supported thereto each by way of a wheel shaft, respectively, the seat pan adjustment mechanism including one or more seat pan position sensors and wheel position sensors;
and
a computer including a memory configured or configurable to store and execute software instructions, which when executed by the computer, cause the computer to:
control any one or more of the modular frame adjustment mechanism, the backrest adjustment mechanism, the seat pan adjustment mechanism, the footrest adjustment mechanism, and the wheel adjustment mechanism;
acquire position data from any one or more of the modular frame position sensors, the backrest a position sensors, the footrest position sensors, the seat pan position sensors and the wheel position sensors;
acquire load data from one or more loads sensors configured to determine a weight of the user on the simulated wheelchair and to determine a position of center of gravity on a horizontal plane the user on the simulated wheelchair;
and
determine dimensional parameters of the personalized wheelchair based on any of the acquired position data or the acquired load data.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/637,483Filed 30 Jul 2018
Priority: GR 201701003718 Aug 2017
Published: US 2020/0249746 A16 Aug 2020
Granted: 28 Mar 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

A61G 5/10
Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs: parts, details or accessories
A61G 5/1067
Arrangements for adjusting the seat: adjusting the backrest relative to the seat portion
A47C 31/126
Means, e.g. measuring means, for adapting chairs, beds or mattresses to the shape or weight of persons: for chairs
A61G 5/1005
Parts, details or accessories: wheelchairs having brakes