Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a sitting apparatus and, more particularly, to a sitting apparatus that has at least one support for a user's arms with the user in a sitting position.
Background Art
A multitude of different sitting apparatus currently exists for use in the home and in businesses. The seating industry remains highly competitive, which challenges purveyors of seating products to develop functionally improved designs. Designers balance the commonly competing objectives of making an affordable chair construction and making a chair construction that is both comfortable and versatile to allow it to be used in different environments and adapt to users performing different tasks.
Arm supports/armrests are commonly incorporated into chairs to add to user comfort, avoid user fatigue, and make easier the performance of different tasks by the user from a sitting position.
Heretofore, a range of different chair constructions have been made available with arm supports/armrests with arm supporting surfaces that can be repositioned relative to the main frame upon which the chair components are built. Typically, arm support surfaces are movable vertically and laterally to accommodate different user heights and torso size and may be pivoted about vertical axes to support a user's forearms with the user's arms moved into different positions.
While these basic adjustments afford some level of utility and comfort, they are generally designed only to assist basic tasks, such as working on keyboards, etc. With the proliferation of handheld phones, tablets, computers, etc., user's sitting in chairs often hold such devices in a manner that it is impractical to use the available armrests. For example, a user may hold his/her phone with both hands immediately in front of his/her face. As this occurs, the forearms separate from the arm supports/armrests so that, at best, the user may find some support by planting the elbows on the arm supports/armrests. Extended use of the device in this manner may induce discomfort and fatigue.
The industry continues to develop designs for seating that can offer users additional comfort and more versatility at an affordable level.
In one form, the invention is directed to a sitting apparatus having: a frame; an upwardly facing surface on the frame for supporting a user in a sitting position; a first arm support on the frame defining a first surface against which a user's arm can be rested with the user in the sitting position on the upwardly facing surface; and a first connecting assembly acting between the frame and first arm support. The first connecting assembly and first arm support are configured so that the first arm support surface can pivot relative to the frame around at least first and second different axes to change a relationship between the first arm support surface and the frame.
In one form, the first and second axes intersect.
In one form, the first and second axes converge towards a shoulder region of the user with the user in the sitting position.
In one form, the sitting apparatus has laterally spaced sides. The first axis is situated so that the first arm support surface is moved laterally towards and away from a user's torso with the user in the sitting position as the first arm support surface pivots in opposite directions relative to the frame around the first axis.
In one form, the second axis is situated so that the first arm support surface is moved laterally towards and away from the user's torso with the user in the sitting position as the first arm support surface pivots in opposite directions relative to the frame around the second axis.
In one form, the first connecting assembly and first arm support are configured so that the first arm support surface is movable guidingly relative to the frame in a vertical path.
In one form, the sitting apparatus has a front and rear. The first arm support surface is configured to support a user's forearm engaged with the first arm support surface in a first manner so that a length of the user's forearm has a fore-and-aft angular orientation relative to the frame. The connecting assembly and first arm support are configured so that the fore-and-aft angular orientation of the user's forearm relative to the frame can be changed with the user's forearm engaged with the first arm support surface in the first manner.
In one form, the sitting apparatus has first and second components configured to cooperate to releasably maintain different relationships between the first arm support surface and frame.
In one form, the cooperating components have one of: a) at least one tooth and a plurality of recesses; and b) a plurality of teeth and a plurality of recesses that cooperate to releasably maintain the different relationship between the first arm support surface and frame.
In one form, the sitting apparatus has laterally spaced sides. The sitting apparatus further has a second arm support on the frame defining a second surface against which a user's arm can be rested with the user in the sitting position on the upwardly facing surface, and a second connecting assembly acting between the frame and second arm support. The second arm support and second connecting assembly have the same construction as the first arm support and first connecting assembly. The first and second arm support surfaces are on laterally opposite sides of a user's torso with the user in the sitting position.
In one form, the first connecting assembly has first and second components that are configured to move, one within the other, to thereby change the fore-and-aft angular orientation of the user's forearm relative to the frame with the user's forearm engaged with the first arm support surface in the first manner.
In one form, the first connecting assembly has first and second components that are movable relative to each other around at least one of the first axis and the second axis defined by one of: a) a pivot pin; and b) a live hinge.
In one form, the first connecting assembly has a base. The sitting apparatus is configured to guide the base vertically relative to the frame. One of the first and second axes is defined on and moves with the base.
