BALL CHAIR AND MULTIFUNCTIONAL FURNITURE
The invention relates to a chair (20) comprising a gas-filled ball (8) and a base (1) which encloses the ball (8) at least in a lower region of the ball (8), the base (1) comprising a base plate (4). The base (1) has an internal diameter which is chosen in relation to the diameter of the ball (8) in such a manner as to laterally immobilize the ball (8) in the base (1). The ball (8) is at least partially covered by a fabric or netting (7).
The subject matter of the invention is a chair and multifunctional furniture with a (sitting) ball according to the preamble of claim 1.
The present patent application claims the priority of the German Utility Model DE 20 2006 004 979 U1 which was filed on 27 Mar. 2006 in the name of the aforementioned applicant.
Sitting balls are frequently used as sitting elements, with a certain amount of danger existing in such a case because such a sitting ball is not fixed in any way and threatens to roll away. In conventional sitting balls, their mobility, lightness, tearing strength (ABS), material properties and design are predominant features.
There are also a chairs which use a sitting ball. In these cases, the sitting balls are combined with various supports to prevent the ball from rolling away. Mobile sitting balls are also known on a mobile base and sitting balls with a cylindrical support. An example is shown in the European Patent Application EP 824006 A2.
The present invention pursues the goal to arrange a chair with a sitting ball in such a way that it is secure and stable. At the same time, the respective chair shall offer more comfortable use than previous solutions and be more aesthetically pleasing.
This object is achieved for the apparatus by the features of claim 1.
The invention relates in a first embodiment to an apparatus with a cylindrical ball holder which encloses a translucent (sitting) ball in the lower region.
Office chair casters or sliders are optionally provided beneath the floor of a mobile holder. Said mobile ball has a back-projection surface and is simultaneously a light fixture, decoration, TV, night or emergency lamp which is preferably supplied with power by a rechargeable battery. The chair thus remains mobile. Embodiments are also possible in which the (sitting) ball is provided on its inside with loudspeakers, beamers, voice-activated switching parts, etc.
In the case of smaller balls, the cylindrical inner space of the base (ball holder) can be used as storage space.
The sitting ball is used on the one hand for ergonomically useful sitting and as a light fixture on the other hand in an especially preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Especially in our urban areas, and especially with young people to whom this product should appeal, housing space is usually limited. That is why multiple use is considered in the case of larger objects. Such double use is considered due to the regular light distribution as a result of the regular semi-transparent surface of the ball. By using LED lamps, power consumption is so low that a lamp with a rechargeable battery will burn without a cable over several days with a soft appealing light.
Further advantages are shown directly in the description and the pertinent drawings.
The invention is now explained in closer detail by reference to the embodiments and the drawings, wherein:
Constructional elements with the same function are provided in all figures with the same reference numerals.
A first embodiment of the invention is shown in
The (sitting) ball 8 is preferably milky opaque to approx. 75%.
As a result of this special kind of arrangement and dimensioning, the (sitting) ball cannot roll away. As an alternative to the translucent (sitting) ball 8, there is the possibility of a completely transparent (sitting) ball 8 which is covered by a translucent fabric or netting 7, as shown in
An LED lamp can be used for example as a light source/light fixture 5. An optical system is possible so that structures can be projected to the spherical surface 2 of the (sitting) ball 8 in the parallel light area. As further option, a color changer can be provided which can be actuated with a switch or remote control.
The light cone emitted by the light source/light fixture 5 is represented in
The inside of base 1 can also be partly or fully lined with a reflective surface in order to inject light of a light source/light fixture 5 located in base 1 into the (sitting) ball 8.
When the chair 20 (illuminated stool) is used as a lamp, a transparent (partial) surface 2 can be chosen. The light will then radiate to the ceiling of the room.
The lighting function of the ball surface 2 can also be controlled with polarization filters or color filters. This leads to interesting lighting effects which are highly suitable as tempered ambient lighting. In the case of clear plastic mixtures, lateral light will be refracted, which in combination with a polarizing filter will lead to adjustable rainbow color effects.
An LED lamp is preferable because it uses little power, so that a rechargeable battery 6 can operate a lamp in a cordless way for nearly a week without recharging the battery 6. The battery 6 is recharged with a recharger from the outside by means of a socket 10 for example. When colored LED lighting means are used as a lamp, the light will project color or a motif to the translucent fabric or netting 7 which acts as a projection surface.
The light distributes regularly by lighting through a translucent ball membrane.
A second embodiment of the invention is shown in
With the combination of a (sitting) ball 8 as a sitting surface and a cylindrical element 1 with a convex lamp base foot 11 (rolling-off foot), an especially dynamic rolling off is enabled on the (sitting) ball 8 because the rolling rocking movement is transmitted in a virtually friction-free manner by the convex bottom side of the lamp base foot 11. The projected light is shown in
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
Office-chair casters 3 or sliders are attached beneath or on the cylindrical base 14.
