US 5,960,488 A · Lift chair for a mechanical lift · patentgrep

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Abstract

This specification deals with a device which is a novel lift chair for use in a mechanical lift for moving an invalid or handicapped person from a poolside into a pool, and back to the poolside, wherein the invalid or handicapped person may be totally responsible for such movement without the aid of a second person by the use of a control unit which is affixed to the lift chair and is conveniently operable from such chair.

Drawings

Claims19

Dependent claims

A lift chair, said chair comprising:

a frame, said frame having two spaced-apart, generally upwardly extending shafts, each said shaft having an upper end, a lower end, and a front side;
each said upper end terminating in a tee, each said tee having a top, wherein the top of each tee is a hollow tubular bearing housing with each bearing housing capable of having a tubular bearing retained therein;
a seat;
each lower end of the upwardly extending shafts terminating in a horizontal bar arrangement and being attached to each other at their terminating ends to form a support for the seat surmounted thereon;
a common back support means;
each lower end of the upwardly extending shafts having mounted therebetween, the common back support means attached to their respective front sides;
an electrical control connected to a power cord said electrical control being attached to the upwardly extending shafts by a support cord which support cord and power cord each have a sufficient length to allow a person seated in the seat to use the control.

4 more elements

A lift chair, said chair comprising:

a frame, said frame having two spaced-apart, generally upwardly extending shafts, each said shaft having an upper end, a lower end, and a front side;
each said upper end terminating in a tee, each said tee having a top, wherein the top of each tee is a hollow tubular bearing housing with each bearing housing capable of having a tubular bearing retained therein;
a common supporting shaft having outer ends which are capable of being rigidly supported, said common supporting shaft extending through and outside the ends of each of the tubular bearing housings;
said support shaft having mounted thereon, at least one shaft mounted brake, said shaft mounted brake comprising the brake assembly comprising:
a housing for the brake assembly, having an outside surface;
an electromagnetic magnet assembly;
a means of energizing and controlling the electromagnetic magnet;
a first metal plate having a center opening;
a metal bearing having an outside surface;
said brake assembly being supported on a second supporting plate, which supporting plate is adapted with a center opening through which the support shaft passes, said second support plate having an outside edge, an outer face and an inner face and having an outside dimension greater than the outside dimension of the brake assembly, said second metal supporting plate having an opening through it near its outside edge;
said first metal plate being fixedly attached to a collar, which collar passes through the center opening in the first metal plate, said collar being fixedly attached to the supporting shaft;
said collar having rotatably mounted thereon, the metal bearing, said metal bearing being surrounded on its outside surface and rotatably interfacing with an electromagnetic magnet, said electromagnetic magnet being rigidly supported on the inner face of the first supporting plate, said supporting shaft being sealed against water penetration at the outer face of the second supporting plate and the outside surface of the brake assembly housing;
said first supporting plate being rigidly connected to an upwardly extending shaft by a connecting rod such that the rod extends between the upwardly extending shaft and the second supporting plate, said rod being affixed to the first supporting plate by a detachable connector, which detachable connector passes through the opening near the outside edge of the second supporting plate and into the rod;
said rod and second supporting plate having a non-conductive gasket between them, said detachable connector and said second supporting plate having a non-conductive gasket between them and, said detachable connector being surrounded by a non-conductive sleeve as it passes through the opening near the outside edge of the second supporting plate;
a seat;
each lower end of the upwardly extending shafts terminating in a horizontal bar arrangement and being attached to each other at their terminating ends to form a support for the seat surmounted thereon;
a common back support means;
each lower end of the upwardly extending shafts having mounted therebetween, the common back support means attached to their respective front sides;
an electrical control for controlling the electromagnetic magnet, connected to a power cord said electrical control being attached to the upwardly extending shafts by a support cord which support cord and power cord each have a sufficient length to allow a person seated in the seat to use the control.

16 more elements

A lift chair, said chair comprising:

