LIFT SEAT
A pool lift comprises an actuator to lower and raise a seat carrying a user into and out of a pool. The seat is mountable to the actuator for either leftward or rightward movement, enabling use in a variety of pool configurations. The seat further folds when not in use to minimize the footprint of the device.
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This invention relates to lift seats for pools, and more particularly to an improved pool lift seat.
Accessibility for pools, both swimming and therapeutic pools, is enhanced by employing a lift device, such as a lift seat, to assist with entry to and exit from the pool.
It would be helpful to have a lift seat that was easy to use, and adaptable to different configuration requirements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the disclosure, a system and method provide a pool lift seat that is adapted for both left and right side mounting relative to a support.
Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an improved system and method and pool lift seat for providing accessibility to pools.
The subject matter of the present technology is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further embodiments thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.
The system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a lift seat with raising and lowering mechanism to allow a user to be lifted into or out of a pool.
Referring to
Referring now to
The lift assembly 12 comprises a mounting base member 30 to which a somewhat vertically oriented beam 32 hingedgly mounts by means of hinge 34, allowing rotation of the support beam about axis 35. The upper end of the beam 32 carries a chair mount 36 which is adapted to rotate about axis 38 and to attach to chair 14 by use of chair attachment beam 40. Extensible actuator 42 attaches between an upper end of the support beam and a mounting member 44 positioned at an edge of the base member that is distal from the hinge 34. Extension of the actuator 42 causes the support beam to rotate towards the direction of the pool, carrying the chair with it, moving the chair towards the pool. The rotational movement of the chair mount 36 allows the chair to remain level while the support beam is rotating. A battery pack 46 is mountable to the structure of the device and powers operational controls for raising and lowering of the chair.
Referring now to
The lower portion of actuator arm assembly 52 extends horizontally at a slight upward angle, and includes a vertical arm component that extends upwardly about twice to three times the distance of the horizontal extent, carrying a seat mount bushing 56 which rotationally mounts seat mount assembly 58 to the upper portion of the actuator arm by use of control axel assembly 59, comprising an axel with threaded end attached to an axel plate with suitable mounting holes.
Rearwardly extending tabs 60 on the horizontal portion of the actuator arm assembly have 2 mounting holes defined therein which mate with corresponding holes on the bottom of an actuator cage assembly 62, suitably mounting by use of bolts, washers and nuts. A linear actuator 64 mounts at the upper end thereof to the top of actuator cage assembly 62 and at the lower end, to two upwardly extending flanges 66 via use of left and right bolts 68, 70 which mount via nuts and washers to corresponding receivers in the bottom of the actuator. A controller/battery pack 72 for driving the actuator mounts to the side of 62 by use of mounting flange 74.
In operation, with reference to
Operation of the device involves extension of the actuator 64 which causes the actuator arm 52 to pivot on stud 50, carrying with it the seat, which is maintained in a level position by operation of the axel plate and bushing 56 and their attachment to the seat mount assembly.
Adjustment of the seat so that it is level is accomplished, with reference to
Adjustment of the mounting height of the seat is accomplished, with reference to
Exemplary measurements in
Clear deck space 162 adjacent the seat, 48 inches (measurement 164) by 36 inches (measurement 166)
Distance from mounting hole 168 to pool edge 170, 12.5 to 17 inches
When fully extended, the distance from the outer edge of the mounting base to the most distal edge of the seat 172 is 62 inches
Distance from the rear most mounting tab 48 to the front edge of the foot rest on the seat 174, 50 inches
Distance 176 from the back of the seat assembly to the front edge of the foot rest, 41 inches
In use, the following steps are performed to transfer a user to the water.
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- Check battery level of lift operator to ensure charge is adequate for operation (at least 50% charge recommended).
- Use the buttons on the hand control or control unit front panel to raise the seat to the deck loading/unloading position as shown in
FIG. 10 . - Transfer user onto the seat, ensuring that the user' s weight is centered on seat. Optional armrests can be rotated up if necessary.
- Fasten Seat Belt or optional stability vest
- Position shoulder straps onto shoulders and attach straps to clips on bottom panel of the stability vest—pull shoulder straps tight.
- Use the hand control or control unit front panel to lower the seat into the water, illustrated in
FIG. 11 . The waterproof hand control can remain connected to seat if user is operating lift. - Unfasten Seat Belt or unfasten optional stability vest
- When finished in the pool, return to the seat, ensuring user' s weight is centered on seat.
- Fasten Seat Belt or optional stability vest.
- Use the buttons on the hand control or control unit front panel to return the seat to the deck loading/unloading position.
- Unfasten Seat Belt or optional stability vest.
