ANTI-PINCH STRUCTURAL SYSTEM FOR POWERED CHAIR AND A METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001]The present invention relates generally to powered chairs, and more particularly to a new and improved powered chair wherein an anti-pinch structural system is incorporated within the powered chair so as to prevent potential injury to a user should, for example, a limb of the user inadvertently be positioned in the path of the footrest assembly as the footrest assembly is being moved from its extended position to its retracted position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002]Powered chairs are conventionally common and are currently found in residences and offices. One of the main features of powered chairs is that they are equipped with footrests or ottomans that extend from a retracted or stowed position so that a person's legs and feet can be supported in an elevated manner. This is commonly referred to in the art as the TV position, or the reclined position if the backrest is reclined at the same time that the footrest or ottoman is moved to the extended position. Unfortunately, when the footrest or ottoman is being retracted back to its stowed position from the extended position, an obstacle, such as, for example, the user's foot or leg, may sometimes become caught between the footrest or ottoman being retracted and the seat of the chair. This situation presents a potential injury to the user of the chair.

[0003]A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved powered chair. Another need exists in the art for a new and improved powered chair wherein one of the powered components of the powered chair is an extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman. Still another need exists in the art for a new and improved powered chair wherein one of the powered components of the powered chair is an extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman, and wherein the powered chair can sense an obstruction. Yet another need exists in the art for a new and improved powered chair wherein one of the powered components of the powered chair is an extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman, wherein the powered chair can detect the existence of an obstruction, and wherein the powered chair can terminate the movement of the extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman in response to the detection of the existence of the obstruction. Still yet another need exists in the art for a new and improved powered chair wherein one of the powered components of the powered chair is an extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman, wherein the powered chair can detect the existence of an obstruction, and wherein the powered chair can terminate the movement of the extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman in response to the detection of the existence of the obstruction, particularly if the obstruction is a human limb.

[0004]Yet still another need exists in the art for a new and improved powered chair wherein one of the powered components of the powered chair is an extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman, wherein the powered chair can detect the existence of an obstruction, and wherein the powered chair can terminate the movement of the extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman in response to the detection of the existence of the obstruction, particularly if the obstruction is a human limb, so as to prevent a serious injury to the chair occupant. A further need exists in the art for a new and improved powered chair wherein one of the powered components of the powered chair is an extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman, wherein the powered chair can detect the existence of an obstruction, and wherein the powered chair can terminate the movement of the extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman in response to the detection of the existence of the obstruction, particularly if the obstruction is a human limb, so as to prevent a serious injury to the chair occupant or some other person within the immediate vicinity of the powered chair.

OVERALL OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

[0005]Therefore, a first overall objective of the preset invention is to provide a new and improved powered chair. Another overall objective of the preset invention is to provide a new and improved powered chair wherein one of the powered components of the powered chair is an extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman. Still another overall objective of the preset invention is to provide a new and improved powered chair wherein one of the powered components of the powered chair is an extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman, and wherein the powered chair can sense an obstruction. Yet another overall objective of the preset invention is to provide a new and improved powered chair wherein one of the powered components of the powered chair is an extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman, wherein the powered chair can detect the existence of an obstruction, and wherein the powered chair can terminate the movement of the extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman in response to the detection of the existence of the obstruction. Still yet another overall objective of the preset invention is to provide a new and improved powered chair wherein one of the powered components of the powered chair is an extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman, wherein the powered chair can detect the existence of an obstruction, and wherein the powered chair can terminate the movement of the extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman in response to the detection of the existence of the obstruction, particularly if the obstruction is a human limb.

