US 5,865,457 A · Wheeled health care chair

Abstract

A wheeled reclining chair is provided which includes an improved swing link assembly for permitting the seat back assembly to recline approximately 180.degree. relative to the seat assembly to provide a substantially flat occupant-supporting surface such that the seat back provides a rearwardly extending cantilevered surface and the leg rest assembly provides a forwardly extending cantilevered surface from the chair frame assembly. The swing linkage assembly includes a pair of front slide assemblies and a pair of rear swing linkage mechanisms which suspend and operably couple the seat assembly to the chair frame for providing the desired reclining motion. A mobile base assembly having front and rear wheels which can be removed from the base assembly is also provided. The wheeled reclining chair includes a tilt linkage mechanism for tilting the chair frame relative to the mobile base assembly. The mobile base assembly optionally includes brakes which can be actuated either by the seat occupant, or by a care giver for preventing movement of the wheeled health care chair.

Claims86

Dependent claims

A reclining chair comprising:

a base assembly;
wheel means for supporting said base assembly;
a chair frame pivotally supported on said base assembly;
a rotatable drive shaft extending transversely between opposite side portions of said chair frame;
a leg rest assembly supported from said chair frame and operatively coupled to said drive shaft for movement from a retracted position to an extended position in response to rotation of said drive shaft in a first direction;
a seat assembly having a seat member, a seat back and swing link means for pivotally interconnecting said seat back and said seat member to said chair frame for reclining between an upright position and a reclined position;
a tilt linkage assembly operably interconnecting said chair frame to said base assembly for providing tilting movement therebetween;
at least one arm rest assembly releasably secured to said chair frame, said arm rest assembly including means for selecting the vertical position of said arm rest assembly;
whereby said swing link means is positionable into a deep recline position such that said seat back achieves a substantially flat position relative to said seat member.

6 more elements

A reclining chair comprising:

a base assembly;
a pair of front casters and a pair of rear wheels releasably secured to said base assembly;
a chair frame pivotally supported on said base assembly;
a rotatable drive shaft extending transversely between opposite side portions of said chair frame;
a leg rest assembly supported from said chair frame and operatively coupled to said drive shaft for movement from a retracted position to an extended position in response to rotation of said drive shaft in a first direction;
a seat assembly having a seat member, a seat back and swing link means for pivotally interconnecting said seat back and said seat member to said chair frame for reclining movement between an upright position and a reclined position;
at least one hand brake mechanism supported from a side rail of said base assembly, said hand brake mechanism including an over center linkage assembly selectively positionable between an engaged and a non-engaged position for preventing rotational movement of said rear wheels;
at least one parking brake mechanism supported from a rear cross member of said base assembly, said parking brake mechanism having a spring biased detent mechanism for engaging an aperture formed in at least one of said rear wheels;
at least one arm rest assembly releasably secured to said chair frame, said arm rest assembly including means for selecting the vertical position of said arm rest assembly;
whereby said swing link means is positionable into a deep recline position such that said seat back achieves a substantially flat position relative to said seat member.

7 more elements

A reclining chair comprising:

