EP1862094B1 - Height adjustable headrest device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a transverse bar, a head rest supporting element (4) and a clamp connection (100) for continuous adjusted fixing of the head rest supporting element at the transverse bar. The head rest supporting element is introduced in the recesses of a retainer, where the recesses are arranged one above the other. The transverse bar has a boring, which is introduced into a centering sleeve. The clamp connection is operated by screwing the screwing element in the centering sleeve, and head rest supporting element is introduced to the transverse bar. An independent claim is also included for a wheel chair with a height adjusting head rest device.

Description

The invention relates to a height-adjustable headrest device and a wheelchair with such a height-adjustable headrest device.

Height-adjustable headrest devices are known from the prior art. They are used, among other things, for seats in the medical field and in the care sector, for example also in wheelchairs. A shower and toilet wheelchair with a height-adjustable headrest is under the product name OCEAN VIP of the AQUATEC GmbH, Alemannenstr. 10, 88316 Isny, Germany.

The height-adjustable headrest device of this known shower and toilet wheelchair is described below in connection with the FIGS. 7 to 11 described. It is understood that the illustrations in the figures of this application including said FIGS. 7 to 10 not to scale. For the purpose of better representation of certain details, the components are partially enlarged and simplified.

Fig. 7 shows a known height-adjustable headrest device 200 in a perspective view. The device has a headrest 201, which is attached to a horizontal strut 202. The headrest can be moved horizontally by loosening a clamping device 203, whereby the horizontal strut 202 has long since the shorter shaft 204A a J-shaped headrest support member 204 can be moved.

The headrest support member 204 is attached to a cross bar member 210 by a clamp connection 300. The transverse rod element 210 can be, for example, the middle part of a push handle of a wheelchair.

The clamping connection 300 is, in each case partially cut, in Fig. 8 in a perspective view and in Fig. 10 shown in a side view, wherein in each case only a part of the headrest support member 204 and the transverse rod member 210 are shown.

The clamping connection 300 has a U-shaped retaining clip 360, which has two rectangular recesses 361A, 361B, through which the headrest support member 204, which is also rectangular in shape, can be inserted therethrough. The inner radius of the U-shaped retaining clip 360 is dimensioned such that it is adapted to the outer diameter of the transverse rod element 210. Between the cross bar element 210 and the headrest support member 204, a spacer 370 is arranged, which is displaceably mounted in the headband 360 by means of a tongue and groove connection. The corresponding grooves 362A and 362B of the retainer 360 are in FIG Fig. 9 shown.

In the headband 360, a threaded bore 380 is mounted, in which a screw 390 is screwed.

The screw member 390 is provided with a cross handle (391), which allows a release and tightening of the clamp connection 300 by hand.

The function of the known clamping connection will be explained below. As in particular in the FIGS. 8 and 10 1, the retaining clip 360 is placed around the transverse rod element 210 in such a way that the threaded bore 380 is aligned with a bore 211 provided in the transverse rod element 210. Opposite the bore 211, a convex bulge 212 is provided in the transverse rod element 210.

The spacer 370 is inserted into the headband 360 and the headrest support member 204 inserted through the recesses 361 A, 361 B of the retaining clip 360 therethrough. The screw 390 is screwed into the threaded hole 380 and thereby passed through the bore 211 of the rod member 210 until it abuts the bulge 212. Upon further screwing the screw 390 of the headband 360 relative to the rod member 210 in Fig. 10 moved to the right, whereby the headrest support member 204 is pressed against the spacer 370 and the spacer 370 against the cross bar element 210. This results in a clamping connection, which provides a secure positioning of the headrest support member 204 relative to the cross bar element 210.

When the screw member 390 is slightly unscrewed from the headband 360, the clamp connection is released and the headrest support member 204 can be slid longitudinally relative to the headband 360 and thus to the crossbar member 210. As a result, a stepless height adjustment of the headrest 201 is achieved.

The invention has for its object to further improve the known height-adjustable headrest device, in particular with regard to functional and operational safety.

