BACKGROUND
Traditional sitting postures assumed when using typical office seating such as chairs may have, over time, a detrimental impact on an individual's health. Besides encouraging a sedentary lifestyle, traditional seating may create muscular or orthopedic discomfort for a person.
Many commercially available wobble seats or wobble stools encourage the user to sit in a more active seating posture, rather than a traditional upright sitting posture. Such wobble seats typically have an inverted dome shaped weighted base that can be self-stabilizing (e.g., similar to a rocking chair) so as to rest on its apex. A user may have to exert their body weight to keep the wobble seat in the active seating posture. Doing so may increase blood flow to the user's abdomen and legs, alleviating some of the negative effects of traditional upright sitting.
However, commercially available wobble seats, because of the hemispherical shape of the weighted base have a tendency to roll (e.g., in a direction perpendicular to their “rocking” direction). This may cause discomfort to the user, when, for instance, the user leans sideways (e.g., to reach an object) while seated in an active seating posture.
SUMMARY
In one embodiment, this disclosure provides a seat. The seat can be configured to move between an upright position and one or more active positions. The seat can have a base having a non-planar portion configured to permit wobbling of the seat into one or more wobble orientations, thereby permitting controlled pitching of the seat relative to a floor surface about a pitch axis when a user's body weight is applied thereon. The base can have one or more roll reduction pads configured to restrict roll in or about a roll axis in the one or more active positions. The roll axis can be perpendicular to the pitch axis.
In some embodiments, the seat includes a post having a center axis. The post can have a first end coupled to the base, and a second end opposite to the first end.
In some embodiments, the seat can have a seat pan coupled to the second end of the post. The seat pan can be configured to provide a seating surface.
In certain aspects of the present disclosure, the base can have a center of gravity positioned to be closer to the floor surface than to the first end of the post so as to facilitate returning the seat from the one or more active positions to the upright position when the user's body weight is removed from the seat.
In some illustrative aspects, the seat has a pitch axis positioned on a plane parallel to the floor surface.
In aspects of the present disclosure, the base can form a non-zero angle with the floor surface when the seat is in the one or more active positions. In some embodiments, the angle formed by the base is sufficient to form an angle of between about 100 degrees and about 150 degrees between a user's torso and hip, when seated in the one or more active positions. In an embodiment, the angle formed by the base with the floor surface is between about 20 degrees and about 70 degrees.
In certain illustrative aspects, the base has a generally symmetric shape about a yaw axis. In some embodiments, the seat pan is configured to yaw about the yaw axis relative to the base into one or more yaw positions. In some such embodiments, the seat is pivotable into one or more active positions for each yaw position of the seat post relative to the base.
The base can be generally dome-shaped in some embodiments. The dome-shaped base can, in an exemplary embodiment, have an apex. The apex can generally contact the floor in the upright position, and each yaw position corresponds to a portion of a circumference of the base.
In certain illustrative aspects, the generally symmetric shape of the base can permit omnidirectional yaw of the seat pan relative to the base.
In another aspect of the disclosure, a seat is provided. The seat can be configured to move between an upright position and one or more active positions The seat can have a base permitting controlled pitching of the seat about a pitch axis relative to the floor surface when a user's body weight is applied thereon. The base can have a roll reduction portion provided on an outer surface of the base to restrict roll about a roll axis perpendicular to the pitch axis. The seat can also have a post coupled to the base at a first end. The post can have a second end opposite to the first end. In some embodiments, a seat pan can be coupled to the second end of the post. The seat pan can be configured to provide a seating surface.
In some embodiments, the base includes a non-planar portion at least a portion of which contacts the floor surface at least in the upright position when the seat is positioned thereon.
In aspects of the present disclosure, the roll reduction portion comprises a plurality of pads extending outwardly from the non-planar portion of the base.
In an exemplary embodiment, the base is pivotable with respect to the floor surface about the pitch axis into the one or more active positions.
In one aspect, the non-planar portion of the base is rotationally symmetric about a yaw axis when the seat is in the upright position.
In some embodiments, the plurality of pads extend radially outwardly from an apex of the non-planar portion.
In an illustrative embodiment, one or more pads of the plurality of pads generally conforms to contours of the non-planar portion of the base. In some embodiments, one or more pads has a length corresponding to between about 50% and about 90% of an arc length of the non-planar portion.
