ERGONOMIC CHAIR

Abstract

A convertible seat including: a support frame; and

a user support having a support surface on one side defining a rounded periphery, the user support being movable from a first configuration supported by the support frame with the rounded periphery presented upwardly, to a second configuration supported by the support frame such that a seat or seat base is presented upwardly, the seat or seat base being substantially flat or at least less rounded than the rounded periphery, with the support surface being stowed substantially below the seat or seat base in the second configuration. The seat allows the attainment in a single unit both the healthy balance/core-strengthening of a fitness chair and a conventional chair.

Claims

1. A convertible seat including: a support frame; and a user support having a balance support surface on one side and a normal seat or seat base on the other side, the balance support surface having a rounded periphery, and the seat or seat base being substantially flat or at least less rounded than the rounded periphery, the user support being movable from a first configuration supported by the support frame with the rounded periphery presented upwardly, to a second configuration supported by the support frame with the seat or seat base presented upwardly, with the balance support surface being stowed substantially below the seat or seat base in the second configuration, wherein the balance support surface is configured to provide a balance and/or core-strengthening experience to a user.

2. The convertible seat according to claim 1, in which the support frame includes a support ring either continuous or discontinuous for supporting the user support in either the first or second configuration.

3. The convertible seat according to claim 2, in which the support ring is in the form of an annular seat with a surrounding rim.

4. The convertible seat according to claim 3, in which the user support has a peripheral flange which is seatable on the annular seat within the surrounding rim, the annular seat supporting the peripheral flange in both the first and the second configurations.

5. The convertible seat according to claim 1, in which the support frame includes a housing to receive the rounded periphery in the second configuration of the user support.

6. The convertible seat according to claim 1, in which the support frame includes pivots to allow the user support to pivot from the first configuration to the second configuration and vice versa.

7. The convertible seat according to claim 1, in which the adjustment of the user support from the first configuration to the second configuration may be manually effected and/or mechanically assisted.

8. The convertible seat according to claim 1, in which the support surface is formed by an inflatable dome.

9. The convertible seat according to claim 1, in which the support surface is comprised of flexible material such as rubber, which is movable by gas pressure from a distended first configuration to a deflated second configuration below the seat or seat base.

10. The convertible seat according to claim 1, in which the seat base presents a substantially flat surface, to which a seat portion may be attached.

11. The convertible seat according to claim 10, in which the seat portion is detachable from the seat base.

12. The convertible seat according to claim 1, in which the seat comprises movable arm rests, movable between a first arm support position and a stowage position below the seat surface.

13. The convertible seat according to claim 1, in which the user support comprises an inflatable surface that forms the support surface, this surface being affixed to a plate, at least one side of which plate remote from the inflatable surface comprises a conventional seating surface.

14. The convertible seat according to claim 13, in which the user support is modular in construction, at least one of the user support and the conventional seating surface being detachable from the plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] In order that the disclosure may be more fully understood, one embodiment will now be described, by way of example with reference to the figures in which:

[0045] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a convertible chair according to a first particular embodiment of the disclosure;

[0046] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the convertible chair of FIG. 1 illustrating a user support and a detachable seat portion;

[0047] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of an alternative support housing;

[0048] FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating the attachment of the detachable seat portion with the user support;

[0049] FIG. 5 is an alternative view of the detachable seat portion and the user support as shown in FIG. 4;

[0050] FIG. 6 is a convertible chair showing the user support in the second, inverted, stowage configuration and arm rests in a in-use position;

[0051] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the convertible chair shown in FIG. 6 with the user support shown in the first configuration with the arm rests shown in a stowage position;

[0052] FIG. 8 is another particular embodiment illustrating a convertible seat in the form of a stool; and

[0053] FIG. 9 is another particular embodiment illustrating the user support being stowed in a backrest.

[0054] FIG. 10 depicts a perspective view of a further particular embodiment of a user support.

[0055] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 10, showing the components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0056] In FIG. 1, a convertible chair 10 includes a support frame 11, which comprises a castored base 12 with an upright stem 14 incorporating a gas lift. The castored base and the upright stem 14 are in a form well known to those skilled in the art.

[0057] The support frame also includes a housing 16. The housing may be in the form of a metal support structure with a plastic shroud. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the housing 16 has the form of a shell which is upwardly concave to receive the rounded periphery 27 of the user support 18. The housing 16 may incorporate components (not shown) for lumbar adjustment on the backrest 20.

