Abstract: A mechanical uplift apparatus comprising a structural frame unit, a mechanical uplift assembly unit, and a power translating mechanism connecting the two units to allow the user to more easily obtain a standing position from a previously seated position. A second use for the apparatus may be as an exercise product for exercising upper body muscle groups. The structural frame unit is used to support and guide the mechanical uplift assembly unit. The mechanical uplift assembly unit has two sections that can independently move vertically with respect to the structural frame unit. One section has a seat, the other has rails or hand engagement handles. When downward force is applied to the hand engagement handles, the section having the handles move vertically downward and produces an upward force in the section having the seat through the power translating mechanism.

Abstract: A manually operated uplift apparatus comprising a structural frame unit, a mechanical uplift assembly unit, and a power translating mechanism connecting the two units to allow the user to more easily obtain a standing position from a previously seated position. The structural frame unit is used to support and guide the mechanical uplift assembly unit. The mechanical uplift assembly unit has two sections which can independently move vertically with respect to the structural frame unit. One section has a seat, the other has rails or hand engagement handles. When downward force is applied to the hand engagement handles, the section having the handles move vertically downward and produces an upward force in the section having the seat through the power translating mechanism. This interface allows the user to more easily uplift themselves from a seated position and is especially useful for older and/or medically disabled persons.

Abstract: A liftchair for a disabled person, or a person with weak legs. It has a seat adapted selectively to move vertically down from a normal sitting-height and to a position close to and directly above the floor, and again up to the normal sitting height. A drive mechanism to move the seat up and down includes a reversible electric motor and reversible control switch to selectively move the seat up or down in the liftchair. A brake is included to automatically lock the seat in any vertical position upon the motor being de-activated.

Abstract: A seat particularly suitable for industrial applications having a hinged bottom supported upon springs for adjustably resiliently supporting the occupant to absorb vibrations and impact. The springs impose a resilient biasing force upon the seat bottom structure and a conveniently located adjusting knob selectively positions the location of the application of the biasing force with respect to the seat bottom hinge. Accordingly, by adjusting the location of application of the biasing force, the suspension characteristics of the seat bottom may be controlled and preselected with minimum manual exertion and no spring pre-tensioning or pre-compression is required to vary the suspension characteristics.

Abstract: An active dynamic seat has a base, a stiff intermediate piece linked to the base and a seating part linked to the intermediate piece. The seating part is rigidly secured to the intermediate piece and the intermediate piece is mounted in such a way on the base that its central area can tilt in all directions and slide vertically. In addition, one or several restoring devices are arranged on the intermediate piece, in the area below the mounting point on the base, for restoring the tilting movement and at the same time the vertical displacement of the intermediate piece and the seating part.

Abstract: A wheelchair includes a seat that pivots forward to assist the user in exiting and entering the chair. The seat is biased toward its forward or up-right position by mechanical springs having force adjustments for user adjustment of the seat-lift force. One embodiment includes a cam mechanism for varying this seat-lift force as the seat is being raised. A closed-loop hydraulic cylinder and piston actuator system is provided to (1) damp the spring action as the seat is raised and lowered, (2) control the rate of seat ascent and descent, and (3) permit the user to stop and lock the seat in any position between the horizontal and up-right positions. This closed-loop hydraulic system includes a manual control valve for user-control of the seat raising and lowering, and a user-adjustable flow rate control valve for limiting seat ascent and descent speeds.

Abstract: A seat unit includes a frame structure and a seat. A linkage assembly interconnects the frame structure and the seat for displacement of the seat relative to the frame structure between a lowered sitting position and a raised position to provide assistance for the person using the seat unit to stand up therefrom. The linkage assembly causes the rearward part of the seat to be raised by a greater distance than the front part so that the seat also tilts forwardly. First and second springs urge the seat towards its raised position, the springs being operable in combination to produce an overall spring force urging the seat towards its raised position with a spring force value which is of a desired magnitude in each part of the movement towards the raised position.

