FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a seating element which can be used in the medical-health-rehabilitation field to help users with reduced physical mobility, such as the elderly and the physically disabled, to stand up.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Seating elements are known, such as chairs, wheelchairs, armchairs, stools, used in the medical and health field to allow users with limited physical mobility to sit down.

Seating elements are normally provided with at least a backrest, a seat part and a support structure to which the seat part and the backrest are attached.

Generally, when a user has to get up from the seating element he/she moves his/her torso forward, with a front bending to move his/her center of gravity forward, and uses the legs and lumbar muscles to gradually move to an upright position.

The muscular effort required from users with limited physical mobility can be extremely high, so much so that it often requires the intervention of a person to help the user to stand up. If a person intervenes to help, the seating element can be an obstacle to the user's getting up from the seating plane.

To facilitate the action of standing, motorized seating elements are known, which allow to take at least the seating plane to a first position, or position of normal use, in which the user is seated, and a second position in which the seating plane is moved to a raised and advanced position with respect to the first position, so as to bring the user into an almost upright position.

Although they facilitate the action of standing, motorized seating elements do not stimulate the user to make any physical effort and therefore they can make his/her mobility worse.

In the framework of seats, seating elements are also known for example described in documents US-A-2009/039686, JP-A-2002.143243, JP-U- S60.74653 and JP-U-S60.76534, comprising a seating plane and a backrest, both attached to a support structure. In particular, these documents provide that at least part of the seating plane is associated with sliding means, provided to make this part of the seating plane slide with respect to the support structure to make it assume a position protruding from the support structure.

In particular, the solution described in US-A-2009/039686 concerns a sliding seating element, for example of the type for offices, and it is unlikely to be used in the medical-health-rehabilitation field because of its poor stability.

In fact, in the case of patients with physical and non-physical disabilities, the seat can be particularly dangerous, especially when the plane part is put in a position protruding cantilevered with respect to the support structure. In this case, most times a disabled patient does not have much motor capacity in the legs, and is unable to control the weight that he/she puts onto the seating plane. If the seating plane is put in a position protruding from the support structure, the center of gravity of the patient's weight will be displaced forward with respect to the support structure, and this can cause a dangerous overturning of the whole support structure, with the patient him/herself in it.

To avoid this problem, JP-A-2002.143243 provides that the support structure is provided with a base that has an appropriate counterweight, cantilevered with respect to the support structure, to support the load of the patient. This type of seating element is applied in the specific case to seats for dentists, and does not adapt well to the medical-health-rehabilitation field, where a seating element is required that is easy for the operators to move and position.

Moreover, this type of seat in no way facilitates the action of getting up from the seat for the user, but always requires an intervention of operators to allow the user to stand up.

In the same way, documents JP-U-S60.74653 and JP-U-S60.76534 have the same problems described above, and do not guarantee a stable support to a person with physical disabilities.

One purpose of the present invention is to obtain a seating element that facilitates the action of standing for the user.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a seating element that is stable and that avoids problems of tipping over the seated patients when they stand up.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a seating element that stimulates the user physically. Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a seating element that is simple and economical.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, the present invention concerns a seating element comprising a backrest, a seating plane and a support structure which can be positioned on a support surface and to which the backrest and the seating plane are associated.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention, at least a substantial part of the seating plane is selectively translatable with respect to the support structure, to move to a position protruding cantilevered with respect to the support structure.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, at least one support element is connected to the substantial part of the seating plane, separate from the support structure and configured to support the at least one substantial part of the seating plane with respect to the support surface on which the support structure rests during use.

The seating element according to the present invention can be used, during normal use, as a traditional seating element and, taking the seating plane into a protruding position, helps the user to stand up, bringing him/her into a forward position with respect to that of normal seating. In this latter position the user can easily move into an erect position without having to bend his/her back to take his/her center of gravity into a position favorable for standing.

