Lift chair

Abstract

The present invention is a chair having a first seat portion operably associated with a second seat portion, with the first seat portion disposed in the same plane as the second seat portion when the chair is in a lowered position, and an actuator for moving the first seat portion relative to the second seat portion. When the actuator is actuated, the first seat portion pivots relative to the second seat portion such that the first seat portion is located in a different plane compared to the second seat portion. When in the raised position, the first seat portion is substantially parallel to the ground, which allows the occupant of the chair to easily transfer the occupant's center of gravity to being supported by the occupant's feet and knees.

1 . A chair comprising:
 a first seat portion pivotally connected to a second seat portion, said first seat portion disposed in the same plane as said second seat portion when said first seat portion and said second seat portion are in a first position; and   an actuator for moving said first seat portion relative to said second seat portion between said first position and a second position;   wherein said first seat portion pivots relative to said second seat portion when said actuator is actuated, causing said first seat portion to be in a different plane relative to said second seat portion, and said first seat portion is substantially parallel to a ground surface when said first seat portion and said second seat portion are in said second position.   
     
     
         2 . The chair of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first hinge for pivotally connecting said first seat portion to said second seat portion;   a front support beam; and   a second hinge for pivotally connecting said second seat portion to said front support beam;   wherein said first seat portion pivots relative to said second seat portion, and said second seat portion pivots relative to said front support beam as said actuator applies a force to said first seat portion.   
     
     
         3 . The chair of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first front support member connected to said front support beam;   a second front support member connected to said front support beam;   a first upper side beam connected to said first front support member;   a second upper side beam connected to said second front support member, said first upper side beam and said second upper side beam support said first seat portion and said second seat portion when said lift chair is in said first position.   
     
     
         4 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein said actuator is a lift motor mechanism comprising:
 an electric motor pivotally connected to said first seat portion;   a first telescoping member connected to said electric motor; and   a second telescoping member connected to said electric motor, said second telescoping member concentrically disposed within said first telescoping member, such that when said electric motor is activated, said second telescoping member moves within said first telescoping member, and said first telescoping member moves said first seat portion;   wherein said first telescoping member and said second telescoping member are substantially vertical when said first seat portion and said second seat portion are in said second position.   
     
     
         5 . The chair of  claim 1 , further comprising a backrest selectively connected to said first seat portion. 
     
     
         6 . The chair of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch for activating said actuator, said switch being mounted on an armrest, said armrest connected to said first seat portion. 
     
     
         7 . The chair of  claim 1 , further comprising a leg rest assembly operable for movement between a retracted position and a deployed position, wherein said leg rest assembly is substantially disposed underneath said second seat portion when said leg rest assembly is in said retracted position. 
     
     
         8 . The chair of  claim 7 , wherein said lift motor mechanism is operable to position said first seat portion in an angled position. 
     
     
         9 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein said first seat portion is larger in relation to said second seat portion. 
     
     
         10 . A lift chair operable for movement between a raised position and a lowered position, comprising:
 a first seat portion;   a second seat portion pivotally connected to said first seat portion with a first hinge; and   a lift motor mechanism pivotally connected to said first seat portion, said lift motor mechanism operable for moving said first seat portion said second seat portion between said raised position and said lowered position;   wherein said first seat portion and said second seat portion are in the same plane when said lift chair is in said lowered position, said first seat portion and said second seat portion are in a different plane relative to one another when said lift chair is moved out of said lowered position, and said first seat portion is substantially parallel to the ground when said lift chair is in said raised position.   
     
     
         11 . The lift chair operable for movement between a raised position and a lowered position of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a front support beam operable for supporting said second seat portion when said lift chair is in said lowered position;   a second hinge, said second seat portion pivotally connected to said front support beam by said second hinge;   a first front support member connected to said front support beam;   a second front support member connected to said front support beam;   a first upper side beam connected to said first front support member; and   a second upper side beam connected to said second front support member, wherein said first upper side beam and said second upper side beam support said first seat portion and said second seat portion when said lift chair is in said lowered position.   
     
