FR2784022A1 - Wheel-chair for disabled user has side sections supporting seat panel and differently spaced wheels - Google Patents

Abstract

The wheel chair has two side sections (1) supporting a seat (3) and having wheels (6,7) in contact with the ground. The front wheels are closer together than the rear wheels. The seat has a rigid frame (3) supporting a panel (12) which tilts slightly towards the rear. A handle (9) extends between the side sections and helps to reinforce the frame.

Description

The present invention relates to a utility assembly, intended more

  particularly for the use of people with reduced mobility such as the elderly or the physically disabled permanently or temporarily, usable in particular in

  public places like shopping centers, museums ...

  Developments for people with reduced mobility in public places are painful and problematic, in particular due to the journeys to be made in spaces whose layout is not adapted to them. In addition, in general, wheelchairs or walking aids used by most people with reduced mobility often have a very medical aspect that does not fail to attract the eye and arouse curiosity able-bodied people circulating in these places thus causing discomfort for people with reduced mobility. As a result, people with disabilities or

  reduced mobility renounce to frequent public places.

  One way to remedy this situation in

  shopping centers was proposed in document FR-A-

  2,756,730 in the form of a set which includes a wheelchair coupled to a shopping trolley and which is made available to those who so desire. The utility unit produced in accordance with this document is very handy and allows people with reduced mobility to find ease of development in shopping centers. However, the wheelchair in this set retains an overall architecture and a

  footprint close to a classi- cal wheelchair

  than. This size then makes the utility assembly incompatible for use in small stores in which the aisles extending between the shelves have a reduced width. In addition, wheelchairs awaiting use that cannot be nested one inside the other are arranged side by side or in single file, and take up too much floor space.

  important for these small stores.

  Problems similar to those mentioned above are encountered in museums in which classic and medical wheelchairs are made available to people with reduced mobility. These wheelchairs are too large in size to allow the disabled person to circulate without hitting an obstacle in aisles of reduced width or where traffic is high. In addition, the wheelchairs awaiting use being bulky, the number of wheelchairs is reduced. There is then a risk that there will no longer be an available wheelchair so that the person with reduced mobility must move, if he can, on his own. The length of the aisles

  and the numerous standing stations required by the observation

  tion of the exhibits are particularly distressing for people with reduced mobility. It also happens that the person with reduced mobility decides not to use the medical-looking chair made available to them for

  psychological reasons explained above.

  By the invention is meant to provide a utility assembly having a versatile basic structure presented

  both a reduced size so as to be adapted to various public places. The structure of utility sets

  res must also make it possible to limit the space required

  to their storage awaiting use. The set used

  In addition, people with disabilities who have a wheelchair must also be adapted to anyone whose mobility is reduced due to age, illness, accident and who has the capacity to travel independently over short distances. only. The appearance of the chair will therefore be very little medical so as not to discourage these people. The utility package will thus be trivialized both by the variety of people using it and by

  the diversity of public places in which it is encountered

  will trera. The invention proceeds from observations having revealed that a person with reduced mobility goes to a public place generally accompanied by a person helping him to move his wheelchair or the assistant in his

  displacements. It is therefore possible to simplify the structure

  of the utility package. In addition, the conditions for the use of the utility package are perfectly defined in the public places in which they are made available and constitute constraints that are much less demanding than those that must be met by a

  all-purpose classic type wheelchair.

  The subject of the invention is a utility assembly for people with reduced mobility comprising a structure which comprises two substantially vertical lateral parts resting on the ground by front and rear wheels and supporting a seat in the middle part and an operating handle in the upper part, the seat comprising a rigid element of which is fixed a plate slightly inclined downwards from the rear side of the structure, the element

  rigid and the transverse extending operating handle-

  between the side parts for rigid bracing-

  ment these, each side part comprising a front foot and a rear foot each having one end connected to the seat and a free opposite end equipped with the corresponding wheel, the rear feet extending freely relative to each other from the seat and the front legs separated by a distance less than that separating the rear legs so that two structures can

  be nested horizontally one inside the other.

  Thus, the architecture of the utility assembly according to the invention differs from that of wheelchairs, walkers, and other walking assistance devices.

  traditional and allows the utility package to benefit

  cier of a reduced size both in use and when storing several utility sets due to

possible nesting of these.

  Preferably, the front foot and the rear foot of each lateral part converge towards each other at the level of the seat. The interlocking of the structures is

so favored.

  According to an advantageous characteristic, the operating handle is connected to the lateral parts so that its projection on the ground is between the front and rear wheels. It is thus possible to use the structure in the manner of a walker, the person with reduced mobility then leaning on the operating handle located directly above the support surface of the structure defined by the front wheels and back. The seat allows the person with reduced mobility to sit

when she wants to rest.

