U.S. patent application number 11/265071 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-03 for corrective chair.
Invention is credited to Shang-Wei Chou.
Application Number | 20070096524 11/265071 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46690807 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070096524 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chou; Shang-Wei |
May 3, 2007 |
Corrective chair
Abstract
A corrective chair comprises a seat which allows to be tilted
forward and backward, a backrest and support elements for feet,
allowing multiple uses as a regular chair, a reclining chair and a
chair for correcting orientation of vertebrae, assisting a user to
get up, lie down and stretch the torso for relaxing, preventing
inflammation of muscular mucous membranes and attaining a better
sitting position.
Inventors: |
Chou; Shang-Wei; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PRO-TECHTOR INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
20775 NORADA CT.
SARATOGA
CA
95070
US
|
Family ID: |
46690807 |
Appl. No.: |
11/265071 |
Filed: |
November 1, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/313 ;
297/354.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 1/022 20130101;
A47C 9/005 20130101; A61H 2203/0431 20130101; A61G 5/14 20130101;
A61H 1/0292 20130101; A61G 15/007 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/313 ;
297/354.13 |
International
Class: |
A47C 1/022 20060101
A47C001/022 |
Claims
1. A corrective chair, comprising: a frame, having a front plate, a
rear plate, a left plate, a right plate and two support plates
which extend from said left and right plates inward, respectively;
and a seat, mounted on said frame and further comprising a seat
plate, from which two lateral plates extend downward, each having a
hole in a middle position passed through by a hinge axis mounted on
said frame, allowing said seat to be tilted forward and backward,
and a blocking assembly for restricting tilting forward and
backward of said seat to maximum angles; wherein by placing feet of
a user on said supporting plates, movements of said user for
controlling position and balance help to attain a healthy sitting
position and proper orienting of vertebrae.
2. The corrective chair according to claim 1, wherein a backrest is
mounted on rear edges of said left and right plates, having an
inclination angle that is adjustable by an adjusting device.
3. The corrective chair according to claim 1, wherein a support
device is mounted on said seat for supporting an upright sitting
position of said user.
4. The corrective chair according to claim 3, wherein said support
device comprises: a bearing, mounted on one of said two lateral
plates having a cross-section shaped roughly like a square, further
having an opening and an inner space from which an orienting rod
extends upward; and a support rod, shaped like the letter L, having
a lower end with an end part with a cross-section shaped roughly
like a square, into which said bearing is inserted, with said
orienting rod fixing an orientation of said support rod, and an
upper end placed close to an abdomen of said user.
5. The corrective chair according to claim 1, wherein a positioning
device is mounted on said front plate for maintaining a
forward-tilted position of said seat.
6. The corrective chair according to claim 1, wherein said blocking
assembly comprises two arc-shaped openings, respectively cut into
said two lateral plates, and two bolts, respectively extending
inward from said left and right plates and each passing through one
of said two arc-shaped openings.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a corrective chair,
particularly to a corrective chair which improves sitting position
and supports vertebrae, allowing an upright as well as a lying
position.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Today's life is full of tension and gives little space for
relaxing. Physical and psychical stress result in unstable sitting
positions, and lack of exercise lead to fatigue, knots in mucous
membranes and ligaments, and disorientation of joints.
[0005] Chinese medicine teaches 8 vertical layers of bones,
reaching from neck, shoulder, breast and hip vertebrae to thighs,
lower leg and toes. Flexible connections and proper balancing are
important for proper distribution of muscles, ligaments and
tissue.
[0006] Since all layers of bones support each other, fatigue or
disorientation of one layer negatively affect stability of the
remaining layers and balancing of the body, causing frequent
contemporary diseases, like displaced vertebrae, bowlegs and
sciatica.
[0007] Furthermore since muscular mucous membranes surround
muscles, ligaments and nerves, migraine and aching of the stomach
is often caused by tension in muscular mucous membranes.
[0008] As common preventive measures, muscular mucous membranes are
often massaged and improving of the sitting position is seeked.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 10,828,851 discloses a corrective chair for
improving the sitting position, having a seat that is inclined
forward, so that an upright posture is naturally assumed and legs
and torso form an angle of greater than 90 degrees. Thus an
improved sitting position for relaxing and better health is
achieved.
[0010] The present invention aims at further improvements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a
corrective chair which improves the sitting position of a user and
allows stretching to relax and prevent inflammation of muscular
mucous membranes.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
corrective chair which is usable as a regular chair and a chair
assisting in properly orienting vertebrae and which allows sitting
as well as lying.
[0013] The present invention can be more fully understood by
reference to the following description and accompanying
drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the corrective chair of the
present invention comprises: a frame 10, having a support function;
a seat 20, mounted on the frame 10, being tiltable; and a backrest
30, mounted on the frame 10, being tiltable. By tilting the seat 20
and the backrest 30 to various angles, the sitting position of a
user is corrigible, and sitting, lying as well as functions of a
regular chair are allowed. In the following, a detailed explanation
is given.
[0015] The frame 10 is made of front, rear, left, right plates 11,
12, 13, 14. To each of the left and right plates 13, 14, a support
plate 15 is attached. Each of the left and right plates 13, 14 is
passed through by a hinge axis 17.
[0016] The seat 20 comprises a seat plate 21, a blocker assembly
22, and two lateral plates 23, 24 which extend vertically downward
from the seat plate 21. Each of the two lateral plates 23, 24 has a
hole 25, passed through by the hinge axis 17. of one of the the
left and right plates 13, 14. Thereby, the seat 20 is tiltable
forward and backward. The blocker assembly 22 serves to limit
tilting angles of the seat 20, comprising two arc-shaped openings
221, respectively cut into the two lateral plates 23, 24, and two
bolts 223, respectively extending inward from the left and right
plates 13, 14 and each passing through one of the two arc-shaped
openings 221. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, tilting backward of the
seat 20 is stopped at a rear dead center 225, and, as shown in FIG.
