Abstract: The potentiometer and reduction gear unit for use in connection with a seat adjuster driven by a servomotor and controlled by a microprocessor which recallably stores the value measured by the potentiometer, comprises a common housing assembled of two parts arranged about the driving shaft of the motor; one housing part accommodates the reduction gears and the other part supports a ringshaped resistor and a contact ring; the slider of the potentiometer bridges the contact ring and resistor ring and is frictionally coupled to the output member of the reduction gears, formed preferably as a wobble gear mechanism.

Abstract: A chair intended for therapeutic use has integral seat, back and leg support zones mounted for rocking movement between limiting positions defined by the surface on which the chair stands. The back support zone is formed with a hump positioned to project the lumbar region of the user upwardly relatively to the rest of his spinal column. The back zone terminates in a head portion that is adapted to position the head of the user correspondingly to the pattern of his projected lumbar position. The distance from the seat zone center of the seat portion to the end of the head portion is approximately 900 mm and to the center of the lumbar support zone approximately 600 mm. The leg and back zones are inclined to each other at about 150.degree..

Abstract: A switching control circuit for an electrically adjustable patient chair that utilizes a relay control circuit comprised of a plurality of switching control relays connected in a binary switching arrangement which in the preferred embodiment herein, permits the use of only three control relays to control six motor adjustment functions.

Abstract: To improve the speed and simplicity of adjustment of mechanical devices, for example passenger seats and other movable members in motor vehicles, there is provided a closed-loop control system in which servo-motors adjust the final positions of the movable members. The desired configurations, i.e. the positions of the individual members of the device are stored in one or more memories for recall upon the actuation of push-buttons. The same push-buttons are used alone or in conjunction with a data storage switch to store new positions in the memory. The servo-motors are coupled to transducers which generate an electrical signal related to the position of the servo-motors and their associated movable members. Upon actuation of one of the push-buttons, the device is adjusted until the control deviation is near-zero, i.e. until the signal from the transducers conforms to the data stored in the memory.

Abstract: An invalid chair has a seat divided into a central saddle portion and a leg supporting portion. The saddle portion is rigidly connected with the backrest having two armrests. The leg supporting portion is hingedly connected at its front end to the base frame of the chair and a linkage is provided, so that when lifting the saddle portion it will leave the leg supporting portion and carry the person sitting on the saddle portion with his hands on the armrests until the legs of the person are substantially straightened out with his feet resting on the floor.

Abstract: An improved wheelchair for mechanically assisting in moving a disable person between a sitting and a standing position. A method and apparatus for automatically coordinating the movements of the feet, lower-leg, thigh, seat and back, including the initial pivotal raising of the lower-leg and foot followed by a reversal of direction as the upper-leg and back commence pivotal movement to achieve preliminary alignment of the leg prior to achieving complete upright alignment of the entire body. A lever mechanism having a forward lever arm coupled to a lower-leg support through a cam, and a rearward lever arm coupled to a seat and/or back through a delayed-action channel member.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a movable toilet seat assembly for the infirm which allows a user to manually control seat position from an essentially standing position to a seated position and vice versa with minimum stress on the user's legs and joints.

Abstract: An electrically operated wheeled chair for physically handicapped persons comprising a framework with casters, arm rests on the upper side of said framework, a back rest pivoted at a point provided at the upper and rear corner of the framework, an inclined rocking pipe pivoted at a point provided at the upper and front corner of the framework and telescopically receiving a foot pipe and control box mounted movably in back and forth on an upper horizontal part of the framework. As the back rest moves toward a substantially horizontal position, a seat cushion moves upwardly to a level at which arm rests lie. The foot pipe extends as it tilts. The seat cushion moves backwardly as it rises. The control box moves backwardly along the arm rests as the back rest tilts backwardly.

Abstract: A dental chair comprising a pedestal, a lifting assembly mounted on the pedestal, a parallelogram assembly supported by the lifting assembly, a seat assembly pivotally mounted on the parallelogram assembly, and a backrest assembly pivotally mounted to the seat assembly. The lifting assembly is capable of moving the parallelogram assembly horizontally while simultaneously raising or lowering it, thereby causing the seat and backrest assemblies to move vertically without substantial horizontal motion. The seat assembly is hingedly mounted to the parallelogram assembly and includes a transverse shaft and drive means therefor. Means separately link said shaft to the parallelogram and backrest assemblies, such that rotation of said shaft by its drive means causes simultaneous pivotal motion of the seat and backrest assemblies, thereby permitting adjustment of the seat and backrest of the chair to their most convenient inclinations for a given dental treatment.