  Advantageously also, the operating handle is formed of a substantially horizontal bar and disposed relative to the plate so as to form a backrest of the

  seat. The structure is thus relatively simple.

  According to a particular characteristic, more

  specifically adapted for use in shopping centers

  cial, a stop extends from the rear side of the tray so that the tray constitutes a support for a basket and / or the structure comprises a support frame for a basket extending under the tray. In small stores, such as convenience stores, baskets are most commonly made available to customers to transport their purchases. The utility assembly then makes it possible to transport such baskets without them

  hamper the development of people with reduced mobility.

  According to another particular characteristic, the utility assembly comprises a propulsion device comprising a chassis provided with means for coupling to the structure, a motorized wheel mounted on the chassis, and a steering wheel surmounted by a handlebar and pivotally mounted on the chassis opposite the motorized wheel, the coupling means cooperating with a front part of the structure so that the steering wheel constitutes the sole point of support on the ground of said front part of the structure when the propulsion is coupled to the structure, and preferably, the structure comprises a step mounted on a horizontal axis placed between its front feet, the step being able to pivot between two substantially vertical and horizontal positions and being equipped with a stop in projecting from a lower face, and the chassis of the propulsion device comprises a hooking element for the horizontal axis of the step so that, when the step is in vertical position, the hooking element can be engaged on the horizontal axis and that, when the step is in horizontal position, the stopper opposes the release of the horizontal axis out of the 'hooking element. All

  utility can thus be easily adapted to a user-

  tion by people wishing to move alone.

  Other features and advantages of the

  vention will emerge on reading the description which

  follows particular nonlimiting embodiments of

the invention.

  Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, among which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a utility assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention, the utility assembly acting as a basket-holder walker, - the Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1

  of the utility assembly according to the first embodiment

  tion in the absence of a basket, - Figure 3 is a perspective view of a utility assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention, comprising a propulsion device,

  - Figure 4 is a partial perspective view

  tive of the propulsion device, - Figure 5 is a partial view with cutaway of the coupling system of the propulsion device to the structure supporting the seat,

  - Figure 6 is a schematic elevational view

  tion of a variant of the propulsion device in the coupled position, - Figure 7 is a perspective view showing two utility assemblies nested one inside the other in

storage position.

  We can see in Figures 1 and 2 a basket carrier walker comprising a tubular metal structure which has two side parts bearing the reference

  general 1 and extending substantially vertically.

  The lateral parts 1 are rigidly maintained

  seized by an operating handle 2 in the upper part and a

seat 3 in the middle part.

  Each side part 1 comprises a front foot 4 and a rear foot 5 each having an end 4.1, 5.1, fixed to the seat 3 and an opposite end 4.2, 5.2 free

  provided with a corresponding wheel 6, 7. In this embodiment

  tion, the front and rear legs 4, 5 converge towards each other so that their ends fixed to the seat 3 are welded to each other. The front wheels 6 are separated by a distance 1 less than the distance L separating the rear wheels 7. The front wheels 6 are

  steer while the rear wheels 7 are fixed.

  The seat 3 is here formed by a semi-circular plate 12

  circular in rigid material, such as wood, the rounded edge of which is integral with a metal profile on which the ends 4.1, 5.1 are fixed so that the projection on the ground of the plate is between the front wheels 6 and rear 7 of the structure. The plate 12 is slightly inclined downwards from the rear side of the structure. From the end 5.1 of each rear leg 5 extends an upright 8, the free end of which is connected to the free end of the other upright 8 by means of a horizontal bar forming the operating handle. 2. The uprights 8 and the rear legs 5 are here made in one piece. The uprights 8 are bent backwards so that the operating handle 2 is offset rearwards relative to the plate 3 so that it forms a backrest for the seat 3 and that its projection on the ground is between the wheels

front 6 and rear 7.

  The structure thus forms a stable walker, the person with reduced mobility exerting efforts on the

  operating handle 2 directly above the support surface

  structure. The person with reduced mobility may also sit in seat 3 when he is

tired.

  From the uprights 8 extends backwards a frame formed by a U-shaped rod 9 connecting the uprights 8 to each other. U-shaped stem 9 has branches

slightly divergent.

  The seat 3 can then receive a basket P which, due to the inclination of the plate forming the seat 3, abuts against the U-shaped rod 9. It will further be noted that the U-shaped rod 9 also provides a holding function back of the user preventing the user from

  slide between the operating handle 2 and the plate 12.

  This is particularly useful for users of

small size.

  A frame 10 extends plumb with the seat 3 from the front legs 4. The frame 10 is formed by two converging rods 10.1 extending backwards and slightly downward from the front legs 4. The free ends of the rods are connected to each other by a U-shaped rod 10.2 with convexity directed upwards. The frame 10 can thus receive a basket P which, due to the inclination of the rods 10.1, comes into

stop against the U-shaped rod 10.2.

