Posture holding apparatus

• US 9,605,796 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2013
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fumoto Giken Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Fumoto Giken Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Ryouhei, Yamamoto, Yuho, Yamamoto, Naoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Allred, David E
• Application Number:
  US13/941,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20140014806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 297/316, 297/340
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03255 with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03266 with adjustable elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03272 with coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03274 of torsion type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03294 slidingly movable in the base frame, e.g. by rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/126 for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/12 Static balancing; Determining position of centre of gravity by determining imbalance G01M1/14

Abstract

A posture holding apparatus including, a base onto which a substance is placed, a supporting member being attached onto the base so that the supporting member swings between a standby state and an active state, and a swinging support member having a returning force for returning the supporting member to the standby state,

• • wherein the swinging support member is structured by a swinging member, a biasing member for applying a biasing force to the swinging member to the standby state, a liquid pressure output member for outputting liquid pressure in response to a weight of the substance, and a displacement amount adjusting member, with which a point of action of the biasing force applied from the biasing member to the supporting member is moved in response to the liquid pressure such that a distance from the pivot to the point of action changes.

Claims

1. A posture holding chair comprising:

a base onto which a substance is placed;

a supporting member which is attached onto the base so that the supporting member freely swings centering on a pivot between a standby state where the supporting member does not support the substance and an active state where the supporting member supports the substance in an inclination state, the supporting member being positioned on a side of the base; and

a swinging support member having a returning force for returning the supporting member to the standby state when the supporting member is inclined;

wherein the swinging support member is structured by

a swinging member that is supported on an oscillating shaft so as to freely rotate with respect to the oscillating shaft and that swings in conjunction with the supporting member,

a biasing member for applying a biasing force to the swinging member in a direction of return of the supporting member to the standby state,

a liquid pressure output member for outputting a liquid pressure in response to a weight of the substance placed on the base, the liquid pressure output member being positioned under the base;

a displacement amount adjusting member, with which a point of action of the biasing force applied from the biasing member to the supporting member is moved in response to a liquid pressure outputted from the liquid pressure output member such that a distance from the oscillating shaft of the swinging member to the point of action changes; and

a connecting member that bridges between the swinging member and the supporting member, and synchronizes the swinging member and the supporting member;

wherein

the biasing member is connected to a lower side of the swinging member with respect to the oscillating shaft,

a long hole lengthwise in a vertical direction is formed on an upper side of the swinging member with respect to the oscillating shaft,

a connection shaft is located in the long hole,

the connection member is connected with the connection shaft,

the point of action is the connection shaft,

a coil spring is wound around the oscillating shaft,

a fixed end of the coil spring is fixed to the swinging member, and

a working end of the coil spring abuts the connection shaft and biases the connection shaft in a direction away from the oscillating shaft.

2. The posture holding chair according to claim 1, wherein

the displacement amount adjusting member includes:

a moving member capable of varying a distance between the connection shaft and the oscillating shaft of the swinging member by reciprocating motion; and

an actuator for adjusting a displacement amount of the moving member according to a liquid pressure outputted from the liquid pressure output member.

3. The posture holding chair according to claim 1 further comprising:

a pressure transmission member for transmitting a liquid pressure from the liquid pressure output member to the displacement amount adjusting member; and

a disabling reverse transmission member provided in the pressure transmission member, the disabling reverse transmission member enabling a pressure transmission direction of the pressure transmitting medium from the liquid pressure outputting member to the displacement amount adjusting member, and disabling transmission from the displacement amount adjusting member to the liquid pressure outputting member.

4. The posture holding chair according to claim 3 further comprising:

a release member for releasing regulations of a pressure transmission direction of the disabling reverse transmission member when the supporting member returns to the standby state.

5. The posture holding chair according to claim 2, wherein the connection shaft is capable of moving along the long hole.

6. The posture holding chair according to claim 5, further comprising:

a positioning member provided with a positioning hole formed at a position corresponding to a position of the long hole, the positioning member being provided over the swinging member;

a plurality of recessed parts provided along a movement direction of the connection shaft in an inner perimeter of the positioning hole, the plurality of recessed parts being capable of engaging with the connection shaft; and

a pressing biasing member to bias the positioning member so that the recessed parts are pressed onto the connection shaft.