Active response seating system

• US 9,675,179 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2015
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• 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:
  US14/707,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20150313366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 2972841, 2972843-2849, 29745228, 29745229, 29745235, 29745237, 29723014
• 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

Novel Seats having a plurality of defined zones for supporting the human anatomy are disclosed. Seats including one or more recoil shields and/or inserts to assist in supporting or isolating certain desired portions of the human anatomy, as well as seats including both seat back structures and seat pan structures, with one or both including zoned configurations designed to support and stabilize specific structures of the human anatomy in a defined manner are also disclosed. The novel seats are useful, inter alia, for individually supporting certain anatomical areas and provide seat zones that collectively support, cradle and permit the human anatomy to be supported in a comfortable manner.

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, and a seatback lumbar vertebra complex support configured to isolate the lumbar vertebra complex 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. A contoured seat according to 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 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.

3. The contoured seat according to claim 2, wherein each seat pan support is adjustable.

4. The contoured seat according to claim 3, wherein each seat pan support is adjustable toward and away from the seated user.

5. The contoured seat according to claim 2, wherein the seat pan ischial tuberosities support has a substantially trapezoidal support surface.

6. The contoured seat according to 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.

7. The contoured seat according to claim 6, wherein the seatback sacral support is adjustable.

8. The contoured seat according to claim 7, wherein the seatback sacral support is adjustable toward and away from the seated user.

9. The contoured seat according to claim 7, wherein the seatback thoracic support is adjustable.

10. The contoured seat according to claim 9, wherein the seatback thoracic support is adjustable toward and away from the seated user.

11. The contoured seat according to claim 9, wherein said anatomical supports further comprise 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.

12. The contoured seat according to claim 11, wherein said anatomical supports further comprise and a seatback scapular support configured to isolate the scapular region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine.

13. The contoured seat of claim 12, wherein the seatback scapular support has an upper section and a lower section, the lower section being substantially narrower than the upper section.

14. The contoured seat of claim 11, 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.

15. The contoured seat according to claim 9, wherein said anatomical supports further comprise and a seatback scapular support configured to isolate the scapular region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine.

16. The contoured seat according to claim 15, wherein the seatback scapular support has an upper section and a lower section, the lower section being substantially narrower than the upper section.

17. The contoured seat of claim 2, further comprising a seatback ilium and paravertebral 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.

18. The contoured seat according to claim 1, wherein the seatback sacral support is adjustable.

19. The contoured seat according to claim 18, wherein the seatback sacral support is adjustable toward and away from the seated user.

20. The contoured seat according to claim 18, wherein the seatback lumbar vertebra complex support is adjustable.

21. The contoured seat according to claim 20, wherein the seatback lumbar vertebra complex support is adjustable toward and away from the seated user.

22. The contoured seat according to claim 20, wherein said anatomical supports further comprise a seatback ilium and para-vertebral support configured to isolate the ilium and paravertebral region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine.

23. The contoured seat according to claim 22, wherein said anatomical supports further comprise and a seatback scapular support configured to isolate the scapular region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine.

24. The contoured seat according to claim 23, wherein the seatback scapular support has an upper section and a lower section, the lower section being substantially narrower than the upper section.

25. The contoured seat according to claim 22, wherein the seatback ilium and paravertebral support has a section having a first thickness, and a section having second thickness larger than the first thickness.

26. The contoured seat according to claim 20, wherein said anatomical supports further comprise and a seatback scapular support configured to isolate the scapular region from other anatomical regions of the seated user'"'"'s spine.

27. The contoured seat according to claim 26, wherein the seatback scapular support has an upper section and a lower section, the lower section being substantially narrower than the upper section.

28. 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, and a seatback thoracic support configured to isolate the thoracic 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.

29. A contoured seat according to claim 28, 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 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.

30. The contoured seat according to claim 29, wherein each seat pan support is adjustable.

31. The contoured seat according to claim 30, wherein each seat pan support is adjustable toward and away from the seated user.

32. The contoured seat of claim 29, wherein the seat pan ischial tuberosities support has a substantially trapezoidal support surface.

33. The contoured seat of claim 29, 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.