Chair lift

Abstract

A lift chair is provided which includes a frame having four legs and a back rest portion. A seat has a front portion pivotally attached to the frame and has a rear portion which can be lifted upwardly. The seat movable from a first generally horizontal sitting position to a second angled lift position where the rear portion of said seat is lifted upwardly. Arm rests members are movably attached to opposite sides of the frame. Each arm rest member has a generally horizontal arm rest portion and a vertical activating rod member. The arm rests are movable from a first upper vertical position to a second lower vertical position. A rope and pulley system is provided which includes a pulley attached to a lower end of each activating rod and additional pulleys are attached to the frame. A rope is attached to the rear portion of the seat and extends around the pulleys. When a user pushes downwardly on the arm rests, the arm rests together with the rope and pulleys cause the rear portion of said seat to be lifted upwardly thus helping the user to stand up and get out of the chair.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Intention[0002]The present invention relates to a chair lift. More specifically, the present invention relates to a chair which allows a user to push downwardly on arm rests to cause, with the help of ropes and pulleys, a rear portion of said seat to be efficiently lifted upwardly thus helping the user to stand up and get out of the chair.[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]A variety of lift chair devices have been proposed over the years. A number of existing patents teach the use of an electric screw drive or the like to lift all or a large portion of a chair to assist a user to stand up. Examples of such devices include: Ambrose, Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,062; Lin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,153; Gaffney, U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,599; Mohn et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,090,297; Gaffney, U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,569; Rudes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,179; and Kemmerer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,532.[0005]Marcoux et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,5...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]Some of the positive attributes of a chair which are preferably incorporated into the present invention include a high back (to take weight off the lower spine); high, wide and slightly sloped armrests which allow the user to push themselves up and which ease pressure on the arms; comfort; and a sloping waterfall front seat edge (to reduce pressure on the user's legs and to ensure better circulation). The chair should also be lightweight, affordable and convenient.

Problems solved by technology

Many senior citizens, older adults and persons with disabilities have difficulty standing up from a seated position.

Unfortunately, the elderly struggle because the specific muscles used for this process tend to get weaker as they age.

This causes muscles to atrophy (decrease in size) over time if they are not used.

Because elderly persons have trouble lowering and raising their bodies into and out of chairs, many products are on the market but they tend to be expensive, heavy and bulky.

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