Electrically Propelled Chair Seat and Electrically Propelled Chair Including the Same

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to an electrically propelled chair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional electrically propelled chair is disclosed in patent TWI548372. The chair can be used to lying down, and the specific front angles among the seat, the back, and the legrest provide three support face at specific angle to support the back, the buttocks, and the legs. The chair is also called “zero gravity chair”.

Elderly or disabled may be difficult to stand up when sitting on the chair because the degenerated knee or other joints and muscles. The standing-up chair is designed to help the user to stand up. The seat can be driven to pivot forward by electricity, and the rear end of the seat is lifted. The buttocks of the user are pushed upward and forward, so the user is easy to stand up.

The back and the legrest are also driven to incline or lift by electricity. Patent TW M487727 provides a standing-up chair. In the standing-up mode, the seat is pivoted forward by a telescopic power device, and the back is also pivoted forward to make the back of the user to move forward. The legrest is moved backward for safety. Besides, the telescopic power device can used to make the seat and the back incline backward, and make the legrest extend upward. Thereby, the chair becomes a so-called “zero gravity chair”.

However, the conventional standing up chair cannot adjust the seat height. Everyone has different length of body, leg, or other portions. Seat height difference between lower than the knee or upper than the knee may be just 5cm. However, the chair may become difficult to stand up and leave the seat. In the chairs disclosed in the patents mentioned above, the seat height can be changed only by customizing or extra telescopic devices. Thus, the cost is increased.

The present invention is, therefore, arisen to obviate or at least mitigate the above mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an electrically propelled chair having a simple structure to reduce the cost. In addition, the height of the chair is adjustable.

To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides an electrically propelled chair seat including a first base, a second base, a third base, a first bar-link assembly, and a lifting extension rod. Thr second base is arranged on the first base and is pivotable about a horizontal axis with respect to the first base. The first bar-link assembly is connected to the second base and the third base so that the third base is movable between a lower position closer to the second base and an upper position remote from the second base. The lifting extension rod is connected to the first base and one of the third base and the first bar-link assembly. The lifting extension rod is extendable between a first lifting length, an intermediate lifting length, and a second lifting length. The intermediate lifting length is shorter than the second lifting length but longer than the first lifting length. When the lifting extension rod is long as a length between the first lifting length and the intermediate lifting length and extends back and forth, the third base is driven to move between the upper position and the lower position. When the lifting extension rod is long as the intermediate lifting length, the third base is at the lower position. When the lifting extension rod is long as a length between the intermediate lifting length and the second lifting length and extends back and forth, the second base pivots about the horizontal axis with respect to the first base.

In some embodiments, the first bar-link assembly includes a first extension rod and an auxiliary rod. An end of the first extension rod is slidably and pivotably disposed on one of the second base and the third base. The auxiliary rod is pivotably disposed on the first extension rod and the one of the second base and the third base. An other end of the first extension rod is pivotably disposed on the other one of the second base and the third base. When the first extension rod and the auxiliary rod pivot, the third base moves between the lower position and the upper position.

In some embodiments, the first bar-link assembly further includes a first balancing rod. An end of the first balancing rod is slidably and pivotably arranged on one of the second base and the third base due to the first extension rod. An other end of the first balancing rod is pivotably disposed on the other one of the second base and the third base.

In some embodiments, one of the second base and the third base includes a sliding track. The first bar-link assembly includes a sliding seat. The sliding seat is slidably disposed on the sliding track. The first extension rod is pivotably disposed on the sliding seat.

In some embodiments, the first bar-link assembly further includes an assistance rod. The assistance rod is connected to one of the auxiliary rod and the first extension rod to pivot with the one of the auxiliary rod and the first extension rod. An end of the lifting extension rod is pivotably disposed on the assistance rod, and an other end of the lifting extension rod is pivotably disposed on the first base.

In some embodiments, the seat can further include a fourth base, an auxiliary base, and a leaving-seat extension rod. The fourth base is pivotable with respect to the third base. The fourth base has a restriction portion. The auxiliary base is pivotably connected to the fourth base so that the auxiliary base selectively abuts against the restriction portion. The leaving-seat extension rod is connected to the third base and the auxiliary base. The leaving-seat extension rod is extendable between a first leaving-seat length, an intermediate leaving-seat length, and a second leaving-seat length. The intermediate leaving-seat length is between the first leaving-seat length and the second leaving-seat length. When the leaving-seat extension rod is long as a length between the first leaving-seat length and the intermediate leaving-seat length and extends back and forth, the auxiliary base is driven to pivot with respect to the fourth base. When the leaving-seat extension rod is long as the intermediate leaving-seat length, the auxiliary base abuts against the restriction portion. When the leaving-seat extension rod extends from the intermediate leaving-seat length toward the second leaving-seat length, the auxiliary base abuts against the restriction portion and pushes the fourth base to make it pivot with respect to the third base.

