Abstract: A chair having a seat pivotally connected to a base frame, the seat's pivotal axis being horizontal and parallel to the front of the chair and located intermediate the front and back of the seat proximal its center of gravity. A hydraulic cylinder is attached; between the seat and base frame to dampen pivotal movement of the seat as a person is assisted into or out of the chair.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with assistance to handicapped persons. The body-supporting device for wheelchair for handicapped person is characterized in that it comprises: a first set of means comprising two rigid segments, each mounted on the backrest by an articulated system which blocks the segment in a vertical orientation as armrest or horizontal orientation as thoracic half-belt, and a second set of means comprising two cradel elements adapted to be immobilized in the same horizontal plane in alignment to form open leg guards fitting over the front of the subject's legs. The invention is applicable to wheelchairs.

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 chair, especially suited for use by sitters lacking in normal strength which provides a rocking motion without shifting the base of the chair, and which provides support and assistance to the sitter in exiting the chair, is described.

Abstract: A boosting device is disclosed for a toilet seat. The boosting device includes a stationary frame having handrails. A seat frame assembly is pivotally coupled to the stationary frame by pivot pins. A single, ball screw motor and a lift arm are provided for pivotally moving the seat frame assembly relative to the stationary frame.

Abstract: A mechanism for raising and lowering a seat, especially designed for handicapped persons, comprises two supporting arms (A', B') which are both at one of their ends coupled to the seat (E), at the front and rear edge thereof, respectively. At their other end, the supporting arms (A', B') cooperate with a fixed point (1', 2') each. At least one of the supporting arms is coupled to a driving member and the two supporting arms (A', B') are interconnected at a point between their ends. With a view to obtaining a space-saving but all the same stable mechanism allowing a physiologically correct trajectory of the seat during its raising and lowering, the supporting arms (A', B') are directly pivotally interconnected (D), and one of the supporting arms cooperates with the fixed point in such a manner that it is displaceable in relation to said point.

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: The invention is concerned with assistance to handicapped persons. The device according to the invention is in the form of an articulated structure comprising two symmetrical lateral systems each comprising a first deformable quadrilateral, a second deformable quadrilateral, a trilateral, an elastic member and a manoeuvring assembly. The invention is applicable to wheelchairs for handicapped persons or invalids.

Abstract: A neutral body posture chair to support a user in a neutral body posture position defined as the natural position a body assumes in weightlessness where the muscle, tendon, and ligament systems acting over the joints are in total balance wherein the trunk of the body forms an angle of approximately 127 degrees with respect to the upper legs and the upper legs form an angle of approximately 127 degrees with the lower legs. The chair includes a seat formed into a bowl at the pelvic area, leg troughs support the upper legs and raised sides to maintain the user in the selected position. The seat further includes an elevated pommel which supports the pubis bone of the user to maintain the user in the desired neutral body posture angle without sliding out of the seat. The chair assembly includes a back rest, footrests, and a suitable base. The chair includes means for adjusting the vertical height of the seat, the tilt angle of the seat, the angle of the backrest, and vertical height of the backrest.

Abstract: An invalid carriage including a chair of pivotted construction with a connection between the back of the chair and a mast that is fixed to a chassis. There are means to raise the connection up the mast, so raising the chair seat from horizontal to forwardly-sloping so as to help raise a user of the chair from a sitting to a standing position, and to lower the connection so that the reverse occurs so as to help a standing person to sit down in the chair. As the mast connection moves, so collapsing or expanding the chair framework, wheels allow the feet of the front legs of the chair to move backwards and forwards over the chassis. In an alternative construction the feet of the front legs are anchored to the chassis, and the foot of the mast rolls backwards and forwards over the chassis as the mast connection moves.

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 wheelchair is disclosed in which a body support frame pivoted to a main frame can move from a seated posture to a stand-up posture and vice versa without using an external elevating force. The wheelchair includes the main frame for supporting driving wheels and auxiliary wheels and a body support frame formed by interconnecting a lower limb support member, a waist support member and a back rest member to one another. The forward portion of the main frame and the tip portion of the waist support member are turnably supported by a pivot, and an extension member for turnably supporting the waist support member with the pivot as the support point is interposed between the main frame and the waist support member. The motive force for the stand-up operation of the body support frame relies upon the push-up force of the user of the wheelchair (the body lift-up force of the user by his or her upper limbs) and the force of the extension member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wheelchair which enables the patient to stand up and be supported laterally, forwardly, and rearwardly, and consists of a conventional frame resting on the ground by means of displacement members and supporting a seat. Said wheelchair has a movable structure, with two independent frames which extend parallel to the sides of the wheelchair, one frame on each side of said chair, and which are mounted for pivoting on the said conventional frame about horizontal transverse axes which permit their forward pivoting movement over substantially 90.degree. during which a set of bars pivotally mounted to said independent frames is moved from a first position of the structure, at the back of the seat, to a second position of the structure, in the free space at the front of the said seat.