Abstract: A seat-height adjusting device wherein a seat-cushion is moved relative to a vehicle-floor side is comprised of a supporting shaft having a first true round portion, a tapered eccentric portion and a second true round portion and rotatably mounted at the vehicle-floor side so as to be movable along a lateral direction thereof, a first gear secured to the the vehicle-floor side, supporting the first true round portion of the supporting shaft and having an inner teeth portion, a second gear linked to the seat-cushion, supported on the second true round portion of the supporting shaft and having inner teeth portion whose teeth number is different from that of the inner teeth portion of the first gear, an intermediate gear mounted on the tapered eccentric portion of the supporting shaft, having an outer teeth portion engaged with the inner teeth portions of the first gear and the second gear and differed therefrom in teeth number, and a device for urging the supporting shaft in order to increase a relationship be

Abstract: A manually operated uplift apparatus comprising a structural frame unit, a mechanical uplift assembly unit, and a power translating mechanism connecting the two units to allow the user to more easily obtain a standing position from a previously seated position. The structural frame unit is used to support and guide the mechanical uplift assembly unit. The mechanical uplift assembly unit has two sections which can independently move vertically with respect to the structural frame unit. One section has a seat, the other has rails. When downward force is applied to the rails, the section having the rails moves vertically downward and produces an upward force in the section having a seat through the power translating mechanism. This interface allows the user to more easily uplift themselves from a seated position and is especially useful for older and/or medically disabled persons.

Abstract: A user-powered seat uplift apparatus including a structural frame unit, a mechanical uplift assembly unit and a power transfer mechanism connecting the two units allows the user to more easily obtain a standing position from a previous seated position. The structural frame unit is used to support and guide the mechanical uplift assembly unit. The mechanical uplift unit has two sections which can independently move vertically with respect to the structural frame unit. One section has a seat, the other has rails. When downward force is applied on the rails, the section having the rails moves vertically downward and produces an upward force in the section having the seat through the power transfer mechanism. This interface allows the user to more easily uplift themselves from a seated position and is especially useful for older and/or medically disabled persons.

Abstract: An interactive seating device such as a stool or chair which makes it possible for an individual to sit down without having to lower himself to do so, the seated individual being thereafter assisted in getting up from the seat. The device includes an articulated seat whose front segment is hinged to a rear segment and is so linked thereto that in a perching mode in which the rear segment is at an elevated level and the front segment is folded down, an individual can then perch on the rear segment without having to lower himself. The rear segment is mounted on a depressible spring mechanism supported on a stand that normally raises the seat to the perching mode level. When the individual perches on the rear segment, the resultant load imposed thereon depresses and thereby energizes the spring mechanism, causing the seat to sink to a sitting mode level at which the front segment is outstretched to fully support the seated individual.

Abstract: An adjustable automotive vehicle seat is equipped with a height adjust mechanism that includes a U-shaped frame having laterally spaced side members and a round front cross member that is mounted on the front ends of the side members for rotation about its centerline. A plurality of bow shaped leaf springs are spaced across the width of the seat with their front ends secured to the round front cross member. The rear ends of the leaf springs are secured to a slidable rear cross member. An electrically powered, reversible ball screw actuator translates the rear cross member in the longitudinal direction so that the height of the seat is adjusted by adjusting the curvature of the bow shaped leaf springs.

Abstract: An adjustable automotive vehicle seat is equipped with a height adjust mechanism that includes a U-shaped frame having laterally spaced side members and a round front cross member that is mounted on the front ends of the side members for rotation about its centerline. A plurality of bow shaped leaf springs are spaced across the width of the seat with their front ends secured to the round front cross member. The rear ends of the leaf springs are secured to a slidable rear cross member. An electrically powered, reversible ball screw actuator translates the rear cross member in the longitudinal direction so that the height of the seat is adjusted by adjusting the curvature of the bow shaped leaf springs.

Abstract: A user-operated seat uplift apparatus including a structural frame unit and a mechanical uplift assembly unit, thereby allowing the user to more easily obtain a standing position from a previous seated position. The structure frame unit is used to support and guide the mechanical uplift assembly unit. The uplift unit consists basically of a seat member, two rail members, one disposed on each side of the seat member, and an interconnection means. The user presses downward upon the rail members, which move in a downward direction. This downward movement produces an upward movement in the seat member. And likewise, downward movement of the seat member results in upward motion of the rail members. This interface allows the user to more easily uplift themselves from a seated position and should prove especially useful for older and medically disabled persons.

