EP0804110A1

EP0804110A1 - Device for automatically raising or lowering the tiltable back rest or leg rest of an armchair or bed

Info

Publication number: EP0804110A1
Application number: EP95902805A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bernard Heyward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-11-29
Filing date: 1994-11-29
Publication date: 1997-11-05
Also published as: WO1995014412A1; FR2713065B1; FR2713065A1

Abstract

A device suitable for an armchair or bed including a supporting structure with a frame (2). The device includes a gas strut combined with each movable member, i.e. a back rest (4) and a leg rest of the armchair or bed, and arranged to be extended so as to raise said movable members. The gas strut engaged in a U-shaped member (10'') with two openings (12) provided with detents may be vertically adjusted via two positioning rods for adjusting the thrust exerted by the strut on the movable members, in order to increase or reduce the force exerted to raise same. As a result, the durability of the gas strut is increased. The adjustment enables the actuating force to be matched to the weight of the person supported by said movable members. A telescoping (11) or foldaway (11'') lever designed to be non-obstructing is combined with each gas strut and provided at the sides of the bed adjacent to the pivotal point of the back rest or leg rest. The lever operates the strut via two pivots (49 and 51), a linkage (50) and a bearing surface (52), which is movable to release the gas strut, a U-shaped locking member (53) on a pin (54) being rotatable to prevent release of the gas strut.

Description

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY LIFTING OR LOWERING BODY AND LEATHER ELEMENTS OF AN ARMCHAIR OR UT

The present invention relates to a device for automatically raising and lowering the mobile elements - bust and leg rests - of an armchair or a bed and, in the case of an armchair and bed for the sick, intended to allow the actuation by them of these adjustable elements without requiring any particular effort on their part.

More particularly, the present invention improves a device, described in French Patent No. 8812011, comprising a self-locking gas spring associated with each movable element, forming a headrest and footrest for the seat and the bed and arranged so to allow by its elongation the lifting of this movable element, each gas spring being associated with a mass acting in antagonism thereof and able to be moved so as to compensate at rest the force of the gas spring relative to the weight of the person, resting on this mobile element. In the embodiment described in this patent, on one side of each movable element is also arranged a bar extending in parallel, on which a mass is sliding and can be locked at a determined location by means of a screw, and allows '' calibrate the headrest or footrest lifting device, based on the weight of the person lying on the bed.

The mass system acting in opposition to the self-locking cylinder, although functioning satisfactorily, can be improved. Indeed, the mass adding to the weight of the patient weighs down the bed In addition, the adjustment of the mass at the end of the movable element and in the raised position as much as possible can cause a shock by its sudden descent by unlocking the mass.

The present invention aims to counter these drawbacks. To this end, the device for lifting and lowering the movable elements, relative to a fixed frame (frame), of a chair or bed which comprises a gas spring associated with each movable element, namely, a backrest and a leg rest, and arranged so as to allow, by its elongation, the lifting of this movable element.

^p EU! REPLACEMENT LAW (RULE 26) The backrest or leg rest includes a point for anchoring the thrust of the jack, aiming to vary (decrease or increase the distance from the axis of rotation of the backrest) the force exerted on the movable element. For people of low weight, the cylinder will be located close to the axis of rotation of the backrest or leg rest and for high weights it will be further away. This adjustment corrects the effort that the cylinder must provide according to the weight of different people and this system is suitable for all types of mattresses. In addition, it increases the operating life of the gas cylinders by varying the distance of the thrust from the cylinder.

Anyway, the device according to the invention and other characteristics thereof will be highlighted with the aid of the description which follows with reference to the appended schematic drawing, illustrating by way of nonlimiting example two forms of production . - Figure 1 is a side view of the bed frame equipped with a first embodiment of the device.

- Figure 2 is a top view of the bed frame equipped with the device in its second embodiment according to the invention.

- Figure 3 is a side view of the bed frame in its second embodiment according to the invention.

- Figure 4 is a detail view in longitudinal section of the frame of Figure 3.

- Figure 5 is a detail view in longitudinal section of the frame of the bed of Figure 1. Figures 1 to 5 show the application of the device according to the invention for a patient bed or for domestic use. This bed is made up of a frame made up of a rectangular frame (2) and feet (3). On the frame (2) are articulated two movable elements (4 and 5) intended to serve respectively as backrest and leg rest. Each of these elements (4 and 5) is articulated at the central part of the bed, shown without mattress in order to facilitate understanding, along axes of articulation (6 and 7).

Gas springs (8) are each articulated between the frame (2) of the bed and the backrest (4) or legrest (5) element by rotation about its axis (6 and 7). The joints of these gas springs (8) are carried out in a manner known per se by means of yokes 10.

