Lift chair

Abstract

A chair having a first seat portion and a second seat portion pivotally connected to the first seat portion. The first seat portion and the second seat portion are movable between a first or lowered position and a second or raised position, and the first seat portion and second seat portion are disposed in substantially the same plane when the first seat portion and the second seat portion are in the first position. Also included is an actuator for moving the first seat portion and the second seat portion between the first position and the second position, and 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 relative to the second seat portion.

1 . A chair comprising:
 a first seat portion;   a second seat portion pivotally connected to said first seat portion, said first seat portion and said second seat portion being movable between a first position and a second position, said first seat portion and said second seat portion being disposed in substantially the same plane when said first seat portion and said second seat portion are in said first position; and   an actuator for moving said first seat portion and said second seat portion between said first position and said second position such that when said actuator is actuated, said first seat portion pivots relative to said second seat portion such that said first seat portion is located in a different plane relative to said second seat portion.   
     
     
         2 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein said first seat portion is substantially perpendicular to said second seat portion when said first seat portion and said second seat portion are in said second position. 
     
     
         3 . The chair of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first hinge for connecting said first seat portion to said second seat portion;   a front cross member; and   a second hinge for connecting said second seat portion to said front cross member such that when said first seat portion is moved by said actuator, said first seat portion pivots relative to said second seat portion about said first hinge, and said second seat portion pivots relative to said front cross member about said second hinge.   
     
     
         4 . The chair of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first front support member connected to said front cross member;   a second front support member connected to said front cross member;   a first V-bracket connected to said first front support member to support said first front support member; and   a second V-bracket connected to said second front support member to support said second front support member.   
     
     
         5 . The chair of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first rear support member connected to said first V-bracket for supporting said first V-bracket;   a second rear support member connected to said second V-bracket for supporting said second V-bracket; and   a rear cross member connected to said first rear support member and said second rear support member.   
     
     
         6 . The standup chair of  claim 1 , said actuator further comprising:
 an electric motor connected to said first seat portion;   an upper telescoping member connected to said electric motor; and   a lower telescoping member movably disposed within said upper telescoping member such that when said electric motor is actuated to move said first seat portion and said second seat portion from said first position to said second position, said electric motor drives said lower telescoping member out of said upper telescoping member, applying force to said first seat portion.   
     
     
         7 . The stand-up chair of  claim 6 , wherein said upper telescoping member and said lower telescoping member are substantially vertical when said first seat portion and said second seat portion are in said raised position. 
     
     
         8 . The standup chair of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch for activating said actuator. 
     
     
         9 . The standup chair of  claim 1 , wherein said first seat portion is larger compared to said second seat portion. 
     
     
         10 . The stand-up chair of  claim 1 , wherein said first seat portion is angled by said actuator as said first seat portion and said second seat portion are moved to said raised position. 
     
     
         11 . A stand-up chair, comprising:
 a first seat portion;   a second seat portion pivotally connected to said first seat portion by a first hinge, and a front cross member by a second hinge, said first seat portion is larger in relation to said second seat portion; and   an actuator pivotally connected to said first seat portion such that when said actuator is actuated, said first seat portion and said second seat portion are moved between a raised position and a lowered position;   wherein said first seat portion is substantially perpendicular to said second seat portion when said first seat portion and said second seat portion are in said raised position.   
     
     
         12 . The stand-up chair of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first front support member connected to said front cross member;   a second front support member connected to said front cross member;   a first V-bracket connected to said first front support member;   a second V-bracket connected to said second front support member;   a first pivot bracket pivotally connected to said first seat portion and said first V-bracket; and   a second pivot bracket pivotally connected to said first seat portion and said second V-bracket such that as said actuator moves said first seat portion and said second seat portion between said raised position and said lowered position, said first pivot bracket pivots relative to said first V-bracket, said second pivot bracket pivots relative to said second V-bracket, and said first pivot bracket and said second pivot bracket pivot relative to said first seat portion.   
     
