EP2011465B1 - Moveable folding chair - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a mobile folding chair, in particular for the transport of handicapped, adult persons.

Usually, such mobile folding chairs on a seat, a backrest, four wheels or wheels, a footrest and a handrail or two handles for pushing the chair on. For example, the DE 24 54 557 B2 a folding chair consisting of seat, backrest, two armrests, four wheels, a footrest and a handrail for pushing, which can be folded together when not in use.

Another form of a mobile folding chair is in the DE 23 54 199 B2 described. This folding chair has two handles instead of the previously described handrail for pushing the folding chair and also has two footrests that can be folded away laterally.

Another form of foldable ambulance is, for example, in the DD 226 184 A1 described.

Furthermore, collapsible strollers are known. For example, the US 3,976,309 a stroller, which can be folded and offers a rigid backrest in the unfolded position. However, prams in particular do not meet the ergonomic requirements that a folding chair has to meet for the transport of handicapped, adult persons. Furthermore, stroller are not suitable for adults in terms of stability and resilience.

Although all these chairs have the property that they can be folded or folded when not in use, they are largely in terms of ergonomics, handling, pack size in the folded state, weight, portability and flexibility largely insufficient.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved mobile folding chair, which in particular is ergonomically advantageous, allows easier handling, compactly collapsible, lightweight and flexible and can be easily transported. This object is achieved by the folding chair described in the claims.

The present invention is based on the idea that the folding chair has a front frame part and a rear frame part, which are pivotally connected to each other by a central transverse axis. In this case, the front frame part preferably extends from the front bottom to the rear top and the rear frame part from the bottom rear to the front top and the two frame parts cross each other in the transverse axis. According to the invention, the central transverse axis is continuous, i. it runs from one side of the folding chair to the opposite side. Although this requires a certain minimum width of the folding chair, but on the other hand ensures a high degree of stability and advantages in ergonomic terms.

Below the transverse axis, the two frame parts are preferably connected to each other by means of a toggle lever, wherein the two frame parts and the knee lever preferably form an acute-angled triangle. The toggle is preferably mounted such that it can buckle in the direction of the transverse axis.

In place of the toggle lever but also a rigid connection frame part is conceivable, which is pivotally mounted on one of the two frame parts and is connected to the respective other frame part via a releasable plug-in or latching device.

Preferably, an upper frame part is attached to the upper end of the front frame part as an extension thereof, wherein the upper frame part is preferably pivotably mounted in the region of the transverse axis. However, it can also be mounted, for example, in a lower region of the rear frame part.

Furthermore, the folding chair on a seat which is also articulated on this transverse axis. The seat can either be mounted directly on the transverse axis or else indirectly pivoted about a connecting piece to this. Since the folding chair according to the invention is not folded in the transverse direction, the seat can be made solid and stable. In particular, the seat may have a predetermined, ergonomically favorable shape. This is particularly advantageous when transporting elderly or infirm persons.

The seat preferably has a backrest, which is connected via a hinge pivotally connected to the seat, which on the one hand can adjust the inclination of the backrest and on the other hand, the backrest can be folded when folding on the seat. The backrest can be extensively expanded or for ergonomic reasons, for example, have gaps and / or be suitably curved or bent. At its upper end, the backrest preferably has a handle lock, by means of which it can be locked to the upper frame part. In addition, the folding chair has castors and / or castors, which are preferably mounted respectively in the areas of the lower ends of the front and rear frame part. In this case, the wheels or rollers can either be mounted directly on the corresponding frame parts or indirectly attached to them via a connecting structure. Typically, the two rear wheels or rollers (e.g., ball bearings) are rollers which can be locked by means of a parking brake. Front castors are preferably attached. But it is also possible a different wheels / roles combination. Furthermore, an additional brake can be provided which can be operated via a brake lever located on a handrail.

At the lower end of the front frame part, the folding chair preferably has a footrest, wherein the footrest preferably occupies the entire width of the folding chair, so that a wagenbreiter movement space is provided, and can be folded backwards. It may for example have a bow-shaped construction or else have a planar, eg web-like structure. A bow-shaped embodiment has the advantage that the person sitting in the chair can rock with their feet, which contributes significantly to well-being, especially on longer trips. The Footrest is preferably approximately horizontally, ie parallel to the ground, aligned and forms an obtuse angle together with the front frame part. But it can also be slightly tilted and form an angle between 0 and 30 degrees with the horizontal.