Abstract: A multi-position examination chair for supporting a patient and assuming selected ones of a plurality of examination positions which permit a plurality of standard obstetric and gynecologic examinations to be performed upon the patient includes a base for providing support and a chair mounted on the base. The chair includes a plurality of movable chair portions which are movable with respect to each other. An hydraulic power arrangement is provided for moving each of the chair portions into desired relative positions such that the plurality of examination positions may be achieved. A plurality of switch means are provided, with each such switch means associated with a respective one of the examination positions. A control means is responsive to the plurality of switch means for controlling operation of the hydraulic power arrangement. Actuation of each of the switch means results in the chair portions moving into the examination position associated with the actuated switch means.

Abstract: A chair for dental treatment having a seat proper with operating mechanisms, comprising power circuits for driving the respective operating mechanisms, position detectors for detecting the movements of the seat proper, a power supply connected to said position detectors, a presetting section connected to the position detectors, memories connected to the respective position detectors, manual control sections connected to the respective power circuits, an automatic control section connected to the power circuits, switch sections provided in the respective power circuits and adapted to close when the respective manual control sections are in operation, memory-reading sections connected to the respective memories, switches provided in the respective power circuits and adapted to close by a momentary operation of the automatic control section and to open by the action of the respective memory-reading sections, and the former switch sections being connected in parallel with said latter switch sections respectively.

Abstract: A medical treatment chair e.g. a dental chair, having switch housings releasably mounted on the back portion of the chair, and manually operated switches provided on the switch housings for electrically controlling the operation of parts of or associated with the chair e.g. movable parts of the chair or medical equipment to be used on a patient on the chair. A connecting cable is connected at one end to each switch housing and has a plug connector at its other end which engages a respective socket provided in the interior of the back portion. When the plug connector is in engagement with the socket, the cable prevents inadvertent removal of the switch housing from the back portion. To permit ready engagement and disengagement of each plug connector and socket, an access opening (normally closed) is provided in the back portion to enable manual manipulation of the plug connector and socket within the back portion.

Abstract: A medical treatment chair, e.g. a dental chair, having a seat portion, a back portion, and manually operable switches mounted on the back portion for electrically controlling the operation of parts of the chair, or medium equipment to be used on a patient on the chair. Mounting locations are provided on the back portion in which respective sets of switches are received. Each switch comprises an actuating element which is pivotable between end switching positions and a neutral position intermediate the end positions, and each actuating element has a convex surface which projects outwardly of the adjacent surface of the chair which surrounds a mounting location in which a set of switches is received. This provides for easy manual manipulation of the switches.

Abstract: A positionable chair-lounge has a base which has transverse support beams, a movable top section that has transverse beams and is supported upon rollers that engage arcuate tracks secured to the base, a gear head motor type of power assembly which directly drives a threaded shaft and a drive tube through an irreversible drive. One end of the power assembly is pivotally attached to the top section by a guiding bracket and the other end is pivotally attached to the base by a guiding bracket. The base and seat transverse beams and the power assembly are positioned so that the seat can be moved in an arcuate path relative to the base.

Abstract: Head actuated control apparatus for use in controlling the motion of a battery-powered wheelchair is disclosed. The apparatus is designed for use by the quadriplegic patient and includes a rheostat-type controller mounted to the wheelchair headrest and provided with cup means formed for engagement by the back of the head of the user or patient to enable displacement selectively in any one of four directions to control forward, rearward and turning motions. Additionally, the control apparatus includes head actuated switches mounted to the headrest proximate the cup and electrically connected to recline or raise the back of the wheelchair.

Abstract: A dental chair having a backrest and a seat each of which is angularly adjustable about a common horizontal axis. A motor drives a linkage system which simultaneously angularly adjusts both backrest tilt and seat inclination to positions ranging from one in which the chair supports the patient in substantially sitting position, to one in which the patient is reclining with his head below the rest of his body. As compared to the seat, the angular motion of the backrest is relatively uniform over the range of adjustment, whereas most of the angular motion of the seat occurs during the middle 50% of the range.