In one form, the sitting apparatus has a front and rear. The first connecting assembly and first arm support are configured so that the first arm support surface can be shifted in a fore-and-aft direction relative to the frame without pivoting relative to the frame around the first and second axes.
In one form, the first arm support surface is configured to be shifted in a fore-and-aft direction in a translational path relative to the frame.
In one form, the first connecting assembly is configured so that the first and second axes have a fixed relationship.
In one form, the first and second components are configured so that at least one tooth and one recess are selectively engaged and disengaged by manually moving a part of the sitting assembly in a manner that changes an orientation of the first arm support surface relative to the frame.
In one form, the sitting apparatus is configured to be lifted and transported as a unit.
In one form, the sitting apparatus has: a) first and second components that are configured to be moved between; i) a disengaged relationship wherein the first arm support surface can be moved around the first axis relative to the frame within a first range; and ii) an engaged relationship wherein the first arm support surface is blocked from moving around the first axis relative to the frame through the first range; and b) third and fourth components that are configured to be moved between; i) a disengaged relationship wherein the first arm support surface can be moved around the second axis relative to the frame within a second range; and ii) an engaged relationship wherein the first arm support surface is blocked from moving relative to the second axis relative to the frame through the second range.
In one form, the first connecting assembly has an actuating component that is configured to be moved by a user relative to the frame in a predetermined path as an incident of which third and fourth components are each changed from their engaged relationship into their disengaged relationship.
In
At least one arm support 16 is provided that defines a surface 18 against which a user's arm can be rested with the user in the sitting position on the upwardly facing supporting surface 14.
A connecting assembly at 20 acts between the frame 12 and arm support 16. The connecting assembly 20 and arm support 16 are configured so that the arm support surface 18 can pivot relative to the frame 12 around at least first and second different axes to change a relationship between the arm support surface 18 and the frame 12.
The schematic showing of the components in
In
A contoured seat 28 is situated atop the legs 22, 24 and defines the supporting surface 14 for a user U in the sitting position, as shown in
Arm supports 16, 16′ are provided at laterally spaced locations to define surfaces 18, 18′, respectively, against which a user can rest his/her elbow E and/or forearm F.
The arm supports 16, 16′ are connected to the frame 12 through the connecting assemblies 20, 20′. The arm supports 16, 16′ and connecting assemblies 20, 20′ have the same construction and thus description herein will be limited to the exemplary arm support 16 and its associated connecting assembly 20.
A guide 34 is provided on the frame 12 behind the panel 30. The guide 34 is in the form of an elongate rail. A base 36 on the connecting assembly 20 is movable vertically along the guide 34 in a translational path, as indicated by the double-headed arrow 38. A fastener 40 can be manually tightened to fix a desired height for the base 36 relative to the frame 12.
The connecting assembly 20 includes first and second link members 42, 44. The link member 42 has a generally forwardly opening “V” shape with spaced ends 46, 48. The end 46 is connected to the base 36 for movement relative to the base 36 and frame 12 around an axis 50. The link end 48 is connected to one end 52 of the link member 44 for pivoting movement relative thereto around an axis 54. The axes 50, 54 are fixed in relationship to each other and converge at or in the vicinity of the user's shoulder joint SJ on the respective side of the sitting apparatus 10, as indicated at the location 56. Precise intersection of the axes 50, 54 is not required so long as they converge generally towards the shoulder region. It is significant that the axes 50, 54 are not parallel. This arrangement produces a cantilever mount for the link member 44 upon which the arm support 16 is mounted.
With this described arrangement, the axis 54 is situated so that as the link member 44 pivots in opposite directions around the axis 54 relative to the link member 42 and the frame 12, as indicated by the double-headed arrow 58, the arm support surface 18 moves laterally towards and away from the sitting user's torso T. As depicted, the axis 54 is slightly inclined laterally inwardly to project at or adjacent to the sitting user's shoulder joint SJ—in this case, the left shoulder joint, as indicated at 56. With the arm support surface 18 having a flat construction, the plane thereof is slightly inclined from horizontal, although this is not a requirement. To extend to the joint location at 56, the axis 54 may be inclined slightly forwardly, or otherwise, depending upon where the link end 52 is located in the particular design. Thus, an angular relationship between the arm support surface 18 and a horizontal reference plane can be changed as movement around the axes 50, 54 is effected.
The link member 42 pivots relative to the base 36 and frame 12 about the axis 50 to cause another dimension of movement of the arm support surface 18 relative to the frame 12.
