KR20140046443A - A seat - Google Patents

Abstract

A seat with a undulating fan that is concave and includes two seat pads 14 adapted to support the user's thighs at an optimal selection angle of 27 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. This seat further includes a leaf spring 22 linkage between the back sides of the pads 14 to allow roll movement as the user sits on the seat. These combined features can lead the user to a comfortable sitting position that mimics the shape of the spine when standing.

Description

Seat {A SEAT}

The present invention relates to seats and more particularly to seats for use in office chairs, office chairs, aircraft seats, bicycles, vehicles, wheelchairs, strollers, child seats / car seats or benches. Specifically, the present invention is a seat that actively guides the seated person to a position that mimics the exact seating position premised by the inventor, that is, the position secured when the spine and pelvis of the seated person are standing.

A conventional chair with nearly horizontal seat fans (both before and after and side to side) causes people to sit in positions that are detrimental to the proper functioning of their spine and associated tissue, which causes tension, injury and, in some cases, spine. May lead to denaturation. Specifically, horizontal seat fans force seating positions where the back is bent and chest abdominal space is reduced, resulting in compression of the abdominal organs, diaphragm and lungs, which in turn can be a digestive and respiratory disorder. They also put a strain on spinal curvature (scoliosis) from the side of the seated person.

Since the 1970s, A.C. Following the work of Mandal and others, designers have developed seating devices that allow the thighs to be lower than the hips at the knees. However, these devices all have drawbacks. E.g:

"Nilling Chairs" such as US3863978 (Gillings 1975), US3669493 (Bowls 1972), EP0017450 (Menshoel 1980), SE8600691 (? Svik 1986) and NO320859 (Menshoel 2006) increase the femoral angle when seated It was my first attempt. In many cases this involved femoral to horizontal angles of up to 45 degrees. By fixing the legs in the shin supports just below the knees, users were prevented from sliding forward in the seat. There are several papers reporting on the tension of the knee (the cruciate ligament) due to unnatural pressure on the knee joint caused by this tension. They can also restrict the free movement of the legs and feet, which is inconvenient for users.

"Ergonomic Chairs": The best of these are Aeron (Herman Miller 1994), Leap (Steelcase 1999) and Free Chair (Humanscale 1999). These and their mimics can tilt the seat fans but this causes the user to slide forward slowly. To prevent this movement, the user tightens the muscles of the legs and torso, so that sitting is painful. The designers of these chairs advocate movement, rather than advising about their beneficial position. These chairs have many adjustments for users; Research clearly shows that most users rarely try to adjust their chairs on purpose. In the case where adjustments are made, the adjustments are usually limited to height only.

 "Saddles stools / chairs": for example, WO0154545 (2001), NO20003763 (Menshoel 2002), US2002167206 (2002) and N0320859 (Menshoel 2006) use saddle-shaped forms and allow the legs to descend on each side Obtain the desired thigh angle. These seats work in the same way as bicycle saddles, whose body weights are supported by the hammocks of the muscles that make up the perineum. A diamond-shaped sheet of these muscles (containing the reproductive and excretory organs) is placed on the saddle seat to transfer body weight through muscle attachments in the sciatic nodules, pubis and coccyx. These seats have similar drawbacks to bicycle saddles, namely the inconvenience experienced after long periods of use.

"Improved Bicycle Saddles": For example, GB611899 (Skoula, 1946) focuses on the recognized problems of conventional bicycle saddles as mentioned above by including changes to improve convenience in use. Devices like GB611899 propose two seat pads mounted on the lateral bar that include a forward tilt of 20 to 30 degrees, but this is only the initial position. As the thighs of the users move up and down to pedal the bicycle, these pads are mounted for spring deflection rotation about the lateral bar (horizontal axis). Initial angles are provided to facilitate the mounting of seats that support buttock comfort.

