Chair with onboard electrical power source

• US 8,016,351 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2003
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ergoCentric, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Terry Cassaday
• Inventors: Cassaday, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US10/525,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20050242635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,975 Days
• Field of Search: 297/217.3, 297/217.1, 136/291, 180/65.1, 180/907
• US Class Current: 297/217.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/022 having independently-adjustable supporting parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/744 with active means, e.g. by using air blowers or liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/748 for heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/081 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/10 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive

Abstract

A chair (1), bed, lounge or other similar type structure has electrical functions or features and also has an energy converter (21, 9, 59) which produces electrical power from conditions to which the structure is exposed on a regular basis to power the functions or features.

Claims

1. A member selected from the group of members consisting of a chair member, a bed member and a lounge member, said member including an information output device which outputs information from said member, an energy converter which converts energy to which the member is exposed to electrical energy for powering said information output device, wherein said information output device comprises a plurality of physical movement controls mounted on said member for moveable parts of said member, each said physical movement control including a sensor means to activate said information output device for outputting information to an occupant of the member regarding the directions of use of said physical movement control without producing the movements of the member.

2. A member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said energy converter comprises a solar panel provided on an exposed surface of said member.

3. A member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said information output circuitry is further linked to a biorhythm sensor.

4. A member as claimed in claim 3 including a digital display also powered by said energy converter and displaying information from said biorhythm sensor.

5. A member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said member comprises a chair and said energy converter converts motion of a moveable portion of the chair to electrical energy.

6. A member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said information output device provides audio feedback providing the directions for use of said physical movement control.

7. A member as claimed in claim 6 including a visual display also powered by said energy converter, said visual display visually displaying information to an occupant of the member regarding the directions for use of said physical movement control upon activation of said sensor means.

8. A member as claimed in claim 1 including an electrical rechargeable power pack which is charged by said energy converter, said power pack storing the electrical energy and dispersing the electrical energy as required.

9. A chair as claimed in claim 8 wherein said electrical rechargeable power pack is a rechargeable battery carried by said member, and said energy converter recharges said rechargeable battery.

10. A member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said member comprises a chair having rolling casters for generating said electrical energy.

11. A member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said member comprises a chair and said chair has a back and seat and a moveable hinge between said back and seat for generating said electrical energy.

12. A member as claimed in claim 1 further having electrically operated body repositioning means powered by said energy converter, or rechargeable power pack.

13. A member as claimed in claim 12 wherein said member comprises a chair and said body repositioning means comprises a lumbar adjustment member, and said chair further includes an electrically generated timer which provides timed interval repositioning of said lumbar adjustment members.

14. A chair having electrical power requirements for displaying information to an occupant of the chair regarding the operation of a plurality of physical movement controls for moving a plurality of parts respectively of the chair each said physical movement control including activation means for displaying said information regarding the operation of said plurality of physical movement controls without producing movement of said parts comprising:

(a) energy converter means carried by said chair for;

(i) providing power to said physical movement controls and said activation means to move the parts of the chair respectively and to display said information to the occupant regarding directions for the operation of the physical movement controls, without affecting movement of said parts, to inform the occupant to use the physical movement controls to move said parts of the chair respectively; and

(ii) providing power to a display for displaying information regarding the directions for operation of said physical movement controls without producing movements of said parts respectively.

15. A member selected from the group of members consisting of a chair member, a bed member, and a lounge member, said member including an information output device which outputs information from said member, an energy converter which converts energy to which the member is exposed to electrical energy for powering said information output device;

and a physical movement control mounted on said member for moving a part of said member, said physical movement control including activation means to activate said information output device, said information output device outputting information to an occupant of the member regarding directions of use of said physical movement control without producing the movement of the moveable part.