Automated task chair

Abstract

An automated task chair with foot support that assists the user in sitting, working and resting in more optimal positions that promote both task effectiveness and user comfort.

Claims

1. A foot support for a seating device, wherein the seating device comprises a seat base with multiple legs capable of supporting the seating device on a floor, a seat pan, and a vertical column that supports the seat pan and defines a vertical axis about which the seat pan pivots, the foot support comprising a support surface positioned in front of the seating device and adapted to receive the bottom surface of a seated user's feet; a first securing element to attach said support surface to column of said seating device; and a second securing element to attach said support surface to the vertical column of said seating device; wherein the first securing element and the second securing element are configured to allow the foot support to pivot about the vertical axis; wherein the multiple legs of the seat base extend from the vertical column at a first angle relative to one another; and wherein the first securing element and the second securing element are configured to extend from the vertical column at a second angle from one another that is about equal to the first angle.

2. The foot support of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of one or both of the first securing element and the second securing element is parallel and proximate to the floor.

3. The foot support of claim 2, comprising a low friction element on the portion that is parallel and proximate to the floor which is in contact with the floor and thus enables said foot support to be pivoted with minimal user effort.

4. The foot support of claim 1, wherein the support surface is substantially angled upward.

5. The foot support of claim 4, comprising an angle adjustment means that enables the support surface to be lowered flat to the floor, or set to any position from being substantially upward to flat on the floor.

6. A seating device comprising the foot support of claim 1, further comprising a powered actuator that assists in raising or lowering the seating device along said vertical axis.

7. The seating device of claim 6, wherein the seating surface comprises sensors that act to control said actuator to either raise or lower said seating device along said vertical axis.

8. A seating device comprising the foot support of claim 1, the seating device comprising a powered actuator that assists in rotating the seating angle rearward or forward.

9. The seating device of claim 8, wherein the seating surface comprises as sensors that act to control said actuator to either recline or tilt said seating device into a forward-tilt orientation.

10. A seating device comprising the foot support of claim 1, the seating device further comprising a headrest and a powered headrest actuator that assists in adjusting a position of the headrest in relation to the seating surface.

11. The seating device of claim 10, wherein the seating surface comprises sensors that act to control said actuator to adjust the headrest forward or rearward in relation to the seating surface.

12. The seating device of claim 1, wherein the seat base comprises five legs that are equally spaced and extend from the vertical column at the first angle relative to one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Key components are numbered as follows: footplate (1), seat base (2), seat base vertical axis (3), seat base vertical axis actuator (4), seat angle adjustment mechanism (5), seat angle actuator (6), seat pan (7), armrest (8), armrest actuator (9), seat back (10), headrest (11), headrest adjustment mechanism (13), headrest height actuator (14), footplate pivot axis (15), footplate adjustment mechanism (15), footplate glides (16), footplate wheels (17), torsion spring (18), seat sensors (19), foot support securing element (20), foot support structure (21), foot support securing element flat (22), and foot support securing element connector (23).

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of the separate footrest support device attached to a standard task chair.

(3) FIG. 2 is an orthographic view of the separate footrest support device.

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded orthographic view of the separate footrest support device

(5) FIG. 4 is a top view of the separate footrest support device.

(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of the device with the seat in an upright, forward-tilt position.

(7) FIG. 6 is a side view of the device with the seat in semi-reclined position.

(8) FIG. 7 is a side view of the device with the seat in full reclined position.

(9) FIG. 8 is an orthographic view of the device with the seat in reclined position.

(10) FIG. 9 is a top view of the device with the seat in reclined position.

(11) FIG. 10 is side view of the device with an alternative base

(12) FIG. 11 is a top view of the device with an alternative base

(13) FIG. 12 is an orthographic view of the device with an alternative base

(14) FIG. 13 is a side view of the device with an alternative base with a cable and pulley-based mechanism linkage that rotates the footplate automatically as the seat is raised or lowered

(15) FIG. 14 is a side view of the device with an alternative base with a mechanism linkage that has rotated the footplate flush with the ground plane when the seat is raised

(16) FIG. 15 is a simplified side view of the upper portion of a chair and seat angle adjustment mechanism in an upright position

(17) FIG. 16 is a simplified orthographic detail view of a seat angle adjustment mechanism incorporating a torsion spring and seat angle actuator in an upright orientation

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(18) The components of the Automated Task Chair (ATC) include some or all of the following: Seat base means to support the seat structure Footplate means to support the user's feet and legs Seat vertical axis means to raise or lower the entire seat structure. Seat base vertical axis actuator means to raise or lower the seat Seat angle adjustment mechanism means to change the angle of the seat Seat angle adjustment mechanism actuator means to change the angle of the seat Seat pan means to support the user's bottom/pelvis Armrest means to support the user's arms Armrest actuator means to raise or lower the arm support Seat back means to support the user's back Headrest means to support the user's head Headrest adjustment means to change the headrest position Headrest angle actuator means to change the headrest angle Headrest height actuator means to change the headrest height Footplate adjustment mechanism to change the footplate position Footplate actuator to change the footplate position and/or angle Sensor means to measure the position of relative seat components Sensor means to measure the pressure of the user's body at various points as it contacts the seating surfaces Control system means to receive data from the sensors, run programs and provide powered and/or automated movements by controlling the different actuators in the ATC

(19) Additional potential embodiments of the device include: Control system means integrated into chair Control system means integrated into device that is separate from chair Control system integrated into smart device, e.g., mobile phone, computer Control system integrated into wearable device