FR2464065A1 - DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING A PERSON WITH A MOTOR DISABLED BETWEEN A WHEELCHAIR AND A MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Device for transferring a motorially handicapped person from a wheelchair to a motor vehicle, in which, on the one hand, the wheelchair is made up of two separable parts, consisting of a lower wheeled seating (R) and an upper detachable seat (S), equipped with pickup structures (11, 12) for the purpose of the transfer of said seat and in which, on the other hand, a seat transfer assembly (E) is secured to the motor vehicle and comprises a vertically movable assembly V, carried by guiding and operating means in a vertical direction (20, 21, 25, 26), and means for gripping (P) the seat of the wheelchair, carried by means for pivoting about a vertical axis (38) and designed for being able to interact with the pick-up structures of said seat, the pivoting means moving with the assembly V, said device being characterised in that the vertically movable assembly V is equipped with transverse guiding means (28, 29) and carries a transversely movable assembly T, provided with sliding means (31, 32) which interact with said transverse guiding means (28, 29), so as to enable said assembly T to move transversely from a retracted position inside the vehicle to a pulled-out position towards the outside of the latter, the pivoting means P being secured at the edge of the transversely movable assembly T.

Description

The invention relates to a device for

  transference of a disabled person between a wheelchair

  lant and a motor vehicle. It refers to a device of the type in which, on the one hand, the wheelchair consists of two separable parts, constituted by a lower base and a movable removable upper seat, on the other hand, a seat transfer assembly is subject in the motor vehicle with a view to carrying out the transhipment operations of the seat and the

disabled person.

  The present invention proposes to provide

  an advanced device of this type, which combines a great deal of

  structural integrity with excellent operating reliability.

  An object of the invention is in particular

  to allow the support of the wheelchair seat without having to position the latter in a very

accurate with respect to the vehicle.

  Another objective is to make it possible to

  this care, without difficulty, even if the wheelchair is elevated relative to the vehicle, for example

  because of the presence of a sidewalk on which is located

se said chair.

  Another objective is to authorize the execution

  various maneuvers without modification of the doors of a vehicle

  standard, especially without having to increase their opening angle

ture.

  Another objective is to increase the comfort of the disabled person, on the one hand, during the transhipment maneuvers, on the other hand, inside the vehicle when the

  seat is in place in this one.

  Note that, in what follows, the terms

  direction or position shall be interpreted, unless otherwise indicated, by reference to the motor vehicle

  for example, the term transversal aims at a trans-

  versale relative to the vehicle, ranging from a door of it to the door opposite. Moreover, these terms must be interpreted, not in a strict sense, but simply as giving a general orientation of the organs they relate to, the term vertical is intended not to be a strictly vertical direction, but a direction extending into the upward or downward direction of the vehicle, direction that may incline

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  very significantly compared to the rigorous vertical.

  In the device according to the invention,

  the wheelchair seat is removable in relation to the

  lower part of said chair and comprises a framework provided with support structures, constituted in particular by two

  gutters, which are accessible from the rear of said seat (or possibly

  by the front); inside the vehicle is secured a transfer assembly essentially comprising vertically-guided guiding and operating means carrying a vertically movable assembly V, said vertically movable assembly V being provided with transverse guiding means,

  a moving set transversely T, do-

  sliding means cooperating with the transverse guide means of the assembly V so as to allow movement

  transverse of said set T between a position retracted to the in-

  inside the vehicle and an extended outward position

this one,-

  gripping means P of the seat of

  wheelchair, adapted to cooperate with the

  take over the seat and carried by means of pivots.

  around a vertical axis, these pivoting means being secured at the edge of the movable assembly transversely T. The guiding and maneuvering means which

  -25 carry the mobile V-set vertically advantageously comprise

  one or more vertical hydraulic cylinders, to the movable member which or which is secured said assembly V.

  In addition, at least one hydraulic cylinder trans-

  versal is preferably associated with the transverse mobile set T

  badly in order to move the latter in relation to the whole V.

