WO2009031885A1

WO2009031885A1 - Device for treatment

Info

Publication number: WO2009031885A1
Application number: PCT/NL2008/000199
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Karel Poots
Original assignee: Robert Karel Poots
Priority date: 2007-09-03
Filing date: 2008-09-02
Publication date: 2009-03-12
Also published as: EP2185122B1; EP2185122A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for medical, dental or likewise treatment, including also examination, of a patient, comprising: - a frame in use defining a sturdy base; and - an essentially planar support on the frame for supporting a patient during treatment, wherein the frame is collapsible into to a flat package of dimensions closely corresponding to the support.

Description

DEVICE FOR TREATMENT

The present invention relates to a device for treatment, including examination, in particular though not exclusively medical or dental treatment, of a patient. The device to which the invention relates can be a table or chair for the patient to sit or lie on during the treatment. In the prior art several configurations of such devices for treatment are known, comprising at least a frame, in use defining a sturdy base, and an essentially planar support on the frame for supporting a patient during treatment.

Such prior devices all exhibit the disadvantage, that these are too voluminous and heavy for easy transportation. For instance, such prior devices are fixedly arranged in the working space of a dentist or doctor. Some proposals have been made in de prior art to improve on such fixedly arranged devices, for instance by making a device that is collapsible, or at least the frame of which is collapsible. However, even in a collapsed stage, such prior art devices are too heavy for easy transportation in the collapsed state. Moreover, the ease with which these prior art devices can be collapsed and/or erected leaves a lot to be desired. Mostly, such prior art devices comprise complex mechanisms for erecting or collapsing the frame for stably carrying the support. Often, turn bolts are required to be loosened or fastened, and many examples of other fastening means included into the frame are known.

The present invention has for an object to obviate or at least diminish or decrease the amount of problems relative to the prior art devices. For achieving this objective, according to the present invention a device is provided with the characterizing features, that the claim is collapsible into a flat package of dimensions, closely corresponding to the support. As such, and as a consequence of these features, the device according to the present invention can be much lighter than the prior art devices, and collapsing and erecting can be considerably simplified. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device exhibits the features, that the frame comprises a rotation axis at the support, where essentially all leg parts of the frame, the leg parts in use extending to a ground surface in at least two different directions to carry the support, are rotatable around the axis. The legs each form a unit, which is capable of being rotated on or around the axis. The legs can each extend over a considerable distance and need no intermediate hinge portions. The legs can extend in use from a ground surface up to the support, without any intermediate features being added for dividing the legs into segments, which would need to be fastened relative to one another in use. The use of single axis for mounting the legs thereto results in a very elegant and simple configurations, which is very easy to use. It is noted, that one or more of the legs can be fixedly attached to the axis, if the axis is rotatable around its longitudinal axis to the support. A third or fourth or higher numbered leg need then be able to rotate around the axis and not be fastened to the axis, otherwise the assembly of legs will not constitute a basis for sturdy carrying the support. Nonetheless, with a single axis defining the rotational movement of all legs, albeit in different directions, a considerable simplification is available in this embodiment. Preferably, the rotation axis is arranged at the support. In such a configuration, as mentioned above, the axis can be in close proximity to the support, as a consequence of which a compact configuration in both an erected and a collapsed state of the device can be achieved. More preferably, the axis is rotatable mounted to the support. As a viable alternative within the scope of protection for the present invention it is equally possible to have a fixed axis relative to the support, to which the legs can then rotatable be mounted. However, with a rotatable mounting of the axis to the support evident advantages can be achieved.

In yet another preferred embodiment the device comprises at least one stud, where the stud in use releasable extends between at least one of at least three leg parts, the leg parts in use extending to a ground surface in at least two different directions in order to form a sturdy base for the support, and the support. The stud, extending between the selected leg parts and the support, can keep the support upright, especially when in use. Upright herein is intended to be directed at a horizontal configuration of the support. By releasing the stud from between the chosen leg and the support, the leg can be turned towards the support for collapsing the device. Conversely, for erecting the device a user needs to rotate the legs away from the support and then arrange the stud between the chosen of the legs and the support in order to provide the sturdy base by means of the frame for the support. It is clear, that this is a very simple manner of erecting and collapsing the device according to the present invention.

