Adjustable desk chair

Abstract

An adjustable chair includes: a seat portion; a seat back disposed along one side of the seat portion, the seat back being configured to support at least a person's back or shoulders; a chair base configured to be placed on a floor; and at least one adjustable chair feature including a motor capable of being selectively controlled and driven to adjust at least one of the following: rotation or tilt of the seat portion, vertical distance between the seat back and one side of the seat portion, angular position between the seat back and the seat portion, and distance between the chair base and the seat portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an adjustable chair with multiple adjustable features to provide a user with an automatically adjustable seating position. In some cases, the seating position can be automatically adjusted throughout the day to provide a modified seating position that promotes movement and improves posture. In other cases, the seating position can be established based on "best practice" positions established by medical professionals, which are automatically communicated to the adjustable chair to move the user to new and proposed postural positions throughout the day. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, a variety of office chairs and other types of chairs are available. Many of these chairs offer some degree of flexibility in adjusting their position or height to provide the user with the most comfortable seating position. Despite these options, users often find ensuring the comfortable construction of an adjustable chair a tedious process, requiring excessive manual adjustments and readjustments. Therefore, there is a need for an efficient and elegant adjustable chair that provides enhanced adjustability and personalization in an efficient and user-friendly manner.

[0003] Another challenge with adjustable chairs is that the difficulty and tediousness of adjusting them prevents users from making adjustments throughout the workday. Instead, users may set a single "ideal" chair setting, often the one they initially used and sticking with for an extended period. This hinders movement and sustained activity that promotes proper back health. Furthermore, most users are unaware of which settings are most likely to improve posture and best practices.

[0004] The subject matter claimed in this disclosure is not limited to embodiments that address any shortcomings or operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is provided merely to illustrate an example field of expertise in which some of the embodiments described in this disclosure can be practiced. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to one aspect of the invention, an adjustable chair is described. The adjustable chair includes: a seat portion; a seat back disposed along one side of the seat portion, the seat back being configured to support at least a person's back or shoulders; a chair base configured to be placed on a floor; and at least one adjustable chair feature including a motor capable of being selectively controlled and driven to adjust at least one of the following: rotation or tilt of the seat portion, vertical distance between the seat back and said side of the seat portion, angular position between the seat back and the seat portion, and distance between the chair base and the seat portion.

[0006] Another aspect of the invention is an adjustable chair comprising: a seat portion; a seat back disposed along one side of the seat portion, the seat back being configured to support at least a person's back or shoulders; a chair base configured to be placed on a floor; and a linear actuator having one end connected to the chair base and the seat portion, the linear actuator comprising a motor, an inner locking guide, an intermediate locking guide, and an outer locking guide, wherein the linear actuator moves between an unfolded state and a folded state when the motor is driven to increase and decrease the distance between the seat portion and the chair base, and wherein the inner locking guide, the intermediate locking guide, and the outer locking guide are configured to prevent them from rotating relative to each other when the motor is driven.

[0007] A third aspect of the invention is a linear actuator comprising a motor, an inner locking guide, an intermediate locking guide, and an outer locking guide, wherein the linear actuator moves between an unfolded state and a folded state when the motor is driven to increase and decrease the distance between the distal ends of the inner locking guide and the outer locking guide, and wherein the inner locking guide, the intermediate locking guide, and the outer locking guide are configured to prevent them from rotating relative to each other when the motor is driven.

[0008] The objectives and advantages of the embodiments will be realized and achieved, at least by means of the elements, features and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims.

