chair

Abstract

To provide a chair capable of avoiding to give a seater discomfort due to heat generated by an awakening apparatus.SOLUTION: A legged-chair S includes: a cushion pan; a back pan; an awakening apparatus; and a holding cover 71 fitted on a rear surface side of a resin plate provided for the cushion pan or the back pan. The awakening apparatus has a respiration sensor detecting body signals of the seater, a vibration device which gives stimuli to the seater, and a controller U1 controlling the vibration device and awakes the seater. The holding cover 71 is fitted in the way that it covers the controller U1 and forms a slit 71h.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a chair, and more particularly to a chair provided with an awakening device that imparts a stimulus to a seated person on a seat.

Background Art

[0002] For the purpose of preventing the occurrence of accidents during vehicle driving, technologies for preventing a decrease in the wakefulness of a vehicle driver are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for applying a vibration stimulus to a seated person using a vehicle seat provided with an electric device such as a heartbeat sensor or a respiration sensor and a motor. On the other hand, technologies for preventing a decrease in wakefulness, in other words, preventing drowsiness, can be used not only for vehicle seats but also for office chairs with legs, etc., for the purpose of efficiently studying or working. Although not provided with an awakening device, Patent Document 2 discloses a chair provided with an air cell that functions as a cushion material and a control device (described as a control unit in the same document) for controlling the supply and discharge of air to the air cell. This control device is provided on the seating surface side of a seat frame (described as a base portion in the same document), and is covered with a cover (described as a front support portion in the same document) from above. Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a technology for arranging a sensor on a seating surface of a chair with legs to correct the posture of a seated person, and attaching a control unit including a battery, a control device, and a cover covering these to the lower surface of a seat portion (described as a seating portion in the same document) of the chair, and detecting the posture of the seated person based on the presence or absence of a detection signal from the sensor.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

[0004] However, when attaching electrical equipment to a chair with legs, unlike the vehicle seats disclosed in Patent Document 1 which allow for the installation of electrical equipment inside the vehicle, it was difficult to secure space for mounting the battery, ECU (Electrical Control Unit), etc. Furthermore, when installing an awakening device on a chair with legs, unlike when installing it on a vehicle seat where electrical equipment can be installed inside the vehicle, the control device and battery that make up the awakening device must be placed in close proximity to the person sitting in the chair.

[0005] Furthermore, when installing control devices that constitute the awakening device, it is conceivable to cover them with a cover to protect the control devices. However, if the control devices are covered with a cover, as in Patent Documents 2 and 3, the heat generated by the control devices can become trapped inside the cover, causing the chair temperature to rise. Therefore, when the control device was activated, it generated heat, and when a person sitting on the chair touched a part of the chair that had become hot, it could cause discomfort to the person sitting on it.

[0006] Furthermore, when a cover was added to protect and insulate the control device and battery, there was a problem in that the overall dimensions of the chair became larger by the amount of the cover. Furthermore, when the cover was attached, it became difficult to access the control device, battery, and other components covered by the cover, which presented a problem in terms of maintenance work. In particular, when the cover encloses the battery, it was difficult to replace the battery because the cover had to be removed. Furthermore, if the battery is a rechargeable battery, the charging cable connected to the charging jack and protruding from the cover could get in the way of people passing around the chair. Furthermore, when a harness or cable is inserted through the cover into the control unit or battery located inside the cover, there was a problem where the harness or cable could get caught on things around the chair or nearby objects and become detached. Furthermore, without any display on the chair, it was impossible to check the operating status, deactivation status, etc., of the awakening device, making it difficult to use.

[0007] This invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of this invention is an awakening device , especially control devices The objective is to provide a chair that can avoid causing discomfort to the occupant due to the heat generated from it. Another objective is to make the chair more compact by reducing the size of the cover that encloses at least some of the components of the stimulant device. Another purpose is to facilitate the insertion and removal of the battery, or the supply of power to the battery, when a cover is provided to enclose the battery that supplies power to the control device, etc. Another objective is to allow monitoring of the operating status of the awakening device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The aforementioned problem is solved by the chair according to the present invention, which comprises a seat, a sensor for detecting the body signals of the person sitting, a stimulator for applying stimulation to the person sitting, and a control device for controlling the stimulator, wherein the seat is provided with leg members having a support column, the control device and the sensor are arranged so as not to overlap in the front-to-back direction, and the control device is positioned in front of the sensor. The seat portion includes a pad portion, the sensor is provided on the upper surface of the pad portion, the pad portion has a guide hole formed therein for guiding the harness extending from the sensor to the control device, and the lower end of the guide hole is positioned in front of the support column cylinder. This will resolve the issue.

[0010] Furthermore, according to the above configuration ,before The guide hole is formed to extend diagonally forward and downward from the front of the sensor towards the vicinity of the control device, and from the front of the chair. be And that is preferable.