Aspects of the present disclosure also provide a weighted base for a pivot seat. The weighted base can have an upper portion configured to connect to a post of the pivot seat. The weighted base can also have a non-planar portion configured to wobble the seat into one or more wobble orientations, and a roll reduction portion provided on the base. The roll reduction portion includes a plurality of pads extending radially outwardly from the apex of the non-planar portion. One or more pads can generally conform to contours of the non-planar portion of the base. The roll reduction portion can be configured to restrict rolling motion about a roll axis perpendicular to a pitch axis about which the seat is configured to pitch.
The details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a pivot seat shown in an upright position;
FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of the pivot seat of FIG. 1A shown in an active position;
FIG. 1C illustrates a side perspective view of the pivot seat of FIG. 1A with a user seated thereon;
FIG. 1D illustrates the pivot seat of FIG. 1A with a user seated in an upright position;
FIG. 1E illustrates the pivot seat of FIG. 1A with the user seated in an active position;
FIG. 1F illustrates the pivot seat of FIG. 1A with a plurality of active positions illustrated in dashed lines;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a weighted base of the pivot seat shown in FIG. 1A according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the weighted base of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the weighted base of FIG. 2 taken about the plane 3-3;
FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the weighted base of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of a roll reduction portion according to another example; and
FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the roll reduction portion illustrated in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1A-1C show illustrative embodiments of a pivot seat 10. FIG. 1A illustrates the pivot seat 10 in an upright position, whereas FIG. 1B illustrates the pivot seat 10 in an active seating position. FIG. 1C illustrates an exemplary seating posture of a user 20 when seated in the active seating position of FIG. 1B, with their feet resting on the foot rest 30. As seen therein, the pivot seat 10 can have controlled pitching such that it can be moved with respect to the floor surface 32 from its upright position to its active seating position. In some exemplary embodiments, at least one stable equilibrium configuration of the pivot seat 10 can be its upright position. Alternatively or in addition, of the active seating positions may correspond to a stable equilibrium position. As used herein, “stable equilibrium” may refer to a seating position whereby no rotational moments act on the seat so as to offset it from its stable equilibrium position when a user is seated thereon. Such rotational moments may include, for instance, a rolling moment which may reduce stability as will be described below. In such examples, controlled pitching can be provided by the user's body weight which acts to counter the weight of the seat and move it from the upright position to the one or more active seating positions.
As seen in FIGS. 1A-1C, the seat comprises a base 40. At least a portion of the base can remain on the floor surface 32. The base 40 comprises a first surface 41 with an upper portion 42 and a second surface 43 having a non-planar portion 44. At least certain parts of the non-planar portion 44 may generally contact the floor surface 32. However, different portions (relative to the illustrated portion) of the non-planar portion 44 may contact the floor surface 32 depending on the position and orientation in which the seat is pitched and/or swiveled. The base 40 connects to a post 50 at a first end 52 thereof. A second end 54 of the post 50 (opposite to the first end 52) can connect to a seat pan 60 and/or a seat cushion 70. The first end 52 and the second end 54 can be lower and upper edges respectively of a post housing 56. The post housing 56 and the post 50 are cylindrical (with a circular cross-section) in the illustrated embodiment, though, appreciably, other shapes (e.g. rectangular or oval cross-section) are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure. The post 50, seat pan 60 and seat cushion 70 are described in the commonly-assigned patent application, U.S. 2013/0306831 A1, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The post 50 is generally elongate in shape disposed about a center axis 51 and protrudes out of a post housing 56. The post 50 can be adjustable relative to the base 40 so as to position the seat pan 60 and/or seat cushion 70 at a desired height 82 from the floor surface 32 to accommodate users of different heights. For instance, the post 50 can be adjusted (e.g., in a telescopic fashion) such that users of different heights can be comfortably seated in one or more active positions as illustrated in FIG. 1C. For example, in one embodiment, the seat can accommodate users of heights between about 4′6″ and about 6′8″, preferably about 4′11″ and about 6′6″. However, the heights provided here should not be construed as limiting and users of different heights can be accommodated in the seat 10.
In some such cases, the seat pan 60 can be coupled to an adjustment handle 84 that can adjust the length of the post 50. The adjustment handle 84 can be actuated by a user to adjust the height 82 as a result of which the post 50 has a sliding motion relative to the post housing 56. In some cases, height adjustment can be accomplished by using a pneumatic gas spring positioned within the post 50 and/or post housing 56. In some such embodiments, the user's body weight (or the lack thereof on the seat cushion 70) can facilitate adjusting the seat to a desired height 82.
