Hugging chair

Abstract

The hug chair (1) comprises a frame (10) having two side walls (13D, 13G), left and right, and a seat (14). The hug chair also comprises two lower cells (60D, 60G) having inflatable bodies (61D, 61G), which, when inflated, hug the user's pelvis and thighs, and which are each adapted to expand progressively when inflated so as to run continuously along the user's corresponding thigh. The hug chair also comprises two upper cells (20D, 20G) having inflatable bodies (21D, 21G), which, when inflated, hug the user's torso, and which each form, when inflated, a notch (25D) to receive and support the user's corresponding shoulder. The hugging chair also includes a soft covering (100) covering the upper and lower cells. Figure for the summary: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Hugging chair

[0001] The present invention relates to a hugging chair.

[0002] It is known that hugging helps to reduce anxiety. Particularly in the medical field, manual compressions and squeezing devices are used to hug and thus calm people who have neurological disorders, in particular, autistic disorders, who are anxious, who have sensory disorders or who are experiencing sensory overload.

[0003] However, existing clamping devices require the user to be in uncomfortable positions in order to function. Furthermore, the user is squeezed between clamping elements that generally do not conform to the user's body shape. Thus, the squeeze can be partial or even unpleasant since the clamping elements do not follow the user's contours, and / or painful since the contact between the clamping elements and the user's body is concentrated on certain points rather than being distributed over a wider area.

[0004] The aim of the invention is to propose means of embracing which combine efficiency and comfort for the user.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a hug chair comprising a frame having two side walls, left and right respectively, and a seat, arranged so that a user seated on the seat has their thighs and upper body positioned between the two side walls. The frame defines an anteroposterior direction, extending substantially horizontally, along which a front edge and a rear edge of the seat are distributed, and a plane of symmetry, extending substantially vertically and parallel to the anteroposterior direction. The hug chair further comprises two lower cells, left and right respectively, which are substantially symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry, being respectively fixed to a lower part of the left side wall and a lower part of the right side wall, and which comprise inflatable bodies, left and right respectively.which each extend in the anteroposterior direction from a rear extremity to a front extremity of the inflatable body in the inflated state, embrace the pelvis and thighs of the user seated on the seat, the left inflatable body being applied against the left thigh while the right inflatable body is applied against the right thigh, and are each adapted to, in the inflated state, widen, transversely to the plane of symmetry, progressively when one runs along the inflatable body from its rear extremity to its front extremity, so as to run continuously along the entire length of the corresponding thigh of the user, seated on the seat. The hugging chair also includes two upper cells, left and right respectively, which are substantially symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry, being respectively fixed to an upper part of the left side wall and to an upper part of the right side wall, and which have inflatable bodies, left and right respectively, which each extend in the anteroposterior direction from a rear extremity to a front extremity of the inflatable body, in the inflated state, hug each other around the torso of the user seated on the seat, the left inflatable body being applied against the left shoulder while the right inflatable body is applied against the right shoulder of the torso, and each form, in the inflated state, a notch, which extends substantially vertically and on either side of which, in the anteroposterior direction, are located the front and rear extremities,designed to receive and support the corresponding shoulder of the user seated on the seat. The hug chair also includes a soft covering over the upper and lower cells, positioned between the user seated on the seat and each of the upper and lower cells.

[0006] Thanks to the invention, and in particular to the structure of the chair and the shape of the cells, the embrace is more effective and more pleasant for the user. Indeed, the invention allows the user to be embraced in a seated position, which is a natural, relaxed, and comfortable position. Furthermore, the user's shoulders, and where applicable, the rest of their arms or the sides of their torso, fit snugly and are held in the recesses formed by the upper cells, thus improving user comfort. The user's shoulders and torso, nestled in the recesses of the upper inflatable cells, are uniformly enveloped by the upper inflatable cells when inflated, without creating any single painful point of contact. The embrace generated by the upper inflatable cells when inflated is therefore more effective and pleasant for the user.Furthermore, due to their progressive widening from the back of the chair to the front, the shape of the lower cells, when inflated, corresponds to the user's morphology, which is wider at the pelvis than at the knees. Thus, the lower cells, when inflated, hug the user's pelvis and thighs uniformly and do not create any painful pressure points, resulting in an effective and more comfortable hug.