[0006]Yet still another overall objective of the preset invention is to provide a new and improved powered chair wherein one of the powered components of the powered chair is an extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman, wherein the powered chair can detect the existence of an obstruction, and wherein the powered chair can terminate the movement of the extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman in response to the detection of the existence of the obstruction, particularly if the obstruction is a human limb, so as to prevent a serious injury to the chair occupant. A further overall objective of the preset invention is to provide a new and improved powered chair wherein one of the powered components of the powered chair is an extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman, wherein the powered chair can detect the existence of an obstruction, and wherein the powered chair can terminate the movement of the extendable and retractable footrest or ottoman in response to the detection of the existence of the obstruction, particularly if the obstruction is a human limb, so as to prevent a serious injury to the chair occupant or some other person within the immediate vicinity of the powered chair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007]A powered chair has an anti-pinch structural system incorporated therein. The powered chair comprises a base assembly, a housing assembly or enclosure which would include a pair of oppositely disposed arms and a backrest, a footrest assembly that is pivotally connected to a front end portion of a footrest support assembly, and a seat assembly which is movably connected to the interior of the housing assembly or enclosure by means of a suitable linkage assembly, the footrest support assembly being likewise connected to the seat assembly by means of a suitable linkage assembly. A suitable driving assembly is operatively connected to the footrest support assembly so as to in fact extend and retract the same along with the footrest assembly. When the footrest assembly is disposed at the fully retracted position, the footrest assembly is disposed in a vertically oriented mode, however, when the footrest assembly is being extended and retracted, the footrest assembly is disposed in a horizontally oriented mode. When the driving assembly retracts the footrest support assembly, the footrest assembly will be disposed in a horizontally oriented mode, however, when the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly, or the rear surface portion of the footrest assembly which is disposed nearest the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly, encounters the front surface of the seat assembly, the footrest assembly will pivotally move from its horizontal orientation to its vertical orientation as permitted by means of a pivotal connection effectively defined between the footrest assembly and the footrest support assembly.

[0008]In addition, an angular sensor mechanism is fixedly mounted upon the rear surface of the footrest assembly. The angular sensor mechanism is programmed so as to be active during the entire extent of a normal retraction stroke of the driving assembly, operatively connected to the footrest support assembly, that is, during the movement of the footrest assembly from its fully extended position, to the position at which the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly, or the rear surface portion of the footrest assembly which is disposed nearest the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly, encounters the front surface of the seat assembly. However, if an object or obstruction, such as, for example, a person's limb, such as, for example, a leg, should become interposed between the front surface of the seat assembly and the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly, or the rear surface portion of the footrest assembly which is disposed nearest the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly, then when the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly, or the rear surface portion of the footrest assembly which is disposed nearest the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly, encounters the person's limb, the movement of the footrest support assembly during the retraction stroke will effectively cause the footrest assembly to move from its horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation. This change in the angular orientation of the footrest assembly is then detected by means of the angular sensor mechanism, however, the angular sensor knows that this is not the normal angular movement of the footrest assembly as when it reaches the end of its normal retraction stroke, whereby the angular sensor mechanism will now emit a control signal which can then be transmitted to a controller which controls the actuation of the footrest support assembly driving assembly, whereby the actuation of the footrest support assembly driving assembly will be terminated or reversed such that a serious injury to the person's limb will in fact be avoided. In addition to the aforenoted angular sensor, anti-pinch sensor strips may be provided upon rear and/or side surface portions of the footrest assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]Various other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a powered chair wherein the footrest assembly is disposed at its retracted position;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevational view of the powered chair illustrated within FIG. 1 wherein the footrest assembly has been moved to its fully extended position;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the footrest assembly having an angular sensor mechanism fixedly mounted upon the rear surface thereof; and

[0013]FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevational view, similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, showing, however, an object or obstruction interposed between the seat assembly and the footrest assembly as the footrest assembly is being moved from its fully extended position back to its retracted, stowed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014]Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-4, a new and improved powered chair, having a new and improved anti-pinch structural system incorporated therein, and a method for operating the same, is disclosed and is generally indicated by the reference character 100. More particularly, it is seen that the new and improved powered chair 100 comprises a base assembly 102, a housing assembly or enclosure 104 which would include a pair of oppositely disposed arms and a backrest, a footrest assembly 106 that is pivotally connected to a front, distal end portion of a footrest support assembly 108, and a seat assembly 110 which is movably connected to the interior of the housing assembly or enclosure 104 by means of a suitable linkage assembly, not shown, the footrest support assembly 108 being likewise connected to the seat assembly 110 by means of a suitable linkage assembly, also not shown. It is to be understand that a suitable driving assembly, also not shown, is operatively connected to the footrest support assembly 108 so as to in fact extend and retract the same along with the footrest assembly 106. As can be readily appreciated from the drawings, when the footrest assembly 106 is disposed at the fully retracted position, the footrest assembly 106 is disposed in a vertically oriented mode, however, when the footrest assembly 106 is being extended and retracted, the footrest assembly 106 is disposed in a horizontally oriented mode. When the driving assembly, not shown, retracts the footrest support assembly 108, the footrest assembly 106 will be disposed in a horizontally oriented mode, however, when the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly 106, or the rear surface portion of the footrest assembly 106 which is disposed nearest the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly 106, encounters the front surface of the seat assembly 110, the footrest assembly 106 will pivotally move from its horizontal orientation to its vertical orientation as permitted by means of a pivotal connection effectively defined between the footrest assembly 106 and the footrest support assembly 108.