In a preferred embodiment, the front frame part is angled at its lower end, so that an end piece is aligned approximately parallel to the ground and the footrest rests on this. However, the front frame part can also run straight up to the wheels or rollers and the footrest can be stabilized in another way in its horizontal position. In particular, a construction is conceivable, wherein the distance between the seat and footrest can be variably adjusted and / or the inclination of the footrest can be varied.

The upper end of the rear frame part preferably has two handles, which preferably form an angle with the frame part. They can either be an integral part of the rear frame part or be attached to this.

Further, preferably located at the upper end of the upper frame part, a horizontal handle or handrail for pushing, which preferably extends over the entire width of the folding chair. This makes it possible, for example, to push the folding chair with the body. In addition, the wide handrail facilitates pushing at bottlenecks such as doors or corridors, where there is a risk of injury such as the back of the hand in the case of lateral handles. The handrail can either be an integral part of the upper frame part or attached to this. Preferably, the handrail is connected to the upper frame part via an element which forms an angle with the upper frame part. It is also advantageous if the handrail can be adjusted relative to the upper frame part in angle and / or height so as to be able to be adapted to the size of the pushing person.

Furthermore, there is enough free space for the legs or knees of the pushing person by the inclination of the rear bottom to the front top extending rear frame part and the upper frame part.

Due to the above-described assembly of front, rear and upper frame member on a central transverse axis, it is possible to fold the mobile folding chair by the three frame parts are pivoted or rotated about this axis, so that the front and rear frame part to come to lie next to each other and the upper frame part comes to lie in front of or behind the front frame part. The seat and the backrest can also be pivoted in the plane of the three frame parts. In the folded state, the length of the folding chair is not more than the length of the front frame part and / or the rear frame part, measured from the handle of the rear frame part to the roller. The castors are positioned between the rollers.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a schematic sketch of a side view, which in Fig. 1 is shown.

In this preferred embodiment, the mobile folding chair comprises a front frame part 7, a rear frame part 12 and an upper frame part 15, wherein these three frame parts are all attached to a central transverse axis 13 so that the three frame parts can rotate about this axis. Front, rear and upper frame part in this case each have two mutually parallel frame members which are spaced apart by transverse struts 16, 17, 18, 19 and are stabilized by them. The front frame part 7 and the rear frame part 12 are additionally connected to each other by an angled connection 10, for example a toggle lever. The rear frame part 12 has at its lower end on each side of a ball-bearing roller 11, which can be determined by means of a parking brake 14. The front frame part 7 has at its lower end to a bend or angulation, so that the tail of this front frame part 7 is horizontal, that is aligned parallel to the ground. Under this tail a steering roller 9 is mounted on each side. In addition, located on this horizontal End piece of a footrest 8, which occupies the entire width of the chair and to the rear, ie along the circle segment F, can be folded down.

The upper end of the upper frame part 15 also has a bend or angling and the entire width of the car engaging handrail 1. This serves to push the mobile folding chair.

At the upper end of the rear frame member 12 is located on each side of the chair, a handle 5. This serves the user for holding, supporting and as a lateral boundary.

The upper frame part 15 can be locked by means of a bracket 4 for securing in the unfolded state on the front frame part 7. A seat 6 is pivotally mounted on the transverse axis 13. This seat 6 is connected via a hinge connection with the backrest 2. The latter can be locked by means of a handle lock 3 on the cross member 19 of the upper frame 15. Due to the storage on the transverse axis 13 and by means of the articulation, an adjustment of the inclination of both seat 6 and backrest 2 is possible.

To fold the mobile folding chair in this preferred embodiment, the compound 10 is released and the handle lock 3 of the backrest opened. Then, the buckling connection 10 in the direction of the transverse axis 13, ie along the arrow E, buckled. In this case, the front frame part 7 and the rear frame part 12 rotate according to the outlined directions B and A about the transverse axis 13 and, after completion of rotation next to each other, ie within a plane to lie. In addition, the bracket is released for securing 4 and the upper frame member 15 is rotated about the axis 13 along the direction C down. Finally, the seat 6 is pivoted along the arrow D in the plane of the front frame member 7 and the backrest 2 is rotated in the opposite direction to the underside of the seat 6. If the folding chair has been folded in this way, the two castors 9 are positioned between the two rollers 11.

