US4784435A — Patient chair

Claim 1

Independent Claim 185 words

A chair comprising: a. a rearwardly extending, substantially horizontal, downwardly deflecting seat means having a front and a rear for supporting a human body in a seated position; b. a pair of substantially rigid, substantially vertical front legs spaced apart from each other; c. a pair of substantially parallel, non-deflecting armrests disposed in spaced relation to one another, each armrest extending rearwardly from a respective one of the front legs; and d. structure means for cantilevering the seat means below the armrests from the front legs at the front of the seat means so that the seat means can provide a rocking motion that increases rearwardly while the seat means is non-downwardly deflecting at its front edge; wherein an individual seated upon the chair can support each of his arms upon one of the armrests so that an individual ingressing into and egressing from the chair can support his weight by pressing against the armrests with his hands, and wherein the front of the seat means and the front of the armrests are in substantially the same vertical plane for ease of ingres and egress.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 185 words

A chair comprising: a. a rearwardly extending, substantially horizontal, downwardly deflecting seat means having a front and a rear for supporting a human body in a seated position; b. a pair of substantially rigid, substantially vertical front legs spaced apart from each other; c. a pair of substantially parallel, non-deflecting armrests disposed in spaced relation to one another, each armrest extending rearwardly from a respective one of the front legs; and d. structure means for cantilevering the seat means below the armrests from the front legs at the front of the seat means so that the seat means can provide a rocking motion that increases rearwardly while the seat means is non-downwardly deflecting at its front edge; wherein an individual seated upon the chair can support each of his arms upon one of the armrests so that an individual ingressing into and egressing from the chair can support his weight by pressing against the armrests with his hands, and wherein the front of the seat means and the front of the armrests are in substantially the same vertical plane for ease of ingres and egress.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 44 words

The chair defined in claim 1 further comprising a back means affixed to the seat means and extending vertically above the seat means for providing support for the back of an individual sitting upon the seat means, wherein the back means can deflect rearwardly.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

The chair defined in claim 2 wherein the seat means and the back means are comprised of two continuous side members affixed substantially parallel in spaced relation to each other by at least one cross-connecting transverse bar.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 15 words

The chair defined in claim 3 wherein the side members are constructed of spring steel.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 51 words

The chair defined in claim 2 or 3 wherein the back means is an S-shaped planar surface having a lower back section which is convex relative to the forward side of the planar surface and an upper back section which is concave relative to the forward side of the planar surface.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 46 words

The chair defined in claim 2 wherein the seat means deflects downwardly a distance of between about 0.2 and 0.5 inches when 100 pound weight is placed on the seat means at a distance about 12 inches rearwardly from the forward side of the seat means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

The chair defined in claim 6 wherein the undamped primary elastic period of vibration along the plane defined by the seat means is between about 200 and about 400 cycles per minute.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 44 words

The chair defined in claim 2 wherein the back means deflects horizontally a distance of between about 1 and about 2 inches when a force of 50 pounds is applied horizontally to the back means at a point about 12 inches above the seat.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 12 words

The chair defined in claim 1 comprising more than one seat means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

The chair defined in claim 3 wherein the seat means comprises a first fabric piece attached horizontally between the side frame members and the back means comprises a second fabric piece attached vertically between the side frame members.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

The chair defined in claim 10 wherein either the first fabric piece, the second fabric piece or both is removable and reattachable.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 46 words

The chair defined in claim 1 wherein the structure means further comprises a pair of sled base members each affixed to one of the front legs such that the two sled base members extend horizontally and rearwardly in parallel to form the base of the chair.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 49 words

The chair defined in claim 1 wherein the structure means further comprises a pair of rigid rear legs, and means for affixing each of the rear legs to one of the front legs so that the rear legs are disposed substantially vertically and substantially in parallel with each other.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 12 words

The chair defined in claim 1 wherein the armrests are substantially horizontal.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

