Design template

• US 6,840,125 B1
• Filed: 10/10/1997
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Original Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Inventors: Kerr, Robert, Cui, Yuntao, Brodeur, Raymond, Neal, Douglas, Rayes, Khaldoun, Reynolds, Herbert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US08/949,213
• Time in Patent Office: 2,650 Days
• Field of Search: 731/72, 738/654, 738/664, 335/611, 335/613, 335/12, 297/181, 297/463.2, 280/801.1, 280/808
• US Class Current: 73/866.4
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/126 for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/00 Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for of radio sets, television sets, telephones, stowing or holding appliances , safety belts or the like B60R

Abstract

A design template includes a torso section being one of a group of a 95^th percentile male, 50^th percentile male and 5^th percentile female having each being one of a group of an ERECT posture, a NEUTRAL posture and a SLUMPED posture.

Claims

1. A design template comprising:

a torso for at least one of designing, evaluating and measuring human occupant accommodation being one of a group comprising a 95^th percentile male, 50^th percentile male and 5^th percentile female having each being one of a group comprising an ERECT posture, a NEUTRAL posture and a SLUMPED posture, said torso containing indicia of skeletal landmarks relative to a seated human body occupant.

2. A design template as set forth in claim 1 wherein said torso has a portion of an outer contour conforming to a deformed shape of an interface contour between a seat and a seated occupant.

3. A design template as set forth in claim 2 wherein said torso includes anatomical details located relative to each other and the interface contour is located relative to said anatomical details.

4. A design template as set forth in claim 1 wherein said torso is made of a sheet of a rigid material.

5. A design template as set forth in claim 1 wherein said torso includes indicia of skeletal landmarks for a shoulder joint and a hip joint and an axis connected therebetween.

6. A design template as set forth in claim 1 wherein said torso includes a centerline projection of a pelvis with indicia representing an ischial tuberosity, anterior superior iliac spine, pubic symphysis and sacrum.

8. A design template as set forth in claim 1 wherein said torso includes an angular scale for torso angle.

9. A design template as set forth in claim 1 wherein said torso includes an angular scale for hip angle.

10. A design template as set forth in claim 1 wherein said torso has an anterior shape that is anthropometrically and anatomically correct.

12. A design template as set forth in claim 1 including a thigh connected to said torso.

13. A design template as set forth in claim 12 wherein said thigh is one of a group comprising a 95^th percentile male, 50^th percentile male and 5^th percentile female.

14. A design template as set forth in claim 12 wherein said thigh is made of a sheet of a rigid material.

15. A design template as set forth in claim 12 including a hinge at a hip joint to connect said thigh to said torso.

16. A design template as set forth in claim 12 wherein said thigh includes indicia of a hip joint and knee joint and an axis therebetween.

17. A design template as set forth in claim 12 wherein said torso and said thigh are geometrically congruent in a seated posture where they overlap on a seat cushion.

18. A design template as set forth in claim 12 wherein said thigh has a deformed bottom contour representing a change from hard bone tissue to soft muscle tissue in contact with a seat cushion.

19. A design template as set forth in claim 12 wherein said thigh includes indicia of a pointer for hip angle and an angular scale for knee angle.

20. A design template as set forth in claim 12 including a calf connected to said thigh.

21. A design template as set forth in claim 20 wherein said calf is one of a group comprising a 95^th percentile male, 50^th percentile male and 5^th percentile female.

22. A design template as set forth in claim 20 wherein said calf is made of a sheet of a rigid material.

23. A design template as set forth in claim 20 including a hinge at a knee joint to connect said calf to said thigh.

24. A design template as set forth in claim 20 wherein said calf includes indicia of a knee joint and ankle joint and an axis therebetween.

25. A design template as set forth in claim 20 wherein said calf includes indicia of a pointer for knee angle and a scale for ankle angle.

26. A design template as set forth in claim 20 wherein said calf and said thigh are geometrically congruent in a seated posture where they overlap on anterior and superior surfaces.

27. A design template as set forth in claim 20 including a shoe connected to said calf.

28. A design template as set forth in claim 27 wherein said shoe is one of a group comprising a 95^th percentile male, 50^th percentile male and 5^th percentile female.

29. A design template as set forth in claim 27 wherein said shoe is made of a sheet of a rigid material.

30. A design template as set forth in claim 27 including a hinge at an ankle joint to connect said shoe to said calf.

31. A design template as set forth in claim 27 wherein said shoe includes indicia for an ankle joint and a pointer for an ankle angle.

32. A design template as set forth in claim 27 wherein said shoe has an axis from a ball of foot to heel of foot inside a shoe.

7. A design template comprising:

a torso for at least one of designing, evaluating and measuring human occupant accommodation being one of a group comprising a 95^th percentile male, 50^th percentile male and 5^th percentile female having each being one of a group comprising an ERECT posture, a NEUTRAL posture and a SLUMPED posture, wherein said torso includes indicia of spinal landmarks marked along a back portion thereof.

11. A design template comprising:

a torso for at least one of designing, evaluating and measuring human occupant accommodation being one of a group comprising a 95^th percentile male, 50^th percentile male and 5^th percentile female having each being one of a group comprising an ERECT posture, a NEUTRAL posture and a SLUMPED posture, wherein said torso includes indicia for a shoulder joint, neck/shoulder junction and a sternum.