Chair for relieving back pain

Abstract

A chair (1) for relieving back pain of a user, with a seat surface (2) and a backrest (3), wherein a backrest angle (4) between backrest (3) and seat surface (2) is adaptable. At least one support element (5) for supporting the upper body of the user, when the latter is in an intended sitting position, is arranged on the backrest (3), wherein the support element (5), in the intended sitting position, can preferably be arranged, or is arranged, under the armpits of the user. The support element (5) is designed in such a way, and arranged on the backrest in such a way, that it can be moved by the user in order to obtain a desired support of the upper body at a predefined backrest angle (4) while he is in the intended sitting position.

Claims

1. A chair for relieving back pain of a user, the chair comprising: a seat surface, a backrest, armrests, at least one operating element supported by an armrest, support elements, and a vertically adjustable stand which supports the seat surface, the backrest, the support elements, the armrests and the at least one operating element, wherein a backrest angle of the backrest, with respect to both the seat surface and a vertical, is adjustable by the user via operation of the at least one operating element when the user is seated in an intended position of the chair, the support elements are arranged on opposed sides of the backrest, the support elements are electrically connected to an electric drive, the electric drive is electrically connected to and controlled by the at least one operating element for controlling a position of each of the support elements relative to the backrest and the seat surface, the at least one operating element is located on one of the armrests of the chair for manipulation by the user, when the user is in the intended position, to facilitate adjustment of a position of the support elements relative to the backrest and seat surface, and the support elements, when the user is seated in the intended position of the chair, are height-adjustable relative to the seat surface via operation of the at least one operating element by the user so that, at a predefined backrest angle, the support elements are moved under armpits of the user to obtain desired support of an upper body of the user while the user is seated on the chair in the intended position.

2. A chair for relieving back pain of a user, the chair comprising: a seat surface, and a backrest pivotably connected to the seat surface, wherein a backrest angle of the backrest is adjustable with respect to the seat surface, the backrest supports a pair of support elements for supporting the upper body of the user, when the upper body of the user seated in the chair is in an intended position, the support elements are arranged on the backrest so that the support elements can be moved, by the user, in order to obtain desired support of the upper body at a predefined backrest angle while the user is in the intended position, the support elements can be arranged or are arrangeable under armpits of the user, and, in the intended position, the support elements are arranged under the armpits of the user, the support elements, in the intended position, are height-adjustable relative to the seat surface, the chair comprises at least one operating element by which the backrest angle and the position of the support elements are settable by the user when the user is in the intended position, the support elements are electrically connected to an electric drive, the electric drive is controlled by the at least one operating element.

3. The chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support elements are arranged at an angle in a range of 30° to 90° relative to the backrest.

4. The chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein the backrest is adjustable in such a way that the backrest angle is adjustable over a range of 90° to 180°.

5. The chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of the seat surface and the backrest are heatable.

6. The chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein the chair comprises a lumbar support.

7. The chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of the seat surface and the backrest comprise, at least in part, a layer of silicone, water, fango or oil, or an inflatable air cushion.

8. The chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein the chair comprises a device for determining the bodyweight or an input element for inputting the bodyweight of the user.

9. The chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein the chair comprises armrests.

10. The chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support elements are support elements for upper arms and comprises bearing surfaces of at least 80 square cm.

11. The chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein the backrest and the support elements are simultaneously adjustable by the user.

12. The chair as claimed in claim 11, wherein the backrest and the support elements are adjustable via the at least one operating element.

13. The chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein an inclination of the seat surface is adaptable.

14. The chair as claimed in claim 13, wherein a vertical height of a front edge of the seat surface is adjustable, and a vertical height of a rear edge of the seat surface is fixed relative to the front edge.

15. The chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein the chair comprises a footrest.

16. The chair as claimed in claim 15, wherein the footrest is adjustable independently of the setting of the backrest angle.

17. The chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein via the at least one operating element the support elements can be moved by the user in the intended position.

18. The chair as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one operating element is arranged in an area of an armrest of the chair.

19. The chair as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one operating element comprises a device for determining a bodyweight or an input element for inputting the bodyweight of the user.

20. The chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein an adjustable headrest, is, arranged on the chair and is designed so that an extension of a cervical spine of the user can be obtained.