“Sitting Balls”: Currently in fashion and, depending on the size of the ball, it can provide both beneficial cushioning and some unintended instability, as well as allow the user to obtain an advantageous thigh angle. However, these devices do not fit well into a typical office environment.

"Moving / Motion-Control / Exercise Chairs": eg, US5588704 (Harza, 1996), US7090303 (Cropa, 2006); US2009 / 0079243 (Kunzler et al., 2009); US2009 / 0135133 (Kunzler et al., 2009) may be concerned with the possibility of controlling movement and other devices for exercise or health. Movement is sometimes beneficial to people and it is harmful to have no movement completely for a long time, but the addition of movement in a work seat that is poorly controlled or insufficiently guided will often cause mental distraction and discomfort. It is a mistake to think that by providing free and sufficient movement within the seating system, the body will find the best position for convenience and health.

"Dual-padded / inclined / molded chairs": eg, US4387925 (Barker et al., 1983); US4552404 (Congleton, 1985); GB2226756 (National Research and Development Corporation, 1988); US5580128 (Johnson et al., 1996); WO 2006/073019 (Train et al., 2006); WO 01/76420 (Hansen, 2001); US7387339 (Bikoff et al., 2008); US7063386 (Douti et al., 2006); US6357827 (Brightville et al., 2002); US5024485 (Bug et al., 1991); US5713632 (Wed, 1998); WO2009040861 (Manzini Roberto, 2009); WO 94/08491 (Bustanate Serrano, 1994) relates primarily to the comfort of the seated person. Molded pads are often initially in common with molded "tractor-type" seats. These seats, which hold the ridges from the front to the rear of the center, cause the inconvenience problems after a while, similar to the saddle seats mentioned above. The dual pads have been improved but providing them without any relief will not allow proper tilting of the seat pads forward without the seating person's movement, and the flat, sloped seats are the same. In order to be truly comfortable, the inventor has noted that the pads must allow for some roll, pitch and yaw.

By observing patients, the inventor concluded that no work chair should be designed to mimic the position at which the pelvis and spine are obtained in an individual's standing posture, as humans have not evolved to sit. Detailed anatomical knowledge and expertise in spine, pelvis and musculoskeletal structure and function have led to an assumption in how best to obtain this improved seating position.

In studying spines for many years, the inventors have found that there is a dramatic change in spine and pelvic posture when moving from a standing position to an individual. First, because most seats have horizontal or slightly inclined seat fans, the lumbar spine cannot secure a stable position and thus requires excessive use of insufficient spinal and paraspinal muscles to maintain an upright position. do. These muscles do not mean to maintain an upright position for the length of time sustained. Second, the human body is full of asymmetries, and since the legs are the longest parts of the body, no place is more than in the legs. Most people have differences in the length of their legs and thus in the pelvis. This uneven pelvic height causes spinal curvature from side to side (scoliosis). When seated in a normal, fixed, non-adaptive chair, the pelvis is generally forced to a horizontal position, causing changes, stresses, and discomfort for scoliosis.

Eventually, prolonged prototyping and empirical testing resulting in the present invention made it possible to reproduce the pelvic and spinal positions obtained when standing.

The present invention produced looks uncomfortable, but nevertheless, it is counterintuitive because it is very comfortable. Moreover, the present invention looks simple but has a high degree of complexity and is a practical innovation.

In accordance with the conclusions reached above, the present invention attempts to provide a seat that actively guides the occupant to a seating position where the spine and pelvis of the occupant have a position in the position and posture of a structure similar to the case in which the occupant stands. To ensure this, these seats must allow a significant downward slope of the thighs (from hip to knee), with the occupant not slipping forward, and each side of the pelvis for the same rest as the pelvis would have if standing. Help should be obtained to secure relative heights.

In a broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a seat having a undulating fan adapted to support each sciatic nodule of the user and allowing the user's thighs to be supported at a position between 15 degrees and 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane.

