Seat

Abstract

An exemplary seat having seat connection mechanism for attaching the seat to a wheelchair includes a seat frame and a backrest. The backrest is pivotably connected to the seat frame through a pivoting mechanism. The seat further includes a biasing member connected to the backrest at a first connection point and a second connection point near the seat frame. The second connection point and the pivoting mechanism are spaced apart from one another by a distance C. The seat further includes an adjustment mechanism adapted for changing the distance C. The second connection point may be connected to a guide arm, such that the position of the second connection point is adjustable by sliding the second connection point along the guide arm, thus making the distance C adjustable.

Claims

1. A seat having a seat connection mechanism for attachment of the seat to a wheelchair, comprising: a seat frame; a backrest, wherein the backrest is pivotably connected to the seat frame through a pivoting mechanism; and a biasing member having a first end connected to the backrest and a second end positioned near the seat frame, wherein the second end of the biasing member and the pivoting mechanism are spaced by a distance C, wherein the seat comprises an adjustment mechanism adapted for changing the distance C, wherein the second end is slideably connected to a guide arm and the position of the second end and thereby the distance C is adjustable by sliding the second end along the guide arm, wherein the second end is continuously adjustable along the guide arm.

2. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the second end is slideably connected around the guide arm for sliding along the guide arm.

3. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the guide arm extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the biasing member.

4. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is connected to the backrest and the seat frame and positioned at one side of the seat, and a second biasing member is connected to the backrest and the seat frame and positioned at an opposing side of the seat.

5. The seat according to claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator for indicating actual distance C.

6. The seat according to claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism for locking the second end at predefined positions along the guide arm thereby fixing the distance C.

7. A wheelchair comprising a seat according to claim 1.

8. A seat having a seat connection mechanism for attachment of the seat to a wheelchair, comprising: a seat frame; a backrest, wherein the backrest is pivotably connected to the seat frame through a pivoting mechanism; a biasing member having a first end connected to the backrest and a second end positioned near the seat frame, wherein the second end and the pivoting mechanism are spaced by a distance C, wherein the seat comprises an adjustment mechanism adapted for changing the distance C, wherein the second end is slidably connected to a guide arm and the position of the second end and thereby the distance C is adjustable by sliding the second end along the guide arm such that the greater the distance C the firmer the resulting spring action will be, and the shorter the distance C the softer the resulting spring action will be, wherein the second end is continuously adjustable along the guide arm.

9. The seat according to claim 8, wherein the biasing member is a double acting gas spring member.

10. A seat, comprising: a seat frame; a backrest pivotably connected to the seat frame at a pivoting point; an adjustment mechanism comprising a guide arm mounted to the seat frame; and a biasing member having a first end connected to the backrest and a second end slideably connected to the guide arm near the seat frame, such that the second end of the biasing member and the pivoting point are spaced from one another by a distance C; wherein the second end is continuously adjustable along the guide arm; and wherein the adjustment mechanism is adapted for adjusting a resulting spring action of the biasing member by sliding the second end of the biasing member along the guide arm to change the distance C between the second end and the pivoting point.

11. The seat according to claim 9, wherein the second end is slideably connected around the guide arm for sliding along the guide arm.

12. The seat according to claim 9, wherein the guide arm extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the biasing member.

13. The seat according to claim 10, wherein the biasing member is connected to the backrest and the seat frame and positioned at one side of the seat, and a second biasing member is connected to the backrest and the seat frame and positioned at an opposing side of the seat.

14. The seat according to claim 10, further comprising a visual indicator for indicating actual distance C.

15. The seat according to claim 10, further comprising a locking mechanism for locking the second end at predefined positions along the guide arm thereby fixing the distance C.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) Referring now to the drawings, exemplary illustrations are shown in detail. Exemplary illustrations are described in detail by referring to the drawings as follows:

(2) FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate one non-limiting example of a seat having a seatback and a seat frame, with the seat being adjustable for supporting a wide range of users having different weights and sizes.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the seat of FIGS. 1A-1D, as seen from behind the backrest, and being in a first angular position relative to the seat frame.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the seat of FIGS. 1A-1D, as seen from behind the backrest being in a second angular position relative to the seat frame.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a side elevation view of the seat of FIGS. 1A-1D, where the second connection point has a first distance C to the pivoting mechanism and where the backrest is in a first angular position relative to the seat frame.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a side elevation view of the seat of FIGS. 1A-1D, where the second connection point has a first distance C to the pivoting mechanism and where the backrest is in a second angular position relative to the seat frame.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a side elevation view of the seat of FIGS. 1A-1D, where the second connection point has a second distance C to the pivoting mechanism and where the backrest is in a first angular position relative to the seat frame.