[0009] As claimed, the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are given by way of example and are illustrative rather than limiting of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0010] The exemplary embodiments will be described and explained with additional features and details using the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0011] Figure 1A -1E and 2A-2E illustrate various aspects of a linear actuator according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0012] Figure 3A -3D illustrates an adjustable chair according to some embodiments of the present invention, which includes multiple adjustable features;

[0013] Figure 4A -4D and 5A-5D illustrate an adjustable lumbar feature of an adjustable chair according to some aspects of the invention;

[0014] Figure 6A -6C illustrates the adjustable backrest angle feature of an adjustable chair according to some aspects of the invention;

[0015] Figure 7A -7C illustrates the adjustable seat cushion features of an adjustable chair according to some aspects of the invention;

[0016] Figure 8A -8B illustrates an adjustable footrest feature of an adjustable chair according to some aspects of the invention; and

[0017] Figure 9 This illustrates, according to some embodiments, the ability of a user to operate various adjustable features of an adjustable chair via a user device connected to a controller of the adjustable chair via a network. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The embodiments discussed in this disclosure relate to an adjustable chair that includes a number of different adjustable features to provide a customizable seating experience. More specifically, the embodiments described herein relate to an adjustable chair that includes individually customizable components, which may include a linear actuator for controlling the height adjustment of the chair relative to the floor, an adjustable lumbar section, a backrest configured with an adjustable backrest relative to the seat cushion, and / or an adjustable seat cushion configured to tilt upward, downward, or tilt relative to a horizontal axis. Finally, in some embodiments described herein, the motor control associated with each of the linear actuator, the adjustable lumbar section, the adjustable backrest, and the adjustable seat cushion can be controlled via a programmable interface, thereby providing a user interface for controlling each of these aspects via an electronic device (e.g., a smartphone or other user device). Furthermore, using memory associated with the device or controller (multiple controllers), in some embodiments the controller can associate users with personal documents to save their preferred chair position, which can then be used to automatically adjust the chair at, for example, different times of day or for multiple users. In some cases, the device or controller may also communicate with an application that may include “best practice” positions established by, for example, medical professionals or other experts who may establish or recommend positions that help consistently and correctly adjust multiple adjustable features of the adjustable chair to promote back health and posture. In some cases, the user may use a device such as a mobile phone that includes an application running on the phone to have at least some of the “best practice” positions automatically executed.

[0019] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the embodiments described herein may include any number or combination of the adjustable features described below, and the individual adjustable features described herein are for illustrative purposes only.

[0020] linear actuator

[0021] Linear actuators are typically used to position two parts relative to each other. A typical linear actuator includes a motor, a nut, and a threaded rod, with the nut and threaded rod forming a screw mechanism. The relative position of the two parts of the screw mechanism can be controlled by using a control motor. By attaching the nut to one controlled part and the threaded rod to another controlled part, a device (such as a motor) can be used to rotate the nut, causing the threaded rod to move within the nut. If the two parts are constrained so that they cannot rotate relative to each other, the motor is driven, causing the threaded rod to move within the nut, which in turn causes the two parts to move relative to each other.

[0022] One example application of linear actuators is for controlling the air surface area on an aircraft wing. Once an aircraft has gained sufficient speed and altitude, the lift requirements of the wing during landing and takeoff differ significantly from those required during normal flight. To accommodate this difference, linear actuators are used during takeoff and landing to insert more lift surface area into the wing. Conversely, during normal flight, linear actuators result in a reduction in lift area.

[0023] Figure 1A -1E and 2A-2E illustrate various aspects of a linear actuator according to some embodiments. It will be understood that one aspect of the invention is the ability to control the relative position of two parts of an adjustable chair using a combination of three nuts and screws. The advantage of using more than one combination of screws and nuts is that it allows for a smaller actuator, resulting in a more compact actuation mechanism. This is highly advantageous for controlling the height adjustment of the chair relative to the floor. Some embodiments of the invention can also be used outside of chair environments in other linear actuator applications that require or desire a smaller package.

[0024] Figure 1A -1E and 2A-2E illustrate a linear actuator 250 according to one aspect of the invention. Figure 1A -1E shows the configuration of the linear actuator 250 in the folded position. Figure 2A -2E shows the configuration of the linear actuator 250 in the deployed position. Figure 1A The configurations shown in –1E and 2A-2E illustrate a linear actuator 250 used in the adjustable chair 100, although other applications of the linear actuator 250 can be used. Temporary turn Figure 3A The adjustable chair 100 may include, for example, a chair base 150, which may include various configurations, comprising any number of support structures. In some cases, the support structures include wheels 151 that enable the adjustable chair 100 to move along a floor or other surface. In the figures included herein, wheels 151 include casters, although it should be understood that other configurations may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Figure 3A As shown, the adjustable chair may also include an adjustable lumbar support 300, an adjustable cushion 500, and an adjustable seat back 550, each of which will be described in more detail below.

