U.S. patent application number 10/363492 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-25 for sitting means having sensing device.
Invention is credited to Cho, Myoung-ho.
Application Number | 20040056520 10/363492 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26638368 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040056520 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cho, Myoung-ho |
March 25, 2004 |
Sitting means having sensing device
Abstract
Device and method for encouraging and urging an occupant in a
sitting means to have optimum sitting posture, in which one or a
plurality of sensors are provided to the seat member and/or the
back member of the sitting means to which the thighs, hip, spine,
shoulder blades and/or ribs, and/or the head of an occupant are
contacting when the occupant sits in the sitting means in right
sitting posture, said sensors generate/send signals to the
microcomputer when an occupant on the sitting means contacts or
activates said sensors, upon receiving the signals, the
microcomputer orders the responding means either to produce
responding signal or not, according to predetermined program, and
when the responding means responds, the occupant, upon recognizing
the responding signal, tries to contact or activate all the sensors
in order to stop the response by correcting his/her sitting
posture.
Inventors: |
Cho, Myoung-ho; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOLF GREENFIELD & SACKS, PC
FEDERAL RESERVE PLAZA
600 ATLANTIC AVENUE
BOSTON
MA
02210-2211
US
|
Family ID: |
26638368 |
Appl. No.: |
10/363492 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
August 31, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR01/01482 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/218.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/405 20130101;
A47C 9/002 20130101; A47C 7/72 20130101; B60N 2/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/218.1 |
International
Class: |
A47C 027/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 31, 2000 |
KR |
2000/0052237 |
Jan 4, 2001 |
KR |
2001/0000474 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A sensing device for a sitting means or a covering member
covering a sitting means, for encouraging and urging an occupant to
have optimum sitting posture, said sitting means having a
substantially horizontal seat member which supports the thighs and
pelvis of an occupant and a substantially vertical back member
which is vertically positioned above the seat member and supports
the back of the occupant, and said covering member consisting of a
seat covering element which supports the thighs and pelvis of an
occupant and a back covering element which is vertically positioned
above the seat covering element and supports the back of the
occupant when said covering member is placed over a sitting means;
said sensing device comprising; one or a plurality of sensors for
generating electrical signal when an occupant contacts or activates
the sensor(s) and sending said signal to a microcomputer, said
sensor(s) being provided to said sitting means or said covering
member to which the body of an occupant is positioned; a
microcomputer which stores in memory data for the sensor(s)
provided to the sitting means or the covering member, data for the
signal generated by each sensor, and data for the number(s) of said
sensor(s), in a predetermined program, and which is further
programmed to discriminate which signal is generated by which
sensor, to compare the number of the signal(s) sent by the
sensor(s) with the number of the sensor(s) preset in said
predetermined program, and to order the responding means either to
respond or not; a responding means for producing responding signal
in accordance with the order of the microcomputer, said responding
means including devices for producing an auditory signal, a visible
signal and/or a vibratory signal; a switch part being provided with
several kinds of switches; a power supply being battery supplied or
A/C power supplied via a plug; said one or a plurality of sensors,
microcomputer, responding means, switch part and power supply being
electrically interconnected to one another; and said microcomputer
being so programmed, according to said predetermined program, that;
the microcomputer examines the presence of a signal(s) sent thereto
by the sensor(s), and if no signal is detected, the microcomputer
let the responding means remain in non-responding state, when an
occupant contacts or activates the sensor(s) provided to the
sitting means or the covering member and thereby the number of the
signal(s) sent to the microcomputer coincides with the preset
number of the sensor(s), the microcomputer orders the responding
means to remain in non-responding state, when the occupant does not
contact or activate at least any one sensor and thereby the number
of the signal(s) sent to the microcomputer is less than the preset
number of the sensor(s), the microcomputer orders the responding
means to produce responding signal, and it is arranged that the
response is stopped when the occupant, upon recognizing the
responding signal, corrects his/her sitting posture and contacts or
activates all the sensor(s) the number of which is preset.
2. A combination of a sensing device with a sitting means for
encouraging and urging an occupant in a sitting means to have
optimum sitting posture, comprising: a sitting means having a
substantially horizontal seat member which supports the thighs and
pelvis of an occupant and a substantially vertical back member
which is vertically positioned above the seat member and supports
the back of the occupant, and a sensing device for said sitting
means: said sensing device comprising; one or a plurality of
sensors for generating electrical signal when an occupant contacts
or activates the sensor(s) and sending said signal to a
microcomputer, said sensor(s) being provided to the seat member
and/or the back member of said sitting means to which the body of
an occupant is positioned, a microcomputer which stores in memory
data for the sensor(s) provided to the sitting means, data for the
signal generated by each sensor, and data for the number(s) of said
sensor(s), in a predetermined program, and which is programmed to
discriminate which signal is generated by which sensor, to compare
the number of the signal(s) sent by the sensor(s) with the number
of the sensor(s) preset in the predetermined program, and to order
the responding means either to respond or not, a responding means
for producing responding signal in accordance with the order of the
microcomputer, said responding means including devices for
producing an auditory signal, a visible signal and/or a vibratory
signal, a switch part being provided with several kinds of
switches, a power supply being battery supplied or A/C power
supplied via a plug, said one or a plurality of sensors,
microcomputer, responding means, switch part and power supply being
electrically interconnected to one another; and said microcomputer
being so programmed, according to said predetermined program, that;
the microcomputer examines the presence of a signal(s) sent thereto
by the sensor(s), and if no signal is detected, the microcomputer
let the responding means remain in non-responding state, when an
occupant sitting on the sitting means contacts the sensor(s)
provided to the sitting means and thereby the number of the
signal(s) sent to the microcomputer coincides with the preset
number of the sensor(s), the microcomputer orders the responding
means to remain in non-responding state, when the occupant does not
contact or activate at least any one sensor and thereby the number
of the signal(s) sent to the microcomputer is less than the preset
number of the sensor(s), the microcomputer orders the responding
means to produce responding signal, and it is arranged that the
response is stopped when the occupant, upon recognizing the
responding signal, corrects his/her sitting posture and contacts or
activates all the sensor(s) the number of which is preset.
3. A combination of a sensing device with a covering member for a
sitting means for encouraging and urging an occupant in a sitting
means covered with a covering member to have optimum sitting
posture, comprising: a covering member for a sitting means, said
sitting means having a substantially horizontal seat member which
supports the thighs and pelvis of an occupant and a substantially
vertical back member which is vertically positioned above the seat
member and supports the back of the occupant, said covering member
consisting of a seat covering element which supports the thighs and
pelvis of an occupant and a back covering element which is
vertically positioned above the seat covering element and supports
the back of the occupant when said covering member is placed over
said sitting means, and a sensing device for said covering member:
said sensing device comprising; one or a plurality of sensors for
generating electrical signal when an occupant in the sitting means
covered With said covering member contacts or activates the
sensor(s) and sending said signal to a microcomputer, said
sensor(s) being provided to the seat covering element and/or the
back covering element of said covering member to which the body of
an occupant is positioned, a microcomputer which stores in memory
data for the sensor(s) provided to the covering member, data for
the signal generated by each sensor, and data for the number(s) of
said sensor(s), in a predetermined program, and which is programmed
to discriminate which signal is generated by which sensor, to
compare the number of the signal(s) sent by the sensor(s) with the
number of the sensor(s) preset in said predetermined program, and
to order the responding means either to respond or not, a
responding means for producing responding signal in accordance with
the order of the microcomputer, said responding means including
devices for producing an auditory signal, a visible signal and/or a
vibratory signal, a switch part being provided with several kinds
of switches, a power supply being battery supplied or A/C power
supplied via a plug, said one or a plurality of sensors,
microcomputer, responding means, switch part and power supply being
electrically interconnected to one another; and said microcomputer
being so programmed, according to said predetermined program, that;
the microcomputer examines the presence of a signal(s) sent thereto
by the sensor(s), and if no signal is detected, the microcomputer
let the responding means remain in non=responding state, when an
occupant sitting on the sitting means covered with said covering
member contacts the sensor(s) provided to the covering member and
thereby the number of the signal(s) sent to the microcomputer
coincides with the preset number of the sensor(s), the
microcomputer orders the responding means to remain in
non-responding state, when the occupant does not contact or
activates at least any one sensor and thereby the number of the
signal(s) sent to the microcomputer is less than the preset number
of the sensor(s), the microcomputer orders the responding means to
produce responding signal, and it is arranged that the response is
stopped when the occupant, upon recognizing the responding signal,
corrects his/her sitting posture and contacts or activates all the
sensor(s) the number of which is preset.
4. The sensing device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said
sensors for the sitting means or covering member comprises as
follows: Said sensor for the seat member or seat covering element
is provided either to the front part of said seat member or seat
covering element to which the thigh bones of an occupant is
positioned or to the rear part thereof to which the ischial
tuberosities of an occupant are positioned, and said sensor for the
back member or back covering element, is provided to the lower part
of the back member or back covering element to which the hip of an
occupant is positioned.
