Abstract
An apparatus for sitting, including: a keystone assembly which connects various parts of the apparatus; a back that provides support for at least a person's back or shoulders; a floating lumbar support, which provides support for a person's lower back, attached to the keystone assembly; a seat that can adjust between a forward tilted and reclined position; a plurality of rollers, disposed on the keystone assembly, on which the seat rests; a central column, attached to the keystone assembly, on which the seat can spin; and a lower torsion spring connected to the seat and disposed on the keystone assembly allowing controlled movement of the seat.
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising: a seat; a support assembly having a body portion located under the seat, the support assembly having a downwardly extending arm located below a forward portion of the seat, the downwardly extending arm having a lower end, the lower end having a first spring; at least one upwardly extending arm connected from the first spring to the seat; and a floating lumbar support having a lumbar support arm connected to the support assembly via a second spring, wherein the apparatus is usable in neutral upright, forward tilt, and rear tilting positions, wherein the at least one upwardly extending arm is adapted to move forward with respect to the downwardly extending arm, and the lumbar support arm is adapted to pivot forward with respect to the seat, as a sitter in the apparatus moves from the neutral upright position to the forward tilt position, and wherein the at least one upwardly extending arm is adapted to move rearward with respect to the downwardly extending arm, and the lumbar support arm is adapted to pivot backward with respect to the seat, as the sitter moves from the neutral upright position to the rear tilting position.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one upwardly extending arm has an arc of movement and the downwardly extending arm is fixed in position relative to the body portion of the support assembly.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one leg and a wheel connected to an end portion of each said leg.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floating lumbar support is adapted to move backward as the sitter moves from the forward tilt and/or neutral upright position(s) towards more reclined positions.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second spring is adapted to provide an impetus to the sitter as the sitter moves into forward tilt from rear tilting and upright neutral positions.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one roller disposed on the support assembly, on which the seat is adapted to rest and/or slide.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a third spring connected to the body portion of the support assembly; and a floating arm extending upwardly from the third spring towards a bottom surface of the seat.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the floating arm has a roller on an end opposite the third spring.
9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus supports the sitter's back in healthy positions as the sitter continually moves from forward tilt towards more reclined positions, and vice versa, and at points therebetween, via synchronized movements of the first, second, and third springs.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second springs cooperate so as to enable the seat to have combined forward-and-backward sliding and front-and-back tilting movements.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the combined forward-and-backward sliding and front-and-back tilting movements of the seat are actuatable as the sitter moves from one position to another with continual movement.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one upwardly extending arm, the downwardly extending arm, and the lumbar support are adapted to be generally parallel to one another when the apparatus is in the neutral upright position.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a height adjustable column.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a base with a column extending upwardly therefrom; and a plurality of legs having first end portions connected to the base, the legs extending outwardly from the base; wherein each said leg is bent and forms a plurality of leg portions, a first leg portion being substantially co-planar with and connected to the base and extending outwardly therefrom, and a second leg portion extending upwardly from a distal end of the first leg portion, and a third leg portion extending outwardly and downwardly from an uppermost end of the second leg portion, the first, second, and third leg portions being integral with one another.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a wheel connected to a second end portion of each said leg, the second end portions being opposite the first end portions, wherein each said wheel is connected to a distal end of the third leg portion of a corresponding leg.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a recess is defined between the column and the first leg portions of the legs, the recess being adapted to receive the first spring as the apparatus is lowered and to allow the spring to rotate uninterruptedly about the column as the apparatus is correspondingly rotated.
17. An apparatus, comprising: a seat; a support assembly having a body portion located under the seat, the support assembly having a downwardly extending arm located below a forward portion of the seat, the downwardly extending arm having a lower end, the lower end having a first spring; at least one upwardly extending arm connected from the first spring to the seat; and a floating lumbar support having a lumbar support arm connected to the support assembly via a second spring, wherein the apparatus is usable in neutral upright, forward tilt, and rear tilting positions, wherein the first and second springs cooperate so as to enable the seat to have combined forward-and-backward sliding and front-and-back tilting movements, the combined forward-and-backward sliding and front-and-back tilting movements of the seat being actuatable as the sitter moves through from one position to another, and wherein the at least one upwardly extending arm, the downwardly extending arm, and the lumbar support are adapted to be generally parallel to one another when the apparatus is in the neutral upright position.
18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one upwardly extending arm has an arc of movement and the downwardly extending arm is fixed in position relative to the body portion of the support assembly.