Abstract: A main frame (11), supporting main wheels (25) at different wheel positions, is coupled to a seat erection frame (13) by a parallogram linkage. To permit matching of the erecting chair to different-size persons, for example so that it can "grow" with growth of a child for whom it is initially purchased, the parallelogram linkage (45) connecting the back (35) to the frame (13) can be provided in interchangeable sets of different-length links (45a, 45b) to respectively move the back (35) in different positions with respect to the front edge (34a) of the seat, the ground support (37) likewise being adjustable to accommodate differently tall patients, adjustment of the seat with respect to ground level being additionally obtained by adjusting the height of front caster wheels (27) with respect to the main frame. The position of the main wheels (25) can be relocated with respect to the center of the seat (33) by different pivot locations on the main frame.

Abstract: An ambulator which can be mated to a wheeled frame to form a wheelchair is rovided to enable a paraplegic to stand on the ambulator and be separated from the frame for maneuvering in confined spaces. The ambulator has power operated articulated linkage for raising the paraplegic out of and free of the frame to the standing position on the ambulator; the compact base of the ambulator containing a drive mechanism for moving the ambulator in any desired direction through controls conveniently located on an arm rest. When the ambulator is mated with the frame, the linkage is lowered to carry the paraplegic in the sitting position.

Abstract: A lift chair for a disabled person has a seat comprising a stationary horizontal rear seat portion and a rotatable front seat portion to support a person in seated position. The rotatable front seat portion is rotated between a horizontal position and an elevated position by a drive means including an electrically driven motor. The rotatable seat portion may carry a seat pad which overlays the rear seat portion. The chair may have a fixed or movable back. The movable back may carry a back pad and may be operatively connected by frame members to the drive means to rotate upwardly when the front seat portion rotates upwardly and forwardly. An assembly may be provided for adjustably elevating the seat to accommodate persons of different heights. A sling is provided between the back and the front seat portion to close the space defined therebetween when they are rotated upwardly.

Abstract: An occupant operated motor driven vehicle for supporting handicapped occupants adapted to be tilted forwardly by the occupant for retrieving articles lying on the vehicle support surface, and to be restored to vertical operating position. The apparatus by which the vehicle may be tilted and restored comprises a pair of hinged parallel support feet adapted to contact the vehicle support surface for supporting the vehicle in a forward tilt, and to be returned to nested position, and power driven extensible and retractable vehicle support means for moving said feet connected between the feet and the vehicle frame for forwardly tilting said vehicle and restoring it to its upright position.

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: The specification discloses improvements in a mechanized wheelchair in which the seat, back and leg members are so linked and articulated on a body frame as to enable the occupant to assume any one of three positions, namely sitting, standing or reclining. By movably mounting the body frame on a base frame the height may also be controlled in conjunction with the above positions. A drive means is also provided and the use of electrical operational means and an improved structural design make this invention safer and more versatile than any disclosed in the art.

Abstract: An integrated ambulator and wheelchair is provided to enable a paraplegic stand on the ambulator and be separated from the wheelchair for maneuvering in confined spaces. The ambulator has power operated articulated linkage for raising the paraplegic out of and free of the wheelchair to the standing position on the ambulator; the compact base of the ambulator containing a drive mechanism for moving the ambulator in any desired direction through controls conveniently located on an arm rest.

Abstract: A dental chair lift mechanism employing a parallelogram lift has a linkage arrangement which offsets the horizontal component of motion produced by the parallelogram lift so that the seat of the dental chair can be elevated in a substantially straight vertical path.

Abstract: A device for raising and lowering the lid and seat members of a toilet comprises a pair of independent hydraulic systems each operatively associated with one of the toilet members. Each hydraulic system includes a manually operable control valve, a hydraulic cylinder having a water inlet/outlet port disposed at each of its distal ends and means operatively connecting the piston rod of the cylinder to the associated toilet member. Either of the toilet members may be raised by operating the associated hydraulic system such that the control valve directs water to one of the cylinder ports while receiving exhaust water from the other port causing the piston rod to move in a first direction whereby the toilet member is pivotally moved in a counter clockwise direction. The toilet member is lowered by operating the control valve for reversing the cylinder ports receiving and exhausting water causing the piston rod to move in a second direction whereby the toilet member is pivotally moved in a clockwise direction.

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: The invention comprises an ottoman with means for automatically elevating the cushioned top of the ottoman to any desired height. The ottoman includes remote control means for actuating the elevating means.

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: A bed for use in hospitals, and the like, wherein a patient may be moved to a sitting position, with the head portion of the bed raised and the foot portion of the bed lowered, the bed being in three sections and pivotal to permit the foot section to be swung outwardly so that the feet of the patient may be lowered to a natural sitting position.

