US5320412A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable chair
Assignee: MOTION SPECIALTIES Inc
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Filing: 1991-11-05
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Granted: 1994-06-14
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Expires: 2011-11-05
Abstract
Abstract The present assembly relates to a wheel chair having a base frame, a seat frame and a back frame, and a control device for rotating the back frame relative to the seat frame. The back frame includes a back support to receive a trunk portion of a user, the back support being displaceable by another control device relative to the back frame. A control unit communicates with the control devices for rotating and for displacing, the control unit being adjustable to vary the displacement of the back support according to the rotation of the back frame to minimize shear forces between the user's trunk and the back support.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Eakins
- 👤 Czeslaw Cimachowski
- 👤 Brian Bentley
- 👤 Joe Krommenhoek
- 👤 Son Ma
- 👤 David Harding
- 👤 Nelson Pang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G5/00; A61G5/10; A61G5/1056; A61G5/1067; A61G5/1054; A61G5/1089; A61G5/12; A61G2203/00; A61G2203/70; A61G2203/74; A61G5/04; A61G5/1075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A chair comprising a base frame, a seat frame pivotally connected to the base frame, and a back frame pivotally connected to the seat frame, a means disposed between said back frame and said seat frame for rotating said back frame relative to said seat frame, said back frame including a back support to receive a trunk portion of a user, a means disposed between said back support and said back frame for displacing said back support relative to said back frame, said means for displacing capable of acting both during rotation of said back frame relative to said seat frame and when said seat frame and back frame are stationary, and an electronic control unit communicating with said means for rotating and said means for displacing, said control unit controlling said means for displacing to vary the location of said back support on said back frame to reduce shear forces between said trunk and said back support.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A chair comprising a base frame, a seat frame pivotally connected to the base frame, and a back frame pivotally connected to the seat frame, a means disposed between said back frame and said seat frame for rotating said back frame relative to said seat frame, said back frame including a back support to receive a trunk portion of a user, a means disposed between said back support and said back frame for displacing said back support relative to said back frame, said means for displacing capable of acting both during rotation of said back frame relative to said seat frame and when said seat frame and back frame are stationary, and an electronic control unit communicating with said means for rotating and said means for displacing, said control unit controlling said means for displacing to vary the location of said back support on said back frame to reduce shear forces between said trunk and said back support.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A chair as defined in claim 1 further comprising a means disposed between said seat frame and said base frame for rotating said seat frame relative to said base frame, said control unit communicating with said means for rotating said seat frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A chair as defined in claim 2 wherein said control unit is accessible to said user to permit said user to make adjustments to the orientation of said back frame, said back support and said seat frame.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of adjusting a chair, said chair having a base frame, a seat frame pivotally connected to the base frame, a back frame pivotally connected to the seat frame and a means disposed between the back frame and the seat frame for rotating said back frame relative to said seat frame, said back frame including a back support to receive a trunk portion of a user, a means disposed between the back frame and the seat frame for displacing said back support relative to said back frame, said means for displacing capable of acting both during rotation of said back frame relative to said seat frame and when said seat frame and back frame are stationary, and an electronic control unit communicating with said means for rotating and said means for displacing, said method comprising using said control unit to control the location of said back support on said back frame to reduce shear forces between said trunk and said back support.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of adjusting a chair, said chair having a base frame, a seat frame pivotally connected to the base frame, a back frame pivotally connected to the seat frame and a means disposed between the back frame and the seat frame for rotating said back frame relative to said seat frame, said back frame including a back support to receive a trunk portion of a user, a means disposed between the back frame and the seat frame for displacing said back support relative to said back frame, said means for displacing capable of acting both during rotation of said back frame relative to said seat frame and when said seat frame and back frame are stationary, and an electronic control unit communicating with said means for rotating and said means for displacing, said method comprising using said control unit to control the location of said back support on said back frame to reduce shear forces between said trunk and said back support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said step of using said control unit further comprises the step of adjusting the location of said back support on said back frame when said back frame is stationary.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said step of using said control unit further comprises the step of adjusting the location of said back support on said back frame as said back frame is rotated relative to said seat frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
155 words