5. The sensing device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said
sensors for said sitting means or covering member comprises as
follows; Said sensor for the seat member or seat covering element
is provided either to the front part of said seat member or seat
covering element to which the thigh bones of an occupant is
positioned or to the rear part thereof to which the ischial
tuberosities of the occupant is positioned, said sensor for the
back member or back covering element is provided to the lower part
of the back member or back covering element to which the hip of an
occupant is positioned, and said sensor for the back member or back
covering element is further provided to the middle part of said
back member or back covering element, along the vertical line at
the center thereof, to which the thoracic vertebrae of an occupant
is positioned.
6. The sensing device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said
sensors for said sitting means or covering member comprises as
follows; Said sensor for the seat member or seat covering element
is provided either to the front part of said seat member or seat
covering element to which the thigh bones of an occupant are
positioned or to the rear part thereof to which the ischial
tuberosities of the occupant are positioned, said sensor for the
back member or back covering element is provided to the lower part
of the back member or back covering element to which the hip of the
occupant is positioned, and a pair of said sensor for the back
member or back covering element is further provided to the upper
part of the back member or back covering element to which the
shoulder blades and/or ribs are positioned, said pair of sensors
being horizontally spaced apart and symmetrical to each other along
the vertical line at the center of said back member or back
covering element.
7. The sensing device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said
sensors for said sitting means or covering member comprises as
follows; Said sensor for the seat member or seat covering element
is provided either to the front part of said seat member or seat
covering element to which the thigh bones of an occupant are
positioned or to the rear part thereof to which the ischial
tuberosities of the occupant positioned, said sensor for the back
member or back covering element is provided to the lower part of
the back member or back covering element to which the hip of the
occupant is positioned, and said sensor for the back member or back
covering element is further provided to the middle part of the
headrest of the back member or the headrest part of the back
covering element to which the cranial bones of the occupant are
positioned.
8. The sensing device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said
sensors for said sitting means or covering member comprises as
follows; Said sensor for the back member or back covering element
is basically provided to the lower part of the back member or back
covering element to which the hip of the occupant is positioned,
and at least one sensor among the following sensors is provided to
said back member or back covering element; a sensor for being
provided to the middle part of said back member or back covering
element, along the vertical line at the center thereof, to which
the thoracic vertebrae of the occupant is positioned, a pair of
sensors for being provided to the upper part of the back member or
back covering element to which the shoulder blades and/or ribs are
positioned, said pair of sensors being horizontally spaced apart
and symmetrical to each other along the vertical line at the center
of said back member or back covering element, and a sensor for
being provided to the middle part of the headrest of the back
member or the headrest part of the back covering element to which
the cranial bones of the occupant are positioned.
9. The sensing device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said
sitting means has a seat member and a plurality of small back
members, and said covering member has a seat covering element to be
placed over a seat member of a sitting means and a back covering
element to be placed over said plurality of small back members of a
sitting means, and said sensors for said sitting means or covering
member comprises as follows; One or a plurality of sensors for said
plurality of small back members or said back covering element to be
placed over said plurality of small back members are basically
provided to the lower parts of said plurality of small back members
or to the lower part of said back covering element to which the hip
of the occupant is positioned, and at least one sensor among the
following sensors is provided to said plurality of back members or
said back covering element; a sensor for being provided either to
the front part of said seat member or seat covering element to
which the thigh bones of an occupant are positioned or to the rear
part thereof to which the ischial tuberosities of the occupant are
positioned, a sensor for being provided to the middle part of said
plurality of back members or said back covering element, along the
vertical line at the center thereof, to which the thoracic
vertebrae of the occupant is positioned, a pair of sensors for
being provided to the upper parts of said plurality of back members
or said back covering element to which the shoulder blades and/or
ribs are positioned, said pair of sensors being horizontally spaced
apart and symmetrical to each other along the vertical line at the
center of said plurality of back members or said back covering
element, and a sensor for being provided to the middle part of the
headrest of said plurality of back members or the headrest part of
said back covering element to which the cranial bones of the
occupant are positioned.
10. The sensing device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said
switch part includes a sensor-selecting switch for the occupant to
select the sensor(s) which he/she wants to operate, and said
microcomputer stores in memory data for some of and/or all the
sensor(s) provided to the sitting means, data for the signal
generated by each sensor, and data for the number(s) of said some
of and/or all the sensor(s), in a predetermined program, and said
microcomputer is further programmed to discriminate which signal is
generated by which sensor and to compare the number of the
signal(s) sent by said some of and/or all the sensor(s) with the
number of said some of and/or all the sensor(s) preset in said
predetermined program, and to order the responding means either to
respond or not, according to said predetermined program.
11. The sensing device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said
sensor for said sitting means or covering member comprises as
follows; Only one sensor at the lower part of the back member or
back covering element for the hip of an occupant to be positioned
is provided to the sitting means or the covering member, or only
one sensor at the lower part of the back member or back covering
element for the hip of an occupant to be positioned is selected
among the sensors provided to the sitting means or the covering
member by a sensor-selecting switch, such that the microcomputer is
programmed to proceed, according to the predetermined program, as
follows; Said microcomputer examines the presence of signal sent
thereto, and if no signal is detected, the microcomputer let the
responding means remain in non-responding state, when an occupant
contacts or activates said sensor, the sensor generates and sends a
signal to the microcomputer, upon receiving the signal the number
of which coincides with the preset number of the sensor, the
microcomputer let the responding means remain in non-responding
state, when the occupant removes the hip and the sensor stops
generating/sending the signal to the microcomputer for the first
time, the microcomputer orders the responding means to produce
responding signal to notify the occupant that he/she is not
contacting or activating the sensor, it is arranged that the
response is stopped when the occupant, upon recognizing the
responding signal, corrects his/her sitting posture and contacts or
activates said sensor within certain standard time period, and if
the occupant continuously does not contact or activate the sensor
and thereby the signal is not sent to the microcomputer (91) during
said standard time period, the microcomputer orders the responding
means to remain in non-responding state after the standard time
period has elapsed.
12. The sensing device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said
sensor for the hip of an occupant is provided to the back member or
back covering element to be positioned within the range of 5 cm-30
cm from the surface of the rear part of the seat member or seat
covering element.
13. The sensing device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said
sensor for the thoracic vertebrae of an occupant is provided to the
back member or back covering element to be positioned within the
range of 30 cm-70 cm from the surface of the rear part of the seat
member or seat covering element.
14. The sensing device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said
pair of sensors for the shoulder blades and/or ribs of an occupant
is provided to the back member or back covering element to be
positioned within the range of 30 cm-90 cm from the surface of the
rear part of the seat member or seat covering element.
15. The sensing device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said
microcomputer is so programmed, in a predetermined program, as to
maintain the responding means in hold state for a given standard
time, until said standard time elapses, and after lapse of such
standard hold time, the microcomputer permits the responding means
to respond.
16. The sensing device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said
sensors for the back member or back covering element are comprised
of weight detecting sensors which can detect the weight or pressing
force of the occupant applied to the back member or back covering
element, a standard degree of pressing force for each sensor is
preset and stored in memory and a standard degree of pressing force
for any one sensor may be the same as or different from that of the
other sensor; and the microcomputer is so programmed that, the
pressing force applied to each sensor is checked through a
determination as to whether the pressing force exceeds the preset
standard degree or not, when the pressing force applied to any one
sensor exceeds the standard degree, the microcomputer orders the
responding means to produce responding signal, and when the
responding means produces responding signal, it is arranged such
that the response is stopped when the occupant, upon recognizing
the responding signal, reduces the pressing force applied to said
sensor.
17. The combination of a sensing device with a sitting means
according to claim 2, wherein said sitting means has an "L" shaped
support member which is connected to the body of the seat member
for mounting the back member or which is separately prepared and
affixed to the body of the seat member, and said sensor for the
back member is provided to the part of said "L" shaped support
member, within the space between the seat member and the lower part
of the back member of the sitting means, to which the hip of an
occupant is positioned.
18. The combination of a sensing device with a sitting means
according to claim 2, wherein said sitting means has a pair of
raised portions or a pair of side support members provided to the
lateral sides of the back member thereof to support or fit the
natural physical curvature of the ribs of an occupant, and said
pair of sensors for the shoulder blades and/or ribs of an occupant
is provided to the parts of said pair of raised portions or side
support members of the back member to which the shoulder blades
and/or ribs of an occupant are positioned.
19. The combination of a sensing device with a sitting means
according to claim 2, wherein the lower part of the back member of
said sitting means has a lumbar-supporting element, a mechanically
inflatable device or a fluid-inflatable device to support the
lumbar region of an occupant, said lumbar-supporting element being
separately manufactured and provided to the front of the lower part
of the back member, and said mechanically inflatable device and
fluid-inflatable device being positioned within or to the front of
the lower part of said back member, and said sensor for the hip of
an occupant is provided to the part of said lumbar-supporting
element, mechanically inflatable device or fluid-inflatable device
to which the hip of an occupant is positioned.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a sitting means, and
particularly relates to a sitting means having sensing device for
sensing the sitting posture of an occupant on a sitting means and
thereby for encouraging and urging the occupant to have optimum
sitting posture.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Generally, a "sitting means" has a substantially horizontal
seat member which supports the thighs and pelvis of an occupant and
a substantially vertical back member which is vertically positioned
above the seat member and is adapted to provide support to the back
of the occupant.
[0003] Thus, the sitting means, in this specification, indicates
any one of the chairs, vehicle seats, airplane seats, benches,
sofas, folding chairs, beach chairs, wheel chairs, school
seat-desks, church pews, auditorium and stadium seats, sitting
parts of exercise apparatuses, and the like.
[0004] For convenience, the term "chair" or "seat" is sometimes
used to representatively denote all these types of sitting
means.
[0005] There have been numerous chairs that are especially designed
for the chair occupants to have optimum sitting postures.
Typically, the seat members and back members of these chairs are
well designed to match the curve of the human trunk.
[0006] In actuality, almost all the chairs in the markets are well
designed to have proper configurations, based on the medical study,
to support the vertebral column and pelvis of the occupant.
[0007] What is important is not the chair itself.
[0008] It is the very sitting posture of the occupant in a chair
that matters.
[0009] No matter what good structures and functions a chair may
have, it is useless unless a person sitting in the chair uses it in
right and good sitting posture.
[0010] It is well known that faulty sitting posture in the chair is
the most common cause of low back pain and sciatica, and in order
to prevent lumbar myalgia it has long been recommended for the
occupants to have optimum sitting posture.
[0011] Further, it is very important to persons in sedentary
occupations who spend long hours or perhaps the entire workday in
the chairs to maintain good sitting posture.
[0012] Especially, in case of teens and children who grow rapidly
and study at home and school everyday, it is of great importance
for them to have right sitting posture in the chairs.
[0013] When one makes it a habit to sit in a chair in right sitting
posture from his/her early days, he/she can have well built
straight body, he/she can prevent chronic lumbar myalgia, and
he/she can have physiologically erect posture even in his/her old
age.
[0014] In a broad way, the right sitting posture in a chair is to
let the hip closely contact the lower part of the back member and
to let the spinal column be so physiologic, erect and static as to
maintain the biomechanical, neutral spine position of a person
having a normal posture in which muscular balance is
maintained.
[0015] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the right and faulty sitting
postures of a person sitting on the work chair and driving seat,
respectively.
[0016] The person in the left of FIGS. 1 and 2 tilts his/her upper
body part forward and backward, respectively, which inevitably
result in excessive movements of the muscles, ligaments and tendons
which hold the lumbar vertebrae and sacrum in normal place.
[0017] Thus, this protracted muscular stress results in discomfort,
strain and fatigue, which effects are obviously dramatic on
concentration and productivity in the worker and driver,
respectively.
[0018] The person in the right of FIGS. 1 and 2 sits in right
sitting posture, with the hip contacting the lower part of the back
member and the spinal column being in physiological, erect and
neutral position, which requires minimal movements of the muscles,
ligaments and tendons associated with the spinal and pelvic
bones.
[0019] FIGS. 3 and 4 schematically depict the pertinent skeletal
components of the person shown in the left and right of FIG. 2 in
phantom, respectively. The lumbar vertebrae are commonly indicated
(L1) through (L5), and are identified as such in the drawings. The
letters "(S), (I), (IT), (LSI)" designate the sacrum, ilium, iliac
tuberosity, and lumbosacral interspace, respectively.
[0020] In FIG. 3, the pelvic and lumbar bones are bridged between
the seat member (21) and back member (31), which inevitably
requires excessive movements of the muscles, ligaments and tendons
associated with spinal and pelvic bones. The use of muscles,
tendons and ligaments in such a manner over an extended period
results in fatigue and pain.
[0021] On the other hand, in FIG. 4, the pelvic girdle including
ilia (I), sacrum (S), and coccyx (C) is posteriorly and inferiorly
positioned to contact the back member (31), the ischial
tuberosities (IT) are firmly supported on the seat member (21), and
the spinal column including lumbar vertebrae (L1) through (L5) are
also supported by said back member.
[0022] Accordingly, the relative movements among the bones of spine
and pelvis, especially the movements between the sacrum (S) and
(L5) at the lumbosacral interspace (LSI), are so minimized that one
can concentrate on his work without feeling any fatigue or lower
back pains.
[0023] The word "contact" as used in this specification, of course,
merely means that back member (31) or seat member (21) touches the
skin and the fleshy portions of the body immediately behind the
bones such as ilia, sacrum, lumbar vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae,
shoulder blades, ribs, thigh bones and so on. Accordingly, in order
to let a person have good sitting posture, it is necessary to
remind him/her to let his/her hip be so posteriorly and inferiorly
positioned that the pelvic girdle including the ilia, sacrum, and
coccyx may be posteriorly and infer iorly positioned to contact the
lower part of the back member and the ischial tuberosities may be
firmly supported on the seat member, and to let his/her spine be
erect and straightened in order to maintain the neutral spine
position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTS
[0024] In the prior arts, there have never been any devices or
methods that encourage, lead, or urge an occupant in a sitting
means to have optimum sitting posture by providing a sensing device
to a sitting means.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0025] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a device and method for an occupant in a sitting means to
have optimum sitting posture with his/her pelvis being so
posteriorly and inferiorly positioned to contact the back member
and the spine being erect and straightened.
[0026] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
device and method in combination with a sitting means for an
occupant in a sitting means to have optimum sitting posture.
[0027] It is still a further object of the present invention to
provide a device and method in combination with subsidiaries for
sitting means such as covers, mat-type support members, and the
like, for an occupant in a sitting means to have optimum sitting
posture.
[0028] Accordingly, it is the ultimate object of the present
invention to provide a device and method which encourages a person
to sit in optimum sitting posture such that one can concentrate on
his work without feeling any fatigue or lower back pains.
[0029] Still a further ultimate object of the present invention is
to provide a device and method which leads a person to habitually
sit in optimum sitting posture from his/her early days such that;
first, he/she can have well built straight body, second, he/she can
prevent chronic lumbar myalgia, and third, he/she can have
physiologically erect posture even in his/her old age.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0030] The sensing device of the present invention is for a sitting
means having seat member and back member, and basically comprises
one or a plurality of sensing means, a responding means, a switch
part and a microcomputer, which are electrically interconnected to
one another.
[0031] Said one or a plurality of sensing means are provided to the
part(s) of the seat member and/or the back member of a sitting
means to which the body of an occupant is contacting when the
occupant sits in the sitting means in right sitting posture.
[0032] Said sensing means generates/sends a signal to the
microcomputer when an occupant sits on the sitting means and
contacts said sensing means.
[0033] Upon receiving the signal, the microcomputer orders the
responding means either to respond or not, according to
predetermined program.
[0034] Accordingly, when the responding means responds, the
occupant, upon recognizing the responding signal, tries to contact
all the sensing means in order to stop the response by correcting
his/her sitting posture, such that the sensing device encourages,
leads and urges the occupant to have optimum sitting posture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0035] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate good sitting postures and faulty
sitting postures of a person sitting in a chair, and a seat,
respectively.
[0036] FIGS. 3 and 4 are side elevation views of a person sitting
in the seat of FIG. 2, wherein the most pertinent portions of the
skeletal structure of the person are depicted in phantom.
[0037] FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are perspective views of chairs and a seat
to which the sensing device of the present invention are
provided.
[0038] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line M-M in FIG.
7.
[0039] FIGS. 9 through 15 are perspective views of chairs, seats
and subsidiaries for sitting means to which the sensing devices of
the present invention are applied.
[0040] FIGS. 16 through 19 are block diagrams of sensing devices in
accordance with the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a main routine for
operational procedures of sensing device of the present invention.
Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of
the drawings.
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0042] In the present invention, one or a plurality of sensing
means are provided to the parts of the seat member and/or the back
member of a sitting means to which the body of an occupant is
contacting when an occupant sits in the sitting means in right
sitting posture.
[0043] For convenience, the sensing means to be contacted by
several parts of the body of an occupant are indicated as seat
sensor (23), hip sensor (33), spine sensor (37), blade sensors (35)
and (35'), head sensor (38) and so on, each of which will be
described hereinafter.
[0044] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 16, there are shown a sensing
device and a chair (57) having seat member (21) and back member
(31) combined with said sensing device in accordance with the
present invention.
[0045] The "sitting means" is of the type which has a substantially
horizontal seat member which supports the thigh bones and pelvis of
an occupant and a substantially vertical back member which is
vertically positioned above the seat member and is adapted to
provide support to the back of the occupant.
[0046] The sensing device basically comprises the seat sensor (23)
and the hip sensor (33), a responding means (RM) (95), a switch
part (SP) (93), a power supply (PS) (97) and a microcomputer
(91).
[0047] The seat sensor (23) is provided to the part of the seat
member (21) to which thighs and pelvis of an occupant contact and
the hip sensor (33) is provided to the lower part of the back
member (31) to which the hip of the occupant contacts.
[0048] The unit or assembly comprised of microcomputer (91), switch
part (93), responding means (95) and power supply (97) is indicated
as a "control unit (90)".
[0049] The operating mode of the sensing device of the present
embodiment comprised of the seat sensor (23), hip sensor (33) and
the control unit (90) is indicated herein as "hip-sensing
mode".
[0050] The sensor may be any sensor (i.e. electrical, mechanical,
piezoelectric, thermal, infrared LED, and so on) which generates
electrical signal when a physical body contacts thereto, an
external force is applied thereto or the sensor is activated upon
detecting the presence of a physical body, which is well known to
those skilled in the art.
[0051] When an occupant sits on the sitting means and contacts or
activates the sensors provided to the sitting means (e.g. sensors
(23), (33)), each sensor generates an electrical signal and sends
it to the microcomputer (91).
[0052] For convenience, the term "contact" is used to
representatively denote the expression "contact and/or activate"
throughout the specification.
[0053] The microcomputer (91) stores in memory data for the
sensor(s) provided to the sitting means, data for the signal
generated by each sensor, and data for the number(s) of said
sensor(s), in a predetermined program, and the microcomputer (91)
is further programmed to discriminate which signal is generated by
which sensor, to compare the number of the signal(s) sent by the
sensor(s) with the number of the sensor(s) preset in said
predetermined program, and to order the responding means either to
respond or not, according to said predetermined program.
[0054] Thus, the microcomputer (91) proceeds operations according
to the predetermined program as follows;
[0055] First, the microcomputer (91) examines the presence of
signal(s) sent thereto by the sensor(s). If no signal is detected,
the microcomputer (91) let the responding means (95) remain in
non-responding state. If there exist a signal(s) sent thereto, the
microcomputer (91) discriminates which signal is generated by which
sensor and compares the number of the signal(s) with the preset
number of the sensor(s). Then, the microcomputer (91) orders the
responding means (95) either to respond or not, according to the
predetermined program.
[0056] In detail, when an occupant sitting on the sitting means
contacts the sensor(s), and thereby the number of the signal(s)
sent to the microcomputer (91) coincides with the preset number of
the sensor(s), the microcomputer (91) let the responding means (95)
remain in non-responding state. And, when an occupant sitting on
the sitting means does not contact at least any one sensor, and
thereby the number of the signal(s) sent to the microcomputer (91)
does not coincide with the preset number of the sensor(s), the
microcomputer (91) orders the responding means (95) to produce
responding signal.
[0057] When the responding means (95) produces responding signal,
it is arranged such that the response is stopped when the occupant,
upon recognizing the responding signal, corrects his/her sitting
posture and contacts all the sensor(s) the number of which is
preset in the microcomputer (91).
[0058] The responding means (RM) (95) includes devices for
producing an auditory signal such as an electronic tone generator
or a speaker, devices for producing a visible signal such as a
light bulb or a light-emitting diode (LED) and/or devices for
producing a vibratory signal such as a mechanical vibrator unit,
known in the art.
[0059] The responding means (95) produces an auditory signal
(sound), a visible signal (light) and/or a vibratory signal
(vibration) in accordance with the order of said microcomputer.
[0060] The numeral (93) denotes switch part (SP). The switch part
(93) is provided with several switches the kinds and functions of
which will be explained later. The numeral (97) denotes power
supply (PS). The power supply (97) may be battery supplied, for
example, within the control unit (90) or A/C power supplied via a
plug.
[0061] The sensors (e.g. (23) and (33)), microcomputer (91),
responding means (95), switch part (93), and power supply (97) are
electrically interconnected to one another by electric wires and/or
circuits. The control unit (90) can be affixed to or positioned
within the sitting means. In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 the control unit (90)
is affixed to the bottom side of the seat member (21) and in FIGS.
9 and 12 the control unit (90) is positioned at the lateral wall of
a seat cushion (seat member (21)).
[0062] In FIGS. 5, 9, etc., the seat sensor (23) is provided to the
front part of the seat member (21) to which the thigh bones
contact. Further, the seat sensor (23) may be provided, as shown in
FIG. 7, to the rear part of the seat member (21) to which the
ischial tuberosities contact.
[0063] When the seat sensor (23) is provided to the rear part of
the seat member (21), proximate the horizontal line at the center
of the seat member (21) such as the line (L) shown in FIG. 7, it is
directly contacted by the ischial tuberosities of the occupant, and
thereby the ischial tuberosities of the occupant can be firmly
supported on the seat member (21). As the armrest is considered as
a part of the seat member, the seat sensor (23) may be provided to
the armrest.
[0064] Further, as shown in FIG. 12, two seat sensors (23) and
(23') may be provided to the front part of the seat member (21) to
be contacted by two thigh bones, respectively.
[0065] With this arrangement, when the occupant in the seat member
(21) crosses his/her legs, as one thigh is not contacting any one
of the seat sensors (23), (23'), the sensing device of the present
embodiment notifies the occupant to let the two thighs be
paralleled and touch the sensors (23), (23').
[0066] In the same way, when the seat sensor (23) is provided to
the rear part of the seat member (21), proximate the horizontal
line (L) thereof as shown in FIG. 7, either only one seat sensor
(23) is provided thereto or two seat sensors (23) and (23') are
provided thereto to be contacted by the two ischial tuberosities of
the occupant (not shown).
[0067] When the occupant sitting on the seat member (21) which has
two seat sensors (23) and (23') provided to the rear part of the
seat member (21), proximate the horizontal line (L) thereof such as
shown in FIG. 7 tilts his/her upper body part sideways, with any
one of the right and left ischial tuberosities not contacting any
one of the sensors (23), (23'), the sensing device of the present
embodiment notifies the occupant to correct his/her sitting posture
by letting the two ischial tuberosities of the occupant evenly
contact the two seat sensors (23) and (23').
[0068] The hip sensor (33) is provided to the lower part of the
back member (31) on which the hip contacts when an occupant let the
hip be posteriorly and inferiorly positioned to contact the lower
part of the back member (31) as shown in FIGS. 5 through 13.
[0069] In some chairs, a lumbar-supporting element is separately
manufactured and provided to the front of the lower part of the
back member (31) to support the lumbar region. In FIG. 9, a
pillow-type lumbar-supporting element (77) is positioned in the
front of the lower part of the back member (31) of the chair (63).
Further, the back members of some seats are provided with a
mechanically inflatable device or fluid-inflatable device (not
shown) which is positioned within or to the front of lower part of
the back member and can be moved forward and backward to provide
support and spinal movement to the lumbar region of an
occupant.
[0070] In these cases, the hip sensor (33) is provided to the part
of the lumbar-supporting element, the mechanically inflatable
device or the fluid-inflatable device to which the hip of an
occupant contact.
[0071] It is preferable that the hip sensor (33) is provided to the
back member (31) to be positioned, within the range of 5 cm-30 cm,
from the surface of the rear part of the seat member (21).
[0072] In some chairs similar to the chair (59) in FIG. 6, the back
member is mounted on the upper part of an "L" shaped support member
(25) that is connected to the body of the seat member (21). When
the back member (31) is mounted on the upper part of an "L" shaped
support member (25) such that there exists wide space between the
seat member (21) and the lower part of the back member (31), the
hip sensor (33) may be provided to the support member (25), within
the space between the seat member (21) and the lower part of the
back member (31) as shown in FIG. 6, in order to be contacted by
the seat occupant's hip.
[0073] The back member (31) of the chair (61) in FIG. 7 is mounted
on the laterally spaced apart support legs (22) and rails (34)
bridging between the support legs (22). These types of chairs have
some space or an opening (32) in the lower portion of the back
member, directly above the edge of the seat member, so that no
support is provided for the seat occupant's hip.
[0074] When the lower portion of the back member (31) has an
opening (32) and no support is provided to the hip as shown in FIG.
7, an "L" shaped support member (25) may be separately prepared and
affixed to the body of the seat member (21) to accommodate the hip
sensor (33) attached thereto as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 (The FIG. 8
is the sectional view taken along the line M-M in FIG. 7).
[0075] Further, in case of some shell-typed chairs in which the
seat member (21) and back member (31) are formed in one piece such
that the lower part of the back member (31) connects with the rear
edge of the seat member (21), the lower part of the back member to
which the round hip contacts is concave backward to comfortably
receive the round hip. In this case, the hip sensor (33) may be
provided to the concave part of the back member for the round hip
area to naturally contact thereto.
[0076] Further, it is preferable that the hip sensor (33) is
positioned a little behind the substantially vertical, plane
surface of the back member (31) in order to easily contact the
round hip portion of the occupant. For example, as shown in FIG. 8,
the hip sensor (33) is so provided to the top of the "L" shaped
support member (25) as to be positioned, with the depth "g", behind
the vertical, plane surface (36) of the back member (31)
[0077] The operating procedure of the hip-sensing mode is as
follows.
[0078] When an occupant sits on the chair and touches the seat
sensor (23) and hip sensor (33), each sensor generates and sends a
signal to the microcomputer (91), respectively.
[0079] When an occupant sits in right sitting posture, in a similar
fashion shown in the right of FIGS. 1 and 2, with the thigh bones
contacting the seat sensor (23) and the hip contacting the hip
sensor (33), the two signals generated by the sensors (23) and (33)
are sent to the microcomputer (91). Upon receiving all the signals
of the sensors (23) and (33), the microcomputer (91) let the
responding means (95) remain in non-responding state.
[0080] When an occupant sits in faulty sitting posture in a similar
manner shown in the left of FIGS. 1 and 2, he/she merely contacts
any one of the sensors (23) and (33). Accordingly, the untouched
sensor does not generate/send a signal to the microcomputer
(91).
[0081] Upon receiving the signal the number of which is less than
the preset number of the sensors, the microcomputer (91) orders the
responding means (95) to produce responding signal (such as sound,
light and/or vibration). Thus, when the responding means produces
responding signal, the occupant becomes aware that he/she does not
contact the sensor (23) and/or the sensor (33).
[0082] Immediately after the response, the occupant tries to have
right sitting posture with the thigh bones contacting the seat
sensor (23) and the hip contacting the hip sensor (33) by letting
the hip be posteriorly and inferiorly positioned and contact the
lower part of the back member (31). Thus, as the signals of all the
sensors (23) and (33) are sent to the microcomputer (91), the
microcomputer (91) orders the responding means (95) to stop
producing responding signal.
[0083] Accordingly, a person sitting in the sitting means combined
with the sensing device of the present embodiment can have optimum
sitting posture with the thigh bones being stably positioned on the
seat member (21) and the hip being posteriorly and inferiorly
positioned and contacting the lower part of the back member
(31).
[0084] In the light of physiological aspects, a person in a sitting
means having the sensing device of the present embodiment can have
optimum sitting posture with the pelvic girdle including ilia,
sacrum, and coccyx being posteriorly and inferiorly positioned and
contacting the lower part of the back member (31), the ischial
tuberosities being firmly supported on the seat member (21), and
the spinal column being physiologic, erect and static. Namely, with
the pelvis being supported in physiologic position as depicted in
FIG. 4, the lumbar and pelvic bones are firmly held in position,
thereby minimizing the amount of movements of the muscles,
ligaments and tendons associated therewith. Such posture is
effortless and therefore non-fatiguing. Accordingly, the occupant
can concentrate on his/her work or study with comfort.
[0085] This feature is one of the advantages of the invention that
would clearly be of great importance to persons in sedentary
occupations, who spend long hours or perhaps the entire workday in
a chair.
[0086] A further embodiment of the present invention relates to a
sensing device having sensors for contacting the thigh, pelvic and
spinal bones of an occupant. FIGS. 7 and 17 illustrate a sensing
device of the present embodiment combined with a chair (61).
[0087] In this embodiment, in addition to the parts comprising
above said hip-sensing mode, a second back sensor is provided to
the middle part of the back member (31), along the vertical line
(V) at the center of the back member (31), to which the thoracic
vertebrae contact when the occupant straightens his/her spinal
column. Hereinafter, the second back sensor provided to the back
member (31) is indicated as the "spine sensor (SPS) (37)". The
operating mode of the sensing device of the present embodiment
comprised of the seat sensor (23), hip sensor (33), spine sensor
(37) and the control unit (90) is indicated herein as
"spine-sensing mode".
[0088] It is preferable that the spine sensor (37) is provided to
the back member (31) to be positioned, within the range of 30 cm-70
cm, from the surface of the rear part of the seat member (21).
[0089] The operating procedure of the spine-sensing mode is as
follows.
[0090] When an occupant sits on the chair and touches the seat
sensor (23), hip sensor (33) and the spine sensor (37), the three
sensors generate and send signals to the microcomputer (91),
respectively.
[0091] When an occupant sits in right sitting posture with the
thighs contacting the seat sensor (23), the hip contacting the hip
sensor (33), and the thoracic vertebrae contacting the spine sensor
(37) at the middle part of the back member (31) by straightening
his/her spinal column, the three signals of the sensors (23), (33)
and (37) are sent to the microcomputer (91), respectively. Upon
receiving the signals of the sensors (23), (33) and (37), the
microcomputer (91) let the responding means remain in
non-responding state.
[0092] When an occupant does not contact at least any one of the
sensors (23), (33) and (37), the untouched sensor does not
generate/send a signal to the microcomputer (91). Upon receiving
the signals the number of which is less than the preset number of
the sensors, the microcomputer (91) orders the responding means to
respond.
[0093] Thus, when the responding means responds, the occupant
becomes aware that he/she does not contact the sensors (23), (33)
and/or (37). Immediately after the response, the occupant tries to
have optimum sitting posture with the thigh bones contacting the
seat sensor (23), the hip contacting the hip sensor (33), and the
thoracic vertebrae contacting the spine sensor (37) by
straightening his/her spinal column. Thus, as the signals of all
the sensors (23), (33) and (37) are sent to the microcomputer (91),
the microcomputer (91) orders the responding means (95) to stop
producing responding signal.
[0094] Accordingly, a person sitting in the sitting means combined
with the sensing device of the present embodiment can have optimum
sitting posture with the thigh bones being stably positioned on the
seat member (21), the hip being posteriorly and inferiorly
positioned and contacting the lower part of the back member (31),
and the thoracic vertebrae being straightened and contacting the
middle part of the back member (31). In the light of medical
aspects, the hip and spine sensors (33), (37) encourage the proper
chest expansion and spinal straightness so that the spine is
physiologic, erect and static, and movements and stresses are
minimized in the lumbar and thoracic spine.
[0095] Still a further embodiment of the present invention relates
to a sensing device having sensors for contacting the thigh bones,
pelvic bones, and shoulder blades and/or ribs of an occupant. As an
example, FIGS. 10 and 19 show a sensing device of the present
embodiment combined with a chair (65).
[0096] In this embodiment, in addition to the parts comprising
above said hip-sensing mode, a pair of sensors (the third back
sensor) is provided to the back member (31). Hereinafter, the third
back sensor provided to the back member (31) are indicated as the
"blade sensors (BLS) (35) and (35')".
[0097] The blade sensors (35) and (35') are provided, as shown in
FIG. 10, to the upper part of the back member (31) to which the
shoulder blades and/or ribs are contacting when the occupant
straightens his/her spinal column and expands the chest. The two
blade sensors (35), (35') are provided to be horizontally spaced
apart and symmetrical to each other along the vertical line (V) at
the middle of said back member. It is preferable that the blade
sensors (35) and (35') are provided to said back member to be
positioned, within the range of 30 cm-90 cm, from the surface of
the rear part of the seat member (21).
[0098] The back member (31) may be formed to have a pair of
slightly raised portions on the surface thereof in order to fit the
natural physical curvature of the ribs of an occupant and the blade
sensors (35) and (35') may be provided to said raised portions. In
FIG. 13, the numerals (39) and (39') denote the vertically
extending raised portions formed on the surface of the back member
(31) of the chair (69). The raised portions (39) and (39') are
formed to be symmetrical to each other along either side of the
vertical centerline (V) of the back member (31), and the blade
sensors (35) and (35') are provided to the raised portions (39) and
(39'), respectively.
[0099] In some sitting means, especially in some automobile seats
similar to the seat (68) shown in FIG. 12, there has been available
a pair of side support members at the respective lateral sides of
the back member of the seat in order to support both sides (ribs)
of an occupant on the seat. In a sense, these side support members
may be considered as a similar kind of above said raised portion
(39) and (39').
[0100] The blade sensors (35) and (35') may also be provided to
these side support members to contact the ribs. In FIG. 12, the
numerals (40) and (40') denote these side support members and the
blade sensors (35) and (35') are provided to the side support
members (40) and (40'), respectively.
[0101] The operating mode of the sensing device of the present
embodiment comprised of the seat sensor (23), hip sensor (33),
blade sensors (35), (35') and the control unit (90) is indicated
herein as "blade-sensing mode". The operating procedure of the
blade-sensing mode is similar to those described in connection with
the hip-sensing mode and the spine-sensing mode. Namely, when an
occupant on the sitting means contacts all the sensors (23), (33),
(35) and (35') the microcomputer (91) let the responding means (95)
remain in non-responding state.
[0102] When the occupant does not contact at least any one of the
sensors (23), (33), (35), and (35') the microcomputer (91) orders
the responding means to respond, and the microcomputer (91) orders
the responding means (95) to stop producing responding signal when
the occupant corrects his/her sitting posture and again contacts
all the sensors (23), (33), (35) and (35').
[0103] Accordingly, a person sitting in the sitting means combined
with the sensing device of the present embodiment can have optimum
sitting posture with the thigh bones being stably positioned on the
seat member (21) and contacting the seat sensor (23), the hip being
posteriorly and inferiorly positioned and contacting the hip sensor
(33) at the lower part of the back member (31), and the two
shoulder blades and/or ribs contacting the blade sensors (35) and
(35') at the upper part of the back member (31) by straightening
his/her spinal column and expanding the chest.