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
The membrane must be extensible by at least 10% and by 60% at the most, so that optimal mobility (dynamics) of the (sitting) ball 8 is obtained, especially laterally. Every covering fabric or every covering netting 7 needs a cutting pattern that is adjusted to its stretching properties, so that mobility (in the sense of degree of freedom) is defined precisely. Depending on the side on which the fabric or netting 7 will extend more, the shape will be changed during pressure regulation. The seating height can thus be adjusted with the change of the air quantity in the (sitting) ball 8 when the fabric or netting 7 will extend strongly in the standing direction.
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
In order to predetermine the desired sitting height, the (sitting) ball 8 must have a larger diameter in the embodiment according to
The freedom of mobility of the legs of the user is slightly smaller than in the furniture 20 according to
A lateral masking (cover) 17 of the casters or sliders 16 can be provided. Said masking (cover) 17 not only has a visual function. Once the user tilts the chair 20, the masking (cover) 17 stands on its lateral edge 18. When the chair 20 has casters instead of sliders 16, the chair 20 will thus brake immediately. The chair 20 thus becomes considerably safer.
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
Many older persons use therapeutic balls with the risk of tilting backwardly or laterally. Tilting is made impossible by the large base 19 (even without casters/sliders).
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
In any case, the degree of freedom of mobility is narrowed down in the various embodiments with increased air quantity. That is why the chair 20 in accordance with the invention preferably comprises a valve 9 in order to set mobility by filling the (sitting) ball 8 or by bleeding off air.
The special arrangement of the various bases 1 or 21 makes vertical mobility more pronounced and better adjustable than in pure (conventional) sitting balls.
Instead of a cylindrical base 4, bases with another configuration or another shape (e.g. with a square cross section) can be used (see
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
The (sitting) ball 8 of a further embodiment is shown in
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
from a certain charging voltage it will automatically access a charging station 29;
it will respond to voice and can thus be controlled via voice commands;
a multimedia PC acting as a speaking contact, phone, or control functions/control/emergency service, etc.
Such a chair is suitable for example for the public area where it can be used as an information stand for example.
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
The membrane of the (sitting) ball 8 can be made in the different embodiments of rubber, TPU, PU, PVC, etc. When the (sitting) ball 8 is enclosed with a fabric or netting 7, the membrane can be thinner than in the conventional sitting balls. When the chair is illuminated from the inside or outside, a membrane can be used whose surface is roughened from the inside or outside in order to distribute light. (Sitting) balls 8 with membranes have proven their worth which are processed by means of sandblasting. Templates can be used in sandblasting in order to provide the ball with a special visual appearance. Transparent and non-transparent regions can thus be defined on the membrane.
Claims
1. A chair (20) comprising a gas-filled ball (8) and a base (1; 21) which encloses the ball (8) at least in a lower region of the ball (8), wherein the base (1; 21) comprises a base plate (4; 19) and the base (1; 21) has an internal diameter which is chosen in relation to the diameter of the ball (8) in such a way that the ball (8) is laterally immobilized in the base (1; 21).
2. A chair (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that an extensible fabric element or netting element (7) is fastened to the base (1; 21) or in the area of the base (1; 21), which element encloses the ball (8) at least partly.
3. A chair (20) according to claim 2, characterized in that the freedom of mobility of the ball (8) is adjustable by the extensibility and shape of the fabric element or netting element (7).
4. A chair (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that a seating element or a seating surface (22) for sitting is attached to an upper region of the ball (8).
5. A chair (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that sliders (16) and/or casters (3) are attached to the base (1; 21), preferably to the base plate (4; 19) of the base (1; 21).
6. A chair (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that several stiff or elastic legs (3.1) are attached to the base (1; 21), preferably to the base plate (4; 19) of the base (1; 21).
7. A chair (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with an integrated lamp (5),
- which sits in the interior of the base (1; 21), or
- in the interior of the ball (8).
8. A chair (20) according to claim 7, characterized in that the lamp (5) can be used in a cordless manner by means of a rechargeable battery (6).
9. A chair (20) according to claim 7, characterized in that LED luminescent diodes or lasers are used as a lamp (5).
10. A chair (20) according to claim 7, characterized in that the lamp (5) has an integrated switched or remote-controlled color changer, image changer, beamer or laser.
11. A chair (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the illuminated ball (8) is transparent or translucent.
12. A chair (20) according to claim 2, characterized in that the fabric or netting (7) is translucent.
13. A chair (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the ball (8) has an internal back-projection surface and the chair (20) comprises a polarizing filter, color filter, structural filter or lens system with slide images in order to design the chair (20) in a purposeful manner by light projection to the back-projection surface.
14. A chair (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (1; 21) has a convex floor and can roll off on all sides.
15. A chair (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that a storage compartment (13) is present in the base (1; 21) which is accessible by removing the ball (8).
16. A chair (20) according to claim 7, characterized in that the ball (8) is dyed with transparent or fluorescent pigments.
17. A chair (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that a
- loudspeaker, and/or
- a radio receiver, and/or
- a TV receiver is integrated.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 26, 2007
Publication Date: Dec 16, 2010
Applicant: Sylvia Tepe-Walser (Georgsmarienhutte)
Inventor: Thomas Walser (Guttingen)
Application Number: 12/294,742
International Classification: A47C 4/54 (20060101); A47C 7/72 (20060101); A47C 7/62 (20060101);