[0011] Furthermore, a battery is provided below the upper surface of the seat. The battery is held in a battery holding cover, the control device is held in a control device holding cover, the battery holding cover and the control device holding cover are arranged so that a portion of them overlap in the vertical direction of the chair, and the control device is located in front of the support column cylinder. And that is preferable.

[0012] Also, The lower end of the control device holding cover is positioned lower than the lower end of the battery holding cover in the vertical direction of the chair. is preferable.

[0015] Furthermore, the battery and the control device are arranged so as to sandwich the central axis of the column tube when viewed from the front of the chair. , arranged spaced apart in the width direction of the chair is preferable.

[0016] Also, one seat cover that covers both the battery and the control device is provided. In addition to the opening for inserting the support column cylinder, the seat cover is provided with another opening near the battery or the control device. is good.

[0018] Also, The seat cover has a recess formed in the portion facing the battery or the control device. is also acceptable. 。

[0019] Furthermore, it is preferable that a plurality of ribs are formed on the seat cover at a portion other than the concave portion. Furthermore, the device is provided with a plate member that supports the pad portion from below, wherein the plate member has a step formed such that the front is higher than the rear, and the control device is preferably positioned below the plate member and in front of the step. Furthermore, the device is provided with a seat, a sensor that detects the body signals of the person sitting, a stimulator that applies stimulation to the person sitting, and a control device that controls the stimulator, wherein the seat is provided with leg members having a support cylinder, a battery is provided below the upper surface of the seat, the battery is held in a battery holding cover, the control device is held in a control device holding cover, the battery holding cover and the control device holding cover are arranged so that a portion of them overlap in the vertical direction, the control device and the sensor are arranged so that they do not overlap in the front-to-back direction, and the control device is preferably positioned in front of the support cylinder.

Advantages of the Invention

[0030] According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid the chair equipped with the awakening device from becoming hot due to the heating device and to avoid giving discomfort to the seated person. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to enhance the heat exhaust performance from inside the cover to outside the cover. Also, it is possible to avoid giving discomfort to the seated person by exposing the legs of the seated person to the exhaust air. Also, according to the present invention, it is possible to make the size of the cover that covers the battery and the control device compact. Also, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the maintainability of the battery or the control device. Also, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the overhang of the cover in the vertical direction or the front-rear direction. Also, according to the present invention, it is possible to effectively utilize the space below the plate member and in front of the lower frame portion as a space for arranging the battery and the control device. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to take out and insert the battery while the cover is attached to the main body portion. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to avoid the support column getting in the way when inserting or removing the battery. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the battery can be easily charged by inserting the charging cable into the charging jack while the cover is still attached to the main body. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to avoid the support column getting in the way when charging the battery. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the charging cable from getting in the way of seated passengers or others. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the degree of freedom in arranging the stimulator, sensor, and control device can be increased. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to avoid the support column getting in the way when assembling the harness through the through-hole in the cover. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to avoid the harness coming off due to contact with the seated person's legs. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the operating state of the awakening device can be changed and the operating state can be checked while the cover is attached. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the operating state of the awakening device can be changed and its operating state can be checked even while standing in front of a chair. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the harness can be made less likely to come off. Furthermore, according to the present invention, operation of the operating switch unit and visibility of the operating indicator unit or battery status indicator unit become easier. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0031] [Figure 1] This is an external view of a chair with legs according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a lower perspective view showing the underside of the cushion pan to which the retaining cover and seat cover are attached. [Figure 3] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the III-III section in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is a plan view showing a resin plate. [Figure 5]This is an exploded perspective view of the control device, battery, and retaining cover, etc., that are attached to a chair with legs. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing the retaining cover with the control unit and battery in place. [Figure 7] This is a schematic front view showing the retaining cover that holds the control device and battery attached to the underside of the cushion pan. [Figure 8] This is a schematic front view showing the seat cover attached to the underside of the resin plate. [Figure 9] This is a schematic front view showing the control device retaining cover and battery retaining cover attached to the underside of the resin plate. [Figure 10] This is an upper perspective view showing the top of the seat cover. [Figure 11] This is a schematic side view showing the seat cover from the side. [Figure 12] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the III-III section of Figure 1, which illustrates a modified seat cover. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0032] The present invention relates to a chair, and more particularly to a chair equipped with an alerting device (a device to prevent drowsiness). The embodiments described below are merely examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention and do not limit it. In other words, the shape, dimensions, arrangement, etc., of the components described below can be changed or improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and of course, equivalents thereof are included in the present invention. Hereinafter, a chair with legs S according to one embodiment of the present invention, as well as an ECU 7, a battery 8, a retaining cover 71 that holds them, and a seat cover 51 that covers them, provided on the chair with legs S, will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the front-to-back direction refers to the front-to-back direction of the chair, and the left-to-right direction refers to the left-to-right direction of the chair, also known as the width direction of the chair.

[0033] <About the overall structure> First, the main components of the chair with legs S will be described, mainly with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Here, Figure 1 is an external view of the chair with legs S according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a lower perspective view showing the lower surface of the cushion pan F21 to which the retaining cover 71 and the seat cover 51 are attached, Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the III-III section of Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a plan view showing the resin plate F21d. The chair with legs S mainly consists of leg members F3, a cushion pan F21 attached to the leg members F3 to support the seated person's buttocks, a back pan F22 which is a backrest connected to the cushion pan F21, and an awakening device U.

[0034] The leg member F3 consists of a foot portion F31 that branches into four, and a support cylinder F30 that is continuously formed on the foot portion F31, and is mainly made of resin material. Caster wheels F31a are attached to the ends of each of the four branches that branch off from the foot portion F31. Furthermore, although the foot portion F31 in this embodiment is configured to branch into four parts, it may also be configured to branch into three or more parts, and it is also possible to omit the caster F31a.

[0035] The support tube F30 is fixed to the center of the foot portion F31 and extends upward. The support column F21a, which will be described later, is passed through and fixed inside the support tube F30.

[0036] The cushion pan F21 corresponds to the seat portion according to the present invention, and as shown in Figure 2, it consists of a metal seat frame 74, a resin plate F21d attached to the upper part of the seat frame 74, and a pad portion F21e with a surface attached to the upper part of the resin plate F21d.

[0037] The seat frame 74 consists of a lower frame portion F21b that extends in the seat width direction, and an upper frame portion F21c that is located above the lower frame portion F21b and extends in a cross shape with the lower frame portion F21b.

[0038] The lower frame portion F21b extends in the width direction of the sheet behind the cushion pan F21, and a through hole F21f is formed in the center of the lower frame portion F21b through which the support column F21a passes.

[0039] The upper frame section F21c extends in the front-to-back direction of the chair from the center of the chair's width and is joined to the lower frame section F21b by welding. A pipe-shaped support column F21a, extending perpendicularly to its periphery, is joined to the center of the upper frame section F21c by welding or other means. Two through holes F21h are formed at the front and rear of the upper frame portion F21c in the area that does not overlap with the lower frame portion F21b, for passing tapping screws N1 (see Figure 5). Specifically, this through hole F21h is for passing the tapping screw N1 that attaches the upper frame portion F21c, the integrally joined lower frame portion F21b, and the retaining cover 71 (described later) to the resin plate F21d.

[0040] The resin plate F21d shown in Figure 4 corresponds to the plate member and main body according to the present invention, and has a plurality of perforations F21j formed in the vertical direction to dissipate heat transmitted from the seated person's buttocks. These perforations F21j have a heat dissipation function and also have the function of allowing the harness 11, which will be described later, to be inserted through the top and bottom of the resin plate F21d. Two fans 50 are mounted on the underside of the resin plate F21d, in front of the seat frame 74. The fan 50, mounted in this manner, has the function of air-cooling the ECU 7 and battery 8, which are held in place by a retaining cover 71, which will be described later, attached to the seat frame 74.

[0041] The pad portion F21e with a skin is composed of a pad portion F21o made of a cushioning material such as urethane, and a skin 44 that covers the pad portion F21o, with a respiratory sensor 9, which will be described later, positioned between the skin 44 and the pad portion F21o. As shown in Figure 3, the pad portion F21o has a guide hole F21k that guides the harness 11 to the ECU 7, which will be described later. The guide hole F21k is formed to extend diagonally forward and downward from the front of the breathing sensor 9 located on the upper surface of the pad portion F21o towards the vicinity of the ECU 7.

[0042] The back pan F22 is connected to the rear of the cushion pan F21 and extends approximately vertically upward from the cushion pan F21. The back pan F22 consists of a resin plate F22d, a padded section F22e with a surface attached to the front of the resin plate F22d, and a backrest cover 55 attached to the rear of the resin plate F22d.

[0043] The resin plate F22d corresponds to the plate member and main body according to the present invention, and a vibration device 35 is attached to the center of the back surface of the resin plate F22d, as shown in Figure 1. This vibration device 35 is a component of the awakening device U, which will be described in detail later, and applies vibration stimulation to the seated person in response to the control signal of the ECU 7.

[0044] The pad portion F22e with a cover, like the pad portion F21e with a cover, consists of a pad portion (not shown) made of a cushioning material such as urethane, and a cover (not shown) that covers the pad portion.

[0045] The backrest cover 55 covers the resin plate F22d and the vibration device 35 from the back, and the operation switch U5, operation indicator U6, and charging status indicator U7, which will be described later, are mounted on the top surface. The operation switch U5, operation indicator U6, and charging status indicator U7 are connected to the ECU7 by a harness U8.

[0046] <About stimulant devices> Next, I will explain the awakening device U. The awakening device U according to this embodiment mainly consists of an ECU 7, a battery 8, a respiratory sensor 9, and a vibration device 35.

[0047] The vibration device 35 is a device equipped with a so-called "vibration motor" consisting of a known unbalanced mass motor.

[0048] The ECU7 is a central function that comprehensively performs electrical control, and in this example, it has the function of driving and controlling the vibration device 35 based on a potential difference signal that has been converted into a digital signal indicating the interval between breaths. The ECU7 according to this embodiment is a general-purpose ECU in terms of hardware, comprising a CPU for calculation control, ROM, RAM, etc. A connector 70 is attached to the ECU7, and the following are connected to the connection port 70a of the connector 70: a harness 11 connected to the breathing sensor 9 shown in Figure 3, a harness U8 shown in Figure 1 connected to the operation switch U5, operation indicator U6 and charging status indicator U7 (described later), a harness (not shown) connected to the vibration device 35, and a cable (not shown) connected to the battery 8. Note that Figure 3 and Figure 12 (described later) are diagrams in which harness U8 is omitted.

[0049] The signal input from the respiratory sensor 9 to the ECU 7 via the harness 11 is a potential difference signal converted into a digital signal by the signal processing circuit, and the output is power to drive the vibration device 35. RAM temporarily stores parameters including signals being controlled during calculations and input / output signals, and functions as a storage unit for storing potential difference signals and other signals converted into digital signals.

[0050] ROM stores programs executed by the CPU and parameters with predetermined values. For example, it stores programs such as a reference value setting unit that sets predetermined reference values, a determination unit that determines the state of wakefulness based on the reference values, and a drive unit that drives the vibration device 35. This drive unit has the function of driving the vibration device 35 by supplying power in accordance with instructions from the CPU. The instruction signals for this CPU are formed by processing signals from the respiratory sensor 9. That is, based on the signal transmitted from the respiration sensor 9, the awakening state of the seated person is determined, and when it is determined that the person is not in the awakening state, a signal for driving the vibration device 35 is transmitted from the CPU. Note that any known configuration may be used for this structure, and a heartbeat sensor may be used instead of the respiration sensor 9.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 3, the ECU 7 that constitutes the awakening device U is attached to the lower surface side of the cushion pan F21 by the holding cover 71. As shown in FIG. 1, the vibration device 35 is attached near the center of the surface of the back pan F22 facing the seated person.

[0052] The battery 8 has a function of supplying power to the ECU 7 and the vibration device 35, and is formed in a plate shape in this embodiment. The battery 8 is attached so as to overlap below the control device U1 described later, and a charging jack 80a is formed on the front surface. The battery 8 is charged from a household power supply when a charging cable (not shown) is connected to the charging jack 80a. And the battery 8 can use a battery used for charging a smartphone or the like. Note that the battery 8 is not limited to a power supply type, and may be a detachable type.

[0053] <Regarding the holding cover that holds the ECU and the battery> Next, referring to FIGS. 5 to 7 in addition to FIGS. 1 to 4, the holding cover 71 that holds the ECU 7 and the battery 8 will be described. Here, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the control device U1, the battery 8, the holding cover 71, etc. attached to the chair S with legs, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the holding cover 71 in a state of holding the control device U1 and the battery 8, and FIG. 7 is a schematic front view showing a state where the holding cover 71 that holds the control device U1 and the battery 8 is attached to the lower surface of the cushion pan F21.

[0054] In this embodiment, the ECU 7 is covered and supported by the base member 72 and the cover member 73, and together with the battery 8, is held by the retaining cover 71 and attached to the upper frame portion F21c. The unit consisting of the ECU 7, the base member 72 and the cover member 73 is also referred to as the control device U1.

[0055] As shown in Figure 5, the base member 72 and the cover member 73 are fastened together with fixing screws N2 while the ECU 7 is housed inside, stacked on top of the battery 8, and held within the housing groove 71a. The retaining cover 71 corresponds to one of the covers according to the present invention, and is made of a resin material, and has a receiving groove 71a that is open at the top and has a substantially U-shaped vertical cross-section. As shown in Figure 6, the retaining cover 71 holds the battery 8 and the control device U1 in the receiving groove 71a.

[0056] Furthermore, the retaining cover 71 has an opening 71i on its front side, and the opening 71i is formed so that the connection port 70a of the connector 70 of the ECU 7 and the battery 8, which are held in the housing groove 71a, are exposed. The opening 71i formed in the retaining cover 71 allows for the electrical connection of each device while the retaining cover 71 holds the ECU 7 and the battery 8. Furthermore, the retaining cover 71 is attached to the upper frame portion F21c such that the opening 71i faces forward, allowing the occupant to plug and unplug the harness 11, charging cable (not shown), etc., while seated on the chair S with legs, without the support cylinder F30 located behind the retaining cover 71 getting in the way.

[0057] In particular, if the battery 8 is removable and replaceable, the opening 71i will also function as an entry and exit point for the battery 8. On the other hand, if the battery 8 is rechargeable, the opening 71i will function as a passage for a charging cable (not shown) that is inserted into the charging jack 80a of the battery 8, by exposing the charging jack 80a of the battery 8. Similarly, the opening 71i exposes the connection port 70a of the connector 70, thereby functioning as a passage for the harness 11 or the harness U8 described later to be inserted into the connection port 70a.

[0058] Furthermore, in order for the opening 71i to function as an inlet / outlet for the battery 8 and a passage for a charging cable or harness 11 or harness U8 (not shown), the retaining cover 71 should be attached in a direction such that the opening 71i does not face the support column F21a, which would obstruct the insertion or removal of the battery 8. In other words, as long as the opening 71i does not face the support column F21a, the retaining cover 71 may be attached so that the opening 71i faces not only forward, but also to the side or rear.

[0059] Furthermore, multiple L-shaped ribs 71d are formed in the front-to-back direction of the chair, with their lower parts elongated in the width direction of the chair, on the inner walls of the retaining cover 71 on both sides in the width direction of the chair. The base member 72, which will be described later, is placed on these ribs 71d. The lower parts of a pair of ribs 71d in the width direction of the chair are formed at intervals longer than the length of the battery 8 so that the battery 8 can fit between them, and are formed at a height greater than the vertical thickness of the battery 8. Furthermore, the foremost rib 71e of the retaining cover 71 in the front-to-back direction of the chair is formed with its upper portion protruding in the width direction of the chair more than the other ribs 71d. More specifically, the length between the pair of ribs 71e on both sides in the width direction of the chair is set to be shorter than the length of the cover member 73 in the width direction of the chair, which will be described later. Therefore, the cover member 73, which covers the ECU 7 and is held in place by the retaining cover 71, has its forward movement restricted by the rib 71e.

[0060] Between the front-to-back adjacent ribs 71d provided on the side surface of the retaining cover 71, rectangular slits 71h extending vertically are formed. Similarly, slits 71h are also formed on the rear surface of the retaining cover 71 at the same intervals. In this way, the formation of the slit 71h allows for air circulation between the inside and outside of the retaining cover 71, thereby improving the heat dissipation of the ECU 7 and battery 8 held by the retaining cover 71. In particular, the slit 71h formed on the rear surface of the retaining cover 71 causes the air blown from the fan 50 located in front of the retaining cover 71 to flow towards the rear, thereby improving heat dissipation. Furthermore, a portion of the slit 71h may be used as a passage for a charging cable (not shown), or for harness 11 or harness U8, instead of the opening 71i.

[0061] The base member 72 and the cover member 73 are frames with a roughly U-shaped vertical cross-section. In detail, the base member 72 has a roughly U-shaped cross-section and extends in the front-to-back direction longer than its width. Multiple punch holes 72a are formed on the side surface of the base member 72, allowing air to circulate and thereby improving the heat dissipation of the ECU 7 supported inside. On the other hand, the cover member 73 has a roughly U-shaped cross-section and extends in the width direction longer than its length in the front-to-back direction. In particular, a rectangular notch is formed on the front surface of the cover member 73 to expose the connector 70 of the ECU 7 and to connect the ECU 7 to the respiratory sensor 9 or the vibration device 35 via the connector 70. These components are stacked on top of each other to form a storage space for the ECU7 inside. The base member 72 and the cover member 73 are fastened together with fixing screws N2 while the ECU 7 is housed inside, stacked on top of the battery 8, and held within the housing groove 71a.

[0062] Furthermore, since the base member 72 is placed on ribs 71d that are spaced apart front to back, the heated air generated from the ECU 7 passes through the punch holes 72a of the base member 72 and through the spaces between the ribs 71d. This improves the heat dissipation of the ECU 7. Furthermore, since the lower part of the rib 71d is formed to a height greater than the vertical thickness of the battery 8, the retaining cover 71 positioned on the rib 71d and the battery 8 can be separated. In this way, by positioning the retaining cover 71 and the battery 8 at a distance from each other, it is possible to prevent heat from being directly transferred between them and to suppress the temperature rise of both.

[0063] The control device U1 is housed together with the battery 8 in the receiving groove 71a of the retaining cover 71. In this state, the retaining cover 71 is fastened to the cushion pan F21 by tapping screws N1.

[0064] In particular, the retaining cover 71 is located in front of the lower frame portion F21b and attached to the upper frame portion F21c, which is below the resin plate F21d, making effective use of the space in front of the lower frame portion F21b. By attaching the retaining cover 71 in this way, the downward protrusion of the resin plate F21d can be suppressed, thereby preventing the narrowing of the leg resting area for the seated person.

[0065] <Regarding the seat cover that covers the resin plate> In the above embodiment, the retaining cover 71 was described as a device that holds and protects the control device U1 and the battery 8. To further enhance the protective capacity and improve the aesthetic appearance, a seat cover 51 that covers the resin plate F21d together with the retaining cover 71 may be attached.

[0066] Next, the seat cover 51 that covers the resin plate F21d from the back will be explained with reference to Figures 8 to 11, in addition to Figure 3. Here, Figure 8 is a schematic front view showing the seat cover 51 attached to the lower surface of the resin plate F21d, Figure 9 is a schematic front view showing the control device holding cover 77 and battery holding cover 78 attached to the lower surface of the resin plate F21d, Figure 10 is an upper perspective view showing the upper part of the seat cover 51, and Figure 11 is a schematic side view showing the seat cover 51 from the side.

[0067] The seat cover 51 is made of resin material and has a bowl shape. The seat cover 51 has a slit 51a on the upper front, an elongated opening 51c on the lower front that exposes the battery 8, and an exhaust port 51b on the rear (see Figure 3).

[0068] The slits 51a are for introducing outside air into the seat cover 51 in order to air cool the control device U1 and the battery 8, and are formed in two vertically, extending in the width direction of the chair. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the placement of the fan 50 opposite the slit 51a further promotes the intake of outside air.

[0069] The opening 51c exposes the battery 8, allowing for insertion and removal of the battery 8, or connection of a charging cable (not shown) to the charging jack 80a, while the seat cover 51 covers the retaining cover 71. The opening 51c penetrates in the front-to-back direction and extends below the slit 51a in the width direction of the chair. The opening 51c also functions as an intake for outside air, together with the slit 51a. Furthermore, the slit 51a or opening 51c may be configured to function as a passage for a charging cable, harness 11, or harness U8 (not shown). Furthermore, the seat cover 51 only needs to be attached to the resin plate F21d in a way that the opening 51c does not face the support column F21a, which would obstruct the insertion and removal of the battery 8. In other words, as long as the opening 51c does not face the support column F21a, the seat cover 51 may be attached so that the opening 51c faces not only forward, but also to the side or rear.

[0070] The exhaust port 51b is for exhausting the air taken in through the slit 51a or opening 51c to the outside of the seat cover 51. In this way, by drawing in heated air through the slit 51a or opening 51c and exhausting it to the outside of the seat cover 51 after passing through the ECU 7 or battery 8, it becomes possible to dissipate heat from the ECU 7 and battery 8.

[0071] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the retaining cover 71 was configured to hold the control device U1 and the battery 8 together from above and below, but a cover that holds them separately may also be used. For example, as shown in Figure 9, a control device holder cover 77 that holds the control device U1 and a battery holder cover 78 that holds the battery 8 may be mounted side by side in the width direction of the chair. With the control device holder cover 77 and battery holder cover 78 attached in this manner, the downward protrusion of both covers from the resin plate F21d can be suppressed compared to the holder cover 71 that holds the control device U1 and battery 8 stacked vertically. Consequently, the downward protrusion of the seat cover 53 that covers them can also be suppressed.

[0072] Furthermore, the seat cover 51 and the seat cover 53 have recesses formed in the portions facing the retaining cover 71 or the control device retaining cover 77 and the battery retaining cover 78. For example, as shown in Figure 10, the seat cover 53 has recesses: a control device housing 53a in the area facing the control device holding cover 77, a battery housing 53b in the area facing the battery holding cover 78, and multiple ribs 53c in the remaining areas. The seat cover 53 is lightweight and has high rigidity due to the multiple ribs 53c.

[0073] The control device housing section 53a has a shape that corresponds to the control device retaining cover 77, and the battery housing section 53b has a shape that corresponds to the battery retaining cover 78. Specifically, as in this embodiment, when the lower surface of the control device holding cover 77 is lower than the lower surface of the battery holding cover 78, the control device housing 53a is formed to be deeper than the battery housing 53b. Furthermore, the control device housing 53a is formed such that, when the seat cover 53 is attached to the resin plate F21d, the bottom surface of the control device housing 53a is positioned slightly lower than the bottom surface of the control device holding cover 77. Similarly, the battery housing 53b is formed such that, when the seat cover 53 is attached to the resin plate F21d, the bottom surface of the battery housing 53b is positioned slightly lower than the bottom surface of the battery retaining cover 78.

[0074] With the control device housing section 53a and battery housing section 53b formed in this manner, the seat cover 53 can be attached to the resin plate F21d without being obstructed by the control device holding cover 77 and the battery holding cover 78 attached to the resin plate F21d. In this case, since the control device housing 53a is formed to be the deepest part compared to other parts, the amount of downward protrusion of the seat cover 53 can be minimized, and the space for the seated person's legs below the seat cover 53 can be widened.