[0025] Figure 1A -1B and 1E show linear actuators 250 attached to cushion 500 and chair base 150. Figure 2A -2B generally shows the various components of the linear actuator 250, including the motor 200, the inner locking guide 224, the intermediate locking guide 212, and the outer locking guide 210. Figure 1C and 2E Some of the devices shown are for mounting the inner locking guide 224 and the motor 200 to a portion of the cushion 500 of the adjustable chair 100. Figure 2C and 2D Some of the internal connections between the inner locking guide 224, the intermediate locking guide 212, and the outer locking guide 210 are shown. Figure 1D The connection between the external locking guide 210 and the chair base 150 is shown.

[0026] Figure 1C The method by which the inner locking guide 224 is attached to the chair platform 165 is shown. It can be understood that the inner locking guide 224 is attached to the chair platform 165 such that the linear actuator 250 rotates together with the adjustable chair 100. This prevents any adjustment of the linear actuator 250 from taking effect when a person sitting in the adjustable chair 100 rotates the adjustable chair 100 relative to the chair base 150. Figure 2E As shown, the thrust bearing 208 is positioned to accommodate vertical loads and allow the linear actuator 250 to rotate relative to the chair base 150. Therefore, any rotation of the seat relative to the chair base 150 will not adjust the height of the linear actuator 250.

[0027] The linear actuator 250 includes a motor 200, a drive gear 202, and a driven gear 204, which in turn cause the drive shaft 206 to rotate. As will be understood, rotating the drive shaft 206 simultaneously controls the position of the inner screw 222, the intermediate screw 226, and the outer screw, the outer screw including a portion of the inner locking guide 224. More specifically, one aspect of the invention is the ability to control the inner screw 222, the intermediate screw 226, and the outer screw (included herein as part of the inner locking guide 224) so ​​that they do not rotate relative to each other. In this example, the inner locking guide 224, the intermediate locking guide 232, and the outer locking guide 210, including their square outer peripheries, are used to restrict the rotation of the inner screw 222 and the outer screw 224. As will be understood, the outer peripheries of the inner locking guide 224, the intermediate locking guide 232, and the outer locking guide 210 do not need to be square; they can be elliptical or any other shape that prevents rotation relative to each other and to other elements of the linear actuator 250.

[0028] As in Figure 1D As shown more clearly in the diagram, it can be observed that the outer locking guide 210 has a ring 270 at its bottom, which is attached to the inner locking guide 224 when in the non-extended position that restrains the two locking surfaces and prevents them from rotating together. Although each of the inner locking guide 224, the intermediate locking guide 232, and the outer locking guide 210 has a square outer perimeter, the diameter of the support pocket 216 of the chair base 150 is sufficient to allow the square element to rotate within the support pocket 216. Figure 1D The cover 214 shown is for decorative purposes, for example, so that the gap between the square tube and the large cylinder is not visible. Figure 1D An inner guide 221 is also shown, which is attached by a screw and provides vertical support to the linear actuator 250 to keep it upright and eliminate swaying.

[0029] Figure 2A -2E shows the various components of the linear actuator 250 in its unfolded position. The linear actuator 250 is controlled by a motor 200, which rotates a drive shaft 206, which in turn rotates an intermediate screw 226 while keeping the inner screw 222 and outer screw 224 stationary. The intermediate screw 226 has opposing threads on its inner and outer surfaces. Thus, by rotating the intermediate screw 226, the inner locking guide 224 and the outer locking guide 210 move in opposite directions. Therefore, by changing the direction of rotation of the motor 200, the linear actuator 250 can be folded or unfolded. It can be understood that by rotating the motor 200, the linear actuator 250 is able to perform a telescopic function, wherein the components of the linear actuator 250 slide themselves in... Figure 1A The compact structure shown in -1E can then be expanded to Figure 2AIn the expanded position shown in -2E.