Abstract: A seating device for aged, infirm and handicapped persons includes a passive, pivotably mounted, energy storage device laterally disposed below a seat base, and a parallelogram linkage between the seat base and a chair seat for controlling elevation and tilting motion of the seat. A lever which can be coupled at selectable points along an arc about the pivot point of the energy storage device exerts torque on the parallelogram linkage to oppose downward movement and aid upward movement. By varying the position of engagement of the energy storage device to the lever, the force exerted can be adjusted to the weight of the user.

Abstract: A vehicle seat which is adjustable both with regard to its height and angle of inclination has front and rear height mechanisms which can be operated independently of one another. Each of the height adjustment mechanisms has at least one lever, which levers are pivotable about an axis running in the lateral direction of the seat. The upholstery support of the seat is supported on support points of these levers, which lie at a distance from their pivot axes. The front and rear height adjustment mechanisms are connected with a coupling drive, which, when the front height adjustment mechanism is activated limits the height adjustment of this front height adjustment mechanism, and when the rear height adjustment mechanism is activated, the height adjustment of the support point thereof is transferred to the support point of the front height adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: A motor vehicle seat can assume a plurality of different configurations to enable its optimal adaptation to the particular characteristics of the body of the seated person, ensuring a physiologically correct position of the shoulder region, the back, the lumbar region, the pelvis and the legs, as well as optimal distribution of the pressures on these regions, so that fatigue is reduced to a minimum even in the event of frequent and prolonged periods in the seat which would otherwise actually give rise to occupational disease.

Abstract: A power seat track apparatus for selectively positioning an automotive vehicle seat is adapted to be powered by an electric motor drive, preferably with separate motors for each drive direction. The seat back is mounted on the upper track of the seat track mechanism for horizontal drive with the track. The vertical drive through front and rear torsion tubes or bars act on only the seat pan and seat cushion but not on the seat back. Since the vehicle shock loading requirements must be met by the structural seat pan or seat frame, the pan for holding only the seat cushion may be reduced in size as compared to the usual power seat frame. The front of the seat cushion is interconnected with the pan through a lost motion pivot and the rear portion of the seat cushion is interconnected with the seat pan through a fixed pivot connection whereby simultaneous elevation and shortening of the seat cushion with respect to the seat back is effected.

Abstract: An assist chair is provided for assisting persons in rising from a sitting to a standing position. The chair includes a frame for pivotally mounting a seat. A pair of springs attached to the seat bias the seat upwardly to assist the user to a standing position. A movable attachment point for an end of the springs distal from the seat attachment point allows the upward biasing force applied to the seat to be varied from the force which would result from a fixed attachment point for the springs.

Abstract: A chair having lifting means for assisting a physically impaired occupant to arise from the chair, having a frame, a seat hingeadly mounted at its forward edge to the frame, seat lifting means, and spring biasing actuating means arranged to spring-bias the seat to an upwardmost position, thereby assisting the occupant of the seat to rise out of the seat.

Abstract: A lifting system comprises a lifting apparatus utilized in cooperation with a conventional walker to lift a person from the floor who, due to age, disease or injury, is not able to lift themselves. The apparatus includes a crank mechanism removably supportable on the arms of the walker and a seat connected to the crank mechanism by a cord such that when the crank mechanism is rotated by a second person, the person to be lifted is raised.

Abstract: A chair having lifting means for assisting a physically impaired occupant to arise out of the chair, the chair having a frame, a seat having its forward edge hingedly mounted on the frame, and means for applying lifting force to cause the rear edge of the seat to be lifted upwardly to assist the occupant to arise, comprising foot-operated lever means arranged to impart lifting force to the seat when the occupant applies foot force to a foot step connected to the lever means, manually operated lever means to apply lifting force when the manually operated lever means is pulled back by the hands of the occupant, means for coupling the foot-operated lever means with the manually operated lever means, and, in a preferred embodiment, spring means providing additional force in assisting the seat to be raised, the arrangement being such that when the occupant steps on the foot step and pulls back on the manually operated lever means, the rear portion of the seat is raised and assists the occupant to arise out of the

Abstract: The present invention is an orthopedic chair which may be used to assist an invalid to easily sit therein or to rise therefrom. The orthopedic chair includes a frame and a seat which is pivotally coupled to the frame at the front thereof, a back which is mechanically coupled to the frame, a right arm-rest and a left arm-rest both of which are mechanically coupled to the frame. The orthopedic chair also includes a spring tensioning mechanism which resiliently biases the seat, when it is in its first position, toward its second position and a releasing mechanism which releases the seat so that the spring tensioning mechanism moves the seat from its first position to its second position.

