MULTIPLE SITTING POSITION CHAIR
A reconfigurable chair includes features that open up new sitting and resting positions for the user. The chair includes rotatable lateral side rests and a tilt adjustable back rest which when reconfigured, provide auxiliary resting platforms to support the body in different sitting and resting positions. The backrest may include a rotatable feature so that the backrest may be moved from an upright position to a flat position adding another level of support. A height adjustment mechanism may adjust the height of the backrest to add to the reconfigurability of the chair. Some embodiments include one or more gas pistons providing user-controlled adjustment of elements into any of an infinite number of user-controlled positions.
This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 17/505,488, filed Oct. 19, 2021 which claimed priority to U.S. Provisional application having Ser. No. 63/104,683 filed Oct. 23, 2020, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
FIELDThe subject disclosure relates to furniture, and more particularly, to a multiple sitting position chair.
BACKGROUNDChairs generally have static elements. Conventional chairs generally have only one sitting position, with no real adjustment capabilities other than to raise and lower the height of the seat or control lumbar support. However, the person sits in the same general position even with adjustments to these features. Sitting in the same positions for extended periods of time negatively impacts each person's comfort and performance.
SUMMARYIn one aspect of the disclosure, a reconfigurable chair is disclosed. The reconfigurable chair includes a base and a support housing coupled to the base. A first seat is coupled to the support housing. A post is coupled to the support housing. A first hinge is coupled to the support housing and to a bottom end of the post. A backrest is coupled to a top end of the post via a second hinge. The backrest is configured to slide vertically relative to the base. The backrest is configured to rotate backward and away from the seat, via the first hinge. In addition, the backrest is configured to rotate around the second hinge from a first, upright position, into a second, flat position as a second seat.
In another aspect, a reconfigurable chair is disclosed which includes a base and a plurality of seat surfaces. The plurality of seat surfaces include: a first seat surface coupled to the base. The first seat surface is positioned parallel to a ground surface. A second seat surface is coupled to a rear side of the first seat surface. The second seat surface is positioned parallel with the first seat surface.
It is understood that other configurations of the subject technology will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein various configurations of the subject technology are shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the subject technology is capable of other and different configurations and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the subject technology may be practiced. The appended drawings are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the detailed description. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the subject technology. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject technology may be practiced without these specific details. Like or similar components are labeled with identical element numbers for ease of understanding.
In general, and referring to the Figures, exemplary embodiments of the subject technology comprise a reconfigurable chair, which includes aspects that provide multiple sitting positions for the user. As will be appreciated, features of the subject chair provide various modes of comfort for users. Users may enjoy sitting in different positions rather than a static position that is restricted by the design of conventional chairs. More than ten different sitting and resting positions become available through repositioning of the elements of the chair. Thus, the user is no longer restricted to the conventional feet on the ground and back against the backrest position.
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In some embodiments, the handle 154 may be connected to the lock pin 153 by a sliding (or push/pull) cam 158. Some embodiments may include a flat spring 159 connecting one end of the sliding cam 158 to the lock pin 153. The lock pin 153 may travel within a slot 149 of the housing 152. When the user pulls on the handle 154, the sliding cam 158 pulls on the spring 159. The end of the spring 159 connected to the lock pin 153 pulls the lock pin 153 within the slot 149 to release from engagement with the post 156. The backrest 150 may then rotate around the axis of hinge 155. In some embodiments, the backrest 150 may be rotated into multiple positions between upright and fully flat within, for example, the range shown in
It will be appreciated that rotation of the backrest 150 provides an unexpected new configuration for sitting and resting. The features connected to the backrest 150 provide sufficient strength for supporting the weight of a person. In the flat position, the user may sit on the backrest 150 for an elevated seating position. In another exemplary use, the backrest 150 may be used as an arm rest or support for a device when the user sits sideways on the seat 140 or on one of the side mounted rests 160 (discussed further below). The user may also sit backwards on the seat 140 making the backrest 150 in the flat state, a support for their arms or other object. In addition, by making the range of rotation for the backrest 150 adjustable, the backrest 150 may be converted into various positions of use and comfort. For example, in one application, by adjusting the height of the backrest 150, the tilt angle, and the magnitude of rotation, the back rest 150 may become another type of support including for example, a head rest of various tilted positions. Accordingly, a variety of new seating/resting alternatives to sitting on the center of a chair becomes available to end users.
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In some embodiments, an inside edge of the side mounted rest 160 may be coupled to an outside edge of the seat 140. For example, the side mounted rest may be supported by a lateral frame support 165b. The lateral frame support 165b may be connected to the central frame support 132. In an exemplary embodiment, a hinge 161 connects the lateral frame support 165b to the central frame support 132. The hinge 165b defines an axis of rotation for moving the side mounted rest 160 from a default, generally flat position, to an upright position.
The generally flat position is shown in
The generally upright position is shown in broken lines in
The range of rotation between flat and upright may be controlled by the user so that intermediate positions of rotation for the side mounted rest 160 are possible. The position of the side mounted rest 160 may be controlled by actuation of a lock pin 167 in the lateral frame support 165b. The internal elements within the lateral frame support 165b are shown in
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Those of skill in the art would appreciate that various components may be arranged differently (e.g., arranged in a different order, or partitioned in a different way) all without departing from the scope of the subject technology.
