STOOL WITH DOMED BASE AND SEAT
A stool having a center column connecting a domed base and a domed seat is disclosed. The domed seat and/or the domed base may be resiliently deformable during use to provide a user with a “bouncing” sensation. The domed seat and/or domed base also may define or contain inflatable or fillable bladders to give them shape and/or provide the aforementioned “bouncing” sensation. The distance between the domed seat and domed base may be varied in some embodiments to adjust the height of the stool.
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The present invention relates to stools having a domed base and seat which permit a user to pivot about the base of the stool in multiple dimensions while seated on a domed surface.
BACKGROUNDStools having rounded base surfaces are known. Specifically, DD 73 618 A1 to Wuensch, believed to be published Jun. 5, 1970 (“Wuensch”), and U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2009/0001788 A1 to Lenz et al., published Jan. 1, 2009 (“Lenz”), both disclose stools having rounded base surfaces. However, neither Wuensch nor Lenz disclose stools having one or more of the attributes of embodiments of the present invention, which may include, but are not limited to, a deformable base, a deformable seat, an inflatable base, an inflatable seat, a seat having a curved or domed shape as described herein, and/or a base having a curved or domed shape as described herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONResponsive to the foregoing challenges, Applicant has developed an innovative stool, comprising: a center column having an upper end and a lower end; a domed base provided at the center column lower end; and a domed seat provided at the center column upper end, wherein the domed seat defines or contains an inflatable seat bladder.
Applicant has further developed an innovative stool, comprising: a base having a curved outer surface adapted to rest on a flooring surface; an inflatable seat having a curved upper surface in its inflated state; and a center column extending between the base and the inflatable seat.
Applicant has still further developed an innovative stool, comprising: a base having a curved outer surface adapted to rest on a flooring surface, a resiliently deformable seat having a curved upper surface which is adapted to provide a bouncing sensation to a user; and a center column extending between the base and the deformable seat.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
In order to assist the understanding of this invention, reference will now be made to the appended drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements. The drawings are exemplary only, and should not be construed as limiting the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to a first embodiment of the present invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. With reference to
The domed base 130 may include a base rigid portion 132 and a base convex portion 134. The base rigid portion 132 may connect the base convex portion 134 to the center column 110. In some embodiments of the invention, the base convex portion 134 and the base rigid portion 132 may be attached to each other through electromagnetic welding of a typical tongue and groove joint, for example, using the Emabond® welding process. Similarly, in some embodiments of the present invention, the seat convex portion 156 and the seat rigid portion 152 may be attached to each other in the same manner.
The base convex portion 134 may be constructed of material and in a manner which enables it to deform as the result of application of user body weight to it, but which will assume its un-deformed shape thereafter. In other words, the base convex portion 134 may be constructed of resilient material so that deformation of it is not permanent. More specifically, the base convex portion 134 may be constructed of material which, when sufficiently filled with gas, liquid, and/or gel and/or another sufficiently resilient substance, enables it to provide a “bouncing” sensation as the result of a user repeatedly bouncing up and down on the stool 100. For example, thermoplastic elastomer material may be suitable to provide bouncing sensation. It is appreciated that the weight of such users may vary from that of small children to full grown adults, and that different embodiments of the subject stool may provide different “bouncing” characteristics depending upon the material selected for the convex portion 134 and the weight of the user. Alternatively, the base convex portion 134 may be filled with a foam material such as polyurethane foam. The domed base 130 may further include a plurality of raised elements 136, such as the small rounded protuberances shown in
The domed seat 150 may include a seat rigid portion 152 having one or more handle recesses 154, and a seat convex portion 156. The seat rigid portion 152 may connect the seat convex portion 156 to the center column 110. In like fashion to the base convex portion 134, the seat convex portion 156 may be constructed of material and in a manner which enables it to deform as the result of application of user body weight to it, but which also assumes its non-deformed shape thereafter. Like the base convex portion 134, the seat convex portion 156 may be constructed of resilient material so that, when sufficiently filled with gas, liquid, gel and/or another sufficiently resilient substance, deformation of it is not permanent, and it provides a “bouncing” sensation when a user repeatedly bounces up and down on the stool 100. Alternatively, the seat convex portion 156 may be filled with a foam material such as polyurethane foam. The domed seat 150 may further include a plurality of raised elements 158.