The post 50 is rotationally coupled to the base 40 such that the seat pan 60 can yaw about a yaw axis 80 relative to the base 40 into one or more yaw positions.
With continued reference to FIGS. 1A-1C, the seat pan 60 can be connected to a seat cushion 70. Exemplary embodiments of the seat cushion 70 are described in the commonly-assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 15/618,448 titled “Seat Cushion,” filed on Jun. 9, 2017, and assigned to the assignee of the present application, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Such embodiments provide sitz bone contouring and a waterfall edge for enhancing support and comfort. Further, such embodiments may help to reduce pressure points that might otherwise develop when using traditional seat cushions.
With continued reference to FIGS. 1A-1C, the seat can be used in an omnidirectional manner. For instance, as described previously, the seat pan 60 may yaw relative to the base 40 (as indicated in FIG. 1A) about the yaw axis 80 into one or more yaw positions. In some examples, the post 50 can have about 360 degrees of yaw, permitting usage of the seat in any rotational orientation. In such cases, base 40 can be rotationally symmetric about the yaw axis 80 permitting use of the seat in any yaw orientation. Accordingly, various portions of the non-planar portion 44 of the base 40 may contact the floor surface 32 based on the yaw position of the seat.
The base 40 can be weighted so as to permit controlled pitching of the seat into one or more active positions. For instance, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1C, the seat pivots into an active position so as to form an angle 88 between a user's torso 90 and hip 92. However, the base 40 may be weighted so as to provide sufficient control to the user 20 such that they may adjust their posture to form a desired angle 88 between the hip 92 and torso 90. For instance, the base 40 may be weighted so as to provide variable pitching of the seat such that an angle 88 of between about 90 degrees and about 175 degrees is formed between a user's torso 90 and hip 92, when seated in the one or more active positions. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1C, the angle 88 is about 130 degrees, though, appreciably, angles greater than or less than 130 degrees are contemplated in the present disclosure. Thus, each active position results in a corresponding angle 88 between the user's hip 92 and torso 90. Likewise, each active position is associated with a corresponding pitch position of the base 40, with a corresponding angle between the base 40 (e.g., upper portion 42) and the floor surface 32.
As is apparent from FIGS. 1B and 1C, the seat 10 and the base 40 in particular can pitch about a pitch axis 100. The pitching motion about the pitch axis 100 can sometimes be referred to a “rocking” motion. The pitch axis 100 can be disposed on a plane generally parallel to the floor surface. The base 40 (e.g., the upper portion 42) can form a non-zero angle with respect to the floor surface when the seat is in one or more active positions. For instance, the angle formed by the base 40 (e.g., upper portion 42) with the pitch axis 100 can be between about 20 degrees and about 70 degrees. A suitable angle allowing the user 20 to maintain a desired angle between the hip 92 and torso 90 can be achieved by the user 20 by applying and/or directing a suitable amount of their body weight on the seat. For instance, a user may wish to mostly stand while having their gluteal muscles supported by the pivot seat. In such cases, the user may not apply or direct a substantial amount of their weight on the pivot seat and instead choose to rest their weight through their legs. In other examples, the user may desire additional support for their gluteal and/or leg muscles. In such cases they may exert and/or direct (e.g., by leaning forward) so as to achieve a greater degree of pitching. Any number of active positions, corresponding to the degree of desired support can be achieved.
FIGS. 1D-1F illustrate some exemplary positions of the pivot seat 10. In FIG. 1D, the user 20 is seated in the upright position. The angle between the user's torso 90 and hip 92 is about 90 degrees, and the upper portion 42 of the base 40 is generally parallel with the floor surface 32. Further, the post 50 is substantially collapsed within the post housing 56 such that the user's feet are in contact with the floor surface 32. In FIG. 1E, the seat 10 is at an active position. In this position, the angle between the user's torso 90 and hip 92 is greater than or equal to about 90 degrees (for example, between about 100 degrees and about 170 degrees, optionally, about 130 degrees), and the upper portion 42 of the base 40 is generally non-parallel with the floor surface 32. Further, the post 50 is substantially extended from the post housing 56 with respect to its position shown in FIG. 1D. FIG. 1F illustrates two different active seating positions of the pivot seat 10: a first active seating position 102 shown in dashed lines and a second active seating position 104 shown in solid lines. The upright position 106 is also provided for reference in dashed lines. The first active position 102 may represent the maximum amount of pitching permissible whereby, an outer edge 166 of the base 40 approaches close to the floor surface 32 relative to its location in the upright position 106.
