WO2019229499A1

WO2019229499A1 - Seat device

Info

Publication number: WO2019229499A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/053887
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicola MONDAINI
Original assignee: Polymed S.R.L.
Priority date: 2018-05-31
Filing date: 2018-05-31
Publication date: 2019-12-05
Also published as: EP3801428A1

Abstract

A seat device, usable, in particular, interposed betvveen a patient and a sitting surface; the device (1) comprises a pair of supporting structures (3) joined together by means of adjustable fastening means (2) that allow the arrangement according to different conformations in which the two structures (3) are correspondingly differently spaced; each of said supporting structures (3) is composed of a plurality of modular elements (30) which can be spaced each other in order to occupy surfaces of different areas.

Description

SEAT DEVICE

DESCRIPTION

This invention concerns a device which helps people to sit, in particular, it makes more comfortable the sitting position for people with cases of prostatitis and in other pathologies that can be influenced by the sitting position of the patient. In these pathologies, in addition to the prostatitis mentioned above, there are pelvic floor problems, hemorrhoids, urinary incontinence and others; but it is also useful for symptoms linked both to the pathology and to the postoperative care, etc..

It is known that prostatitis, when it is not caused by bacterial factors, is generally cured with palliative remedies. It is very important to put the patient in the condition of being influenced as little as possible by the symptoms of this pathology and, therefore, the choice of a seat aid device could eliminate or at least reduce as far as possible the effects of sitting position.

For this purpose, donut-shaped pillows are generally used. These pillows have a disadvantage, in fact they have a fixed width which is not adaptable for the size of the patient and for his particular sitting position. Furthermore, these pillows are also particularly bulky. Another disadvantage of donut-shaped pillows is that the surface that is in contact with the patient is uniform, so it is always in contact with him determining the overheating of the parts in contact, in particular in warm seasons. A further disadvantage is that the pillows can not be fixed on a seat.

Aim of this invention is to provide a seat aid device able to solve the mentioned disadvantages.

Among the advantages of this device, the following ones can be listed:

the patient’s posture is optimized in relation to his physiological / pathological state; the device can have different sizes, changing either the distance between the two elements of the support or the superficial width of the same two elements;

the device allows a convenient aeration due to its upper surface which can be corrugated i.e. non-continuous;

the use of the device is simple and its benefits appear evident even for non-expert people, increasing the placebo effect of the same device which adds up to the determining effects on the patient's sitting position;

the support is comfortable due to the compliance of the material with which the device is made; the device can be easily fixed to a seat;

the device maintains its characteristics unchanged even after a long use.

These and other results have been reached by adopting the idea of realizing a device which have the characteristics described in claim 1. Other characteristics are described in the dependent claims.

These and additional advantages and features of this invention will be more and better understood by any expert technician of the sector thanks to the description and the drawings, which constitute a possible embodiment, but not to be considered limiting, in which:

The objects and the advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the following description, which refers to the attached drawings which constitute an exemplary embodiment and in which:

Fig.l is a schematic partial top perspective view of a possible embodiment of the device;

Fig.2 is another prospective top view of the device of Fig.l ;

Figg.3 and 4 are perspective views of device’s details of the previous drawings.

With reference to the attached drawings, a seat aid device (1) according to the invention can be used interposed, in particular, between a patient and a seat. In other words, the device (1) is placed, during its use, on a seat surface like a chair, a seat, an armchair, etc., to improve the patient’s posture from the physiological-therapeutic point of view.

The device (1) comprises a pair of supporting structures (3) attached together by adjustable fixing means (2) which allow their arrangement according to different configurations in which the two structures (3) are correspondingly differently spaced. The two structures (3) can be spaced by a value in order to be always in the position most suitable for the support of the patient, independently from the stature / body size of the same.

In particular, each supporting structure (3) can advantageously be composed of a plurality of modular elements (30) which are adjustable each other so as to occupy surfaces of different area. In the non-limiting embodiment illustrated in the drawings, each structure (3) is made up of six modular elements (30) which can be spaced in order to allow either to change the occupied area, or to increase the passage of air through the interspaces defined by the canal formed between the elements (30). Experimental tests have shown that the optimal number of modular elements (30) is between four and eight, preferably six as in the example, to optimize in each structure (3) the ratio between full spaces (which are the ones occupied by the elements 30) and empty spaces (interspaces between one element 30 and the other). In Fig. 2 the structure (3) disposed on the left is in configuration of minimal encumbrance, in which the modular elements (30) are attached each other, while the modular elements (30) of the structure (3) arranged on the right are spaced between them. The modular elements (30) are fitted on the belt (2) and can slide along the longitudinal extension of the belt to allow adjustments which enable the device (1) to be adapted to the needs of the patient.