Abstract: A lift chair has a lift base, a seat, and an extensible and retractable power-actuated ram connected between the lift base and seat to selectively raise and lower the seat. One or another accessory base provided with accessories such as a rocker or wheel assembly is also connected to the seat and is positioned to contact the floor before the ram is fully retracted so that the full retraction of the ram lifts the lift base off the floor and transfers the entire weight of the chair to the accessory base. When the ram is extended, the initial extension of the ram reseats the lift base on the floor and lifts the accessory base off the floor, thus transferring the weight of the chair from the accessory base back to the lift base, which supports and stabilizes the chair during the lifting thereof and until the ram is fully retracted again.

Abstract: To provide for smooth simple operation of an erecting seat, a motor, through a reduction gearing, drives a shaft located transverse of the seat structure, or wheelchair, to the end points of which a crank drive is attached coupled to the seat, the crank drive being arranged to provide, upon erecting or lowering movement of the seat a nonlinear time-displacement function which is effectively sinusoidal, so that movement of the seat between the end positions starts slowly, then is accelerated, and then again slowly reaches the end position. Erecting movement can be assisted by springs, preferably located at either side of the seat.

Abstract: To assist a person from seated to an erect position a mechanism for raising and straightening a seat surface and the seat backrest to a nearly vertical position is provided, which avoids substantial relative motion between the body of the person and the seat surface and the seat backrest. In the erected position of the chair, a groundplate of the footrest is firmly supported on the ground.

Abstract: The drive mechanism complements the existing mechanical linkage in a conventional reclining chair, and comprises an electric motor which operates through a series of levers to enable the normal movement of the chair between its upright and reclined positions to be powered. The mechanism is designed to follow the locus of movement of the existing mechanical linkage, thus rendering unnecessary any modifications to the linkage.

Abstract: A control arrangement is provided for a vehicle having an adjustable seat mounted on a fixed frame of the vehicle for permitting the selective movement of the seat relative to certain ones of the controls, such as the foot pedals. The control arrangement includes a manually actuatable control valve mounted to one side of the set for adjustable movement therewith between predetermined minimum and maximum positions relative to the fixed frame. A plurality of flexible hydraulic hoses are connected to the control valve and extend therefrom in a circumlocutious route to the frame so as to provide the hoses with a sufficient length to accommodate the movement of the valve between its minimum and maximum positions without the hoses being kinked or placed in tension.

Abstract: A wheelchair is designed to enable an invalid to stand, sit or choose at l any intermediate position to perform useful work, and to move about in any of said positions. The wheelchair helps to fulfill the psychological and physiological needs of handicapped persons. The lifting and lowering operations are so arranged that practically no dislocation of the invalid's clothes occurs during the operations. The wheelchair has a minimum of physical encumbrances permitting the invalid to function near normally in the average living or working spaces.

Abstract: A cushioned counter-balanced reclining dental chair has an underslung carriage which tilts with respect to a support to position a patient's heat at a desired work height. The angle of tilt is established by manual positioning which is facilitated by counter-balancing of the carriage, and is maintained at the desired tilt angle by a telescoping strut joined from the shoulder region of the recliner to the base. A shoulder support retains the patient's shoulders at a fixed distance from the tilt axis, independent of variations in height among patients. A buttocks engaging depression, which becomes more pronounced as the tilt of the carriage is increased to provide higher head positions, prevents the patient from sliding. The buttocks engaging depression's position is adjustable along the carriage to accomodate various body lengths, while at the same time maintaining the patient's shoulders in a shoulder cradle.

Abstract: A reclining elevator chair having a tiltable back, an extendible leg rest, and means for raising the seat and simultaneously tilting it forwardly to assist arthritic or other partially disabled persons in leaving the chair. A power-driven ram tilts the back and extends and retracts the leg rest in one mode of operation. In a second mode of operation, the same ram raises the seat and tilts it forwardly. The first mode of operation occurs when the ram is retracted below a predetermined length and the second mode of operation occurs when the ram is extended beyond the predetermined length. When the ram is equal to the predetermined length, a portion of the mechanism which tilts the back and extends and retracts the leg rest abuts against a portion of the seat frame and transfers the force of the ram from the back and leg rest to the seat.