[0075] Similar to the seat cover 53, which has a control device housing section 53a for housing the control device holding cover 77 and a battery housing section 53b for housing the battery holding cover 78, and is equipped with ribs 53c, the seat cover 51 can also be provided with recesses (not shown) and ribs that cover the holding cover 71. In this case, it is preferable that the retaining cover 71, or in other words, the recess (not shown), is located in the center of the chair in the width direction. With such a configuration, the weight of the chair in the width direction will be balanced.

[0076] Furthermore, if the control device U1 or battery 8 is attached to the back pan F22, the same configuration as that for the seat covers 51 and 53 described above can be applied to the backrest cover 55.

[0077] (Regarding the display unit on the seat cover) On the side of the seat cover 51 shown in Figure 11, an operation switch U5, an operation indicator U6, and a charging status indicator U7 are mounted.

[0078] The operation switch U5 is a push-button type operation switch for activating or deactivating the awakening device U, and is fitted into a fitting hole (not shown) in the seat cover 51.

[0079] The operation indicator unit U6 is an indicator lamp that indicates whether the awakening device U is operating or stopped. It is configured to display blue when it is operating normally, yellow when it is operating but there is some malfunction, and turn off when it is stopped.

[0080] The charging status indicator U7 is an indicator lamp that displays the charging status of the battery 8. It is configured to display blue when the battery 8 is fully charged, red when the remaining charge falls below a predetermined value, and turn off when the remaining charge is depleted. As shown in Figure 11, the operation indicator unit U6 and the charging status indicator unit U7 are mounted on the side of the seat cover 51 and are positioned on either side of the operation switch U5.

[0081] In this way, the installation of the control switch U5 allows the seated user to turn the alert function on and off while seated, improving usability. Furthermore, the inclusion of an operation indicator U6 and a charging status indicator U7 makes it easier to use as the operating status of the awakening function and the charging status of the battery 8 can be checked.

[0082] The operation switch U5, operation indicator U6, and charging status indicator U7 may be fitted into fitting holes (not shown) provided at the upper end of the backrest cover 55, as shown in Figure 1, or they may be attached to both covers.

[0083] <Variation> Finally, with reference to Figure 12, a modified seat cover 54 will be described. Here, Figure 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the III-III section of Figure 1, which represents a modified seat cover 54.

[0084] The modified seat cover 54 is formed and attached so as to cover only the front side of the support column F21a on the lower surface of the resin plate F21d. A passage 54a is formed on the rear surface of the seat cover 54 at a position opposite the support column F21a, exposing the charging jack 80a of the battery 8 shown in Figure 5. The battery 8 is held in the retaining cover 71 such that the charging jack 80a faces backward, opposite the support column F21a, and the retaining cover 71 has a pass-through opening 75a at the rear that exposes the charging jack 80a.

[0085] Furthermore, a through-hole F21n is formed on the front side of the support column F21a facing the seat cover 54, which communicates with the external and internal spaces. In other words, with the seat cover 54 covering the retaining cover 71, the through-hole 54a, the through-hole 75a, and the through-hole F21n are facing each other, and the extension cable 66 is passed through these into the interior of the support column F21a.

[0086] As shown in Figure 1, a charging connector 65 is provided at the tip of the foot portion F31 located above the caster F31a of the leg member F3. The extension cable 66 is connected to the charging jack 80a and the charging connector 65. This configuration allows the battery 8 to be charged by inserting the charging cable into the charging connector 65 located at the end of the foot F31 near the floor, making it easy to use without the charging cable getting in the way of people passing by. Furthermore, the tip of the footrest F31 is more easily visible to the seated person than the area near the underside of the cushion pan F21, and a charging cable (not shown) can be easily connected to the charging connector 65.

[0087] In addition, similar to the opening 75a for passing the extension cable 66, an opening may be formed on the rear surface of the seat cover 54, in the part facing the support column F21a, for passing a harness (not shown) connected to the harness 11 and the vibration device 35 to the rear of the seat cover 54. In this way, by forming a passage opening opposite the support column F21a, it becomes possible to make it difficult for the seated person to touch the harness connection point, which is rarely touched except for maintenance. Furthermore, in this modified example, the seat cover 54 is naturally an optional component.

[0088] Furthermore, in order for the slit 51a or opening 51c to function as an inlet or outlet for the battery 8, or as a passage for a charging cable or harness 11 or harness U8 (not shown), the seat covers 51, 53, and 54 should be attached in a direction such that the slit 51a or opening 51c does not face the support column F21a, which would obstruct the insertion or removal of the battery 8. In other words, as long as the slit 51a or opening 51c does not face the support column F21a, the seat covers 51, 53, and 54 may be attached so that the slit 51a or opening 51c faces not only forward, but also to the side or rear.

