Item of furniture, in particular a piece of furniture, such as an armchair, bench, bed, bed base or similar

Abstract

This furniture item, in particular a piece of furniture such as a seat, bench, bed, bed base or similar, comprises an active element (7) movable between a retracted position within said furniture item and an active, deployed position, said active element being located in an active zone of said furniture item positioned so as to act on a zone of a user's body and being configured to exert a force on said zone of the body capable of providing a localized stretch of one or more muscles of the body and / or acting locally on the skeleton of the body. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig 1

Description

Title of the invention: Furniture item, in particular furniture, such as an armchair, bench, bed, bed base or the like

[0001] The present invention relates to a piece of furniture capable of providing a compensatory effect on the human body of a user by acting in a localized manner on the muscles of the body and / or on the skeleton.

[0002] This includes provoking compensation by an external intervention applied under the body in order to cause a rebalancing, realignment and symmetrization of its structure by a localized stretching of the muscles in order to modify their tension, and restore joint mobility.

[0003] The invention relates more particularly to an item of furniture, in particular a piece of furniture, such as an armchair, bench, bed, bed base or the like, and generally concerns any item of furniture on which the human body of a user is intended to rest.

[0004] 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 facility.

[0005] It can also be used by professionals in specialized establishments.

[0006] Such a piece of furniture can also be used as a seat or armchair in means of transport. For example, it could be a seat in a motor vehicle, an airplane seat, or a train seat.

[0007] Such a piece of furniture can also constitute an armchair used in relaxation areas in dedicated zones provided in spaces open to the general public, for example in airports, or even shopping centers or train stations or motorway rest areas.

[0008] To date, furniture items such as relaxation seats are only suitable for temporarily improving a user's comfort or for providing a relaxing effect due to this improved comfort.

[0009] However, they are unsuitable for providing any compensatory effect on the human body. They are unsuitable for ensuring a rebalancing function of the human body's structure and do not provide any localized effect on the muscles, skeleton, or joints of the human body.

[0010] The aim of the invention is therefore to overcome this drawback and to provide a piece of furniture with a simple structure capable of providing such a compensatory effect on the human body. This involves, in particular, compensating for the effects that appear on the body during prolonged postures, inducing bodily imbalances or muscle tension.

[0011] The invention therefore relates to a piece of furniture, in particular a piece of furniture, such as an armchair, bench, bed, bed base or the like, which includes an active element that can be moved between a retracted position in said piece of furniture and an active deployed 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 and being configured to exert an effort on said zone of the human body capable of ensuring a localized stretching of one or more muscles of the body and / or acting locally on the skeleton of the body.

[0012] The furniture element can thus be controlled so as to deploy the active element in order to apply localized pressure to the human body and thereby compensate for poor posture that has resulted in imbalances in the body's structure or caused muscle tension. The force exerted by the active element is advantageously applied under the body in order to lift it locally and intermittently to provide this compensation, without effort or pain, simply through the effect of the body's resting weight.

[0013] In one embodiment, the furniture element comprises a seat and a backrest capable of being angularly deployed relative to the seat in a sleeping configuration, the deployable active element being located in an articulation region of the seat and the backrest.

[0014] In one embodiment, the deployable active element is located in an area capable of acting in the region of the sacrum of the user's body, lifting this region locally.

[0015] In another embodiment, the deployable active element is located in an area suitable for acting in the shoulder blade region of the user's body.

[0016] According to yet another embodiment, the deployable active element is located in an area suitable for acting in the region of the cervical vertebrae of the user's body.

[0017] In various embodiments, the furniture element may be provided with an active element located in the articulation area of ​​the seat and 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.

[0018] Of course, such a piece of furniture can, at will, be equipped with one or more active elements, in combination.

[0019] When several active elements are used, these can be independently controlled so as to act selectively on a specific region of the human body.

[0020] Preferably, the active element comprises a convex surface placed under an external envelope of the furniture element.

[0021] The convex surface preferably includes a radius of curvature between 10 cm and 30 cm capable of lifting the body locally by 10 to 20 cm horizontally.

[0022] Alternatively, the active element can be formed by an articulated area of ​​a structure of the furniture element capable of lifting the body locally by 10 to 20 cm horizontally.

[0023] According to another feature, the furniture element comprises a set of drive means controlled by a control element acting on the active element. The action exerted by the drive means has the effect, in particular, of raising or lowering the active element and thus lifting the body horizontally by 10 to 20 cm.

[0024] Advantageously, when the furniture element constitutes a seat, it is equipped with a footrest that can be deployed relative to the seat.

[0025] In one embodiment, the furniture element can be associated with a heating element intended to be applied against the stomach of a user.