By providing a cup-like support (i.e., concave around at least two axes) by means of an ups and downs seating seat, the user is comfortably seated and does not slide forward when at any angle. The ability to prevent the user from sliding forward can be secured through other means equivalent to a undulating seat pan, such as ridges, non-slip rubber surfaces, or even adhesives / straps. These functional equivalents may be included in the strict sense of the "fans" seat fan.

Preferably with respect to the horizontal plane these seat pans support thigh angles between 22 degrees and 32 degrees (optimally these fans are selected to support thighs at 27 degrees), thereby creating a lumbar spine if the lumbar spine is standing. Simulates forward curves (only spinal vertebrae). In other words, the present invention induces (maintains) the body to simulate the position of the pelvis and spine that occur when standing. The thigh angle does not change significantly during sitting.

When standing spinal vertebrae occur, this is the natural positioning of the vertebral structures that keep the body upright, not the back muscles. In the case of a natural posture loss when standing, the muscles of the back try to support the person in an upright position, as in a horizontal seat pan. These muscles can quickly fatigue and cause the lumbar spine to bend forward (curve), which adversely affects the rest of the spine, shoulders, neck, arms and forearms.

Preferably the seat pan is two seat pads which are separated, at least partially concave and shaped for each side of the user, each pad consisting of seat pads supporting the tissues and shapes around each sciatic nodule. Seat pads. Such structures elevate the body's natural cushioning characteristics and thus reduce the need for uneconomical / excessive cushioning.

Unless otherwise described herein, such seat pans may be formed of a single integral portion that performs the function of two seat pads.

By focusing on the support of sciatic nodules and understanding that in most cases the difference in sciatic nodules in the adult population is only about 12%, it becomes possible to produce seats that support a much wider range of users than standard seats. .

In a preferred form of the invention each seat pad is attached to the pedestal structure by a lug having an internal silicone bush at the front and also connected by a rotatable leaf spring and another silicone bush at the rear. This allows each seat pad to change its height backwards, in an associated manner, relative to the remaining pads. This focuses on the fact that it is essential for comfortable sitting that one side of the pelvis can be slightly higher than the rest of the pelvis, as in most standing people. As mentioned, these pads are concave around two axes (not as in some prior art, such as GB611899) and preferably can move around at least four axes and two fulcra (also only one Distinguished from GB611899 with only an axis).

Leaf springs also enable movement to aid in the treatment of hypertonicity in the back muscles, provided by a series of "back balls" located in the seat back portion, elastic movement of the back post . These pads have a silicone mounting bush between the mountings that allow a controlled amount of roll in the lug in the front and the seat pad in the back.

Preferably the backrest portion is self-adjusting depending on the user seated in the undulating fan. The self-adjusting backrest component of the present invention can be used to treat the hypertonicity (higher tension) of the back muscles. In addition, the seat is preferably manually adjustable only in height; As a result, many excess and inexpensive manual control mechanisms (as found in the prior art) can be discarded.

Such seats may be used in a modified form for use in bicycle and motorcycle seats. Research has shown that the use of standard bicycle saddles can cause low fertility and erectile dysfunction in men. Standard saddles also stimulate hemorrhoids. Many people do not ride bicycles because they know that they are uncomfortable because much of the body load is transmitted through the perineum rather than sciatic nodules as outlined by the present invention.

Specifically, for use on a bicycle, the seat according to the invention can be modified by cutting approximately half of these pads in order to reduce their size. In other words, some uses of the seat of the present invention may require using only a portion of each pad.

The invention is also contemplated for use in wheelchairs and is incorporated into other seating structures such as benches. In fact the invention may also be in the form of a removable or modified insert for any seat / chair.

It is noteworthy that the seat of the present invention is intended to be automatically fitted to the user, rather than height adjustment from the ground, and does not require numerous user adjustments / fitting to find a comfortable position. Prior art seating devices are known at the same time to provide manual adjustments that can position the seating position to mimic the standing position, in which case the seat of the prior art has the same advantages as the present invention for such a user. Can get them. However, such a seat cannot adapt to future changes in this user or other users in a manner that the present invention can do.

