EP-4739611-A1 - STAIRLIFT WITH FOLDABLE CHAIR WITH ASSIST SYSTEM

Abstract

Stairlift and methods of using and installing such a stairlift, the stairlift comprising a rail, a carriage and a chair, wherein: - the chair comprises a seating member connected to the carriage via a primary hinged seat connection, wherein: - the primary hinged seat connection comprises at least one primary hinge which is hingeable around a substantially horizontal seating axis, - the chair is arrangeable into a seating configuration, a folded configuration and an assist configuration, - the chair is moveable from the seating configuration into the assist configuration by pivoting the seating member around the seating axis, - the chair is moveable from the seating configuration into the folded configuration by pivoting the seating member around the seating axis, - the chair comprises an assist system configured to: i. assist the user standing up from the chair, AND/OR ii. assist the user sitting down in the chair.

Inventors

• DE VRIES, Martijn Pierre
• RODENBURG, Timotheus Maria
• KIEFT, Bas
• ROELS, Job Thomas

Assignees

• Savaria Nederland B.V.

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240704

Claims (20)

1. 1. Stairlift comprising a rail, a carriage and a chair, wherein: the chair is supported by the carriage to move along with the carriage, the carriage is moveable along the rail, the rail is configured to be arranged along a staircase, the chair comprises a seating member connected to the carriage via a primary hinged seat connection, wherein: the primary hinged seat connection comprises at least one primary hinge which is hingeable around a substantially horizontal seating axis, the chair is arrangeable into a seating configuration, a folded configuration and an assist configuration, in the folded configuration, a front end of the seating member is arranged higher than a rear end of the seating member, in the assist configuration, the front end of the seating member is arranged lower than the rear end of the seating member, the chair is moveable from the seating configuration into the assist configuration by pivoting the seating member around the seating axis in a first pivoting direction via the primary hinged seat connection, the chair is moveable from the assist configuration into the seating configuration by pivoting the seating member around the seating axis in a second pivoting direction via the primary hinged seat connection, wherein the second pivoting direction is opposite to the first pivoting direction, the chair is moveable from the seating configuration into the folded configuration by pivoting the seating member around the seating axis in the second pivoting direction via the primary hinged seat connection, the chair is moveable from the folded configuration into the seating configuration by pivoting the seating member around the seating axis in the first pivoting direction via the primary hinged seat connection, in the seating configuration, the chair is configured to in use be occupied by a user of the stairlift, the chair comprises an assist system configured to: i. assist the user standing up from the chair by exerting a torque on the seating member around the seating axis to overcome a torque exerted on the seating member by the user, thereby pivoting the seating member around the seating axis in the first pivoting direction, AND/OR ii. assist the user sitting down in the chair by exerting a torque on the seating member around the seating axis, thereby at least partially counteracting a torque exerted on the seating member by the user, while allowing the seating member to pivot around the seating axis in the second pivoting direction.
2. 2. Stairlift according to claim 1, wherein the assist system comprises a speed control device to regulate a speed of pivoting of the seating member around the seating axis in the first pivoting direction AND/OR in the second pivoting direction.
3. 3. Stairlift according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the assist system comprises an assist actuator for actively moving the chair from the seating configuration into the assist configuration AND/OR from the assist configuration into the seating configuration.
4. 4. Stairlift according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the front end of the seating member is arranged higher in the folded configuration than in the seating configuration AND/OR the rear end of the seating member is arranged lower in the folded configuration than in the seating configuration.
5. 5. Stairlift according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the front end of the seating member is arranged lower in the assist configuration than in the seating configuration AND/OR the rear end of the seating member is arranged higher in the assist configuration than in the seating configuration.
6. 6. Stairlift according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a first rear hinge member arranged on the seating member near the rear end of the seating member and a second rear hinge member arranged on a rear support member, wherein: the assist system is configured to regulate vertical movement of the second rear hinge member with respect to the carriage, the second rear hinge member is configured to be arrangeable in a first rear connection position and in a second rear connection position, wherein the second rear connection position is located higher with respect to the carriage than the first rear connection position, in the seating configuration of the chair, the second rear hinge member is arranged in the first rear connection position, and the first rear hinge member is preferably engaged with the second rear hinge member, in the assist configuration of the chair, the second rear hinge member is arranged in the second rear connection position, and the first rear hinge member is engaged with the second rear hinge member.
7. 7. Stairlift according to the preceding claim, the stairlift further comprising the features of claim 3, wherein the assist actuator is configured to: arrange the second rear hinge member in the first rear connection position in the seating configuration of the chair and to arrange the second rear hinge member in the second rear connection position in the assist configuration of the chair.