[0030] In a typical linear actuator that consists only of a nut and a screw, the thread on the nut does not necessarily have to be as long as the thread on the screw. In the embodiment described here, the nut actually includes part of the screw; therefore, the threaded portion used as the nut does not necessarily have to be the full length of the different parts. This allows for cheaper machining during manufacturing. The nut function is located inside the different components, making machining easier or more economical. Note that there is a full-length screw on the outer side of the bottom screw. The inner shaft has a short thread on the inner side of the intermediate screw 226, which serves as the nut. The intermediate screw 226 has a full-length thread on the outer side and a short thread on the inner side of the upper screw. This design will accommodate the full unfolding and full folding of the linear actuator 250 and provide an unlimited number of height positions for the chair.

[0031] The drive shaft 206 has a non-circular shape, which may be rectangular, square, or elliptical, so that it can rotate relative to the inner locking guide 224. The drive shaft 206 slides relative to the inner locking guide 224 when the linear actuator 250 is raised or lowered. For convenience in this specification, the inner screw 222 and the inner guide 270 are combined as a single component, but they are not necessarily combined. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the outer locking guide 210 and the outer screw are combined as a single component, but they also do not need to be combined.

[0032] In some embodiments, for the linear actuator 250 to operate properly, the inner screw 222 and the outer screw 224 must be locked together so that they cannot rotate independently. To facilitate this, an intermediate locking guide 232 is provided that extends and retracts relative to the inner locking guide 224 and the outer locking guide 210. Figure 2D This demonstrates how to pull up the middle locking guide 232 to maintain the locking function.

[0033] Understandably, one consequence of the embodiments described herein is that the adjustable chair 100 can be designed to have the normal height of a typical office desk and can be raised to accommodate taller desks. This particular design allows the chair to be raised or lowered by approximately 20 inches to accommodate different desks in an office environment. For example, the embodiments described herein are adjustable to accommodate both standing and sitting desk heights. This is achieved using a three-segment linear actuator. In contrast, currently known adjustable chairs are adjustable between 4 and 5 inches and therefore cannot be used for both sitting and standing desk configurations.

[0034] As follows about Figure 9As described more fully, in some embodiments, the aforementioned linear actuator motor 200 can be controlled by a controller 910, which is connected to the linear actuator motor 200 via any number of mechanical or electrical devices and can be used to drive the linear actuator motor 200 to move the linear actuator 250 between a folded position and an unfolded position, thereby effectively and electronically adjusting the height of the chair seat relative to the floor. More specifically, as Figure 9 As shown, a user can use a user device 970 including, for example, an application 960, which can display a graphical user interface (GUI) 850 to the user via a display 963. This allows the user to use the GUI 950 to send communications with the controller 910 via, for example, a network 980 (e.g., the Internet or other communication networks including a local area network). In some cases, the communication network may be a short-range wireless network, such as Bluetooth or other communication methods. As described more fully below, in some cases, the application 960 may also enable the user to create a user document with preferred user preferences or expert-recommended "best practice" settings for back health and posture, and present this user document to the user for selection by the user via the application 920. In this case, the user can interact with the GUI 950 of the application 960 to cause the controller 910 to selectively or automatically drive the linear actuator motor 200 according to user preferences or "best practice" settings, which in turn causes the linear actuator to move between folded and unfolded positions according to the user's instructions and preferences. In some cases, the user document may be stored in the memory 962 of the user device 970. Therefore, instead of requiring the user to readjust the chair every time, the user can create a user document stored in memory 962. This user document can be used to communicate with controller 910 and selectively drive linear actuator motor 200 to automatically adjust the seat height of adjustable chair 100 to the user's preferred level. Furthermore, the user document can be customized in any number of ways, including, for example, allowing the user to have different preferred settings at different times of the day.

[0035] Understandably, by enabling users to communicate with controller 910 using user device 970, embodiments herein allow users to adjust adjustable chair 100 to their preferred settings without requiring the user to make mechanical adjustments themselves.