1 shows a side view of a seat according to the invention in an elevated position
2 shows a side elevation view of the seat in a lowered position.
3 shows a rear side elevation view of the seat in the lowered position.
4 shows a general perspective view of the seat of the invention.
5 shows a close-up of the seat when a load is applied to the seat back.
6 shows a close up of the seat when in the rest position.
7 shows a detailed rear view of the seat.
8 shows a detailed bottom view of the seat.
9 shows a side view of the seat pads inclined by the load.
FIG. 10 shows a front view of the seat pads under load as in FIG. 9.
11 shows a rear perspective view of the seat.
FIG. 12 shows a detailed back view, comparable to FIG. 7, with the seat fans tilted. FIG.

4 best shows a general view of the seat according to the invention included in an office chair having a base with feet 11 and / or wheels 11 concentrated at a central pedestal 12. It should be noted that such a base equipped with wheels is relatively common and that any easily recognizable chair having parts in contact with the ground may also practice the present invention.

The height adjustment means 13 are contained in a stand 12 which may be in the form of a screw screw (as shown) or a pneumatic / spring cylinder. 1 and 2 show the seats in the relatively raised and lowered positions by the height adjusting means 13. The height from the ground of the seat is adjusted for convenience according to the length of the user's leg, such that the feet will be attached to the floor, for example.

The seat itself comprises a seat pan, preferably formed of two pads 14 which are at least partially concave and are mirror images of each other. These pads 14 are frame structures at the upper end of the base 12 supporting each pad and back portion 16, which are rotatably attached to an axis 17 (best seen in FIG. 6). It is preferably mounted on (15) independently.

The seat back 16 also features a series of pad supports 18 or “back balls” that contact the back of a user when in use.

Figure 6 shows a side view of a seat according to the invention that is not under load or is in an initial "rest" state, ie no human weight has been applied. The seat pads 14 are placed at a relatively large angle so that the seat back 16 rests first before a person is seated. It will be apparent that the position is inclined at an angle exceeding vertical.

As shown in FIG. 5, when a force F is applied to the seat pan 14 (eg, by a seated person), the seat back 16 is vertical due to the pressure near the pivot 17. Move in the direction of (L).

5 and 6 generally show that the frame structure 15 is connected to the stand and the spine shaped seat back 16 is located between the first pivot 17 and the curved back portion of the seat back 16. ) Relative arrangement of the seat pads connected to the front lug 21 extending from the bottom of the seat pad by the link arm 20 in the second pivot 19. These lugs include an internal silicon bush that provides some flexibility (ie, "grants") to the pad's movement.

The distal end of the curved seat back ends at the first pivot connection point 17, on which the leaf spring 22 is mounted and spans the two seat pads 14, as best seen in FIG. 7. An additional set of elastic bushes 23 (made of silicone or equivalents thereof) are mounted to the bottom of the rear of the seat pads 14 and extend from this bottom to connect with the leaf spring 22 spanning therebetween. The elasticity of the bushes 23 provides a limited degree of yaw motion in the pads.

FIG. 8 shows a view of a seat in which the lateral bars 24 penetrating the (inner) lugs 21 at the front of the seat pads 14 provide a horizontal axis while the front of these pads have some movement around this axis. A bottom view is shown. The lateral bar 24 is secured by outer lugs 25 extending from the bottom surface of the pads 14.

The mechanism is designed to articulate each pad using a rose joint pivot system with a leaf spring / bush arrangement as a whole. Therefore, each pad has a limited degree of movement in several directions to fit the seat, but still guides the seat to the optimal position based on the inclination angle of the seat pads. Once the seated person remains in the optimal and comfortable position in the shape of the spine considered so far, he imitates standing.