a base assembly having a pair of anti-tip bars slidingly secured to a rear portion thereof;
a pair of front casters and a pair of rear wheels for supporting said base assembly, each having a quick release mechanism for releasably securing said casters and said wheels to said base assembly;
at least one hand brake mechanism supported from a side rail of said base assembly, said hand brake mechanism including an over center linkage assembly selectively positionable between an engaged and a non-engaged position for preventing rotational movement of said rear wheels, said hand brake mechanism including a mounting bracket for pivotally supporting said over-center linkage assembly in a first position and a second position;
at least one parking brake mechanism supported from a rear cross member of said base assembly, said parking brake mechanism having a spring biased detent mechanism for engaging an aperture formed in at least one of said rear wheels;
a chair frame pivotally supported on said base assembly by a main pivot assembly;
a pair of foot rests supported from said chair frame;
a rotatable drive shaft extending transversely between opposite side portions of said chair frame, said drive shaft being actuated by a handle pivotally coupled to said drive shaft by a chain drive assembly;
a leg rest assembly supported from said chair frame and operatively coupled to said drive shaft for movement from a retracted position to an extended position in response to rotation of said drive shaft in a first direction;
a seat assembly having a seat member, a seat back and a swing link assembly for pivotally interconnecting said seat back and said seat member to said chair frame for reclining movement between an upright position and a reclined position, said swing link assembly being positionable into a deep recline position such that said seat back achieves a substantially flat position relative to said seat member;
said seat back including a locking mechanism selectively positionable between an engaged and a non-engaged position for preventing reclining movement of said seat back when said locking mechanism is in the engaged position;
said seat back including push handles mounted to an upper portion thereof;
at least one arm rest assembly releasably secured to said chair frame, said arm rest assembly including means for selecting the vertical position of said arm rest assembly;
a support bracket assembly for supporting an oxygen bottle;
and
a tilt linkage assembly operably interconnecting said chair frame to said base assembly for providing tilting movement therebetween.

12 more elements

A reclining chair comprising:

a base assembly;
wheel means for supporting said base assembly;
a chair frame pivotally supported on said base assembly;
a rotatable drive shaft extending transversely between opposite side portions of said chair frame;
a leg rest assembly supported from said chair frame and operatively coupled to said drive shaft for movement from a retracted position to an extended position in response to rotation of said drive shaft in a first direction;
a seat assembly having a seat member, a seat back and swing link means for pivotally interconnecting said seat back and said seat member to said chair frame for reclining between an upright position and a reclined position;
said seat back including a locking mechanism selectively positionable between an engaged and a non-engaged position for independently preventing reclining movement of said seat back when said locking mechanism is in the engaged position;
and
a tilt linkage assembly operably interconnecting said chair frame to said base assembly for providing tilting movement therebetween;
whereby said swing link means is positionable into a deep recline position such that said seat back achieves a substantially flat position relative to said seat member.

7 more elements

A reclining chair comprising:

a base assembly;
a pair of front casters and a pair of rear wheels releasably secured to said base assembly;
a chair frame pivotally supported on said base assembly;
a rotatable drive shaft extending transversely between opposite side portions of said chair frame;
a leg rest assembly supported from said chair frame and operatively coupled to said drive shaft for movement from a retracted position to an extended position in response to rotation of said drive shaft in a first direction;
a seat assembly having a seat member, a seat back and swing link means for pivotally interconnecting said seat back and said seat member to said chair frame for reclining movement between an upright position and a reclined position;
said seat back including a locking mechanism selectively positionable between an engaged and a non-engaged position for preventing reclining movement of said seat back when said locking mechanism is in the engaged position;
a tilt linkage assembly operably interconnecting said chair frame to said base assembly for providing tilting movement therebetween;
at least one hand brake mechanism supported from a side rail of said base assembly, said hand brake mechanism including an over center linkage assembly selectively positionable between an engaged and a non-engaged position for preventing rotational movement of said rear wheels;
and
at least one parking brake mechanism supported from a rear cross member of said base assembly, said parking brake mechanism having a spring biased detent mechanism for engaging an aperture formed in at least one of said rear wheels;
whereby said swing link means is positionable into a deep recline position such that said seat back achieves a substantially flat position relative to said seat member.

