Seat

Abstract

A seat with a contoured pan comprised of two concavely shaped pads adapted to support the thighs of a user at an optimal selected angle of 27 degrees to the horizontal plane. The combined features enable a user to be directed into a comfortable seating position that emulates the shape of the spine when standing.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application is related to International Application No. PCT / GB2012 / 051429, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a seat; particularly a seat for use in an office chair, task chair, aircraft seat, bicycle, vehicle, wheelchair, pushchair, child's seat / car seat or bench. Specifically, the invention is a seat that actively directs the sitter into a correct sitting position as hypothesised by the inventor, i.e. a position that emulates the position that the sitter's spine and pelvis would achieve if they were standing.BACKGROUND[0003]Traditional chairs with near horizontal seat pans (both forward to back and side to side) force people to sit in a posture that is detrimental to proper functioning of their spines and associated tissues, which can lead to strain, injury and, in some cases, spinal degeneration. Specifically, horizontal seat pans force a sitt...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a seat designed to reproduce the natural position of the pelvis and spine when standing. It achieves this through a process of prototyping and testing. The seat has two concave pads for each side of the user, which support the body's natural cushioning features. A leaf spring helps in treating hypertonicity in the back muscles, while the seat pad has a controlled amount of roll for added comfort. The seat can also be adapted for use in bicycle and motorcycle seats, as research has shown that standard bicycle saddles are uncomfortable and can lead to health issues. Overall, the invention improves the body's natural posture and reduces the need for excessive cushioning.

Problems solved by technology

Firstly, as most seats have horizontal or slightly downward sloping seat pans this does not allow the lumbar spine to achieve a stable position and so requires the overuse of insufficient spinal and paraspinal muscles to maintain an upright position.

These muscles are not meant to maintain an upright position for a sustained period.

Secondly, the human body is full of asymmetries, no place more so than in the legs, as they are the longest parts of the body.

When sitting on a normal, fixed, non-adaptive chair the pelvis is usually forced into a horizontal position, hence creating changes, stresses and discomfort on the spinal scoliosis.

Furthermore, it looks simple but has a high level of complexity and is a practical innovation.

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