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EP-4740793-A1 - A LIFTING MECHANISM FOR RAISING AND LOWERING A SEATING ELEMENT AND A SEATING ELEMENT HAVING SUCH A LIFTING MECHANISM

EP4740793A1EP 4740793 A1EP4740793 A1EP 4740793A1EP-4740793-A1

Abstract

A lifting mechanism (1, 100) for raising and/or lowering a seating element (5, 105) comprising a base (10, 110) having a top side (12) and a bottom side (14), optionally a connection frame (16, 116) connected to the bottom side (14) of the base (10, 110), and a link mechanism (18, 118) connected to the connection frame (16, 116) or the bottom side of the base (10, 110). The link mechanism (18, 118) being moveable between a retracted position and an extended position by at least one actuator (20, 120). The at least one actuator (20, 120) is on a first end connected to the connection frame (16, 116) or the bottom side of the base (10, 110), such that the first end is positioned below the base (10, 110), and on a second end to the link mechanism (18, 118) such that the second end is positioned above the base (10, 110).

Inventors

  • Thevelin, Benoit
  • DE TEMMERMAN, Joren

Assignees

  • Moments Furniture

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251106

Claims (15)

  1. A lifting mechanism (1, 100) for raising and/or lowering a seating element (5, 105), the lifting mechanism (1, 100) comprising: - a base (10, 110) having a top side (12) and a bottom side (14); - optionally, a connection frame (16, 116) connected to the bottom side (14) of the base (10, 110); - a link mechanism (18, 118) connected to the connection frame (16, 116) or the bottom side of the base (10, 110), the link mechanism (18, 118) being moveable between a retracted position and an extended position; - at least one actuator (20, 120), the at least one actuator (20, 120) being configured to connect, at a first end, to the connection frame (16, 116) or the bottom side of the base (10, 110), such that the first end is positioned below the base (10, 110), and, at a second end, to the link mechanism (18, 118), such that the second end is positioned above the base (10, 110); wherein the at least one actuator (20, 120) is operable to move the link mechanism (18, 118) between the retracted position and the extended position; and, - wherein the link mechanism (18, 118) comprises a first linking element (46, 146) and/or a second linking element (48, 148), wherein the first linking element (46,146) and/or the second linking element (48, 148) are shaped such that the first linking element (46, 146) and/or the second linking element (48, 148) can be positioned around the base (10, 110) when the link mechanism (18, 118) is in the retracted position.
  2. The lifting mechanism (1, 100) according to claim 1, wherein the base (10, 110) comprises a fixation frame (30) positioned around the center (X) of the base (10, 110) and at least four arms (32, 34, 36, 38), wherein one end (32a, 34a, 36a, 38a) of each of the at least four arms (32, 34, 36, 38) is connected to the fixation frame (30) and the at least four arms (32, 34, 36, 38) are essentially evenly distributed around the center (X) of the base (10, 110).
  3. The lifting mechanism (1, 100) according to claim 2, wherein the base (10, 110) further comprises at least four wheels (40) and wherein one of the at least four wheels (40) is connected to the other end (32b, 34b, 36b, 38b) of one of the at least four arms (32, 34, 36, 38) such that the base (10, 110) is configured to be moveable on a ground surface.
  4. The lifting mechanism (1, 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection frame (16, 116) comprises a first connection bracket (42, 142) and a second connection bracket (44, 144), wherein the first and second connection brackets (42, 44; 142, 144) connect the link mechanism (18, 118) to the connection frame (16, 116), or wherein the base (10, 110) comprises a first connection bracket (42, 142) and a second connection bracket (44, 144), wherein the first and second connection brackets (42, 44; 142, 144) are connected to the base (10, 110) and are configured to connect the link mechanism (18, 118) to the base (10, 110).
  5. The lifting mechanism (1, 100) according to claim 4, wherein the link mechanism (18, 118) comprises a first linking element (46, 146), a second linking element (48, 148) and a top connecting element (50, 150), wherein a first end of the first linking element (46, 146) is pivotably connected to the first connection bracket (42, 142), a first end of the second linking element (48, 148) is pivotally connected to the second connection bracket (44, 144), and the second end of the first bracket (46, 146) and the second end of the second connection bracket (44, 144) are pivotably connected to the connecting element (50, 150), and optionally wherein the first linking element (46, 146) comprises a first arm (46a, 146a) and a second arm (46b, 146b), a first end of the first arm (46a, 146a) is configured to be pivotally connected to the first connection bracket (42, 142) at a first rotation point (54, 154), a second end of the first arm (46a, 146a) is configured to be pivotally connected to the top connecting element (50, 150) at a second rotation point (64, 164), a first end of the second arm (46b, 146b) is configured to be pivotally connected to the first connection bracket (42, 142) at a third rotation point (56, 156), and a second end of the second arm (46b, 146b) is configured to be pivotally connected to the top connecting element (50, 150) at a fourth rotation point (66, 166).