The translation of the substantial part of the seating plane allows to position the user in a position in which his/her feet, resting on the support surface, and his/her arms, acting on the arms of the seating, are substantially on a common lying plane. In this condition the user can lever him/herself up on four supporting points, that is, legs and arms, positioned in a favorable position for standing. Moreover, in accordance with this solution, thanks to the presence of the support element, the seating is particularly stable even when the user stands up, and therefore he/she is not tipped out.

According to a possible form of embodiment, the support element according to the present invention provides that the support element has an oblong development and is provided with a first end attached to the at least one substantial part of the seating plane and a second end opposite the first end and provided with a sliding element positioned, during use, resting and sliding on the support surface. The sliding element facilitates the sliding of the support element on the support surface, in this way preventing the friction between the support element and the support surface, caused by the weight of the user, from impeding the translation of the substantial part of the seating plane with respect to the support structure.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, the at least one substantial part of the seating plane is configured to assume a first operating position in which it overlaps the support structure, and a second operating position in which it is located protruding cantilevered with respect to the support structure. Moreover, in the passage of the substantial part of the seating plane from the first operating position to the second operating position and vice versa, the support element is distanced from/moves near to the support structure. In this way the support element ensures that the center of gravity of a user's weight is always comprised between the support structure and the support element, avoiding the possibility of the seating element overturning when the user stands up.

According to another solution, the substantial part of the seating plane comprises a front portion, to which the support element is attached, and a rear portion opposite the front portion. Moreover, in the first operating position, the front portion and the rear portion overlap the support structure, and in the second operating position the front portion is protruding with respect to the support structure and the rear portion overlaps the support structure. In this way it is possible to ensure that the rear portion remains connected to the support structure and supported by it, while the front portion is supported by the support element itself, to guarantee stability to the support structure. According to another feature of the present invention, the seating element comprises clamping means connected to the substantial part of the seating plane and to the support structure and configured to selectively clamp the translation of the substantial part of the seating plane with respect to the support structure. This prevents an involuntary translation of the seating plane during the normal use of the seating element.

In accordance with another variant, the seating element comprises at least an elastic return mechanism attached to the substantial part of the seating plane and to the support structure and configured to maintain or return the substantial part of the seating plane in/to its first operating position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some forms of embodiment, given as a non- restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a perspective view of a seating element according to the present invention in a first operating position;

- fig. 2 is a perspective view of the seating element in fig. 1 in a second operating position;

- figs. 3 and 4 show possible variant embodiments of a seating element respectively in a first and second operating position.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one form of embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other forms of embodiment without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FORMS OF EMBODIMENT

We shall now refer in detail to the various forms of embodiment of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawing. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one form of embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other forms of embodiment to produce another form of embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

Figs. 1-2 are used to describe forms of embodiment of a seating element 10, that comprises a backrest 1 1 , a seating plane 12 and a support structure 13 to which the backrest 1 1 and the seating plane 12 are associated.

The seating plane 12 has a seating surface 24 on which, during use, the user sits.

In some forms of embodiment, the seating surface 24 can be flat, or suitably shaped, or covered with layers of padding to increase the ergonomics of the seating.

At least a substantial part of the seating plane 12 is selectively translatable with respect to the support structure 13 to move into a position protruding cantilevered with respect to the support structure 13.

By the term substantial part of the seating plane 12 we mean more than half of the surface extension of the seating surface 24 can translate, moving into a protruding position.

The seating plane 12 can comprise a first element 14 installed fixed on the support structure 13 and a second element 15 selectively sliding with respect to the first element 14 as shown in the form of embodiment in figs. 1 and 2.

In particular, the second element 15 can assume a first position in which it is comprised inside the plan bulk of the support structure 13, or overlapping it, and a second position in which it protrudes cantilevered from the support structure 13 and with respect to the first element 14.

The second element 15 defines the substantial part of the seating surface 24 on which the user sits.

