The invention provides a swivel mechanism for a stairlift chair and a stairlift including such a swivel assembly. The assembly includes two swivel axes, one of which attached to the carriage and the other of which attaches to the chair. The axes are spaced and preferably geared together.

In a method and system of designing a stair lift rail assembly to be mounted on a three-dimensional structure, a light beam including an optical pattern on at least part of the structure is projected from a reference location relative to the structure. Light from the structure is detected. Image data of the structure are generated based on the detected light. The image data are processed to generate a set of map data of the structure, the set of map data representing a three-dimensional map of the structure. Spatial path of the stair lift rail and locations of support interfaces for the stair lift rail assembly in the three-dimensional map are determined. Design of the stair lift rail assembly is generated based on the spatial path of the stair lift rail and the locations of the support interfaces for the stair lift rail assembly.

In a method and system of designing a stair lift rail assembly to be mounted on a three-dimensional structure, a light beam including an optical pattern on at least part of the structure is projected from a reference location relative to the structure. Light from the structure is detected. Image data of the structure are generated based on the detected light. The image data are processed to generate a set of map data of the structure, the set of map data representing a three-dimensional map of the structure. Spatial path of the stair lift rail and locations of support interfaces for the stair lift rail assembly in the three-dimensional map are determined. Design of the stair lift rail assembly is generated based on the spatial path of the stair lift rail and the locations of the support interfaces for the stair lift rail assembly.

A braking unit (4) for a stairlift, wherein the stairlift comprises a guide rail (2) and a braking carriage (1) slidable on the guide rail (2), the braking carriage (1) comprising the braking unit (4). The braking unit (4) comprises: a safety device (5) which can be moved to a safe condition to engage with the guide rail (2) blocking a sliding of the braking carriage (1); a detection device (6) designed to detect a speed of the braking carriage (1), when the braking carriage (1) slides on the guide rail (2), and is configured to connect to the safety device (5) to cause the movement of the safety device (5) in the safe condition, if the speed of the braking carriage (1) exceeds a predetermined maximum speed. The safety device (5) comprises a safety rotor (501). The detection device (6) comprises: a friction rotor (601), rotating relative to the safety rotor (501) around a first axis of rotation (R1) by the sliding of the braking carriage (1); a variation mechanism (603) acting in conjunction with and coupled to the friction rotor (601) and is configured to connect in a rotationally integral matter the safety rotor (501) with the friction rotor (601) when the speed of the carriage (1) is greater than the predetermined speed. The safety rotor (501) is configured to be rotated around a second axis of rotation (R2), parallel to the first axis of rotation (R1) when the safety rotor (501) and the friction rotor (601) are connected in an integral manner, the safety device (5) also comprising a tapered element (506) fixed to the safety rotor (501) which is configured to be positioned between the friction rotor (601) and the guide rail (2) for locking the safety device (5) in the safe condition and stopping the sliding of the braking carriage (1).

A braking unit (4) for a stairlift, wherein the stairlift comprises a guide rail (2) and a braking carriage (1) slidable on the guide rail (2), the braking carriage (1) comprising the braking unit (4). The braking unit (4) comprises: a safety device (5) which can be moved to a safe condition to engage with the guide rail (2) blocking a sliding of the braking carriage (1); a detection device (6) designed to detect a speed of the braking carriage (1), when the braking carriage (1) slides on the guide rail (2), and is configured to connect to the safety device (5) to cause the movement of the safety device (5) in the safe condition, if the speed of the braking carriage (1) exceeds a predetermined maximum speed. The safety device (5) comprises a safety rotor (501). The detection device (6) comprises: a friction rotor (601), rotating relative to the safety rotor (501) around a first axis of rotation (R1) by the sliding of the braking carriage (1); a variation mechanism (603) acting in conjunction with and coupled to the friction rotor (601) and is configured to connect in a rotationally integral matter the safety rotor (501) with the friction rotor (601) when the speed of the carriage (1) is greater than the predetermined speed. The safety rotor (501) is configured to be rotated around a second axis of rotation (R2), parallel to the first axis of rotation (R1) when the safety rotor (501) and the friction rotor (601) are connected in an integral manner, the safety device (5) also comprising a tapered element (506) fixed to the safety rotor (501) which is configured to be positioned between the friction rotor (601) and the guide rail (2) for locking the safety device (5) in the safe condition and stopping the sliding of the braking carriage (1).

A stairlift for moving along a staircase having: a curved rail having a centre line, a load bearing surface, and a carriage including a first and a second guiding unit connected to each other by a connecting unit. The second guiding unit is connected to the connecting unit via a third rotation joint about a third axis and a fourth joint about a fourth axis, the connection unit includes a fifth rotation joint about a fifth axis. The fifth axis extending from outside the rail to an area close to or on the centre line of the rail in a first plane close to or on the third and the fourth axis.

A stairlift for moving along a staircase having: a curved rail having a centre line, a load bearing surface, and a carriage including a first and a second guiding unit connected to each other by a connecting unit. The second guiding unit is connected to the connecting unit via a third rotation joint about a third axis and a fourth joint about a fourth axis, the connection unit includes a fifth rotation joint about a fifth axis. The fifth axis extending from outside the rail to an area close to or on the centre line of the rail in a first plane close to or on the third and the fourth axis.

A stair lift comprising a rail which is mounted along the staircase, at least partially at an angle to the horizontal plane, and a frame which is movable along the rail, on which a chair is mounted, which frame is provided with support and drive means that engage the rail, wherein the chair is rotatable about a vertical axis relative to the frame between two extreme rotated positions, wherein the chair comprises a seat on which a person can be seated and wherein the chair comprises a footrest on which a person seated on the seat can rest his or her feet, wherein the seat and the footrest are rotatable at mutually different angles about the vertical axis.

A stair lift comprising a rail which is mounted along the staircase, at least partially at an angle to the horizontal plane, and a frame which is movable along the rail, on which a chair is mounted, which frame is provided with support and drive means that engage the rail, wherein the chair is rotatable about a vertical axis relative to the frame between two extreme rotated positions, wherein the chair comprises a seat on which a person can be seated and wherein the chair comprises a footrest on which a person seated on the seat can rest his or her feet, wherein the seat and the footrest are rotatable at mutually different angles about the vertical axis.

A stairlift and/or a method of supporting a user on a stairlift in which the seat is configured to positively retain the user and in which the seat-to-footrest height is set so as to reduce flexure of the knee joints as well as to reduce the intrusion of the passenger into the stairway.