  6. The lifting mechanism (1, 100) according to claim 5, wherein the second linking element (48, 148) comprises a first arm (48a, 148a) and a second arm (48b, 148b), a first end of the first arm (48a, 148a) is configured to be pivotally connected to the second connection bracket (44, 144) at a fifth rotation point (58), a second end of the first arm (48a, 148a) is configured to be pivotally connected to the top connecting element (50, 150) at a sixth rotation point (68), a first end of the second arm (48b, 148b) is configured to be pivotally connected to the second connection bracket (44, 144) at a seventh rotation point (60), and a second end of the second arm (48b, 148b) is configured to be pivotally connected to the top connecting element (50, 150) at an eighth rotation point (70).
  7. The lifting mechanism (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the first arm (46a) of the first linking element (46) and/or the first arm (48a) of the second linking element (48) is V-shaped, or wherein the first arm (46a) of the first linking element (46) and/or the first arm (48a) of the second linking element (48) is shaped as a boomerang, and/or optionally wherein the second arm (46b) of the first linking element (46) and/or the second arm (48b) of the second linking element (48) is W-shaped.
  8. The lifting mechanism (1, 100) according to any one of claim 5 to 7, wherein the first (46, 146) and/or second (48, 148) link element is configured such that when the link mechanism (18, 118) is in the retracted position, the rotation points (64, 66; 164, 166) of the second end of the first (46a, 146a) and second (46b, 146b) arm of the first link element (46, 146) and/or the rotation points (68, 70) of the second end of the first (48a, 148a) and second (48b, 148b) arm of the second link element (48, 148) are positioned below the top side (12) of the base (10, 110), and/or wherein the first (46, 146) and/or second (48, 148) link element is configured such that when the link mechanism (18, 118) is in the extended position, the rotation points (64, 66; 164, 166) of the second end of the first (46a, 146a) and second (46b, 146b) arm of the first link element (46, 146) and/or the rotation points (68, 70) of the second end of the first (48a, 148a) and second (48b, 148b) arm of the second link element (48, 148a) are positioned above the top side (12) of the base (10, 110), and/or wherein the link mechanism (18, 118) further comprises a bottom connecting element (52, 152), wherein a first end of the bottom connecting element (52, 152) is fixedly connected to the first linking element (46, 146), and/or wherein a second end of the bottom connecting element (52, 152) is fixedly connected to the second linking element (48, 148).
  9. The lifting mechanism (1, 100) according to claim 8, when depending on claim 5, wherein the first end of the bottom connecting element (52, 152) is fixedly connected to the first end of the first arm (46a, 146a) of the first linking element (46, 146), and/or wherein a second end of the bottom connecting element (52, 152) is fixedly connected to the first end of the first arm (48a, 148a) of the second linking element (48, 148).
  10. The lifting mechanism (1, 100) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the bottom connecting element (52, 152) further comprises a connecting element, preferably an arm (80, 180) connected at approximately halfway the length of the bottom connecting element (52, 152), and wherein the at least one actuator (20, 120) is connected at its second end to the connecting element (80, 180) such that the at least one actuator (20, 120) is operable to simultaneously rotate the first arm (46a, 146a) of the first linking element (46, 146) and/or the first arm (48a, 148a) of the second linking element (48, 148) around their respective rotation points (54, 58; 154, 158) and to move the link mechanism (18, 118) from the retracted position to the extended position or vice versa.
  11. The lifting mechanism (1, 100) according to any of claims 5 to 10, wherein the top connecting element (50, 150) comprises at least one connecting element (51), preferably one or more connection openings (51), wherein the at least one connecting element (51) is configured to connect a seating element (5, 105) with the top connecting element (50, 150).
  12. The lifting mechanism (1, 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lifting mechanism (1, 100) further comprises a controller, and wherein the controller is configured to control the at least one actuator (20, 120), and optionally wherein the controller is a remote controller, preferably connected to the lifting mechanism (1, 100), an NFC device, preferably a smartphone, a Bowden cable, or a foot pedal.
  13. The lifting mechanism (1, 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base is a cross base (10, 110), and wherein the cross base (10, 110) comprises four arms (32, 34, 36, 38) and a fixation frame (30) positioned around the center (X) of the cross base (10, 110), the four arms being connected to the fixation frame (30), and/or wherein the at least one actuator (20, 120) is an electric actuator, preferably an electric motor, a hydraulic actuator preferably a hydraulic pump, an electromagnetic actuator, a mechanical actuator, and/or a gas spring.
  14. The lifting mechanism (1, 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lifting mechanism (1, 100) further comprises a preferably removable footrest (90) slidably connected to the bottom side (14) of the base (10, 110) and positioned underneath the link mechanism (18, 118) and/or the connection frame (16, 116), and/or wherein the lifting mechanism (1, 100) further comprises at least one counterbalance, the at least one counterbalance being connected to the base (10, 110) and/or to the connection frame (16, 116), and optionally wherein the at least one counterbalance is configured to be repositioned depending on the position of the link mechanism (18, 118).