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a perspective view and a bottom view of the weighted base 40 according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, the base 40 can permit controlled pitching of the seat relative to the floor surface 32 when the user's body weight is applied thereon, between the upright position and the one or more active positions. Further, the base 40 can restrict movement in a direction 142 or about axis 110 normal to the pitch axis 100 of the seat (best illustrated in FIG. 1B). For instance, the base 40 can restrict “roll” about a roll axis 110 when the seat is in the one or more active seating positions. As used herein, roll refers to motion in a direction 142 (or a moment about a direction 142) normal to the direction 126 of active seating. In some examples, roll can occur lateral to the direction 126 of active seating. The roll axis 110 can be perpendicular to both the pitch axis 100 and the yaw axis 80. In turn, the pitch axis 100 is perpendicular to the yaw axis 80.
In certain advantageous aspects, the base 40 comprises a center of gravity 112 positioned to be closer to the floor surface 32 than to the first end 52 of the post 50 so as to facilitate returning the seat from the one or more active positions to the upright position when the user's body weight is removed from the seat. Referring now to FIG. 4, in certain exemplary embodiments, the base 40 can be weighted such that the center of gravity is generally positioned such that a first portion 114 of the non-planar portion 44 may contact the floor surface 32 at least in some active positions, and/or the upright position. In the illustrated embodiment, the first portion 114 can be defined between ribs 116, 118. In this and other embodiments, the first portion 114 can be ring-shaped (e.g., circular or oval when viewed from the bottom). In such embodiments, the first portion 114 can be a first radium 115 away from a center 130 of the non-planar portion 44.
The non-planar portion 44 may facilitate wobbling of the seat into one or more wobble orientations. The wobble orientation may include the active positions of the seat, as well as transition positions between the active positions and the upright positions (or vice versa). In some embodiments, every position of the seat, with the exception of the upright position, defines a wobble orientation. The center of gravity of the base 40 generally falls within the first portion 114 of the non-planar portion 44, as a result of which the base 40 tends to return form the one or more active positions to the upright position.
In some exemplary embodiments, the base 40 can be substantially rigid relative to the floor surface, and may not have any noticeable deformation relative to the floor surface when a user's body weight is applied on the seat 10. For instance, the base 40 may substantially retain its shape when the user is seated on the seat 10. Advantageously, in some aspects, at least the non-planar portion 44 can be made of a rigid, but non-slip material such as rubber. Further, the base 40 can be weighted so as to be heavier relative to the post 50 and the seat pan 60 and/or seat cushion 70. For instance, the base 40 can account for greater than 50% of the overall weight of the seat 10. In an embodiment, the base 40 can have a desired weight distribution according to any known methods. For instance, the bottom portion of the base 40 below the base center plane 120 can be heavier relative to the top portion of the base 40. In this or other embodiments, areas corresponding to the first portion 114 of the base 40 (encompassed by surfaces 122, 124) can be heavier relative to the areas outside the first portion 114 of the base 40. In such cases, when a force (e.g., user's body weight) acts to pitch the base 40, the point of contact (e.g., near arrow 172 in FIG. 1B) of the base 40 with the floor surface 32 may be shifted outside the first portion 114 of the non-planar portion 44. However, as the center of gravity 112 of the base 40 falls within the first portion 114, a first restoring moment 126 may be generated about the pitch axis 100 (along direction 126 shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C) as a result of the offset between the point of contact (outside the first portion 114) and the center of gravity 112. The first restoring moment 126 may act to restore the base 40 to its upright position (which can be a stable equilibrium position in some embodiments). Accordingly, to maintain the base 40 in an active position, a user 20 may continue to overcome the first restoring moment 126 with a force (e.g., body weight and/or shifting the user's own center of gravity) until the first restoring moment 126 is overcome. Advantageously, such posture can be analogous to exercising, and may improve blood flow to the user's legs. The user 20 may thus be offered an opportunity to be less sedentary when seated in an active seating position. When the user 20 removes their body weight, the first restoring moment 126 may pitch the base 40 in a direction opposite to the pitching shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C so that the first portion 114 contacts the floor surface 32, and the center of gravity falls within the first portion 114. In alternative examples, the base 40 can be weighted so as to have a uniform mass distribution, but may be configured to return to its upright position when a user's body weight is removed. For instance, the base 40 may have a generally convex shape permitting it to return from its active position to upright position upon removal of the user's weight.