[0104] In the light of medical aspects, these two horizontally
spaced blade sensors (35) and (35') help and urge the occupant to
expand the chest, reduces excessive kyphosis, encourages deeper
breathing, and tends to align the upper spine with reduced
curvature and minimal muscular and skeletal stress in the thoracic,
cervical and lumbar spine region.
[0105] Still a further embodiment of the present invention relates
to a sensing device having sensors for contacting the thigh, pelvic
and cranial bones of an occupant. As an example, FIGS. 9 and 18
illustrate a sensing device of the present embodiment combined with
an office chair (63) (or a passenger seat) having a headrest.
Generally, a headrest is provided to a sitting means as a component
of the back member of the sitting means.
[0106] Normally, a passenger rests his/her head on the middle part
of the headrest with the neck being straightened. However, as a
common sight, a sleeping passenger unconsciously tilts the head
sideways and leans against the body of other person who sits next,
which not only gives others an unpleasant feeling but also is a
shameful thing for the sleeping passenger himself/herself.
[0107] Further, what is worse, the excessive tilting of the head
sideways inevitably requires excessive movements of the muscles,
ligaments and tendons associated with the cervical bones. In order
to prevent the unconscious tilting of the head and to improve the
resting posture of the head, in this embodiment, in addition to the
parts comprising above said hip-sensing mode, a fourth back sensor
is provided to the headrest (30) of the back member (31). The
fourth sensor is provided to the middle part of the headrest (30)
of the back member (31), to which the cranial bone contacts when
the occupant rests his/her head thereon, as shown in FIG. 9.
Hereinafter, the fourth sensor provided to the headrest (30) is
indicated as the "head sensor (HRS) (38)".
[0108] The operating mode of the sensing device of the present
embodiment comprised of the seat sensor (23), hip sensor (33), head
sensor (38) and the control unit (90) is indicated herein as
"head-sensing mode".
[0109] The operating procedure of the head-sensing mode is similar
to those described in connection with the hip-sensing mode and the
spine-sensing mode. Namely, when an occupant on the sitting means
contacts all the sensors (23), (33) and (38), the microcomputer
(91) let the responding means (95) remain in non-responding
state,
[0110] When the occupant does not contact at least any one of the
sensors (23), (33) and (38) the microcomputer (91) orders the
responding means to respond, and the microcomputer (91) orders the
responding means (95) to stop producing responding signal when the
occupant corrects his/her sitting posture and again contacts all
the sensors (23), (33) and (38).
[0111] Accordingly, a person sitting in the sitting means combined
with the sensing device of the present embodiment can have optimum
sitting posture with the thigh bones being stably positioned on the
seat member (21) and contacting the seat sensor (23), the hip being
posteriorly and inferiorly positioned and contacting the hip sensor
(33) at the lower part of the back member (31), and the head
contacting the head sensor (38) and resting on the middle part of
the headrest (30).
[0112] In the light of medical aspects, the head sensor (38) will
tend to align the skeletal and cervical bones so that the head is
balanced easily over it with reduced curvature and minimal muscular
and skeletal stress in the skeletal, cervical and thoracic spine
region.
[0113] Some occupants who sit down on and stand up from the seat
member (21) frequently may want the sitting means to have no
sensor(s) provided thereto in order to freely use the sitting
means. However, when they work or study on said sitting means
during relatively long time period, they may want the sitting means
to have sensor(s) in order to sit in right sitting posture with the
hip contacting the lower part of the back member (31). For these
occupants, the sensor(s) may be provided only to the back member
(31).
[0114] First, only the hip sensor (33) may be provided to the lower
part of the back member (31) such that the occupant can freely use
the sitting means while he/she works or studies during certain time
period with the hip contacting the hip sensor (33). The operating
mode of the sensing device of the present embodiment comprised of
the hip sensor (33) and the control unit (90) is indicated herein
as a "basic sensing mode". The operating procedure of the basic
sensing mode will be described later.
[0115] Second, in addition to the hip sensor (33), a further
sensor(s) may be provided to the back member (31). Namely, the hip
sensor (33) is basically provided to the back member (31) and at
least one sensor among the sensors for the back member (31) such as
spine sensor (37), the blade sensors (35), (35') and/or the head
sensor (38) may be provided to the back member (31). The operating
mode of the sensing device of the present embodiment comprised of a
plurality of sensors provided to the back member (31) and the
control unit (90) is indicated herein as a "back-sensing mode".
[0116] An example of the operating procedure of the back-sensing
mode is as follows.
[0117] When a sitting means has a back member (31) having a hip
sensor (33) and a spine sensor (37) provided thereto and a seat
member (21) having no sensor provided thereto, first, an occupant
can freely use said sitting means without contacting the back
member (31).
[0118] If the occupant desires to work or study during certain time
period, he/she can sit in right sitting posture with the hip
contacting the hip sensor (33) and the spinal column contacting the
spine sensor (37). When the occupant contacts said sensors (33) and
(37), the two sensors generate/send signals to the microcomputer
(91), respectively. Upon receiving the signals of the sensors (33)
and (37), the microcomputer (91) let the responding means (95)
remain in non-responding state.
[0119] When an occupant does not contact any one of the sensors
(33) and (37), the untouched sensor does not generate/send a signal
to the microcomputer (91). Upon receiving the signal the number of
which is less than the preset number of the sensors, the
microcomputer (91) orders the responding means (95) to produce
responding signal.
[0120] Thus, when the responding means produces responding signal,
the occupant becomes aware that he/she does not contact the sensors
(33) and (37).
[0121] Immediately after the response, the occupant tries to have
optimum sitting posture with the hip contacting hip sensor (33) and
the spinal column contacting said spine sensor.
[0122] Thus, as the signals of all the sensors (33) and (37) are
sent to the microcomputer (91), the microcomputer orders said
responding means to stop producing responding signal.
[0123] If desired, all the sensors for the sensing modes heretofore
described (i.e., the seat sensor (23), hip sensor (33), spine
sensor (37), blade sensors (35) and (35'), and the head sensor
(38)) may altogether be provided to one sitting means.
[0124] Further, the sensor(s) may be provided to certain place(s)
of the seat member and/or back member for certain purposes. For
example, a sensor may be provided to the right or left upper part
of the back member for the patient having scoliosis.
[0125] In some cases, a sitting means has a plurality of back
members mounted on the upper part of the "L" shaped support
member(s) (25) that is connected to the body of the seat member
(21) in order to support the back of an occupant. The various
sensing modes of the present invention heretofore explained can
also be embodied in these types of sitting means by providing
corresponding sensors to these types of sitting means.
[0126] For example, the chair (67) in FIG. 11 has a seat member
(21) having seat sensor (23) and two small back members (31) and
(31)' that have two hip sensors (33), (33)' and two blade sensors
(35), (35') provided thereto. The two blade sensors (35), (35') may
be provided to the lower, outer end parts (or lower, middle parts)
of the small back members (31) and (31)' in order to contact the
lower ribs of the body. If the spine sensor (37) is provided to
this type of sitting means, the spine sensor (37) may be provided
to the "L" shaped support member (25) in the space between the two
small back members (31) and (31'). As a further example, two spine
sensors (37), (37') (not shown) may be provided to the inner
extremities (45), (45') of the two small back members (31) and
(31'), respectively.
[0127] Still a further embodiment of the present invention relates
to the sensing devices of the present invention combined with
covering members for sitting means such as covers, mat-type support
members, and the like. Generally, a cover is later placed over a
sitting means in order to protect and retain the surface and
structure of the sitting means, and a mat-type support member is
provided to a sitting means for ensuring comfort, ventilation
and/or treatment of lumbar pains of an occupant in the sitting
means which is covered with the mat-type support member.
[0128] The covers are generally made of natural or synthetic
materials such as linen, fabric, leather, fur or corresponding
plastics. FIG. 14 illustrates a cover (70) for sitting means made
of cloths. The mat-type support members are either mesh
arrangements of wires, strings, cords, bead-strings, bars, or the
like within a rectangular peripheral frame, or disk-like elements
of supple or rigid materials.
[0129] FIG. 15 illustrates a mat-type support member (75) comprised
of a plurality of bar-shaped element (76) of slightly rigid
material such as plastics and the like. These bar/shaped elements
(76) are connected to each other by means of chains. Known
fastening or attaching means such as strings, Velcro.RTM. Fastener,
snaps, buttons, bolts and nuts, and so on may be employed to fasten
the cover or mat-type support member to the sitting means. In FIGS.
14 and 15, numerals (74) denote strings to fasten the cover (70)
and the mat-type support member (75) to a sitting means. Herein,
the term "covering member" is used to altogether indicate the
"cover" and the "mat-type support member"
[0130] The covering member has a seat covering element (71) which
supports the thighs and pelvis of an occupant and a back covering
element (73) which is vertically positioned above the seat covering
element (71) and supports the back of the occupant, when said
covering member is placed over said sitting means. For some chairs
having headrests, the covering member may have a headrest part as a
part of the back covering element (73).
