EP3925489A1

EP3925489A1 - Ergonomic assembly configured to provide static-dynamic seating

Info

Publication number: EP3925489A1
Application number: EP20181267.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Denes Levente; Movileanu Bogdan; Balázs BENCSIK; George Flutur; Daniel Cosovanu; Ionut-Danut Danci; Levente Nemes
Original assignee: "cluster Mobilier Transilvan" Association
Current assignee: "cluster Mobilier Transilvan" Association
Priority date: 2020-06-19
Filing date: 2020-06-19
Publication date: 2021-12-22

Abstract

The present invention refers generally to a chair tilting mechanism assemblies and methods, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, this invention relates to ergonomic seating assemblies and methods configured to provide static-dynamic seating for users. Switching from passive to active seating is controlled through a microcontroller capable to slow down the seat movement or to fix completely the seat by a brake system. The static-dynamic seating can be regulated in an intelligent way by the chair user depending on the safety and health requirements for work with display screen equipment, by sensors, or by any mix of them and the energy needed to operate the brake and control system is assured by an electric generator fixed to one or more axles of the rolling mechanism and a battery for energy storage.

Description

Field of the Invention

This invention is generally related to the field of ergonomic devices and methods useful for improving posture. More specifically, this invention is related to chair tilting mechanism assemblies and methods and to ergonomic seating assemblies and methods configured to provide static-dynamic seating for users with different body built.
The present invention refers to office chairs that provide active and passive seating by a tilting mechanism capable to transform the seat from a fixed position to all-around tilting seat while the user performs various tasks over extended sitting periods. This mechanism offers an ergonomic seating since assures a continuous moderate movement of the lower body similar to a therapeutic ball. During the dynamic seating the user's body is under a constant balancing state, the hip, back, shoulder, neck muscles perform work facilitating the blood circulation.

Description of Prior Art

Seating ergonomics studies show that more than 50% of the employees in the EU perform high or low-skilled white-collar work, predominantly in offices. Prolonged sitting combined with reclining and sleeping results in a persistent contact of the body with cushions has various flexibilities. Statistics reveal the importance of ergonomic sitting since the right ergonomic seating furniture with proper use can help reducing injuries and the so-called cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs), which often results from repetitive movements for extended periods. From an ergonomics point of view, the high comfort is related to the well-being, safety feeling and healthy sensation of the users.
One of the basic factors of sitting comfort is the specific pressure to the body, which is smaller when the contact surface of the human body is larger. Consequently, keeping the continuous contact of the body with the chair raise the comfort of a chair. Since chair users change frequently their posture during seating it is important that the contact surfaces, i.e. seat and back pans to follow the moving body.
The novelty from the technical point of view is that the invention relates to office chairs that provide active and passive seating by a tilting mechanism capable to transform the seat from a fixed position to all-around tilting seat while the user performs various tasks over extended sitting periods. This mechanism offers an ergonomic seating since assures a continuous moderate movement of the lower body similar to a therapeutic ball. During the dynamic seating the user's body is under a constant balancing state, the hip, back, shoulder, neck muscles perform work facilitating the blood circulation. Switching from passive to active seating is controlled by microcontroller capable to slow down the seat movement or to fix completely the seat by a brake system. The static-dynamic seating can be regulated in an intelligent way by the chair user, by the safety and health requirements for work with display screen equipment, by sensors, or by any mix of them. The energy need to operate the brake and control system is assured by an electric generator fixed to one or more axles of the rolling mechanism and a battery for energy storage. This system provides the static-dynamic seating function in an independent way, producing the required energy in the dynamic state when the user rotates the axles by the equilibration movements and generates electric energy.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention ensures static-dynamic seating through a rolling mechanism. A chair tilting mechanism assemblies and methods, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, this invention relates to ergonomic seating assemblies and methods configured to provide static-dynamic seating for users. Switching from passive to active seating is controlled through a microcontroller capable to slow down the seat movement or to fix completely the seat by a brake system. The static-dynamic seating can be regulated in an intelligent way by the chair user depending on the safety and health requirements for work with display screen equipment, by sensors, or by any mix of them and the energy needed to operate the brake and control system is assured by an electric generator fixed to one or more axles of the rolling mechanism and a battery for energy storage.