[0015]With specific reference being made to FIG. 3, and in accordance with the unique principles and teachings of the present invention, an angular sensor mechanism is incorporated within an angular sensor housing 112 fixedly mounted upon the rear surface 116 of the footrest assembly 106, and it is seen that the aforenoted pivotal connection 114, defining the pivotal axis for the footrest assembly 106 relative to the footrest support assembly 108, is incorporated within the angular sensor housing 112. The angular sensor mechanism is programmed so as to be active during the entire retraction stroke of the driving assembly, not shown, operatively connected to the footrest support assembly 108, that is, during the movement of the footrest assembly 106 from its fully extended position, as shown in FIG. 2, to the position at which the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly 106, or the rear surface portion of the footrest assembly 106 which is disposed nearest the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly 106, encounters the front surface of the seat assembly 110. Accordingly, with reference being made to FIG. 4, if a foreign object or obstruction 118, such as, for example, a person's limb, such as, for example, a leg, should become interposed between the front surface of the seat assembly 110 and the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly 106, or the rear surface portion of the footrest assembly 106 which is disposed nearest the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly 106, then when the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly 106, or the rear surface portion of the footrest assembly 106 which is disposed nearest the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly 106, encounters the person's limb 118, the movement of the footrest support assembly 108 during the retraction stroke will effectively cause the footrest assembly 106 to move from its horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation. This change in the angular orientation of the footrest assembly 106 is then detected by means of the angular sensor mechanism, however, the angular sensor knows that this is not the normal angular movement of the footrest assembly as when it reaches the end of its normal retraction stroke, whereby the angular sensor mechanism will then emit a control signal which can then be transmitted to a controller, not shown, which controls the actuation of the footrest support assembly driving assembly, not shown, whereby the actuation of the footrest support assembly driving assembly, not shown, will be terminated or reversed such that a serious injury to the person's limb 118 will in fact be avoided.

[0016]With reference continuing to be made to FIG. 3, in addition to the provision of the aforenoted angular sensor mechanism for detecting the presence of any foreign object or obstruction, during the course of the movement of the footrest assembly 106 from its fully extended position to the position at which the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly 106, or the rear surface portion of the footrest assembly 106 which is disposed nearest the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly 106, encounters the front surface of the seat assembly 110, the footrest assembly 106 may be additionally provided with a first set of anti-pinch sensor strips 120 which may be disposed around the peripheral border of the rear face 116 of the footrest assembly 106, as well as a second set of anti-pinch sensor strips 122 which may be disposed around the peripheral side edge portions of the footrest assembly 106. In operation, after the angular sensor mechanism has completed its detection monitoring process as a result of being active during the movement of the footrest assembly 106 from its fully extended position to the position at which the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly 106, or the rear surface portion of the footrest assembly 106 which is disposed nearest the rear edge portion of the footrest assembly 106, encounters the front surface of the seat assembly 110, the operation of the angular sensor mechanism is terminated, and the anti-pinch sensor strips 120,122 are then activated so as to sense the presence of any object or obstruction which may be present or interposed between the footrest assembly 106, which is now disposed immediately adjacent to the front surface of the seat assembly 110, and the front surface of the seat assembly 110. Accordingly, as was the case with the angular sensor mechanism, if the anti-pinch strips 120,122 detect an object or obstruction, as a result of being pinched or compressed between the footrest assembly 106 and the front surface of the seat assembly 100, as the footrest assembly 106 continues to move back to its fully retracted position, the anti-pinch strips 120,122 will emit a control signal which can then be transmitted to a controller, not shown, which controls the actuation of the footrest support assembly driving assembly, not shown, whereby the actuation of the footrest support assembly driving assembly, not shown, will be terminated or reversed such that a serious injury to the person's limb 118 will in fact be avoided.

[0017]Obviously, many variations and modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.