Adjustable chair station and method of use

• US 20070035164A1
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Perry North
• Original Assignee: Perry North
• Inventors: North, Perry
• Application Number:
  US11/502,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20070035164A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/217.100
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0242 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03 the parts being arm-rests conversion into a bed A47C17/12
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 15/004 Seating furniture for specified purposes not covered by main groups A47C1/00 or A47C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/0251 driven by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/0257 slidingly movable in the base frame, e.g. by rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/18 Chairs or stools with rotatable seat adjustable in height by rotation A47C3/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/541 of adjustable type adjustable arm-rests of reclining or easy chairs A47C1/03
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/70 of foldable type
• 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 7/723 with display screens

Abstract

Described herein are embodiments of an adjustable chair station. In one embodiment, an adjustable chair station can include a base member fixedly coupled to a stationary object and a carriage rotatably coupled to the base member. The chair station can also include a seat assembly having a seat member swivelably coupled to the carriage, a leg member pivotally coupled to a front portion of the seat member, and a back member slidably coupled to a back portion of the seat member. The back member can be slidable along the seat member in a direction extending substantially parallel to the seat member. The chair station can also include a headrest member slidably coupled to the back member and an armrest member slidably coupled to the back member at a location intermediate the headrest member and the seat member. The headrest and armrest members can be slidable in a direction extending substantially parallel to the back member.

Claims

1. An adjustable chair comprising:

a base member fixedly coupled to a stationary object;

a carriage rotatably coupled to the base member;

a seat assembly comprising;

(A) a seat member swivelably coupled to the carriage, the seat member having a

front portion and a back portion generally opposite the front portion;

(B) a leg member pivotally coupled to the front portion of the seat member; and

(C) a back member slidably coupled to the back portion of the seat member,

wherein the back member is slidable along the seat member in a direction

extending substantially parallel to the seat member;

a headrest member slidably coupled to the back member and slidable in a direction extending substantially parallel to the back member; and

an armrest member slidably coupled to the back member at a location intermediate the headrest member and the seat member, the armrest member being slidable in a direction extending substantially parallel to the back member.

2. The adjustable chair of claim 1, further comprising a visual interface support pivotally coupled to the headrest member, the visual interface support comprising at least one visual interface device.

3. The adjustable chair of claim 1, wherein the armrest member comprises a pair of armrests and a user input device support surface extendable between the armrests.

4. The adjustable chair of claim 2, wherein the armrest member comprises a pair of armrests and a user input device support surface extendable between the armrests.

5. The adjustable chair of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

an actuator coupled to the seat member and the carriage;

an actuator coupled to the leg member and the front portion;

an actuator coupled to the back member and seat member;

an actuator coupled to the headrest member and the back member; and

an actuator coupled to the armrest member and the back member.

6. The adjustable chair of claim 5, further comprising a controller in electrical communication with at least one of the actuators, wherein the controller is selectively controllable to activate at least one of the actuators.

7. The adjustable chair of claim 5, wherein the back support member comprises at least one actuator aperture, and wherein a portion of at least one of (i) the actuator coupled to the headrest member and the back member and (ii) the actuator coupled to the armrest member and the back member penetrates the at least one actuator aperture.

8. The adjustable chair of claim 6, wherein the controller comprises a memory for storing a predetermined position of at least one of:

the seat member relative to the carriage;

the leg member relative to the seat member;

the back member relative to the seat member;

the headrest member relative to the back member; and

the armrest member relative to the back member.

9. The adjustable chair of claim 1, further comprising:

an actuator coupled to the seat member and the carriage;

an actuator coupled to the leg member and the front portion;

an actuator coupled to the back member and seat member;

an actuator coupled to the headrest member and the back member; and

an actuator coupled to the armrest member and the back member.

10. The adjustable chair of claim 1, wherein an angle defined between the seat member and the back member is fixed.

11. The adjustable chair of claim 1, further comprising an actuator coupled to the carriage and the base member, wherein the carriage is rotatably coupled to the base member and capable rotating at least 360-degrees about the base member via the actuator.

12. A computer station comprising:

a seat assembly comprising;

(A) a seat member having a front portion and a back portion generally opposite

the front portion; and

(B) a back support member slidably coupled to the back portion of the seat

member and extending away from the seat member at a predetermined angle

relative the seat member;

wherein a length of the seat member is defined as a distance between the front

portion of the seat member and the back support member, wherein the back

support member is slidable along the seat member to adjust the length of the seat

member while maintaining the back support member at the predetermined angle

relative to the seat member.

an armrest member coupled to the seat assembly, the armrest member comprising a user input device; and

a visual interface support member coupled to the seat assembly, the visual interface support comprising a visual interface device in communication with the user input device.