To achieve this object, the invention provides a height-adjustable headrest device with a crossbar element and a headrest support member and a clamping connection for infinitely adjustable attachment of the headrest support member to the crossbar element, wherein the clamping connection has a two recesses and a threaded bore holding bracket which engages around the crossbar element, a centering bushing, having an external thread and an internal thread, wherein the centering bush is screwed into the threaded bore of the retaining clip, and a screw which is screwed into the centering, on, wherein the headrest support member is inserted into the recesses of the retaining clip, the transverse rod element has a bore in the centering bush is inserted, and the clamping connection by screwing the screw into the centering bushing and thereby bringing the headrest supporting element to the transverse bar element is effected.

The height-adjustable headrest device according to the invention thus differs from the previously described known height-adjustable headrest device by the embodiment of the clamping connection, namely in that a centering bush is provided, which has an external thread and an internal thread. With its external thread, the centering bush is screwed into the threaded hole of the retaining clip. With a cylindrical centering the centering bush is inserted into a correspondingly executed bore of the crossbar member. The screw is screwed by means of the internal thread of the centering bushing with the clamp connection.

By providing the centering a particularly accurate storage and fixation of the components is guaranteed to each other.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the direction of rotation of the internal thread of the centering bush is opposite to that of the external thread of the centering bushing. For example, if the internal thread is designed as a left-hand thread, then the external thread is designed as a right-hand thread. This avoids that the threaded bush is unintentionally unscrewed when operating the screw from the headband.

Preferably, a spacer is arranged between the headrest support member and the transverse rod element, which is guided in a preferred embodiment via a tongue and groove connection in the headband. The spacer is preferably made of plastic, in order to ensure a possible wear and play-free clamping.

The transverse rod element is preferably tubular. Opposite the bore for receiving the centering bush, an inwardly concave bulge is preferably provided in the transverse rod element, which acts as a counterweight for the screw.

The headrest support member and the corresponding recesses of the retaining bracket are preferably rectangular. It is understood that other shapes, such as circular or other rounded geometries are possible.

A wheelchair according to the invention with a height-adjustable headrest device according to the present invention is preferably designed so that the transverse rod element is designed as a push handle.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen höhenverstellbaren Kopfstützvorrichtung ist,
• Fig. 2 eine schematische Darstellung der Klemmverbindung ist, wobei zum Zwecke der Darstellung das Querstabelement weggelassen ist,
• Fig. 3 eine Explosionszeichnung eines Distanzstücks, der Zentrierbuchse, des Haltebügels und Schraubelement ist,
• Fig. 4 eine perspektivische Darstellung der Zentrierbuchse ist,
• Fig. 5 eine Schnittdarstellung der Zentrierbuchse ist,
• Fig. 6 eine axiale Draufsicht der Fixierbuchse ist,
• Fig. 7 eine Fig. 1 entsprechende perspektivische Darstellung einer bekannten höhenverstellbaren Kopfstützvorrichtung ist,
• Fig. 8 eine teilweise im Schnitt gehaltene Darstellung einer bekannten Ausführungsform einer Klemmverbindung ist,
• Fig. 9 eine vergrößerte perspektivische Darstellung eine bekannten Haltebügels ist,
• Fig. 10 eine teilweise im Schnitt gehaltene Seitenansicht einer bekannten Klemmverbindung ist, und
• Fig. 11 eine perspektivische Schnittdarstellung eines Querstabelements ist.

The invention will be explained below with reference to a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings, in which

• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a height-adjustable headrest device according to the invention,
• Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the clamp connection, wherein for the purpose of illustration, the cross bar element is omitted,
• Fig. 3 an exploded view of a spacer, the centering, the retaining clip and screw is,
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the centering,
• Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the centering bush,
• Fig. 6 is an axial plan view of the fixing bush,
• Fig. 7 a Fig. 1 corresponding perspective view of a known height-adjustable headrest device,
• Fig. 8 is a partially sectioned view of a known embodiment of a clamping connection,
• Fig. 9 an enlarged perspective view of a known retaining clip,
• Fig. 10 is a partially sectioned side view of a known clamping connection, and
• Fig. 11 is a perspective sectional view of a transverse rod element.

The FIGS. 7 to 11 have been explained at the beginning. Unless otherwise described below, the relevant statements also apply to the height-adjustable headrest device according to the invention. Accordingly, in the FIGS. 1 to 6 those components which correspond to the respective known components in accordance with FIGS. 7 to 11 correspond, provided with reference numerals opposite to the respective corresponding reference numerals in the FIGS. 7 to 11 by the amount 200 are chosen smaller. For example, the headrest in the embodiment of the invention according to Fig. 1 assigned the reference numeral 1, while according to the headrest of the known embodiment Fig. 7 the reference numeral 201 is used.

