Seat with a non-vertical central supporting column and tri-planar moveable base

• US 20110109141A1
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mary Ann Molnar
• Original Assignee: Mary Ann Molnar
• Inventors: Molnar, Mary Ann
• Granted Patent: US 8,646,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/344.21
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/004 for chairs or stools with central column, e.g. office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/029 of non-adjustable shape adapted to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 9/007 High stools, e.g. bar stools children's high chairs A47D1/00

Abstract

An ergonomic pedestal seat that interacts with the sitter'"'"'s musculoskeletal system in a way that optimizes their use of gravitational forces is provided. This seat orients a sitter toward an alignment that encourages a balance between gravity'"'"'s descending force and its ascending counterforce, the ground reaction force. The seat comprises a four-tier seat base, a non-vertical central supporting column and a contoured seat pan. The base has a surface that allows the sitter to sustain a stable alignment and to rock forward or sideward or both, as well as a Lazy Susan mechanism that permits turning. This seat supports the sitter through a range of seated activities, including quiet activities such as meditation and complex tasks requiring reaching, bending and turning. When on this seat sitting becomes a source of pleasure rather than an activity of drudgery.

Claims

1. A seat having a non-vertical central supporting column and tri-planar moveable base comprising:

a four tier base, a non-vertical central supporting column and a contoured seat pan.

2. The seat of claim 1 wherein the four tier base comprises a bottom tier, a Lazy Susan mechanism, a middle tier and a top tier.

3. The seat of claim 2 wherein the bottom tier is essentially round, and comprises a flat bottom surface and a flat top surface, and wherein the flat bottom surface of the bottom tier contacts the floor or ground, and wherein the top surface of the bottom tier is attached to the bottom surface of the Lazy Susan mechanism.

4. The seat of claim 2 wherein the Lazy Susan mechanism is attached to the top surface of the bottom tier.

5. The seat of claim 2 wherein the middle tier has an essentially flat top surface and an essentially flat bottom surface and the bottom surface of the middle tier is attached to the top surface of the Lazy Susan mechanism and the top surface of the middle tier is attached the bottom surface of the top tier such that the center of the Lazy Susan mechanism and the center of the bottom tier and the center of the middle tier are congruent, and wherein the middle tier is essentially round, and the diameter of the middle tier is essentially equal to or less than the diameter of the bottom tier.

6. The seat of claim 2 wherein the top tier has a contoured bottom surface and a top surface and the contoured bottom surface of the top tier is attached to the top surface of the middle tier, and wherein the top tier is essentially round is essentially equal to or less than the diameter of the middle tier, and wherein the contoured bottom surface of the top tier is symmetrically contoured with respect to the sagittal plane, from right to left, and asymmetrically contoured with respect to the frontal plane, from front to back, and the top surface of the top tier is essentially flat except for an indented central region wherein this region is cut at a slight angle, sloping downward about 2 degrees from the back to the front of the top tier.

7. The seat of claim 1 wherein the non-vertical central supporting column comprises three components:

a) a gas cylinder mount comprised of an internally tapered tube welded to a flat circular base, wherein the base is approximately seven inches in diameter, with holes for screws or other attachment means, evenly spaced on the circumference, and wherein the mount fits into an indented central region on the top surface of the top tier;

b) a gas cylinder; and

c) a gas cylinder release and seat pan mounting unit.

8. The seat of claim 1 wherein the contoured seat pan has a top surface and a bottom surface and wherein the top surface of the contoured seat pan slopes slightly downward from the posterior and anterior aspects at an angle of approximately two degrees and further wherein the top surface of the contoured seat pan comprises five additional contours;

a) Posterior Sacrum/Coccyx Supporting Surface;

b) Right and Left “

sit bone”

Concave Contours;

c) Central Pelvic Floor Indentation;

d) Right and Left Lateral Upper Thigh Supports; and

e) Elevated Midline Contour; and

wherein

the bottom surface of the contoured seat pan has two indentations;

one to the front of the seat pan, known as the anterior indentation on the bottom surface of the contoured seat pan and one to the back of the seat pan, known as the posterior indentation on the bottom surface of the contoured seat pan, which indentations are finger holds for moving the seat from location to location, and wherein

the seat pan is shaped in a triangular configuration, with an increase in width at the front of the seat to accommodate the shape of the combined pelvis and thighs, and wherein the back edge of the seat pan is higher than the than the front edge, thus creating an approximately two degree tilt within the seat pan itself.

9. The seat of claim 8, wherein the seat pan comprises a sacrum-supporting surface to the back of the seat that molds the shape of the buttocks and provides a surface for the sacrum to rest against.

10. The seat of claim 8, further comprising side edges wherein the side edges of the seat pan are slightly tilted toward the center of the seat pan, thus encouraging the thighs to fall forward from the hip joint rather that in an open or abducted pathway.

11. The seat of claim 8 wherein the top surface of the contoured seat pan further comprises a small indentation to receive the “

sit bones”

of a sitter, and further wherein in front of this indentation is slight rise to support the length of the thigh just anterior to the “

sit bones.”

12. The seat of claim 1 wherein the four tier base comprises a bottom tier having a top surface and a bottom surface, a Lazy Susan mechanism having a top surface and a bottom surface, a middle tier having a top surface and a bottom surface and a top tier having a contoured bottom surface and a top surface, and wherein the bottom surface of the bottom tier is smooth, and wherein the top surface of the bottom tier is attached to the bottom surface of the Lazy Susan mechanism, the top surface of the Lazy Susan Mechanism is attached to the bottom surface of the middle tier, the top surface of the middle tier is attached to the contoured bottom surface of the top tier and the top surface of the top tier is attached to the non-vertical supporting column, and further wherein the tiers are of equal or decreasing diameters from the bottom up, and the centers of top tier and middle tier are congruent.