  Moreover, the gripping means P can

  wind in particular include two gripping arms joined one

  to the other by a spacer and attached to the set T by char-

  vertical means which constitute the means of

  c; the management structures of the headquarters are then con-

  by two longitudinally arranged gutters (as

  port to the seat) on both sides of it; these gutters have a shape conjugate of that of the gripping arms and

  preferably comprise inclined flanks facilitating the central

  these arms in said gutters when they come to

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contact of these.

  In order to facilitate the understanding of the

  positive of the invention defined above generally, we will

  summarize the operation below.

  This is characterized by the fact that the wheelchair seat is supported by the rear (or

  possibly from the front) and that it is then

  bir a rotation of about 90 (or possibly 270) for

  bring it to the appropriate position in the vehicle.

  To tranship the disabled person to the vehicle, the wheelchair is positioned opposite a door of the latter so as to be back with respect to said vehicle. In their initial position, the gripping arms of the transfer assembly extend inside the vehicle

  parallel to the longitudinal direction (with respect to said vehicle)

  cule); these arms are rotated about 900 to be located next to the gutters of the wheelchair seat

  the moving set transversely T is then deployed towards the outside.

  interior so that said arms are positioned below said gutters; the vertically movable assembly V, assumed to be in the low initial position, is then moved upwards, so that the arms penetrate into the gutters of the seat and raise this

  last until separated from the lower leg. The mobile set

  the transverse T is retracted and a reverse rotation is con-

  taken from the grip arms: this brings the seat and the person

  sounds disabled inside the vehicle in the normal position

  of a passenger (or, where appropriate, of the driver).

  As will be understood better below, such a device combines the following qualities: simple and space-saving structure of the transfer assembly that can be easily housed in a standard motor vehicle instead of the back of one of the chairs (after withdrawal of it), reliability of operation resulting from the simplicity of the maneuvers to be performed, ability to

  support for the seat in a wide range of positions of that

  ci compared to the vehicle because of the kinematics of the whole

  transfer mechanism comprising a rotation of the gripping arms, easily

  of the seat and the disabled person in a

  standard door opening (for the same reasons), low

  the height of the transfer assembly below the gripping arms, making it possible to arrange these at a very high level.

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  bottom of the chassis of the motor vehicle so as to preserve

  an important underpass for the disabled person.

  Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment, making it possible to significantly improve the comfort of the latter, the guiding and operating means which carry the assembly V mo-

  vertically are articulated on the back of a horizontal platinum

  zontal positioned under the seat (when it is in place in the vehicle). These guiding and maneuvering means can

  pivoting forwards or backwards, and the person

  can adjust the inclination of the seat once it has been

  place in the vehicle; locking means are provided for

  to block said guiding and maneuvering means by

  relative to said platen with a desired inclination.

  In addition, this plate is preferably mounted movable in the longitudinal direction on a base anchored on

  the chassis of the motor vehicle; blocking means

  attempt to block it on said base in a longitudinal position

  the desired, suitable to ensure the best comfort to the person han-

dicapée.

  In addition, the base of the wheelchair

  the lant is preferably foldable so as to be easily stowed in the trunk of the vehicle after the trans-shipment; according to a feature of the present invention, this base comprises

  advantageously a folding system with horizontal compass, this last

  denying being located in the lower part of the base so as to preserve between the lateral flanks of the base a free passage extending

  over a large part of the height of said base.

  This provision leaves a large space

  for the passage of the disabled person's legs when the seat supported by the gripping arms is removed by

the back of the wheelchair.

  The invention having been exposed in its general form, other characteristics, purposes and advantages thereof

  will stand out from the description that follows with reference to the drawings

  annexed, which are given by way of non-limiting example;

  on these drawings that are an integral part of the description

  FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in

  perspective of a transhipment device according to the invention.

  during operation, the seat of the wheelchair being outlined in broken lines in this figure,

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  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a

  wheelchair according to the invention, comprising a removable seat

ble S and a rolling base R,

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of

  trant rolling base R in the folded state,

  FIG. 4 is a partial view through the

seat S,

  Figure 5 is a longitudinal section se-

  lon AA of a transfer assembly E, constituting the active part of the transhipment device and which is anchored in a motor vehicle at the location of one of the armchairs thereof (chair which was removed during the installation of the device or which is removed by construction), Figure 6 is a schematic view from the rear of this transfer assembly E in the deployed state, Figure 7 is a horizontal section through a plane BB of this transfer assembly to the FIG. 8 is a detail view in vertical section through a plane CC and FIG. 9 is a detail view in horizontal section through a plane DD, FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are diagrammatic diagrams.

  explaining the operation of said device illustrating the

  its deployment of the entire transfer and take-over

age and lifting of the seat.

