Furniture element, in particular a piece of furniture, such as a chair, a bench, a bed, a bed base or similar
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-05-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-18
AI Technical Summary
Conventional furniture elements, such as armchairs, benches, and beds, fail to provide a momentary constraint effect that rebalances the human body's structure, realigns joints, and reduces muscle tension, especially after prolonged sitting.
A furniture element with a movable active element that can rotate between retracted and deployed positions, positioned to exert localized force on the body, enhancing joint mobility and muscle stretching, and equipped with motor means to lift and rotate, allowing for targeted action on the sacrum, shoulder blades, and cervical vertebrae.
The solution effectively modifies postures, reduces muscle tension, and promotes joint realignment by applying a localized constraint, improving mobility and spinal alignment without effort or pain, with lasting effects from repeated use.
Smart Images
Figure EP2023062384_14112024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] DESCRIPTION
[0002] TITLE: Item of furniture, in particular furniture, such as an armchair, bench, bed, box spring or similar
[0003] The present invention relates to a piece of furniture capable of providing a momentary constraint effect on the human body of a user by acting in a localized manner on the skeleton.
[0004] This involves in particular causing a constraint by an external intervention applied under the body in order to cause a rebalancing, a realignment and a symmetrization of its structure by an opening of the joint angle more favorable to mobility and localized muscular stretching.
[0005] The invention relates more particularly to an item of furniture, in particular a piece of furniture, such as an armchair, bench, bed, box spring or the like and concerns, in general, any item of furniture on which the human body of a user is intended to rest.
[0006] Such a piece of furniture can advantageously be made in the form of an armchair, a bed, a bed base or a bench and used in a home or in a care establishment. Thus, in the context of the use of the piece of furniture in a care establishment, it can generally be any establishment in which a care staff works, for example a physiotherapist, an osteopath, etc. In this case, the piece of furniture can constitute a treatment table.
[0007] It can also be used by professionals in specialized establishments.
[0008] Such a piece of furniture can also be used as a seat or armchair in means of transport. It can, for example, be a car seat, an airplane or train seat.
[0009] Such an item of furniture may also be an armchair used in relaxation areas in dedicated areas provided in spaces open to the general public, for example in airports, or even shopping centers or train stations or even motorway service areas.
[0010] Furniture items such as relaxation chairs or massage tables are generally only suitable to temporarily improve a user's comfort or to provide a relaxing effect through an ergonomic approach.
[0011] However, they are not suitable for providing any temporary constraint effect. They are not suitable for ensuring a rebalancing function of the structure of the human body and do not provide any localized effect on the skeleton or joints of the human body with consequences on the muscles and posture in general.
[0012] It has already been proposed by the applicant, in patent application FR 3 117 322, to provide such a momentary constraint effect on the human body and, in particular, to compensate for the effects which appear on the body during a prolonged sitting posture inducing bodily imbalances or muscular tensions by using an active element located in an active zone of a piece of furniture which is positioned so as to act on an area of the human body of a user, this active element being configured to exert a force on said area of the human body capable of acting locally on the skeleton of the body and ensuring localized stretching of one or more muscles.
[0013] It has been found that such an active element is truly effective in ensuring this compensation for prolonged sitting posture.
[0014] The aim of the invention is however to further improve such a piece of furniture by increasing the effectiveness of the constraint, or even to supplement the effects of said constraint provided by the active element.
[0015] The invention therefore relates to a piece of furniture, in particular a piece of furniture, such as an armchair, bench, bed, bed base, treatment table or the like, which comprises an active element movable between a retracted position in said piece of furniture and a deployed active position, the active element being located in an active zone of said piece of furniture which is positioned so as to act on a zone of the human body of a user, the active element being configured to exert a stress on said zone of the human body. The piece of furniture comprises active drive means capable of driving the active element in rotation.
[0016] The furniture element can thus be controlled so as to deploy the active element in such a way as to ensure a localized momentary constraint on the human body, this constraint being able to act locally in such a way as to cause an opening of the joint angles favorable to mobility and a localized stretching of one or more muscles of the body and thus to modify the bad postures which have had the effect of imposing imbalances in the structure of the body and / or of causing tension in the muscles.