The significance of the intersection of the axes 50, 54 with the shoulder joint location 56 is that with the user's forearm F placed against the arm support surface 18 as shown in
As a further user accommodation, as shown in
In summary, the arm support surface 18 moves laterally towards and away from the sitting user's torso T in a first path as the arm support surface 18 pivots with the link member 42 around the axis 50. The arm support surface 18 moves laterally towards and away from the sitting user's torso T in a different path as the arm support surface 18 moves with the link member 44 around the axis 54. The combination of these movements, by reason of the angular orientation of the axes 50, 54, allows the user to cause the arm support surface 18 to follow the user's natural arm movement through a substantial range thereof. The additional fore-and-aft movement allowed for the surface 18, together with the vertical adjustment capability, allow further adaptability to user movement.
While not required, typically the user's forearm F will be engaged with the arm support surface 16 in a first manner, as shown in
The connection between the link members 42, 44 and the connection between the link member end 46 and base 36 may be the same to allow relative pivoting movement. Relative movement between the link members 42, 44 and base 36 about the axes 50, 54 can be selectively fixed at connections therebetween. Details of an exemplary connection between the link members 42, 44 will be described with respect to
Components 64, 66 are respectively provided on the link member 44 and the link member 42. The components 64, 66 may be integrally formed with their respective link members 42, 44 or fixedly attached thereto. The components 64, 66 have surfaces 68, 70, respectively, that face each other with the link members 42, 44 connected. A post 74 extends through openings 76, 78 in the components 64, 66, respectively, and is anchored in the link member 44. The post 72 guides relative movement between the components 64, 66 around the axis 54. The link members 44, 42, to which the link members 64, 66 are fixed, thus move relative to each other around the axis 54, as described above.
The component 64 has a series of axially projecting teeth 80 at circumferentially spaced locations. The teeth 80 are engageable with complementary recesses 82 spaced circumferentially around the axis 54 of the component 66 with the components 64, 66 in different angular relationships around the axis 54.
The arrangement of teeth 80 and recesses 82 is such that the components 64, 66 can be moved axially away from each other to a disengaged relationship, as shown in
Alternatively, friction generating components might be used to cooperate and perform the same function. Rubber pads, textured surfaces, Velcro®-type components, etc. might be used.
The components 64, 66 and post 74 are configured to allow a slight radial movement between the components 64, 66 and post 74. The link members 42, 44 are configured so that with the link members 42, 44 in the
The
As noted above, the connection between the link member end 46 and base 36 may be the same as that shown in
With this arrangement, the link member 44, which cantilevers forwardly, functions as an actuating component that can be conveniently grasped at a forward region by a user to exert an upward force that repositions the link member 44 from the
As depicted, the sitting apparatus 10 is configured to be lifted and transported as a unit. It is also possible to incorporate the invention in a seating structure that has a fixed seating surface with respect to a subjacent surface.
In the remaining Figures, certain optional constructions are shown for the basic sitting apparatus 10.
In
Suitable hinge connections may be formed by a live hinge as shown at 106 in
Alternatively, as shown in
Another variation of the sitting apparatus is shown at 104′ in
It is contemplated that the connecting assembly 20 might be connected anyplace on the remainder of the sitting apparatus, including any part of the frame 12, or component thereon, or the underlying supporting surface.
Additionally in
Various combinations of the above components may be used. They may be further interconnected so that multiple dimensions of movement to effect reconfiguration are coordinated. Counterbalancing through springs, weights, etc., may facilitate user operation.
The connecting assemblies 20 may be located anywhere on a particular sitting apparatus and/or supporting structure under, or in the vicinity thereof. The components can be adapted to any particular location of the connecting assembly, be it attached below the supporting surface 14, in front or in back of the panel 30, at different lateral locations, etc.
In
The linkage member arrangement can be used in other product constructions that may benefit from a movement guided to conform to movement of a part of a user's anatomy. For example, as shown in
The link member 426′ may also pivot relative to the base/frame 126′ around a horizontally extending axis 132, although this movement is not required. Springs/cables 134 may extend through the link members 426′, 446′ to act between the base/frame 126′ and each of the link members 426′, 446′.
The lamp head 130 may be connected to the link member 446′ in a number of different ways, as through ball joints, gimbals, universal joints for single or multiple axis movement, etc.
The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/462,150, filed Aug. 18, 2014, and claims benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 62/219,741, filed Sep. 17, 2015.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20170127840 A1 | May 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62219741 | Sep 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14462150 | Aug 2014 | US |
Child | 15267883 | US |