  The transfer device shown by way of example in the figures is intended to allow to introduce without difficulty and in excellent conditions of comfort a

  disabled person inside a motor vehicle

  shot of a wheelchair, and conversely, to take out that person

  of the vehicle to put it back in its wheelchair.

  This transhipment device comprises a transfer unit E anchored in the motor vehicle (which can be seen during operation in Figure 1) and a wheelchair which consists of a foldable folding leg R (Figure 2 and 3) and a removable seat S (Figure 2 and 3 and Figure 1 in

discontinuous traits).

  The wheelchair will be described in

  first place with reference to Figures 1 to 4; note that only

  original adaptations will be described in detail, the bodies working

  of the chair being simply evoked.

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  The R-base of the chair is provided with a

  horizontal compass folding system 1, which allows

  place in an extended position (Figure 2) to receive the seat

  ge S, or in a folded position (Figure 3) to be stored in particular

  in the trunk of the motor vehicle. This compass 1 is disposed at the base of the sidewalls 2 and 3 of the base so that, in the deployed state, the passage between flanks remains free above the

  compass 1 over a large part of the height of the base.

  In the upper part, the base comprises support means such as lugs 4, on which can reseat the frame of the seat S. In addition, tubular sections such as are provided to ensure the centering of said seat on the base. The R-base is conventionally equipped with four wheels, two rear wheels such as 6 diameter plus

  important and two front wheels such as 7.

  The folding system of the R base allows,

  while preserving the free passage between flanks when the

  is deployed, fold these flanks against each other to obtain a folded set of very thin, easy to

tidy.

  In addition, the S seat is equipped with a

  essentially constituted by a lower plate

  tie 8, by two longitudinal members 9 for the attachment of a seat fabric and conventional amounts 10 now the folder and provided

  in particular adjustable inclination.

  The lower plate 8 forms, on either side, two aligners 11 and 12 of longitudinal direction relative to the seat. These downwardly open gutters comprise inclined flanks 11a and 12a which will serve to guide and center gripping arms 39 and 40 which are part of the set of

  transfer E (arms drawn in broken lines in Figure 4).

  At the front of the gutters exceed in this

  these the ends of the longitudinal members 9; these oriented ends

  vertically downward are intended to penetrate into

  tubular elements 5 of the base to position the seat on the latter. In addition, as shown in Figure 4 in rear view, each gutter 11 or 12 is equipped with means of

  locking, adapted to lock the gripping arms in the-

  said slides at the end of gripping the seat S.

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  In the example, these locking means comprise pivoting hooks such as 13 which are recalled by resilient blades to project in the slides 11 and 12. These hooks each have a heel against which one of the upper tubes of the R base comes take support when

  the seat S rests on the base: in this position, the cro-

  chets 13 are retracted outside the gutters 11 and 12.

  When the prehension arms 39 and 40 are in place in the

  raise the seat S, the hooks rotate towards the inside

  gutters and enter light sources (which can be seen

  14 in Figures 1 and 5) formed in the gripping arms

  the seat S is thus locked on these arms.

  In addition, a manual unlocking finger 13a is provided on each hook 13 to allow, where appropriate

to release it manually.

  It is understood that the R-base and seat S of the wheelchair described above also include all the accessory means that equip-usually the armchairs

wheelchairs for disabled people.

  Furthermore, the transfer assembly E which constitutes the active part of the device according to the invention,

  is subject in the motor vehicle in the place of a des'fau-

  hoists of it. This assembly is subject to the vehicle by the

  trede, on the one hand, a base 15 anchored to the frame to the em-

  placement of the seat of the wheelchair, on the other hand, of a

  horizontal platen 16 associated with a conventional sliding system

  17, making it movable longitudinally relative to the base.