9 more elements

A reclining chair comprising:

a base assembly having a pair of anti-tip bars slidingly secured to a rear portion thereof;
a pair of front casters and a pair of rear wheels for supporting said base assembly, each having a quick release mechanism for releasably securing said casters and said wheels to said base assembly;
at least one hand brake mechanism supported from a side rail of said base assembly, said hand brake mechanism including an over center linkage assembly selectively positionable between an engaged and a non-engaged position for preventing rotational movement of said rear wheels;
at least one parking brake mechanism supported from a rear cross member of said base assembly, said parking brake mechanism having a spring biased detent mechanism for engaging an aperture formed in at least one of said rear wheels;
a chair frame pivotally supported on said base assembly by a main pivot assembly;
a pair of foot rests supported from said chair frame;
a rotatable drive shaft extending transversely between opposite side portions of said chair frame, said drive shaft being actuated by a handle pivotally coupled to said drive shaft by a chain drive assembly;
a leg rest assembly supported from said chair frame and operatively coupled to said drive shaft for movement from a retracted position to an extended position in response to rotation of said drive shaft in a first direction;
a seat assembly having a seat member, a seat back and a swing link assembly for pivotally interconnecting said seat back and said seat member to said chair frame for reclining movement between an upright position and a reclined position, said swing link assembly being positionable into a deep recline position such that said seat back achieves a substantially flat position relative to said seat member;
said seat back including a locking mechanism selectively positionable between an engaged and a non-engaged position for preventing reclining movement of said seat back when said locking mechanism is in the engaged position;
said seat back including push handles mounted to an upper portion thereof;
and
a tilt linkage assembly operably interconnecting said chair frame to said base assembly for providing tilting movement therebetween.

10 more elements

A reclining chair comprising:

a base assembly;
a pair of front casters and a pair of rear wheels releasably secured to said base assembly;
a chair frame pivotally supported on said base assembly;
a rotatable drive shaft extending transversely between opposite side portions of said chair frame;
a leg rest assembly supported from said chair frame and operatively coupled to said drive shaft for movement from a retracted position to an extended position in response to rotation of said drive shaft in a first direction;
a seat assembly having a seat member, a seat back and swing link means for pivotally interconnecting said seat back and said seat member to said chair frame for reclining movement between an upright position and a reclined position;
a tilt linkage assembly operably interconnecting said chair frame to said base assembly for providing tilting movement therebetween;
at least one hand brake mechanism supported from a side rail of said base assembly, said hand brake mechanism including an over center linkage assembly selectively positionable between an engaged and a non-engaged position for preventing rotational movement of said rear wheels;
and
at least one parking brake mechanism supported from a rear cross member of said base assembly, said parking brake mechanism having a spring biased detent mechanism for engaging an aperture formed in at least one of said rear wheels;
whereby said swing link means is positionable into a deep recline position such that said seat back achieves a substantially flat position relative to said seat member.

8 more elements

A reclining chair comprising:

a base assembly having a pair of anti-tip bars slidingly secured to a rear portion thereof;
a pair of front casters and a pair of rear wheels for supporting said base assembly, each having a quick release mechanism for releasably securing said casters and said wheels to said base assembly;
at least one hand brake mechanism supported from a side rail of said base assembly, said hand brake mechanism including an over center linkage assembly selectively positionable between an engaged and a non-engaged position for preventing rotational movement of said rear wheels;
at least one parking brake mechanism supported from a rear cross member of said base assembly, said parking brake mechanism having a spring biased detent mechanism for engaging an aperture formed in at least one of said rear wheels;
a chair frame pivotally supported on said base assembly by a main pivot assembly;
a pair of foot rests supported from said chair frame;
a rotatable drive shaft extending transversely between opposite side portions of said chair frame, said drive shaft being actuated by a handle pivotally coupled to said drive shaft by a chain drive assembly;
a leg rest assembly supported from said chair frame and operatively coupled to said drive shaft for movement from a retracted position to an extended position in response to rotation of said drive shaft in a first direction;
a seat assembly having a seat member, a seat back and a swing link assembly for pivotally interconnecting said seat back and said seat member to said chair frame for reclining movement between an upright position and a reclined position, said swing link assembly being positionable into a deep recline position such that said seat back achieves a substantially flat position relative to said seat member;
said seat back including push handles mounted to an upper portion thereof;
and
a tilt linkage assembly operably interconnecting said chair frame to said base assembly for providing tilting movement therebetween.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wheeled health care chair

Life of this patent

Wheeled health care chair

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims86