EP1157641A2

EP1157641A2 - Backrest

Info

Publication number: EP1157641A2
Application number: EP01111932A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Franco Tagliente
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-05-22
Filing date: 2001-05-18
Publication date: 2001-11-28
Also published as: EP1157641A3; ITTV20000056A1

Abstract

A backrest comprising at least one controlled-deformation region (7), such region being preferably obtained at the longitudinal central axis of the backrest (6).

Description

The present invention relates to a backrest particularly but not exclusively for chairs or armchairs.
Currently, chairs and armchairs comprise a seat and a backrest; the seat is supported by suitable legs or by a central post, on the underneath of which wheeled spokes are associated, and the backrest is supported by a possibly padded structure for supporting the user's back.
The backrest therefore has a continuous surface which is shaped in different manners so as to increase the user's comfort as much as possible.
However, these known backrests suffer drawbacks: their shape is standardized and adapts poorly to the variations in the shape of the back of each individual user.
In particular, fatigue of the muscle bundles that correspond to the five lumbar vertebrae and to the twelve thoracic vertebrae is noted.
The aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited known art by providing a backrest which has a high degree of comfort despite the variations in the anatomical shape of the back of the different users.
Within this aim, an object is to provide a backrest which allows to generate a general condition of well-being, benefiting the muscles of the user's spinal column.
Another object is to provide a backrest which allows to massage the dorsal and lumbar muscle bundles.
Another object is to provide a backrest which is structurally simple and has low manufacturing costs.
This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a backrest according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises at least one controlled-deformation region.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a front view of a chair;
Figure 2 is a top view of the chair;
Figure 3 is a lateral perspective view of the backrest with the controlled-deformation region;
Figure 4 is a detail view of the region shown in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a front view of part of said controlled-deformation region;
Figure 6 is a sectional view, taken along the plane VI-VI of Figure 5.
With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a chair composed of spokes 2 which are provided with wheels 3 and from which a central post 4 for supporting a seat 5 protrudes.
The chair further comprises a backrest 6 comprising at least one controlled-deformation region 7 which is preferably obtained at the longitudinal central axis of the backrest.
The controlled-deformation region is obtained by means of a full-thickness through slot 8 formed in the backrest and substantially S-shaped or zigzag-like with rounded edges.
A plurality of wings 9 are thus formed which protrude beyond the resting plane 10 of the backrest along staggered and mutually opposite planes.
Said wings 9 can be compressed elastically so as to be flush with the resting or arrangement plane 10 of the backrest, so as to partially oppose the user's back when it rests against the backrest.
The wings 9 have dimensions which increase starting from the longitudinal ends 11a and 11b of said backrest toward its central region.
An insert 13 is associated or associable and protrudes at the tips 12 of said multiple wings 9.
Such insert is optionally removable, has a preferably hemispherical shape and is solid or hollow.
Use of the invention therefore entails that when the back of the person who is using the chair presses against the resting plane or surface 10 of the backrest, contact first occurs with the plurality of wings 9, which are forced to retract at the plane of the resting plane or surface 10, but this movement does not occur stably because of their elastic deformability, which can be obtained for example by using wood, plastic or metallic material of suitable thickness.
This achieves a spring-like effect which generates a condition of general well-being, benefiting the muscles of the user's spinal column.
The muscle bundles of the five lumbar vertebrae and the twelve thoracic vertebrae are further massaged more specifically by way of the pressure applied thereto by the hemispheres located at the tips of the wings 9.
The hemispheres are solid or hollow and are made of wood, plastic or metallic material; instead of being hemispherical, such inserts can also assume different shapes, all suitable for massaging the dorsal and lumbar muscle bundles.
The arrangement and shape of the slot 8, as well as the shape of the plurality of wings 9, can be obtained within a single plate which corresponds to the entire surface of the backrest, but it can also be obtained alternatively within a plate which is smaller than the entire backrest and is in turn accommodated inside the backrest as an insert.
It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a structure having been provided which allows to obtain a backrest which has a high degree of comfort despite variations in the anatomical shape of the back of the different users, allowing to provide a condition of general well-being, benefiting the muscles of the user's spinal column.
The backrest further allows to achieve optimum massaging of the dorsal and lumbar muscle bundles.
The invention is of course susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
Thus, for example, the controlled-deformation region can be obtained by means of an insert which is associated or associable with the backrest and in which at least one slot is provided, said region affecting or not affecting the entire surface of the backrest.
It is thus possible to consider the use of a plate which is smaller than the entire backrest and can be accommodated at a suitable seat provided in the backrest.
Moreover, in this manner, the shape of the slot may be the most disparate according to specific intended requirements.
The materials used, as well as the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention, may of course be more pertinent according to specific requirements.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV2000A000056 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A backrest, characterized in that it comprises at least one controlled-deformation region (7).
The backrest according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one controlled-deformation region (7) is obtained at an axis which lies longitudinally to said backrest (6).
The backrest according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said at least one controlled-deformation region (7) is obtained by way of a slot (8) provided in said backrest (6).
The backrest according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said at least one controlled-deformation region (7) is obtained by way of an insert (13) which is associated or associable with said backrest (6) and has a slot (8) of preset shape.
The backrest according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one controlled-deformation region (7) has a slot (8) which is substantially zigzag-like.
The backrest according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that said slot (8) defines a plurality of wings (9) which protrude beyond the resting plane (10) of said backrest (6) along planes which are staggered and opposite one another.
The backrest according to claims 1 and 6, characterized in that said multiple wings (9) are elastically compressible at the resting plane (10) of said backrest (6).
The backrest according to claims 1 and 6, characterized in that said multiple wings (9) have dimensions which increase starting from the longitudinal ends (11a,11b) of said backrest (6) toward the median region thereof.
The backrest according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that an insert (13) is associated or associable at one or more of said multiple wings (9) and protrudes therefrom .
The backrest according to claims 1 and 9, characterized in that said insert (13) is optionally removable and allows to massage the dorsal and/or lumbar muscle bundles.
The backrest according to claims 1 and 10, characterized in that said insert (13) is preferably hemispherical.
The backrest according to claims 1 and 10, characterized in that said insert is solid or hollow.
The backrest according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one controlled-deformation region (7) extends over the entire surface of said backrest (6).
The backrest according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one controlled-deformation region (7) extends over the surface of said backrest (6).
The backrest according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one controlled-deformation region (7) is provided at a plate which is smaller than said backrest (6) and can be accommodated at a suitable seat formed in said backrest (6).