It is noted that “domed” with reference to the domed seat 150 is intended to include, but not be limited to, a semi-spherical shape with a constant radius of curvature over a center portion, majority, or even all, of the seat convex portion 156, when in an un-deformed state. “Domed” with reference to the domed base 130 is intended to include, but not be limited to, a shape that is at least convex over a portion of its surface when in an un-deformed state. The domed base 130 need not, however, have a constant radius of curvature over a portion, majority, or all, of the base convex portion 134. Further, the domed base 130 may include a flat surface in its center to help facilitate the stool 100 maintaining an upright position when not in use.
The domed seat 150, and more specifically, the seat convex portion 156, may have a diameter “d” and center height “h,” as shown in
With reference to
It is appreciated that, while the base convex portion 134 need not have a constant radius of curvature over a portion, majority, or all, of its outer surface when in an un-deformed state, it may have such a radius of curvature in various preferred embodiments of the invention, including without limitation, the second embodiment. Further, the base and/or seat bladders may be constructed to maintain internal gas pressure above that of the ambient pressure for the stool 100 at least for the duration of a seating experience.
With continued reference to
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Rotation of the domed base 130 relative to the center column 110 may cause the lower gas passage 116, and optionally the upper gas passage 118, to register with the pump 122 lower and upper output ports, thereby connecting the pump to the base and/or seat bladders. Bouncing motion on the stool 100 may cause the pump 122 to inflate the base and/or seat bladders when the pump 122 is connected thereto. Further rotation, or counter-rotation, of the domed base 130 relative to the center column 110 may take the lower gas passage 116 and the upper gas passage 118 out of registration with the pump 122 output ports, thereby disconnecting the pump from the base and/or seat bladders and sealing the base and/or seat bladders for stool use at constant pressure.
Likewise, rotation of the domed seat 150 relative to the center column 110 may cause the upper gas passage 118, and optionally the lower gas passage 116, to register with the pump 122 upper and lower output ports, thereby connecting the pump to the seat and/or base bladders. Bouncing motion on the stool 100 may cause the pump 122 to inflate the seat and/or base bladders when the pump is connected thereto. Further rotation, or counter-rotation, of the domed seat 150 relative to the center column 110 may take the upper gas passage 118 and lower gas passage 116 out of registration with the pump 122 upper and lower output ports, thereby disconnecting the pump from the seat and/or base bladders and sealing the bladders for stool use at constant pressure. One or more gas pressure relief valves (shown in other figures) may be used to automatically or manually release gas from the base and/or seat bladders.
With reference to
With continued reference to
With reference to
With continued reference to
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of the present invention can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. It is intended that the present invention cover all such modifications and variations of the invention, provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A stool, comprising:
- a center column having an upper end and a lower end;
- a domed base provided at the center column lower end; and
- a domed seat provided at the center column upper end, wherein the domed seat defines or contains an inflatable seat bladder.
2. The stool of claim 1 wherein the domed seat comprises a seat rigid portion having a handle recess.
3. The stool of claim 1 wherein the domed base defines or contains an inflatable base bladder.
4. The stool of claim 3 wherein the domed base contains a ballast weight.
5. The stool of claim 3, further comprising:
- a sealed gas passage extending through the center column fluidly connecting the seat bladder to the base bladder; and
- an inflation valve connected to at least one of the seat bladder and the base bladder.
6. The stool of claim 3, further comprising:
- a sealed gas passage extending from an outer surface of the center column to at least one of the seat bladder and the base bladder; and
- an inflation valve provided in the sealed gas passage.
7. The stool of claim 3, further comprising:
- a first inflation valve connected to the seat bladder; and
- a second inflation valve connected to the base bladder.