The first 14 and second element 15 are respectively provided with a first surface portion 16 and a second surface portion 17 which, together, define the seating surface 24.

The first element 14 can at least partly surround the second element 15.

In other forms of embodiment, not shown in the drawings, the second element 15 is located above the first element 14 and can be translated with respect to the latter. The first element 14 can be provided with a housing seating 18 in which the second element 15 is housed in a sliding manner.

In this case the first element 14 can be "C" shaped in which the hollow of the "C" defines the housing seating 18.

In some forms of embodiment, the housing seating 18 can be made through in the thickness of the first element 14.

The housing seating 18 can be defined peripherally by lateral walls 20 and by a bottom perimeter wall 23. The lateral walls 20 and the bottom perimeter wall 23 act together, respectively, as a lateral guide for the second element 15 in the passage between the first and the second position, and as an abutment wall to block the travel of the second element 15 in its passage from the second to the first position.

The second element 15 is provided with a pair of lateral surfaces 25, opposite each other and disposed, during use, facing and selectively sliding with respect to the lateral walls 20 of the first element 14.

The second element 15 can also comprise a rear portion 29 facing the bottom perimeter wall 23 of the first element 14 and a front portion 26, opposite the rear portion 29.

Finally, the second element 15 can comprise a lower surface 22, made opposite the second surface portion 17.

The seating plane 12 also comprises sliding means 21 associated to the first 14 and second element 15, to allow the latter to slide with respect to the first element 14.

In a possible variant embodiment, the sliding means 21 can be associated to the support structure 13 and to the seating plane 12 to allow the latter, or at least a substantial part of the latter, to slide.

The sliding means 21 can be interposed between the first 14 and second element 15, or be made directly between the first 14 and second element 15.

For example, with reference to figs. 1 and 2, the sliding means 21 are made in the lateral walls 20 of the first element 14 and in the lateral surfaces 25 of the second element 15. The sliding means 21 can be chosen from a group comprising rails, grooves, guides, grooved profiles, protuberances or similar sliding elements, suitable to be reciprocally coupled and sliding with respect to each other.

The seating element 10 according to the present invention also comprises one or more elements 27, 28 configured to define the positions of the second element 15 with respect to the first element 14 in both the first and second position.

In particular, the second element 15 comprises at least an end-of-travel element 27 suitable to limit the sliding thereof with respect to the first element 14 in its passage from the first to the second position.

The end-of-travel element 27 can be a protuberance made on the lower surface 22 of the second element 15.

The end-of-travel element 27 can have a parallelepiped shape and can be connected to the lower surface 22 of the second element 15 by gluing, threaded coupling means or jointing.

The first element 14 can be provided with a front edge 19 located, during use, in the front part of the seating plane 12 and that defines an abutment for the end- of-travel element 27, which can abut against the front edge 19, and in particular in correspondence with one of its surfaces facing toward the inside.

Clamping means 30 are interposed between the first element 14 and the second element 15, configured to keep the second element 15 in its first position, preventing it from accidentally sliding when the user is seated.

The clamping means 30 comprise an abutment element 28 attached to the second element 15, and an interference element 31 attached to the support structure 13 or to the first element 14 and able to be selectively activated to move to a position of interference with the abutment element 28.

The interference element 31 can comprise a lever, a peg, a pin, a bolt.

The seating element 10 according to the present invention also comprises at least an elastic return element 33, such as a spring, configured to keep the second element 15 in its first position and, if the second element 15 is taken into its second position because of the weight of the user, to return it to its first position.

The elastic return element 33 can be attached at one end to the first element 14 and at another end to the second element 15. In particular, with reference for example to figs. 1 -2, the elastic return element 33 can be attached between the rear portion 29 of the second element 15 and the bottom perimeter wall 23 of the first element 14.

