Land vehicles – Wheeled – Extensible
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-21
2001-04-24
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Extensible
C280S081500, C297S005000, C297SDIG004
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220620
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and improved wheeled, adjustable rehabilitation chair for providing elderly and/or disabled persons with a safe, supportive, seated system on wheels to encourage self-rehabilitation of lower extremities, enabling these elderly and/or disabled persons the opportunity for positive physical outcomes. The wheeled, adjustable rehabilitation chair will provide the first step in providing rehabilitation to proceed from the use of a standard wheel-chair or geri-chair to realizing independent self ambulation by restoring atrophied muscles to functional use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Geri-chairs have been utilized in the care of the elderly and/or disabled persons in long term care facilities. Such chairs offer a deep seat, typically on the order of 21 inches, with a full upholstered back, foot rest, and a front tray to secure the elderly and/or disabled person to the chair. The use of the geri-chair prohibits the elderly and/or disabled person from self mobility by retarding the possibility of restoration of physical function that certain elderly and/or disabled person strongly desire and physically need.
Wheel chairs have been used by elderly and/or disabled persons both for sitting and being moved by an attendant and for self propelling by paddling with the occupant's feet. Wheel chairs were not designed to assist a person to walk or stand, and thus they do not offer the option of assisting the occupant in restoration of self ambulation. Moreover, wheel chairs do not afford sufficient safety systems to prevent an occupant from sliding or slipping out of the seat onto the floor or to prevent an occupant from falling forwardly out of the wheel chair. The utilization of the wheel chair for the elderly and/or disabled does not encourage the movement of lower extremities because the seat of 18 to 20 inches depth provided by the wheel chair is too deep, thus restricting the free movement of the thigh.
Combination chair/walkers, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,058,912 and 5,741,020 have been invented, developed and placed on the market that afford the elderly and/or disabled persons the freedom to walk independently within a safe framework. When the occupant gets tired, the provided seat allows the occupant to sit down when desired. Such combination chair/walkers do not encourage the occupant lower extremity movement from a seated position because the design of the combination chair/walker is made for walking, offering a 13 inch walking space, with the seat behind that space. As a result of the foregoing, many elderly and/or disabled persons have experienced muscle tone breakdown over the period of time that they have been placed in geri-chairs and wheel chairs.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new wheeled, height-adjustable rehabilitation chair that is sized and constructed to enhance self lower extremity ambulation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new wheeled, height-adjustable rehabilitation chair for utilization by elderly and/or disabled persons which is adjustable for a wide range of occupants, including from four feet eight inches in height to occupants six feet six inches in height and weighing eighty pounds to four hundred pounds.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new wheeled, height-adjustable rehabilitation chair for use by elderly and/or disabled persons with a frontal cross-arm on the rehabilitation chair having a handled, locking latch and a hinge attachment to hold the cross-arm, allowing the cross-arm to open and close, allowing egress and ingress by the occupant. The cross-arm can fully open, wherein the occupant is able to place the unit adjacent to a dining table in order to eat meals or participate in table top activities without having to be transferred to another chair.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new wheeled, height-adjustable rehabilitation chair with a front cross-arm, such that when the cross arm is in the closed position on the unit, the occupant will be able to place his or her hands on the cross-arm and provide an isometric pulling motion against the cross-arm that will allow the occupant easier means to move his or her legs across the floor.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an attached frontal safety strap to be attached under the seat. After the occupant is placed in the unit the safety strap end may be attached over the front cross-arm to keep the safety strap in place and preventing the occupant from slipping under the cross-arm to fall to the floor.
Yet another object of the wheeled, height-adjustable rehabilitation chair of the present invention is to provide a headrest allowing for head support for the occupant.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a wheeled, height-adjustable rehabilitation chair having multiple legs under the seat, with a pneumatic lift to provide support for the seat in which the occupant is sitting when in use. The legs under the seat are spaced far enough apart so that the occupant will have enough space between the legs to allow for free range of leg motion as in walking from a seated position.
Yet another object of the wheeled, adjustable rehabilitation chair of the invention is to provide rollers or casters on the end of each leg to allow a smooth gliding movement across the floor or other flat surface. A braking mechanism is provided to stop the forward or backward movement of the unit across the floor or flat surface when desired, such as to allow nursing home staff to transfer the elderly and/or disabled persons into the rehabilitation chair.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a seat for the unit which is constructed in a manner which decreases the potential for the occupant of the unit to development pressure point sores and is completely washable.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention are accomplished in a new and improved wheeled, height-adjustable rehabilitation chair of the character described, especially designed for aiding the mobility of seated disabled and or/elderly persons, the chair being capable of providing the correct height size for each and every individual needing the assistance it provides to maximize the rehabilitation benefits from the use of this device. The wheeled, height-adjustable rehabilitation chair is fabricated out of metal, and preferably includes upper tubular steel framework having a pair of side frames to support the seat and back. An adjustable pneumatic lift couples the upper frame to a lower frame comprising legs having rollers, casters, or other movement-facility means at the end of each leg. A gated front cross-arm, pivotally hinged on a first side and connected to the other side by a latch closure, extends across the front of the upper frame. The latch secures the cross-arm to the unit when a disabled and or elderly person is placed in the unit. The cross-arm is preferably pivotal about a vertical axis, allowing the wheeled, height-adjustable, rehabilitation chair, when the cross bar is opened, to be positioned closely to a table or the like so that the occupant of the unit is able to eat meals with minimal assistance from care givers. When open, the cross-arm also provides a means of ingress to and egress from the chair.
Rollers or casters are provided on each of the legs for easy movement of the height-adjustable, wheeled rehabilitation chair over a floor or other flat surface. Foot-activated pedal type brake means for activation by a care provider retain the wheeled adjustable rehabilitation chair in a stationary position when desired. The seat of the chair extends forwardly of rear legs, is of shallow depth, and has a forward edge rearwardly of the extent of the front legs, providing for extreme stability. Each side frame may include an upper arm-supporting side rail extending between front and rear portions, forming a portion of an arm-enc
Bottorff Christopher
Swann J. J.
LandOfFree
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