[0017] The force exerted by the active element is advantageously applied under the body in order to lift it locally and punctually to ensure this constraint, without effort or pain, just by the effect of the weight of the body at rest.
[0018] The rotational training of the active element also complements the beneficial effects of the active element by causing a stretching of the tissues at the base and around the sacrum in order to release tension located in the lumbar vertebrae and the spine in general. The stretching of the sacral tissues is achieved by slightly raising the sacrum under the action of the rotation of the active element.
[0019] In one embodiment, the furniture element comprises a seat and a backrest capable of being angularly deployed relative to the seat in a berth configuration, the deployable active element being located in an articulation region of the seat and the backrest.
[0020] In one embodiment, the deployable active element is located in an area capable of acting in the sacrum region of the user's body, lifting this region locally, thereby stretching the muscles surrounding the pelvis.
[0021] In another embodiment, the deployable active element is located in an area capable of acting in the shoulder blade region of the user's body. According to yet another embodiment, the deployable active element is located in an area capable of acting in the cervical vertebrae region of the user's body.
[0022] In various embodiments, the furniture element may be provided with an active element located in the articulation zone of the seat and the backrest so as to act on the sacrum, an active element located opposite the user's shoulder blades, and an active element located opposite the cervical vertebrae.
[0023] Of course, such a piece of furniture can, if desired, be equipped with one or more active elements, in combination.
[0024] When using multiple active elements, they can be independently controlled to act selectively on a specific region of the human body.
[0025] Preferably, the active element comprises a convex surface preferably comprising a radius of curvature of between 10 cm and 30 cm capable of locally lifting the body by 10 to 20 cm horizontally.
[0026] The convex surface placed under the sacrum is preferably formed by the peripheral surface of a rotating cylindrical element.
[0027] Alternatively, the active element may be formed by an articulated area of a structure of the furniture element capable of locally lifting the body by 10 to 20 cm horizontally. In this case, a rotating element located in the articulated area is also provided.
[0028] According to another characteristic, the furniture element comprises a set of motor means whose action has in particular the effect of raising or lowering the active element and therefore of lifting the body 10 to 20 cm horizontally. The action of these motor means also has the effect of rotating the active element preferably according to an angular sector which can go up to 30°.
[0029] The active element may be provided with heating means.
[0030] It may also include a deployable and rotating central zone and two fixed lateral zones in order to increase the angle of the joint openings and the stretching of the muscle chains thus stressed. For example, the active element comprises a rigid central core, for example made of plastic, surrounded by an elastic covering, for example made of foam.
[0031] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:
[0032] [Fig 1] is a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a piece of furniture in accordance with the invention;
[0033] [Fig 2] illustrates a particular embodiment of a piece of furniture according to the invention;
[0034] [Fig 3] shows the internal structure of the furniture element of Figure 2;
[0035] [Fig 4]
[0036] [Fig 5]
[0037] [Fig 6] respectively illustrate methods of implementing a piece of furniture in accordance with the invention;
[0038] [Fig 7]
[0039] [Fig 8]
[0040] [Fig 9] illustrate another embodiment of a piece of furniture in accordance with the invention; and
[0041] [Fig 10] and [Fig 11] illustrate advantageous embodiments of a furniture element according to the invention.
[0042] We will first refer to figures 1 to 6 which illustrate a first example of embodiment of a piece of furniture in accordance with the invention, designated by the general numerical reference 1.
[0043] As can be seen in these figures, the piece of furniture here constitutes a seat.
[0044] However, as indicated previously, the invention also applies, in general, to various types of furniture element, usable in various applications and in various configurations, such as a seat, bench, bed, or even a massage table for physiotherapists or osteopaths, etc. With reference to figures 1 and 2, the seat comprises a seat I, a backrest II articulated relative to the seat I and a leg III.
[0045] The seat 1 is advantageously an adjustable seat and comprises a set of adjustment means acting on the height of the seat, on the inclination of the backrest, on the depth of the seat, etc.