[0007] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0008] - each of the lower cells comprises (i) first and second tabs of fastenings by which the lower cell is fixed to the associated side wall, the first fastening tab being located at the rear end of the inflatable body of the lower cell while the second fastening tab is located at the end (ii) front of the inflatable body of the lower cell, and (ii) a rear elastic, which connects the first fixing tab to the associated side wall and which is adapted to (a) when inflating the inflatable body of the lower cell, tighten under the effect of a shortening of the inflatable body in the anteroposterior direction, and (b) when deflating the inflatable body of the lower cell, return the inflatable body in the anteroposterior direction;

[0009] - each of the lower cells comprises two front tabs, which are arranged at the front end of the inflatable body, and a front elastic, which connects the two front tabs and which is adapted to, when deflating the inflatable body of the lower cell, bring the two front tabs towards each other so as to compress the inflatable body of the lower cell;

[0010] - for each lower cell, the inflatable body of the lower cell forms a bellows, which folds back on itself in the deflated state of the inflatable body of the lower cell and which has a predetermined flattened shape in the deflated state of the inflatable body of the lower cell;

[0011] - for each lower cell, the inflatable body comprises first, second and third walls forming said bellows, the first and second walls extending from the rear end to the front end of the inflatable body of the lower cell, being directly joined to each other at the rear end of this inflatable body, while the third wall is joined to the first and second walls so as to connect the first and second walls to each other at the front end of this inflatable body;

[0012] - for each upper cell, the inflatable body comprises (i) two walls, which are (ii) an internal partition, on either side of which, in the anteroposterior direction, are located the front and rear extremities of the inflatable body of the upper cell, and which connects said two walls to each other in the transverse plane of symmetry, so as, in the inflated state of the inflatable body of the upper cell, to form the notch in the extension, in the transverse plane of symmetry, of the internal partition at the level of which the spacing, in the transverse plane of symmetry, between said two walls is less than on either side, in the anteroposterior direction, of the internal partition;

[0013] - for each upper cell, the inflatable body comprises an upper end and a lower end and is adapted so that, when inflated, it widens progressively, transversely to the plane of symmetry, as one moves along the inflatable body from its upper end to its lower end, in order to follow the profile of the side corresponding to the torso of the user sitting on the seat;

[0014] - the hugging chair includes, for each upper cell, a means of attachment elastic which (i) connects the associated side wall and the soft cover to each other, (ii) is located vertically above the upper cell, and (iii) is adapted to tighten when the inflatable body of the upper cell is inflated and to pull the soft cover back against the associated side wall by pressing the inflatable body against the upper cell when the inflatable body is deflated;

[0015] - the hugging chair further comprises an air circuit including (i) a pump, (ii) a first branch, which connects the pump to the upper cells and which is provided with a first normally closed valve, (iii) a first exhaust line, which connects to the first branch between the first normally closed valve and the upper cells, and which is provided with a first normally open valve, (iv) a second branch, which connects the pump to the lower cells and which is provided with a second normally closed valve, and (v) a second exhaust line, which connects to the second branch between the second normally closed valve and the lower cells, and which is provided with a second normally open valve.

[0016] - the air circuit further comprises (i) a third exhaust line, which connects to the first branch between the first normally closed valve and the pump and also connects to the second branch between the second normally closed valve and the pump, the third exhaust line being provided with a third normally closed valve, (ii) a first pressure sensor, which is positioned on the first branch between the first normally closed valve and the upper cells, and (iii) a second pressure sensor, which is positioned on the second branch between the second normally closed valve and the lower cells, the air circuit being designed to (a) during deflation of the inflatable bodies of the upper cells, open the third normally closed valve when the pressure measured by the first sensor falls below a first predetermined threshold, and (b) during deflation of the inflatable bodies of the lower cells,The third valve, normally closed, is opened when the pressure measured by the second sensor falls below a second predetermined threshold.

[0017] The invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] is a perspective view of a hugging chair conforming to the invention, having low and high cells in a swollen state;

[0019] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a view similar to that of [Fig.1], illustrating the positioning of a user in the hug chair where only the lower cell The right and upper right cell, in their inflated state, are made visible, partially omitting a covering of the chair to be embraced;

[0020] [Fig.3] The [Fig.3] is a view along arrow III of the [Fig.2], showing only part of the chair to be embraced;

[0021] [Fig.4] The [Fig.4] is a view along arrow IV of the [Fig.2], showing in isolation the upper right cell in the deflated state;

[0022] [Fig.5] The [Fig.5] is a view along arrow V of the [Fig.2], showing in isolation an internal partition of the upper right cell;

[0023] [Fig.6] The [Fig.6] is a perspective view of the aforementioned lower right cell in the swollen state, shown in isolation;

[0024] [Fig.7] The [Fig.7] is an elevation view along arrow VII of the [Fig.6];

[0025] [Fig.8] The [Fig.8] is an elevation view along arrow VIII of the [Fig.6];

[0026] [Fig.9] The [Fig.9] is a diagram of an air circuit of the hugging chair.