[0058] The housing 16 has an upper support ring 22. The support ring 22 supports the user support 18 in a manner which will be explained. The support ring 22 may be continuous or discontinuous. For example, the support ring may comprise arcuate segments around the top of the housing 16. The support ring 22 includes a surrounding rim 24

[0059] The user support 18 is in the form of an inflatable dome 26 mounted to a rigid platform 28. The inflatable dome 26 defines a support surface in the form of rounded periphery 27. The rigid platform defines a peripheral flange 28 protruding from the rounded periphery 27. The peripheral flange 28 defines a shoulder 30 which is seated on the surrounding rim 24.

[0060] In a further particular form of the disclosure (not shown), the support ring 22 also includes an annular seat (not shown) below the surrounding rim 24. In this embodiment, when the user support is in the second inverted configuration, the shoulder 30 is seated on the annular seat and the surrounding rim 24 surrounds the rigid platform 28.

[0061] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the user support 18 is shown in the second, inverted configuration. The user support 18 may also be manually moved to a first configuration as illustrated in FIG. 7. In this configuration, it will be appreciated that the side of the rigid platform 28 opposite to the shoulder 30 will seat on the annular seat within the housing 16.

[0062] The housing 16, forming part of the support frame 11 thus accommodates the rounded periphery 27 of the user support 18 when the user support 18 is in the second inverted configuration. In this way, the rounded periphery 27 is hidden from view and the chair 10 more closely resembles a conventional office chair.

[0063] FIG. 2 also illustrates the detachable seat portion 32. Although not shown, the rigid platform 28 of the user support 18 has a shallow circular recess in its outer face. This circular recess receives at least part of the detachable seat portion 32 therein. As can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, the detachable seat portion 32 and the user support 18 may have a bayonet type connection.

[0064] Instead of a detachable seat portion 32, the side of the user support opposite to the rounded periphery may be cushioned and/or upholstered to serve as the user's seat in the second configuration.

[0065] FIG. 3 depicts an alternative housing 16, this one being formed from three tubular members, one circular member 60 providing the upper support ring, and four quarter-circular members 62 attached evenly spaced around the circular member 60 and extending downwardly therefrom to join a boss 63 at the top of the gas strut (14 in FIG. 1)

[0066] FIG. 6 illustrates a chair, generally indicated as 10′, which is a similar embodiment to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that it has a different backrest 40. The convertible chair 10′ is similar in many respects to the convertible chair 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, and thus the same numerals are used to represent the same parts. The main difference is the inclusion of stowable arm rests 41. The arm rests 41 are attached to pivotable arms 42 which are pivotally mounted to the housing 16. As can be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 6 and 7, the pivotable arms 42 are pivotal from a substantially upright configuration in which the arm rest 41 is uppermost to an inverted configuration in which the arm rest 41 is below the pivotable arm. In this stowage position, the arm rests are out of the way, allowing the user to balance on the rounded periphery 27 of the user support 18. Additionally, the backrest 40 is reclinable and indeed this encourages the user to rely exclusively on balance to maintain her or his position on the rounded periphery.

[0067] FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the disclosure in which the convertible seat is in the form of a stool 10″. The stool 10″ is similar in many respects to the chair illustrated in the previous embodiments, except it is without a backrest and arm rests.

[0068] FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment. In this embodiment, the backrest 50 is provided with an opening 52. In this embodiment, the user support 18, instead of being stowed below the seat or the seat base, is stowed in the backrest 50. In a particular embodiment, the rounded periphery 27 is arranged to protrude through the opening 52. This may provide an additional back stretch for the user.

[0069] Alternatively, the user support 18 may be arranged with the rounded periphery 27 facing rearwardly (not shown). In this embodiment, that side of the user support 18 remote from the rounded periphery 27 is suitably cushioned and upholstered to provide a comfortable backrest for the user.

[0070] In FIGS. 10 and 11, there is depicted a particular user support, generally indicated as 53, which is modular in construction. The user support consists of an inflatable portion 53, a base plate 54 to which it is removably attached, and a support frame 55, that supports the user support and in which it is invertible. The side of the plate 54 remote from that to which the inflatable portion is attaches comprises a normal seat, which may be of any suitable known constitution (upholstered foam, gel, etc.). This particular arrangement is particularly versatile, allowing a variety of seating arrangements

[0071] The foregoing describes only some selected embodiments of the present disclosure and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the disclosure.