Providing information related to the posture mode of a user applying pressure to a seat component

• US 20090058661A1
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GEOST, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GEOST, Inc.
• Inventors: Whitworth, Daniel, Ng, Vi-Vie, Cotner, Kyle, Hall, Timothy Ryan, Gleckler, Anthony D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,477,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.700
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/126 for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/222 Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4561 Evaluating static posture, e.g. undesirable back curvature A61B5/1116 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats

Abstract

A system for producing information about the posture of a user applying pressure to a seat component is provided. A sensor structure with array of sensors is connected with the seat component, with the sensors in a predetermined pattern configured to provide output signals related to predetermined posture modes of the user applying pressure to the seat component. The output of the sensors in circuit communication with a processor to provide signals to the processor related to predetermined posture modes of the user applying pressure to the seat component, and the processor provides output related to the predetermined posture modes of the user applying pressure to the seat component.

Claims

1. A system for producing information about the posture of a user applying pressure to a seat component, comprising

a. a sensor structure comprising an array of sensors connected with the seat component, at predetermined locations and in a predetermined pattern configured to provide output signals related to predetermined posture modes of the user applying pressure to the seat component,

b. the output of the sensors in circuit communication with a processor to provide signals to the processor related to predetermined posture modes of the user applying pressure to the seat component, and

c. the processor providing output related to the predetermined posture modes of the user applying pressure to the seat component.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor has an output that is in circuit communication with a posture mode indicator that provides an indication of the posture mode of the user applying pressure to the seat component.

3. A system as defined in claim 2, wherein the posture mode indicator comprises any or all of the following:

a visual output, an audio output, a vibration output, or an output that is directed to a data file.

4. A system as defined in claim 3, wherein the posture mode indicator comprises a visual display that provides pictorial information that is related to the posture mode of a user applying pressure to the seat component.

5. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern of the sensors is designed to provide output related to any or all of the following posture modes:

correct posture, hunch, slumping, leaning forward, leaning left or right, diagonal left or right, and slouching.

6. A system as defined in claim 5, wherein each sensor comprises a pressure pad in force transmitting relation with a predetermined location on the seat component, each sensor configured to receive a load applied to the predetermined portion of the seat component such that the array of sensors provides output related to any or all of the following posture modes:

correct posture, hunch, slumping, leaning forward, leaning left or right, diagonal left or right, and slouching.

7. A system as defined in claim 6, wherein each sensor includes a force transmitting member connected to and extending between the pressure pad and a predetermined location on the seat component, the force transmitting member formed of elastically deformable material and configured to spread a load applied to the predetermined portion of the component and to transmit the load substantially across the pressure pad, such that the sensor provides output related to any or all of the following posture modes:

correct posture, hunch, slumping, leaning forward, leaning left or right, diagonal left or right, and slouching.

8. A system as defined in claim 7, wherein each sensor comprises an elastically deformable member connected to one side of a flexible sheet structure that is configured such that the elastically deformable member can be connected to one part of a seat component, and the other side of the flexible sheet structure can be connected to another part of a seat component.

9. A system as defined in claim 8, wherein the flexible sheet is configured to form flexible flaps that are flexible relative to the rest of the flexible sheet, wherein each sensor comprises a pressure pad supported by a flexible flap and located in force transmitting relationship with an elastically deformable member associated with the pressure pad.

10. A system as defined in claim 6, wherein the array of sensors are connected to and disposed between a pair of flexible sheets, in a predetermined pattern, to form a preformed sensor array.

11. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein at least one of the flexible sheets has sensor locating markings thereon, to enable the sensors to be located in the predetermined pattern during assembly of the preformed sensor array.

12. A system as defined in claim 10, wherein at least one of the sheets has a wire layout that enables the array of sensors to be connected to a terminal via the wire layout.

13. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the seat component comprises a cushion and the array of sensors are connected with the cushion.

14. A system as defined in claim 12, wherein the array of sensors are located in a predetermined pattern in relation to the cushion, the predetermined pattern being designed such that the array of sensors will provide signals to the processor that are related to the predetermined posture modes.

15. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the seat component comprises the seat and/or back cushion of a chair, and wherein the array of sensors are located in predetermined patterns in the seat and/or back cushions of the chair.

16. A system as defined in claim 1, further including a calibration mechanism that enables the seat component to be calibrated to a particular user'"'"'s weight and size.

17. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the output of the processor can have a plurality of formats related to the predetermined posture modes, and a user can select the format of the output.

18. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to provide an alert when an operating condition of the system may affect the processor output in an undesirable way.

19. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the output of the processor has at least one form that informs the user that the system is reacting correctly to the user'"'"'s position on the seat component.

20. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor structure comprises a plurality of pressure pads and associate wiring connections disposed between a pair of flexible sheets, and an elastically deformable member in predetermined force transmitting relationship with a respective one of the pressure pads.

21. A system as defined in claim 20, wherein a pair of elastically deformable members are in force transmitted relationship with opposite sides of each pressure sensor, and the pair of elastically deformable members are located on opposite sides of the flexible sheets, and wherein the portions of the flexible sheets that carry the pressure pads are configured to form flexible flaps that can flex relative to the remainder of the flexible sheets.

22. A system for producing information about the posture of a user applying pressure to a seat component, comprising

a. a sensor structure comprising an array of sensors connected with the seat component, at predetermined locations and in a predetermined pattern configured to provide output signals related to predetermined posture modes of the user applying pressure to the seat component, the predetermined posture modes comprising any or all of the following posture modes:

correct posture, hunch, slumping, leaning forward, leaning left or right, diagonal left or right, and slouching,

b. the output of the sensors in circuit communication with a processor to provide signals to the processor related to predetermined posture modes of the user applying pressure to the seat component, and

c. the processor providing output related to the predetermined posture modes of the user applying pressure to the seat component.