Active response seating system

• US 9,049,937 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2013
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Millerknoll Incorporated
• Original Assignee: track-tec Ltd
• Inventors: Walker, Brock
• Primary Examiner(s): CRANMER, LAURIE K
• Application Number:
  US13/768,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20140054940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 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: 1/1
• 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;

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 seatback sacral support is adjustable.

3. The contoured seat of claim 2, wherein the seatback sacral support is adjustable toward and away from the seated user.

4. The contoured seat of claim 2, wherein at least one of the supports selected from the group consisting of seatback lumbar vertebra complex support, seatback ilium and para-vertebral support, seatback thoracic support, and seatback scapular support is independently adjustable.

5. The contoured seat of claim 4, wherein one or more of the at least one adjustable supports is adjustable toward and away from the seated user.

6. The contoured seat of claim 4, wherein one of the at least one adjustable supports is the seatback ilium and para-vertebral support.

7. The contoured seat of claim 6, wherein one of the at least one adjustable supports is the seatback thoracic support.

8. The contoured seat of claim 7, wherein one of the at least one supports is the seatback lumbar vertebra complex support.

9. The contoured seat of claim 7, wherein one of the at least one supports is the seatback scapular support.

10. The contoured seat of claim 6, wherein one of the at least one adjustable supports is the seatback scapular support.

11. The contoured seat of claim 10, wherein one of the at least one supports is the seatback lumbar vertebra complex support.

12. The contoured seat of claim 6, wherein one of the at least one adjustable supports is the seatback lumbar vertebra complex support.

13. The contoured seat of claim 4, wherein one of the at least one adjustable supports is the seatback thoracic support.

14. The contoured seat of claim 4, wherein one of the at least one adjustable supports is the seatback scapular support.

15. The contoured seat of claim 14, wherein one of the at least one supports is the seatback lumbar vertebra complex support.

16. The contoured seat of claim 15, wherein one of the at least one adjustable supports is the seatback thoracic support.

17. The contoured seat of claim 4, wherein one of the at least one adjustable supports is the seatback lumbar vertebra complex support.

18. 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;

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