  Locking means, such as a conventional detent member controlled by a lever 18, make it possible to lock the plate 16 on

  the base 15 in the desired longitudinal position.

  At the rear of the plate 16 are articulated, around transverse axes 19 two vertical columns 20 and 21

  arranged laterally on either side of this plate 16.

  These columns arranged slightly at the rear of the vehicle seat backrest location are met

  superiorly by a connecting strut 22 and associated laterally

  usually to an amount 23, itself hinged to the plate 16;

  they form a rigid assembly tilting in the forward direction

  rear, the inclination of which can be regulated by conventional means

  blocking devices, such as conventional system 24 comprising a

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  rod connecting the upright 23 and the plate 16, and a lever

rotary maneuvering.

  One of the columns 20 serves as a cross rod

  to a hydraulic cylinder 25 arranged vertically and the other

  lonne 21 ensures the guiding of a sliding sleeve 26.

  At the rear of the cylinder body 25 and the furnace

  2.6 is fixed on these elements a vertically movable assembly V; this assembly V comprises a movable plate 27 which is arranged in a vertical plane and welded to the body of the jack 25 and on the

  sheath 26 to be able to move vertically along the

  lonnes 20 and 21; this movement in the ascending or descending

  dant is generated by the cylinder 25.

  Along the horizontal edges, high and low, of the plate 27 are fixed cross slides

  28 and 29 which are in the example inclined to 45. These slides

  transversely guide and guide another set said together

  transversely bile T; this set T comprises a movable plate

  30 disposed in a vertical plane and provided along its borders

  high and low coils, slides 31 and 32 conjugated with

  who cooperate with them to authorize the

  transversely of the plate 30 relative to the plate 27; conventionally, these slides are equipped with bearings in order

to reduce friction.

  The plate 30 can thus be operated between a retracted position located at the rear of the plate 27, and a deployed position towards the outside of the vehicle; these maneuvers are

  generated by two horizontal hydraulic cylinders 33 and 34

  in the transverse direction, parallel to each other. In the example, these cylinders are positioned head to tail: their bodies are linked together while the stem of one is linked on one side to

  one of the turntables and that the rod of the other is tied on the opposite side

se to the other platinum.

  These cylinders are fed in parallel in

  fluid and their actions on the mobile stage 30 are added.

  Hydraulic and electrical means of com-

  mande cylinders 33 and 34 etduvérin 25 are housed at the rear of the horizontal plate 16; we see schematically in Figure 1

  an electric motor 35 driving in a conventional way a pump-

  hydraulic 36, and a hydraulic reservoir 37 for returning the fluid.

  Moreover, at the edge of the vertical platinum

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  30 are secured, by means of vertical hinges such as 38 (Fig. 7, 8 and 9) means of gripping P of the seat

  S; these means P comprise two gripping arms 39 and 40

  These arms have the same shape as those of the gutters 11 and 12 of the seat S with a view to

  to be able to penetrate and to lodge in these.

  In the embodiment shown at

  For example in Figures 7, 8 and 9, the vertical hinges 38 are secured to the plate 30 by means of a vertical edge plate 42 that includes it; they carry the gripping arms 39 and 40 with two vertical plates such that

  43 welded to the rear of the arm 39 and on the spacer 41.

  The gripping arms can thus rotate

  around a vertical axis in order to come to

  longitudinally (arms parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle), or in transverse positions allowing them to

  take charge of the wheelchair seat.

  Angular locking means are associated with the vertical hinges 38 to allow angular locking of the arms relative to the plate 30, on the one hand, in the longitudinal position mentioned above, on the other hand, in several transverse positions and in particular in a 90 position

compared to the first.

  In the example (figure 8 and 9), these means of

  locking include a ring 44, crenellated at the bottom.

  and provided with a lever 45 for lifting it; this ring is integral in rotation with the gripping arms (in the example thanks to

  the presence of the lever 45 located between the two plates 43). Ladi-

  The ring 44 rests on one of the hinges 38 a, solidly

  re of the plate 42 of the plate 30. This hinge is itself

  even crenellated on its upper part. A spring 46 maintains the

  ring 44 meshing with this hinge.