19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a third spring connected to the body portion of the support assembly; and a floating arm extending upwardly from the third spring towards a bottom surface of the seat.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the floating arm has a roller on an end opposite the third spring.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary side elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support.
(2) FIG. 2 shows an exemplary front elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support.
(3) FIG. 3 shows an exemplary three-dimensional side elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support.
(4) FIG. 4 shows an exemplary three-dimensional rear elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support.
(5) FIG. 5 shows an exemplary three-dimensional perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support from a front-left perspective.
(6) FIG. 6 shows an exemplary three-dimensional perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support from a rear-right perspective.
(7) FIG. 7 shows an exemplary three-dimensional perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support from a front-right perspective above the chair.
(8) FIG. 8a shows an exemplary rear elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support.
(9) FIG. 8b shows an exemplary front-right perspective of an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support.
(10) FIG. 8c shows an exemplary front elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support.
(11) FIG. 9 shows an exemplary side elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the keystone assembly.
(12) FIG. 10 shows an exemplary perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the keystone assembly.
(13) FIG. 11a shows an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support with a sitter in a forward tilt position.
(14) FIG. 11b shows an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support with a sitter in a reclined position.
(15) FIG. 12 shows an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support progressing through a variety of sitter positions ranging from a forward tilt position to a reclined position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(16) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary side elevation of one illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support. An auxiliary back 1 provides shoulder blade and upper spine support for a sitter when the sitter is in a reclined position. According to this embodiment, the auxiliary back 1 may be selected from a variety of customized backs, or a standard back may be used. The auxiliary back 1 attaches to the contoured seat 3 and moves with the movement of the seat. The contoured seat 3, may have a layer of padding, preferably comprised of renewable composite materials, however padding may be excluded or any suitable materials may be used. The contoured seat 3 has contours 5 formed into its bottom face, and the contours slide on rollers 7, 9. The rollers allow the seat to move through a range of forward tilt to full recline as the contours move across the rollers. The rear roller 7 is attached to a floating spring 11, and the floating spring 11 acts to push the seat forward in response to a forward movement by a sitter and to support the rear of the seat in response to a rearward movement by a sitter.
(17) As the sitter moves forward, the lumbar support 13 attached to an articulating rocker arm 15 moves forward in response. This provides constant support for the sitter's lower back, keeping the sitter's back in lordosis, the natural curvature of the spine. The articulating rocker arm 15 is attached to a lumbar spring assembly 17. The spring assembly 17 allows the rocker arm to articulate and also serves to affix the articulating rocker arm to the keystone assembly 19. The articulating rocker arm also attaches to the rear of the seat 3 at a pivot point 21.
(18) The keystone assembly 19 attaches to a height adjustable column 23 and a lower torsion spring 25. The height adjustable column is made up of a gas cylinder 27 and a central column housing 29. The lower torsion spring 25 attaches to two rocker arms 31, which in turn attach to the front of the seat 3 at a forward pivot point 33.
(19) The center base of the chair 35 is attached to the height adjustable column 23 and has recesses 37 to prevent contact between the lower torsion spring 25 and the chair base 35 when the chair is set at a low height position. Arms 39 extending from the chair base 35 attach to wheels 41. According to this embodiment, the arm rests 48, the lumbar support 13, and the auxiliary back 1, may be selected from a plurality of sizes to meet an individual user's needs. Alternatively, a standard size may be used.
(20) FIG. 2 shows an exemplary front elevation of another illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support. An opening 57 in the auxiliary back 1 provides passage for the articulating lumbar support 13. When the sitter moves forward, the support 13 can pass through the opening 57 to follow the sitter's back. As the sitter moves back, the support 13 passes back through the opening 57 in response to the sitter's movement. The lumbar support 13 can also be height adjusted, sliding up and down in a gap 53 in the articulating rocker arm 15. A lever 55 allows adjustment of the height adjustable column. Two custom made arms 43 can be attached to the chair, and they can be capped by padded armrests 51.
(21) FIG. 3 shows an exemplary three-dimensional side elevation of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support according to a further illustrative embodiment. From this view it is easy to see how the recesses 37 in the chair base 35 provide clearance for the lower torsion spring 25. If the sitter spins the chair, the seat 3 pivots on the central column. Because the lower spring 25 is attached to the seat, the torsion spring 25 also pivots. Since the recesses 37 are below the level of the spring 25, the spring 25 can pivot through a full 360-degrees without interference. Of course, the spring could also be mounted above the level of the chair base 35, but the lower the spring 25 the better the range of tilt movement of the seat.
