Seat with Pelvic Support

• US 20140183914A1
• Filed: 12/18/2013
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sava Cvek
• Original Assignee: Sava Cvek
• Inventors: Cvek, Sava
• Granted Patent: US 9,480,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/284.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/02 Seat parts adaptation of seats to mounting in tubular chairs A47C5/06; such parts not restricted to chairs A47C23/00; removable upholstered units or cushions A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/029 of non-adjustable shape adapted to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/282 with mesh-like supports, e.g. elastomeric membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 9/002 with exercising means or having special therapeutic or ergonomic effects

Abstract

A seat with pelvic support having a seat bottom, a panel of elastomeric material retained under an initial tension spanning a framework of the seat bottom, and a resiliently deflectable pelvic support structure retained in spaced relation from the panel of elastomeric material. The resiliently deflectable pelvic support structure provides supplemental support to the seat occupant when the panel of elastomeric material is sufficiently deflected. The resiliently deflectable pelvic support structure can be formed by a plurality of resiliently deflectable fingers. The fingers, which can have different deflection resistances to establish hyper-localized resistance control, can project outboard from a central member or inboard from the framework. A U-shaped rigidifying member can be secured to the framework, and a seat back can retain a support and positioning member in a fixed angular orientation relative to the seat bottom.

Claims

1. A seat with pelvic support, the seat comprising:

a seat bottom with a framework with a central area defined by an anterior portion, a posterior portion, and left and right portions;

a panel of elastomeric material retained under an initial tension spanning the framework for providing initial support to a seat occupant; and

at least one resiliently deflectable pelvic support structure retained in spaced relation from the panel of elastomeric material;

wherein the at least one resiliently deflectable pelvic support structure provides supplemental support to the seat occupant when the panel of elastomeric material is deflected to cause the panel of elastomeric material to contact the at least one resiliently deflectable pelvic support structure.

2. The seat with pelvic support of claim 1 wherein the at least one resiliently deflectable pelvic support structure comprises at least one resiliently deflectable finger retained by the framework.

3. The seat with pelvic support of claim 2 wherein there are plural resiliently deflectable fingers retained by the framework for providing supplemental support to the seat occupant.

4. The seat with pelvic support of claim 3 wherein at least one resiliently deflectable finger projects to within a left portion of the central area of the framework and at least one resiliently deflectable finger projects to within a right portion of the central area of the framework.

5. The seat with pelvic support of claim 4 wherein plural resiliently deflectable fingers project to within the left portion of the central area of the framework and plural resiliently deflectable fingers project to within the right portion of the central area of the framework.

6. The seat with pelvic support of claim 4 further comprising a longitudinally disposed central support member fixed in relation to the framework wherein the resiliently deflectable fingers project laterally outboard from the central support member.

7. The seat with pelvic support of claim 3 wherein the plural resiliently deflectable fingers have deflection resistances and wherein at least some of the plural resiliently deflectable fingers have different deflection resistances.

8. The seat with pelvic support of claim 7 wherein at least some of the plural resiliently deflectable fingers have different lengths.

9. The seat with pelvic support of claim 2 wherein the resiliently deflectable pelvic support structure further comprises a pelvic support member retained by the at least one resiliently deflectable finger.

10. The seat with pelvic support of claim 9 wherein there are plural resiliently deflectable fingers retained by the framework for providing supplemental support to the seat occupant and wherein a pelvic support member is retained by each resiliently deflectable finger.

11. The seat with pelvic support of claim 10 wherein each pelvic support member comprises a paddle-shaped tip.

12. The seat with pelvic support of claim 9 wherein there are plural resiliently deflectable fingers retained by the framework for providing supplemental support to the seat occupant and wherein plural resiliently deflectable fingers cooperate to retain the pelvic support member.

13. The seat with pelvic support of claim 12 wherein there are left and right pelvic support members and wherein plural resiliently deflectable fingers cooperate to retain each pelvic support member.

14. The seat with pelvic support of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of resiliently compressible connector joints interposed between the pelvic support member and the at least one resiliently deflectable finger.