[0036] Adjustable waist section

[0037] Figure 3A -3D Figure 4A -4D and Figure 5A -5D illustrates another adjustable aspect of the adjustable chair 100. More specifically, Figure 3A -3D Figure 4A -4D and Figure 5A The -5D diagram illustrates the adjustable waist section 300. Figure 3A -3D shows the waist section 300 in the retracted position, while Figure 4A -4D shows the lumbar section 300 in its unfolded position. As shown, the lumbar section 300 can be adjusted in and out from either the back surface or the back support 380. The amount of adjustment is measured from when the lumbar section 300 is flush with the back support 380 of the adjustable chair 100 to when it protrudes from the back support 380. In one embodiment, the adjustable range of the lumbar section 300 is a maximum of four inches of total movement. Figure 3A As can be seen from -3D and 4A-3D, the waist adjustment motor 304 and various control-related moving parts can be used to position the waist section 300 at any position from zero to four inches. The moving parts include guides 306, gears 308 and 310, bearings 312, and nuts 314.

[0038] like Figure 3D and 4D As clearly shown, the waist adjustment motor 304 rotates the threaded shaft 302. A nut 314 is located within the waist portion 300. As the waist adjustment motor 304 rotates, the nut 314 moves along the threaded shaft 302, causing the waist portion 300 to move relative to the threaded shaft 302. A guide 306 prevents the waist portion 300 from rotating and allows the waist portion to move from a retracted position to an extended position.

[0039] Figure 5A -5D illustrates the ability of the lumbar section 300 and the back section 550 to be adjusted vertically from the seat surface 500 by moving up and down along the back support plate 380 relative to the seat surface 500 to raise the back support 550 and the lumbar section 300. In the embodiment shown herein, the back support 550, together with the lumbar section 300, can be vertically adjusted up to four inches. The movement mechanism for moving the back section 550 and the lumbar section 300 operates in the same manner as when the lumbar section 300 is in the forward and backward positions. The back support motor 502 of the back support drives a pair of gears 504 and 506, which in turn drive a threaded shaft 508, and a nut 512 fastened to the back support plate 380 moves up and down as the threaded shaft 508 is positioned. Guides 510 on the surface of the back support plate 380 both support the back and prevent it from folding and rotating.

[0040] Similar to the features of the linear actuator motor 200 described above, such as Figure 9As shown, the lumbar adjustment motor 304 and the back support motor 502 can also be connected and controlled by a controller 910, which in turn can communicate with the application 960 of the user device 970 via a network 980. Therefore, the user can selectively adjust the lumbar position and back support / lumbar height by interacting with the GUI 950. More specifically, the user can use the GUI 950 to request adjustments to the lumbar position and back support / lumbar height, which are then transmitted via the network to the controller 910, thereby selectively driving the lumbar adjustment motor 304 and the back support motor 502 to achieve the desired lumbar position and back support / lumbar height. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the user can then save their preferences in a user document, which is subsequently used to automatically return the adjustable chair 100 to their preferred settings at a pre-specified time and / or each time the user logs into the application 960. Alternatively, in another mode, predefined positions recommended in advance by back health experts or professionals can be designated as "best practice" recommendations. These positions have different settings at different times of the day to consistently and correctly move the user to a new, suitable position throughout the day. As can be understood, in some cases, this may include the user using the app 960 to "optionally join" or select the "best practice" mode, which in turn causes the controller 910 to automatically change the chair position to the various recommended positions throughout the day.

[0041] Adjustable backrest angle

[0042] Figure 6A -6C illustrates another adjustable feature of the adjustable chair 100. More specifically, Figure 6A -6C illustrates the ability of the backrest portion 550 to rotate 15 degrees away from the vertical direction relative to the seat cushion 500. (As shown in...) Figure 6C As can be observed in detail, the adjustment of the back section 550 is performed by a back angle motor 602, which drives a drive gear 604 and a driven gear 606. The driven gear 606, in turn, drives a threaded shaft and a nut 608, which are attached to the back support plate 380 at 622. When the back angle motor 602 is driven, the back section 500 rotates above the pivot point 620. In one embodiment, the back angle motor 602 can be controlled to accommodate any amount of adjustment from zero to 15 degrees.