The chair defined in claim 1 wherein each front leg extends upwardly in a substantially vertical direction and then rearwardly in a substantially horizontal direction to form one of the armrests.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 213 words

The chair defined in claim 11 wherein at least one of the cross-connecting transverse bars is U-shaped and the first fabric piece comprises: (a) a cover defining an interior seat volume having a top side, a bottom side, a left side, a right side, a forward end and a rear end, wherein the cover has a rear edge opening across the length of the rear end and a transverse bar opening which, when the chair seat is attached to the chair, is aligned with the U-shaped transverse bar; (b) a seat pad disposed within the cover, the seat pad being of substantially the same size and shape as the interior seat volume; (c) a rear end fastener for closing the rear edge opening; and (d) a transverse bar opening fastener for closing the transverse bar opening except for a left gap at the left side of the transverse bar opening and a right gap at the right side of the transverse bar opening, wherein the left gap and the right gap have substantially the same diameter as the U-shaped transverse bar so that, when the chair seat is in use with the transverse bar opening fastener closed, the U-shaped transverse bar protrudes out of the left gap and back into the right gap.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 72 words

The chair defined in claim 16 further comprising: (a) an upper seat liner affixed within the cover adjacent to and in parallel with the seat pad; and (b) a lower seat liner affixed within the cover adjacent to and in parallel with the bottom side of the cover; wherein the upper seat liner and the lower seat liner are substantially the same size and shape as the plane of the seat pad.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

The chair defined in claim 17 wherein the rear end fastener and the transverse bar fastener are zippers.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 212 words

The chair defined in claim 11 wherein at least one of the cross-connecting transverse bars is U-shaped and the second fabric piece comprises: (a) a cover defining an interior back volume having a forward side, a rearward side, a left side, a right side, an upper end and a lower end, wherein the cover has a lower edge opening across the length of the lower end and a transverse bar opening which, when the seat is attached to the chair, is aligned with the U-shaped transverse bar; (b) a back pad disposed within the cover, the back pad being of substantially the same size and shape as the interior back volume; (c) a lower end fastener for closing the lower edge opening; and (d) a transverse bar opening fastener for closing the transverse bar opening except for a left gap at the left side of the transverse bar opening and a right gap at the right side of the transverse bar opening, wherein the left gap and the right gap have substantially the same diameter as the U-shaped transverse bar so that, when the chair back is in use with the transverse bar opening fastener closed, the U-shaped transverse bar protrudes out of the left gap and back into the right gap.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 77 words

The chair defined in claim 19 wherein the second fabric piece further comprises: (a) a forward seat liner affixed within the cover adjacent to and in parallel with the back pad; and (b) a rearward seat liner affixed within the cover adjacent to and in parallel with the rearward side of the cover; wherein the forward seat liner and the rearward seat liner are substantially the same size and shape as the plane of the back pad.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

The chair defined in claim 20 wherein the lower end fastener and the transverse bar fastener are zippers.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 241 words

A chair having a front and a rear and capable of a rocking motion, comprising: (a) a base comprising a pair of substantially rigid front legs extending upwardly in a generally vertical direction and then rearwardly in a substantially horizontal direction to form rigid armrests; (b) a substantially horizontal seat having a front and a rear; and (c) a back extending vertically above the seat; wherein the seat and the back are comprised of the two steel side members affixed in parallel relation by cross-connecting transverse bars and fabric stretched between the side members to form a sitting surface and a back rest, wherein the seat is cantilevered near its front to each of the front legs below the armrests so as to be non-downwardly deflecting at its front and downwardly deflecting at its rear to provide a rocking motion that increases rearwardly, wherein the seat deflects downwardly a distance between about 0.2 and about 0.5 inches when a 100 pound weight is placed on the seat at a distance about 12 inches rearwardly from the front of the seat, wherein the back is S-shaped and deflects horizontally in a rearward direction when a force of 50 pounds is applied horizontally and rearwardly to the back at a point about 12 inches below the seat, and wherein the front of the seat and the front of the armrests are in substantially the same vertical plane for ease of ingress and egress.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 241 words