Referring now to FIG. 5, the base 40 has a generally symmetric shape about the yaw axis 80. The generally symmetric shape of the base 40 can permit omnidirectional yaw of the post 50 relative to the base 40. In the illustrated embodiments, the base 40 is generally dome-shaped (e.g., convex relative to the floor surface 20), with an apex 130 of the dome-shaped base 40 generally contacting the floor when the seat is in the upright position. However, as a result of being generally symmetric, the post 50 can be swiveled into any yaw position about 360 degree angle, which corresponds to a portion of a circumference 132 of the dome-shaped base 40. Other shapes having symmetry about the yaw axis 80 such as a hemispherical shape are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure.
As described previously, the base 40 can reduce and/or restrict rolling motion of the seat about the roll axis 110. In such cases, the base 40 comprises a roll reduction portion 140 provided on the non-planar portion 44 of the base 40 to restrict movement in (or a first restoring moment 126 about) the roll axis 110. As is apparent, the roll axis 110 is generally perpendicular to a plane containing a front edge of the seat cushion 70 for a given yaw position. For example, if the post 50 were to be swiveled from the orientation shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, a new roll axis 110 can be defined, that would be perpendicular to the plane (e.g., a new plane) that contains the front edge of the seat cushion 70. In such cases, the roll reduction portion 140 can reduce or restrict a tendency of the weighted base 40 to roll (e.g., along direction 142) about its new roll axis 110.
Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 5, the roll reduction portion comprises a plurality of pads 150 extending outwardly from the non-planar portion 44 of the base 40. As seen therein, the plurality of pads 150 extend radially outwardly from the apex 130 of the non-planar portion 44. Further, as seen from FIG. 4, one or more pads generally conforms to contours of the non-planar portion 44 of the base 40. In the illustrated example, one or more pads has a non-planar portion 44 having a curvature substantially similar to a portion of the dome-shaped base 40. Further, one or more pads 150 has a length 152 corresponding to between about 50% and about 90% an arc length 156 of the non-planar portion 44. For instance, the pads 150 can extend a substantial fraction of an arc connecting the apex 130 of the non-planar portion 44 and an outer edge 166 of the non-planar portion 44. Accordingly, the base 40 may pitch about the pitch axis 100 to any desired extent (e.g., between upright position 106, to the first active position 102) referred to as maximum possible “rocking” motion (resulting in user's hip 92 to torso 90 angle of between about 90 degrees and about 170 degrees), while limiting or eliminating “rolling” motion of the base 40.
The pad(s) 150 can also have a thickness 158 defined as the difference between the radius of curvature 160 of the pad(s)150 and the radius of curvature 164 of the non-planar portion 44 of the base 40. For instance, in an embodiment, the radius of curvature 160 of the pads 150 can be offset by a generally constant distance (in the radial direction) with respect to the radius of curvature 164 of the non-planar portion 44. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the pad(s) 150 can have a non-zero thickness by which they project out of the non-planar portion 44. The pads 150 can therefore be “flatter” relative to the non-planar portion 44 of the base 40 and provide roll reduction. The pads 150 can, in such embodiments, reduce or suppress roll about the roll axis 110 of the pivot seat by spreading out the area of contact of the base 40 with the floor surface, thereby providing improved stability relative to a base 40 that does not have the pads 150. If, for instance, any roll occurs, the one or more pads 150 may contact the floor surface (instead of, or in addition to the non-planar portion 44) to suppress any roll.
In advantageous aspects, the plurality of pads 150 can reduce or suppress rolling moments that may be generated about the roll axis 110 when the seat is in the active position. For instance, in an example, when the seat is in the active position, and the user's center of gravity 170 pivots the base 40 such that a second portion 172 of the non-planar portion 44 contacts the floor surface 32. The user's center of gravity, in this case, falls within the second portion 172 of the non-planar portion 44, and the base 40 may thus be in static equilibrium. If the user 20 were to lean in a lateral direction (e.g., relative to the front edge of the seat), the user's center of gravity may be shifted outside the second portion 172 that contacts the floor surface 32, and a second moment 142 may be generated about the roll axis 110. The second moment 142 may act to roll the base 40 about the roll axis 110 to counter the user's movement in the lateral direction. In such cases, the pads 150 can suppress the second moment 142 and the second portion 172 (between two adjacent pads 150) can come into contact with the floor surface 32. The pads 150 may provide additional points of contact with the floor surface so as to account for the shifted position of the center of gravity. As the center of gravity is within the envelope that contacts the floor surface, any additional rolling moments may get suppressed. The second portion 172, in such cases, can encompass the surface area of the non-planar portion 44 between any two pads 150, based on the yaw position in which the seat is used. Appreciably, some exemplary embodiments allow roll reduction in any yaw orientation of the base 40 because of the radial distribution of the pads 150.