As mentioned before, in another preferred embodiment, it is possible to provide further features of at least three leg parts, where the leg parts in use extend to a ground surface to at least two different directions, where a limiter is arranged between at least two of the leg parts extending in the different directions. As a consequence, the leg parts are allowed to rotate away from one another around or on the axis, while the limiter determines a predetermined angle of rotation between the leg part extending in different directions in use of an erected device, and thus a sturdy base can be provided to carry the support on the frame. In a preferred embodiment it will be possible to adjust the dimensions of the limiter in order to change or adapt the relative position of the leg parts, for instance by predetermining the allowable or allowed angle of rotation between the leg parts extending in different directions. As such, it will be possible to adapt the height of the support on the frame to specific circumstances, for instance with a taller user (dentist or doctor) .

In an embodiment with a rotation axis at the support and legs extending in different directions, essentially planer extension can be provided, which is then also rotatable connected to the axis in yet another preferred embodiment. The extension can form a back rest, or an extension extending in the longitudinal direction of the support to provide a table-like configuration, for which the extension can be rotatable on the axis to an orientation in use, in which orientation the extension is essentially co- planer with the support to define in combination with the support the above mentioned lying surface, when the support in isolation forms essentially a seating surface.

In yet another preferred embodiment, at least one further stud can be provided for orienting in use the extension relative to the support. The extension, when used as a back rest, will together with the support define a chair-like configuration, whereas with the extension extending in a plane defined by the support, a bed-like configuration can be achieved. Especially, in an embodiment with a stud for adjusting the orientation of the extension, such a selection between use as a back rest and an extension of a lying surface is easily achievable, in as far as the stud associated with the extension is in itself adjustable. This is yet another preferred embodiment. Such a stud can be quite similar to the stud carrying the support, or can for instance be a bit more complex in order to provide more adjustable positions of the extension forming the back rest or a remainder of a lying surface.

In yet another preferred embodiment an essentially elongate surface is defined by the support, where the axis is arranged at either longitudinal end of the elongate surface of the support in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction of the support. In such a configuration the legs can extend, in a collapsed state, underneath or to the side of the support, which is then for instance, dimensioned in the lengthwise direction thereof in correspondence with the legs of patients taking place on the device. The free end of the support can then be carried by the stud extending from the legs underneath the support in an erected state of the device. Collapsing or erecting the device is then further facilitated.

Numerous embodiments of a device according to the present invention can be envisaged. Herein below, a single one of these embodiments is described in more detail to provide a more full understanding of the present invention, and the following description has been drafted referring to the enclosed figures of this embodiment. Nonetheless, it should be emphasized, that the described and shown embodiment is merely provided as an example of the possibility within the scope of the present invention. In the different views of the figures in the drawing, the same or similar components, elements and aspects of the present invention are referred to by means of the same reference numbers. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in an erected state, while fig. IB shows a corresponding view as fig. IA, but from the back of the device;

Fig. 2 shows the operations needed for collapsing the device according to the present invention; Fig. 3 shows an intermediate state of collapsing the device according to the present invention; and

Fig. 4 shows a collapsed state of a device according to the present invention.

The device 1 in the figures comprises a frame 2, on which a support 3 is arranged. The support 3 has a length, that corresponds with a length direction of legs of a person, taking place on the device 1.

The device 1 further comprises a back rest 4. At the free end of the back rest 4 a head rest 5 is provided. The frame 2 is collapsible to collapse the device 1 to the erected position, shown in figs. IA and IB. To this end, the frame 2 consists of two single legs 6 and 7 on either side of the support 3. In the position of figs. IA and IB a stud 8 is provided between a position near the end of the legs 6, 7 and the free end of the support 3, to keep the support 3 in a horizontal position, as shown in fig. IA and fig. IB.