The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. The previous description provides various examples of the subject technology, and the subject technology is not limited to these examples. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Pronouns in the masculine (e.g., his) include the feminine and neuter gender (e.g., her and its) and vice versa. Headings and subheadings, if any, are used for convenience only and do not limit the invention.
Terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “above,” “below” and the like as used in this disclosure should be understood as referring to an arbitrary frame of reference, rather than to the ordinary gravitational frame of reference. Thus, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, and a rear surface may extend upwardly, downwardly, diagonally, or horizontally in a gravitational frame of reference. Similarly, an item disposed above another item may be located above or below the other item along a vertical, horizontal or diagonal direction; and an item disposed below another item may be located below or above the other item along a vertical, horizontal or diagonal direction.
A phrase such as an “aspect” does not imply that such aspect is essential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. An aspect may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa. A phrase such as an “embodiment” does not imply that such embodiment is essential to the subject technology or that such embodiment applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an embodiment may apply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments. An embodiment may provide one or more examples. A phrase such an embodiment may refer to one or more embodiments and vice versa. A phrase such as a “configuration” does not imply that such configuration is essential to the subject technology or that such configuration applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to a configuration may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A configuration may provide one or more examples. A phrase such a configuration may refer to one or more configurations and vice versa.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example or illustration.” Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs.
All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.” Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
Claims
1. A reconfigurable chair, comprising:
- a base;
- a support housing coupled to the base;
- a first seat coupled to the support housing;
- a post coupled to the support housing;
- a first hinge coupled to the support housing and to a bottom end of the post; and
- a backrest coupled to a top end of the post via a second hinge, wherein: the backrest is configured to slide vertically relative to the base, the backrest is configured to rotate backward and away from the seat, via the first hinge, and the backrest is configured to rotate around the second hinge from a first, upright position, into a second, flat position as a second seat.
2. The reconfigurable chair of claim 1, wherein the top end of the post is positioned angled away from a top surface of the first seat when the backrest is in the flat position as the second seat.
3. The reconfigurable chair of claim 1, wherein the second seat is positioned relative to the first seat in an arrangement configured to support a user sitting on the second seat while elevated from the first seat.
4. The reconfigurable chair of claim 1, further comprising a pair of side mounted rests coupled to the backrest, wherein a first of the side mounted rests is positioned on a left side of the first seat, and the second side mounted rest is positioned on a right side of the first seat, and the backrest is positioned to a rear side of the first seat.
5. The reconfigurable chair of claim 4, wherein each side mounted rest is configured to pivot from a respective edge of each side mounted rest coupled to the backrest.
6. The reconfigurable chair of claim 5, wherein each side mounted rest pivots independently of the other side mounted rest.
7. The reconfigurable chair of claim 4, wherein at least one side mounted rest is configured to pivot upright while the backrest is positioned in the second, flat position.
8. The reconfigurable chair of claim 4, wherein the side mounted rests, in a first position relative to the first seat, a top surface of each side mounted rest follows a slope in alignment with a top surface of the first seat.
9. The reconfigurable chair of claim 4, wherein a first of the side mounted rests is positionable upright as a back support while the second of the side mounted rests is positioned flat.
10. The reconfigurable chair of claim 1, further comprising a gas piston and a trigger coupled to the backrest, wherein operation of the trigger is configured to actuate the gas piston and controllably adjust an amount of rotation of the backrest into any position from the first, upright position to the second, flat position.
11. A reconfigurable chair, comprising:
- a base; and
- a plurality of seat surfaces, including: a first seat surface coupled to the base, wherein the first seat surface is positioned parallel to a ground surface; and a second seat surface coupled to a rear side of the first seat surface, wherein the second seat surface is positioned parallel with the first seat surface.
12. The reconfigurable chair of claim 11, wherein the second seat surface is elevated from the first seat surface.
13. The reconfigurable chair of claim 11, further comprising a side mounted rest coupled to an edge of the first seat surface.
14. The reconfigurable chair of claim 11, wherein the side mounted rest is movable in a range from an upright position to a flat position.
15. The reconfigurable chair of claim 14, wherein the side mounted rest is configured to be secured in multiple positions between the upright position and the flat position.
16. The reconfigurable chair of claim 11, further comprising a gas piston coupled to the side mounted rest, wherein operation of the gas piston controls a setting of the side mounted rest into one of an infinite number of positions within a defined range of rotation of the side mounted rest.
17. The reconfigurable chair of claim 16, further comprising a handle coupled to the gas piston, wherein operation of the handle actuates the gas piston for setting the side mounted rest into the one of the infinite number of positions.
18. The reconfigurable chair of claim 11, wherein the second seat surface is rotatable from an upright position to a flat position.
19. The reconfigurable chair of claim 18, wherein the second seat surface is configured to be secured in multiple positions between the upright position and the flat position.
20. The reconfigurable chair of claim 19, wherein the second seat surface is configured to be tilted away from the first seat surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 16, 2023
Publication Date: Oct 19, 2023
Inventors: Daniel Lazar (Hong Kong), Sam Adedamola Olawale (Hong Kong)
Application Number: 18/210,814