8. 8. Stairlift according to claim 7, wherein the assist actuator is configured to vertically move the rear support member with respect to the carriage, thereby vertically moving the second rear hinge member with respect to the carriage.
9. 9. Stairlift according to any of claims 6 - 8, wherein the rear support member forms part of an armrest AND/OR part of a backrest, wherein preferably a first part of the armrest is configured to be in a same position in the seating configuration of the chair as in the assist configuration of the chair.
10. 10. Stairlift according to any of claims 6 - 9, wherein in the folded configuration of the chair, the first rear hinge member is disengaged from the second rear hinge member.
11. 11. Stairlift according to any of claims 6 - 10, wherein: the first rear hinge member and the second rear hinge member are configured to transmit an upward force from the second rear hinge member to the first rear hinge member when the first rear hinge member and the second rear hinge member are engaged AND/OR - when the first rear hinge member and the second rear hinge member are engaged, the first rear hinge member and the second rear hinge member are configured to disengage when the first rear hinge member is moved upwards with respect to the second rear hinge member or when the second rear hinge member is moved downwards with respect to the first rear hinge member.
12. 12. Stairlift according to the preceding claim, wherein: the first rear hinge member comprises a pin arranged on the seating member and the second rear hinge member comprises a vertically extending slot arranged on the rear support member, the slot having an open end at a top end thereof and a closed end at a bottom end thereof, OR the first rear hinge member comprises a vertically extending slot arranged on the seating member and the second rear hinge member comprises a pin arranged on the rear support member, the slot having an open end at a bottom end thereof and a closed end at a top end thereof.
13. 13. Stairlift according to any of the preceding claims, the chair comprising: a footrest support connected to the seating member near the front end of the seating member via a hinged support connection pivotable around a substantially horizontal support axis, a footrest connected to the footrest support near a bottom end of the footrest support via a footrest connection, wherein: in the folded configuration, a support angle between the footrest support and the seating member is smaller than 90 degrees, in the assist configuration, the support angle is larger than 90 degrees, optionally, the footrest support is arranged substantially vertically in the seating configuration, optionally, the footrest support is arranged substantially vertically in the folded configuration, optionally, the footrest support is arranged substantially vertically in the assist configuration.
14. 14. Stairlift according to the preceding claim, wherein: the footrest connection is pivotable around a substantially horizontal footrest axis, in the seating configuration, the footrest is configured to be arranged substantially horizontally, in the folded configuration, the footrest is configured to be arranged at a footrest angle with respect to the horizontal, wherein the footrest angle is preferably at least 60 degrees, more preferably about 90 degrees, preferably the footrest axis is substantially parallel to the support axis.
15. 15. Stairlift according to the preceding claim, wherein in the folded configuration, a bottom surface of the footrest is substantially flush with the footrest support.
16. 16. Stairlift according to any of claims 13 - 15, wherein: the footrest support has a variable footrest distance between the support connection and the footrest connection, the footrest distance is adjustable to a first support length and to a second support length, the first support length is shorter than the second support length, the footrest support is optionally telescopic, wherein the footrest distance is optionally adjustable by telescopic length adjustment of the footrest support.
17. 17. Stairlift according to the preceding claim, comprising a support actuator configured to adjust the footrest distance, wherein: the support actuator is configured to set the footrest distance to the first support length when the chair is arranged in the folded configuration, the support actuator is configured to set the footrest distance to the second support length when chair is arranged in the seating configuration, the support actuator optionally comprises an electric motor, the stairlift optionally comprises a support controller for controlling the support actuator.
18. 18. Stairlift according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a folding actuator for pivoting the seating member around the seating axis, the chair optionally comprising a central controller for controlling the folding actuator, wherein: the folding actuator is configured to arrange the seating member substantially horizontally in the seating configuration of the chair, the folding actuator is configured to arrange the seating member at a first folding angle of at least 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal, preferably at least 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal, more preferably substantially vertically in the folded configuration of the chair.
19. 19. Stairlift according to any of claims 13 - 18, wherein in the folded configuration of the chair, the footrest support, and the footrest do not protrude beyond the carriage in a horizontal protrusion direction perpendicular to the seating axis.
20. 20. Stairlift according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the chair comprises a backrest and wherein a seating surface of the seating member faces the backrest in the folded configuration of the chair, wherein optionally in the folded configuration of the chair a second folding angle between the seating surface and a backrest surface of the backrest in the folded configuration is less than 40 degrees, preferably less than 30 degrees, more preferably less than 20 degrees.

