초록 ▼

A back for a patient chair with which a patient may be moved from a generally upright sitting position to a generally supine position comprises a back shell and a cushion. The back shell has a front surface, a back surface, a top, a bottom, opposed first and second outer sides, a central section ext

A back for a patient chair with which a patient may be moved from a generally upright sitting position to a generally supine position comprises a back shell and a cushion. The back shell has a front surface, a back surface, a top, a bottom, opposed first and second outer sides, a central section extending longitudinally from a region adjacent the top to a region adjacent the bottom and opposed side sections extending laterally outwardly from the central section toward the first and second outer sides. The cushion is attached to the back shell. The central section of the back shell comprises a plurality of stiffening elements that extend longitudinally of the back shell. A patient chair including the back is also described.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed: 1. A back for a patient chair with which a patient may be moved from a generally upright sitting position to a generally supine position, the back comprising: a back shell having a front surface, a back surface, a top, a bottom, opposed first and second outer sides, a central secti

What is claimed: 1. A back for a patient chair with which a patient may be moved from a generally upright sitting position to a generally supine position, the back comprising: a back shell having a front surface, a back surface, a top, a bottom, opposed first and second outer sides, a central section extending longitudinally from a region adjacent the top to a region adjacent the bottom and opposed side sections extending laterally outwardly from the central section toward the first and second outer sides and occupying a substantially common plane; and a cushion attached to the back shell; wherein the region adjacent the bottom of the back shell defines a trough shared portion, the substantially common plane is disposed forwardly of the trough shaped portion and the opposed side sections are deflectable in each direction along an axis extending normal to the substantially common plane so as to resiliently support at least the arms of patients of different sizes when occupying the chair in a generally supine position. 2. The back of claim 1, wherein the side sections have sufficient flexural stiffness to support portions of a patient in a supine position and to allow deflection from a selected at rest position of a side section in a direction of a force component applied substantially perpendicular to the front surface by application of the force component on the side section and to return the side section to the normal position on release of such force. 3. The back of claim 1, wherein the back shell is comprised of molded plastic having a flexibility in a side section such that the side section may be flexed a distance of about 0.5 inch by a force of about 30 pounds imposed thereon. 4. The back of claim 1, wherein the central section is formed in a gentle S-shape to conform generally to a patient's spine. 5. The back of claim 1, wherein the central section comprises a plurality of stiffening elements extending a major portion of the distance between the top and bottom of the back shell. 6. The back of claim 1, further comprising: opposing first and second scapula support sections adjacent the top; and a depressed center top-section adjacent the top and disposed between the scapula support sections, where the top-section is configured to allow positioning of a portion of a headrest between the scapula support sections. 7. The back of claim 1, wherein the back shell has an outer peripheral edge of a selected outline, and the cushion comprises: a resilient cushion material, an outer edge margin contour substantially paralleling the outer peripheral edge of the back shell, and a layer of upholstery material overlying the cushion material. 8. The back of claim 1, wherein the front surface of the back shell has a selected topographic contour and the cushion material is pre-formed to substantially complement the topographic contour. 9. The back of claim 8, wherein the upholstery material is pre-formed to complement the shape of the front surface and the outer marginal edge of the cushion material. 10. The back of claim 1, wherein the substantially common plane is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal mid-plane of the back shell when the back shell is in an at-rest position. 11. The back of claim 1, wherein the opposed side sections occupy the substantially common plane in at least an at-rest position. 12. A back for a patient chair with which a patient may be moved from a generally upright sitting position to a generally supine position, the back comprising: a back shell having a front surface, a back surface, a top, a bottom, opposed first and second outer sides, a central section extending longitudinally from a region adjacent the top to a region adjacent the bottom, opposed side sections extending laterally outwardly from the central section toward the first and second outer sides and occupying a substantially common plane, and opposing first and second scapula support extension sections adjacent and extending longitudinally beyond adjacent portions of the top; a headrest receiving area defined by each of the first and second scapula support extension sections and a depressed portion of the top between the scapula support extension sections, the headrest receiving area being configured to receive a headrest retractably mounted to the back when the headrest is retracted into a retracted position with a lower edge of the headrest contacting or overlapping the depressed portion of the top; and a cushion adjoining the back shell wherein the central section is substantially rigid along a longitudinal direction and the scapula support extension sections are deflectable in both directions of an axis extending normal to the opposed side sections, wherein the region adjacent the bottom of the back shell defines a trough shaved portion and the substantially common plane is disposed forwardly of the trough shaved portion so as to flexibly support shoulder portions of different-sized patients forwardly of the patient's back when occupying the chair in a supine position. 