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a side elevation view of the seat of FIGS. 1A-1D, where the second connection point has a second distance C to the pivoting mechanism and where the backrest is in a second angular position relative to the seat frame.

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the a portion of the seat of FIGS. 1A-1D, as seen from behind the backrest, and including the visual indicator for indicating actual distance C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(10) In the explanation of the figures, identical or corresponding elements will be provided with the same designations in different figures. Therefore, no explanation of all details will be given in connection with each single figure/embodiment.

(11) FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate a seat 100 for attachment to a wheel chair. The seat comprises a seat frame 101 and a backrest 103, which is pivotably connected to the seat frame through pivoting mechanism 105. The seat further comprises a biasing member 107 connected to the backrest 103 and the seat frame 101 through a first connection point 109 and a second connection point 111 near the seat frame 101, wherein the second connection point 111 and the pivoting mechanism 105 are spaced by the distance C. In one non-limiting example, the biasing member 107 can be a gas spring, but alternative spring elements could also be used.

(12) The seat comprises an adjustment mechanism 113 for varying the distance C between the second connection point 111 and the pivoting mechanism 105.

(13) Referring to FIG. 1B, the distance C can be varied by displacement of the second connection point 111. In this example, the second connection point 111 is connected to a guide arm 115. Thereby adjustment mechanism 113 makes the connection point displaceable, whereby the distance C between the second connection point 111 and the pivoting mechanism 105 is adjustable by sliding the second connection 111 point along the guide arm 115. Referring to FIGS. 1C and 1D, the second connection point 111 is in two different positions, whereby the distance C is varied.

(14) By moving the connection point in a different direction than the direction of the spring force it becomes easier to fine tune the distance, since it is not necessary to work against the forces of the biasing member. Further by having a guide arm where the connection points are moved along it is easier to control the process, since the guide arm assists.

(15) FIG. 2 illustrates the exemplary seat 200, as seen from behind the backrest 203, being in a first angular position relative to the seat frame. In this example, the seat 200 comprises a seat frame 201 with a support surface as well as the backrest 203 which comprises a number of back support elements 204. The back rest 203 and the seat frame 201 are pivotably connected in pivoting mechanism 205. The seat 200 further comprises a gas spring 207 connected to the backrest and the seat frame through a first connection point 209 and a second connection point 211.

(16) The seat 200 comprises adjustment mechanism 213 for changing the distance between the second connection points 211 and the pivoting mechanism 205. The adjustment mechanism 213 comprises a guide arm 215 being mounted to the seat frame 201 and the second connection point 211 is slideably connected around said guide arm 215 for sliding along said guide arm in the direction of the guide arm.

(17) Similar biasing member and adjustment mechanism are positioned at the opposite side of the seat.

(18) FIG. 3 illustrates seen from behind the backrest being in a second angular position relative to the seat frame, in this position the gas spring 207 is forced together because of load (indicated by arrow 301) on the backrest.

(19) FIG. 4 illustrates a side elevation view of the seat of FIGS. 1A-1D, where the second connection point 211 has been moved to one end of the guide arm 215, thereby a first distance between connection points is obtained and thereby one tension of the gas spring is obtained.

(20) FIG. 5 illustrates a side elevation view of the seat of FIGS. 1A-1D, where the backrest is in a second angular position relative to the seat frame, in this position the gas spring 207 is forced together because of load (indicated by arrow 301) on the backrest.

(21) FIG. 6 illustrates a side elevation view of the seat of FIGS. 1A-1D, where the second connection point 211 is positioned in the middle of the guide arm 215, thereby a second distance between connection points is obtained and thereby a second tension of the gas spring is obtained.

(22) FIG. 7 illustrates a side elevation view of the seat of FIGS. 1A-1D, where the backrest is in a second angular position relative to the seat frame, in this position the gas spring 207 is forced together because of load (indicated by arrow 301) on the backrest.

(23) FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the a portion of the seat of FIGS. 1A-1D, as seen from behind the backrest, and including the visual indicator 810 for indicating actual distance C between said connection points. Here a gap is made and the position of the connection point can be seen through the gap. Different positions indicate different tensions of the gas spring. Positions have been indicated by a visual scale, thereby positions can be referred to for later reference, e.g. for a similar position of a similar adjustment mechanism at the opposite side of the seat.