- Transfer off of the seat
For ease of moving the chair lift into place, for example for removing for storage during off season, a set of wheels may be provided, illustrated with reference to
A feature of the lift seat in accordance with the disclosure is that the side to which the lift lowers, left or right, can be changed, as shown in
First, as shown in
Next, you remove the lock nut from the end of the control axle 59 at 108.
Then, you slide the seat arm off of the control axle at 110 and remove the bolts from the support arm and control axle at 112.
Next, carefully rotate the support arm out of the way.
Referring to
At 116, you slide the support arm off the stud and set aside, and remove the thrust bushing from the stud at 118.
Referring now to
Now with reference to
Finally, with reference to
Suitable dimensions of an exemplary system are as follows:
Base portion width 140 (
Base portion edge to seat edge 142, 37 inches
Base portion edge to foot rest edge 144, 54 inches
Pool deck to top of lift mechanism 146 (
Pool deck to top of seat 148, 38.75 inches
Height of seat above pool deck 150, depending on installation, 18 inches or 17 inches
Setback of installation from pool edge 152, either 17 inches or 14.75 inches
Clearance of lift mechanism from pool deck edge when fully extended 154, either 1.25 inches or 2.25 inches (depending on setback value 152)
Deck to water distance 156, 0 to 6 inches for setback 152 of 17 inches or 7 inches for setback 152 of 14.75 inches
Seat bottom to top of water when seat is fully extended 158, 18 inches
Distance from seat edge to pool edge 160, 14 to 18 inches.
Accordingly, an improved lift seat is provided that is effective to lift users into and out of pools. The lift conforms to ADA clearance requirements for pool lifts, and can be mounted for left or right side operation, making it adaptable to different pool requirements.
While plural embodiments of the technology have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the technology.
Claims
1. A lift seat for lowering a person into and raising the person out of a pool, comprising:
- a seat adapted for carrying the person; and
- a mounting arrangement for enabling mounting of the seat for a left hand side or a right hand side raising/lowering operation.
2. The lift seat according to claim 1, wherein said seat further comprises a foldable sitting portion for enabling folding of the seat to reduce an amount of pool deck space taken up by the lift seat when not in use.
3. The lift seat according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a seat carrying beam member hingedly mounted to a position at the pool deck for rotation about an axis parallel to the pool deck; and
- an extensible member attached to the beam member, for rotating said beam member about said axis by extension/retraction of the extensible member.
4. The lift seat according to claim 3, wherein said mounting arrangement comprises a seat attachment member attached to the seat, rotationally attached to an upper portion of the seat carrying beam member.
5. The lift seat according to claim 4, further comprising a control member operationally engaged with said extensible member for controlling raising and lowering of the seat by retraction and extension of said extensible member.
6. A lift seat for lowering a person into and raising the person out of a pool, comprising:
- a frame member carrying operational elements of the lift seat; and
- a pair of retractable wheels for enabling wheeled movement of the lift seat for movement between an installation site and another location.
7. The lift seat according to claim 6, wherein said retractable wheels comprise:
- a pair of lift arms rotationally attached to said frame member for movement between retracted and extended positions; and
- a pair of wheels, ones of said wheels rotationally mounted to a respective lift arm.
8. The lift seat according to claim 7, further comprising at least one mounting pin for locking said lift arms to a retracted position.
9. The lift seat according to claim 8, wherein said mounting pin is further operative for locking said lift arms to an extended position.
10. The lift seat according to claim 7, further comprising at least one mounting pin for locking said lift arms to an extended position.
11. A method of providing a lift seat for lowering a person into and raising the person out of a pool, comprising:
- Providing a seat adapted for carrying the person; and
- providing a mounting arrangement for enabling mounting of the seat for a left hand side or a right hand side raising/lowering operation.
12. The method seat according to claim 11, further comprises providing a foldable sitting portion to said seat for enabling folding of the seat to reduce an amount of pool deck space taken up by the lift seat when not in use.
13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:
- providing a seat carrying beam member hingedly mounted to a position at the pool deck for rotation about an axis parallel to the pool deck; and
- providing an extensible member attached to the beam member, for rotating said beam member about said axis by extension/retraction of the extensible member.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said providing a mounting arrangement comprises providing a seat attachment member attached to the seat, rotationally attached to an upper portion of the seat carrying beam member.
15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising providing a control member operationally engaged with said extensible member for controlling raising and lowering of the seat by retraction and extension of the extensible member.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 17, 2012
Publication Date: Apr 17, 2014
Applicant: S.R. Smith, LLC (Canby, OR)
Inventors: Ole Erick Hoskinson (Tigard, OR), William James Svendsen (Aurora, OR)
Application Number: 13/654,283