AU721284B3 - Underarmpit support chair - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990

.ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT APPLICATION Applicant: ITALO, SPINOZA Address for Service: WALSH ASSOCIATES PATENT AND TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS P.O. Box 4306 PENR1T$ PLAZA 2750 NEW SOUTH WALES

AUSTRALIA

UNOC;ARMIPT 500PORx 01iAR Invention Title: QyLAR FRoi BAC R9EIfl The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performning it known to the applicant: UNOEFARP[I-T 5JPktob(T CAIW

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to therapeutic devices and more particularly relates to a chair capable of lifting a person seated in the chair to relieve spinal compression and therefore spinal discomfort. The invention is directed to relief of back pain and especially lower back pain and to amelioration of general pain and discomfort induced by posture problems.

PRIOR ART Spinal conditions such as back pain are widespread in the community. In recognition of this problem manufacturers have developed a number of therapeutic chair designs intended for relief of pain induced by spinal conditions. Those chairs are configured to provide body support in appropriate areas to minimise the risk of concentrating loads in one area of the body which can inevitably lead to pain and discomfort. They aid support and posture and allow the user to alter the chair configuration with the object of comfort.

As an example of those chairs, US patent 4,239,282 describes a conventional seat having a backrest, seat portion and armrests. The seat is characterised in having an adjustable lumbar support and armrests which are connected to the lumbar support for unison adjustment relative to the backrest. The backrest can also be adjusted to alter the angle between the seat and the backrest. The seat described allows for adjustments to the configuration of the seat, back and arms but does not teach an adjustable backrest which is moveable in a substantially vertical direction relative to the seat portion. The disadvantage of the chair described is that although it can alter posture, it cannot significantly reduce spinal compression of a person seated in the chair.

Japanese patent 11128014-A discloses a seat which can be flexibly elevated mutually at predetermined angle by a guiding pillar frame which is pivoted to a floor loading frame. The pillar frame is adapted to move between a vertical state and a rear inclination state. This is another chair which allows a change in configuration to adjust the seating position. The chair does not have an adjustment which is capable of relieving to any significant degree spinal compression.

Persons sitting for prolonged periods may experience discomfort even in the absence of spinal defects. The discomfort arises as a result of compression of the spine due to natural gravitational effects. The natural response is to adjust the sitting position but usually this involves a redistribution of spinal load rather than an elimination of compression. Relief of back pain may be obtained by conversion of compression forces on the spine into neutral or tensile forces.

Tensile forces eliminate extrusion of the spinal discs and relieve compression induced pain or discomfort.

In conventional chairs, the usual method of adjustment of seating position is by transferring body weight via the persons arms to the arms of the chair enabling the person to adjust the body position. Where the body is suspended by the arms the spine will be placed in tension. This helps relieve discomfort in able bodied persons and those with spinal conditions.

The present invention seeks to ameliorate the problem of spinal discomfort when sitting for prolonged periods and particularly where a person has a spinal condition such as back pain

INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved therapeutic chair which includes means to relieve spinal discomfort and particularly that which is induced by poor posture or compression load on the spine. The chair according to the invention allows a user to eliminate spinal compression from the seated position by means of a relative substantially vertical movement between a back rest and a seat portion. This is achieved by lifting a person seated in the chair from the seated position to a position in which the person is suspended above the seat portion. The lifting mechanism enables the user to be lifted via the arms and suspended above the seat portion for a period elected by the user.

This enables pain relief and maintenance of the correct spinal posture by conversion of spinal compression into spinal tension and without the need to stand.

In one broad form the present invention comprises a chair having a seat portion and a back rest, wherein the back rest includes means associated therewith to enable movement of the back rest relative to the seat portion and supports associated with the back rest which are capable of engaging a person sitting in the chair to enable lifting of said person from a seating position.

According to a preferred embodiment, the back rest is near the seat portion but detached therefrom and further includes a connection which connects the back rest to an extension assembly. Preferably the back rest further includes supports extending therefrom which engage the armpits of a person seated in the chair, wherein the supports allow lifting of the person via the arm or arm pits, relative to the seat portion such that the compressive load on a persons spine is relieved as a result of said lifting. Posture support may be achieved by adjusting the vertical elevation to a desired level.