13. The computer station of claim 12, wherein the seat assembly further comprises an actuator having a first end coupled to the seat member and a second end movable relative to the first end coupled to the back support member, wherein the second end of the actuator is movable relative to the first end of the actuator to slidably move the back support member substantially linearly along the seat member.

14. The computer station of claim 13, further comprising an electronic controller in electrical communication with the actuator, wherein the controller is operable to selectively activate the actuator to move the back support member relative to the seat member.

15. The computer station of claim 12, wherein the seat member comprises a back support member aperture and the back support member comprises a tab penetrating the back support member aperture, wherein the tab is coupled to a first end of an actuator with the second end of the actuator being coupled to the seat member, such that activation of the actuator moves the tab translationally within the aperture.

16. The computer station of claim 12, wherein the back support member comprises a front surface, a back surface and a pair of opposing and substantially vertically extending side surfaces intermediate the front and back surfaces, wherein the back support member further comprises guide rails coupled to and extending a length of the side surfaces.

17. The computer station of claim 16, wherein the armrest member comprises an armrest support frame having a first end portion from which a first armrest extends, a second end portion from which a second armrest extends, and guide rail couplers positioned between the first and second armrests, wherein the back support member is positioned within a space defined between the first and second armrests and the armrest support plate such that the guide rail couplers are slidably engageable with respective guide rails of the back support member such that the armrest support frame is slidably movable proximate the back surface of the back support.

18. The computer station of claim 16, wherein the visual interface support member comprises a visual interface support frame having at least one pair of guide rail couplers and a head support, wherein the couplers are slidably engageable with respective guide rails of the back support member such that the visual interface support frame is slidably movable proximate the front surface of the back support.

19. The computer station of claim 18, wherein the head support comprises a pneumatically inflatable bladder.

20. The computer station of claim 12, wherein the back support member comprises a lumbar support having a pneumatically inflatable bladder.

21. The computer station of claim 12, wherein the visual interface support member comprises a visual interface support bar pivotally coupled to the support frame and pivotable between an open and closed position, the visual interface support bar having at least one visual interface device coupled thereto.

22. The computer station of claim 12, further comprising a carriage coupled to the seat member, the carriage comprising two spaced-apart substantially vertically extending plates each having a generally semi-circular shaped channel, and the seat member comprising two spaced-apart substantially vertically extending plates each having a set of multiple guides arranged in a generally semi-circular shaped configuration corresponding to the generally semi-circular shaped channel of the substantially vertically extending plates of the carriage, wherein each set of multiple guides is engageable with, movable along and containable within a respective channel of the substantially vertically extending plates of the carriage such that the seat member is pivotable about a horizontal axis relative to the carriage.

23. An adjustable chair station for supporting a user in an ergonomically proper position comprising:

a seat assembly comprising a seat portion coupled to a back portion and a leg portion, the back portion being coupled an armrest portion and a headrest portion;

means for adjusting the inclination of the seat assembly;

means for adjusting a length of the seat portion;

means for linearly adjusting the armrest portion relative to the back portion;

means for linearly adjusting the headrest portion relative to the back portion; and

means for angularly adjusting the leg portion relative to the seat portion.

24. The adjustable chair station of claim 23, further comprising means for electronically controlling at least one of the:

(A) means for a means for adjusting the inclination of the seat assembly;

(B) means for adjusting the length of the seat portion;

(C) means for linearly adjusting the armrest portion relative to the back portion;

(D) means for linearly adjusting the headrest portion relative to the back portion;

and

(E) means for angularly adjusting the leg portion relative to the seat portion.

25. The adjustable chair station of claim 23, further comprising means for electronically controlling the:

(A) means for a means for adjusting the inclination of the seat assembly;

(B) means for adjusting the length of the seat portion;

(C) means for linearly adjusting the armrest portion relative to the back portion;

(D) means for linearly adjusting the headrest portion relative to the back portion;

and

(E) means for angularly adjusting the leg portion relative to the seat portion.

26. The adjustable chair station of claim 23, further comprising means for supporting an electronic user input device in a position easily accessible by a user.

27. The adjustable chair station of claim 23, further comprising means for supporting a visual interface device in a position easily viewable by a user.

28. The adjustable chair station of claim 27, further comprising means for pivotally adjusting the means for supporting a visual interface device between an open and closed position.

29. The adjustable chair station of claim 23, further comprising recognition means for identifying a user and means for electronically controlling at least one of the (A) means for a means for adjusting the inclination of the seat assembly, (B) means for adjusting the length of the seat portion, (C) means for linearly adjusting the armrest portion relative to the back portion, (D) means for linearly adjusting the headrest portion relative to the back portion, and (E) means for angularly adjusting the leg portion relative to the seat portion, to place the seat assembly into a configuration corresponding to the body proportions of an identified user.

30. The adjustable chair station of claim 23, further comprising means for rotating the seat assembly about a central vertical axis of the seat assembly.