DESK AND CHAIR COMBINATION DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR ITS USE
The present device is a chair desk combination device configured to provide a lounge chair comprising a reclined backrest and a substantially flat footrest for relaxing and a desk/chair combination configured to support an ergonomic posture and flat surface for working. The present device can comprise a cushion having a backrest, seat section, middle section and footrest, wherein the footrest can function as a desk. This cushion can be supported by a pedestal, which can conform to the shape of the cushion.
This application claims benefit to provisional application No. 61/911,988 filed Dec. 4, 2013, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present device relates to a chair that can be used as both a desk that promotes proper ergonomic body position, as well as a lounge chair that can be used to recline with a supportive backrest and an elevated footrest.
BACKGROUNDTraditionally, a separate desk and chair are used to provide a work station for use with computers or other writing and drafting implements. However, with the increasing use of tablets and laptop computers, users of these technologies have migrated to using only a chair or couch for many of the same activities as this tends to be more convenient and comfortable for many users. Health problems created by the non-ergonomic use of these devices on a person's lap, include strained muscles and tendons, which can lead to chronic pain and injury, particularly to the back and wrists. Additionally, a person using a tablet computer or laptop on a couch or with a chair alone does not have the ability to handwrite anything because there is no firm supporting surface to be used for this purpose.
Several designs have been made to include a desk with a chair. These combinations provide a hard surface for working on the computer, or writing, as well as a place to sit. The most common of these solutions is a desk that is folded along the side of a chair. The desk can be moved to a usable position or stowed for use of the chair alone. Additionally, a multitude of portable hard surfaces have been developed for use as a desk with common chairs and/or couches. These designs generally include a pillow-type surface on the bottom side of a desk-like surface. This pillow-type surface can be placed on the legs of a user as they sit allowing for the use of the hard desk surface on the user's lap. None of these solutions encourage the user to be in an ergonomic position while he or she works on the desk surface. Additionally, none of the combination desk and chairs, which are currently known, can provide both a backrest configured to support a comfortable lounging position and an integrated footrest when the integrated desk is not in use as a desk.
Therefore, what is needed is a combination desk and chair that encourages a user to sit in an ergonomically proper position while he or she is using the desk surface and also provides a comfortable footrest and backrest when the user desires a break from working at the desk surface. Additionally, the design of such a desk and chair combination should be both simple to manufacture and aesthetically pleasing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe above aspects can be achieved by a desk and chair combination device comprising: a cushion; the cushion comprising a backrest section connected to a seat section; the cushion also comprising a middle section, comprising one or more notches, connected to the seat section; and the cushion also comprising a substantially flat footrest section connected to the middle section.
The above aspects can also be achieved by a desk and chair combination device comprising: a cushion; the cushion comprising a backrest section connected to a seat section; the cushion also comprising a middle section, comprising one or more notches, connected to the seat section; the cushion also comprising a substantially flat footrest section connected to the middle section; and a pedestal configured to support the cushion.
The above aspects can also be achieved by a method for using a desk and chair combination device the method comprising: providing a desk and chair combination device, the desk and chair combination device comprising: a cushion; the cushion comprising a backrest section connected to a seat section; the cushion also comprising a middle section, comprising one or more notches, connected to the seat section; and the cushion also comprising a substantially flat footrest section connected to the middle section; providing a user; providing a work article; the user placing one leg in a first notch and a second leg in the second notch; placing a work article on the footrest section; and the user working on the work article.
Further features and advantages of the present device, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present device, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.
The present desk and chair combination device is versatile and can be used as either a lounge chair or a desk. When in use as a desk, the user can sit in an upright position, with both feet resting on the floor. In this position, the user's legs can extend through notches that can be located behind the footrest as he or she sits facing the footrest, which can act as the desk surface. In an embodiment, the footrest can be both smooth and hard, providing a surface suitable for working on a laptop computer, handwriting on paper, and performing any other similar task typically performed on a desk or table. In this configuration, the user's back does not touch the backrest and the relative location of each element comprising the desk and chair combination can promote the ergonomic positioning of the user.
At times when the user does not need to use a desk surface, the footrest can be used as a footrest and the backrest can also be utilized to allow the user to recline in a comfortable position. Although this reclining position is generally understood to be the relaxing position, the user can still utilize a tablet or laptop computer while in this position.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
According to an embodiment, the user 107 can sit on the seat section 104 and lean back placing his or her back against the backrest 103. The user 107 can then decide which location would be most comfortable to place his or her feet. For example, the user 107 can straddle the middle section 105, placing one leg in each notch 108 and resting his or her feet on the floor 110. This type of positioning could allow any work items (not pictured) to remain on the footrest section 106 if necessary.