REPLACEMENT STRIP {RULE 26) Figure 1 shows one. first form of the device according to the invention. For simplicity, only the backrest (4) as well as the spring and the actuation system of the release rod associated with it have been shown in the drawing, but it should of course be that the backrest ( 5) works in the same way with the same means. The gas spring (8) associated with the backrest (4) is of the self-locking type, it is articulated between a fixing lug 10 ', belonging to the fixed frame, and one belonging to the backrest (4), namely 10 ". An adjustment means is arranged to cause the gas cylinder thrust axis to go up or down, making it possible to reduce or increase the force exerted for the movement of the backrest.

In this version, the adjustment will be made by guiding in a U and a notched light to position the actuator in thrust. The notch

(12) of the light makes it possible to immobilize the axis of the adjustment (13) and the handle (14) when raising the backrest.

The operation of the lifting device for the backrest is as follows: once the person is in place on the bed. the backrest is slightly raised by placing the adjustment pin in a notch (12), close to the articulation (6) of the backrest for people of small stature. For a taller person, the distance between the cylinder axis and the rotation axis is greater. It is a taring without weight. It is therefore sufficient for the person to pull the lever (1 1 or 1 l), to straighten his head slightly which causes a break in balance: the backrest goes up. To go back down, you just have to pull the lever, put your head down and the backrest goes down. It should be added that the same manipulation is done with the leg lifter (5), comprising a self-locking cylinder (8) not shown in the drawing.

In a second form, the handle (14) allowing the height adjustment of the jack via an adjustment pin

(13) can be replaced by a jumper (16) taken on this same axis, comprising a spring (15), and a lever (17) - able to extend the spring according to the size of the notch desired - simply relieves the relief -bust and leg rest; the jack (8) will automatically position itself in the desired notch (12). To lower the jack (8), we will use the same principle: we will put the lever (17) in front of the symbolization of the notch, we will raise the backrest or the legrest and the jack will move into its position.

REPLACEMENT SHEET (RULE 26) The positioning of the notch will be symbolized by a pictogram: small figurine for people of small size and larger figurine for people of larger size.

A system lock makes it possible to prohibit the operation of the controllers if the patient's condition requires it. It consists of an axis (54) comprising a U (53) which, by tilting, immobilizes the triggering plate (52) of the yoke 10. The axis (54) is immobilized in translation, so that that the U (53) is always in front of the dish (52). Figures 2 to 5 show the second embodiment of the device according to the invention, in its application to a patient bed. In these figures, the same elements will be designated by the same references as above.

The handle can be telescopic (11) and foldable (11 '). FIG. 4 shows the foldable lever (11 ′) which comprises a cylinder with a notch (55) firstly, allowing the lever to pivot in rotation without causing the movement of the triggering of the gas spring and secondly, allowing the movement of the articulation (49) and (51) and the triggering of the gas spring (8).

Claims

1 - The device according to the invention is adaptable to an armchair or a bed comprising a frame comprising a frame (2). n comprises a gas spring associated with each mobile element - namely: a backrest (4) and a legrest of the chair or of the bed e arranged so as to allow, by its elongation, the lifting of these mobile elements.

A positioning adjustment of the thrust of the jack on these movable elements increases or decreases the force exerted for its lifting. It therefore makes it possible to extend the operating life of the gas spring. This adjustment makes it possible to balance the force of the jack and the weight of the person bearing on the mobile elements. For each gas spring (8), there is a telescopic handle (11) or folding (11 ') - not to hinder transfers - arranged on the sides of the bed close to the articulation of the backrest or leg rest. This lever allows the actuator to be triggered by means of two articulations (49 and 51), a connecting rod (50) and a bearing surface (52) - able by its movement to cause the release of the gas spring - And a lock consisting of a U (53) on an axis (54), adapted by its rotation to prohibit the release of the gas spring.

2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized by the gas cylinder (8) which is adjustable in height in a U 10 "with two notched lights (12) via an adjustment positioning axis (13) - immobilizing the actuator in operation - which includes a handle (14) for handling.

3 - Device according to claim 2, characterized by a lever (17) which stretches a spring (15) fixed on a jumper (16) taken on the adjustment axis (13), in order to preselect the notch (12) of the light and the handle (17) comprising marks corresponding to the selected height adjustment notch of the jack (8). The positioning of the jack (8) will be carried out by lifting the backrest or the legrest without touching the handle (17).

4 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a lever (54), comprising a U (53) adapted by its tilting to immobilize the trigger plate (51) of the gas spring.

5 - Device according to claim 1, characterized by the folding handle 11 'which comprises a cylinder with a notch (55) allowing the lever to rotate in rotation without driving the movement of the release of the gas spring and secondly allowing the movement of the joint (49 and 51) and the release of the gas spring (8).