The mobile folding chair thus described has several advantages. On the one hand, it can be folded up very easily and quickly, as described above, which makes handling and transport much easier and makes the elevator flexible in use. The construction is simple and inexpensive as well as lightweight. Furthermore, it is designed so that it is easy for an elderly, frail or sick person to sit on this chair since e.g. the footrest can be folded back and thus the person can stand right up to the seat. In addition, the handrail over the entire width of the chair allows easy insertion of the mobile folding chair by another person.

However, it is particularly important that this mobile folding chair has improved ergonomic properties compared to conventional mobile folding chairs. Among other things, these are based on the construction, which only necessitates folding in the longitudinal direction and dispenses with folding in the transverse direction. Thereby it becomes e.g. possible to execute the seat and / or the backrest dimensionally stable. Instead of the usual in strollers and wheelchairs seats and backrests of foldable fabric, a fixed seat and / or backrest can be used in the folding chair according to the invention, which are for example ergonomically shaped particularly advantageous.

The design also allows an adjustment of the backrest relative to the seat. Namely, it is of great interest for older, frail and sick people to adjust the seat and its inclination and the inclination of the backrest according to their individual needs. It is also important to change the inclination of the seat and backrest from time to time, especially during prolonged sitting in such a mobile folding chair, in order to relieve certain muscles after a certain period of time. In addition, this can be achieved a shift of the weight to another area of the buttocks area, which is particularly important if the person sitting in the folding chair person under the so-called pressure ulcer, ie suffering from bedsores suffers.

The absence of folding in the transverse direction provides further advantages, such as e.g. a continuous handrail and a footrest that occupies the entire width of the folding chair. The latter offers better comfort for the seated person as well as ergonomic advantages, since the feet can be repositioned from time to time, which can be pleasant even on longer journeys.

Claims (12)

1. A wheeled folding chair comprising a front frame section (7), a rear frame section (12) and a seat (6), wherein the front and rear frame sections (7, 12) are pivotally connected via a transverse axis (13) and wherein the seat (6) is also hinged to said transverse axis (13), characterized in that the transverse axis (13) extends continuously from one side of the folding chair to the other.
2. The folding chair according to claim 1, wherein an upper frame section (15) is provided as an extension of the front frame section (7), and wherein said upper frame section (15) is pivotal in the area of the transverse axis (13).
3. The folding chair according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the front frame section (7) extends from a front bottom position to a rear top position and the rear frame section (12) extends from a rear bottom position to a front top position with both frame sections (7, 12) crossing in the area of the transverse axis (13).
4. The folding chair according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the front frame section (7) and the rear frame section (12) are connected via a knee lever (10) beneath the transverse axis (13), wherein the front frame section (7), the rear frame section (12) and the knee lever (10) preferably form an acute triangle.
5. The folding chair according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inclination of the seat (6) and/or of a back rest (2) of the seat is adjustable.
6. The folding chair according to any of claim 1 to 5, wherein rollers (11) and/or steering rollers (9) are mounted in the area of the lower ends of the front and rear frame sections (7, 12).
7. The folding chair according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein a foldable footrest (8) is provided in the area of the lower ends of the front frame section (7), wherein preferably the width of said footrest (8) essentially corresponds to the entire width of the folding chair.
8. The folding chair according to any of claims 2 to 7, wherein a handlebar and/or handrail (1) is provided at the upper ends of the upper frame section (15), wherein preferably the width of said handlebar and/or handrail essentially corresponds to the entire width of the folding chair.
9. The folding chair according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein an upper end of the rear frame section (12) comprises a handlebar (5) on each side of the folding chair in the area of the seat (6).
10. The folding chair according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein, in the folded state, the front and rear frame sections (7, 12) are arranged next to each other, wherein preferably the steering rollers (9) and/or the rollers (11) are positioned next to each other.
11. The folding chair according to any of claims 1 to 10, which, in the folded state, is not longer than the rear frame section (12) including handlebar (5) and running wheel (11).
12. The folding chair according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the lateral distance between the frame sections remains unaltered during folding.

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