Active response seating system

• US 8,398,170 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2007
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Millerknoll Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Brock Walker
• Inventors: Walker, Brock
• Primary Examiner(s): CRANMER, LAURIE K
• Application Number:
  US12/444,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20100140998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• Field of Search: 297/284.1, 297/284.3, 2972844-2849, 297/452.28, 297/452.29, 297/452.35, 297/452.37, 297/230.14
• US Class Current: 297/284.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/029 of non-adjustable shape adapted to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/14 of adjustable shape; elastically mounted ; adaptable to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions movably-coupled seat and backrests with elastic adjustment means A47C1/03261; elastically-mounted back-rests or backrest-seat units in the base frame A47C7/44
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/144 with array of movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/40 for the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/425 Supplementary back-rests to be positioned on a back-rest or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/46 with special, e.g. adjustable , lumbar region support profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs
• CPC Class Codes: B68G 5/00 Resilient upholstery pads finished upholstery B68G11/00 ; making upholstery from plastics B29D99/0092

Abstract

A seat having a plurality of defined zones for supporting the human anatomy. The zoned seating can also include one or more recoil shields that can be one piece, multiple pieces, or can itself comprise multiple sections that correspond with the multiple zones or individual zones. The seating can also include inserts to assist in supporting or isolating certain desired portions of the human anatomy. The seating includes both seat back structures and seat pan structures, with each including a zoned configuration designed to support and stabilize specific structures of the human anatomy in a defined manner. The zones can separate independent and defined zones that are designed to be separate and act as individual anatomical support areas that collectively support, cradle and permit the human anatomy to be supported in a comfortable manner. It is preferred that the zones act and operate independently from one another. However, the zones could be arranged, for example, by size, design, formation, or the shape of construction, to interact with adjacent zones. The seat can also be formed around and/or from a molded, contoured member that itself replicates a surface taken from a multi-zoned surface which has been adjusted to fit an individual.

Claims

1. A contoured seat, comprising:

a seatback and a seat pan connected to the seatback, the seatback having anatomical supports for a seated user;

said anatomical supports comprising;

a seatback sacral support having a top portion and a bottom portion narrower than the top portion the sacral support being configured to isolate the sacral region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine, a seatback lumbar vertebra complex support configured to isolate the lumbar vertebra complex region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine, a seatback ilium and para-vertebral support configured to isolate the ilium and para-vertebral region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine, a seatback thoracic support configured to isolate the thoracic region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine, and a seatback scapular support configured to isolate the scapular region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine, each seatback support being adjustable toward and away from the seated user;

wherein the seatback lumbar vertebra complex support has a top portion having a first width, a bottom portion having a second width and an intermediate portion connecting the top portion and the bottom portion, the intermediate portion smaller than the first width and the second width.

2. The contoured seat of claim 1, wherein the seat pan has anatomical region supports for each of the seated user'"'"'s posterior pelvic regions, ischial tuberosities regions, and femur regions;

said seat pan supports including;

a seat pan posterior pelvic support configured to isolate the posterior pelvic region from other seat pan anatomical regions of the seated user;

a seat pan ischial tuberosities support to isolate the ischial tuberosities from other seat pan anatomical regions of the seated user, and a seat pan femur support to isolate the femurs from other seat pan anatomical regions of the seated user, each seat pan support being adjustable toward and away from the seated user.

3. The contoured seat of claim 2, wherein the seatback ilium and para-vertebral support has a section having a first thickness, and a section having second thickness larger than the first thickness.

4. The contoured seat of claim 2, wherein the seat pan ischial tuberosities support has a substantially trapezoidal support surface.

5. The contoured seat of claim 2, wherein the seat pan femur support has a first portion located proximate to the seat pan ischial tuberosities support and a second portion located proximate to the perimeter of the seat pan, the first portion being substantially narrower than the second portion.

6. The contoured seat of claim 2, further comprising a foam material connected to the seat pan for cushioning at least one of the seat pan supports.

7. The contoured seat of claim 1, wherein the seatback thoracic support has an upper section and a lower section, the upper section being substantially narrower than the lower section.

8. The contoured seat of claim 1, wherein the seatback scapular support has an upper section and a lower section, the lower section being substantially narrower than the upper section.

9. The contoured seat of claim 1, further comprising a foam material connected to the seatback for cushioning at least one of the seatback supports.

10. The contoured seat of claim 9 further comprising a recoil shield secured to the foam material.

11. A contoured seat, comprising:

a seatback and a seat pan connected to the seatback, the seatback having anatomical supports for a seated user;

said anatomical supports comprising;

a seatback sacral support having a top portion and a bottom portion, said bottom portion narrower than the top portion, the sacral support being configured to isolate the sacral region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine, a seatback lumbar vertebra complex configured to isolate the lumbar vertebra complex region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine, a seatback ilium and para-vertebral support configured to isolate the ilium and para-vertebral region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine, a seatback thoracic support configured to isolate the thoracic region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine, and a seatback scapular support configured to isolate the scapular region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine, each seatback support being adjustable toward and away from the seated user;

wherein the seatback thoracic support has an upper section and a lower section, the upper section being substantially narrower than the lower section.

12. A contoured seat, comprising:

a seatback and a seat pan connected to the seatback, the seatback having anatomical supports for a seated user;

said anatomical supports comprising;

a seatback sacral support having a top portion and a bottom portion, said bottom portion narrower than the top portion, the sacral support being configured to isolate the sacral region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine, a seatback lumbar vertebra complex configured to isolate the lumbar vertebra complex region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine, a seatback ilium and para-vertebral support configured to isolate the ilium and para-vertebral region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine, a seatback thoracic support configured to isolate the thoracic region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine, and a seatback scapular support configured to isolate the scapular region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine, each seatback support being adjustable toward and away from the seated user; and

the seat pan having anatomical region supports for each of the seated user'"'"'s posterior pelvic regions, ischial tuberosities regions, and femur regions;

said seat pan supports comprising;

a seat pan posterior pelvic support configured to isolate the posterior pelvic region from other seat pan anatomical regions of the seated user;

a seat pan ischial tuberosities support to isolate the ischial tuberosities from other seat pan anatomical regions of the seated user, and a seat pan femur support to isolate the femurs from other seat pan anatomical regions of the seated user, each seat pan support being adjustable toward and away from the seated user.

13. The contoured seat of claim 12, further comprising a foam material connected to the seat pan for cushioning at least one of the seat pan supports.