[0046] The backrest II is thus capable of being fully deployed, substantially in the plane of the seat, so as to position the seat 1 in the reclining position.
[0047] The armrests 2 of the seat are in this respect articulated so as to retract, substantially in the plane of the seat, in the reclining position, and thus facilitate the positioning of a user on the seat.
[0048] As for the seat, it comprises two parts 3 and 4 which can move relative to each other so as to adjust the seat depth. However, part 4 can be fully deployed, as seen in Figure 4, so as to constitute a footrest.
[0049] Optionally, the backrest II is also height-adjustable and thus comprises two parts 5 and 6 which can be moved relative to each other in translation so as to vary the height of the backrest in the sitting position and, therefore, the length of the backrest in the lying position. The two parts can also be articulated relative to each other, the upper movable part 5 being able to be moved angularly relative to the lower part 6 so as to reduce the overall height of the backrest.
[0050] The backrest can thus be adjustable to a height such that the upper end of the backrest extends opposite the shoulder blades of a user, in a seated position, to allow spontaneous stretching of the shoulder blades while remaining in the seated position.
[0051] In various embodiments, the adjustment means of the seat 1 can be either manual, the adjustment being carried out by acting on levers and springs and manually modifying the configuration of the seat, or electric and controlled by appropriate control buttons placed on the seat or integrated into a remote control or by smartphone (smartphone). Furthermore, the seat is provided with active elements 7 intended to exert a force on an area of the human body and capable of ensuring a local and momentary constraint effect on the skeleton of the body.
[0052] These active elements are deployable between a retracted position, illustrated for example in Figure 1, and a deployed position, visible for example in Figures 3 and 4.
[0053] In the retracted position, the active element retracts into the seat structure, while in the deployed active position the active element projects from the seat structure to exert a localized force on an area of the user's body by lifting it locally.
[0054] The active element is positioned in the seat in an area that corresponds to the area of the body on which localized effort should be exerted.
[0055] In the embodiment of Figure 1, the active element 7 is placed in the seat in an area which corresponds to the location of the user's sacrum when the seat is in the reclining position.
[0056] Thus, the active element is advantageously positioned in the articulation zone of the seat I and the backrest IL
[0057] This active element, positioned in an area which corresponds to the location of the sacrum, is also rotated in order to cause an upward movement of the sacrum to act accordingly on the lumbar vertebrae and more generally the spine, in an indirect and non-intrusive manner.
[0058] It can also be positioned in the seat I, in the vicinity of the articulation zone. In this case, when the active element is positioned in the seat, it is for example centered on an area of the seat extending along approximately a quarter or a third, or even half of the length of the seat (position P).
[0059] As shown in Figure 2, the active element 7 can also be positioned in the folder.
[0060] The active element may, for example, in various embodiments, be positioned substantially in the middle zone of the backrest so as to be positioned opposite the shoulder blades of a user when the seat is in the reclined position (position P'). The active element 7 may also, as a variant or in addition, be positioned in an area of the backrest corresponding to the location of the cervical vertebrae of the user's body (position P”).
[0061] The seat can thus be equipped with one, two or three active elements at locations corresponding either to the position of the sacrum, or to the position of the shoulder blades, or to the position of the cervical vertebrae, or to any possible combination of these three active elements depending on the desired effects.
[0062] In the embodiment illustrated schematically in Figure 3, in which the outer covering and the armrests have been removed for the sake of clarity, the seat comprises three active elements 7.
[0063] As can be seen, these active elements 7 are constituted by cylinders and thus comprise a convex peripheral surface C which acts on a surface of the body by lifting it locally while causing an elevation and a momentary constraint at the level of the sacrum, with regard to the active element positioned in the zone which corresponds to the sacrum.
[0064] The active elements are each mounted on a support associated with motor means, for example an electric or hydraulic motor, controlled so as to cause the displacement of the convex surface C of the active elements into a projecting position in which it acts locally on the human body. With regard to the active element acting on the sacrum, the motor means cause a rotation of the active element over an angular zone of up to 30°. These motor means are for example constituted by a geared motor ensuring an adaptation of the rotation speed and the torque of the motor in order to obtain a relatively slow displacement, for example of the order of a few seconds, and a sufficient torque to obtain the stretching of the tissues at the base and around the sacrum.