[0043] Similar to the features described above regarding the linear actuator motor 200, the waist adjustment motor 304, and the back support motor 502, such as Figure 9As shown, the backrest angle motor 602 can also be connected to and controlled by a controller 910, which in turn can communicate with the application 960 of the user device 970 via a network 980. Therefore, in some cases, the user can selectively adjust the angle of the seat back relative to the floor by interacting with the GUI 950. More specifically, the user can use the GUI 950 to request adjustment of the seat back angle relative to the floor, and this request is then transmitted via the network 980 to the controller 910 to selectively drive the backrest angle motor 602 to achieve the desired effect. Furthermore, the preferred seat back angle can be stored in a user document so that the adjustable chair 100 can be automatically adjusted according to the user's preferences.

[0044] In "Best Practice" mode, application 960 can enable controller 910 to automatically adjust adjustable chair 100 according to recommended settings that promote posture and back health.

[0045] Adjustable seat cushion

[0046] Figure 7A -7C illustrates another adjustable aspect of the adjustable chair 100. More specifically, Figure 7A -7C illustrates the ability of the seat cushion 500 to rotate upwards or downwards or tilt relative to the horizontal axis. Figure 7A In the embodiment shown in -7C, the current design allows the mat to rotate downwards by 15 degrees. As... Figure 7C As shown in the details, the rotation of the seat cushion is achieved using a seat rotation motor 702 connected to a drive gear 704, which in turn drives a driven gear 706 connected to a threaded shaft and nut 708, which is connected to an attachment point 710. As the motor 702 is driven, the seat cushion 500 rotates about a pivot point 712 to the desired degree of rotation. According to the embodiment described herein, the seat can tilt in a variety of different directions, including forward.

[0047] like Figure 9As shown, the seat rotation motor 702 can also be connected to and controlled by a controller 910, which in turn communicates with the application 960 of the user device 970 via a network 980. Therefore, the user can selectively adjust the degree of seat rotation by interacting with the GUI 950. More specifically, the user can use the GUI 950 to request adjustments to the seat rotation, which are then transmitted via the network to the controller 910 to selectively drive the seat rotation motor 702 to achieve the desired seat rotation position. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the user can then save their preferences in a user document, which is then used to automatically restore the adjustable chair 100 to their preferred settings at a pre-specified time and / or each time the user logs into the application 960; or, in "best practice" mode, a set of recommended settings established by a medical professional or expert and transmitted to or otherwise created at the application 960 can then be transmitted to the controller 910 to create a set of recommended settings that promote back health and posture, which are then transmitted to the controller 910 to automatically adjust the adjustable chair 100 according to the recommended settings.

[0048] Adjustable foot pedals

[0049] In some configurations, the adjustable chair 100 may also include a footrest. Figure 8A In the embodiment shown in -8B, the adjustable chair 100 includes an adjustable footrest 800. Figure 8A In the embodiment shown in –8B, the adjustable foot pedal 800 includes a retaining member 820 attached to a housing supporting the seat cushion 500. As the seat cushion 500 moves up and down following the movement of the linear actuator 250, the stationary portion 820 moves with and is associated with the seat cushion 500. In some cases, this can include a range of up to 20 inches. In addition to the stationary portion 820, the adjustable foot pedal 800 also includes a sliding assembly 810 capable of sliding relative to the stationary portion 820. A pin 880 may be used to extend through a portion of the sliding assembly 810 to extend through a slot 825 in the retaining member 820 to secure the sliding assembly 810 to the retaining portion 820. The pin 880 may be positioned in a plurality of holes in the sliding assembly 810 to establish a distance between the foot pedal portion 850 and the seat cushion 500. If the user does not wish to use the foot pedal 800, the pin 880 may be removed, thereby enabling the sliding assembly 810 to be removed relative to the stationary portion 820.

[0050] To prevent the foot pedal 800 assembly from hitting the floor during adjustment, a tab 840 may be included on the linear actuator 250 to contact a corresponding structure on the sliding assembly. In some cases, the corresponding structure of the sliding assembly may include tabs, protrusions, or any number of constructions.