[0131] Above said various embodiments of the sensing device of the
present invention may also be embodied in these covering members.
The sensors in the above embodiments are provided to the places of
the covering members where the thighs, hips, spine, shoulder blades
and/or ribs, and/or the head of the occupant contact when said
covering members are placed on the sitting means. For examples, in
FIGS. 14 and 15, above said spine-sensing mode is embodied in the
cover (70) and mat-type support member (75), respectively, i.e.,
seat sensor (23), hip sensor (33) and spine sensor (37) are
provided to the seat covering elements (71) and back covering
elements (73) of the cover (70) and mat-type support member (75),
respectively. The control unit (90) is connected to these sensors
through electric wires.
[0132] A sensor-selecting switch may optionally be provided to the
switch part (93) for the occupant to select the sensor(s) that
he/she wants to operate among the sensors provided to the sitting
means.
[0133] When a sensor-selecting switch is provided to the switch
part (93), the microcomputer (91) is programmed to proceed
operations for plural sensing modes corresponding to the groups of
selected sensor(s).
[0134] Namely, the microcomputer (91) stores in memory data for
some of and/or all the sensor(s) provided to the sitting means,
data for the signal generated by each sensor, and data for the
number(s) of said some of and/or all the sensor(s), in a
predetermined program, and the microcomputer (91) is also
programmed to discriminate which signal is generated by which
sensor and to compare the number of the signal(s) sent by said some
of and/or all the sensor(s) with the number of said some of and/or
all the sensor(s) preset in said predetermined program, and to
order the responding means either to respond or not, according to
said predetermined program. Thus, when a plurality of sensors and a
sensor-selecting switch are provided to the sitting means, the
microcomputer (91) stores in memory and processes data for the
group(s) of sensor(s) corresponding to above said several sensing
mode(s).
[0135] The group of sensor(s) selected by the sensor-selecting
switch includes at least the hip sensor (33), and may be classified
as follows;
[0136] 1. hip sensor (33)
[0137] 2. seat sensor (23) and hip sensor (33)
[0138] 3. seat sensor (23), hip sensor (33) and spine sensor
(37)
[0139] 4. seat sensor (23), hip sensor (33) and blade sensors (35),
(35')
[0140] 5. seat sensor (23), hip sensor (33) and head sensor
(38)
[0141] 6. seat sensor (23), hip sensor (33), blade sensors (35),
(35') and head sensor (38)
[0142] 7. hip sensor (33) and spine sensor (37)
[0143] 8. hip sensor (33) and blade sensors (35), (35')
[0144] 9. hip sensor (33), blade sensors (35), (35'), and head
sensor (38), and so on.
[0145] For example, when a sensor-selecting switch is provided to
the switch part (93) of the chair (61)(in FIG. 7) which is provided
with the seat sensor (23), hip sensor (33) and the spine sensor
(37), the occupant can choose the sensor(s) for the sensing mode
he/she wants.
[0146] First, when the sensor-selecting switch is changed to select
only the hip sensor (33), the microcomputer (91) processes the
procedures of above said basic sensing mode comprised of the hip
sensor (33) and the control unit (90).
[0147] Second, when the sensor-selecting switch is changed to
select the seat sensor (23) and the hip sensor (33), the
microcomputer (91) processes the procedures of above said
hip-sensing mode comprised of the sensors (23), (33) and the
control unit (90).
[0148] Third, when the sensor-selecting switch is changed to select
the seat sensor (23), hip sensor (33) and the spine sensor (37),
the microcomputer (91) processes the procedures of above said
spine-sensing mode comprised of the sensors (23), (33), (37) and
the control unit (90).
[0149] Fourth, when the sensor-selecting switch is changed to
select the hip sensor (33) and the spine sensor (37), the
microcomputer (91) processes the procedures of above said
back-sensing mode comprised of the sensors (33), (37) and the
control unit (90).
[0150] Thus, when a plurality of sensors are provided to the
sitting means, the sensor-selecting switch enables the occupant to
freely convert the sensing mode through the selection of the
corresponding sensors with the sensor-selecting switch.
[0151] The same kind of sensors may be provided consecutively or in
a spaced apart manner for the occupant to select the sensor that is
positioned at the place where he/she wants.
[0152] In FIG. 13, the same seat sensors (23A) and (23B) are
secured to the front part and rear part of the seat member (21),
respectively, and the same hip sensors (33A) and (33B) are secured,
side-by-side, to the back member (31).
[0153] When the occupant wants the hip sensor (33) to be positioned
slightly upward at the lower part of the back member (31), he/she
can select the hip sensor (33B), and, in turn, when he/she wants it
to be positioned at the extremity of the lower part of the back
member (31), he/she can select the hip sensor (33A). In the same
way, the occupant can alternately select the seat sensor (23A) and
(23B). With these arrangements, the occupant can select the sensors
he/she wants among the same sensors with the sensor-selecting
switch.
[0154] The sensors of the present invention may be secured beneath
the outer covering of cloths, leathers, vinyl or any other
synthetic materials of said seat member and back member.
[0155] Further, the sensors may be attached on the surfaces of the
seat member and back member.
[0156] The sensors may be so provided in a slightly convex fashion
on the surfaces of the seat member (21) and back member (31) that
the body of the occupant may easily contact the sensors. For
example, as shown in FIG. 8, the sensor (37) in FIG. 7 is provided
in a slightly convex fashion on the surface (36) of the back member
(31).
[0157] In case of a shell-typed panel chair, a hole(s)
corresponding to the size and shape of the sensor(s) may be formed
to receive the sensor(s).
[0158] The switch part (93) is provided with several kinds of
switches. The first switch may be a power supply switch for
selecting "on/off mode" of the power supply (97). The second switch
may be a responding-device-selecting switch that is capable of
switching over among above said responding devices for producing an
auditory-signal, a visible signal and/or a vibratory signal. The
third switch may be a sensor-selecting switch that enables the
occupant to choose the sensor(s) he/she wants.
[0159] The fourth switch may be a time adjusting switch that
adjusts the standard hold time to defer the response of the
responding means (95).
[0160] The sensing device of the present invention provides a
further advantage that leads the occupant to maintain the neutral
spine position. It has been recommended to let the weight of the
upper body part of the occupant be evenly dispersed to the back
member of a sitting means in order to maintain the neutral spine
position. Generally, the backward pressing force of the upper part
of the back of the occupant applied to the upper part of the back
member is greater than that of the hip contacting the lower part of
said back member when the occupant leans the upper body part
backwardly.
[0161] Thus, the stronger the backward pressing force of the upper
part of the back of an occupant is, the more the lumbar vertebral
arch is forwardly convex, causing too excessive lordosis which is
well known to be the most common cause of low back pain and
sciatica. Thus, it sometimes is required to let the backward
pressing force of some part of the back of an occupant be not too
greater than that of the other part of the back of the occupant in
order to maintain the neutral spine position.
[0162] In order to achieve that purpose, according to a further
embodiment of the present invention, It is arranged such that;
[0163] First, when the back member (31) is provided with a
plurality of sensors (i.e. the hip sensor (33), spine sensor (37),
and/or blade sensors (35), (35')), the sensors may be comprised of
weight detecting sensors which can detect the weight or pressing
force of the occupant applied to said back member.
[0164] Second, a standard degree of pressing force for each sensor
is preset and stored in memory. The standard degree of pressing
force for any one sensor may be the same as that of the other
sensor. However, it is preferable that the standard degree of
pressing force preset for any one sensor (e.g. spine sensor (37))
is different from that for the other sensor (e.g. hip sensor
(33)).
[0165] Third, the pressing force applied to each sensor is checked
through a determination as to whether the pressing force exceeds
the preset standard degree or not.
[0166] Fourth, when the pressing force applied to a sensor exceeds
the standard degree, the microcomputer (91) orders the responding
means (95) to produce responding signal.
[0167] It is preferable that the responding signal is an auditory
signal to notify the occupant which sensor is under excessive
pressure.
[0168] Fifth, when the responding means (95) produces responding
signal, it is arranged such that the response is stopped when the
occupant, upon recognizing the responding signal, reduces the
pressing force applied to the sensor.
[0169] For example, if the spine sensor (37) is comprised of a
weight detecting sensor, it, at first, merely generates/sends
signals to the microcomputer (91) when an occupant contacts the
sensor (37), and then, when the occupant leans the upper body part
backward and the pressing force of the occupant's body exceeds the
standard level of pressing force preset for the spine sensor (37),
the microcomputer (91) perceiving the excessive pressure orders the
responding means to produce responding signal, according to the
predetermined program. When the responding means (95) responds, the
occupant, upon recognizing the responding signal, tries to reduce
the pressing force applied to the spine sensor (37) in order to
stop the response. Thus, the weight of the upper body part of the
occupant may evenly be dispersed to the back member and thereby the
occupant can maintain the neutral spine position.
[0170] Further, the present invention may be of such arrangement
that the microcomputer (91) maintains the responding means (95) in
hold state for a short time, as a hold time, until certain standard
time elapses, according to the predetermined program.