Alternatively, the user 107 can also place his or her feet on the footrest section 106 by moving his or her feet from resting on the floor 110 to a location on top of the footrest section 106. Likewise, a single foot can be raised onto the footrest section 106 with the other foot remaining on the floor 110. The backrest 103 can be configured to hold the user 107 at an angle comfortable for watching a screen located in front of the desk and chair combination 100. Additionally, when being used as a chair, the apparatus can be sufficiently comfortable and secure so that the user feels comfortable sleeping without having to worry about the desk and chair combination 100 tipping over.
The seat section 104 can comprise a curved shape wherein the back of the seat section 320 and the front of the seat section 321 can be identical and a line tangent to the bottom and center of the seat section 321 can be parallel to the floor 110. The back of the seat section 320 can be connected to the backrest as described above and the front of the seat section 321 can seamlessly connect to the middle section 105. The connection between the front of the seat section 321 and the middle section 105 can be at an angle approximately 90 degrees to 180 degrees according to an embodiment.
According to an embodiment, the middle section 105 can be mostly linear and comprise two or more notches (identified as “108” in
According to an embodiment, the pedestal 101 can be comprised of at least one first leg 330, at least one second leg 331 and a support arm 332. The first leg 330 can be substantially vertical and can extend from the floor 110 to a location located on an underside of the backrest 340. The second leg 331 can also be substantially vertical and can extend from the floor 110 to a location located on an underside of the footrest 341. The pedestal 101 can also comprise a support arm 332 that can connect the first leg 330 to the second leg 331.
Additionally, the support arm 332 comprising the pedestal 101 can be located along the bottom of the entire length of the cushion 102 between the first support leg 330 and the second support leg 331. In an embodiment, the shape of the support arm 332 can correspond to the curvature of the cushion 102 providing support to the cushion 102 throughout its entire length according to an embodiment. The support arm 332 can provide stability, as well as an aesthetically pleasing design.
Although the present desk and chair combination device has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the present desk and chair combination device, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the present device.
Claims
1. A desk and chair combination device comprising:
- a cushion;
- the cushion comprising a backrest section connected to a seat section;
- the cushion also comprising a middle section, the middle section comprising one or more notches, the middle section connected to the seat section; and
- the cushion also comprising a substantially flat footrest section connected to the middle section.
2. The desk and chair combination device recited in claim 1, wherein the backrest section connects to the seat section at an angle between 90 degrees and 180 degrees.
3. The desk and chair combination device recited in claim 1, wherein the seat section connects to the middle section at an angle between 90 degrees and 180 degrees.
4. The desk and chair combination device recited in claim 1, wherein the middle section connects to the footrest section at an angle between 200 degrees and 270 degrees.
5. A desk and chair combination device comprising:
- a cushion;
- the cushion comprising a backrest section connected to a seat section;
- the cushion also comprising a middle section, the middle section comprising one or more notches, the middle section connected to the seat section;
- the cushion also comprising a substantially flat footrest section connected to the middle section; and
- a pedestal configured to support the cushion.
6. The desk and chair combination device recited in claim 5, wherein the pedestal comprises at least one first leg and at least one second leg.
7. The desk and chair combination device as recited in claim 5 wherein at least one first leg and at least one second leg are connected by at least one support arm.
8. The desk and chair combination device recited in claim 5, wherein the backrest section connects to the seat section at an angle between 90 degrees and 180 degrees.
9. The desk and chair combination recited in claim 5, wherein the seat section connects to the middle section at an angle between 90 degrees and 180 degrees.
10. The desk and chair combination device recited in claim 5, wherein the middle section connects to the footrest section at an angle between 200 degrees and 270 degrees.
11. A method of using a desk and chair combination device comprising:
- providing a desk and chair combination device, the desk and chair combination device comprising:
- a cushion;
- the cushion comprising a backrest section connected to a seat section;
- the cushion also comprising a middle section, the middle section comprising one or more notches, the middle section connected to the seat section; and
- the cushion also comprising a substantially flat footrest section connected to the middle section;
- providing a user;
- providing a work article;
- the user placing one leg in a first notch and a second leg in the second notch;
- placing a work article on the footrest section; and
- the user working on the work article.
12. The method of using a desk and chair combination as recited in claim 11 further comprising:
- removing the work article from the footrest section;
- the user resting his or her back on the backrest section; and
- the user placing at his or her feet on the footrest section.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 14, 2014
Publication Date: Jun 4, 2015
Inventor: Isaiah Jones (Upper Darby, PA)
Application Number: 14/154,238