[0027] A hugging chair 1 according to the invention is shown in figures 1, 2 and 3. The hugging chair 1 comprises a frame 10 and four cells, namely an upper left cell 20G, an upper right cell 20D, a lower left cell 60G, and a lower right cell 60D. In the embodiment considered here, the hugging chair 1 also includes an air circuit 80, which will be detailed later and is shown only in [Fig. 9] where this air circuit 80 and the cells 20G, 20D, 60G, and 60D are illustrated only schematically.

[0028] As clearly shown in Figures 1 to 3, the frame 10 comprises a seat 14, extending horizontally, as well as a right side wall 13D and a left side wall 13G. The two side walls 13D and 13G are vertical and arranged with the seat 14 so that a user seated on the seat 14 has their thighs and upper body positioned between the two side walls 13G and 13D. It should be noted that throughout this text, terms relating to the user's body are to be understood in their usual anatomical sense.Furthermore, the positioning terms in space, applied to the hug chair 1, are oriented with respect to a floor surface, considered horizontal, on which the hug chair 1 normally rests so that the user can sit on the seat 14 and, being seated on the seat 14, find themselves horizontally between the side walls 13G and 13D, the left side wall 13G then being on his left and the right horizontal wall 13D then being on his right.

[0029] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the frame 10 defines an anteroposterior direction AP, which extends substantially horizontally and along which are distributed a front edge 15 and a rear edge 16 of the seat 14, respectively facing forward and backward toward the user seated on the seat 14. The anteroposterior direction AP is shown in Figures 4, 6, and 7, it being noted that the respective planes of Figures 4 and 7 are parallel to this anteroposterior direction AP, while the planes The respective planes of figures 5 and 8 are perpendicular to the anteroposterior direction AP.

[0030] Also as shown in figures 1 to 3, the frame 10 also defines a plane of symmetry P which extends vertically and parallel to the anteroposterior direction AP.

[0031] In the embodiment considered here, the frame 10 further comprises a base 11, extending vertically between the two side walls 13D and 13G from the rear edge 16 of the seat 14, so that the user seated on the seat 14 can lean back against the base 11. In addition, the frame 10 comprises a cap 12 connecting the two side walls 13D and 13G and the base 11, being arranged to overhang vertically from the seat 14. The cap 12 has a concave shape along a vertical direction directed from the cap 12 towards the seat 14. Furthermore, the frame 10 also comprises a base 17 which supports the seat 14 relative to the ground.

[0032] We are now focusing more on the high 20D and 20G cells.

[0033] Within the hugging chair 1, these upper cells 20D and 20G are symmetrical to each other with respect to the plane of symmetry P. As discussed in more detail later, the upper right cell 20D is fixed to an upper part of the right side wall 13D. The upper left cell 20G is fixed to an upper part of the left side wall 13G.

[0034] The upper right cell 20D and the upper left cell 20G respectively comprise an inflatable body 21D, 21G designed to be inflated between a deflated and an inflated state and to be deflated from the inflated state to the deflated state. In Figures 1 to 5, the inflatable bodies 21D and 21G are in the inflated state.

[0035] In the inflated state of the inflatable bodies 21D and 21G, the latter embrace the torso of the user sitting on the seat 14, the inflatable body 21G being applied against the left shoulder while the inflatable body 21D is applied against the right shoulder of the torso.

[0036] In connection with figures 1 to 5, we will now describe in more detail the upper right cell 20D, it being understood that the upper left cell 20G is described in similar terms by symmetry with respect to the plane of symmetry P.

[0037] Along the anteroposterior direction AP, the inflatable body 21D extends from a rear end 24D to a front end 23D and, along the vertical, the inflatable body 21D extends from a top end 26D to a bottom end 27D.

[0038] In the inflated state, the inflatable body 21D comprises, on its side facing the plane of symmetry P, a notch 25D, which extends vertically, here from one to the other of the upper 26D and lower 27D ends of the inflatable body 21D, and on either side of which, in the anteroposterior direction AP, are located the front 23D and rear 24D ends of the inflatable body 21D. When the user is seated on the seat 14 and the inflatable body 21D is in the inflated state, the notch 25D receives and supports the user's right shoulder, and, where appropriate and depending on the position of the rest of the user's right arm, all or part of the rest of the right arm or the right side of the user's torso, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. Due to its vertical elongated shape, its concavity facing the user and its intermediate arrangement between the front 23D and rear 24D ends of the inflatable body 21D, the notch 25D thus allows at least the shoulder of the user's right side to be accommodated in a way that is both effective and comfortable, which contributes remarkably to the quality of the embrace applied to the user by the hug chair 1.

[0039] In the embodiment considered here, the inflatable body 21D comprises two walls 28D and 29D which are opposed to each other transversely to the plane of symmetry P, wall 28D being oriented towards the plane of symmetry P while wall 29D is oriented towards the lateral wall 13D. Walls 28D and 29D extend, in the anteroposterior direction, from the front end 23D to the rear end 24D and, vertically, from the upper end 26D to the lower end 27D. The notch 25D is supported here by wall 28D.