In particular, the seat pad is attached to the base / base structure 15/20 by a lug 21 having an internal silicon bush at the front and also connected by a rotatable leaf spring 22 and another silicon bush 23 at the back. By way of example, each seat pad can change the height of each seat pad backwards, in an associated manner, relative to the remaining pads. This focuses on the fact that it is essential for comfortable sitting that one side of the pelvis can be slightly higher than the rest of the pelvis, as in most standing people.

It will be apparent that the preferred seat pads of the present invention have some degree of movement around at least four axes and two fulcra. In particular, these pads move (pitch, roll, yaw) around a fourth axis, the front-rear axis between the three axes and the back of the seat pads with the leaf springs rotating around.

9-12 show that the seat pad 14A on the right (see FIG. 10) is lowered than the pad 14B on the left by the weight / physiology of the person seated in the seat (not shown). The articulated linkage movement of the back of 14 is shown.

FIG. 12 shows, in particular, the inclination (curved arrow S of rolling / seeding) of the seat pads by the leaf spring 22 with the other pads raised as one pad is lowered.

This articulated linkage movement can be included in the seat independently of the optimal sitting angle provided by the undulating pads, since it focuses on changes in the pelvis shape that are not solved by the seated thigh angle alone.

The resilient leaf spring 22 is also provided by a series of "backrest balls 18" located in the seat back portion, which provides a seat back through the rotational connection 17, which is a movement that aids in the treatment of pain in the back muscles. 16) to enable elastic movement. As mentioned, the pads have a silicone mounting bush between the mountings that allow a controlled amount of roll in the lug in the front and in the seat pad in the rear.

More conventional seat backs (such as in office chairs) may be combined with seats that do not necessarily need to be connected to the seat pads to be rotatable, for example, they may extend independently from the base / base and move independently. Could be adjusted.

Although leaf springs are shown in the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, this deflected movement could be provided by other spring types or pneumatic cylinders.

Preferably the back portion 16 is self-adjusting depending on the user seated in the undulating fan 14. The self-regulating backrest component of the present invention can be used to treat pain in the back muscles when in a sitting position or for general acceptance thereof. In addition, the seat can preferably be manually adjusted only for height; As a result, it should be noted that many excess and inexpensive manual control mechanisms (as found in the prior art) can be discarded.

Preferably, when a person's weight is carried in the seat, the seat pad 14 accommodates and supports the user's thigh at an angle selected to be substantially 27 ° below the horizontal plane while the seat pads 14 are curved. And ups and downs comfortably prevent the user from slipping forward.

It will be appreciated that the rotating mechanism of the seat back 16 connected via the leaf spring can take several forms or, in the case of a stool design, can be completely removed. In this arrangement the two seat pads 14 may be at a fixed angle of approximately 27 °. The guide for use of the present invention recommends that the feet of the users are attached to the floor when in the final sitting position or at least in a position that allows the muscles of the thighs and legs to relax. If the occupant wants to use a foot placed on the lower part of the chair, the lower foot can be tilted backwards, or if the invention is used in a higher seat, such as a stool on a bar, the higher footrest would There may also be situations that may be included to support.

Note that since the two seat pads 14 are fitted to the user's hips, the explicit cushioning material on the pads 14 may be relatively thin.

The general principle of a seat according to the invention can be adapted for use in wheelchair or other seat designs, such as bicycle or motorcycle seats. Otherwise the action is the same as described above.

In all cases the seat pads (or integral single seat pans) contain concave or equivalent cups and muscle tensions resulting from trying to prevent the user from slipping forward without exerting heavy pressure on the perineum Support each sciatic nodule of the user in a way that prevents.

The seat of the invention can, in all forms, be molded in relatively few parts, for example all the major components of the office chair of FIGS. 1 to 4 can be molded from aluminum so that the seat can be particularly lightweight.