[0051] Programmable motor control

[0052] Another adjustable aspect of some embodiments described herein is the ability of all motor controls 200, 304, 502, 602, and 702 to be controlled by a programmable interface (e.g., a graphical user interface 850 running on user device 970), enabling the user to provide enhanced control and feedback that allows for precise targeting of adjustment amounts. In one embodiment, motor controls 200, 304, 502, 602, and 702 are also designed to be adjusted or controlled via a smartphone and may be associated with a program (e.g., application 960) that allows the user to create documents that can be stored in memory 962. For example, a user can store personal documents that cause the adjustable chair 100 to be adjusted to a preferred or preset position at different times of the day, or to a configuration corresponding to a preferred chair position or configuration, or to automatically adjust according to daily or other time-based parameters. This feature allows the chair to be preset for individual users.

[0053] In another configuration, the adjustable chair 100 can have a program that stores positions incorporating the height of a movable desktop. Furthermore, to promote proper back health, the adjustable chair 100 can move according to a predefined "best practice" preset, determined by an expert or other commissioned expert to design the seating configuration that best benefits the user. Thus, the user can use application 960 to select a "best practice" preset, which includes a single or a series of seating positions established by medical or other professionals that promote back health and correct posture. In some cases, the "best practice" preset may have different positions at different times of day or for different durations. Therefore, by selecting the "best practice" setting, the adjustable chair 100 can be automatically adjusted throughout the day or during periods of overuse without any additional action from the user.

[0054] This feature also allows for programming that can automatically change the chair's position at different time intervals. Different positions can provide relief and rest for the back during the day. Therefore, the pain and stiffness from prolonged sitting are eliminated. It is understandable that combining the control of all motor drives with the ability to program movement at different times of the day is not feasible in currently known adjustable chairs in the art.

[0055] In some configurations, users can create, monitor, or modify user files that control the storage of the configuration of the adjustable chair 100 via various computer program applications, including applications that can be installed on and controlled via a user device, such as a mobile phone or other portable computing device. In some configurations, this also allows the creation of multiple user files that can be preset or saved, so that two different people using the chair can immediately command adjustments to their preset settings. Thus, the chair can be adjusted by a user interacting with the adjustable chair 100 via a mobile phone to indicate that they will be using the adjustable chair 100 instead of another user.

[0056] In some configurations, the controller 810 may also include a series of switches or other manual controls that a user can use to manually adjust the chair. In some cases, these switches may be arranged on the adjustable chair 100. It is understood that the switches of the controller 810 in this configuration are capable of manually controlling some or all of the motors 200, 304, 502, 602, and 702. This manual control may be used in conjunction with or in place of the remote control configuration described above.

[0057] As used in this disclosure, the terms "module" or "component" can refer to a specific hardware implementation configured to perform the actions of a module or component and / or a software object or software routine that can be stored on and / or executed by general-purpose hardware (e.g., computer-readable media, processing devices, etc.) of a computing system. In some embodiments, the different components, modules, engines, and services described in this disclosure can be implemented as objects or processes (e.g., as separate threads) that execute on a computing system. While some systems and methods described in this disclosure are generally described as being implemented in software (stored on and / or executed by general-purpose hardware), specific hardware implementations or combinations of software and specific hardware implementations are also possible and contemplated. In this disclosure, a "computing entity" can be any computing system previously defined in this disclosure, or a combination of any modules or modulators running on a computing system.

[0058] The terms used in this disclosure and, in particular, the appended claims (e.g., the body of the appended claims) are generally intended to be “open-ended” terms (e.g., the term “comprising” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “at least having,” the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” etc.).

[0059] Furthermore, if an intention is to refer to a specific number of introduced claims, that intention will be explicitly stated in the claims, and without such reference, there is no such intention. For example, to aid understanding, the appended claims may contain the use of introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce the claims. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed as implying that a claim introduced by the indefinite article “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such an introductory claim to containing only one such embodiment, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrase “one or more” or “at least one” and the indefinite article such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and / or “an” should be interpreted as “at least one” or “one or more”); the same applies to the use of definite articles used to introduce the claims.

