A vehicle seating system having a seat part includes a non-foam base material covered with a trim material. The non-foam base material may include a plurality of different firmness zones based at least in part on at least one of a seated-occupant pressure map and a structural arrangement disposed adjacent to the seat part. The seat part may be, for example, a seat cushion, a seat back, or a seat bolster.

Non-linear forces are simulated by a dual-rate spring apparatus, which may also be used to impose nonlinear forces. The apparatus includes a carriage and at least two springs arranged sequentially in series with one another. The spring constant is changed by initially allowing both of the springs to compress to a point and, thereafter, after one spring is generally completely compressed, allowing only the other spring to compress further.

An intelligent automated chair that is configured to have uploaded various operating models to run a sequence of patterns that cause the intelligent automated chair to alternate between various positions. An intelligent automated chair system configured to receive data from various inputs including user input, sensors, biosensors, historical usage, profile, and others to generate a recommended operating model for the intelligent automated chair. An intelligent automated chair system running an operating model that is interruptible manually by a user or as a result of sensed date, which can alter the pattern or parameters of the operating model.

A resistive motion support mechanism joined to a mounting surface and to a base for providing resistive support to the mounting surface as the mounting surface undergoes one or both of rotational and tilt movement relative to the base, the motion support mechanism comprising: a support bearing connected to the mounting surface and to the base which permits one or both of tilting and rotational motion of the mounting surface relative to the base; a resistance cartridge fixedly connected to the mounting surface such that the resistance cartridge undergoes movement relative to the base and applies a resistive force on the base as the mounting surface undergoes the one or both of rotational and tilt movement. The mounting surface and the resistance cartridge are connected by at least one sensor for measuring one of forces applied by the mounting surface on the resistance cartridge, movement of the mounting surface with respect to the cartridge and/or acceleration of the mounting surface with respect to the cartridge.

An office, work and leisure chair and retrofit kit for subliminal motions of the seated person. The chair has a cruciform base (1) with rollers (4), a pneumatic spring-action post (2) with an interface plate (5) for a seat panel (21) and seat pad (19), and a backrest (22). The seat panel is mounted with wobble capability on a pneumatic cushion, which has deformable air chambers (18, 35) connected by connecting hoses (27) and lies on an elastically deformable hollow body (14). The hollow body pumps the air chambers when a person sits down and stands up. A pump hose (12) with a one-way valve leads from the hollow body to compensate for leakage losses. Connecting hoses between the air chambers have valves (31; 75; 89) such that the wobbling distance of the seat panel and the damping of the wobbling motion is variable.

In an embodiment, there is provided a chair including: a chair body; at least one sensing element on the chair body for sensing a human body pressure on the chair body; at least one gasbag on the chair body for supporting a waist of a human body; a gas pump for performing inflation and deflation of the at least one gasbag; and a control assembly in signal connection with the at least one sensing element for controlling the gas pump to perform inflation and deflation of the at least one gasbag according to information acquired by the sensing element.

Office, work and leisure chair and retrofit kit for causing subliminal movements of the person sitting thereon. The chair has a cruciform base (1), freely articulated rollers (4), a gas-spring support (2) and an interface panel (5) resting thereon as a support panel. Mounted on the support panel is a base panel (28) bearing a seat cover (19) with a seat surface and back rest (22). The seat cover is provided and allowed to wobble, resting via a cover panel (27) on a plurality of spring elements (7), which are displaceable radially, or obliquely in relation to the radial direction, or helically from the center of the base panel to the periphery of the base panel. The spring elements are mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically displaceable, so that the wobble distance of the seat cover and the attenuation of the wobble movement are variable.

A support evaluation device (10) comprising a series of pressure sensors in a stack (16), output means (34a, 34b, 34c) linked to the pressure sensors for indicating signals therefrom, and a power source, the series of pressure sensors including at least first and second pressure sensors within the stack (16), operational across respective first and second pressure bands, each pressure sensor including first and second electrical conductors (18, 20, 24, 28), and an insulator (22, 26, 30) separating the electrical conductors (18, 20, 24, 28), the pressure sensors being adapted to signal whether there is contact between their electrical conductors (18, 20, 24, 28), and the output means (34a, 34b, 34c) being adapted to provide at least one of an audio or visual output corresponding to signals from the pressure sensors, in use indicating the pressure band reached for a patient sat on the device (10), each pressure band corresponding to a predetermined cushion strength for prescribing a cushion to that patient.

The invention relates to a chair (1) which comprises a support (6), a seat element (5), a back element (4), a leg element (3), a spring mechanism and a weight-controlled working adjusting element for the spring mechanism.

Disclosed is a functional chair capable of adjusting a height of a seat. The functional chair includes a first seat configured to support a left pelvis, a second seat provided at a right side of the first seat, a frame provided below the first seat and the second seat, a backrest protruding from one side of the first and second seats, a seat pressure measuring unit which is respectively provided on the first seat and the second seat, a controller which receives the first pressure value and the second pressure value from the seat pressure measuring unit, a memory which stores in advance drive command information corresponding to a difference between the first pressure value and the second pressure value, a first height adjusting unit provided between the first seat and the frame, and a second height adjusting unit provided between the second seat and the frame.