In some embodiments, the seat can further include a second bar-link assembly. The second bar-link assembly includes a second extension rod and a second balancing rod. The second extension rod is pivotally connected to the third base and the fourth base. The second balancing rod is also pivotally connected to the third base and the fourth base. A four-bar-link system is composed of the third base, the second extension rod, the fourth base, and the second balancing rod so that the fourth base is pivotable to approach or to leave the third base.

Besides, the present invention also provides an electrically propelled chair including a seat portion and a back portion. The seat portion and the back portion are arranged above the third base of the electrically propelled chair seat mentioned above and are driven to move when the third base moves. Preferably, the seat portion can be arranged on the fourth base, and the back portion can be arranged on the auxiliary base.

Thereby, the inclining and the lifting of the third base can be controlled by a single structure, the lifting extension rod. Thus, the chair can have the functions of height adjustment and seat inclining. Besides, the forward pivoting of the fourth base and the backward pivoting of the auxiliary base can be controlled by a single structure, the leaving-seat extension rod. Thus, the chair can have the functions of helping stand up and the back inclining. The structure is simple, and the cost is reduced to achieve multi-function.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment(s) in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is a stereogram showing a first embodiment of an electrically propelled chair of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a breakdown drawing showing a first embodiment of an electrically propelled chair of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a breakdown drawing showing a first embodiment of an electrically propelled chair of the present invention from an other angle;

FIG. 4 is a breakdown drawing showing a first embodiment of an electrically propelled chair seat of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial breakdown drawing showing a first embodiment of an electrically propelled chair seat of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a lateral view showing a first embodiment of an electrically propelled chair of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a first base, a second base, and a third base showing a first embodiment of an electrically propelled chair seat of the present invention;

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are movement illustrations of a lifting extension rod showing a first embodiment of an electrically propelled chair seat of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a structure illustration of a third base, a fourth base, and a auxiliary base showing a first embodiment of an electrically propelled chair seat of the present invention;

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are movement illustrations of a leaving-seat extension rod showing a first embodiment of an electrically propelled chair seat of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of height adjustment showing a first embodiment of an electrically propelled chair of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an illustration of leaving-seat action showing a first embodiment of an electrically propelled chair of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is an illustration of lying-down mode showing a first embodiment of an electrically propelled chair of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is an illustration of a “zero gravity chair” mode showing a first embodiment of an electrically propelled chair of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a lateral view showing a second embodiment of an electrically propelled chair of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a structure illustration of a first base, a second base, and a third base showing a second embodiment of an electrically propelled chair seat of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides an electrically propelled chair including a seat below, a seat portion 10, a back portion 20, and a legrest portion 30 installed onto the seat. Directions are defined by a user sitting on the seat portion 10 and lying on the back portion 20. For example, the longitudinal direction is defined by the direction from the upward to the downward in FIG. 1. The horizontal direction is defined by direction from the left-downward to the right-upward in FIG. 1. The frontward-backward direction is defined by the direction from left-upward to right-down in FIG. 1. According to the use and needs, the back portion 20 and legrest portion 30 can be ignored, and the related structures such as back rack, legrest bar-link assembly, and legrest extension rod can also be ignored. The seat portion 10, the back portion 20, and the legrest portion 30 provide the user’s body support, cushion and comfort, and are adapted for the buttocks, the back, and the leg to lean on. Preferably, the back portion 20 can further extend upward or connect to another cushion pad to form a headrest portion 21. The interior and the surface of the seat portion 10, the back portion 20, and the legrest portion 30 can be added with some functional structures such as massage mechanism, heating device, ventilation device, or others. The functional structures can be combined to use too.