[0060] Furthermore, even when a specific number of the introduced claims is explicitly listed, those skilled in the art will recognize that such a listing should be interpreted as indicating at least the number listed (e.g., a simple listing of "two listings" without other modifiers means at least two listings, or two or more listings). Additionally, when used in contexts such as "at least one of A, B, C, etc." or "one or more of A, B, C, etc.", such a structure is generally intended to include a single A, a single B, a single C, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together, etc.

[0061] Furthermore, any separate word or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the specification, claims, or drawings, should be understood to include the possibility of including one, any, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" should be understood to include the possibility of including "A" or "B" or "A and B".

[0062] All examples and conditional language listed in this disclosure are intended for educational purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the inventors' concepts for contributing to the field, and are to be construed as not being limited to these specifically listed examples and situations. Although embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail, various changes, substitutions, and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. An adjustable chair, said adjustable chair comprising: Seating area; A seat backrest, which is disposed along one side of the seat portion, is configured to at least support a person's back or shoulders; A chair base configured to be placed on a floor; At least one adjustable chair feature, said at least one adjustable chair feature including a plurality of motors, said plurality of motors being selectively controlled and driven to adjust the following: The rotation or tilting of the seat portion The vertical distance between the seat back and one side of the seat portion. The angular position between the seat back and the seat portion, and The distance between the chair base and the seat portion; and A lumbar support member that provides incremental and progressive resistance to support the lower back of a person, the lumbar support member being adjustable to project an increasing distance from the seat back toward the back or shoulders of the person as the lumbar support member motor is driven, wherein the lumbar support member can be further adjusted and configured to move vertically relative to the seat portion.

2. The adjustable chair according to claim 1, wherein, The at least one adjustable chair feature includes a linear actuator connected at one end to the chair base and the seat portion, the linear actuator including an inner locking guide, a middle locking guide and an outer locking guide, wherein the linear actuator moves between an unfolded state and a folded state as the motor is driven to increase and decrease the distance between the seat portion and the chair base, and wherein the inner locking guide, the middle locking guide and the outer locking guide are configured to prevent rotation relative to each other when the motor is driven.

3. The adjustable chair according to claim 1, wherein, The at least one adjustable chair feature includes a seat back adjustment device that, when the motor is driven, causes the seat back to rotate relative to the seat portion, thereby forming an acute or obtuse angle relative to the seat portion.

4. The adjustable chair according to claim 1, wherein, The at least one adjustable chair feature includes a seat rotation device that, when the motor is driven, causes the seat portion to rotate relative to a horizontal axis.

5. The adjustable chair according to claim 1, wherein, The at least one adjustable chair feature can also be controlled by mechanical adjustment.

6. The adjustable chair according to claim 5, wherein, The mechanical adjustment includes a plurality of mechanical switches disposed on the adjustable chair.

7. The adjustable chair according to claim 1, wherein, The motor is controlled and driven by a controller capable of communicating with the user's electronic device via a network connection, the controller driving the motor to adjust for at least one of the following: The rotation or tilt of the seat portion, The vertical distance between the back of the seat and one side of the seat portion, The angular position between the seat back and the seat portion, and The distance between the chair base and the seat portion is adjusted according to the chair setting document set by the electronic device.

8. The adjustable chair according to claim 7, wherein, The electronic device is a smartphone capable of communicating with the controller via a network connection.

9. The adjustable chair according to claim 7, wherein, The user's electronic device includes a memory that stores a chair setup document, which includes a series of recommended preset seat adjustment settings, and wherein the controller is capable of driving the motor to adjust at least one of the following according to the chair setup document and the recommended preset adjustment settings: the rotation or tilt of the seat portion, the position of the seat back, the angular position between the seat back and the seat portion, and the distance between the chair base and the seat portion.

10. The adjustable chair according to claim 9, wherein, The recommended preset adjustment settings include different settings for different durations or times of day.

11. The adjustable chair of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable footrest, the adjustable footrest being capable of adjusting the distance between the seat portion and the footrest configured to support a person's feet.

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