The legs 6, 7 are rotatable arranged on an axis 9. The legs 6 and 7 are arranged aside relative to the support 3, as shown in figs. IA and IB. As will be described herein below, the legs 6, 7 are rotatable, after the stud 8 has been removed, to extend alongside the support 3. Opposite the legs 6, 1 a middle backward leg 10 is provided. As shown in fig. IB, the middle backward leg 10 is also rotatable mounted on the axis 9. The middle backward leg 10 extends in a backward direction of the device 1, whereas the legs 6, 7 extend in a forward direction. At the lower ends of the legs 6, 7 a crossbar 11 is provided. Attached to the crossbar 11 is limiter 12 in any appropriate shape or form, such as a wire, a cable, a belt, etc. The limiter extends from the crossbar 11 to the backward middle leg 10. In this manner, the limiter 12 determines a maximum angle enclosed between the forward legs 6, 7 and the backward middle leg 10. As a consequence, also the height of the support 3 is determined. Preferably, the limiter can have an adjustable length, and as a consequence a predetermined maximum angle enclosed between the forward legs 6 and 7 on the one hand and the backward middle legs 10 on the other hand can be adapted or adjusted in accordance with circumstances, such as the length of a person using the device 1, such as a doctor or a dentist. In fig. IB an additional stud 13 is shown to extend between de middle backward leg 10 and the back rest 4. The stud 13 is formed by a cylinder, and is, as a consequence, adjustable in length. Therefore, the back rest 4 can extend in a plane defined by the support 3 to in combination with the support 3 form a lying surface for a patient to lie on. With the back rest 4, however, in a more upright position, caused by a longer length of the cylinder 13, the device 1 can be configured to form more of a chair-like configuration. To improve stability of the middle backward leg 10, a transverse foot 14 is provided at the free end thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the middle backward leg 10 could also be replaced by multiple backward legs, which could still then be intermediate relative to the forward extending legs 6, 7.

Further, it is noted, that the support 3 is formed from light-weight material, such as any appropriate plastic. The support 3 is a shell, forming a sturdy surface for a patient to sit on with his legs towards the front edge of the support 3, and his back against the back rest 4, or lying in essentially the same position on the device, more in particular on the support 3 and the back rest 4. The back rest 4 forms an extension.

The back rest 4 can have the same or similar shell-like configuration as the support 3, to suppress the weight of the device 1 in totality further. The frame 2 can be made from light-weight profiles, for instance aluminum or any other appropriate material. With the axis 9 extending outward out of the shell-like support 3, free ends of the axis 9 are available to be engaged by the forward extending legs 6, 7. The forward extending legs 6, 7 can rotate around the axis 9, or be fixed to the free ends of the axis 9 to rotate with this axis 9, for instance with the axis 9 extending through holes in the shell-like support 3. It is then of importance to allow the backward middle leg 10 to be freely rotatable on or around the axis 9 in order to allow the forward extending legs 6, 7 and the backward middle leg 10 to extend in different directions and form a sturdy base for the support 3.

In fig. 2 the first step in collapsing the device 1 is shown. In this step the support 3 is raised at the free end thereof in the direction of arrow A, whereas the back rest 4 is tilted forward in the direction of arrow B. In doing so, the support 3 comes loose from the stud 8, and the backrest 4 comes loose from the stud 15, that keeps the back rest upright or horizontal, depending on the length of the cylinder 13, at least in the erected state of the device 1. After the support 3 and the back rest 4 have come loose from their respective studs 8, 15, stud 8 can be collapsed against (or even more preferably into the space defined by) the forward extending legs 6, 7. This is shown in fig. 3. In this same fig. 3, the stud 15 associated with the back rest 4, can be turned into the middle leg 10, in between two plates defining the middle leg 10.

With the stud 8 collapsed inside the space defined by the forward extending legs 6, 7 and the stud 15 collapsed against or into the middle backward leg 10, the support 3 can be collapsed against the forward extending legs 6, 7. Simultaneously or consequently, the back rest 4 can be collapsed in the direction of arrow D against the middle backward leg 10. In the end the package of fig. 4 is obtained, which is the collapsed state of the device 1. It is clear to see in fig. 1, that the forward extending legs 6, 7 extend in the collapsed state alongside the support 4, whereas the middle backward leg 10 is closed in the collapsed state of the device 1 between the support 3 and the backrest 4.