Abstract: A lifter for an automotive seat, comprising a drive assembly including a long forward link member and a short rearward link member, and an operation mechanism including a drive shaft, a housing rotatably provided on the drive shaft, a gear provided in the housing, the gear being connected to the drive shaft, and a pair of first and second pawl members rotatably pivoted in the housing, with such arrangement that either of those pawl members is selectively brought to engagement with the gear by means of a switch-over cam. An operation lever is equipped with the housing, and both drive assembly and operation mechanism are operatively connected together. Thus, repeated reciprocal rotation of the operation lever attains an easy adjustment of the seat at a desired higher or lower level in a swinging manner, which permits a small rotation range of the operation lever.

Abstract: This invention provides a cart for positioning an individual's body on a toilet. It is particularly advantageous for transporting a handicapped person to such toilet and automatically aligning the handicapped person's body above the toilet. The cart has castors for easy rolling and also has guiding rollers that center the individual's body over the toilet when the cart is rolled backwardly over the toilet. The invention also incorporates a pneumatic system for raising the individual's body above the height of the toilet's seat when the body is pushed over the toilet and for, subsequently, lowering the individual's body onto the toilet seat in a position that enables use of the toilet by the individual.

Abstract: A surgeon's operating stool 10 is provided which is readily movable when not occupied by a person but resists undesirable movement once a person has occupied the stool 10. The stool is provided with a series of rollers 20 which normally support the stool 10 and allow for movement in any desired direction. However, the rollers 20 include a spring loaded collapsible mechanism which, when occupied by a person, forces the rollers 20 to retract into the base 12 of the stool 10 and causes a nonskin surface 38 to engage the floor. The base 12 of the stool 10 is configured to receive the feet of a person using the stool, such that a person using the stool in either a standing or sitting position forces the retracting mechanism to remain retracted and thereby prevent undesirable movement during use. The stool 10 also includes a hydraulic height adjusting mechanism which is readily adjustable via foot operation.

Abstract: A tiltable and height- adjustable seat for a vehicle with three doors, said seat comprising two front racks, two rear racks, two front pinions cooperating with the front racks, two rear pinions cooperating with the rear racks, two cross-rods respectively fastening the two front pinions and the two rear pinions and supporting the sitting portion and an actuating knob connected angularly to one at least of the pairs of pinions. The tilting axle of the seat is rigidly connected to the base and to the backrest, the front racks are mounted pivotably around an axle joined rigidly to the base, the rear axles are fast to the backrest and the axle of the two front pinions is joined to the axle of the two rear pinions by a rigid cross-piece.

Abstract: A seat cushion for a vehicle seat includes a moving device one end thereof being connected to the vehicle floor and the other end connected to the seat cushion for moving the cushion forwardly and rearwardly relative to a seat back and an operating lever for actuating the moving device and a two-way clutch for transmitting output from the operating lever to the moving device.

Abstract: Mechanism for raising/lowering a seat structure. A motor-operated screw-nut assembly is operatively connected to the seat structure via a lazy tongs support system. Laterally spaced guide devices give the support system a desired wide-stance stability that prevents undesired lateral dislocation of the seat structure. The support mechanism is compactly arranged beneath the seat structure, whereby the assembly is adapted to be used in military vehicles.

Abstract: The raising wheel chair substantially comprises the frame (11), wheels (13 and 15) and the seat (17) pivotably connected to the frame (11). A footrest (21) at the front and a backrest (19) at the back are pivotably connected to the seat (17). For raising the user into an upright position, a spring (27) applies a force which acts counter to the weight of the user, so as to facilitate raising the user to an erect position. A support arm (37) which can be arrested in various positions is pivotably connected to the pivot axis on both sides of the frame (11). To arrest the support arm, the locking lever (41) has a multiplicity of locking positions (45), which can be engaged by a locking element (47). The arm (37) can be put into a horizontal position, in which it offers no hindrance to the user in performing a lateral transfer movement, for instance to shift to a toilet seat.

