Balance chair

Abstract

A balance chair, comprising a seat, an in substance vertical height element supporting the seat, and a base supporting the height element and seat, distinctive in that the balance chair comprises a rotation and tilt element, arranged in a position in substance midway between the seat and a lower end of the base.

Claims

1. A balance chair, comprising: a seat; a vertical height element supporting the seat; a base supporting the vertical height element and the seat, wherein the balance chair comprises a rotation and tilt element arranged in a position between the seat and a lower end of the base from 0.3 to 0.7 times a distance from a top side of a sitting surface face of the seat to the lower end of the base; wherein the seat is rigidly fastened to an upper end of the vertical height element, the vertical height element is rigid from the seat to the rotation and tilt element; wherein the vertical height element comprises a lower part extending downward from the rotation and tilt element to a lower end within the base; and wherein springs or elastic ropes are arranged radially inwards from the base to a central element that can slide onto and be fastened to the lower part of the vertical height element.

2. The balance chair according to claim 1, wherein the rotation and tilt element provides 360 rotation around and tilting in any direction about the rotation and tilt element.

3. The balance chair according to claim 2, wherein the rotation and tilt element comprises or is operatively coupled to one or more devices providing elasticity for tilting in any direction about the rotation and tilt element.

4. The balance chair according to claim 1, wherein the rotation and tilt element comprises or is operatively coupled to one or more devices or structure providing adjustable elasticity and range for tilting in any direction about the rotation and tilt element, and resistance for rotation.

5. The balance chair according to claim 1, wherein the distance from the seat to the rotation and tilt element is in the range 0.25-1.25 m.

6. The balance chair according to claim 1, wherein the rotation and tilt element comprises a ball structure in a support, the ball structure is fixed to the vertical height element, the vertical height element with the ball structure in the support is rotatable in the support and tiltable in the support, the support is coupled to the base, the vertical height element comprises a lower part extending downward from the ball structure to a lower end within the base, the lower end is connected to the base with one or more devices providing adjustment of elasticity or resistance for tilting, adjustment of range of tilting and adjustment for rotation.

7. The balance chair according to claim 6, wherein the base comprises three or more legs at at least one of a lower end and a ring structure at the lower end, three or more elastic ropes arranged radially inwards from the three or more legs or the ring structure to a central element that can slide onto and be fastened to the lower part of the vertical height element.

8. The balance chair according to claim 1, wherein the rotation and tilt element and the base comprise at least one of operatively connected springs and elastic ropes.

9. The balance chair according to claim 1, wherein the rotation and tilt element comprises a separate adjustment device for resistance against rotation.

10. The balance chair according to claim 1, wherein the rotation and tilt element comprises a ball bearing or needle bearing coupled to the vertical height element and a seat supporting the vertical height element with the ball bearing or the needle bearing.

Description

FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the balance chair of the invention, and

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates details of a balance chair of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) The embodiment of a balance chair 1 of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a seat 2, an in substance vertical height element 3 supporting the seat 2, and a base 4 supporting the height element and seat. The height element 3 comprises a rotation and tilt element 5, arranged in a position in substance midway between the seat and a lower end of the base.

(4) The height element 3 comprises a lower part extending downward from a ball or ball bearing 6 of the rotation and tilt element 5 to a lower end within the base, the base comprises three or more legs 7 and a ring structure 8 at a lower end. Within the base lower end are three or more elastic ropes 9 arranged radially inwards from the legs or ring of the base to a central element 10. Only one of the legs 7 and only one of the ropes 9 has a reference numerical, for clarity. The central element 10 can slide onto and be fastened to the lower part of the height element, the position of the central element together with length and elasticity of ropes and central element governs elasticity against and optionally range for tilting, the fit between central element and the lower part of the height element also can affect rotation resistance. The ropes and the central element, together with possible adjustment devices of the rotation and tilt element, and as working with the lower end of the height element, are examples of adjustment devices providing adjustable elasticity and range for tilting in any direction about said element, and resistance for rotation. The elastic ropes 9 as illustrated, as penetrating the ring structure 8, comprises adjustment or pre-tensioning devices on each rope, on the outside of said ring. The ring structure 8, or similar structure at higher elevation, restrict maximum tilting by stopping the movement of the lower part or end of the height element.

(5) The distance from the seat to the rotation and tilt element is in the range 0.25-1.25 m. Said distance is fixed or can be adjusted with an adjustment element on the height element, for example a telescopic element.

(6) FIG. 2 illustrates the rotation and tilt element 5 as the operative connection between the rigid height element with seat in an upper end, and the base providing a stable foot of the chair. The height element with seat in upper end can rotate around the longitudinal axis of the height element and tilt about the rotation and tilt element. A ball or half ball like structure 6, not clearly visible, rests in a support or seat on top of the base. The ball or half ball like structure is penetrated by the heightength element. Said ball structure is fastened to the support by a flange structure 11, and bolts 12 can be used to adjust or affect the resistance against rotation and tilting, in addition to the adjustment means elastic ropes 9 and central element 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. The half ball like structure is preferably slightly conical on top, facing upwards in a neutral non-tilted orientation, the conical shape restricting the maximum tilting.

(7) The balance chair of the invention provides balance training and training of core muscles, at adjustable precision, level or extent, by adjusting the adjustment devices to fit the purpose or replacing tension or restriction elements. For training of riding skills, the instability is adjustable, the tempo can be from extremely slow to extremely fast. For horse riding training, the level of precision in the training is far above what is achievable with a horse, a large number of repeated training steps can be performed much faster, providing more precise and faster auto-correction-skills for horse riding. These effects for training of horse riding skills have been confirmed unambiguously by test users at different levels. The balance chair of the invention can comprise any feature as here described or illustrated, in any operative combination, and each such operative combination is an embodiment of the balance chair of the invention.