Please refer to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, the electrically propelled chair seat includes a first base 40, a second base 50, a third base 60, a first bar-link assembly 70, a lifting extension rod 80, a fourth base 90, an auxiliary base 100, a leaving-seat extension rod 110, a second bar-link assembly 120, a legrest bar-link assembly 130, and a legrest extension rod 140. It is noted that the electrically propelled chair seat and the chair are substantially symmetrical, Thus, in the present invention, necessary structures are usually described from the lateral angle. In the present invention, the “rod” and the “bar-link” can be single rods, pairs of rods, assemblies of rods, H-shaped rods, rectangular rod frame, or other structure having a lateral view like a single rod.

The first base 40 is arranged under the electrically propelled chair seat for placing on the ground or other stable position. Cushion pad can be optionally arranged under the first base 40. The first base 40 has a pivot portion 41 and a pivot seat 42. Practically, the pivot portion 41 is a through hole extending along the horizontal axis.

The second base 50 is disposed on the first base 40 and is pivotable with respect to the first base 40 about the horizontal axis defined by the pivot portion 41. Practically, the second base 50 is pivotally connected to the pivot portion 41 of the first base 40. The second base has an installation portion 51, a supporting portion 52, and a pivot seat 53. The installation portion 51 is arranged behind the pivot portion 41, and the supporting portion 52 is arranged in front of the pivot portion 41. A lower portion of the supporting portion 52 abuts against the first base 40 so that the second base can only pivot backward instead forward. The pivot seat 53 is located in front of the support portion 52. The second base further has a sliding track 54 which is installed and fixed on the installation portion 51.

The first bar-link assembly includes a first extension rod 71, am auxiliary rod 72, a first balancing rod 73, a sliding seat 74, and an assistance rod 75. The bottom of the first extension rod 71 is slidably and pivotably disposed on the second base 50. The top of the first extension rod 71 is pivotably disposed on the third base 60. The bottom of the auxiliary rod 72 is pivotally connected to the pivot seat 53 of the second base 50. The top of the auxiliary rod 72 is pivotally disposed on the first extension rod 71 so that the third base 60 is liftable with respect to the second base 50 when the first extension rod 71 and the auxiliary rod 72 pivot. Specifically, the bottom of the first extension rod 71 is pivotally connected to the sliding seat 74, and the sliding seat 74 is slidably disposed on the sliding track 54 so that the first extension rod 71 is able to slide and pivot with respect to the second base 50. In other possible embodiments, the bottom of the first extension rod can have a protrusion, and the second base can have a groove. The protrusion is slidably and rotatably arranged in the groove of the second base. Thereby, the sliding track and the sliding seat in the first embodiment can be ignored. The arrangement of the first balancing rod 73 is similar to that of the first extension rod 71. The bottom of the first balancing rod 73 is slidably disposed on the sliding seat 74, and the top of the first balancing rod 73 is pivotally connected to the third base 60 so that the first balancing rod 73 and the first extension rod 71 can support and drive the third base 60 to move. When the third base 60 moves, it does not incline or inclines slightly. However, if the third base has other structures to help keep balance, or the third base is free to designed to be free to pivot, the first balancing rod 73 can be ignored. For example, the top of the auxiliary rod further extends upward, and the terminal end slidably and pivotably disposed on the third base so that the auxiliary rod can help keep balance of the third base. The assistance rod 75 is connected to the auxiliary rod 72 and pivots with the auxiliary rod 72. Specifically, the first bar-link assembly further includes a pivot axle 76. The auxiliary rod 72 and the assistance rod 75 are directly connected to the pivot axle 76, and the pivot axle 76 is rotatably disposed on the pivot seat 53. In other possible embodiments, the assistance rod 75 can be directly connected to the auxiliary rod 72, or the assistance rod 75 is directly or indirectly connected to the first extension rod 71.

An end of the lifting extension rod 80 is pivotally connected to the assistance rod 75, and the other end is pivotally connected to the pivot seat 42. When the lifting extension rod 80 extends back and forth, the auxiliary rod 72 is driven to pivot via the assistance rod 75. Furthermore, the auxiliary rod 72 and the first extension rod 71 pivot to make the third base 60 to move vertically. The assistance rod 75 provides a better pivot position for the lifting extension rod 80 so that efficient moment of force is provided to the auxiliary rod 72. In other possible embodiments, the lifting extension rod can directly pivotally connect to the auxiliary rod, and the assistance rod is removed. Or, the lifting extension rod is pivotally connected to other elements of the first bar-link assembly, such as the first extension rod. Thus, the first extension rod and the auxiliary rod are still driven to pivot when the lifting extension rod extends back and forth. Besides, if the top of the lifting extension rod is directly or indirectly pivotally connected to the third base, the third base can be driven to move by the lifting extension rod. In this case, the first bar-link assembly can use vertical or inclined sliding track to enable the third base to move with respect to the second base.