[0040] Furthermore, as indicated by dotted lines on [Fig.4], the inflatable body 21D here includes an internal partition 31D, which is shown alone on [Fig.5] and which connects the walls 28D and 29D to each other transversely to the plane of symmetry P. This internal partition 31D is positioned, along the anteroposterior direction AP, both between and at a distance from the front 23D and rear 24D ends of the inflatable body 21D, advantageously being, as here, equidistant from the front 23D and the rear 24D end.Furthermore, this internal wall 31D extends vertically, without however separating the interior of the inflatable body 31D into two compartments isolated from each other: here, the internal wall 31D extends vertically between the upper end 26D and lower end 27D of the inflatable body 21D, without however reaching the latter, thus allowing free aerodynamic communication between the two regions of the interior of the inflatable body 21D, arranged on either side, following the anteroposterior direction AP, of the internal partition 31D.In the inflated state of the inflatable body 21D, the walls 28D and 29D are separated from each other, while being held together by the inner wall 31D: it follows that, in the inflated state of the inflatable body 21D, the separation, transverse to the plane of symmetry P, between the walls 28D and 29D is less at the level of the inner partition 31D than on either side of the latter along the anteroposterior direction AP, which causes the notch 25D to form in the extension, transverse to the plane of symmetry P, of the inner partition 31D, as clearly visible in figures 1 to 3.

[0041] In an alternative not shown, modifications to the inflatable body 21D, other than those related to the internal partition 31D, are conceivable so that this inflatable body 21D forms the 25D cup size.

[0042] Furthermore, still in the embodiment considered here, the internal partition 31D advantageously has a dimension, transverse to the plane of symmetry P, which increases when one moves along the internal partition 31D from top to bottom, as clearly visible in [Fig. 5]. In other words, when projected onto a geometric plane perpendicular to the anteroposterior direction AP, the internal partition 31D has a profile that flares downwards. As a result, in the inflated state of the inflatable body 21D, the inflatable body 21D widens progressively, transverse to the plane of symmetry P, when one moves along the inflatable body 21D from its upper end 26D to its lower end 27D.When the user is seated on the seat 14 and the inflatable body 21A is in the inflated state, this enlargement of the inflatable body 21D follows the profile of the user's right flank of the torso, in particular the profile of his right shoulder and the right flank of his trunk, as illustrated by figures 1 to 3, which contributes to an effective and comfortable clamping of the user.

[0043] Here again, in an unrepresented variant, modifications to the inflatable body 21D, other than those related to the internal partition 31D, are conceivable so that this inflatable body 21D has an enlargement such as that detailed just above.

[0044] In practice, the inflatable body 21D is provided with an inflation-deflation valve 30D, visible in [Fig.4], which is connected to the air circuit 80 so as to inflate and deflate the inflatable body 21D. Here, this inflation-deflation valve 30D is supported by the wall 29D.

[0045] For the purpose of fixing the upper cell 20D to the upper part of the right lateral wall 13D, the upper cell 20D here includes tabs 32D and 33D, which, as can be clearly seen in [Fig.4], are carried by the wall 29D, being arranged on either side, in the anteroposterior direction AP, of the internal partition 31D.

[0046] We are now taking a closer look at the lower 60D and 60G cells.

[0047] Within the hugging chair 1, these lower cells 60D and 60G are symmetrical to each other with respect to the plane of symmetry P. As discussed in more detail later, the right lower cell 60D is fixed to a lower part of the right side wall 13D. The left lower cell 60G is, for its part, fixed to a lower part of the left side wall 13G.

[0048] The lower right cell 60D and the lower left cell 60G respectively comprise an inflatable body 61D, 61G designed to be inflated between a deflated and an inflated state and to be deflated from the inflated state to the deflated state. In Figures 1 to 3 and 6 to 8, the inflatable bodies 61D and 61G are in the inflated state.

[0049] In their inflated state, the inflatable bodies 61D and 61G clasp each other around the pelvis and thighs of the user seated on the seat 14, with inflatable body 61G applied against the left thigh while inflatable body 61D is applied against the right thigh.

[0050] In connection with figures 1 to 3 and 6 to 8, we will now describe in more detail the lower right cell 60D, it being understood that the lower left cell 60G is described in similar terms by symmetry with respect to the plane of symmetry P.

[0051] The inflatable body 61D extends, along the anteroposterior direction AP, from a rear end 63D to a front end 62D.

[0052] In the inflated state of the inflatable body 61A, the inflatable body 61D widens progressively, transversely to the plane of symmetry P, as one moves along the inflatable body from its rear end 63D to its front end 62D. As clearly visible in Figures 1 to 3, this widening of the inflatable body 61D allows it to run continuously along the entire length of the right thigh of the user seated on the seat 14, which contributes remarkably to the quality of the embrace applied to the user by the hug chair 1.

[0053] In the embodiment considered here, the inflatable body 61D advantageously forms a bellows, which folds back on itself during deflation and which has a predetermined flattened shape in the deflated state of the inflatable body 61D. The inflatable body 61D thus deflates very easily, occupying a particularly small space in the deflated state.

[0054] For this purpose, here, the inflatable body 61D comprises three walls 64D, 65D and 66D which form the aforementioned bellows. As clearly visible in [Fig. 6], the walls 64D and 65D each extend from the rear end 63D to the front end of the inflatable body 61D, being directly joined to each other, typically by welding, at the rear end 63D, while the wall 66D is directly joined, typically by welding, to the walls 64D and 65D by connecting the latter to each other at the front end 62D of the inflatable body 61D.

[0055] More specifically, here, the wall 64D comprises, as clearly visible in [Fig. 7], two edges, respectively front 67D and rear 68D. The edges 67D and 68D are connected to each other by an upper edge 69D and a lower edge 70D of the wall 64D. The wall 64D is flat in the deflated state of the inflatable body 61D and has a convex shape, schematically shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, in the inflated state of the inflatable body 61D.

[0056] Wall 65D is symmetrical to wall 64D with respect to a median plane PI of the inflatable body 60D, this median plane PI being parallel to the plane of symmetry P. The respective upper edges of walls 64D and 65D are directly joined to each other, typically by welding. Similarly, the respective lower edges of walls 64D and 65D are directly joined to each other, typically by welding. And the respective rear edges of walls 64D and 65D are directly joined to each other, typically by welding, forming the rear end 63D of the inflatable body 61D.

[0057] As clearly visible in Figures 6 and 8, the wall 66D has six edges distributed symmetrically with respect to the median plane PI, namely edges 40D, 42D, and 44D, which are arranged on the same side of the median plane PI, successively from top to bottom, and edges 41D, 43D, and 45D, which are respectively symmetrical to edges 40D, 42D, and 44D with respect to the median plane PI. Edges 40D, 42D, and 44D are directly joined, typically by welding, to the front edge 67D of wall 64D. Symmetrically with respect to the median plane PI, edges 41D, 43D, and 45D are directly joined, typically by welding. Wall 66D thus forms the front end 62D of the inflatable body 61D. In addition, the 66D wall includes a 48D fold line, extending from the angle formed at the junction between edges 40D and 41D to the angle formed at the junction between edges 44D and 45D.

[0058] During deflation of the inflatable body 61D, the wall 66D folds along the folding line 48D so that the walls 64D and 65D come closer to each other.

[0059] In an alternative not shown, arrangements of the inflatable body 61D, other than those related to the bellows shape detailed above, are conceivable so that this inflatable body 61D, in the inflated state, widens, transversely to the plane of symmetry P, from its rear end 63D to its front end 62D.

[0060] In practice, the inflatable body 61D is provided with an inflation-deflation valve 76D, visible in [Fig.7], which is connected to the air circuit 80 so as to inflate and deflate the inflatable body 61D. Here, this inflation-deflation valve 76D is supported by the wall 64D.

[0061] For the purpose of attaching the lower cell 60D to the lower part of the right side wall 13D, the lower cell 60D here comprises two tabs 50D and 53D, which, as can be clearly seen in [Fig. 6], are respectively located at the rear end 63D and the front end 62D of the inflatable body 61D, being here fixedly attached to, respectively, the wall 65D and the wall 64D. Furthermore, the lower cell 60D has a rear elastic band 52D connecting the tab 50D to the side wall 13D so as to attach the lower cell 60D to the side wall 13D. During inflation of the inflatable body 61D, the rear elastic 52D is stretched by the effect of a shortening of the inflatable body 61D in the anteroposterior direction AP, and during deflation of the inflatable body 61D, the rear elastic 52D elastically returns the inflatable body 61D in the anteroposterior direction AP.The result is that, in particular, the deflation of the 61D inflatable body is improved, while controlling the anteroposterior deformations of the 61D inflatable body during its inflation and deflation.

[0062] According to an advantageous optional arrangement, implemented here, the lower cell comprises, in addition to the tab 53D, a tab 51D disposed at the front end 62D of the inflatable body 61D. Here, this tab 51D is fixedly attached to the wall 65D symmetrically to the tab 51D with respect to the median plane PL. Furthermore, A front elastic 54D connects the tabs 51D and 53D together. The front elastic 54D is designed so that it tightens when the inflatable body 61D is inflated and, when the inflatable body 61D is deflated, it pulls the tabs 51D and 53D back together, pressing the inflatable body 61D, which improves deflation.