13. The back of claim 12, wherein the central section is formed in a gentle S-shape to conform generally to a patient's spine. 14. The back of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of stiffening elements that extend longitudinally of the back shell. 15. The back of claim 14, wherein the stiffening elements extend a major portion of the distance between the top and bottom of the back shell. 16. The back of claim 12, wherein the opposed side sections occupy the substantially common plane in at least an at-rest position. 17. A chair for patient treatment having a chair back which may be reclined to place a patient in a generally supine position, the chair comprising: a substantially rigid elongate support member having a proximal end, a distal end and a front surface, the member being configured for connection at its proximal end to a mechanism on the chair allowing the member to be moved from a generally upright position to a position tilted rearwardly therefrom; a back shell having a front surface, a back surface, a top, a bottom, opposed first and second outer sides, a central section secured to the substantially rigid elongate support member and extending longitudinally from a region adjacent the top to a region adjacent the bottom and opposed side sections extending laterally outwardly from the central section toward the first and second outer sides and occupying a substantially common plane, the region adjacent the bottom of the back shell defining a trough shaped portion, the substantially common plane being disposed forwardly of the trough shared portion and the opposed side sections being deflectable in both directions along an axis normal to the opposed side sections so as to resiliently support one or more respective portions of different sized patients forwardly of the patient's back when occupying the chair in a generally supine position; and a cushion adjoining the back shell. 18. The chair of claim 17, wherein the central section comprises a plurality of stiffening elements that extend longitudinally of the back shell and a major portion of the distance between the top and bottom of the back shell. 19. The chair of claim 17, wherein the cushion forms a back surface generally complementary to the topographic contour of the front surface of the back shell. 20. The chair of claim 17, wherein the upholstery material is preformed to the shape of the face surface and the outer marginal edge of the cushion material. 21. The chair of claim 17, further comprising: a headrest movably coupled to the chair back adjacent the top of the back shell, the headrest being selectively raiseable and lowerable relative to the top, wherein the top of the back shell has opposed top margin portions positioned to provide support for a patient's scapula and a center top section between the top margin portions that is cut away to permit positioning of the headrest in a region between the opposed top margin portions. 22. A chair for patient treatment having a chair back which may be reclined to place a patient in a generally supine position, the chair comprising: an elongate support member having a proximal end, a distal end and a front surface, the member being configured for connection at its proximal end to a mechanism on the chair allowing the column to be moved from a generally upright position to a position tilted rearwardly therefrom; a back shell having a front surface, a back surface, a top, a bottom, opposed first and second outer sides, a central section extending longitudinally from a region adjacent the top to a region adjacent the bottom and being substantially rigid, the region adjacent the bottom defining a trough shaped portion, and opposed side sections extending laterally outwardly from the central section toward the first and second outer sides and occupying a substantially common plane disposed forwardly of the trough shared portion, the side sections being substantially deflectable and having sufficient flexural resiliency along an axis normal to the side sections in an at-rest position so as to resiliently support different-sized patients in each of a plurality of supine positions, the bottom being connected to the distal end of the elongate support column; a cushion adjoining the back shell; and a headrest and headrest stem, the headrest stem being movably coupled relative to the back shell, wherein the headrest stem can be retracted to position the headrest in overlapping relation or in contact with the top of the back shell. 23. The chair of claim 22, wherein the top of the back shell has opposed top margin portions positioned to provide support for a patient's scapula and a center top section between the top margin portions which is depressed to permit positioning of the headrest in the region between the opposed top margin portions.