Brief description of the drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into, and form a part of the description, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, numerals are used to describe similar components throughout the drawings:

∘ FIG. 1 illustrates an axonometric view of the chair mechanism from bottom
∘ FIG. 2 shows the front view of the chair mechanism
∘ FIG. 3 provides an illustration of the top view of the chair mechanism
∘ FIG. 4 shows the concept model of the chair mechanism
∘ FIG. 5 illustrates the movement control on the tube rolling guide
∘ FIG. 6 illustrates the movement control on the hollow section rolling guide
∘ FIG. 7 shows the axonometric view of the tube rolling guide and brake system
∘ FIG. 8 shows the axonometric view of the hollow section rolling guide and brake system
∘ FIG. 9 illustrates the intelligent control of the static-dynamic chair mechanism

1 - seat pan
2 - upper roller support for back and forth seat rolling
3 - lower lateral sliding platform
4 - lower arched tubes or hollow sections for lateral rolling guide
5 - upper arched tubes or hollow sections for back and forth rolling guide
6 - base plate
7 - idle roller with bearing for back and forth seat rolling
8 - driver roller with bearing for back and forth seat rolling
9 - driver roller with bearing for lateral seat rolling
10 - idle roller with bearing for lateral seat
11 - electric DC generator
12 - brake system to control the back and forth seat rolling
13 - microcontroller
14 - gas cylinder connector
15 - brake system to control the lateral seat rolling
16 - rechargeable battery
17 - pressure sensors
18 - axle
19 - caliper
20 - brake disc
21 - runner