[0063] As clearly visible in [Fig. 1], the chair to be switched off 1 further comprises a soft cover 100 which is only partially shown in Figures 2 and 3 for reasons of visibility. The soft cover 100 covers the upper cells 20G and 20D and the lower cells 60G and 60D so as to be interposed between the user seated on the seat 14 and each of the cells 20G, 20D, 60G and 60D. In the inflated state of the inflatable bodies 21G, 21D, 61G and 61D, the soft covering 40, pressed in contact against the user by the inflatable cells 21G, 21D, 61G and 61D, deforms around the body of the user, sitting on the seat 14, so as to distribute the gripping forces applied to the user and thus limit the pressure felt by the user.

[0064] In practice, apart from cells 20G, 20D, 60G, and 60D, the soft cover 100 directly covers at least part of the frame 10, in particular the base 11 and the top 12, so as to be interposed between the user seated on the seat 14 and this part of the frame. In all cases, the soft cover 100 typically consists of several panels, which respectively cover different regions of the hug chair 1 and are assembled together. By way of non-limiting example, the soft cover 100, in particular each of the aforementioned panels, comprises a foam, deformable under pressure, and a cover over this foam.

[0065] According to an advantageous optional arrangement implemented here, the hugging chair 1 includes a straight elastic fastening means 110D which, as shown in [Fig. 2], is located vertically above the upper cell 20G and connects the side wall 13D to the flexible cover 100. This elastic fastening means 110D is adapted to become taut during inflation of the inflatable body 21D and, during deflation, to elastically pull the flexible cover 100 against the side wall 13D by pressing the inflatable body 21D between the side wall 21D and the flexible cover 40. The deflation of the inflatable body 21D is thereby improved. By way of example, the straight elastic fastening means 110D includes an elastic cord.

[0066] Of course, the hugging chair 1 then includes a left elastic fastening means which is symmetrical to the right elastic fastening means 110D with respect to the plane of symmetry P.

[0067] We are now taking a closer look at the air circuit 80.

[0068] As shown in [Fig.9], this air circuit 80 comprises two branches 81 and 82, a pump 83 and a control unit 84.

[0069] The pump 83, which is typically an air pump, is designed to inflate the inflatable bodies 21G, 21D, 61D and 61G by sending them pressurized air. Preferred, Pump 83 does not draw in air and is not intended to actively participate in the deflation of inflatable bodies 21G, 21D, 61D and 61G, in order to prevent the operating noise of the pump from misleading the user on the inflation or deflation phase of inflatable bodies 21G, 21D, 61D and 61G.

[0070] Branch 81 connects pump 83 to upper cells 20G and 20D and is provided with a normally closed valve 85. Branch 81 is associated with an exhaust line 87 of the air circuit 80, which connects to branch 81 between the normally closed valve 85 and the upper cells 20G and 20D, and which, opposite branch 81, opens to the open air. This exhaust line 87 is provided with a normally open valve 88 whose flow area at full opening is less than that of the normally closed valve 85. During the inflation of the inflatable bodies 21G and 21D, the control unit 84 opens the valve 85 by activating it, closes the valve 88 by activating it and operates the pump 83 which then sends pressurized air to inflate the inflatable bodies 21G and 21D.When the inflatable bodies 21G and 21D are sufficiently inflated to envelop the user seated on the seat 14, the control unit 84 stops the pump 83 and closes the valve 85 by deactivating it, while keeping the valve 88 closed by continuing to activate it, so as to maintain the inflation of the inflatable bodies 21G and 21D. During deflation, the control unit 84 opens the valve 88 by deactivating it, which allows the air from the upper cells 20G and 20D to escape through the exhaust line 87. Thus, in the event of an incident, the nature of the valves on branch 81 ensures deflation of the inflatable bodies 21G and 21D since the valve 88 is normally open.

[0071] Branch 82 can be described in terms identical to those of branch 81, but applied to the upper cells 60G and 60D. Thus, branch 82 connects the pump 83 to the lower cells 60G and 60D and is equipped with a normally closed valve 86. Branch 82 is associated with an exhaust line 88 of the air circuit 80, which connects to branch 82 between the normally closed valve 86 and the lower cells 60G and 60D, and which, unlike branch 82, opens to the atmosphere. This exhaust line 89 is equipped with a normally open valve 90 whose fully open flow area is smaller than that of the normally closed valve 86. The control unit 84 ensures the operation of branch 82 in a similar manner to that of branch 81.

[0072] In practice, it is understood that, here, branches 81 and 82 ensure inflation / deflation of inflatable bodies 21G and 21D, which is independent of that of inflatable bodies 61G and 61D.

