Chair or bed member having data storage

• US 7,378,978 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2003
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ergoCentric, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Terry Cassaday
• Inventors: Cassaday, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): BUGG, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US10/374,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20030130582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,916 Days
• Field of Search: 340/667
• US Class Current: 340/667
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/022 having independently-adjustable supporting parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/126 for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0228 Hand-activated mechanical switches B60N2/0229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36463 Manual switch to drive motor to wanted position, store, memorize position
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45022 Auto seat, dentist chair, roll wheel chair

Abstract

A chair or bed member has data storage of information regarding the chair or bed member. The chair or bed member further has a sensor which senses physical movement by a person using the chair or bed member to produce an output of the information from the data storage.

Claims

1. A chair or bed member having a) moving parts;

b) controls for said moving parts; and

c) data storage means containing information regarding the member and information regarding operation of said controls further;

d) said member further having physical movement sensing means which produces an output of the information regarding the member and operation of said controls from the data storage means.

2. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said data storage means comprises a plurality of programmed computer chips, one for each control.

3. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 2 wherein said physical movement sensing means comprises a plurality of pressure sensors, said pressure sensors being located at said controls.

5. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 1 further including speakers for audibly providing the output of the information from the data storage means.

6. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said data storage means outputs to a visual display.

7. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 6 wherein said visual display is remote from said member.

8. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 6 wherein said visual display is on board the member.

11. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said data storage means comprises a computer chip and wherein said physical movement sensing means comprises a plurality of pressure sensors, one for each of said controls, the output produced by said computer chip being dependent upon selection of one of said pressure sensors.

12. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 11 wherein said member includes a speaker to audibly produce the output from said computer chip, the speaker being mounted on a board with said computer chip, the board being replaceably secured in a hidden location on said member.

13. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 12 wherein said member has a seat part and a back part, said board being hidden within a pocket high on said back part of said member.

14. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said data storage means comprises a programmed computer chip and said physical movement sensing means comprises a pressure sensor located remotely of and transmitting an air borne signal to said computer chip for producing the Output of the information from the computer chip.

4. A chair or bed member having data storage means containing information regarding the member and further having physical movement sensing means which produces an output of the information from the data storage means wherein said member has moving parts and controls for said moving parts, said data storage means containing information regarding operation of said controls wherein said controls comprise levers with paddles on said levers said pressure sensors being provided within said paddles.

9. A chair or bed member having data storage means containing information regarding the member and further having physical movement sensing means which produces an output of the information from the data storage means wherein said member has moving parts and controls for said moving parts, said data storage means containing information regarding operation of said controls wherein the data storage means contains information regarding origin of the member.

10. A chair or bed member having data storage means containing information regarding the member and further having physical movement sensing means which produces an output of the information from the data storage means wherein said member has moving parts and controls for said moving parts, said data storage means containing information regarding operation of said controls wherein the data storage means contains information regarding construction of the member.

15. A chair or bed member including moveable parts and controls which are mounted on said member and which provide movement of said moveable parts, said member further including data storage means containing instructional information regarding operating functions of said controls and physical movement sensing switch means which, when activated, produces an output of the instructional information without producing operation of said controls for said moveable parts of said member.

16. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 15 wherein said physical movement switch means comprises a plurality of switches, each of said controls being provided with one of said switches, the switches being located directly at the controls.

17. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 16 wherein said controls comprise levers with paddles on the levers, the switches comprising pressure sensors provided on the paddles of the controls.

18. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 15 wherein the output of the information comprises a visual output viewable at a visual display.

19. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 18 wherein said visual display is provided on said member.

20. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 18 wherein said visual display is located remotely of said member.

21. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 20 wherein said member has a wireless feed to said visual display.

22. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 15 wherein the output of the information comprises an audio output.

23. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 22 wherein said physical movement switch means comprises a switch at each of said controls, said audio output being provided through a plurality of speakers provided on said member, each speaker being electronically linked with an individual one of said controls.

24. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 22 wherein said audio output is provided through a single speaker.

25. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 24 wherein said speaker is mounted on board of said member.

26. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 24 wherein said speaker is located remotely of said member.

27. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 26 wherein said member has a wireless feed of said audio output from said member to said speaker.

28. A chair or bed member including data storage means for storing both instructional and operational information regarding the member and sensing means, which when activated outputs the instructional information regarding the member.

29. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 28 wherein said sensing means comprise physical movement sensing means.

30. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 29 wherein said output comprises an audio output through a speaker mounted on a board of said member.

31. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 30 wherein said data storage means has a wireless feed to said speaker.

32. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 28 wherein said output comprises a visual output through a visual display.

33. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 32 wherein said visual display is located remotely of said member.

34. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 32 wherein said visual display is provided on board of said member.

35. A chair or bed member as claimed in claim 33 wherein said data storage means has a wireless feed to said visual display.

36. A chair or bed member having:

a) moveable parts;

b) controls for said moving parts;

c) data storage means containing;

i) operational information regarding the member, and

ii) instructional information regarding the controls for said moving parts; and

d) sensing means which when activated outputs instructional information regarding the controls, wherein said member has moving parts and controls for said moving parts, said data storage means containing information regarding operation of said controls.