[0065] For example, the active elements comprise a rigid central core, for example made of plastic, surrounded by an elastic covering, for example made of foam, so as to maintain sufficient comfort for the seat when it is in the sitting position while providing sufficient active properties when the active element is in the deployed position. Preferably, a foamed polymer having a density of less than approximately 70 kg / m3 will be used, for example foamed polyethylene coated with a covering layer of PVC or polyethylene type polymer, the whole having a maximum thickness of approximately 2 cm.
[0066] The active elements are further placed in the seat structure, under the outer shell, in order to improve comfort.
[0067] As previously indicated, the active elements can be selectively activated to act either in the user's sacrum region (Figure 4), in the shoulder blade region (Figure 5), or in the cervical region (Figure 6). They act by locally and punctually lifting a part of the body.
[0068] In these various positions, the active elements constitute a relatively hard and horizontal support to ensure constraint by causing in particular a modification of postures due to daily life, a rebalancing and symmetrization of the skeleton, an opening of the joint angle more favorable to mobility and localized muscular stretching favoring a reduction of muscular tensions.
[0069] It should be noted that the action of the active elements is exerted over a relatively short period, of the order of a minute.
[0070] The results are long-lasting due to the repetition phenomenon, thus compensating for the postures associated with daily life.
[0071] In addition, the use of the furniture element is particularly easy to implement since it does not require any prior preparation from the user.
[0072] When the active element is placed under the sacrum, the force exerted by the active element causes a rectification of the axis of the femur in relation to the pelvis. This rectification allows to reduce contractures and to stretch the flexor muscles of the thigh, these contractures and these shortened flexor muscles being due to prolonged sitting posture, the thigh and the pelvis being in pathological flexion. The active element allows a recovery of the natural amplitude of the hip, a stretching of the psoas, iliacus and rectus femoris muscles, as well as a correction of lumbar hyperlordosis, and also of certain postural kyphosis and scoliosis. It allows to act accordingly on the lumbar vertebrae and more generally of the spine, in an indirect and non-intrusive manner.
[0073] As previously stated, rotating the active element also helps to stretch the tissues at the base and around the sacrum, helping to stretch the psoas, and releasing tension in the lumbar vertebrae and more generally in the spine.
[0074] When the active element acts in the area of the shoulder blades, a replacement of the vertebrae in relation to each other, according to a natural alignment, and a normalization of the interspinous and anterior intervertebral spaces, corresponding to a recovery of physiological curvatures and a reduction of spinal constraints, have been observed.
[0075] In addition to the action provided by the active element in the area of the shoulder blades, when the user stretches his arms backwards, a stretching of the intercostal muscles, the pectoralis major and the pectoralis minor is obtained, as well as a correction of lumbar hyperlordosis.
[0076] The action of the active element in the area of the shoulder blades finally allows an opening of the shoulder girdle and a gain in mobility of the spine.
[0077] As previously indicated, the action of the active element in the area of the shoulder blades can be obtained by the seat in the sitting position, by acting on the means of adjusting the height of the backrest.
[0078] When the active element is placed in the area of the cervical vertebrae, a stretching of the latissimus dorsi and a stretching of the subscapularis muscle are obtained, by the action of the arms pulled back, which contributes to the correction of lumbar hyperlordosis and any other postural kyphosis or scoliosis.
[0079] The combined action of these active elements allows to re-establish awareness of the physiological position of the skeleton, a good position of the pelvis in relation to the spine as well as mobility of the entire spine and allows the improvement of the amplitude of the rib cage and, consequently, an improvement of the respiratory function, well-being and self-confidence.
[0080] The active element(s) may also be heating elements.
[0081] In the embodiment described previously with reference to figures 1 to 6, the external intervention applied to the human body of a user is obtained by using an active element movable between a retracted position and a deployed active position.
[0082] As can be seen in Figures 7 and 8 and 9, the effect can also be obtained by making the structure of the furniture element in several parts articulated with respect to each other, the articulation zones A constituting active protruding zones acting locally on the structure of the human body.