Many alternative and additional embodiments will have become apparent to any skilled person, after having taken note of the above disclosure of embodiments of the present invention. All such additional and alternative embodiments are all considered to lie within the scope of protection for the present invention, as defined in the appended claims, unless such alternative embodiments depart from the spirit or letter of the definitions of the protection for the present invention according to the claims, in particular the single independent claim. For instance, it is possible to have a single middle forward extending leg and two backward extending legs instead of the configuration shown in the figures and described herein above. The back rest could, at least in theory, be entirely omitted. The support with the frame underneath can serve as a sufficient basis for treatment including examination of patients. The support 3 and/or the back rest 4 could be made in any other way than in the form of a shell-like configuration. For instance, a carrier plate can be covered with a relatively soft material, such as foam, enclosed by a covering layer, for instance (artificial) leather. Hover, such a configuration would add to the total weight of the device 1, which is considered less desirable, although such an alternative is not excluded.

The device according to the invention could also have four legs rather than three. Loops or strings could be attached to the limiter 12 for a well-defined shortening or lengthening of the limiter 12 to determine the angle between the legs 6, 7 and 10, and therewith also the height of the support 3. One could even consider providing multiple engagement points underneath the support 3 for engagement by the stud 8 in order to define several orientations of the support 3 relative to the horizontal, dependent on the point of engagement, at which the stud 8 is arranged underneath the support 3. The stud 15 could be made to function in a similar manner, even though in the embodiments shown and described, the cylinder 13 is employed. A cylinder could also be used in conjunction with the stud 8. Both of the studs 8, 15 could be made to rotate toward or from the legs 6, 7, 10 from an attachment point at, on or under the support 3 of the back rest 4. It is noted, that adaptability of the angle of inclination of the support 3, the back rest 4 and the angle of the support 3 relative to the back rest 4 could be possibly more easily adapted to the wishes of a user, such as a doctor or a dentist. As shown in fig. 4, in a collapsed state the device is extremely small and compact, while in a erected state, the device is sufficiently large for proper treatment and/or examination of patients. In the collapsed state of fig. 4, the device can easily be transported, because the collapsed device is compact and made from light-weight materials. More importantly, the device is easily erected and/or collapsed, which saves time and therefore possibly lives.

Many add-ons can be contemplated, like a lamp, solar energy converter, etc, all within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Device for medical, dental or likewise treatment, including also examination, of a patient, comprising: - a frame in use defining a sturdy base; and

- an essentially planar support on the frame for supporting a patient during treatment, wherein the frame is collapsible into to a flat package of dimensions closely corresponding to the support.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a rotation axis at the support, where essentially all leg parts of the frame, the leg parts in use extending to a ground surface in at least two different directions to carry the support, are rotatable around the axis.

3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the rotation axis is arranged at the support.

4. Device according to claim 3, where the axis is rotatable mounted to the support.

5. Device according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least one stud, where the stud in use releasable extends between at least one of at least three leg parts, the leg parts in use extending to a ground surface in at least two different directions, and the support .

6. Device according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least three leg parts, the leg parts in use extending to a ground surface in at least two different directions, where a limiter is arranged between at least two of the leg parts extending in the different directions.

7. Device according to at least claim 2, wherein an essentially planar extension is rotatable connected to the axis .

8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the extension forms a backrest.

9. Device according to either of claims 7 and 8, wherein the extension is rotatable on the axis to an orientation in use, in which orientation the extension is essentially co-planar with the support to define in combination with the support a lying surface, where the support in isolation forms essentially a seating surface.

10. Device according to claim 7, 8 or 9, further comprising at least one stud, where the stud in use releasable extends between at least one of at least three leg parts, the leg parts in use extending to a ground surface at least two different directions, and the extension.

11. Device according to claims 9 and 10, wherein at least the stud associated with the extension is adjustable to define the orientation of the extension relative to the frame and/or the support.

12. Device according to at least claim 2, wherein the support defines an essentially elongate surface, and the axis is arranged at either longitudinal end of the elongate surface of the support in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction of the support.

13. Device according to at least claim 2, where two leg parts are arranged on opposite sides of the axis, aside the support, while a third leg part is arranged on the axis intermediate of the leg parts on the opposite ends of the axis.