     
         13 . The stand-up chair of  claim 12 , said actuator further comprising:
 an electric motor pivotally connected to said first seat portion;   an upper telescoping member connected to said electric motor; and   a lower telescoping member pivotally connected to a lower cross member and slidingly disposed within said upper telescoping member, said lower cross member connected to said first V-bracket and said second V-bracket such that when said electric motor is activated, said lower telescoping member slides out of said upper telescoping member, moving away from said electric motor and applying a force to said lower cross member, lifting said first seat portion and said second seat portion towards said raised position.   
     
     
         14 . The stand-up chair of  claim 13 , wherein said upper telescoping member and said lower telescoping member are substantially vertical when said first seat portion and said second seat portion are in said raised position. 
     
     
         15 . The stand-up chair of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first upper support member connected to said front cross member; and   a second upper support member connected to said front cross member;   wherein said first upper support member and said second upper support member support said first seat portion and said second seat portion when said first seat portion and said second seat portion are in said lowered position.   
     
     
         16 . The stand-up chair of  claim 11 , wherein said first seat portion is larger in relation to said second seat portion. 
     
     
         17 . The stand-up chair of  claim 11 , wherein said first seat portion is angled by said actuator as said first seat portion and said second seat portion are moved to said raised position. 
     
     
         18 . A stand-up chair operable for movement between a raised position and a lowered position, comprising:
 a first seat portion;   a second seat portion positioned substantially parallel to said first seat portion when said stand-up chair is in said lowered position;   a first hinge pivotally connecting said first seat portion to said second seat portion;   a second hinge;   a front cross member, said second hinge pivotally connecting said front cross member to said second seat portion; and   an actuator operable for changing the position of said first seat portion relative to said second seat portion between said raised position and said lowered position such that when said first seat portion and said second seat portion are in said raised position, said first seat portion is substantially perpendicular to said second seat portion;   wherein said first seat portion is larger in relation to said second seat portion.   
     
     
         19 . The stand-up chair operable for movement between a raised position and a lowered position of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a first upper support member operable for supporting said first seat portion and said second seat portion;   a second upper support member operable for supporting said first seat portion and said second seat portion;   a first front support member, said front cross member and said first upper support member connected to said first front support member;   a second front support member, said front cross member and said second upper support member connected to said second front support member;   a first V-bracket connected to said first front support member;   a second V-bracket connected to said second front support member;   a first pivot bracket pivotally connected to said first seat portion and said first V-bracket; and   a second pivot bracket pivotally connected to said second seat portion and said first V-bracket such that as said actuator moves said first seat portion and said second seat portion between said raised position and said lowered position, said first pivot bracket pivots relative to said first seat portion and said first V-bracket, and said second pivot bracket pivots relative to said first seat portion and said second V-bracket.   
     
     
         20 . The stand-up chair operable for movement between a raised position and a lowered position of  claim 19 , said actuator further comprising:
 an electric motor pivotally connected to said first seat portion;   an upper telescoping member connected to said electric motor;   a lower telescoping member concentrically disposed within said upper telescoping member; and   a lower cross member connected to said first V-bracket and said second V-bracket, said lower telescoping member pivotally connected to said lower cross member;   wherein as said stand-up chair is moved between said lowered position and said raised position, said electric motor moves said lower telescoping member into and out of said upper telescoping member such that a force is applied to said first seat portion, lifting said first seat portion and said second seat portion off of said first upper support member and said second upper support member.   
     
     
         21 . The stand-up chair operable for movement between a raised position and a lowered position of  claim 20 , wherein said upper telescoping member and said lower telescoping member are substantially vertical when said stand-up chair is in said raised position. 
     
     
         22 . The stand-up chair of  claim 18 , wherein said first seat portion is angled by said actuator as said first seat portion and said second seat portion are moved to said raised position.