A chair having a front and a rear and capable of a rocking motion, comprising: (a) a base comprising a pair of substantially rigid front legs extending upwardly in a generally vertical direction and then rearwardly in a substantially horizontal direction to form rigid armrests; (b) a substantially horizontal seat having a front and a rear; and (c) a back extending vertically above the seat; wherein the seat and the back are comprised of the two steel side members affixed in parallel relation by cross-connecting transverse bars and fabric stretched between the side members to form a sitting surface and a back rest, wherein the seat is cantilevered near its front to each of the front legs below the armrests so as to be non-downwardly deflecting at its front and downwardly deflecting at its rear to provide a rocking motion that increases rearwardly, wherein the seat deflects downwardly a distance between about 0.2 and about 0.5 inches when a 100 pound weight is placed on the seat at a distance about 12 inches rearwardly from the front of the seat, wherein the back is S-shaped and deflects horizontally in a rearward direction when a force of 50 pounds is applied horizontally and rearwardly to the back at a point about 12 inches below the seat, and wherein the front of the seat and the front of the armrests are in substantially the same vertical plane for ease of ingress and egress.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 59 words

The chair defined in claim 22 wherein the base comprises a pair of substantially rigid rear legs, wherein each of the rear legs is attached to the rearmost end of one of the armrests such that each of the front legs is disposed in substantially the same plane as one of the armrests and one of the rear legs.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 96 words

The chair defined in claim 22 comprising at least two seats, a crossbeam and an intermediate armrest wherein each end of the crossbeam is affixed to one of the front legs below the armrest, wherein the seats are attached near their front edges to the crossbeam so as to be rearwardly cantilevered, wherein the intermediate armrest is attached to the crossbeam between two of the seats, and wherein the intermediate armrest extends vertically above the crossbeam and then rearwardly in a substantially horizontal disposition so as to maintain a parallel disposition relative to the front legs.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 283 words

The chair defined in claim 22 wherein the transverse bars are U-shaped and the seat comprises a removable chair seat comprising: (a) a cover defining an interior seat volume having a top side, a bottom side, a left side, a right side, a forward end and a rear end, wherein the cover has a rear edge opening across the length of the rear end and a transverse bar opening which, when the seat is attached to the chair, is aligned with a lower one of the U-shaped transverse bars; (b) a seat pad disposed within the cover, the planar configuration of the seat pad being substantially the same as the planar configuration of the interior seat volume; (c) a rear end fastener for closing the rear edge opening; (d) a transverse bar opening fastener for closing the transverse bar opening except for a left gap at the left side of the transverse bar opening and a right gap at the right side of the transverse bar opening, wherein the left gap and the right gap have substantially the same diameter as the lower U-shaped transverse bar so that, when the chair seat is in use with the transverse bar opening fastener closed, the lower U-shaped transverse bar protrudes out of the left gap and back into the right gap; (e) an upper seat liner affixed within the cover adjacent to and in parallel with the seat pad; and (f) a lower seat liner affixed within the cover adjacent to and in parallel with the bottom side of the cover; wherein the upper seat liner and the lower seat liner have substantially the same planar configuration as the planar configuration of the seat pad.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 300 words