8. The stool of claim 3, further comprising:
- a gas pressure relief valve connected to one of the seat bladder and the base bladder.
9. The stool of claim 3, further comprising:
- at least one inflation pump integrated into at least one of the domed seat and the domed base and connected to at least one of the seat bladder and the base bladder.
10. The stool of claim 1, further comprising:
- an inflation valve connected to the seat bladder; and
- a gas pressure relief valve connected to the seat bladder.
11. The stool of claim 1, further comprising:
- a height adjustment mechanism disposed within the center column connecting the domed seat to the domed base.
12. The stool of claim 11, wherein the center column comprises an outer shroud and an inner shroud surrounding the gas cylinder.
13. The stool of claim 11 wherein the domed base defines or contains a base bladder.
14. The stool of claim 13 wherein the domed base contains a ballast weight.
15. The stool of claim 11 wherein the domed base is uninflatable.
16. The stool of claim 1 wherein the domed seat has a diameter and a center height, and wherein the ratio of the diameter to center height is less than 5:1.
17. A stool, comprising:
- a base having a curved outer surface adapted to rest on a flooring surface;
- an inflatable seat having a curved upper surface in its inflated state; and
- a center column extending between the base and the inflatable seat.
18. The stool of claim 17, further comprising:
- a height adjustment mechanism disposed within the center column and connecting the base and the seat; and
- an actuator assembly configured to actuate the height adjustment mechanism to adjust the height of the seat relative to the base.
19. The stool of claim 18, further comprising a ballast weight provided at the base.
20. The stool of claim 17, further comprising a ballast weight provided at the base.
21. The stool of claim 17, wherein the seat in its inflated state has a seat diameter and a seat center height defining a seat diameter to height ratio, wherein the base is un-inflatable and has a base diameter and a base center height defining a base diameter to height ratio, and wherein the base diameter to height ratio is greater than the seat diameter to height ratio.
22. The stool of claim 21, wherein the seat diameter to height ratio is less than 5:1.
23. The stool of claim 17, wherein the seat in its inflated state has a seat diameter and a seat center height defining a seat diameter to height ratio, wherein the base is inflatable and, in its inflated state, has a base diameter and a base center height defining a base diameter to height ratio, wherein the seat diameter to height ratio is the same as the base diameter to height ratio.
24. The stool of claim 23, wherein the seat diameter to height ratio is less than 5:1.
25. The stool of claim 17, wherein the seat in its inflated state has a seat diameter and a seat center height defining a seat diameter to height ratio, wherein the base is inflatable and, in its inflated state, has a base diameter and a base center height defining a base diameter to height ratio, wherein the base diameter to height ratio is greater than the seat diameter to height ratio.
26. The stool of claim 25, wherein the seat diameter to height ratio is less than 5:1.
27. The stool of claim 17, further comprising an inflation valve or pump connected to the inflatable seat.
28. The stool of claim 17, wherein the base is inflatable.
29. The stool of claim 28, further comprising a ballast weight provided at the base.
30. The stool of claim 28, further comprising an inflation valve or pump connected to at least one of the inflatable base and inflatable seat.
31. A stool, comprising:
- a base having a curved outer surface adapted to rest on a flooring surface;
- a resiliently deformable seat having a curved upper surface which is adapted to provide a bouncing sensation to a user; and
- a center column extending between the base and the deformable seat.
32. The stool of claim 31, wherein the seat defines or contains a seat bladder containing one of a gas, a liquid, and a gel.
33. The stool of claim 31, wherein the base is resiliently deformable to provide a bouncing sensation to a user.
34. The stool of claim 33, wherein the base defines or contains a seat bladder containing one of a gas, a liquid, and a gel.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 5, 2014
Publication Date: Dec 10, 2015
Applicant: Humanscale Corporation (New York, NY)
Inventors: Donald Chadwick (Los Angeles, CA), Jeffrey Koffman (Santa Monica, CA), Todd Brunner (Brooklyn, NY), Gregory P. Allison (Allentown, PA)
Application Number: 14/297,555