In some examples, portions of the base 40 and/or the roll reduction portion can be formed of materials that improve grip. For instance, the non-planar portion 44 of the base 40 and the plurality of pads 150 can be made of rubber to improve grip on the non-planar portion 44. Optionally, the entire base 40 can be made of rubber and molded in a single-piece. Such embodiments permit improved stability and are easy to manufacture.
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate portions of the base 40 with a roll reduction portion according to another example. The illustrated example of FIGS. 6 and 7 is substantially similar to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, with the exception described below. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, a representative pad 150 of the plurality of pads is illustrated. The one or more pads 150 of the roll reduction portion optionally includes one or more edges that are positioned to form raised portions relative to the surface of the pads 150. As perhaps best seen in FIG. 7, one or more pads 150 includes a raised edge 180 that is offset relative to outer edges 182, 184 of the pad, so as to form a first ridged portion 186 and a second ridged portion 188. The raised edge 180 can run generally centrally along a substantial length of the pad 150 so as to be generally equidistant from the outer edges 182, 184. For instance, the raised edge 180 can run between about 50% and about 75% of the length of the pad 150.
The first ridged portion 186 and the second ridged portion 188 can be inclined relative to the outer edges 182, 184 of one or more pads 150. As is apparent, in such cases, one or more pads 150 has a non-uniform thickness 158, with portions radially closer to the apex 130 (best seen in FIG. 1F) having a lower thickness 158a than portions radially further away from the apex 130. For instance, the raised portions can have a maximum thickness 158b defined between the raised edge 180 and a bottom edge 190.
Returning to FIG. 6, the first ridged portion 186 and the second ridged portion 188 may be defined further away from the apex (best seen in FIG. 1F) of the base 40. Further, the first ridged portion 186 and the second ridged portion 188 may extend over a distance between about ⅕th and ⅓rd of the length of the pad. As seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, while the pads 150 generally follow the contours of the non-planar portion 44 of the second surface 43, the first ridged portion 186 and the second ridged portion 188 may not follow such contours. For instance the pads 150 may follow the contours (e.g., hemispherical) of the non-planar portion 44 over a distance of between about 50% and 75% of the length of the pad. Such embodiments may improve roll resistance at large pivoting angles of the base 40 an example of which is the first active seating position 102 shown in FIG. 1F.
For instance, in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, if a user were to apply their weight so as to pitch the seat at the first active seating position 102, one or more pads 150 may contact with the floor surface such that portions of the pad(s) near the outer edge 166 rest against the floor surface. In such cases, the first ridged portion 186 and the second ridged portion 188 may provide additional roll suppression relative to the embodiment that does not have ridged portions (e.g., FIGS. 2-5). If a rolling moment were to be generated due to the user's center of gravity shifting relative to its location when in stable equilibrium, the first ridged portion 186 may suppress the rolling moment, and provide additional points of contact with the floor surface so as to improve stability, as described with respect to the pads 150. If an additional rolling moment were to be generated when the first ridged portion 186 contacts the floor surface (for instance if the user were to lean further sideways), the base 40 may roll to a limited extent until the second ridged portion 188 contacts the floor surface. In such cases, the second ridged portion 188 may provide roll suppression and provide additional points of contact with the floor surface to improve stability. Accordingly, embodiments with ridged portions such as those illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 may provide improved roll resistance at large pivoting angles of the seat.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide several advantages. Pivot seats according to some exemplary embodiments support leaning posture and encourages a hip-to-torso angle optimal for providing less pressure on a user's spine and connecting muscles (relative to standing). Further, the seat pan 60 can be positioned so as to help promote an open hip angle, thereby facilitating engagement of the core muscles. The weighted base according to some examples advantageously leverages a user's center of gravity to support multidirectional use, enabling a wide range of motion while maintaining control. Such seats can be used with commercially available standing desks of different sizes.
Various examples have been described. These and other examples are within the scope of the following claims.
Patent Application
20180199719
