GB2291342A

GB2291342A - A therapeutic rocking stool

Info

Publication number: GB2291342A
Application number: GB9512390A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sandra Agnes Mcgriskin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-06-17
Filing date: 1995-06-17
Publication date: 1996-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2015-06-17
Also published as: GB2291342B; GB9512390D0; GB2291342A8

Abstract

The Balance Stool comprises a circular wooden sloping seat 1,400mm in diameter, 20mm thick board, and optional 20mm cushion 2 (detachable). Three wooden legs 3 with angled joints into the undersurface of the seat, and into two wooden rockers 4. The rear rockers having halved joints for rear/leg rocker action 5, the front rockers being shampered and joined into a triangular block 6. The front leg is dowled into the top of the block 7. Height; floor to front of slope/seat 500mm. Height; floor to rear of slope/seat 575mm. Height; floor to front rocker 80mm. Rockers; 25mm x 50mm. 8. <IMAGE>

Description

THE BALANCE STOOL This invention relates to a balanced rocking stool.

The Balance Stool comprises a circular wooden sloping seat, 3 wooden legs with angled joints into the undersurface of the seat and connected to 2 wooden rockers joined into a triangular block.. The front leg is dowled into the top of the block. Fig.1.

The idea to design a balance stool with rockers was created by me to be used during the teaching of The Alexander Technique. As an Alexander Teacher I wanted to find a solution to a recurring problem. In order that a pupil whose continuous habit during standing upright is to use their legs to push off the ground, at the same time tightening the muscles of the neck pulling the head back, could be prevented from doing so, and to enable their movement to be initiated by thinking the directions for the Primary Freedom; within the principles of the F.M. Alexander Technique. In this way the head leads the movement During anatomical studies of human structure and function, I became aware of the points of pivot, or rockers, within the human skeletal structure Fig.2.

and decided to see what effect putting a rocker at the base of a sitting structure would do. Whether it could allow a person to come into standing from a position of mechanical advantage? .Fig 2 illustrates the presence of 'rockers' in the human structure.The rockers of the Atlanto-Occipital joint A in the head/neck co-ordinating in movement with the Ischium or seat bones,B into a flowing action through the rockers of the stool, C into standing.

I approached a carpenter/furniture maker with my idea, to make a balance stool with rockers in wood.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 3 shows in perspective how the rockers underneath the stool give a balancing, flowing action to the base, letting the person allow a movement forwards and up, by thinking the Alexander directions ;"Let the neck be free so the head can move forwards and up off the top of the spine, and the back can lengthen and widen. Let the knees go forward and away" This formular alters the axis of the body weight forward with the head leading, and the headlnecklspine connecting as one. Notice how the position of sitting bones change too. They rock forward as the weight of the head moves..

There is a folding forward at the hip joint.

Figure 4 illustrates the important shift of weight to the legs. The legs 'receive' the weight of the upper body allowing it to follow through to the knees 1 and into the feet by way of the outer thighs and the calf muscles.2.

The back is free to lengthen and the sacrum can release downward towards the seat 3. The trojectory of the head is leading forwards and up 4 Figure 5 shows how the feet remain well connected throughout. Continuing into the upright is then easily effected and is achieved through well grounded feet, and a strong 'up' direction of the head. The neck can remain beautifully free and realeased. The headlneckispine are as one.

The Balance Stool should be made in different heights, depending on the individuals height.

Claims

The unique feature of the Balance Stool is the use of rockers and a sloping seat. The freedom of a stool, moving on rockers with a sloping seat, grants it great mobility and uprightness at many angles, encouraging a feeling of poise, and liveliness in the spinal column of the user. By moving your weight forwards and backwards the seat angle changes so you can make small variations in the support of the seat bones and thighs, depending on what activity you are engaged in. The round seat gives support to the sides of the thighs, and directs them outwards. The front rockers are angled and fixed so allowing space for the feet to rest either side.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows A theraputic stool, comprising a circular wooden forwardly sloping seat mounted onto wooden arcuate rockers which converge towards the front.