21. The chair as claimed in claim 20, wherein the headrest is adjustable by the user.

22. The chair as claimed in claim 21, wherein the headrest is adjustable by the at least one operating element.

23. The chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein the chair is vertically adjustable.

24. The chair as claimed in claim 23, wherein the seat surface is vertically adjustable.

25. The chair as claimed in claim 23, wherein the chair has a vertically adjustable stand.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of illustrative embodiments and with reference to figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the chair in the sitting position;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a chair in the lying position;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a table;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic front view of a table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) FIG. 1 shows a chair 1 according to the invention, with a seat surface 2 and with a backrest 3. The backrest angle 4 between the backrest 3 and a vertical A is designed to be adjustable. The seat surface 2 is horizontal here, i.e. oriented perpendicularly with respect to the vertical A. Moreover, the chair 1 comprises support elements 5 with an electric drive 23, which are formed on the backrest 3 and are adjustable in respect of a distance from the seat surface 2. The support elements 5 protrude from the backrest 3 in such a way that they are arranged on both sides of the upper body of a user, under the arms or armpits. It will be appreciated that the support elements 5 can also be designed in one piece as a single support element 5.

(7) With the aid of operating element 6, a user can set the backrest angle 4 and a position of the support elements 5. Moreover, a headrest 7 is formed, which is likewise adjustable using the operating element 6. When adjusted in the direction of the headrest 7, i.e. in the direction away from the seat surface 2, the support elements 5 lead to an extension of the chest and lumbar spine as a result of the effective bodyweight of the user. The adjustment of the headrest 7 leads to an extension of the cervical spine.

(8) A greater backrest angle 4, in other words a more horizontal orientation of the backrest 3, leads to a reduction of the overall effective bodyweight available for extension, since a greater weight component is carried by the backrest 3. At the very most, only the downhill-slope component of the force of gravity is available for the extension. By adjusting the support elements 5, the user can determine what proportion of this available bodyweight is actually effective in the extension and what proportion is carried by the seat surface 2, for example. In the extreme case, the seat surface 2, for example, is completely unloaded, such that the entire available effective bodyweight is supported only at the support elements 5 and, if appropriate, also the headrest 7.

(9) Armrests 8 are also formed. The operating element 6 is arranged on the armrest 8. The seat surface 2 and the backrest 3 are designed to be heatable. To make use of the chair 1 as pleasant as possible, the seat surface 2 and the backrest 3 comprise a layer or a cushion of silicone. However, it would also be conceivable to provide an air cushion that is inflatable, for example by means of hand bellows or by means of an electric pump. The face of the seat surface 2 and backrest 3 is thus very soft. Moreover, the chair 1 is designed to be vertically adjustable. This is achieved by a vertically adjustable stand 9. A footrest 12 is also formed.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a chair 1 in a lying position. Analogously to FIG. 1, the chair 1 comprises a seat surface 2 and a backrest 3. The backrest angle 4 between the backrest 3 and the vertical A is ca. 70°. An angle 13 between the seat surface 2 and the backrest 3 is approximately 150°. The seat surface 2 is inclined here. The inclination is achieved by a relative adjustment of the front edge 10 in relation to the rear edge 11 of the seat surface 2. Moreover, the chair comprises the support element 5 and the headrest 7, which are both designed to be adjustable. The backrest angle 4, support element 5 and headrest 7 and the inclination of the seat surface 2 are preferably adjusted by the user via operating element 6. Moreover, the chair 1 is designed to be vertically adjustable on a stand 9. A footrest 12 is also provided, which is likewise adjustable relative to the seat surface 2. Analogously to FIG. 1, the chair 1 from FIG. 2 is also designed with a heatable seat surface 2 and backrest 3.

(11) FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a table 14. The table 14 comprises a table top 15, which is secured on a stand 16. The table top 15 is arranged here in a plane 22, which is at an angle 17 of 45° to the longitudinal axis 19 of the stand 16. A ledge 18 is formed on a lower edge of the table top 15. The table top 15 is made of wood and has a height of approximately 30 to 100 cm, an average width of approximately 50 to 150 cm, and a thickness of approximately 1 to 5 cm.

(12) FIG. 4 shows a schematic front view of a table 14 from FIG. 3. The table 14 comprises the table top 15 and two side wings 20 (indicated by broken lines in FIG. 3). The side wings 20 are designed to be pivotable out from the table-top plane 22, about the respective side longitudinal axis 21. The table top 15 is secured on a stand 16. The table top 15 has a suitable height allowing it to be arranged in front of the chair 1 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), or it can be arranged at a suitable height by a user. The user, sitting on the chair 1, can thus easily and comfortably reach every area of the table top 15. The side wings 20 also allow the available table surface to be increased on both sides of the user, since, after the user has sat down on the chair 1, they can be folded toward him from the table-top plane 22 from both sides (see arrows).

(13) The table top 15 is trapezoidal in shape, wherein the shorter of the parallel edges of the trapezoid forms the lower edge. The side wings 20 are likewise trapezoidal in shape, wherein the shorter of the two parallel edges likewise forms the lower edge. In this way, an overall work area composed of the table-top surface and of the surface of the side wings is made available, which work area runs together in a funnel shape toward a user in the chair.