A chair comprising: a base frame; a seat frame pivotally connected to the base frame; a back frame pivotally connected to the seat frame; a movable back support carried by said back frame, said back support being capable of supporting a trunk portion of a user; a means disposed between said back frame and said seat frame for rotating said back frame relative to said seat frame; a means disposed between said back support and said back frame for displacing said back support relative to said back frame, said means for displacing capable of acting both during rotation of said back frame relative to said seat frame and when said seat frame and back frame are stationary; and an electronic controller for controlling said means for displacing to vary the location of the back support relative to the back frame to reduce shear forces between said trunk portion of said user and said back support.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
155 words
A chair comprising: a base frame; a seat frame pivotally connected to the base frame; a back frame pivotally connected to the seat frame; a movable back support carried by said back frame, said back support being capable of supporting a trunk portion of a user; a means disposed between said back frame and said seat frame for rotating said back frame relative to said seat frame; a means disposed between said back support and said back frame for displacing said back support relative to said back frame, said means for displacing capable of acting both during rotation of said back frame relative to said seat frame and when said seat frame and back frame are stationary; and an electronic controller for controlling said means for displacing to vary the location of the back support relative to the back frame to reduce shear forces between said trunk portion of said user and said back support.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The chair of claim 7 wherein said means for displacing said back support comprises an electro-mechanical means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The chair of claim 8 wherein said electro-mechanical means extends between, and is coupled to, said back support and said back frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The chair of claim 9 wherein said electro-mechanical means comprises a linear actuator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The chair of claim 7 wherein said controller controls said means for displacing to adjust the location of said back support on said back frame when said back frame is stationary.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The chair of claim 7 wherein said controller controls both said means for displacing and said means for rotating to vary the location of said back support on said back frame as said back frame is rotated relative to said seat frame.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The chair of claim 12 wherein said controller further includes a means for calibrating the movement of said back support on said back frame as said back frame rotates relative to said seat frame.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The chair of claim 13 wherein said means for calibrating has at least one potentiometer for controlling power input to said means for displacing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The chair of claim 14 wherein said means for calibrating comprises first and second potentiometers, wherein said first potentiometer controls said means for displacing in a first direction, and said second potentiometer controls said means for displacing in a second direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
94 words
The chair of claim 11 or 13 wherein said controller comprises a control unit operable by the user, wherein the user can simultaneously operate said means for rotating and said means for displacing to vary the location of said back support relative to said back frame as said back frame is rotated relative to said seat frame and, when said back frame is in a desired stationary position, the use can operate said means for displacing independently of said means for rotating to adjust the position of the back support on said back frame.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The chair of claim 16 wherein said control unit is operable using switches accessible to the user, wherein one switch simultaneously operates said means for rotating and said means for displacing, and another switch operates said means for displacing independently of said means for rotating.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
130 words
A chair comprising: a base frame; a seat frame pivotally connected to the base frame; a back frame pivotally connected to the seat frame; a back support slideably located on said back frame for supporting a trunk portion of a user; a first actuator disposed between said seat frame and said base frame for rotating said seat frame relative to said base frame; a second actuator disposed between said back frame and said seat frame for rotating said back frame relative to said seat frame; and a third actuator comprising means disposed between said back support and said back frame for sliding the back support on said back frame as said back frame is rotated to reduce shear forces between said trunk portion of the user and said back support.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
130 words
A chair comprising: a base frame; a seat frame pivotally connected to the base frame; a back frame pivotally connected to the seat frame; a back support slideably located on said back frame for supporting a trunk portion of a user; a first actuator disposed between said seat frame and said base frame for rotating said seat frame relative to said base frame; a second actuator disposed between said back frame and said seat frame for rotating said back frame relative to said seat frame; and a third actuator comprising means disposed between said back support and said back frame for sliding the back support on said back frame as said back frame is rotated to reduce shear forces between said trunk portion of the user and said back support.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The chair of claim 18 further comprising an electronic controller for controlling at least said third actuator to slide the back support on said back frame independently of rotation of said back frame.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
61 words
The chair of claim 18 further comprising an electronic controller for controlling said first, second and third actuators to vary the location of said back support relative to said back frame as said back frame is rotated relative to said seat frame, and to adjust the location of said back support on said back frame when said back frame is stationary.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-06-13 | 1997-12-13 | 1998-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-06-13 | 2001-12-13 | 2002-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-06-13 | 2005-12-13 | 2006-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |