Postural chair

Abstract

The invention relates to a postural chair (1) comprising a base (10), legs (30) and a backrest (40), said base (10) defining an internal space and comprising a lower face, a front face, a rear face opposite said front face and an upper face opposite the lower face, the base (10) comprising, at its lower face, a flat support, and delimiting, on its upper face, a circular opening, said chair (1) further comprising a proprioceptive element (20) comprising a seat portion configured to receive the gluteal region of a user and a spherical cap extending partly through the circular opening forming a space with the edge of the circular opening and a portion of which comprising the pole of the spherical cap rests on the flat support so as to allow the spherical cap to tilt on a surface of said flat support. Figure for abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Postural chair Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of equipment adapted to improve the posture of an individual in a seated position and more particularly concerns a postural chair. Prior art

[0002] Nowadays, many people spend a large number of consecutive hours sitting on a chair, especially in a professional context. This persistent posture presents a risk for these people to develop health disorders, for example musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

[0003] One solution is to adapt work areas with specialized equipment, including height-adjustable desks for working while standing and kneeling chairs or even inflatable sphere-type sitting balls for sitting.

[0004] Kneeling chairs are chairs that are generally equipped with casters and are provided with a seat and support for the user's knees. This type of chair does not include a backrest and the user stabilizes himself by resting his knees on the support. The device thus forces the user to maintain an active position while sitting, but can develop knee problems with prolonged use.

[0005] Seated balls have the particularity of forcing the user to use more muscles in a seated position than on a chair or a static seat, making it possible to avoid the harmful effects of immobility and to vary the areas of stress thanks to the movements it offers.

[0006] However, a sitting ball is, due to its shape, difficult to store and transport when not in use, thus requiring a user to deflate and reinflate it each time they wish, for example, to rearrange their workspace or move the sitting ball, for example between their home and their office.

[0007] Furthermore, a sitting ball is not stable in itself and inattention on the part of the user can result in a painful fall. In addition, such a ball has a fixed diameter and requires the user to change the ball if he wants a higher or lower seat. Finally, prolonged sitting on an inflatable ball is difficult due to the absence of a backrest.

[0008] Several solutions have been developed to try to overcome these drawbacks. For example, there are stools with a spherical connection comprising a base from which rises a foot which is connected to the seat by a ball joint. The principle of the seat ball is thus preserved and the device takes up little space and is easily adjusted in height. However, the seat is still unstable.

[0009] Another solution, present in particular in patent specification DE 10 2009 056692 B3, consists of a base delimiting a curved hollow of circular shape and a portion of a sphere. The domed part of the portion of the sphere is mounted on a ball placed in the center of the curved hollow and its flat part constitutes the seat on which the user sits.

[0010] This modular solution is easily transportable but requires a support to install it, for example a stool or a base, in order to allow the user to sit, which has several disadvantages. Thus, if the base is placed on the support without being fixed, it will present instability and a risk of falling for the user. Otherwise, fixing the base on the support can prove tedious and time-consuming.

[0011] Furthermore, the ball allows positioning and holding of the sphere portion, but causes friction at the interface of said ball and the spherical portion, which can limit the movement of the user and therefore the stressing effect of the device. In addition, the curved surface of the hollow causes friction of the spherical portion and further limits the degrees of freedom of the user, the ball making it possible to prevent slipping.

[0012] There is therefore a need for a simple and effective solution to at least partially remedy these drawbacks. Statement of the invention

[0013] For this purpose, the invention firstly relates to a postural chair, said chair comprising a base, a plurality of legs and a backrest, said base defining an internal space and comprising a lower face, a front face, a rear face opposite said front face, two lateral faces opposite each other and connecting the front face and the rear face and an upper face opposite the lower face, the plurality of legs extending from the lower face of the base, the backrest extending from the upper face of the base at the rear face of said base, said chair being remarkable in that:

[0014] - the base comprises, at its lower face, a flat support and delimits, on its upper face, a circular opening,

[0015] - said chair further comprises a proprioceptive element, said pro- prioceptive comprising a seat portion configured to receive the gluteal region of a user of the chair and a spherical cap extending partly through the circular opening forming a space with the edge of the circular opening and a portion of which comprising the pole of the spherical cap rests on the flat support so as to allow the spherical cap to tilt on a surface of said flat support.

[0016] By "postural chair" is meant a chair which makes it possible to significantly reduce the harmful consequences of prolonged sitting on one's posture and therefore on one's health. By "proprioceptive element" is meant an element which stimulates the nerves and muscles to improve the user's posture.

[0017] The tilting of the spherical cap is only constrained by the edge of the circular opening. In the absence of a ball and in the presence of a flat support, the mechanical constraints are limited to the friction of the spherical cap on the flat support and are therefore less significant than with the solution with a curved hollow and a central ball of the prior art. In particular, the point sphere-plane connection allows more degrees of freedom than the solution of the prior art described in patent DE 10 2009 056692 B3 because it only prevents by definition a single degree of freedom, namely translation along the normal to the plane. Thus, by limiting friction and allowing more freedom of movement, the chair according to the invention allows better proprioceptive work.The removal of the ball and the use of a flat rather than curved support prove counter-intuitive for the skilled person because they cancel the certain positioning of the spherical cap in the center of the base. Furthermore, in view of patent DE 10 2009 056692 B3, the skilled person would have instead used a ball bearing system or a surface treatment to reduce friction.

[0018] Preferably, the backrest of the chair is mounted in an articulated manner between a use position in which the backrest is unfolded and a storage position in which the backrest is folded in order to be able to reduce the volume of the chair and thus to transport and store it more easily.

[0019] Advantageously, the backrest comprises at least one locking member making it possible to lock the backrest in the storage position and / or in the use position in order to prevent it from unfolding or folding by itself when the chair is moved. Preferably, the at least one locking member comprises a notch, a hook, a clip system, a fixing strap or any other type of suitable locking element.

[0020] Advantageously, in the storage position, the backrest is folded onto the proprioceptive element, i.e. resting against the proprioceptive element, so as to hold it in the base. The proprioceptive element is therefore locked in the base when the chair is in the storage position.

[0021] In one embodiment, the backrest is configured to, in the storage position, conform to the proprioceptive element. The proprioceptive element is therefore fully locked, preferably without play, by the backrest when the chair is in the storage position.

[0022] Advantageously, the backrest and the proprioceptive element have complementary shapes so as to be nested in the storage position of the backrest. This nesting allows for greater compactness of the chair in storage position and ensures the blocking of the proprioceptive element during transport.

[0023] Advantageously, the backrest is articulated on the base by hinge-type connections, preferably of the self-locking hinge type. This type of hinge allows easy and rapid handling to move the chair from the use position to the storage position and vice versa.

[0024] Preferably, each leg of the plurality of legs is connected to the underside of the base in an articulated manner between a use position in which said leg is unfolded and a storage position in which said leg is folded in order to be able to further reduce the volume of the chair and thus to transport and store it more easily.

[0025] More preferably, each leg of the plurality of legs is connected to the underside of the base by a hinge-type joint, preferably self-locking. This type of hinge allows easy and rapid installation of the chair in the use position and avoids the need for an additional locking means to hold the legs in the storage position.

[0026] Advantageously, in the storage position, each leg of the plurality of legs is folded against the underside of the base. The chair in the storage position is more compact and therefore easier to transport and store.

[0027] Preferably, in the storage position, each leg of the plurality of legs is folded onto the underside of the base along one of the edges of said underside.

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, the seat portion comprises a support fixed to the flat surface of the spherical cap, said support extending above the edge delimiting the circular opening. Thus, the support can rest on said edge during sufficient tilting of the spherical cap to prevent the user from finding himself in an uncomfortable position, or even falling from the chair.

[0029] Advantageously, the support is in the form of a plate, for example made of wood, or a cushion.

[0030] In one embodiment, one of the front face, the rear face and two side faces comprises a handle. Preferably, the handle is located on the front face. This handle allows the chair to be transported when it is in the storage position.

[0031] Advantageously, the base has a parallelepiped shape.

[0032] In another embodiment, the seating portion consists of the flat surface of the spherical cap. Brief description of the drawings

[0033] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the description which follows. This description is purely illustrative and must be read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

[0034] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a perspective view of the chair according to the invention in position of use.

[0035] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a top view of the chair according to the invention without the proprioceptive element.

[0036] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a perspective view of the proprioceptive element of the invention.

[0037] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a side and sectional view of the chair according to the invention in the position of use.

[0038] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates a perspective view of the chair according to the invention in the storage position.

[0039] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] schematically illustrates a perspective view from below of the chair in the storage position with the legs folded. Description of the embodiments

[0040] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an example of a postural chair 1 according to the invention.

[0041] Chair 1

[0042] As shown in [Fig.l], the chair 1 comprises a base 10, a proprioceptive element 20, a plurality of legs 30 and a backrest 40.

[0043] The chair 1 is configured to have a use position in which the chair 1 is unfolded as shown in [Fig.l] and in which the user can sit on it.

[0044] The chair 1 is also configured to have a storage position in which the chair 1 is folded as shown in [Fig.5] and in which the user can in particular store and transport the chair 1.

[0045] Base 10

[0046] The base 10 is parallelepipedal in shape and comprises a lower face 110, a front face 120, a rear face 130 opposite the front face 120, two lateral faces 140 opposite each other and connecting the front face 120 and the rear face 130, an upper face 150 opposite the lower face 110.

[0047] An internal space 160 is defined inside the parallelepiped base 10.

[0048] In this example, the front face 120 advantageously comprises a handle 120A to be able to easily transport chair 1 in storage position.

[0049] The base 10 comprises, at its upper face 150, a support portion 152 extending both from the front face 120, the rear face 130 and the lateral faces 140 towards the center of said upper face 150.

[0050] As shown in [Fig.2], the support portion 152 comprises an edge 154 delimiting a circular opening 156 centered on the upper face 150.

[0051] The base 10 also comprises a planar support 112 mounted at the lower face 110 while being centered with said circular opening 156 and which extends from one lateral face 140 to the opposite lateral face 140.

[0052] Proprioceptive element 20

[0053] As shown in [Fig.3], the proprioceptive element 20 comprises a spherical cap 210 and a seat portion 220 configured to receive the gluteal region of a user of the chair 1.

[0054] The spherical cap 210 comprises a flat surface 211 and a portion of sphere 212 whose free end is designated “pole” 213.

[0055] The spherical cap 210 extends partly through the circular opening 156 forming a space with the edge 154 of said circular opening 156.

[0056] As shown in [Fig.4], the portion of sphere 212 comprising the pole 213 rests on the flat support 112 of the base 10 so as to allow the tilting of the spherical cap 210 on an area of ​​said flat support 112.

[0057] The seat portion 220 is in the form of a plate, for example made of wood, metal or plastic material, possibly padded with a quilted layer on its upper part in order to receive the gluteal region of the user.

[0058] The seat portion 220 is fixed on the flat surface 211 of the spherical cap 210 and extends beyond said spherical cap 210 transversely so as to block the tilting of the spherical cap 210 on the edge of the circular opening 156 from a given tilting angle when the edge of the seat portion 220 comes into contact with the support portion 152.

[0059] Feet 30

[0060] As shown in [Fig.5], the chair 1 comprises four legs 310.

[0061] Each foot 310 is mounted in an articulated manner on the lower face 110 of the base 10 by means of an articulation which in this non-limiting example takes the form of a self-locking hinge 320.

[0062] Each leg 310 can switch between a position orthogonal to the base 10 when the chair 1 is in the use position and a folded position on the lower face 110 of the base 10 when the chair 1 is in the storage position.

[0063] As shown in [Fig.6], when the chair 1 is in the storage position, the legs 310 are connected along the sides of the lower face 110.

[0064] The hinge 320 being self-locking, it makes it possible to keep the corresponding foot 310 folded down on the lower face 110 in the storage position and the foot 310 unfolded in the use position as shown in [Fig.6].

[0065] Preferably, the hinge 320 has an unlocking mechanism that the user actuates to unlock the self-locking hinge 320 and thus be able to move the chair 1 from the storage position to the use position and vice versa.

[0066] File 40

[0067] As shown in [Fig.l], the backrest 40 extends from the upper face 150 of the base 10 to the rear face 130 of said base 10.

[0068] As shown in [Fig.5], the backrest 40 comprises two uprights 410, a resting surface 420, two joints 430 and a locking member 440.

[0069] The two joints 430 are mounted on the two uprights 410 and allow the backrest 40 to be folded onto the proprioceptive element 20 when the user wishes to place the chair 1 in the storage position and to unfold the backrest 40 when the user wishes to place the chair 1 in the use position.

[0070] In the position of use, the backrest 40 extends substantially orthogonally to the base 10.

[0071] In the storage position, the backrest 40 rests on the seat portion 220 of the proprioceptive element 20 and is configured to hold it in this position.

[0072] A locking member 440 makes it possible to lock the backrest 40 in the storage position. For example, the locking member 440 may be a strap as shown in [Fig.5], or a hook or a clip connection.

[0073] Example of implementation

[0074] When the chair 1 is in the position of use, the user can sit on the seat portion 220 of the proprioceptive element 20.

