Hugging chair

Abstract

The hugging chair (1) comprises a frame (10) having two side walls (13D, 13G), one on the left and one on the right, and a seat (14). The hugging chair also comprises two lower cells (60D, 60G) having inflatable bodies (61D, 61G) which, in the inflated state, enclose between them the pelvis and the thighs of the user, and which are each designed to, in the inflated state, gradually expand so as to run non-stop all along the corresponding thigh of the user. The hugging chair also comprises two upper cells (20D, 20G) having inflatable bodies (21D, 21G) which, in the inflated state, enclose between them the torso of the user, and which each form, in the inflated state, a recess (25D) for receiving and holding the corresponding shoulder of the user. The hugging chair also comprises a flexible covering (100) which covers the upper and lower cells.

Description

[0001] TITLE: Hugging Chair

[0002] The present invention relates to a hugging chair.

[0003] Hugging is known to reduce anxiety. Particularly in the medical field, manual compressions and clamping devices are used to hug and thus calm people with neurological disorders, particularly autistic disorders, who are anxious, who have sensory disturbances, or who are dealing with sensory overload.

[0004] However, existing clamping devices require the user to be in uncomfortable positions in order to function. In addition, the user is clamped between clamping elements that generally do not respect the user's morphology. Thus, the clamping can be partial or even unpleasant since the clamping elements do not follow the user's morphology, and / or painful since the contact between the clamping elements and the user's body is concentrated on certain points of the user's body rather than being distributed over large areas of the user's body.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to propose means of hugging which combine efficiency and comfort for the user.

[0006] For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a hugging chair comprising a frame comprising two side walls, respectively left and right, and a seat, which are arranged so that a user seated on the seat has his thighs and the upper part of his body arranged between the two side walls, the frame defining an anteroposterior direction, which extends substantially horizontally and along which a front edge and a rear edge of the seat are distributed, and a plane of symmetry, which extends substantially vertically and parallel to the anteroposterior direction. The hugging chair further comprises two lower cells, respectively left and right, which are substantially symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry, being respectively fixed to a lower part of the left side wall and to a lower part of the right side wall, and which comprise inflatable bodies, respectively left and right,which each extend in the anteroposterior direction from a rear end to a front end of the inflatable body in the inflated state, embrace between them the pelvis and the 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 the inflatable body is traveled from its rear end to its front end, so as to run continuously along the entire corresponding thigh of the user seated on the seat. The hugging chair also comprises two high cells, respectively left and right, 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 comprise inflatable bodies, respectively left and right, which each extend in the anteroposterior direction from a rear end to a front end of the inflatable body, in the inflated state, embrace between them 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 ends, so as to receive and hold the corresponding shoulder of the user seated on the seat. The hugging chair finally comprises a flexible covering covering the upper and lower cells so as to be interposed between the user seated on the seat and each of the upper and lower cells.,

[0007] Thanks to the invention, in particular thanks 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 for the user. In addition, the shoulders, as well as where appropriate the rest of the arms or the sides of the trunk of the user are housed and held in the notches formed by the high cells, which improves the comfort of the user. The shoulders and the trunk of the user, housed in the notches of the high inflatable cells, are uniformly enveloped by the high inflatable cells, in the inflated state, without creating a singular and painful point of contact. The embrace generated by the high inflatable cells, in the inflated state, is thus more efficient and pleasant for the user.Furthermore, due to their progressive widening from the back of the hugging chair towards the front of the hugging chair, the shape of the lower cells, in the inflated state, coincides with the morphology of the user, wider at the pelvis than at the knees. Thus, the lower cells, in the inflated state, hug the pelvis and thighs of the user uniformly and do not create a painful singular point of contact, so that the hug is effective and more comfortable for the user.