[0073] According to a particularly advantageous optional arrangement, the air circuit 80 includes an exhaust line 93, which connects to branch 81 between valve 85 and pump 83 and which also connects to branch 82 between the valve 86 and pump 83. Unlike branches 81 and 82, exhaust line 93 opens to the atmosphere. Exhaust line 93 is equipped with a normally closed valve 94, whose fully open flow area is larger than that of the normally open valves 88 and 90. In addition, branch 81 includes a pressure sensor 91, positioned between the normally closed valve 85 and the upper cells 20G and 20D. Similarly, branch 82 includes a pressure sensor 92, positioned between the normally closed valve 86 and the lower cells 60G and 60D.

[0074] The deflation of the inflatable bodies 21G and 21D of the upper cells 20G and 20D is then advantageously carried out in two successive phases. In an initial phase, the control unit 84 opens valve 88 by deactivating it, without activating the normally closed valve 94, allowing air from the upper cells 20G and 20D to escape through the exhaust line 87. In a final phase, the control unit 84 opens the normally closed valves 94 and 85 by activating them, allowing air from the upper cells 20G and 20D to also escape through the exhaust line 93. As the fully open flow area of ​​valves 94 and 85 is greater than that of valve 88, the deflation of inflatable bodies 21G and 21D is faster during the final phase than during the initial phase, ensuring a complete and rapid deflation of inflatable bodies 21G and 21D.The transition from the initial phase to the final phase is controlled by the control unit 84 based on the pressure measurement from sensor 91: it has transitioned from the initial phase to the final phase when the pressure measured by sensor 91 falls below a first predetermined threshold.

[0075] Following similar considerations, the deflation of the inflatable bodies 61G and 61D of the upper cells 60G and 60D is also operable in two successive phases. During this deflation, it is transferred from an initial phase to a final phase by means of the opening of the valves 94 and 86 by the control unit 84 when the pressure measured by the sensor 92 falls below a second predetermined threshold, which may be identical to the first threshold mentioned above.

[0076] Any feature described above for one embodiment or variant is applicable to the other embodiments and variants described above, insofar as this is technically possible.

Claims

1. Demands Hugging chair (1), comprising: - a frame (10) comprising two side walls (13D, 13G), respectively left and right, and a seat (14), which are arranged so that a user seated on the seat has their thighs and upper body positioned between the two side walls, the frame defining: - an anteroposterior direction (AP), which extends substantially horizontally and along which are distributed a front edge and a rear edge of the seat (14), and - a plane of symmetry (P), which extends substantially vertically and parallel to the anteroposterior direction (AP); - two lower cells (60D, 60G), left and right respectively, which are substantially symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry (P), being respectively fixed to a lower part of the left lateral wall (13G) and to a lower part of the right lateral wall (13D), and which comprise inflatable bodies (61D, 61G), left and right respectively, which: - each extend in the anteroposterior (AP) direction from a rear end (63D) to a front end (62D) of the inflatable body, - in the inflated state, embrace the pelvis and thighs of the user seated on the seat (14), the left inflatable body (61G) being applied against the left thigh while the right inflatable body (61D) is applied against the right thigh, and - are each adapted to, in the inflated state, widen, transversely to the plane of symmetry (P), progressively when traversing the inflatable body (61D, 61G) from its rear end (63D) to its front end (62D), so as to run continuously along the entire length of the corresponding thigh of the user sitting on the seat (14); - two upper cells (20D, 20G), respectively left and right, which are substantially symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry (P), being respectively fixed to an upper part of the left lateral wall (13G) and to an upper part of the right lateral wall (13D), and which comprise

2. inflatable bodies (21D, 21G), left and right respectively, which: - each extend in the anteroposterior (AP) direction from a rear end (24D) to a front end (23D) of the inflatable body, - in the inflated state, embrace the torso of the user seated on the seat (14), the left inflatable body (21G) being applied against the left shoulder while the right inflatable body (21D) is applied against the right shoulder of the torso, and - each form, when inflated, a notch (25D), which extends substantially vertically and on either side of which, in the anteroposterior direction (AP), are located the front (23D) and rear (24D) extremities, so as to receive and support the corresponding shoulder of the user seated on the seat (14); and - a soft covering (100) covering the upper (20D, 20G) and lower (60D, 60D) cells so as to be interposed between the user sitting on the seat (14) and each of the upper and lower cells. Hugging chair (1) according to claim 1, wherein each of the lower cells (60D, 60G) comprises: - the first and second fixing tabs (50D, 53D) by which the lower cell is fixed to the associated side wall (13D, 13G), the first fixing tab (50D) being disposed at the rear end (63D) of the inflatable body (61D, 61G) of the lower cell while the second fixing tab (53D) is disposed at the front end (62D) of the inflatable body of the lower cell, and - a rear elastic band (52D), which connects the first fastening tab (50D) to the associated side panel and which is suitable for: - during inflation of the inflatable body of the lower cell, it becomes taut due to a shortening of the inflatable body in the anteroposterior (AP) direction, and - when deflating the inflatable body of the lower cell, pull the inflatable body back in the anteroposterior direction.