[0083] In the embodiment of Figure 7, the articulation area extends opposite the user's sacrum.
[0084] In Figures 8 and 9, the articulation zones extend respectively opposite the shoulder blade area and into the cervical area.
[0085] In the embodiment of Figures 7 to 9, the articulation zone located at the location of the sacrum is advantageously provided with a rotating element of radius W by which the active element acts on the body.
[0086] In the embodiment of figures 1 to 9, the furniture element consists of a seat capable of adopting a reclining position.
[0087] As indicated above, it does not depart from the scope of the invention when the piece of furniture consists of any other type of furniture.
[0088] Figures 10 to 12 schematically show a treatment table for osteopaths or physiotherapists, equipped with one or more active zones in accordance with the invention, which can act in the sacrum area, in the shoulder blade area or even in the cervical area, as described previously with reference to Figures 3 to 9. In the illustrated embodiment, only the active element located at the sacrum has been shown, this active element being rotatable and optionally heated.
[0089] As in the embodiments described above, the active element may be formed either by a convex surface movable between a retracted position and a deployed active position, or by an articulation zone acting on specific areas of the structure of the human body. However, it is provided with a rotating element acting locally on the body.
[0090] As shown, the active element is equipped with a motor X axis, associated with a geared motor (not shown), and an optional heating resistor R.
[0091] It will be noted that in the various embodiments described above, the active element, which is moved under the action of motor means, can be controlled either by control buttons placed on the furniture element or on a remote control, or by means of a software application embedded in a mobile telephone.
[0092] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 11, the active element may be provided with three independent zones, namely a central zone 7-1 and two lateral zones 7-2 and 7-3, only the central zone 7-1 being capable of being deployed and driven in rotation. In this case, the motor axis is linked in rotation and movement to the central zone and freely pivots in the lateral zones. This embodiment is particularly suitable for stretching the psoas, quadriceps and surrounding tissues, improving the effect that is obtained when the entire active element is deployed.
[0093] Finally, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. Indeed, the furniture element can advantageously be supplemented by a heating element, for example produced in the form of a heating plate, which is intended to be applied against the stomach of a user, when the active element(s) act, in the lying position of the furniture element, for an instantaneous action on the fascia, which accelerates and deepens the rebalancing of the skeleton.
Claims
CLAIMS 1. Furniture element, in particular furniture, of the seat, bench, bed, bed base, treatment table or similar type, characterized in that it comprises an active element (7) movable between a retracted position in said furniture element and an active deployed position, said active element being located in an active zone of said furniture element which is positioned so as to act on an area of the human body of a user, the active element being configured to exert a stress on said area of the human body, characterized in that it comprises active drive means capable of driving the active element in rotation.
2. Furniture element according to claim 1, in which the furniture element comprises a seat (I) and a backrest (II) capable of being deployed relative to the seat in a sleeping configuration, and in which the deployable active element (7) is located in a region of articulation of the seat and the backrest or in the seat.
3. Furniture element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the deployable active element (7) is located in an area capable of acting in the sacrum region of the user's body, lifting this region locally while stretching the pelvis.
4. Furniture element according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the deployable active element (7) is located in an area capable of acting in the region of the shoulder blades of the user's body.
5. Furniture element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the deployable active element (7) is located in an area capable of acting in the region of the cervical vertebrae of the user's body.
6. Furniture element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the active element comprises a convex surface (C) comprising a radius of curvature of between 10 cm and 30 cm capable of locally lifting the body 10 to 20 cm horizontally.
7. Furniture element according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a set of motor means acting on the active element to raise or lower it by 10 to 20 cm horizontally.
8. Furniture element according to claim 7, in which the motor means are capable of rotating the active element up to an angle of approximately 30°.
9. Furniture element according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising means for heating the active element.
10. Furniture element according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the active element comprises a deployable and rotatable central zone (7-1) and two fixed lateral zones (7-2, 7-3).
11. Furniture element according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the active element comprises a rigid central core, for example made of plastic, surrounded by an elastic covering, for example made of foam.