  15. A seating element (5, 105) having a lifting mechanism (1, 100) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the seating element (5, 105) is a chair, preferably a relaxing chair, a raising assisting chair or a tilt-in-space relax chair, or wherein the seating element is a convertible chair (5, 105) that can be transformed from a chair to a bed, or vice versa.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a lifting mechanism for raising and/or lowering a seating element such as a chair. The invention is further related to a seating element, such as a chair or a convertible chair foreseen with such a lifting mechanism. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Chairs which are often used in hospitals or elderly homes are typically foreseen with large wheels which allow for an increased stability and steerability of the chair. If such a chair is used as a stationary chair, the wheels are often not provided, and the chassis or frame of the chair is placed directly on the ground. Likewise, it is possible to provide the chair with different diameters of wheels, depending on the use of the chair. A smaller diameter of wheels can be foreseen e.g. if these chairs are typically only used in the room of the elderly or patient. The height of the seating surface of the chair is thus typically fixed with relation to the wheels and chassis on which the chair is build and the minimum height of the seating surface above the ground is thus depending on what kind of wheels, chassis or frame is used. Also typically is that these known chairs are built as a robust chair having a heavy looking chassis on which all components are fixed. It can therefore be difficult, if not impossible at times, for disabled or elderly people to comfortably sit in a chair when the height of the seating element is not at the right level or height for their build or length. In order to sit and rest comfortably, it is necessary that the feet can rest on the ground or on a foot board or footrest whereby the patient who is sitting in the chair is able to bend his or her knees under an angle up to 130 degrees. A number of mechanisms are already available in the market, which provide for the raising and/or lowering of the seating surface. However, these mechanisms are typically complex scissor-like structures build on top of a frame providing an overall look and feel of an over-dimensioned and closed structure which is difficult to clean and maintain mechanism. Other types of mechanisms allowing chairs which are typically used in hospitals or elderly homes to facilitate a patient from a sitting position to a standing position or vice versa. Typically, such mechanisms will allow the seating element, such as the bottom cushion to be tilted in a forward direction around a pivot point as to help the patient with the upwards and forwards movement, or to help the patient to sit down, by gradually tilting in a backwards and downwards direction around the pivot point. Again, the mechanisms for these types of raising assistance chairs are built on top of the chassis and are typically large and heavy. For example, KR20110050115 discloses a protector bed for a hospital is provided to minimize injury of a patient due to a fall from a seat plate during sleep. A protector bed for a hospital comprises a bed main body, an upper supporting device, a lower supporting device, and a height controlling device. For example, US2014265497A1 discloses a medical chair includes a seat supported by a base and actuators adapted to both tilt and lift the seat with respect to the base. A controller controls the actuators to both lift and tilt the seat as the seat moves from the sitting position to the standing position. There is thus a need for an improved lifting mechanism allowing the seating surface of the seating element to be in minimum position which is lower than the known minimum heights for the seating surfaces, thus being able to compensate for different diameters of wheels and/or frames used for the seating element, while providing for an easily accessible lifting mechanism which can be serviced and cleaned easily. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the aim of the present invention to solve the problems highlighted above. This aim is achieved by a lifting mechanism for raising and/or lowering a seating element, the lifting mechanism comprising a base having a top side and a bottom side, optionally a connection frame connected to the bottom side of the base and a link mechanism connected to the connection frame or the bottom side of the base whereby the link mechanism being moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. The lifting mechanism further comprising at least one actuator, the at least one actuator configured of being connected on a first end to the connection frame or the bottom side of the base such that the first end is positioned below the base and on a second end to the link mechanism such that the second end is positioned above the base. The at least one actuator is operable to move the link mechanism between the retracted position and the extended position. By connecting the link mechanism to a connection frame below the base or directly to the bottom side of the base and by connecting one end of the at least one actuator to the bottom side of the base, will allow for the entire lifting mechanism to be positione