In some forms of embodiment, the seating element 10 according to the present invention comprises at least a support element 35 associated to the seating plane 12 and, at least in the protruding position of the latter, configured to support the seating plane 12 with respect to a support surface 40, such as the floor on which the seating element 10 rests. In this way, even though it is positioned protruding cantilevered with respect to the support structure 13, the seating plane 12 is in any case supported with respect to the plane on which it rests, and avoids overturning the user.

The support element 35 can be attached to the lower surface 22 of the second element 15 and in proximity to the front portion 26.

Each support element 35 can be configured to stay permanently resting on the support surface 40 both in the first and in the second position, or it can be hinged to the lower surface 22 and selectively rotatable to assume a retracted position where it does not rest on the support surface 40.

In this form of embodiment, a drive member, not shown in figs. 1-2, can be associated to the support element 35, to determine its activation/deactivation. In accordance with this last variant, it is possible to provide a synchronization between the clamping means 30 and the drive member, so that by driving the clamping means 30 the drive member is driven.

In some forms of embodiment, a sliding element 37 can be associated to each support element 35, such as a wheel for example, to facilitate the sliding of the second element 15 between the first and second position and reduce the friction with the support surface 40.

The support structure 13 can comprise a plurality of legs 36 configured to support the seating plane 12 and the backrest 1 1 in substantially known manner. The support structure 13 can also comprise arms 38 associated to the backrest 1 1 and to the seating plane 12.

The user seated on the seating element 10 who needs to get up, deactivates the clamping means 30, and takes the second element 15 from its first position (fig. 1), to its second position (fig. 2), by unbalancing and thrusting his/her body forward.

In this position the user has moved his/her center of gravity forward, allowing to facilitate the action of standing. The user in this way can lever him/herself up on his/her legs and arms and, without bending the torso, can get up.

As soon as the user removes his/her weight from the second element 15, the elastic return element 33 returns the second element 15 to the first position, preparing the seating element 10 for a new use.

Subsequently, for reasons of safety, it is possible to drive the clamping means 30 once again, to clamp the second element 15 in its first position.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the seating element as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

For example, figs. 3 and 4 show another variant of the seating element 10 according to the present invention.

In accordance with this solution, the substantial part of the seating plane 12, in this case the whole seating plane 12, is installed on the support structure 13 and sliding with respect thereto, for example by means of said sliding means 21 associated in this case to the seating plane 12 and to the support structure 13. In accordance with this solution, the sliding means 21 can also comprise the end-of-travel elements described above in order to limit the translation of the seating plane 12.

The seating plane 12 can assume a first operating position in which it overlaps the support structure 13 and a second operating position in which it is located protruding cantilevered with respect to the support structure 13. Moreover, in the passage of the seating plane 12 from the first operating position to the second operating position and vice versa, the support element 35, in this case two support elements 35, are distanced from/move near to the support structure 13.

According to this solution too, each support element 35 is provided with said sliding elements 37 located resting on the support surface 40.

The seating plane 12 is provided with the front portion 26 and the rear portion 29 that are made in a single body. The support elements 35 are connected to the front portion 26 of the seating plane 12, both which are located, during use, resting on the support surface 40.

In the first operating position, the front portion 26 and the rear portion 29 overlap the support structure 13, and in the second operating position the front portion 26 is protruding with respect to the support structure 13 and the rear portion 29 overlaps the support structure 13.

Moreover, in accordance with the variant embodiment of figs. 3 and 4 it can be provided that in the first operating position, the two support elements 35 are adjacent to at least two of the legs 36 of the support structure and in the second operating position the two support elements 35 are located distanced from the at least two legs 36.

According to this solution too, the elastic return mechanism 33 is connected to the seating plane 12 and to the support structure 13, and is configured to return the seating plane 12 from its second operating position to its first operating position, that is, to keep the seating plane 12 normally in its first operating position.

In the same way, clamping means 30 can be provided between the support structure 13 and the seating plane 12, substantially similar to those described above and configured to keep the seating plane 12 in the first operating position. It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of seating element, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.