Please refer to FIG. 7 to FIG. 9, the lifting extension rod 80 is extendable between a first lifting length, an intermediate lifting length, and a second lifting length wherein the intermediate lifting length is between the first lifting length and the second lifting length. As shown in FIG. 7, when the lifting extension rod 80 is long as the intermediate lifting length, the third base 60 is located at the lower position. The sliding seat 74 is located at the rear end of the sliding track 54, so the third base 60 is unable to descend further. As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, when the lifting extension rod 80 extends from the intermediate lifting length toward the first lifting length, the lifting extension rod 80 pushes the assistance rod 75 and further drives the auxiliary rod 72 and the first extension rod 71 to pivot, and the sliding seat 74 moves forward along the sliding track 54 so that the third base 60 moves upward toward the upper position. As shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 9, when the lifting extension rod 80 becomes shorter from the intermediate lifting length toward the second lifting length, the third base 60 is already at the lower position and could not descend further. Thus, the third base 60 pushes the second base 50 via the pivot axle 76, the pivot seat 53, the sliding seat 74, and the sliding track 54 so that the second base 50 pivots backward.

Please refer to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, the fourth base 90 is located above the third base 60 and is adapted for the seat portion to install fixedly. The second bar-link assembly connects the fourth base 90 and the third base 60 therebetween so that the fourth base 90 is pivotable with respect to the third base 60. Specifically, the second bar-link assembly includes a second extension rod 121 and a second balancing rod 122. The second extension rod 121 and the second balancing rod 122 are pivotally connected to the third base 60 and the fourth base 90 respectively. A four-bar-link system is composed of the third base 60, the second extension rod 121, the fourth base 90, and the second balancing rod 122 so that the fourth base 90 is pivotable to approach or to leave the third base 60. However, if the fourth base 90 is pivotally disposed on the third base 60 to ignore the second bar-link assembly, the fourth base 90 is still pivotable with respect to the third base. The fourth base 90 further has a pivot portion 91 and a restriction portion 92 at a rear side thereof.

The auxiliary base 100 is pivotally connected to the pivot portion 91 of the fourth base 90 and is located behind the fourth base. The auxiliary base 100 further extends upward and has a back supporting rack 101 for the back portion to install thereon. The auxiliary base 100 also has an abutting seat 102. When the auxiliary base 100 pivots with respect to the fourth base 90, the abutting seat 102 will selectively approaches and abuts against the restriction portion 92.

The leaving-seat extension rod 110 is pivotally connected to the third base 60 and the auxiliary base 100. When the leaving-seat extension rod 110 extends back and forth, the auxiliary base 100 and/or the fourth base 90 are pushed to pivot. Please refer to FIG. 10 to FIG. 12, the leaving-seat extension rod 110 is extendable between a first leaving-seat length, an intermediate leaving-seat length, and a second leaving-seat length wherein the intermediate leaving-seat length is between the first leaving-seat length and the second leaving-seat length. As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, when the leaving-seat extension rod 110 extends between the first leaving-seat length and the intermediate leaving-sea length, the lower portion of the fourth base 90 abuts against the third base 60 or the second bar-link assembly to be unable to pivot downward, as shown in FIG. 6. The leaving-seat extension rod 110 drives the auxiliary base 100 to pivot with respect to the fourth base 90. Because the back portion is fixed on the auxiliary base 100, the pivoting of the auxiliary base 100 can further control the inclining and erection. As shown in FIG. 11, when the leaving-seat extension rod is at the intermediate leaving-seat length, the auxiliary base 100 pivots so that the abutting seat 102 abuts against the restriction portion 92. In this time, the back portion is erected. As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, when the leaving-seat extension rod 110 extends from the intermediate leaving-seat length toward the second leaving-seat length, the auxiliary base 100 abuts against the restriction portion 92 so that the auxiliary base 100 is unable to pivot upward with respect to the fourth base 90. The leaving-seat rod 110 extends toward the second leaving-seat length so that the auxiliary base 110 pushes the fourth base 90 to pivot upward via the restriction portion 92. Thus, the fourth base 90 pivots with respect to the third base 60. Because the seat portion is fixed on the fourth base 90, the forward pivoting of the fourth base helps the user stand up and leave the seat.