[0008] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, taken in isolation or in all technically possible combinations:

[0009] - each of the lower cells comprises (i) first and second fixing tabs by which the lower cell is fixed to the associated side wall, the first fixing tab being arranged at the rear end of the inflatable body of the lower cell while the second fixing tab is arranged at the front end of the inflatable body of the lower cell, and (ii) a rear elastic band, which connects the first fixing tab to the associated side wall and which is adapted to (a) during inflation of the inflatable body of the lower cell, be stretched under the effect of a shortening of the inflatable body in the anteroposterior direction, and (b) during deflation of the inflatable body of the lower cell, recall the inflatable body in the anteroposterior direction;

[0010] - each of the lower cells comprises two front tabs, which are arranged at the front end of the inflatable body, and a front elastic band, which connects the two front tabs and which is adapted to, when deflating the inflatable body of the lower cell, pull the two front tabs towards each other so as to press the inflatable body of the lower cell;

[0011] - 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;

[0012] - 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 towards the front end of the inflatable body of the lower cell, being secured directly to each other at the rear end of this inflatable body, while the third wall is secured 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;

[0013] - for each high cell, the inflatable body comprises (i) two walls, which are opposite each other transversely to the plane of symmetry and which, in the antero-posterior direction, each extend from the front end to the rear end of the inflatable body of the high cell, and (ii) an internal partition, on either side of which, in the antero-posterior direction, are located the front and rear ends of the inflatable body of the high cell, and which connects said two walls to each other transversely to the plane of symmetry, so as, in the inflated state of the inflatable body of the high cell, to form the notch in the extension, transversely to the plane of symmetry, of the internal partition at the level of which the spacing, transversely to the plane of symmetry, between said two walls is less than on either side, in the antero-posterior direction, of the internal partition;

[0014] - for each high cell, the inflatable body comprises an upper end and a lower end and is adapted to, in the inflated state, expand, transversely to the plane of symmetry, progressively when the inflatable body is moved from its upper end to its lower end, so as to follow the profile of the corresponding side of the torso of the user seated on the seat;

[0015] - the hugging chair comprises for each high cell, an elastic fixing means which (i) connects the associated side wall and the flexible covering to each other, (ii) is located vertically above the high cell, and (iii) is adapted to stretch when the inflatable body of the high cell is inflated and to recall the flexible covering against the associated side wall by pressing the inflatable body of the high cell when this inflatable body is deflated;

[0016] - the hugging chair further comprises an air circuit comprising (i) a pump, (ii) a first branch, which connects the pump to the high 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 high cells, and which is provided with a first normally open valve, (iv) a second branch, which connects the pump to the low 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 low cells, and which is provided with a second normally open valve.

[0017] - 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 which 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) upon 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) upon deflation of the inflatable bodies, of the lower cells,open the third normally closed valve when the pressure measured by the second sensor falls below a second predetermined threshold.,

[0018] The invention will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0019] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hugging chair according to the invention, having low and high cells in an inflated state; [Fig. 2] Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, illustrating the positioning of a user in the hugging chair where only the right low cell and the right high cell, in the inflated state, are made visible, partly omitting a covering of the hugging chair;

[0020] [Fig. 3] Figure 3 is a view along arrow III of Figure 2, showing only partly the hugging chair;

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

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

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

[0024] [Fig. 7] Figure 7 is an elevational view along arrow VII of Figure 6;

[0025] [Fig. 8] Figure 8 is an elevational view along arrow VIII of Figure 6;

[0026] [Fig. 9] Figure 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 a high left cell 20G, a high right cell 20D, a low left cell 60G, a low right cell 60D. In the embodiment considered here, the hugging chair 1 also comprises an air circuit 80, which will be detailed later and which is only shown in figure 9 where this air circuit 80 and the cells 20G, 20D, 60G and 60D are illustrated only schematically.

[0028] As clearly visible 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 in such a way that a user seated on the seat 14 has his thighs and the upper part of his body arranged between the two side walls 13G and 13D. It will be noted that throughout this text, the terms relating to the user's body are to be considered in their usual anatomical sense.Furthermore, the terms of positioning in space, applied to the hugging chair 1, are oriented relative to a floor surface, considered horizontal, on which the hugging chair 1 normally rests so that the user can sit on the seat 14 and, being seated on the seat 14, find himself horizontally between the side walls 13G and 13D, the left side wall 13G then being to his left and the right horizontal wall 13D then being to his right.