     
         12 . The lift chair operable for movement between a raised position and a lowered position of  claim 10 , wherein said lift motor mechanism is in a substantially vertical position when said first seat portion and said second seat portion are in said raised position. 
     
     
         13 . The lift chair operable for movement between a raised position and a lowered position of  claim 12 , said lift motor mechanism further comprising:
 an electric motor pivotally connected to said first seat portion;   a first telescoping member extending away from said electric motor; and   a second telescoping member connected to said electric motor such that said second telescoping member is slidably disposed within said first telescoping member, and said electric motor moves said second telescoping member within said first telescoping member and changes said first seat portion and said second seat portion between said raised position and said lowered position;   wherein said first telescoping member and said second telescoping member are substantially vertical when said lift chair is in said raised position;   
     
     
         14 . The standup chair operable for moving between a raised position and a lowered position of  claim 10 , further comprising a leg rest assembly operable for movement between a retracted position and a deployed position, wherein said leg rest assembly is substantially disposed underneath said second seat portion when said leg rest assembly is in said retracted position. 
     
     
         15 . The standup chair operable for moving between a raised position and a lowered position of  claim 10 , wherein said first seat portion is larger in relation to said second seat portion. 
     
     
         16 . The standup chair operable for moving between a raised position and a lowered position of  claim 10 , further comprising a backrest selectively connected to said first seat portion, said backrest operable for being detached from said first seat portion. 
     
     
         17 . The standup chair operable for moving between a raised position and a lowered position of  claim 10 , wherein said lift motor mechanism is operable to position said first seat portion in an angled position. 
     
     
         18 . A standup chair operable for moving between a raised position and a lowered position, comprising:
 a first seat portion;   a second seat portion pivotally connected to said first seat portion by a first hinge such that said first seat portion and said second seat portion are in the same plane when said first seat portion and said second seat portion are in said lowered position;   a front support beam operable for supporting said second seat portion when said lift chair is in said lowered position;   a second hinge, said second seat portion pivotally connected to said front support beam by said second hinge; and   a lift motor mechanism having at least one telescoping member, said lift motor mechanism pivotally connected to said first seat portion such that said first seat portion is positioned at an angle when said lift motor mechanism moves said first seat portion from said lowered position to said raised position, and first seat portion is angled until said first seat portion is in said raised position;   wherein said first seat portion is substantially parallel to the ground when said first seat portion and said second seat portion are in said raised position;   
     
     
         19 . The standup chair operable for moving between a raised position and a lowered position of  claim 18 , wherein said first seat portion is in a different plane relative to said second seat portion when said first seat portion and said second seat portion are moved out of said lowered position. 
     
     
         20 . The standup chair operable for moving between a raised position and a lowered position of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a first front support member connected to said front support beam;   a second front support member connected to said front support beam;   a first upper side beam connected to said second front support member; and   a second upper side beam connected to said second front support member, wherein said first upper side beam and said second upper side beam support said first seat portion and said second seat portion when said lift chair is in said lowered position.   
     
     
         21 . The standup chair operable for moving between a raised position and a lowered position of  claim 18 , said lift motor mechanism further comprising:
 an electric motor pivotally connected to said first seat portion;   a first telescoping member connected to said electric motor; and   a second telescoping member connected to said electric motor, said second telescoping member slidably and concentrically disposed within said first telescoping member such that said electric motor is activated to move said second telescoping member into and out of said first telescoping member, causing said first seat portion and said second seat portion to move between said raised position and said lowered position;   wherein said first telescoping member and said second telescoping member are substantially vertical when said lift chair is in said raised position.   
     
     
         22 . The standup chair operable for moving between a raised position and a lowered position of  claim 18 , further comprising a leg rest assembly operable for movement between a retracted position and a deployed position, wherein said leg rest assembly is substantially disposed underneath said second seat portion when said leg rest assembly is in said retracted position. 
     
     
         23 . The standup chair operable for moving between a raised position and a lowered position of  claim 18 , wherein said first seat portion is larger in relation to said second seat portion. 
     
     
         24 . The standup chair operable for moving between a raised position and a lowered position of  claim 18 , further comprising a backrest selectively connected to said first seat portion, said backrest operable for being detached from said first seat portion.