Abstract: A hydraulic lifting mechanism for an article of furniture comprising a pair of sealed chambers interconnected with a hollow conduit and containing hydraulic fluid. One of the chambers is expandable and comprises flexible walls in the form of a rolling diaphragm. The second chamber contains a pressurized gas in addition to a hydraulic fluid. The expandable chamber is located in the supporting base of the article of furniture. A two speed valve is included in the interconnecting conduit for allowing fluid transfer between the chambers at a first rate in one direction and at a second rate in the other direction. As fluid is transferred to the expandable chamber, a support column will be forced upwardly by the expanding chamber at a fast rate and when the fluid transfers from the expandable chamber to the second chamber the support column will move downwardly at a second rate of speed slower than the first rate.

Abstract: A chair with resilient means for assisting an occupant in raising himself to a standing position. The seat cushion pivots relative to the chair frame about an axis near the rearward edge thereof, movement serving to at least partially simultaneously elevate the arm rests as well. When the chair is occupied, resilient struts are compressed; and the seat may be manually locked in position against strut compression.

Abstract: A chair with resilient means for assisting an occupant in raising himself to a standing position. The seat cushion pivots relative to the chair frame about an axis near the rearward edge thereof, movement serving to at least partially simultaneously elevate the arm rests as well. When the chair is occupied, resilient struts are compressed, and the seat may be manually locked in position against strut compression.

Abstract: A sprung vehicle seat which adjusts to a preset height, even when accommodating people of different weights, and which also permits adjustment of the preset height, is supported by a gas spring. An actuator which is linearly movable when there is a change in the seat height can cooperate with a switching mechanism, which includes a valve spaced apart from a switch, to control the volume of air in the gas spring. A holder carrying either the switching mechanism or the actuator is pivotably mounted on a slider which is linearly movable unless it is locked into place. When the holder is in a first angular position, the actuator and the switching mechanism are separated to avoid unnecessary actuation of the gas spring during bouncing movements, and when it is in a second angular position the actuator and the switching mechanism are moved toward each other so that they can cooperate to adjust the seat to the preset height.

Abstract: A forwardly extending elevating frame is pivoted at the rear of a wheelchair main frame for vertical tilting movement. A leveling frame extends rearwardly from a pivot connection at the forward end of the elevating frame for relative vertical tilting movement. A pair of chains extend downwardly from a suspension bar on the main frame, engage a pair of sprockets supported on the elevating and leveling frames, and are trained in loops about idlers carried on the two tiltable frames. A lifting seat is supported on and forwardly of the leveling frame and is tiltable between a horizontal use position and a hanging stored position. Hand levers, accessible to a person on the lifting seat, are movable up and down to rotate the sprockets through pawl and ratchet connections. This causes the sprockets to climb the chains and elevate the person on the lifting seat to the level of the wheelchair seat.

Abstract: A vehicle seat equipped with at least one mechanism for adjusting the height of the front or of the rear of the sitting portion or the tilt of the seat back.The control lever of this mechanism is brought forward to the front of the seat and its rotations are transmitted by a chain and toothed-wheel system to a bar equipped at both ends with rollers having two pins adapted to coact respectively with horizontal apertures in the sitting portion and with vertical sets of teeth in the base.The preferred application of the invention is to seats mounted so that no space is available laterally for the usual control members of the adjustment mechanisms.

Abstract: The invention concerns a chair or an armchair with a seat cushion and a back rest cushion, of which at least one is composed of several cushion elements forming a grid and capable of being filled with a flowable medium, at least a number of which elements are capable of being connected exclusively with each other through pipes containing at least one valve.

Abstract: An invalid cart and lift, designed primarily for use in hospitals and the like, is comprised of a horizontally disposed frame movable on two back wheels and a front steering wheel. A steering shaft, extending vertically from the front steering wheel, has at its upper end a drop down handle by which this cart it pulled and steered. A housing extending vertically from the frame supports a vertically movable seat. A manual crank operates through a mitre gear and a ball nut-screw combination to raise and lower the seat. A friction brake when engaged holds the seat at a desired level. A sanitary chin and chest rest adjustable to the invalid's height raises and lowers with the seat. A safety belt with a positive lock prevents the invalid from falling from the seat.