[0029] As indicated 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 of 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 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 bottom 11, extending vertically between the two side walls 13D and 13G from the rear edge

[0032] 16 of the seat 14, so that the user seated on the seat 14 can lean against the bottom 11. In addition, the frame 10 comprises a cap 12 connecting the two side walls 13D and 13G and the bottom 11, being arranged in vertical overhang of the seat 14. The cap 12 has a concave shape in 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.

[0033] We are now looking more closely at the 20D and 20G high cells.

[0034] Within the hugging chair 1, these high cells 20D and 20G are symmetrical to each other with respect to the plane of symmetry P. As discussed in more detail later, the right high cell 20D is attached to an upper part of the right side wall 13D. The left high cell 20G is attached to an upper part of the left side wall 13G.

[0035] The right 20D and left 20G upper cells respectively comprise an inflatable body 21D, 21G adapted to be inflated between a deflated state 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.

[0036] In the inflated state of the inflatable bodies 21 D and 21 G, the latter embrace between them the torso of the user seated on the seat 14, the inflatable body 21 G being applied against the left shoulder while the inflatable body 21 D is applied against the right shoulder of the torso.

[0037] 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.

[0038] In the anteroposterior direction AP, the inflatable body 21 D extends from a rear end 24D to a front end 23D and, in the vertical direction, the inflatable body 21 D extends from an upper end 26D to a lower end 27D. In the inflated state, the inflatable body 21 D 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 21 D, and on either side of which, in the anteroposterior direction AP, are located the front 23D and rear 24D ends of the inflatable body 21 D.When the user is seated on the seat 14 and the inflatable body 21 D is in the inflated state, the notch 25D receives and holds the user's right shoulder, as well as, if applicable 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 21 D, the notch 25D thus makes it possible to accommodate at least the shoulder of the right side of the user's torso in a manner that is both effective and comfortable, which contributes remarkably to the quality of the embrace applied to the user by the hugging chair 1.

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

[0040] In addition, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4, the inflatable body 21 D here comprises an internal partition 31 D, which is shown alone in Figure 5 and which connects the walls 28D and 29D to each other transversely to the plane of symmetry P. This internal partition 31 D is positioned, in the anteroposterior direction AP, both between and at a distance from the front 23D and rear 24D ends of the inflatable body 21 D, being advantageously, as here, at an equal distance from the front 23D end and the rear 24D end.Furthermore, this internal wall 31 D extends vertically, without however separating the interior of the inflatable body 31 D into two compartments isolated from each other: here, the internal wall 31 D extends vertically between the upper 26D and lower 27D ends of the inflatable body 21 D, without however reaching the latter, thus allowing free air communication between the two regions of the interior of the inflatable body 21 D, arranged on either side, in the anteroposterior direction AP, of the internal partition 31 D.In the inflated state of the inflatable body 21 D, the walls 28D and 29D are spaced apart from each other, while being retained relative to each other by the internal wall 31 D: as a result, in the inflated state of the inflatable body 21 D, the spacing, transversely to the plane of symmetry P, between the walls 28D and 29D is less at the level of the internal partition 31 D than on either side of the latter in the anteroposterior direction AP, which causes the notch 25D to form in the extension, transversely to the plane of symmetry P, of the internal partition 31 D, as clearly visible in Figures 1 to 3.

[0041] In a variant not shown, arrangements of the inflatable body 21 D, other than in connection with the internal partition 31 D, are possible so that this inflatable body 21 D forms the notch 25D.