[0026] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0027] [Fig. 1] is a profile perspective view of an example of an embodiment of a piece of furniture according to the invention;

[0028] [Fig.2] illustrates a particular embodiment of a piece of furniture according to the invention;

[0029] [Fig.3] shows the internal structure of the furniture element of [Fig.2];

[0030] [Fig.4]

[0031] [Fig.5]

[0032] [Fig.6] respectively illustrate methods of implementing a piece of furniture according to the invention;

[0033] [Fig.7]

[0034] [Fig.8]

[0035] [Fig.9] illustrate another embodiment of a piece of furniture according to the invention; and

[0036] [Fig. 10]

[0037] [Fig.11]

[0038] [Fig. 12] illustrate a variant embodiment of the embodiment of figures 7, 8 and 9.

[0039] Reference will first be made to figures 1 to 6 which illustrate a first example of the realization of a piece of furniture according to the invention, designated by the general numerical reference 1.

[0040] As can be seen in these figures, the furniture item here constitutes a seat.

[0041] 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.

[0042] The seat 1 is advantageously an adjustable seat and includes a set of adjustment means acting on the height of the seat, the inclination of the backrest, the depth of the seat, ...

[0043] 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 a reclining position.

[0044] 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.

[0045] As regards the seat, it comprises two parts 3 and 4 that are movable relative to each other in order to adjust the seat depth. However, part 4 can be fully extended, as shown in [Fig. 4], so as to form a footrest.

[0046] Optionally, the backrest II is also height-adjustable and thus comprises two parts 5 and 6 that are movable relative to each other in translation so as to vary the height of the backrest in the seated position and, consequently, the length of the backrest in the reclined 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.

[0047] The backrest can thus be adjusted to a height such that the upper end of the backrest extends in relation to the shoulder blades of a user, in a seated position, to allow a spontaneous stretching effort to be exerted at the level of the shoulder blades while remaining in the seated position.

[0048] In various embodiments, the means for adjusting the seat 1 can be either manual, with adjustment being made by acting on levers and springs and by manually changing 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.

[0049] Furthermore, the seat is equipped with deployable active elements 7 between a retracted position, illustrated for example in [Fig.1], and a deployed position, visible for example in Figures 3 and 4.

[0050] In the retracted position, the active element retracts into the seat structure, while in the deployed active position, the active element protrudes from the structure. from the seat to exert a localized effort on an area of ​​the user's body by lifting it locally.

[0051] The active element is positioned in the seat in an area that corresponds to the area of ​​the body on which a localized effort should be exerted.

[0052] In the embodiment of [Fig.1], the active element 7 is placed in the seat in an area that corresponds to the location of the user's sacrum when the seat is in the reclining position.

[0053] Thus, the active element is advantageously positioned in the articulation zone of the seat I and the backrest II.

[0054] It can also be positioned in the seat I, in the vicinity of the articulation area. In this case, when the active element is positioned in the seat, it is, for example, centered on an area of ​​the seat extending over approximately one quarter or one third, or even half, of the length of the seat (position P).

[0055] As shown in [Fig.2], the active element 7 can also be positioned in the folder.

[0056] The active element can, for example, in various embodiments, be positioned substantially in the mid-section 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 can also, alternatively or in addition, be positioned in an area of ​​the backrest corresponding to the location of the user's cervical spine (position P”).

[0057] The seat can thus be equipped with one, two or three active elements in 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 according to the desired effects.

[0058] In the embodiment schematically illustrated in [Fig.3], in which the outer covering and armrests have been removed for clarity, the seat comprises three active elements 7.

[0059] As can be seen, these active elements 7 are made up of cylinders and thus have a convex peripheral surface C which acts on a surface of the body by lifting it locally.

[0060] Of course, the active elements can be made up of portions of a cylinder, for example halves or thirds, or even quarters of a cylinder.

[0061] The active elements are each mounted on a support associated with driving means, for example an electric or hydraulic motor, controlled so as to cause the convex surface C of the active elements to move into a protruding position in which it acts locally on the human body.

[0062] For example, the active elements have a rigid central core, for example made of plastic, surrounded by an optional elastic covering, for example made of foam, so as to maintain sufficient comfort for the seat when it is in the seated position while providing sufficient active properties when the active element is in the deployed position.

[0063] The active elements are further placed on the seat structure, under the outer casing, in order to improve comfort.

[0064] As previously stated, the active elements can be selectively activated to act either in the user's sacral region ([Fig.4]), or in the scapular region ([Fig.5]), or in the cervical region ([Fig.6]). They act by locally and intermittently lifting a part of the body.

[0065] In these various positions, the active elements constitute a relatively hard and horizontal support to treat the desired muscle chain and ensure compensation by causing in particular a change in muscle tension, a rebalancing and symmetrization of the skeleton, mobility and opening of the joints.

[0066] It should be noted that the action of the active elements is exerted over a relatively short period, on the order of a minute.

[0067] The results are lasting.