Description

Title: Stairlift with foldable chair with assist system Field of the invention The invention relates to the field of stair lifts for moving a person along a staircase. Background of the invention Stair lifts are installed in many residential buildings across the globe, as well as other types of buildings. A stair lift greatly increases accessibility for people who have difficulties navigating staircases due to physical or mental limitations, such as elderly or disabled persons. However, stairlifts takes up a considerable amount of space even when not in use, narrowing the passage along the staircase for normal use of the staircase. Furthermore, users can have difficulty with embarking on the stairlift or disembarking from the stairlift, for example due to limited mobility, muscle weakness or injuries. Object of the invention It is an object of the invention to provide a stairlift which solves at least one of the above mentioned drawbacks. It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for installation of said stairlift. It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a method of using said stairlift. Summary of the invention In order to achieve at least one of the objects, in a first aspect the invention provides a stairlift comprising a rail, a carriage and a chair, wherein: the chair is supported by the carriage to move along with the carriage, the carriage is moveable along the rail, the rail is configured to be arranged along a staircase, the chair comprises a seating member connected to the carriage via a primary hinged seat connection, wherein: the primary hinged seat connection comprises at least one primary hinge which is hingeable around a substantially horizontal seating axis, the chair is arrangeable into a seating configuration, a folded configuration and an assist configuration, in the folded configuration, a front end of the seating member is arranged higher than a rear end of the seating member, in the assist configuration, the front end of the seating member is arranged lower than the rear end of the seating member, the chair is moveable from the seating configuration into the assist configuration by pivoting the seating member around the seating axis in a first pivoting direction via the primary hinged seat connection, the chair is moveable from the assist configuration into the seating configuration by pivoting the seating member around the seating axis in a second pivoting direction via the primary hinged seat connection, wherein the second pivoting direction is opposite to the first pivoting direction, the chair is moveable from the seating configuration into the folded configuration by pivoting the seating member around the seating axis in the second pivoting direction via the primary hinged seat connection, the chair is moveable from the folded configuration into the seating configuration by pivoting the seating member around the seating axis in the first pivoting direction via the primary hinged seat connection, in the seating configuration, the chair is configured to in use be occupied by a user of the stairlift, the chair comprises an assist system configured to: i. assist the user standing up from the chair by exerting a torque on the seating member around the seating axis to overcome a torque exerted on the seating member by the user, thereby pivoting the seating member around the seating axis in the first pivoting direction, AND/OR ii. assist the user sitting down in the chair by exerting a torque on the seating member around the seating axis, thereby at least partially counteracting a torque exerted on the seating member by the user, while allowing the seating member to pivot around the seating axis in the second pivoting direction. The assist system allows assisting the user in sitting down and/or standing up from the chair by pivoting the seating member this aids the user embarking on the stairlift and/or disembarking from the stairlift. Furthermore, the chair can be arranged into the folded configuration to minimize intrusion of the chair, for example into the space of the staircase. In an embodiment, the assist system comprises a speed control device to regulate a speed of pivoting of the seating member around the seating axis in the first pivoting direction AND/OR in the second pivoting direction. The speed control device ensures the movement of the seating member is controlled, leading to enhanced safety and comfort for the user. In an embodiment, the assist system comprises an assist actuator for actively moving the chair from the seating configuration into the assist configuration AND/OR from the assist configuration into the seating configuration. The active movement of the chair performed by the assist actuator further assists the user in standing up and/or sitting down. In an embodiment, the front end of the seating member is arranged higher in the folded configuration than in the seating configuration AND/OR the rear end of the seating member