[0075] In this position, the proprioceptive element 20 is not stable since it only rests on the flat support 112 by the contact of the pole 213 of the spherical portion 210. This instability forces the user to mobilize his deep muscles, in particular at the level of the pelvis and the spinal column, to remain stable.

[0076] Thus, the chair 1 allows the user to remain in a seated position while not remaining static by varying the stress zones on the lower back and on the pelvis, which makes it possible to reduce the risks of developing pathologies linked to a prolonged static sedentary situation.

[0077] If the user ever tilts the proprioceptive element 20 too much, the spherical portion 210 comes into contact with the edge 154 of the support portion 152, which blocks the tilting of the proprioceptive element 20 and prevents the user from falling.

[0078] The absence of a solid connection between the pole 213 and the flat support 112 also allows the spherical cap 210 to slide on the flat support 112 without being blocked, which allows the user additional degrees of freedom in tilting to mobilize his pelvis.

[0079] In this use, it is the seat portion 220 which will block the inclination of the proprioceptive element 20 coming into abutment on the support portion 154.

[0080] The user can put the chair 1 in storage position, in particular to store it or transport it.

[0081] To do this, the user folds the backrest 40 using the joints 430. The resting surface 420 then comes into contact with the seat portion 220 and thus makes it possible to lock the proprioceptive element 20 in the storage position. The backrest 40 is then fixed to the base 10 by the locking member 440, which in Figures 5 and 6 is a strap which is attached to the seat portion 220 and which could alternatively be a hook or a clip.

[0082] The user also folds each foot 310 onto the lower face 110 of the base 10 using the hinges 320. The hinges 320 automatically lock in this position and allow the feet 310 to be kept folded under the lower face 110.

[0083] Once the chair 1 is in the storage position, the user can use the handle 120A to transport it.

[0084] To return the chair 1 to the position of use, the user simply has to unfold the backrest 40 and the legs 310 in reverse.

Claims

Claims

1. Postural chair (1), said chair (1) comprising a base (10), a plurality of legs (30) and a backrest (40), said base (10) defining an internal space (160) and comprising a lower face (110), a front face (120), a rear face (130) opposite said front face (120), two side faces (140) opposite each other and connecting the front face (120) and the rear face (130) and an upper face (150) opposite the lower face (110), the plurality of legs (30) extending from the lower face (110) of the base (10), the backrest (40) extending from the upper face (150) of the base (10) at the rear face (130) of said base (10), said chair (1) being characterized in that: - the base (10) comprises, at its lower face (110), a flat support (112) and delimits, on its upper face (150), a circular opening (156), - said chair (1) further comprises a proprioceptive element (20),said proprioceptive element (20) comprising a seat portion (220) configured to receive the gluteal region of a user of the chair (1) and a spherical cap (210) extending partly through the circular opening (156) forming a space with the edge (154) of the circular opening (156) and of which a sphere portion (212) comprising the pole (213) of the spherical cap (210) rests on the flat support (112) so as to allow the spherical cap (210) to tilt on a surface of said flat support (112).,

2. Postural chair (1) according to claim 1, in which the backrest (40) is mounted in an articulated manner between a use position in which the backrest (40) is unfolded and a storage position in which the backrest (40) is folded.

3. Postural chair (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the backrest (40) comprises at least one locking member (440) making it possible to lock the backrest (40) in the storage position.

4. Postural chair (1) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, in which, in the storage position, the backrest (40) is folded onto the proprioceptive element (20) so as to hold it in the base (10).

5. Postural chair (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4 in which the backrest (40) is articulated on the base (10) by hinge-type connections (420).

6. Postural chair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims- preceding, wherein each leg (310) of the plurality of legs (30) is connected to the lower face (110) of the base (10) in an articulated manner between a use position in which said leg (310) is unfolded and a storage position in which said leg (310) is folded.

7. Postural chair (1) according to the preceding claim, in which each leg (310) of the plurality of legs (30) is connected to the lower face (110) of the base (10) by a self-locking hinge-type joint (320).

8. Postural chair (1) according to the preceding claim, in which, in the storage position, each leg (310) of the plurality of legs (30) is folded against the lower face (110) of the base (10).

9. Postural chair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the seat portion (220) comprises a support fixed on the flat surface (211) of the spherical cap (210), said support extending above the edge (154) delimiting the circular opening (156).

10. Postural chair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the faces among the front face (120), the rear face (130) and two side faces (140) comprises a handle (120A).

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