Please refer to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, the legrest bar-link assembly 130 and the legrest extension rod 140 is disposed on the third base. The legrest bar-link assembly 130 is adapted for the legrest portion 30 to disposed on. The legrest extension rod 140 drives the legrest bar-link assembly 130 to move horizontally and pivot so that the legrest portion 30 extends outward or moves inward for storage.

The electrically propelled chair seat mentioned above can help leave the seat and adjust the height of the seat. Please refer to FIG. 6 and FIG. 13, the lifting extension rod 80 extends to drive the first extension rod 71 of the first bar-link assembly and the auxiliary rod 72 to pivot so as to drive the third base 60 to move vertically. The seat portion 10, the back portion 20, and the legrest portion 30 disposed on the third base 60 are also lifted or lowered. Thus, the height can be adjusted. Please refer to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the leaving-seat extension rod 110 extends to drive the auxiliary base 100 and the fourth base 90 to pivot forward so that the seat portion 10 and the back portion 20 also pivot forward to help the user stand up and leave the seat. Because the height adjustment and leaving-seat assistance are controlled by the lifting extension rod driving the third base to move vertically and the leaving-seat extension rod driving the fourth base to pivot respectively, the height of the third base may not affect the pivoting of the fourth base and the leaving-seat assistance function. No matter the height of the seat portion 10 is, the function to help the user stand up and leave the seat can normally operate. Thus, the seat height can be freely adjusted.

Besides, the seat of the present invention can be used for lying down, such as a “zero gravity chair”. Please refer to FIG. 15, the leaving-seat extension rod 110 can be shortened to drive the auxiliary base 100 to pivot backward so that the back portion 20 inclines backward. In addition, the legrest extension rod 140 drives the legrest bar-link assembly to push the legrest outward. Please refer to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the lifting extension rod 80 can be further shortened to drive the second base 50 pivot backward to make the use lie down comfortably.

It is noted that the electrically propelled chair can have multi-functions such as height adjustment, helping stand up, and the “zero gravity chair”. However, if only the height adjustment and the inclining seat are needed, the second bar-link assembly, the fourth base, the auxiliary base, and the leaving-seat extension rod can be ignored. The seat portion is directly or indirectly disposed on the third base.

Please refer to FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 for another embodiment of the present invention, the first extension rod, the auxiliary rod, and the first balancing rod of the first bar-link assembly are arranged up-side-down. Specifically. The top of the first extension rod 71 slidably and pivotably disposed on the third base 60, and the bottom is pivotally connected to the pivot seat 53 of the second base 50. The top of the auxiliary rod 72 is pivotally connected to the third base 60, and the bottom is pivotally connected to the first extension rod 71 so that the third base 60 is movable vertically with respect to the second base 50 when the first extension rod 71 and the auxiliary rod 72 pivot. More specifically, the top of the first extension rod 71 is pivotally connected to the sliding seat 74, and the third base 60 has a sliding track 61. The sliding seat 74 is slidably arranged on the sliding track so that the first extension rod 71 is slidable and pivotable with respect to the third base 60. The arrangement of the first balancing rod 73 is similar to that of the first extension rod 71. The top of the first balancing rod 73 is pivotally connected to the sliding seat 74, and the bottom is pivotally connected to the second base 50 so that the first balancing rod 73 and the first extension rod 71 support and drive the third base 60 to move together. Thereby, the third base 60 can move horizontally without pivoting. The assistance rod 75 is connected to the first extension rod 71 and pivots with the first extension rod 71. The lifting extension rod 80 is pivotally connected to the assistance rod and the pivot seat 42 of the second base. When the lifting extension rod 80 extends, the first extension rod 71 is driven to pivot by the assistance rod 75. And then, the third base 60 is also driven to move vertically. When the third base 60 descends to the lower position, the third base 60 pushes the second base 50 to make the second base 50 pivot backward. Thus, the function is similar to that of the main embodiment.

In conclusion, the lifting extension rod and related elements of the electrically propelled chair seat of the present invention can provide the function of height adjustment and seat inclining. The structure is simple but the chair is multi-functional. With the leaving-seat extension rod and related elements, the chair can further help the user stand up and leave the seat. The present invention has a simple structure and easy to operate. The cost can be also reduced.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.