(22) FIG. 4 shows an exemplary three-dimensional rear elevation of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support according to another illustrative embodiment. The actuating rocker arm 15 fits within a recess 61 in the rear of the seat 3. The auxiliary back 1 attaches to the bottom face of the seat 3 in the rear of the seat. When the sitter leans forward, the auxiliary back 1 moves forward in response, being fixed to the seat 3. The actuating rocker arm, pivots forward, moving the lumbar support 13 forward at a faster rate than the auxiliary back, following the sitter's spine. The recess 57 in the auxiliary back 1 allows the lumbar support 13 to cleanly move forward and backwards.
(23) FIG. 5 shows an exemplary three-dimensional perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support from a front-left perspective. The articulating rocker arm 15 attaches to the keystone assembly 19 at the lumbar spring assembly 17. The front rocker arms 31 attach to the seat 3 at a forward pivot point 33. Each of the rocker arms is attached to a torsion spring 17,25, which stores energy as the sitter moves forwards or backwards. These springs 17,25 push and pull the chair back into a default position when the sitter is no longer applying forward or backward pressure on the chair. The rear spring 17 also uses the stored energy to keep the lumbar support in pressured contact with the sitter's lower back.
(24) FIG. 6 shows an exemplary three-dimensional perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support from a rear-right perspective. The lumbar spring assembly 17 is clamped to the bottom of the keystone housing 19 by a clamping piece 71.
(25) FIG. 7 shows an exemplary three-dimensional perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support from a front-right perspective above the chair. The seat 3 has a recess 61 in the rear where the articulating rocker arm 15 of the lumbar support attaches. This recess helps prevent the seat from interfering with the movement of the rocker arm as it pivots forward and backwards. Of course, other suitable methods of attaching the rocker arm such that interference is minimized may also be used.
(26) FIG. 8a shows an exemplary rear elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support.
(27) FIG. 8b shows an exemplary front-right perspective of an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support. The lower torsion spring 25 is attached to the keystone assembly 19 and the front rocker arms 31.
(28) FIG. 8c shows an exemplary front elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support.
(29) FIG. 9 shows an exemplary side elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the keystone assembly. The lumbar spring assembly 17 is clamped to the keystone assembly 19 by a clamping piece 71. The rear roller 7 is attached to a floating spring 11 which is in turn attached to the keystone assembly 19. The keystone assembly 19 also houses the front roller 9. The keystone assembly serves to interconnect many of the various parts of the chair, and to provide pressure and tension where it is needed in the chair.
(30) FIG. 10 shows an exemplary perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the keystone assembly. The front rollers 9 sit in slots 81 cut in the keystone assembly 19. The floating spring 11 holding the rear rollers 7 attaches to the top face of the keystone assembly 19. The adjustable lever 55 also sits in a slit 83 in the keystone assembly 19. The front rocker arms 31 attach to the seat 3 at the pivot point 33 and the seat contours 5 are designed to roll smoothly over the rockers 7, 9.
(31) FIG. 11a shows an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support with a sitter in a forward tilt position. The lumbar support 13 has pivoted forward to maintain pressure on the curve of the sitter's lower back.
(32) FIG. 11b shows an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support with a sitter in a reclined position. The lumbar support 13 has moved backwards and the auxiliary back 1 has taken the load off of the sitter's shoulder blades and upper spine. The floating spring 11 is also flexed, providing support for the rearward tilted seat 3. If the sitter moved forwards, the spring 11 would unflex, providing impetus for the forward movement.
(33) FIG. 12 shows an illustrative embodiment of the mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support progressing through a variety of sitter positions ranging from a forward tilt position to a reclined position. As the sitter moves backwards towards a reclining position, the lumbar support 13 moves backwards as well, keeping constant pressure and support on the sitter's lower back and the seat 3 tilts downward in the rear to provide a more comfortable reclining position and to transfer weight to the auxiliary back 1 and pressure to the floating spring.
(34) While the preferred forms and embodiments of the instant invention have been illustrated and described herein, various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the invention. The invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. For example, the invention is not limited to the specific sizes of the various parts indicated in the drawings. Instead, the sizes indicated herein simply reflect a preferred embodiment. The same is true with respect to the specific component shapes and materials described herein.