Claims (32)

A seat having a undulating fan adapted to guide the thighs of the user to be supported at a position between 22 degrees and 32 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. The seat of claim 1, wherein in use, when the user is seated, the seat guides and maintains to substantially mimic the position at which the user's spine stands. The seat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the position is substantially 27 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. A seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, having a undulating fan adapted to support each sciatic nodule of the user and allow the user's thighs to be supported. The seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the undulating fan is adapted to support each sciatic nodule by a portion that is recessed around at least two axes. 6. The seat of claim 1, wherein the seat pan comprises at least partially concave formed seat pads adapted to support each sciatic nodule of the user. 7. The seat of claim 6, wherein the seat pads of the present invention have some movement around four axles and two fulcra. 8. A seat according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the back of each seat pad is connected to the rest for (roll) movement, such that the lowering of the back of one pad results in a corresponding rise of the back of the other pad. The seat of claim 8, wherein the connection is provided by an elastic element spanning between the backs of the pads. 10. The seat according to claim 9, wherein said seat pads are attached to an elastic element by an elastic connection to enable yaw movement of each of said pads. The seat of claim 10 wherein the resilient element is a leaf spring and the resilient connection is a rubber bush. The seat of claim 6, wherein the front portion of each pad is mounted to the seat support structure for rotational (pitch) movement. The seat of claim 1, further comprising a backrest portion rotatably mounted relative to the seat pan. 14. The backrest portion of claim 13, wherein the backrest portion is rotatably mounted to an elastic element spanning between the back of the two seat pads at the distal end of the backrest portion, with a second rotational connection from the backrest portion toward the seat support structure. Wherein each seat pad is mounted to the seat support structure for rotational (pitch) movement in front of the seat pad. The seat according to claim 13 or 14, wherein, in use, the backrest portion is arranged to rotate toward the seated spine of the seated user in accordance with the force exerted on the undulating fan. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat pan is cushioned by a relatively thin layer of filler. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the undulating fan is functionally replaced or supplemented by ridges, non-slip rubber surfaces, adhesives or strap means. 18. The seat according to any one of claims 1 to 17, further comprising a height adjustment mechanism. 19. The seat of any of claims 1-18, wherein the seat support structure comprises a leg or legs in contact with the ground. It includes two seat pads mounted to the support structure, with the lower back of one pad being connected to the rest for the (roll) movement of each seat pad, relative to the user's seating direction, so that the lower back of one pad Seat, resulting in a corresponding rise of said rear. The seat of claim 20, wherein the connection is provided by an elastic element spanning between the backs of the pads. The seat of claim 20 wherein the seat pads are attached to the resilient element by an elastic connection. The seat of claim 22 wherein the resilient element is a leaf spring and the resilient connection is a rubber bush. 24. The seat according to any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein the front of each pad is mounted to the seat support structure for rotational pitch movement. 25. The seat as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 24, further comprising a backrest portion rotatably mounted relative to the seat pan. 26. The device of claim 25, wherein the backrest portion is rotatably mounted to an elastic element spanning between the backs of the two seat pads at the distal end of the backrest portion, the second rotation from the backrest portion toward the seat support structure. A connection, wherein each seat pad is mounted to the seat support structure for rotational (pitch) movement in front of the seat pad. 27. The seat according to any one of claims 20 to 26, wherein the two seat pads provide a surface for supporting each buttocks of the user and the seat pads are integrated into a single fan forming the support surface. . 28. The seat pad according to any one of claims 20 to 27, wherein the seat pads are mounted to provide an inclination between 22 and 32 degrees below a horizontal plane, so that when the user is seated, the seat is standing with the spine of the user. A seat, which induces to substantially mimic the position in which it is located. A wheelchair comprising a seat according to any one of claims 1 to 28. 30. The wheelchair of claim 29 wherein the seat is height adjustable relative to the footrest. A bicycle or motorcycle, comprising the seat according to any one of claims 1 to 28. 32. Use of a seat according to any one of claims 1 to 31, wherein the seat is configured to allow a user to sit foot on the ground.

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