3, tilting forward of the seat 20 is stopped at a front dead center
226.
[0017] To accommodate various sitting positions and centers of mass
of different users, the seat 20 allows to be tilted forward and
backward according to different centers of mass of users, as shown
in FIGS. 3-8 for achieveing an optimum effect of support and
correction of sitting positions.
[0018] For comfortable seating, a seat cushion 27 is mounted on the
seat plate 21.
[0019] When the seat 20 is tilted forward, the legs and the torso
of the user enclose an angle of greater than 90 degrees, providing
for a natural, relaxed sitting position. As shown in FIG. 5, the
user has the option of placing the feet on the support plates 15,
controlling body position and center of mass for correcting the
sitting position and properly orienting vertebrae.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 2, a support device 40 is mounted on the
seat 20, comprising a bearing 41 and an L-shaped support rod 44.
The bearing 41 is mounted on one of the two lateral plates 23, 24,
having a roughly square cross-section, an opening 42 and an inner
space from which an orienting rod 43 extends vertically upwards.
The support rod 44 has a lower end with an end part 45 of a roughly
square cross-section into which the bearing 41 is inserted, with
the orienting rod 43 further extending into the support rod 44 to
ensure proper orientation thereof. The support rod 44 further has
an upper end which extends to the abdomen of the user seated on the
seat 20, thereby supporting and fixing the body of the user for
correcting the sitting position and properly orienting
vertebrae.
[0021] The support rod 44 is turnable around the orienting rod 43
to allow convenient sitting down and getting up from a sitting
position. The upper end of the support rod 44, which toouches the
abdomen of the user, is covered by a padding 46.
[0022] The backrest 30 is fastened to the left and right plates 13,
14 via an adjusting device 60. A back cushion 31 is placed on the
backrest.
[0023] The adjusting device 60 is conventional art from regular
chairs or car seats. In the following, an example is described.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 2a -2c, the adjusting device 60 allows to
adjust an inclination angle of the backrest 30. The adjusting
device 60 has an active part 61 and a passive part 71. The passive
part 71 comprises a fixed plate 72, mounted on the right plate 14
of the frame 10 and carrying an axis 73, and a moving plate 74,
turnably mounted on the fixed plate 72 and fastened to the backrest
30 at a right edge thereof.
[0025] The active part 61 comprises a fixed plate 62, mounted on
the left plate 13 of the frame 10 and carrying an axis 63, and a
moving plate 64, turnably mounted on the fixed plate 72 and
fastened to. the backrest 30 at a left edge thereof. The moving
plate 64 has a periphery with-a depression 65 and a cover plate
66', which is fastened to the fixed plate 62 by bolts 661, 662. A
transmission rod 663 passes through the fixed plate 62, carrying a
handle 664, a blocking washer 665, a passive washer 666 and an
E-shaped washer 667. A braking disc 67 is laid into the depression
65 and fixed there by the bolt 661, blocking the moving plate 64
from turning. A spring 68 is inserted between the fixed plate 62
and the passive washer 666, exerting torsion on the passive washer
666 when the handle 664 is pushed downward. A plate spring 69
surrounds the axis 63. A cushioning ring 691 provides torsion when
the moving plate turns in a forward direction. For adjusting the
inclination angle of the backrest 30, the handle 664 is pulled up,
driving the blocking washer 665 to separate the braking disc 67
from the depression 65, allowing the moving plate 64 to turn when
external pressure is exerted on the backrest. Depending on whether
the torsion generated by the spring 68 is overcome or not, the
backrest moves rearward or forward. If the inclination angle has
assumed a desired value, the handle 664 is released. Then the
braking disc 67 enters the depression 65, blocking the moving plate
64 from turning, fixing the inclination angle.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 6, the user is able to recline the
backrest 30 to attain a lying position. For rising, the hand is
placed on the support rod 44 to assist getting up.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 7-8, the present invention helps to lie
down and get up, with the feet of the user hooking onto the front
plate 11 to get a better hold. The inclination angle of the
backrest 30 is adjustable by the user, using the adjusting device
60, to any desired value. Rising from a lying position is
facilitated by the support rod 44. Furthermore, the backrest 30
protects head and back of the user, ensuring a feeling of
safety.
[0028] When the feet are placed on the support plates 15, with the
seat 20 tilted forward, hip and feet determine balance s and
sitting position, and the belly is trained to adjust the center of
mass of the user to keep a stable sitting position.
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 8a, a positioning device 50 is
fastened to the front plate 11, comprising a hinged joint 51,
having a fixed end 53 that is fastened to the front plate 11 and a
free end 55, and a stopper 52 which is mounted on the free end. In
a normal state, the stopper 52 is hidden behind the front plate 11.
When the seat 20 is tilted forward, the stopper is turned to
towards the lateral plates 23, 24 of the seat 20.
[0030] In this state, with vertebrae bent, by stretching the torso
orientation of the vertebrae is corrected, while the inclination
angle of the backrest 30 is adjusted for an optimum effect.
[0031] While the invention has been described with reference to
preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that
modifications or variations may be easily made without departing
from the spirit of this invention which is defined by the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the corrective chair of the
present invention.
[0033] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the corrective
chair of the present invention.
[0034] FIGS. 2a -2care schematic illustrations of an adjusting
device used in conjunction with the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the corrective chair
of the present invention with the seat tilted forward.
[0036] FIGS. 4-8 are schematic illustrations of the corrective
chair of the present invention at various positions of the
user.
[0037] FIG. 8a is a schematic illustration of the positioning
device of the present invention.
* * * * *