Preferably, the back support is near the seat portion but detached therefrom and further includes a connection which connects the back rest to an extension assembly which enables movement of the back support between a retracted state in which the back support is at its lowest vertical position in which said supports are at a minimum distance from said seat and an extended state in which the back support is at its highest position and said supports are at a maximum distance from said seat.

In its broadest form, the present invention comprises, a chair for relieving back discomfort and including a seat portion and a back rest, wherein the back rest includes means associated therewith to enable movement of the back support relative to the seat portion and supports associated with the back support which are capable of engaging a person sitting in the chair to enable lifting of said person from a seating position when movement of said back support OCCUrrS.

Preferably the back support is near the seat portion but is detached therefrom and further includes a connection which connects the back rest to an extension assembly which enables movement of the back support between a retracted state in which the back support is at its lowest vertical position in which said supports are at a minimum distance from said seat portion and an extended state in which the back support is at its highest position and said supports are at a maximum distance from said seat. Preferably, the supports extend from said back support and engage the armpits of a person seated in the chair, wherein the supports allow lifting of the person via the arm or armpits relative to the seat portion such that the compressive load on a person's spine is relieved as a result of said lifting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention will now be described in more detail according to a preferred embodiment and with reference to the accompanying illustration wherein; Figure 1 shows a side profile of a chair according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the chair of figure 1; Figure 3 shows a front elevation of the chair of figure 1; and Figure 4 shows a rear elevation of the chair of figure 1.

Figure 5 shows a partial exploded view of the back support and armpit supports according to a preferred embodinient.

Refering to figure 1 there is shown a side elevation view of a chair 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Chair 1 comprises a seat portion including a height adjustable chair base 2 supported on gas ram cylinder 3 which provides a cushion for a person seated thereon.

Chair 1 further includes back support 4 which is pivotally mounted on guide rails 5 and which is capable of movement therealong. Back support 4 is also pivotally attached to guide rails 4 to allow rotation through an arc generally defined by arrow 6. Back support 4 further includes arm rests 7 and 15 which move with back support 4 such that the arm rests move vertically and rotate.

Back support 4 moves between a state in which a person seated on the chair will have arms disposed in the normal seated position and an extended state in which arm rests 7 and 15 will engage the armpits of a person seated thereon. Chair 1 further includes an electric motor 8 which communicates with a chain drive lift system 9 which urges back support 4 between a retracted and extended configuration. Support beam 10 provides lower back support.

Referring to figure 2 there is shown a plan view of the chair in figure 1. The numbering in figure 2 corresponds to that of figure 1.

Referring to figure 3 there is shown a front elevation view of the chair of figure 1. Chair 1 comprises arm rests 11 and 12 which delimit chair base 2. Chair base 2 is supported by gas ram cylinder 3 which provides energy dissipation when a person sits on the chair. Gas ram support cylinder 3 is supported by support beams 13 and 14. Chair I further includes armpit supports 7 and 15 which extend from the rear to the front enabling the person seated on the chair to engage the armpit supports.

In use, when a person wishes to relieve discomfort, the arms engage armpit arms 7 and which are capable of taking at least average body weight. As arms 7 and 15 are operably linked to back support 4, as back support 4 is elevated so to are arms 7 and 15 thereby lifting the person seated on the chair. As lifting occurrs the compressive loads on the spine are gradually reduced until at least upper body load is taken by arms 7 and 15 via the armpits. Thus a person can elect at any time when seated on the chair to elevate back support 4 to gain instant relief from discomfort.

Figure 4 shows a rear view of the chair of figure 3. From this view there is shown the lifting assembly 16 which converts electrical load into mechanical load. The lifting assembly includes threaded rods 17 and 18 which are operably linked to toothed sprockets 19 and 20 which are linked to chain drive 9.

According to one embodiment, the chair further includes straps which are located beside the underarm supports 7 and 15. The users elbows engage the straps allowing improved weight distribution and dissipation umder the armpits when lifting is in progress. Figure 5 shows a partial exploded view of the back support and armpit supports 7 and 15 according to a preferred embodiment. The arrangement shows straps 21 and 22 which receive the elbows of a person seated in chair 1 to at least partially relieve the load on the armpits of the person.

It will be recognised by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the invention as broadly described herein without departing from the overall spirit and scope of the invention.