  To release the gripping assembly P and

  to allow the rotation of the gripping arms, it suffices to raise

  the lever 45, which releases the ring 44 (integral in rotation

of said arms) relative to said hinge 3. In the opposite direction, the

  lowering of the lever 45 engenders the angular locking of the

  seems to grip P in the desired position (or very close to

the desired position).

  The mechanical characteristics of the

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  tif according to the invention having been exposed, it will be explained hereinafter

  after referring to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 the operation of

this one and its advantages.

  At rest (FIG. 10) the gripping arms are located inside the vehicle in the longitudinal position, the plate 30 being retracted towards the inside of the vehicle and the

platinum-27 in the down position.

  To transfer a disabled person from a wheelchair to the inside of the vehicle, the gripping arms are manually brought to pivot outwards (FIG 11) so as to place them in front of the trays of the S seat, the wheelchair

  with the back facing the vehicle door.

  before turning over 90 it is always possible to

  facing the seat gutters, even if the chair is not

  perfectly positioned at 90 relative to the vehicle.

  Note that the manual rotation mentioned above can, if necessary, be automated by providing one or more

additional cylinders.

  The horizontal cylinders 33 and 34 are then actuated to deploy the plate 30 outwards and bring the arms below the gutters of the seat S. The supporting base R

  the latter being open on a large height, the wheelchair

  lant can be offset in height from the vehicle without

  that this maneuver is embarrassed.

  The vertical jack 25 is then actuated

  to cause the gripping arms 39 and 40 to penetrate into the

  11 and 12 of the seat until locked in them,

  then lift the seat S and separate it from the base R (Fig. 12).

  The plate 30 is then retracted by an inverse action of the horizontal cylinders 33 and 34; the base R is removed and the arms are brought back to the appropriate low position

  by reverse action of the vertical cylinder 25.

  After unlocking in rotation, the gripping arms are manually caused to pivot towards the motor vehicle to their initial position, where they are again locked in rotation. The disabled person is then installed in the vehicle; it can adjust its position, either by longitudinally sliding the horizontal plate 16 relative to the base 15, or by inclining more or less its seat

  resting on the gripping arms through the adjustment system 24.

  The exit maneuvers of the vehicle

  roll in a similar way, unlike the maneuvers described above. It should be noted that the base 15 and the plate 16 are thin elements, the essential parts of the transfer device E behind the seat back; it is thus possible to arrange the gripping arms

  and the seat taken over by them, at a low height above

  the chassis of the vehicle: an important underpass is

  thus preserved below the upper door sill, when

  that the disabled person is introduced into the vehicle; in particular, it is not necessary for it to lower the head during the introduction maneuver. Of course, once the disabled person inside the vehicle, it is still possible, if necessary, to raise its level by action of the vertical cylinder 25. It should also be noted that the rotation maneuver that allows to bring the disabled person inside the vehicle or out of it, can operate with doors of standard type vehicle opening less than 90; the ability to adjust the longitudinal position of the person

  disabled compared to the base 15 makes it even easier to

these maneuvers.

  Of course, the invention is not limited

  according to the above description but includes all

  the variants. The base 15 of the transfer device E can be

  attached to the anchorage points of the original chair of the vehicle

  seen by the manufacturer; In addition, the seat belt cor-

  is not modified and remains attached to the same anchor points, so that the vehicle is not modified in its structure.