[0171] When an occupant sits on the sitting means of the present
invention, he/she may simultaneously touch the sensors all at once
and let the responding means (95) produce no responding signal at
the moment he/she sits thereon. However, in most cases, the thigh
bones are first laid on the seat member (21) contacting the seat
sensor (23), and then the hip and small part touch the back member
(31) contacting the hip sensor (33). Namely, there exists certain
time period for all the signals to be sent to the microcomputer
(91), and it is required to let the responding means (95) produce
no responding signal during this time period.
[0172] Further, the occupant in a sitting means with the body
contacting all the corresponding sensors for certain sensing mode
provided thereof may feel necessary to remove certain part (e.g.,
upper part of the spinal column) of the body from the part of the
sitting means to which said part of the body is contacting for a
short time period, and thereupon does not contact the sensor (e.g.
spine sensor) provided to said part of the sitting means.
[0173] However, if the responding means (95) responds at once the
moment the occupant removes certain part of the body from the
sitting means, and further the response occurs repeatedly whenever
the occupant moves his/her body for a short time period, it not
only is inconvenient but also makes the occupant unpleasant and
nervous. Thus, it is also required to let the responding means (95)
remain in hold state for a given standard time when an occupant
removes certain part of his/her body from the sitting means.
[0174] Accordingly, it should be arranged that even if all the
signals the numbers of which are the same as the preset number of
the sensors are not sent to the microcomputer (91), the
insufficiency of the time, not reaching the standard hold time,
during which all the signals from the sensors are sent to the
microcomputer (91), will defer the instruction of the microcomputer
(91) to activate the responding means (95) and thus keep the
responding means (95) in hold state. In short, the microcomputer
(91) may be so programmed as to order the responding means (95) to
remain in hold state for a given standard time, and after lapse of
such hold time, the microcomputer (91) permits the responding means
(95) to respond. A known time counting means, i.e., a timer (not
shown) is provided for counting said standard hold time. The hold
time may be approx. 3 sec., preferably.
[0175] The standard hold time may be altered to other desired time
period such as 1 sec., 5 sec., 60 sec., and so forth. With these
arrangements, it is possible to prevent the responding means to
randomly generate responding signals when there exists certain time
period for the occupant to contact all the corresponding sensors
for certain sensing mode.
[0176] Now, with above explained sensing device of the present
invention, a method for sensing the sitting posture of an occupant
and encouraging the occupant to have optimum sitting posture will
be described.
[0177] In FIG. 20, there is illustrated a main flow diagram of the
processing procedures of the microcomputer (91). According thereto,
at the block (80), the power supply switch is turned on and the
flow of the processing step starts, as indicated by the next block
(81), with an instruction to detect the presence of the signals
generated by the sensors and sent to the microcomputer (91).
[0178] At the block (81), it is examined whether signals
transmitted from the sensors exist or not, and determined either to
put the responding means in non-responding state when there exists
no signal sent by the sensors, or to let the step proceed to the
next block (83) when there exists at least one signal.
[0179] It is noted here that normally, no signal is generated/sent
to the microcomputer (91) when no one is sitting on the sitting
means. Likewise, when the occupant sitting on the sitting means and
contacting all the corresponding sensors for certain sensing mode
stands up and does not contact any sensors, no signal is
generated/sent to the microcomputer (91).
[0180] If no signal is detected, the "NO" is decided, thus putting
the responding means (95) at the block (82) in non-responding
state.
[0181] If, however, there exist at least one signal received; the
block (81) answers "YES", leading the step to the next block
(83).
[0182] As described earlier, the number of sensors for certain
sensing mode and the data for the signals of the sensors are preset
and stored in memory for the microcomputer (91) to proceed the
operations.
[0183] At the block (83), the step proceeds to compare the number
of the signal(s) sent by the sensor(s) with the preset number of
corresponding sensors for certain sensing mode, and to determine as
to whether the number of signals coincides with the preset number
of sensors or not.
[0184] If the number of signals coincides with the preset number of
the sensors, the "YES" is decided, thus putting the responding
means (95) at the block (82) in non-responding state. If the
occupant does not contact any one sensor(s) or contacts it (them) a
little late, as the number of signals does not coincide with the
preset number of the sensors, the block (83) answers "NO", leading
the step to the next block (85). At the block (85), a timer (not
shown) starts to count the preset 3 seconds of hold time.
[0185] The step is then led to determining at the block (87) as to
whether the 3 seconds of hold time has lapsed, or not. At this
stage, during such hold time, instruction in the microcomputer (91)
repeatedly indicates a "NO" signal until the 3-sec. time period is
over, to withhold decision.
[0186] Then, after lapse of the hold time, "YES" is decided at the
block (87), so that, at block (87), instruction is given to cause
said responding means at the block (89) to respond. During the hold
time, if the occupant touches the sensor(s) that he/she at first
did not touch, all the signals are sent to the block (81).
[0187] Accordingly, at the block (83), the number of the signals
becomes coincident with the preset number of the sensors, and the
"YES" is decided at the block (83), thus stopping the counting and
putting the responding means (95) at the block (82) in
non-responding state.
[0188] When the hold time has lapsed and the responding means (95)
begins to produce responding signal, and if the occupant, upon
apprehending the response of the responding means (95), contacts
the sensor(s) which he/she at first did not contact, all the
signals are sent to the block (81), and thereupon the number of the
signals becomes coincident with the preset number of the sensors,
the "YES" is decided at the block (83), thus stopping the response
of the responding means (95) and putting the responding means (95)
at the block (82) in non-responding state.
[0189] As above described, the occupant contacting all the
corresponding sensors for certain sensing mode may feel necessary
to remove certain part of the body from the part of the sitting
means to which said part of the body is contacting for a short time
period, and thereupon does not touch the sensor provided to said
part of the sitting means.
[0190] In this case, the number of signals sent to the block (81)
is less than the preset number of the sensors, and the flow of
processing step again proceeds through the blocks (83), (85), (87)
in the same fashion as described above.
[0191] In case of the above described "basic sensing mode"
comprised of the hip sensor (33) and control unit (90), as only the
hip sensor (33) is provided to the sitting means or selected among
the sensors provided to the sitting means, the microcomputer (91)
is programmed to include the following two different steps of
operations.
[0192] When an occupant sits in the sitting means and contacts the
hip sensor (33), the sensor (33) generates and sends signal to the
microcomputer (91). Upon receiving the signal the number of which
coincides with the preset number of the sensor (33), the
microcomputer (91) let the responding means (95) remain in
non-responding state in the same manner as described in connection
with other sensing modes.
[0193] When the occupant removes the hip from the sensor (33), the
sensor (33) stops generating/sending signal to the microcomputer
(91), which, in the other sensing modes, means that as no signal is
sent to the microcomputer (91), the microcomputer (91) puts the
responding means (95) in non-responding state.
[0194] However, as the first different step of operation, when the
sensor (33) stops sending signal for the first time, the
miocrocomputer (91), even though there exists no signal sent
thereto, orders the responding means (95) to produce responding
signal to notify the occupant that he/she is not contacting the
sensor (33).
[0195] When said responding means produces the responding signal,
the occupant becomes aware that he/she does not contact said
sensors. Immediately after the response, the occupant, upon
recognizing the responding signal, corrects his/her sitting posture
with the hip contacting the lower part of said back member by
letting the hip be posteriorly and inferiorly positioned, and
contacts said hip sensor within certain standard time period.
[0196] Thus, the signal of the sensor (33) is again sent to the
microcomputer (91), and thereby the responding means (95) stops
producing responding signal.
[0197] As the second different step of operation, if the occupant
continuously does not contact the hip sensor (33) and thereby no
signal is sent to the microcomputer (91) during a given standard
time period, the microcomputer orders the responding means (95) to
remain in non-responding state after the standard time period has
elapsed.
[0198] With these arrangements, the present embodiment encourages
and urges the occupant to have right sitting posture while studying
or working during certain time period, and further permits the
occupant to freely use the sitting means.
[0199] Through practical use of the devices and methods of the
present invention heretofore explained, the faulty sitting posture
of the occupant in a sitting means can be changed to a good one,
the occupant can concentrate on his work without feeling any
fatigue, discomfort, strain or lower back pains, and especially,
children and teens can make it a habit to sit in the chairs in
right sitting posture from their early days. In short, with the
sensing device of the present invention, first, a person can make
it a habit to sit in optimum sitting posture, second, he/she can
have well built straight body, third, he/she can prevent chronic
lumbar myalgia, excessive lordosis, kyphosis and scoliosis,
drooping chest and round back, and fourth, he/she can have
physiologic, erect posture even in his/her old age.
[0200] While having described the present invention thus far, it
should be understood that the invention is not limited to the
illustrated embodiments, but other various modifications,
alterations and additions may be possible without departing from
the spirits and scope of the appended claims.
[0201] For example, some sitting means have adjustable back members
that can be moved to the lateral, vertical and fore-and-aft
directions. The sensing device of the present invention can also be
provided in combination with these types of sitting means.
* * * * *