Detailed description of the invention

The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention relates to a chair seating mechanism assembly, more specifically a bidirectional seat rolling assembly capable to operate both in static and dynamic modes. Shifting from static to dynamic mode is assured by a brake system able to slow down the rolling movements or completely stop. The switch to dynamic state can be controlled by the pressure sensors placed in the seat cushion, by the user with a remote control, or automatically by preset function modes. The electric DC generator or generators placed on rolling axles provide the necessary electric power to operate the microcontroller. The electric current is generated during the dynamic mode and stored in the battery placed near the microcontroller. Due to the established assembly the control system is independent of external energy sources. The developed seat mechanism ensures a more comfortable seating since in the dynamic mode the user makes balancing movements - similar to therapeutic ball seating - and as a consequence force many of the body muscles to work which assist thereafter the blood circulation.
FIG. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate how the bidirectional rolling movements of the seat are realized: two, perpendicularly positioned rolling system with a curvilinear rolling path assure the spatial motion of the seat pane (1). Seat pane (1) is fixed mechanically to two upper arched tubes or hollow sections (5) which guide the seat (1) in the back and forth rolling motion.
The upper roller supports (2) for the back and forth rolling are secured to the lower lateral sliding platform (3). The sliding platform (3) having two pairs of rollers on each lateral sides enclose the two lower arched tubes or hollow sections (4) for lateral rolling guide. The lower arched tubes or hollow sections (4) are fixed to the base plate (6) which is connected to the gas cylinder through connector (14).
The upper roller supports (2) incorporate a roller pair each, where the upper rollers (7) are idle rollers with bearings, and the lower rollers (8) are driven rollers with bearings. The brake system (12) is connected the one of the driven lower rollers (8) which is capable to slow down or stop completely the upper back and forth rolling assembly.
Sliding platform (3) incorporates the four pair of rollers on the corners where the upper rollers (9) are idle rollers with bearings and the lower rollers (10) are driven rollers also with bearings. A brake system (15) is connected to one of the driven lower rollers (10) which is capable to slow down or stop completely the lower lateral rolling assembly.
Brake systems (12) and (15) can control the movement of driven rollers (8) and (10) mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically or electronically.
A microcontroller (13) fixed to the base plate (6) controls the back and forth and lateral motion of the seat mechanism. The electric energy required for microcontroller operation is provided by the DC generator (11).
In the dynamic mode, the seat pane (1) is in continuous motion spinning the axles the DC generators (11) are connected to. The generated energy is stored in the rechargeable battery (16). The microcontroller's (13) task is to detect the seat pane position and/or the signals from the pressure sensors (17) and to control brake systems (12) and (15).
FIG. 4 shows the concept model of the chair seat mechanism assembly, FIG. 5 and 6 illustrate the differences between the two rolling systems: in the first case the roller pairs (7) and (8) fixed to the support (2) enclose the arched tube (5) and the brake disc (20) with caliper (19) are connected to axle (18). In the second case, runners (21) are guided by the hollow sections (5). Runners (21) are fixed directly to the sliding platform (3) and seat pane (1). FIG. 7 and 8 are axonometric illustration of the two solutions.
FIG 9 presents the operating principle of the chair seating mechanism: due to prolonged or asymmetrical sitting, pressure sensors (17) send a signal to microcontroller (13) which releases the brake system (12) or (15), or both, and the chair switches to dynamic mode with continuous rolling in one or two directions. Depending on the body built of the users or for any other reason, the running speed is also under control. The brake systems (12) and (15) with the brake disc (20) and caliper (19) as well as the DC generator (11) are fixed to the driven axles (18). The electric energy produced by the DC generator (11) is stored in the rechargeable battery (16). Microcontroller (13) uses the necessary power for operation from the connected rechargeable battery (16).
The invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrated embodiments and the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive-the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
As stated above, the novelty elements are given by the provision of an active and passive seating by a tilting mechanism capable to transform the seat from a fixed position to all-around tilting seat while the user performs various tasks over extended sitting periods. This mechanism offers an ergonomic seating since assures a continuous moderate movement of the lower body similar to a therapeutic ball. During the dynamic seating the user's body is under a constant balancing state, the hip, back, shoulder, neck muscles perform work facilitating the blood circulation. Switching from passive to active seating is controlled by microcontroller capable to slow down the seat movement or to fix completely the seat by a brake system. The static-dynamic seating can be regulated in an intelligent way by the chair user, by the safety and health requirements for work with display screen equipment, by sensors, or by any mix of them. The energy need to operate the brake and control system is assured by an electric generator fixed to one or more axles of the rolling mechanism and a battery for energy storage. This system provides the static-dynamic seating function in an independent way, producing the required energy in the dynamic state when the user rotates the axles by the equilibration movements and generates electric energy.
It should be emphasized that the described embodiments are possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles. Variations and modifications may be made to the described embodiment(s) without substantially departing from the spirit and principles of the present teaching. All such modifications are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims. For example, steps associated with the processes described herein can be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified or dictated by the steps themselves. The present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

An ergonomic seating assembly with a seat mechanism wherein the seat pane tilting is assured by a two perpendicularly positioned rolling system
An ergonomic seating assembly as in claim 1, characterized in that the rolling of the seat pane is realized by an arched tube enclosed between roller pairs, or having pairs of runners inside an arched hollow section, where the tilting limits is governed by the tube or hollow section bending radius
An ergonomic seating assembly as in claim 1, characterized in that is capable to switch from a static or fixed position into dynamic mode using a perpendicularly positioned rolling systems as in claim 1 and break systems that can be actuated mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically or electronically, in order to slow down or stop completely the seat pane motion.
An ergonomic seating assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that is capable to switch from a static or fixed position into dynamic mode where the break system is operated by a microcontroller, the switching being controlled by the pressure sensors placed in the seat pane, by the users' preferences or by safety and health regulations.
An ergonomic seating assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that uses independent energy source comprised of a DC generator connected to the axles of the rolling system and a rechargeable battery for energy storage.
An ergonomic seating assembly as in claim 1 comprising the sensors, microcontroller, brake systems, DC generator and rechargeable battery to regulate the seating for a more comfortable sitting based on seating duration, asymmetric body pressure or any other reason.