[0068] In addition, the use of the furniture element is particularly easy to implement since it requires no prior preparation by the user.

[0069] When the active element is placed under the sacrum, the force exerted by the active element causes a correction of the femur's axis relative to the pelvis. This correction compensates for contractures and / or shortening of the thigh flexor muscles on the pelvis caused by prolonged sitting positions in which the thigh and pelvis are in pathological flexion.

[0070] The active element allows, through this compensation, a recovery of the natural range of motion of the hip, a stretching of the psoas, iliac and rectus femoris muscles, as well as a correction of lumbar hyperlordosis of certain kyphoses and scolioses.

[0071] When the active element acts in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, a repositioning of the vertebrae relative to each other has been observed, according to a natural alignment, and a normalization of the anterior interspinous and intervertebral spaces, corresponding to a recovery of physiological curvatures and a reduction of spinal constraints.

[0072] In addition to the action provided by the active element in the shoulder blade area, when the user extends their arms behind them, a stretching of the intercostal muscles, the pectoralis major and the pectoralis minor is obtained, as well as a correction of lumbar hyperlordosis.

[0073] The action of the active element in the shoulder blade area finally allows an opening of the shoulder girdle and a gain in spinal mobility.

[0074] As previously stated, the action of the active element in the shoulder blade area can be obtained by the seat in the seated position, by acting on the means for adjusting the height of the backrest.

[0075] When the active element is placed in the area of ​​the cervical vertebrae, a stretch of the latissimus dorsi and a stretch 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 kyphosis or scoliosis.

[0076] The combined action of these active elements allows the 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 respiratory function, well-being and self-confidence.

[0077] In the embodiment described above with reference to Figures 1 to 6, the external intervention applied to the human body of a user is obtained by using a movable active element between a retracted position and a deployed active position.

[0078] 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.

[0079] In the embodiment of [Fig.7], the articulation area extends opposite the user's sacrum.

[0080] In figures 8 and 9, the articulation areas extend respectively in relation to the area of ​​the shoulder blades and in the area of ​​the cervical vertebrae.

[0081] In the embodiment of figures 1 to 9, the furniture element consists of a seat capable of adopting a sleeping position.

[0082] As previously stated, we do not depart from the scope of the invention when the furniture element is made up of any other type of furniture.

[0083] Figures 10 to 12 schematically represent a bench or a bed base with one or more active zones according to the invention, here made for example by articulated zones of the structure of the bench.

[0084] This active zone can act in the sacrum area ([Fig. 10]), in the shoulder blade area ([Fig. 11]) or in the cervical area ([Fig. 12]).

[0085] As in the embodiments described above, the active element can be formed either by a movable convex surface between a retracted position and a active position deployed, either by an articulation zone acting, as represented in figures 10 to 12, on specific areas of the structure of the human body.

[0086] It should be noted that in the various embodiments described above, the active element, which is moved under the control 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 phone.

[0087] Finally, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described. Indeed, the furniture element can advantageously be complemented by a heating element, for example made in the form of a heating plate, which is intended to be applied against the belly of a user, when the active element(s) act, in the supine position of the furniture element, for an instantaneous action on the fascia, which accelerates and deepens the rebalancing of the skeleton.

Claims

Demands

1. A furniture item, in particular a piece of furniture, such as a seat, bench, bed, bed base or the like, characterized in that it comprises one, two or three movable active elements (7) between a retracted position in said furniture item and an active deployed position, said active element being located in an active zone of said furniture item which is positioned so as to act on a zone of a user's human body and being configured to exert an effort on said zone of the human body capable of ensuring a localized stretch of one or more muscles of the body and acting locally on the skeleton of the body, and in that the furniture item comprises a seat (I) and a backrest (II) capable of being deployed relative to the seat in a bed configuration, the furniture item comprising a deployable active element (7) located in a region of articulation of the seat and the backrest or in the seat,and in that the furniture element comprises a set of motorized means controlled by a control device, acting on the active element to raise or lower it by 10 to 20 cm.

2. Furniture element according to claim 1, comprising a deployable active element (7) located in an area capable of acting in the sacrum region of the user's body, by lifting this region locally.

3. Furniture item according to any one of claims 1 and 2, comprising a deployable active element (7) located in an area suitable for acting in the shoulder blade region of the user's body.

4. Furniture item according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a deployable active element (7) located in an area suitable for acting in the region of the cervical vertebrae of the user's body.

5. Furniture element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the active element comprises a convex surface (C) placed under an external envelope of the furniture element.

6. Furniture item according to claim 5, wherein the convex surface comprises a radius of curvature between 10 cm and 30 cm capable of raising the body locally by 10 to 20 cm.

7. Furniture element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the active element is formed by an articulated area (A) of a structure of the furniture element capable of lifting the body locally by 10 to 20 cm.

8. Furniture item according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a heating element intended to be applied against the stomach of a user.

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