15. The seat with pelvic support of claim 4 wherein the resiliently deflectable fingers project inboard from the framework.

16. The seat with pelvic support of claim 1 wherein there are plural resiliently deflectable pelvic support structures and wherein the resiliently deflectable pelvic support structures comprise arches.

17. The seat with pelvic support of claim 16 wherein the arches project inboard from the framework.

18. The seat with pelvic support of claim 1 further comprising a rigidifying member secured to the framework wherein the rigidifying member is U-shaped with a rear leg fixed to the posterior portion of the framework, a left leg fixed to the left portion of the framework, and a right leg fixed to the right portion of the framework whereby rigidified lateral and rear portions of the framework are established.

19. The seat with pelvic support of claim 18 wherein the rear portion and at least the posterior portions of the left and right portions of the framework are substantially rigid and the front portion of the framework is relatively flexible.

20. The seat with pelvic support of claim 18 further comprising a peripheral framework of resiliently compressible foam retained on the framework wherein the peripheral framework of resiliently compressible foam has an outer portion of relatively hard foam and an inner portion of relatively soft foam whereby the inner and outer portions cooperate to establish a cradle for a seated occupant.

21. The seat with pelvic support of claim 1 further comprising a seat back with a back frame and a panel of elastomeric material retained spanning the back frame and further comprising a support and positioning member retained in a fixed angular orientation relative to the seat bottom.

22. The seat with pelvic support of claim 21 wherein the seat back has a base plate disposed at a fixed angle in relation to the back frame and wherein the base plate is fixed to the seat bottom.

23. The seat with pelvic support of claim 22 wherein the back frame has a flexible upper portion and a rigid lower portion.

24. The seat with pelvic support of claim 21 wherein the support and positioning member is retained by the seat back wherein the back frame has peripheral upper, lower, left, and right legs that cooperate to define a central area, a left rigidifying leg fixed to the lower and left leg, and a right rigidifying leg fixed to the lower and right leg, and wherein the support and positioning member is retained by the left and right rigidifying legs.

25. The seat with pelvic support of claim 21 wherein the support and positioning member is retained posterior to the panel of elastomeric material of the seat back.

26. A seat with pelvic support, the seat comprising:

a seat bottom with a framework with a central area defined by an anterior portion, a posterior portion, and left and right portions;

a panel of elastomeric material retained under an initial tension spanning the framework for providing initial support to a seat occupant;

a seat back with a back frame and a panel of elastomeric material retained spanning the back frame; and

a support and positioning member retained posterior to the panel of elastomeric material of the seat back in a fixed angular orientation relative to the seat bottom.

27. The seat with pelvic support of claim 26 wherein the seat back has a base plate disposed at a fixed angle in relation to the back frame and wherein the base plate is fixed to the seat bottom.

28. The seat with pelvic support of claim 27 wherein the back frame has a flexible upper portion and a rigid lower portion.

29. The seat with pelvic support of claim 26 wherein the support and positioning member is retained by the seat back wherein the back frame has peripheral upper, lower, left, and right legs that define a central area, a left rigidifying leg fixed to the lower and left leg, and a right rigidifying leg fixed to the lower and right leg, and wherein the support and positioning member is retained by the left and right rigidifying legs.

30. The seat with pelvic support of claim 26 further comprising at least one resiliently deflectable pelvic support structure retained in spaced relation from the panel of elastomeric material of the seat bottom wherein the at least one resiliently deflectable pelvic support structure provides supplemental support to the seat occupant when the panel of elastomeric material of the seat bottom is deflected to cause the panel of elastomeric material to contact the at least one resiliently deflectable pelvic support structure.

31. The seat with pelvic support of claim 30 wherein the at least one resiliently deflectable pelvic support structure comprises at least one resiliently deflectable finger retained by the framework.

32. The seat with pelvic support of claim 31 wherein there are plural resiliently deflectable fingers retained by the framework for providing supplemental support to the seat occupant.

33. The seat with pelvic support of claim 32 wherein at least one resiliently deflectable finger projects to within a left portion of the central area of the framework and at least one resiliently deflectable finger projects to within a right portion of the central area of the framework.