  The walker thus performs a function

additional basket holder.

  We understand that due to the respective spacings

  With the front wheels 6 and rear wheels 7 and the inclination of the seat 3, it is possible to fit two walkers in accordance with the invention horizontally into one another. Walkers waiting

  of use then occupy a limited floor space.

  Identical or analogous items will bear

  in the following description a numerical reference

  identical. With reference to FIGS. 3 to 7, the utility assembly according to the invention comprises a tubular metallic structure comprising, as before, two lateral parts 1 braced at the top by an operating handle 2 and at substantially the middle part

  by a seat generally designated in 3.

  Each side part comprises front and rear legs 4, 5 having ends 4.1, 5.1 welded to a rigid element 11 of the seat 3 and an opposite free end 4.2, 5.2 associated with a corresponding wheel 6, 7. The front and rear legs diverge from each other from the rigid element 11. The distance separating the front wheels 6 is less than the distance separating the rear wheels 7. An upright 8 extends upwards and backwards from from the end 5.1 of the rear leg 5 and is connected to the other upright 8 by a horizontal bar forming the operating handle 2. The upright 8 is here produced in a

  single piece with rear leg 5.

  The rigid element 11 is a horizontal beam supporting a wooden platform 12 slightly inclined downwards from the rear side of the structure by means of a jack 13 whose body is fixed to the rigid element 11

  and the rod is fixed to the plate 12. The jack, here pneumati-

  that allows to adapt the height of the seat 3 to the size of the person with reduced mobility and possibly to raise the person when the latter wishes to see an object lying high. We can plan a deployment of the

  cylinder of the order of fifteen centimeters.

  The seat 3 here further includes a backrest 14

  formed of a vertical wooden board fixed to the upright 8.

  The structure also includes a step 15 mounted on a horizontal axis 16 extending between the front legs 4 to pivot between a position in which the step extends substantially vertically and a

  position in which it extends substantially horizontal-

  is lying. The step 15 includes a projecting lower face from which extends a stop 17 parallel to the horizontal axis 16 and in front thereof. The stop 17 is here formed of a metal profile welded along the face

lower step 15.

  There is thus formed a chair for a person with reduced mobility that can be pushed through the operating handle 2 by an accompanying person.

the person with reduced mobility.

  There is provided at the rear of the tray 12 a hook for hanging the handle of a basket, especially in the case of use in a shopping center. It is also possible to provide a receptacle, for example of wire mesh, fixed by one side to the rigid element 11 on the side

back of the structure.

  For people with reduced mobility wishing to move alone, there is a propulsion device, generally designated in 18, which can be coupled to the chair. The propulsion device comprises a chassis 19 on which is fixed an electric motor, not shown, connected to a battery and associated with a wheel 20. A wheel

  director 21 is pivotally mounted about a sensitive axis

  completely vertical on the chassis 19 opposite the wheel 20. A handlebar 22 is secured to the upper end of a curved upright 26 and mounted on the steering wheel 21 so as to be able to tilt about a horizontal axis parallel to the 'axis of rotation of the steering wheel 21. The curvature of the upright 26 is oriented forward. The upright 26 is provided at its lower end, articulated to the wheel 21,

  a pad 23 intended to come and rub on the steering wheel

  trice 21 when the handlebar 22 is tilted forward. On the handlebars 22 are arranged the controls of the wheel drive motor 20 such as an on / off switch cutting the power to the motor, a control

  forward / reverse and an accelerator.

  The chassis 19 comprises on its upper part means for coupling to the front part of the chair. These coupling means comprise a gutter 24, here formed of a C-shaped section, extending perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the propulsion device passing through the wheels 20 and 21 so that the gutter 24 has its longitudinal opening oriented towards the motorized wheel to receive the axis 16. The gutter 24 is arranged on the chassis 19 so that the height relative to the ground of its lower internal face 28 is greater than the height relative to the ground of the axis 16 measured when the chair rests on its front and rear wheels. Ramps 27 are arranged adjacent to the opening of the gutter 24 to facilitate the introduction of the axis 16 into the gutter 24 and participate in the lifting of the front part of the chair as will be explained in more detail below. after. The lifting of the front part of the chair can also be obtained by a rising configuration of the upper part of the frame from the back to the front. To attach the propulsion system to the

  chair, the user seated on the chair whose

  foot is in vertical position, must bring the propulsion device under the chair by inserting the motorized wheel 20 under the step 15 and pulling the propulsion device backwards. The axis 16 then comes into contact with the ramps 27 so that the front part of the chair is raised, which takes off the front wheels 6 of the chair from the ground. The axis 16 is then engaged in the gutter 24 to rest on the lower internal face 28

of it.