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Claims (13)

  1 / - Device for transferring a person   disabled person between a wheelchair and a motor vehicle   bile, of the type in which, on the one hand, the wheelchair   laying of two separable parts, constituted by a lower rolling base and a movable upper seat, on the other hand, a   seat transfer unit is secured in the self-propelled   mobile device, said device being characterized in that the seat of the   wheelchair comprises a frame with primary structures   can be accessed from behind or from the front of the seat   for the transfer of the latter, and in that the whole of   Fitted in the vehicle comprises means for guiding and operating in the vertical direction carrying a vertically movable assembly V, said vertically movable assembly V being provided with transverse guide means, a transversely movable assembly T, provided with   sliding means cooperating with the transverse guide means   versals of the set V so as to allow a trans-   versal of said set T between a retracted position inside the vehicle and a deployed position outwardly thereof, gripping means P of the wheelchair seat, adapted to cooperate with the load bearing structures. of the seat and carried by means of pivoting about a vertical axis, these pivoting means being secured at the edge of the movable assembly transversely T.   2 / - Device according to claim 1, characterized   characterized in that it comprises a horizontal plate, positioned under the seat when it is in place in the vehicle and   the rear of which are connected the guiding and maneuvering means who wear the V set.   3 / - Device according to claim 2, characterized   in that the aforesaid horizontal plate is mounted movable in the front-to-back direction on a base anchored to the frame of the   vehicle, locking means being provided to enable   * to block said plate on said base in a position desired length.   4 / --Device according to one of claims 2   or 3, characterized in that the guiding and operating means which carry the assembly V are hinged to the rear of the aforesaid horizontal plate so as to be able to pivot forwards or backwards, means of blocking being provided to enable said guide and operating means to be locked in relation to each other.   to said platen with a desired inclination.   5 / - Device according to one of the claims   1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the guiding and operating means which carry the vertically movable assembly V comprise at least one vertical hydraulic cylinder, to the mobile member of which is secured said assembly V.   6 / - Device according to claim 5, characterized   characterized in that the guiding and maneuvering means   the assembly V comprise two vertical columns arranged laterally on either side of the assembly, 15. a cylinder having a through rod constituted by one of the columns and a movable body subjected to the assembly V, a guide sleeve guided vertically by the other column and subject to said assembly V.   7 / - Device according to claims 4.and 6   taken together, characterized in that the two vertical columns   the above are joined together by a spacer of   linkage and are articulated, at their base, on the horizontal plate   the aforementioned by transverse axes.   8 / - Device according to one of the claims   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that the vertically movable assembly V is constituted by a plate arranged in a plane   vertically and on which are attached, along its upper edges   te and low, the aforementioned transverse guidance means, which   consist of two transverse slides, the set T mo-   bile transversely being constituted by another platinum,   in a vertical plane and on which are fixed, along its upper and lower borders, the aforementioned sliding means, which are constituted by two conjugated transverse slideways   first and cooperating with them.   9 / - Device according to one of claims 1,   2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that at least one hydraulic jack   transversal hydraulics is associated with the mobile transverse T assembly.   in order to move this one with respect to the mobile V set vertically. 14 2464065   / - Device according to claims 8 and 9   taken together, characterized in that two hydraulic cylinders   rallelles, arranged head to tail, are associated with the two ver-   of the sets V and T, the bodies of these two cylinders being linked together, the rod of one being linked on one side to one of the plates and the rod of the other being connected to the opposite side to the other platinum.   11 / - Device according to one of the claims   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that the means   of the prehension seat P comprise two gripping arms   nied to each other by a spacer and attached to the pivo-   above-mentioned, which consist of vertical hinges   wedges carried by the transversally movable set T, the struc-   the support structures of which is provided the frame of the seat being constituted by two gutters, arranged longitudinally on either side of said seat, of conjugated shape of that of said gripping arms and having inclined flanks of centering of these arms.   12 / - Device according to claim 11,   characterized in that it comprises means for locking the gripping arms in the conjugate gutters, adapted to block said arms in said gutters at the end of taking charge of the seat.   13 / - Device according to claim 11, characterized   characterized in that it comprises angular locking means,   associated with the vertical hinges and adapted to allow a   angular cage of the gripping arms with respect to the assembly T   in at least two positions, one in which these arms are disengaged   placed longitudinally in relation to the vehicle, the other in the-   which they are arranged transversely.   14 / - Device according to one of the claims   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13, wherein the   The chair is foldable, characterized in that   comprises a horizontal compass folding system, said horizontal compass being located at the bottom of the base so as to   to preserve between the lateral flanks of the base a linear passage   extending over a large part of the height of said base.