Ergonomic seating system, tilt-lock control and remote powering method and apparatus

• US 10,390,620 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2018
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Labrosse, Jean-Paul, Sullivan, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Toan N
• Application Number:
  US16/115,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20180360218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 3405731, 3405737, 3405861
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0062 Electronically user-adaptable, height-adjustable desk or table
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/00 Tables with tops of variable height lecterns with variable height A47B19/06; school forms or desks with variable height A47B39/02, A47B41/02; seats with variable height A47C3/20
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/20 Telescopic guides
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0242 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/30 with vertically-acting fluid cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/004 for chairs or stools with central column, e.g. office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/006 with castors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/467 adjustable by fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/54 Supports for the arms
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/725 for illumination, e.g. lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/727 with speakers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/748 for heating
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/402 characterised by control arrangements for positioning, e.g. centring a tool relative to a hole in the workpiece, additional detection means to correct position G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/406 characterised by monitoring or safety G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45022 Auto seat, dentist chair, roll wheel chair

Abstract

A system for supporting a user in a plurality of ergonomic positions that includes a first assembly and a second, separate assembly. The first assembly includes first and second components that are adjustable to support the user in first and second different postures. The second assembly includes separate first and second components that are adjustable to support the user in the first and second postures. Upon the relative position of the second assembly first and second components being changed from the first to the second position, a second assembly processor transmits a wireless signal to a receiver of the first assembly. Upon receiving the wireless signal, a first assembly processor controls an actuator to adjust the position of the first assembly first and second components from the first position to the second position.

Claims

1. A work environment adjustment system for supporting a user in a plurality of ergonomic positions, the system comprising:

a first assembly having at least first and second components that are adjustable between at least first and second relative positions to support the user in first and second different postures, the first assembly further including a processor, an actuator and a wireless receiver;

a second assembly separate from the first assembly and including a furniture assembly, the furniture assembly including at least first and second components that are adjustable between at least first and second relative positions to support the user in the first and second different postures, the second assembly further including a processor and a wireless transmitter;

wherein, upon the relative position of the second assembly first and second components being changed from the first position to the second position, the second assembly processor transmits a wireless signal to the receiver;

wherein, upon receiving the wireless signal at the receiver, the first assembly processor controls the actuator to adjust the position of the first assembly first and second components from the first position to the second position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the second assembly includes a chair and the second assembly first component includes a first chair component and the second assembly second component includes a second chair component.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the second assembly first component includes a seat and the second assembly second component includes a backrest.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the first position includes the backrest in an upright position and the second position includes the backrest in a reclined position.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the first assembly is adjustable so that the first assembly first and second components can be positioned in at least three relative positions, the second assembly is adjustable so that the second assembly first and second components can be positioned in at least three relative positions, and wherein the first assembly first and second component position is adjusted as a function of the second assembly first and second component positions.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the position of the second assembly first and second components is manually adjustable by the user.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the second assembly processor runs a software program that automatically identifies a series of times at which to change the position of the second assembly first and second component positions, and, wherein, at the identified times, the second assembly processor automatically adjusts the component positions.

8. A work environment adjustment system for supporting a user in a plurality of ergonomic positions, the system comprising:

a first furniture assembly including at least first and second components that are adjustable between at least first and second relative positions to support the user in first and second different postures, the first furniture assembly further including a processor, a sensor for sensing relative juxtapositions between the first and second components and generating a sensor signal indicating the relative juxtaposition, and a wireless transceiver, the processor programmed to use sensor signal to determine at least one time at which to change the position of the first and second components form the first position to the second position;

a second furniture assembly separate from the first assembly and including a user interface, a processor and a transceiver;

wherein, upon the first furniture assembly processor determining that the position of the first and second components should be changed from the first position to the second position, the first furniture assembly processor transmits a wireless signal to the second furniture assembly transceiver and, upon the second furniture assembly transceiver receiving the signal from the first furniture assembly processor, the second furniture assembly processor presents an indication to a user via the interface to encourage a position change.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the first furniture assembly is a chair.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the first and second components include a chair seat and a chair backrest.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the second furniture assembly is a table assembly.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the interface is presented within a top surface of a table assembly tabletop.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the interface presents multiple options for adjusting the first furniture assembly.

14. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the first furniture assembly further includes an actuator for changing the positions of the first and second components, the interface including at least one input selectable to initiate a change in the positions of the first and second components and, wherein, upon receiving an input via the interface to initiate a change, the second furniture processor transmits a wireless signal to the first furniture assembly transceiver and the first furniture assembly processor controls the actuator to initiate the change.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the interface includes at least a second input for rejecting a suggested change.

16. The system of claim 8 wherein the first furniture assembly further includes a second interface and wherein the user can accept or reject a suggested change via the second interface.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the second interface includes a sensor for sensing movement of at least one first furniture assembly component with respect to at least another first furniture assembly component.

18. The system of claim 8 wherein the first furniture assembly includes at least third and fourth components that are adjustable between at least third and fourth relative positions to support the user in different postures, the first furniture assembly further including a second sensor for sensing the relative juxtapositions between the third and fourth components and generating a sensor signal indicating the relative juxtaposition, the processor programmed to use sensor signals from the second sensor to determine at least one time at which to change the position of the third and fourth components from the third position to the fourth position;

wherein, upon the first furniture assembly processor determining that the position of the third and fourth components should be changed from the third position to the fourth position, the first furniture assembly processor transmits a wireless signal to the second furniture assembly transceiver and, upon the second furniture assembly transceiver receiving the signal from the first furniture assembly processor regarding the third and fourth component position, the second furniture assembly processor presents an indication to a user via the interface to encourage a position change between the third and fourth components.

19. A work environment adjustment system for supporting a user in a plurality of ergonomic positions, the system comprising:

a first assembly having at least first and second components that are adjustable between at least first and second relative positions to support the user in first and second different postures, the first assembly further including a processor, an actuator and a wireless receiver;

a chair assembly including at least first and second components that are adjustable between at least first and second relative positions to support the user in the first and second different postures, the chair assembly further including a processor and a wireless transmitter;

wherein, upon the relative position of the chair assembly first and second components being changed from the first position to the second position, the chair assembly processor transmits a wireless signal to the receiver;

wherein, upon receiving the wireless signal at the receiver, the first assembly processor controls the actuator to adjust the position of the first assembly first and second components from the first position to the second position.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the chair assembly first component includes a seat and the chair assembly second component includes a backrest.