[0089] In the above embodiment, the fan 50 was described as being attached to the lower surface of the resin plate F21d, but the configuration is not limited to this as long as the ECU 7 or battery 8 can be cooled. For example, the fan 50 may be attached to the seat cover 51. Attaching the fan 50 to the seat cover 51 is effective when the fan 50 cannot be attached to the resin plate F21d because it is made of metal and tapping is difficult, etc. Alternatively, a space may be provided for the retaining cover 71, and the fan 50 may be mounted in that space. Mounting the fan 50 in the retaining cover 71 will position it close to the ECU 7 connected to the fan 50, making it possible to compactly arrange the wiring. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0090] F21 Cushion Pan (Seat) F21a strut F21b Lower frame section F21c Upper frame section F21d Resin plate (plate component, main body) F21e Pad with surface covering F21f Through hole F21h Through hole F21j hole F21k guide hole F21n through hole F21o Pad section F22 Back Pan (Backrest) F22d Resin plate (plate component, main body) F22e Pad with surface covering F3 Leg member F30 strut tube F31 Foot F31a Caster N1 Tapping Screw N2 Fixing Screw S-shaped chair with legs U Awakening Device U1 Control Unit U5 Operation Switch U6 operation display U7 Charging status display unit U8 Harness 11 Harness 35 Vibration device (stimulator) 44 Epidermis 50 Fans 51 Seat cover (cover) 51a Slit 51b Exhaust port (opening) 51c Opening (opening, entrance / exit, through-hole) 53, 54 Seat cover (cover) 53a Control device housing section (recess, deepest recess) 53b Battery housing (recess) 53c Rib 54a Through opening 55 Backrest Cover 65 Charging Connectors 66 Extension Cables 7 ECU 70 connectors 70a connection port 71 Retaining cover (cover) 71a Receiving groove (recess) 71d, 71e Rib 71h Slit (Opening) 71i Openings (entrances and exits, passageways, other passageways) 72 Base member 72a Punch hole 73 Cover component 74 Seat frame 75a Through opening (opening) 77 Control device retaining cover 78 Battery retention cover 8 batteries 80A charging jack 9. Respiratory sensor (sensor)

Claims

1. The seat and, A sensor that detects the body signals of a seated person and a stimulator that applies stimulation to the seated person, The device comprises a control device for controlling the stimulator, The aforementioned seat is provided with a leg member having a support column tube, The control device and the sensor are arranged so as not to overlap in the front-to-back direction. The control device is positioned in front of the sensor. The aforementioned seat portion is equipped with a pad portion, The sensor is provided on the upper surface of the pad portion, The pad portion has a guide hole formed therein for guiding the harness extending from the sensor to the control device. The chair is characterized in that the lower end of the guide hole is positioned in front of the support column.

2. The chair according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide hole is formed to extend diagonally forward and downward from the front of the sensor to the vicinity of the control device.

3. A battery is located below the upper surface of the aforementioned seat. The aforementioned battery is held in a battery retaining cover. The control device is held in the control device holding cover, The battery holding cover and the control device holding cover are arranged so that a portion of them overlaps in the vertical direction of the chair. The chair according to claim 2, characterized in that the control device is located in front of the support column cylinder.

4. The chair according to claim 3, characterized in that the lower end of the control device holding cover is positioned lower in the vertical direction of the chair than the lower end of the battery holding cover.

5. The chair according to claim 3, characterized in that the battery and the control device are arranged so as to sandwich the central axis of the support cylinder when viewed from the front of the chair, and are spaced apart in the width direction of the chair.

6. A single seat cover is provided that covers both the battery and the control device. The chair according to claim 3, characterized in that the seat cover has an opening for inserting the support column tube, as well as another opening near the battery or the control device.

7. The chair according to claim 6, characterized in that the seat cover has a recess formed in the portion facing the battery or the control device.

8. The chair according to claim 7, characterized in that the seat cover has a plurality of ribs formed in parts other than the recess.

9. The pad portion is supported from below by a plate member, The aforementioned plate member has a step formed so that the front is higher than the rear. The chair according to claim 2, characterized in that the control device is positioned below the plate member and in front of the step.

10. The seat and, A sensor that detects the body signals of a seated person and a stimulator that applies stimulation to the seated person, The device comprises a control device for controlling the stimulator, The aforementioned seat is provided with a leg member having a support column tube, A battery is located below the upper surface of the aforementioned seat. The aforementioned battery is held in a battery retaining cover. The control device is held in the control device holding cover, The battery holding cover and the control device holding cover are arranged so that a portion of them overlaps in the vertical direction. The control device and the sensor are arranged so as not to overlap in the front-to-back direction. The chair is characterized in that the control device is located in front of the support column.

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