The chair as defined in claim 22 or 26, wherein the transverse bars are U-shaped and the back comprises a removable chair back that can be removed and replaced without disassembling the chair, the chair back comprising: (a) a cover defining an interior back volume having a forward side, a rearward side, a left side, a right side, an upper end and a lower end, wherein the cover has a lower edge opening across the length of the lower end and a transverse bar opening which, when the back is attached to the chair, is aligned with an upper one of the U-shaped transverse bars; (b) a back pad disposed wtihin the cover, the planar configuration of the back pad being substantially the same as the planar configuration of the interior back volume; (c) a lower end fastener for closing the lower edge opening; (d) a transverse bar opening fastener for closing the transverse bar opening except for a left gap at the left side of the transverse bar opening and a right gap at the right side of the transverse bar opening, wherein the left gap and the right gap have substantially the same diameter as the upper U-shaped transverse bar so that, when the chair back is in use with the transverse bar opening fastener closed, the upper U-shaped transverse bar protrudes out of the left gap and back into the right gap; (e) a forward seat liner affixed within the cover adjacent to and in parallel with the back pad; and (f) a rearward seat liner affixed within the cover adjacent to and in parallel with the rearward side of the cover; wherein the planar configuration of the forward seat liner and the rearward seat liner substantially the same as the planar configuration of the back pad.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 88 words

The chair of claim 22 wherein the base comprises a pair of sled base members and a lateral brace, wherein each of the sled base members is attached to a respective one of the front legs at the lowermost portion of the leg and extends horizontally in a rearward direction and parallel with the armrests, and wherein the lateral brace is disposed horizontally at right angles to the sled base members and is attached at each end to the rearmost end of one of the sled base members.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 172 words

A multiple seat chair comprising: (a) a pair of substantially rigid, substantially vertical front legs spaced apart from each other; (b) a pair of substantially parallel, nondeflecting outer armrests disposed in spaced relation to one another, each armrest extending rearwardly from a respective one of the front legs; (c) a substantially horizontal seat support means secured to and extending between the legs below the armrests; and (d) a pair of rearwardly extending, substantially horizontal, downwardly deflecting seat means having a front and a rear, each seat means defining an independent seat and each seat means being independently cantilevered below the armrests from the seat support means at the front of the seat means so that each seat means can provide a rocking motion that increases rearwardly while each seat means is non-downwardly deflecting at its front, and wherein the front of each seat means of the chair and the front of the outer armrests are in substantially the same vertical plane for ease of ingress into and egress out of the seats.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 172 words

A multiple seat chair comprising: (a) a pair of substantially rigid, substantially vertical front legs spaced apart from each other; (b) a pair of substantially parallel, nondeflecting outer armrests disposed in spaced relation to one another, each armrest extending rearwardly from a respective one of the front legs; (c) a substantially horizontal seat support means secured to and extending between the legs below the armrests; and (d) a pair of rearwardly extending, substantially horizontal, downwardly deflecting seat means having a front and a rear, each seat means defining an independent seat and each seat means being independently cantilevered below the armrests from the seat support means at the front of the seat means so that each seat means can provide a rocking motion that increases rearwardly while each seat means is non-downwardly deflecting at its front, and wherein the front of each seat means of the chair and the front of the outer armrests are in substantially the same vertical plane for ease of ingress into and egress out of the seats.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 23 words

The chair of claim 28, including an inner armrest between the seat means, the inner armrest being supported by the seat support means.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 14 words

The chair of claim 28 in which the seat support means comprises a cross-beam.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 45 words

The chair of claim 28 further comprising a back means for each seat means, each back means being affixed to its respective seat means and extending vertically above the seat means for providing support for the back of an individual sitting upon the seat means.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 38 words

The chair of claim 31 wherein each seat means and its respective back means are comprised of two continuous side members affixed in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to each other by at least one cross-connection transverse bar.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 14 words

The chair of claim 28 or 29 in which the armrests are substantially horizontal.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 31 words

The chair of claim 28 wherein each front leg extends upwardly in a substantially vertical direction and then rearwardly in a substantially horizontal direction to form one of the outer armrests.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 18 words

The chair of claim 22 wherein the deflection of the back is between about 1 and 2 inches.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 31 words

The chair of claim 22 wherein the undamped primary elastic period of vibration along the plane defined by the seat means is between about 200 and about 400 cycles per minute.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-11-15	1992-05-16	1992-11-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-11-15	1996-05-16	1996-11-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-11-15	2000-05-16	2000-11-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Patient chair

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