a frame, said frame having two spaced-apart, generally upwardly extending shafts, each said shaft having an upper end, a lower end, and a front side;
each said upper end terminating in a tee, each said tee having a top, wherein the top of each tee is a hollow tubular bearing housing with each bearing housing capable of having a tubular bearing retained therein;
the common supporting shaft having outer ends which are capable of being rigidly supported, said common supporting shaft extending through and outside the ends of each of the tubular bearing housings;
said support shaft having mounted thereon, at least one shaft mounted brake, said shaft mounted brake comprising a brake assembly comprising:
a housing for the brake assembly, having an outside surface;
an electromagnetic magnet assembly;
a means of energizing and controlling the electromagnetic magnet;
a first metal plate having a center opening;
a metal bearing having an outside surface;
said brake assembly being supported on a second supporting plate, which supporting plate is adapted with a center opening through which the support shaft passes, said second support plate having an outside edge, an outer face and an inner face and;
having an outside dimension greater than the outside dimension of the brake assembly, said second metal supporting plate;
having an opening through it near its outside edge;
said first metal plate being fixedly attached to a collar, which collar passes through the center opening in the first metal plate, said collar being fixedly attached to the supporting shaft;
said collar having rotatably mounted thereon, the metal bearing, said metal bearing being surrounded on its outside surface and rotatably interfacing with an electromagnetic magnet, said electromagnetic magnet being rigidly supported on the inner face of the first supporting plate, said supporting shaft being sealed against water penetration at the outer face of the second supporting plate and the outside surface of the brake assembly housing;
said first supporting plate being rigidly connected to an upwardly extending shaft by a connecting rod such that the rod extends between the upwardly extending shaft and the second supporting plate, said rod being affixed to the first supporting plate by a detachable connector, which detachable connector passes through the opening near the outside edge of the second supporting plate and into the rod;
said rod and second supporting plate having a non-conductive gasket between them, said detachable connector and said second supporting plate having a non-conductive gasket between them and, said detachable connector being surrounded by a non-conductive sleeve as it passes through the opening near the outside edge of the second supporting plate;
a seat;
each lower end of the upwardly extending shafts terminating in a horizontal bar arrangement and being attached to each other at their terminating ends to form a support for the seat surmounted thereon;
a back support means;
each lower end of the upwardly extending shafts having mounted therebetween, the common back support means attached to their respective front sides;
each said upwardly extending shaft having mounted on its front side, at a convenient point above the horizontal bar arrangement, a bracket, said bracket having rotatably attached thereto, a support handle;
a safety bar, said safety bar having a U-shaped configuration with lower and upper ends, each said upper end being fixedly mounted on each respective support handle, said safety bar having mounted between the lower ends thereof, a float, said float being capable of floating in water and supporting said safety bar;
an electrical control for controlling the electromagnetic magnet, connected to a power cord said electrical control being attached to the upwardly extending shafts by a support cord which support cord and power cord each have a sufficient length to allow a person seated in the seat to use the control.

20 more elements

A lift chair, said chair comprising:

a frame, said frame having two spaced-apart, generally upwardly extending shafts, each said shaft having an upper end, a lower end, and a front side;
each said upper end terminating in a tee, each said tee having a top, wherein the top of each tee is a hollow tubular bearing housing with each bearing housing capable of having a tubular bearing retained therein;
a common supporting shaft having outer ends which are capable of being rigidly supported, said common supporting shaft extending through and outside the ends of each of the tubular bearing housings;
said support shaft having mounted thereon, at least one shaft mounted brake, said shaft mounted brake comprising a brake assembly comprising:
a housing for the brake assembly, having an outside surface;
an electromagnetic magnet assembly;
a means of energizing and controlling the electromagnetic magnet;
a first metal plate having a center opening;
a metal bearing having an outside surface;
said brake assembly being supported on a second supporting plate, which supporting plate is adapted with a center opening through which the support shaft passes, said second support plate having an outside edge, an outer face and an inner face and;
having an outside dimension greater than the outside dimension of the brake assembly, said second metal supporting plate;
having an opening through it near its outside edge;
said first metal plate being fixedly attached to a collar, which collar passes through the center opening in the first metal plate, said collar being fixedly attached to the supporting shaft;
said collar having rotatably mounted thereon, the metal bearing, said metal bearing being surrounded on its outside surface and rotatably interfacing with an electromagnetic magnet, said electromagnetic magnet being rigidly supported on the inner face of the first supporting plate, said supporting shaft being sealed against water penetration at the outer face of the second supporting plate and the outside surface of the brake assembly housing;
said first supporting plate being rigidly connected to an upwardly extending shaft by a connecting rod such that the rod extends between the upwardly extending shaft and the second supporting plate, said rod being affixed to the first supporting plate by a detachable connector, which detachable connector passes through the opening near the outside edge of the second supporting plate and into the rod;
said rod and second supporting plate having a non-conductive gasket between them, said detachable connector and said second supporting plate having a non-conductive gasket between them and, said detachable connector being surrounded by a non-conductive sleeve as it passes through the opening near the outside edge of the second supporting plate;
a seat;
each lower end of the upwardly extending shafts terminating in a horizontal bar arrangement and being attached to each other at their terminating ends to form a support for the seat surmounted thereon;
a common back support means;
each lower end of the upwardly extending shafts having mounted therebetween, the common back support means attached to their respective front sides;
each said upwardly extending shaft having mounted on its front side, at a convenient point above the horizontal bar arrangement, a bracket, said bracket having rotatably attached thereto, a support handle;
a safety bar, said safety bar having a U-shaped configuration with lower and upper ends, each said upper end being fixedly mounted on each respective support handle, said safety bar having mounted between the lower ends thereof, a float, said float being capable of floating in water and supporting said safety bar;
an electrical control for controlling the electromagnetic magnet, attached to the safety bar, said electrical control being capable of being connected electrically with a power source containing control circuitry.