  The shaft 16 is then in abutment against the frame 19 via the gutter 24 so that the front wheels 6 of the chair are lifted off the ground. The wheel 21 then constitutes the sole support point on the ground of the

  front of the utility package. The set used

keeping quiet is thus very handy.

  The user then switches the step to its horizontal position so that the stop 17 comes to oppose any disengagement of the shaft 16 from the gutter 24, the vertical wall of the gutter 24 then extending between the '' shaft 16 and stop 17 (see in

especially Figure 5).

  In the case where the user installs on a

  chair already coupled to a propulsion device, the

  sator swivels the handlebars to the right or to the left and eventually tilts it forward. Due to the curvature of the upright 26, the space in front of the seat 3 is thus cleared and the user can easily access the

seat 3.

  To uncouple the propulsion device from the chair, the user brings the step into its vertical position so that the horizontal axis 16 can be released from the gutter 24 by pushing the propulsion device

18 forward.

  In the waiting position for use, the chairs can be fitted horizontally into each other.

  others as shown in Figure 7.

  Alternatively, as shown in Figure 6, the propulsion device can be arranged so that, when the device is coupled to the chair, the drive wheel 20 is perpendicular to the seat 3. The turning radius of the The utility assembly is then reduced and the utility assembly is capable of turning almost on the spot. To do this, the distance separating the driving wheel 20 from the gutter 24 is substantially equal to the distance separating the beam 11 from the axis 16, measured according to

a horizontal direction.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and it is possible to add to it

  variant embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention

  tion as defined by the claims.

  In particular, the coupling means can be formed of any device allowing the temporary or final attachment of the chair and the

  propulsion, both in forward and reverse.

Claims (11)

  1. Utility assembly for people with reduced mobility comprising a structure which comprises two substantially vertical lateral parts (1) resting on the ground by front and rear wheels (6, 7) and supporting a seat (3) in the middle part and a handle operating (2) in the upper part, characterized in that the seat (3) comprises a rigid element (11) of which is fixed a plate (12) slightly inclined downwards from the rear side   of the structure, the rigid element and the operating handle   glass extending transversely between the lateral parts in order to rigidly brace them, and in that each lateral part (1) comprises a front foot (4) and a rear foot (5) each having an end (4.1, 5.1) connected to the seat and a free opposite end (4.2, 5.2) fitted with the corresponding wheel, the rear feet (5) extending freely relative to each other from the seat (3) and the front feet (4) being separated by a distance (1) less than that (L) separating the rear feet (5) from   so that two structures can be nested horizontally- one in the other.   2. Utility assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the front foot (4) and the rear foot (5) of each side part (1) converge towards the other at the seat (3).   3. Utility assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the operating handle (2) is connected to the lateral parts (1) so that its projection on the ground is between the front and rear wheels (4, 5).   4. Utility set according to one of the claims   1 to 3, characterized in that the operating handle (2) is formed from a substantially horizontal bar and disposed relative to the plate (12) so as to form a seat back (3).   5. Utility set according to one of the claims   tions, characterized in that a stop (9) extends from the rear side of the plate (12) so that the   tray constitutes a support for a basket (P).   6. Utility assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structure comprises a frame (10) for supporting a basket (P) extending under the plate (12).   7. Utility assembly according to one of the claims   tions above, characterized in that the plate (12) is fixed to the rigid element (11) by means of a   telescopic member (13) such as a pneumatic cylinder.   8. Utility assembly according to one of the claims   tions above, characterized in that it comprises a propulsion device (18) comprising a chassis (19) provided with coupling means (24) to the structure, a wheel   motorized (20) mounted on the chassis, and a direct wheel   trice (21) surmounted by a handlebar (22) and pivotally mounted on the chassis (19) opposite the motorized wheel (20), the coupling means cooperating with a front part of the structure so that the steerable wheel (21) constitutes the only point of support on the ground of said front part of the structure when the propulsion device is coupled to the structure.   9. Utility assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the structure comprises a step (15) mounted on a horizontal axis (16) placed between its front feet (4), the step can pivot between two positions substantially vertical and horizontal and being equipped with a stop (17) projecting from a lower face, and in that the chassis (19) of the propulsion device (18) comprises an attachment element (24) of the axis horizontal (16) of the step (15) so that, when the step is in vertical position, the hooking element can be engaged on the horizontal axis and that, when the step is in position horizontal, the stop (17) opposes the release of the horizontal axis (16)   out of the hooking element (14).   10. Utility assembly according to claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that the propulsion device (18) being coupled to the structure, the motorized wheel (20) extends substantially in line with the seat (3).   11. Utility set according to one of the claims   cations 8 to 10, characterized in that the handlebar (22) is mounted on the steering wheel (21) by means of a   curved upright (26) with curvature oriented towards the front.