The crossbar element 10 according to the present invention basically corresponds to that according to the prior art described at the beginning. Only the bore 11 is executed differently in the crossbar element according to the invention, as explained below. In Fig. 11 Therefore, for simplicity, both reference numerals 210 for the crossbar element according to the prior art and the reference numeral 10 are used for the transverse rod element according to the invention. The same applies to the reference numerals 211 and 11 for the bore and the reference numerals 212 and 12 for the bulge.

As described above, the clamping connection of the height-adjustable headrest device according to the invention has a centering bushing 20. This is in particular on the FIGS. 2 to 5 directed. The centering bush 20 has an external thread 22 with which it can be screwed into the threaded bore 180 of the retaining clip 160. As an attachment provided on the centering sleeve 20 Bund 25 is used.

The centering bush 20 also has a centering section 21 which is inserted into the bore 11 of the transverse rod element 10. It is understood that in the cross bar 10 of the clamping connection of the height-adjustable headrest device according to the invention, the bore 11 must be performed so that it is tuned as a sliding fit to the outer diameter of the centering 21 of the centering sleeve 20. In the prior art described at the outset, the bore 211 in contrast is dimensioned such that the threaded portion of the screw element 390 can be passed.

The screwing of the centering bushing 20 in the threaded hole 180 of the retaining clip 160 is facilitated by a groove 26 into which a screwdriver can be attached.

The centering bush 20 also has an internal thread 23 whose direction of rotation is opposite to that of the external thread 22. If the external thread 22 is designed as a right-hand thread, the internal thread 23 is designed as a left-hand thread. Accordingly, the internal thread 23 is designed as a left-hand thread when the external thread 22 is designed as a right-hand thread.

After screwing the threaded bushing 20 into the threaded bore 180 of the retaining clip 160, it can be inserted over the transverse rod element 10 such that the centering section 21 of the centering bushing 20 penetrates into the bore 11 of the transverse rod element 10. The spacer 170 can then be inserted into the headband 160 and then the headrest support 4 is passed through the recesses 161a, 161b. Finally, the screw 190 is screwed by means of the cross handle 191 in the centering sleeve 20 until it at the bulge 12 of the crossbar element 10 is applied. Upon further screwing the screw 190, the headrest support member 4 is clamped by the spacer 170 with the cross bar element 10.

Claims (11)

1. Height adjustable headrest device with a crossbar element (10) and a headrest supporting element (4) as well as a clamp connection (100) for continuously variable mounting of the headrest supporting element (4) at the crossbar element (10), wherein the clamp connection (100) comprises:

   a retaining clamp (160) comprising two recesses (161A, 162B) as well as a tapped bore (180), the retaining clamp (160) gripping around the crossbar element (10),

   a centering bushing (20) comprising an external thread (22) and an internal thread (23), wherein the centering bushing (20) is screwed in the tapped bore (180) of the retaining clamp (160), and

   a screw element (190) screwed in the centering bushing (20),

   wherein the headrest supporting element (4) is inserted in the recesses (161A, 161B) of the retaining clamp (160), the crossbar element (10) comprises a bore (11) in which the centering bushing (20) is inserted, and the clamp connection (100) is caused by screwing in of the screw element (190) into the centering bushing (20) and thus bringing the headrest supporting element (4) near the crossbar element (10).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sense of rotation of the internal thread (23) is opposed to that of the external thread (22).
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the centering bushing (20) comprises a collar (25) which provides a stop when it is screwed in.
4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the centering bushing (20) comprises a groove (26) which is designed for setting a screwdriver.
5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a spacer (170) is arranged between the headrest supporting element (4) and the crossbar element (10).
6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the spacer (170) is guided via a groove and tongue connection in the retaining clamp (160).
7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the spacer (170) is made of plastics.
8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the crossbar element (10) has a tubular design.
9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that a bulging (12) which is concave to the inside which serves as abutment for the screw element (190) is provided in the tubular crossbar element (10) opposite the bore (11) for receiving the centering bushing (20).
10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the headrest supporting element (4) and the recesses (161A, 161B) of the retaining clamp (160) have a rectangular design.
11. Wheel chair with a height adjustable headrest device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the crossbar element (10) is designed as push handle.

Images