To improve the passage of air and to allow a comfortable support, the supporting structures (3) have a top surface (31) provided with discontinuities and / or cavities (31 A, 3 IB) designed to improving air passage. The surface (31) can be corrugated as in the example illustrated in the drawings or can have other types of discontinuities defining air spaces for the passage of air.

The fixing means (2) shown in the figures comprise a belt passing through seats (32) provided in said supporting structures (3). In particular, the seats (32) are defined by a horizontal slot, i.e. a slot parallel to the lower surface (33) of the structures (3), passing through the body of the modular elements (30). In practice, each of the modular elements (30) has a seat (32) crossed by the belt (2). The dimensions and / or the materials used can advantageously determine a slight friction between the belt (2) and the seat (32) in order to define a constraint to the free sliding of the elements (30) in respect to the belt (2), to position the same elements along the longitudinal development of the belt without unwanted displacements.

The belt (2) can advantageously extend longitudinally for a value sufficient to wrap the structure which defines said seating surface (surface not shown in the drawings). In other words, the length of the belt (2) is such that allow a complete revolution around the support surface of the chair to which the device (1) Is fixed.

Moreover, the belt (2) can be provided with closing means (4) in order to fasten the belt (2) around the structure of the seating surface. These closing means in the illustrated example are represented by a snap buckle.

The belt (2) can also be made partially elastic.

The supporting structures (3) can be made of plastic-spongy material, such as, for example, polyurethane foam or other convenient material, also in memory foam; the straps can be made of nylon or other convenient material.

In use configuration, the device (1) is arranged on the seat surface of a chair with its lower surface (33) resting on the seating surface; the attachment to the chair can be made, for example, by passing the belt (2) under the seat surface by closing the buckle (4). The belt can be adjustable in length and / or made of yielding materia! to facilitate the stable attachment of the device (1) to the chair.

The patient's seat on the chair is very comfortable because the patient can rest his two gluteus on the two support structures (3) very easily and with high comfort because for the advantageous features of the invention.

A first feature is the possibility of varying the distance between the two support structures (3) by simply sliding the same structures (3) from the belt (2). In other words, by moving the structures (3) along the belt (2), the same structures can be spaced according to the needs of use. The variation of the distance between the two structures (3) is a variation of the distance in the direction defined by the belt (2) that passes through the same structures (3).

A second feature is the possibility of varying the width of the support area provided by each support structure (3) with the simple sliding of the modular elements (30) along the belt, moving them away or bringing them together to, respectively, increase or decrease the supporting surface. In other words, each support structure (3) can have a minimum width, In which it has a configuration similar to that shown on the left in Fig.2, in which the elements (30) are in contact with each other, or a larger width, obtainable by moving away the elements (30), defining empty spaces or interspaces between the elements (30). The variation of the width of the support surface provided by the two structures (3) is a variation of the distance between the single elements (3) In the direction defined by the belt (2) which passes through the structures (3).

A third feature Is the good ventilation provided by the device (1) thanks to the irregular surface (31) at the top of the modular elements (30). In practice, with reference to the illustrated example, the discontinuities and/or cavities (31 A, 3 IB) presented In the upper surface (31 ) of the modular elements (30) allow an air passage between the device (1 ) and the patient seated on it.

It being understood that the details can however vary in the same way in the form, dimensions, arrangement of the elements, nature of the materials used, without, however, departing from the scope of the solution adopted and therefore remaining within the limits of the protection granted by the present patent

Claims

1. Seat device, usable, in particular, interposed between a patient and a sitting surface, device characterized in that it comprises a pair of support structures (3) joined together by means of adjustable fastening means (2) that allow the arrangement according to different conformations in which the two structures (3) are correspondingly differently spaced; each of said support structures (3) is composed of a plurality of modular elements (30), the distance of which to one another is, in turn, adjustable so as to occupy surfaces having a different area.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said fixing means (2) comprise a belt on which the modular elements (30) are fitted.

3. Device according to claim 1 and/or 2, characterized in that said supporting structures (3) have an upper surface (31) provided with discontinuities and/or cavities (31 A, 31B) in order to improve the passage of air.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said surface (31) is waved.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said supporting structures (3) are made of plastic-spongy material.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fixing means (2) comprise a belt passing in seats (32) provided in said supporting structures (3).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said belt (2) extends longitudinally to a value sufficient to wrap the structure that defines said sitting surface.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said belt (2) is provided with closure means adapted to close the belt (2) around the structure which defines the seat surface.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fixing means comprise a strap (2) which is at least partially elastic.