3. Hugging chair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the lower cells (60D, 60G) comprises two front tabs (51D, 53D), which are disposed at the front end (62D) of the inflatable body (61D, 61G), and a front elastic (54D), which connects the two front tabs (51D, 53D) and which is adapted to, when deflating the inflatable body of the lower cell, bring the two front tabs together so as to squeeze the inflatable body of the lower cell.

4. Hugging chair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein for each lower cell (60D, 60G), the inflatable body (61D, 61G) of the lower cell forms a bellows, which folds back on itself in the deflated state of the inflatable body of the lower cell and which has a predetermined flattened shape in the deflated state of the inflatable body of the lower cell.

5. Hugging chair (1) according to claim 4, wherein for each lower cell (60D, 60G), the inflatable body (61D, 61G) comprises first, second and third walls (64D, 65D, 66D) forming said bellows, the first and second walls (64D, 65D) extending from the rear end (63D) to the front end (62D) of the inflatable body of the lower cell, being directly joined to each other at the rear end (63D) of this inflatable body, while the third wall (66D) is joined to the first and second walls so as to connect the first and second walls to each other at the front end (62D) of this inflatable body.

6. Hugging chair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein for each upper cell (20D, 20G), the inflatable body (21D, 21G) comprises: - two walls (28D, 29D), which are opposed to each other transversely to the plane of symmetry (P) and which, in the anteroposterior direction (AP), each extend from the front end (23D) to the rear end (24D) of the inflatable body of the upper cell, and - an internal partition (31D), on either side of which, in the anteroposterior direction (AP), are located the front (23D) and rear (24D) ends of the inflatable body (21D, 21G) of the upper cell, and which connects said two walls (28D, 29D) to each other transversely to the plane of symmetry (P), so as to form the notch when the inflatable body of the upper cell (20D; 20G) is inflated (25D) in the extension, transversely to the plane of symmetry (P), of the internal partition (31D) at the level of which the spacing, transversely to the plane of symmetry (P), between the said two walls (28D, 29D) is less than on either side, following the anteroposterior direction (AP), of the internal partition (31D).

7. Hugging chair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein for each upper cell (20D, 20G), the inflatable body (21D, 21G) comprises an upper end (26D) and a lower end (27D) and is adapted to, in the inflated state, widen, transversely to the plane of symmetry (P), progressively when traversing the inflatable body from its upper end (26D) to its lower end (27D), so as to follow the profile of the corresponding side of the torso of the user sitting on the seat (14).

8. Hugging chair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising, for each upper cell (20D, 20G), an elastic fastening means (110D) which: - connects the associated side wall (13D, 13G) and the soft cover (110) together, - is located vertically above the upper cell (20D, 20G), and - is adapted to become taut during inflation of the inflatable body (21D, 21G) of the upper cell and to pull the soft cover (100) back against the associated side wall by pressing the inflatable body against the upper cell during deflation of this inflatable body.

9. A hugging chair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an air circuit (80) including: - a pump (83), - a first branch (81), which connects the pump (83) to the upper cells (20D, 20G) and which is provided with a first normally closed valve (85), - a first exhaust line (87), which connects to the first branch (81) between the first normally closed valve (85) and the upper cells (20D, 20G), and which is provided with a first normally open valve (88), - a second branch (82), which connects the pump (83) to the lower cells (60D, 60G) and which is provided with a second normally closed valve (86), and - a second exhaust line (89), which connects to the second branch (82) between the second normally closed valve (86) and the lower cells (60D, 60G), and which is provided with a second normally open valve (90).

10. Hugging chair (1) according to claim 9, wherein the air circuit (80) further comprises: - a third exhaust line (93), which connects to the first branch (81) between the first normally closed valve (85) and the pump (83) and which also connects to the second branch (82) between the second normally closed valve (86) and the pump (83), the third exhaust line (93) being provided with a third normally closed valve (94), - a first pressure sensor (91), which is positioned on the first branch (81) between the first normally closed valve (85) and the upper cells (20D, 20G), and - a second pressure sensor (92), which is positioned on the second branch (82) between the second normally closed valve (86) and the lower cells (60D, 60G), and in which the air circuit (80) is designed to: - during the deflation of the inflatable bodies (21D, 21G) of the upper cells (20D, 20G), open the third normally closed valve (94) when the pressure measured by the first sensor (91) falls below a first predetermined threshold, and - when deflating inflatable bodies (61D, 61G), lower cells (60D, 60G), open the third normally closed valve (94) when the pressure measured by the second sensor (92) falls below a second predetermined threshold.

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