20 more elements

A lift chair, said chair comprising:

a frame, said frame having two spaced-apart, generally upwardly extending shafts, each said shaft having an upper end, a lower end, and a front side;
each said upper end terminating in a tee, each said tee having a top, wherein the top of each tee is a hollow tubular bearing housing, and each bearing housing contains a first non-conductive tubular bearing being retained therein, each said housing having an outside end;
a common supporting shaft having outer ends which are capable of being rigidly supported, said common supporting shaft extending through and outside the ends of each of the tubular bearing housings;
said support shaft having mounted thereon, at least one shaft mounted brake, said shaft mounted brake comprising a brake assembly comprising:
a housing for the brake assembly, having an outside surface;
an electromagnetic magnet assembly;
a means of energizing and controlling the electromagnetic magnet;
a first metal plate having a center opening;
a metal bearing having an outside surface;
said brake assembly being supported on a second supporting plate which supporting plate is adapted with a center opening through which the support shaft passes, said second support plate having an outside edge, an outer face and an inner face and having an outside dimension greater than the outside dimension of the brake assembly, said second metal supporting plate having an opening through it near its outside edge;
said first metal plate being fixedly attached to a collar, which collar passes through the center opening in the first metal plate, said collar being fixedly attached to the supporting shaft;
said collar having rotatably mounted thereon, the metal bearing, said metal bearing being surrounded on its outside surface and rotatably interfacing with an electromagnetic magnet, said electromagnetic magnet being rigidly supported on the inner face of the first supporting plate, said supporting shaft being sealed against water penetration at the outer face of the second supporting plate and the outside surface of the brake assembly housing;
said first supporting plate being rigidly connected to an upwardly extending shaft by a connecting rod such that the rod extends between the upwardly extending shaft and the second supporting plate, said rod being affixed to the first supporting plate by a detachable connector, which detachable connector passes through the opening near the outside edge of the second supporting plate and into the rod;
said rod and second supporting plate having a non-conductive gasket between them, said detachable connector and said second supporting plate having a non-conductive gasket between them and, said detachable connector being surrounded by a non-conductive sleeve as it passes through the opening near the outside edge of the second supporting plate;
a seat;
each lower end of the upwardly extending shafts terminating in a horizontal bar arrangement and being attached to each other at their terminating ends to form a support for the seat surmounted thereon;
a common back support means;
each lower end of the upwardly extending shafts having mounted therebetween, the common back support means attached to their respective front sides;
each said upwardly extending shaft having mounted on its front side, at a convenient point above the horizontal bar arrangement, a bracket, said bracket having rotatably attached thereto, a support handle;
a safety bar, said safety bar having a U-shaped configuration with lower and upper ends, each said upper end being fixedly mounted on each respective support handle, said safety bar having mounted between the lower ends thereof, a float, said float being capable of floating in water and supporting said safety bar;
a trapeze bar, said trapeze bar having a U-shaped configuration and having upper ends on the U, each said upper end being rigidly mounted on the front face of its respective upwardly extending shaft;
an electrical control attached to the safety bar, said electrical control for controlling the electromagnetic magnet, being connected electrically with said brake to control the start and stop of said brake.

19 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,408 words

Summary2,691 words

#The invention disclosed and claimed herein deals with a device which is a novel lift chair for use in a mechanical lift for moving an invalid or handicapped person from a poolside into a pool, and back to the poolside, wherein the invalid or handicapped person may be totally responsible for such movement without the aid of a second person.

#More specifically, this invention deals with a lift chair which allows independent movement into and out of a pool of water, when used with a mechanical lift device. The lift chair is designed such that it has an control device which immediately operates a shaft brake to allow control of the stopping and starting of the lift chair by the person seated in the lift chair.

#In addition, the lift chair of this invention has other novel features.

Brief description of the drawings19 figures

#FIG. 1 is a full side view of an independent lift showing one inventive lift chair of this invention in conjunction with such independent lift. There is further shown the relative movement of the lift chair by dotted lines.

#FIG. 2 is a full front view of a lift chair and lift of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is an enlarged, full side view of the lift chair of this FIG. 1.

Detailed description2,317 words

#The detailed description of the invention will deal with a lift chair which has been provided with all of the embodiments of this invention and it should be understood that such references will also include like parts and points on all of the embodiments of this invention.

#Therefore, with reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a full side view of a device of this invention in combination with a lift 2, and in FIG. 2, there is shown a full front view of a device of this invention in combination with a lift 2, which is a sling type chair 1. It is shown attached to a supporting shaft 3 (FIG. 2) carried by a pair of swinging arms 4 using the lift 2, it being understood that the lift 2 does not form any part of the invention claimed herein.

#As is illustrated in FIG. 1, the lift chair 1 is moved by the lift 2 by a motion provided by the arms 4 which are powered by a drive chain mechanism (not shown), such that the chair 1 moves forward and backward through a low level arc more or less illustrated by the dashed line A. The lift 2 and the swinging arms 4 do not form part of the instant invention and are shown to more clearly illustrate the relationship of the lift chair 1 to the lift 2.