Abstract: An occupant-operated motorized vehicle for supporting paraplegics in a standing posture for working with their hands comprising a three-wheeled chassis steered by its rear single wheel, a platform upon which the occupant stands, waist and hip supports for holding the occupant erect and supporting the occupant against backward movement, a rotatable upper body support member for supporting the occupant's upper body against forward movement and adapted to be locked at a desired angle to support the occupant's upper body in various positions as necessary to reach work areas with his hands, a stationary upper body support member for use when the movable upper body support member is not being used, and actuating means within ready reach of the standing occupant for actuating forward and rearward movement of the vehicle, speed control of the vehicle and braking means for the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting the weight of an individual's body includes a unit for attachment to each leg. Each unit includes a lower bar having an upper section and lower section which is longitudinally extendable from the upper section. The upper section is fitted with straps to permit attachment of the lower bar to the lower leg of the individual. An upper bar is hingeably connected to the upper end of the lower bar and a brace member, pivotable from the upper bar, is selectively positionable between the upper bar and the lower section of the lower bar. As the individual crouches into a rest position, the upper leg of the individual engages the upper bar and by engaging the brace into the lower section of the lower bar extends the lower section of the lower bar to support the unit, and the weight of the individual, from the ground.

Abstract: An adjustable bed-chair comprising a lower supporting frame, a first horizontal panel adjustable relative to the frame, a second panel pivoted at one end to said first panel and having a central recess opening thereinto from the bottom side. A body supporting assembly comprising a back and head support pivoted to said second panel at one end of said recess, a middle support pivoted to the other end of said recess and a leg support pivoted to said middle support. The back, middle, and leg support are covered by inflatable bags and these are covered by a layer of foam material. Bellows like inflatable bags are also provided to cause movement of the back support relative to the second panel; movement of the middle support relative to the central panel; movement of the leg support relative to the central support; and movement of the first panel relative to the supporting frame. A central portion of the mattress is removable and replaced by a toilet.

Abstract: An invalid chair such as a wheelchair for partially disabled paraplegic persons has a pivotally mounted seat mechanically coupled to a movably mounted foot rest structure. By shifting and altering his weight distribution, the chair occupant can depress the foot rest structure from a raised foot-supporting position to a lowered ground-engaging position. At the same time, the seat moves angularly upward and forwardly from a substantially horizontal orientation in a seating support position to a substantially upright back-supporting orientation in a relatively displaced standing support position. Thus, the seat exerts a supporting pressure from behind to the body of the chair occupant and assists his movement in rising from a sitting posture to a standing posture. The arrangement also permits the chair occupant likewise to control reverse movement in changing from a standing posture to a sitting posture by controlling his weight distribution and pressure applied to the foot rest structure.

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: An invalid chair for handicapped persons designed to facilitate sitting down and rising in which the seat of the chair and the footrest are a single frame and both are pivotally mounted to a front cross member so that the seat will be moved pivotally up and forward as the footrest moves down and back to thus assist the person in rising from the chair and vice versa the seat will move pivotally down and back as the footrest moves up and forward and in addition a plurality of resilient springs or stretchable straps will resist the downward movement of the seat to assist the invalid in a seating operation and resist the progressive upward pivotal movement of the chair's footrest.

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: This disclosure pertains to an aid for invalids facilitating their ability to be seated and unseated from a water closet utilizing a pair of horizontally disposed arm rests and a hinged commode seat whose elevation and angular position above the water closet is under the manual control of the invalid. A manually operated lever enables a spring to bias the arm rests and the seat in an uppermost position for use by the invalid in the standing position. Manipulating the lever permits the arm rests to descend and the seat to assume a horizontal position with the spring resisting the downward forces exerted on the arm rests and the seat, by the user, as he is gently lowered into a seated position. Re-manipulation of the lever causes the spring to urge th arm rests in an upward position, and the seat to assume a near vertical position thereby aiding the invalid to achieve a standing posture.

Abstract: An arrangement which allows patients confined to their beds, to use a toilet without leaving their beds. A sectionalized mattress is positioned in sequential steps so as to place the patient directly over a toilet without discomfort to the patient. The mattress together with the patient is positiond in a manner which allows the patient to use the toilet while sitting in an upright customary manner. The section of the mattress over the toilet is removed while the patient's weight is not directed thereon. Hygienic cleansing procedures are provided in conjunction with the toilet, and the patient is returned to a reclined position after repositioning the mattress and replacement of the section of the mattress that was removed to enable the patient to use the toilet. Replacement of that section of the mattress is carried out also while the patient's weight is not directed thereon. The mattress is positioned through a similar sequence of steps to place the patient directly into a wheelchair.

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: A device for aiding a standing person in the raising of a seated person to a standing position has a first portion with an opening to receive and encompass the leg of the standing person and a second portion with a opening to receive a knee of the seated person so that such knee is held in a fixed position relative to the leg of the standing person while the seated person is pulled forward and upward to a standing position.

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: The present wheel chair has a hydraulic jack for raising and lowering a seat. The frame of the chair has spaced opposite sides and a jack-supporting horizontal platform at the bottom. At the back, the frame of the chair is open above this platform so that the user enters and leaves the chair (getting on and off the seat) from the back.