Lift Chairs: Comfortable but Hazardous



Not all people are perfectly fit and without injury. There are people who have had accidents that may have damaged some part of their backs or lower body and may have trouble getting on and off a chair. There are also the elderly and those who have become feeble and physically weak. Since man will always find ways on how to adapt to such issues, the concept of a movable chair that would allow the elderly or those with disabilities to easily get on and off.

Lift chairs are designed for people with difficulties in getting into and out of a chair. Most lift chairs have an electric motor that quietly provides a smooth transition from reclining to standing position. Some manufacturers like Berkline furniture has even included the design features of recliners into lift chairs allowing people to experience the comfort of recliners and the ease of getting on and off the chair. Berkline easy lift chairs are designed with comfort in mind and have features and options that make them more comfortable and convenient. Features, such as PowerRecline, allow the user to recline to any position. Space-saving features like the Wallaway design feature allows the chair to recline with only inches of wall clearance making it ideal for saving space and allowing greater decorating flexibility in your home.

Most lift chairs are designed to handle weights of up to 400 pounds, though some can take up to 700. There are different types of lift chairs as well. Two-position lift chairs like the name implies only have two preset positions: reclining and a lift position (standing). The design does not allow it to be reclined for sleeping and the position of the user's back and thighs would usually stay at around 90 degrees. A three-position lift chair allows up to a 135 degrees reclining position so it may be used for sleeping. The three positions are straight, reclined, and standing. An infinite-position lift chair can be positioned in an infinite number of ways and can be reclined to a fully flat position with a back and leg that allows independent movement.

Lift chairs, however, are not without flaws. The mechanism that allows the lifting motion of the chairs can be hazardous, and even fatal. The vice-like grip of the frame and motor can trap and crush an unsuspecting child or pet. In 1994, the head of a one-year old boy was killed when his older sister tried to operate the mechanism effectively trapping the boy's head between the upholstery and the steel frame. An 8-year old named Lea Entwistle was also trapped under his grandmother's orthopedic chair. The result was the issuance of a product safety standard, BS 8474, which is "designed to cover the strength, durability and stability of electrically operated reclining chairs, and rise/recliners for domestic and non-domestic applications." Up to now, only a few manufacturers have tried to meet the standard, despite the possibility of a jail sentence for the non compliant manufacturer should an accident occurs.

Source: Wiki and various websites