Abstract: An adjustable reclining chair includes a seat and back supporting frame having a pair of rocker or rocker-shaped members. The rocking action of the rocker members is, however, restrained by a restraint mechanism. A drive mechanism is utilized to move the restraint mechanism, in either a forward or a rearward direction, to adjust the angle at which the chair reclines.

Abstract: An operational chair for dental work is automatically actuated, preferably with hydraulic adjusting devices, in relation to the seat height, inclination of the back of the chair and the swinging of the chair about a transverse axis and possibly also about a longitudinal axis. Adjusting members are used for holding initial positions and bringing about the desired positions for each of the adjusting devices. The invention is particularly characterized by the provision of a group of members providing the required values for each position which can be selected. These members can be connected by a position selector, for example, a selecting key, with actuating means for the adjusting devices, the actuating means being firmly coupled with members holding the initial positions.

Abstract: The specification discloses a wheelchair in which the seat, back and leg portions are so articulated and separately actuable, by power means, under control of the occupant, as to enable the occupant to assume any one of three positions, namely sitting, standing or reclining. Two separated leg support members are selectively actuable by the occupant to a horizontal leg-supporting position. Steering and forward and reverse propulsion controls accessible to the occupant are also provided, enabling the occupant to obtain substantially total mobility on level ground.

Abstract: A chair of the type particularly adapted for use by dentists, ophthalmologists and the like but also useful for other purposes in which a back is pivoted relative to a seat and a leg rests extends outward from the seat. The seat with the back pivotally connected thereto is adapted to be moved about a vertical axis from a position in which the front to back axis of the seat is disposed in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the leg rest which projects laterally outward from one side of the base and a position in which said axis of the seat is transverse to said longitudinal axis of the leg rest in order to facilitate the seating of a person in the chair while the seat is in the latter position and then rotating the seat 90.degree. to permit the person to dispose his legs upon the leg rest which preferably is stationary relative to the base of the chair.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple and effective method and apparatus for hydraulically suspending a vehicle seat while regulating movement of the seat in response to vertical travel of the vehicle, a reciprocable power piston within a cylinder comprising a flexible coupling between the seat and a suitable support structure, a control valve selectively communicating a source of fluid with the cylinder in response to pressure variations developed by movement of the power piston within its cylinder. The invention also preferably includes load compensating means for limiting the control function in response to relatively minor movement of the piston as well as a damped leveling unit partially formed by the power piston for providing hydraulic response to limited movement of the piston.

Abstract: A mobile milking chair apparatus which is controlled by the operator to place the operator in a position to milk a series of cows in a milking parlor. The chair conveys the operator along a line of cows and can position the operator properly for connecting and disconnecting a milking machine for each cow and then provides for swinging the operator to the opposite side for another series of cows.

Abstract: A powered tilting lounger comprising a pedestal upstanding from a base that rests on a supporting surface and a lounger pivotally mounted on the upper end of the pedestal at the upper forward region of the lounger. The lounger consists of a chair including a seat and a back which are immovable relative to each other and which blend in together with a curved portion whereby it may be occupied by a person in a lounging position. An electric motor is mounted on the pedestal and operates a screw stem to pull the lounging chair structure into an upright position in which an occupant may readily remove himself from the lounger, or pushes it into reclining position.A leg rest is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis at the forward edge of the seat portion and is moved into and out of a horizontal leg supporting position by an electric motor.

Abstract: An operatory-type chair having a seat to which a back rest is pivotably connected for movement between upright and rearwardly extending positions by an electric motor interconnected to said back rest by a rotatable screw driven by said motor. Movement of the back rest is controlled by limit switches which stop the motor when either limit of movement is reached, the invention comprising an adjustable program switch included in said control system which operates to stop the motor when the back rest reaches a desired position intermediately of the opposite limits of movement thereof, as controlled by said limit switches.

Abstract: The dental chair is provided which has pivotally connected back, seat and footrest sections, the seatrest being journaled in turn to a base member. A motor carried by the seat and connected to the backrest provides for articulation of the backrest relative to the seat. A link extending between the back and footrest provides for articulation of the footrest relative to seat and a cam connected between the link and seat provides for articulation of the seat about the base member; all movements being accomplished simultaneously upon operation of the motor.