[0042] Furthermore, still in the embodiment considered here, the internal partition 31 D advantageously has a dimension, transversely to the plane of symmetry P, which increases when the internal partition 31 D is traveled from top to bottom, as clearly visible in FIG. 5. In other words, in projection in a geometric plane perpendicular to the anteroposterior direction AP, the internal partition 31 D has a downwardly flared profile. As a result, in the inflated state of the inflatable body 21 D, the inflatable body 21 D widens, transversely to the plane of symmetry P, progressively when the inflatable body 21 D is traveled 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 widening of the inflatable body 21D follows the profile of the right flank of the user's 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 tightening of the user.

[0043] Here again, in a variant not shown, arrangements of the inflatable body 21 D, other than in connection with the internal partition 31 D, are conceivable so that this inflatable body 21 D has an enlargement such as that detailed just above.

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

[0045] For the purpose of fixing the upper cell 20D to the upper part of the right side wall 13D, the upper cell 20D here comprises tabs 32D and 33D, which, as clearly visible in Figure 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 60D and 60G low-frequency 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, in turn, fixed to a lower part of the left side wall 13G.

[0048] The right 60D and left 60G lower cells respectively comprise an inflatable body 61D, 61G adapted to be inflated between a deflated state 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 the inflated state of the inflatable bodies 61 D and 61 G, the latter embrace the pelvis and thighs of the user seated on the seat 14, the inflatable body 61 G being applied against the left thigh while the inflatable body 61 D 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 61 D extends, in the anteroposterior direction AP, from a rear end 63D to a front end 62D.

[0052] In the inflated state of the inflatable body 61 A, the inflatable body 61 D widens, transversely to the plane of symmetry P, progressively when the inflatable body is traveled from its rear end 63D to its front end 62D. As clearly visible in Figures 1 to 3, this widening of the inflatable body 61 D allows the latter to run continuously along the entire 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 hugging chair 1.

[0053] In the embodiment considered here, the inflatable body 61 D 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 61 D. The inflatable body 61 D thus deflates very easily, occupying a particularly small footprint in the deflated state.

[0054] For this purpose, here, the inflatable body 61 D 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 towards the front end of the inflatable body 61 D, being secured directly to each other, typically by welding, at the rear end 63D, while the wall 66D is secured directly, 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 61 D.

[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 61 D and has a curved shape, shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, in the inflated state of the inflatable body 61 D.

[0056] The wall 65D is symmetrical to the wall 64D with respect to a median plane P1 of the inflatable body 60D, this median plane P1 being parallel to the plane of symmetry P. The respective upper edges of the walls 64D and 65D are secured directly to each other, typically by welding. Similarly, the respective lower edges of the walls 64D and 65D are secured directly to each other, typically by welding. And the respective rear edges of the walls 64D and 65D are secured directly 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 P1, namely edges 40D, 42D and 44D, which are arranged on the same side of the median plane P1, following one another from top to bottom, and edges 41D, 43D and 45D, which are respectively symmetrical to the edges 40D, 42D and 44D with respect to the median plane P1. The edges 40D, 42D and 44D are secured directly, typically by welding, to the front edge 67D of the wall 64D. Symmetrically with respect to the median plane P1, the edges 41D, 43D and 45D are secured directly, typically by welding. The wall 66D thus forms the front end 62D of the inflatable body 61 D. In addition, the wall 66D includes a fold line 48D, extending from the angle formed at the junction between the edges 40D and 41 D to the angle formed at the junction between the edges 44D and 45D.

[0058] When the inflatable body 61 D is deflated, the wall 66D folds along the fold line 48D so that the walls 64D and 65D move closer to each other.

[0059] In a variant not shown, arrangements of the inflatable body 61 D, other than those related to the bellows shape detailed above, are conceivable so that this inflatable body 61 D, 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 61 D is provided with an inflation-deflation valve 76D, visible in figure 7, which is connected to the air circuit 80 so as to inflate and deflate the inflatable body 61 D. Here, this inflation-deflation valve 76D is carried by the wall 64D.

[0061] For the purpose of fixing 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 clearly visible in FIG. 6, are respectively arranged at the rear end 63D and at the front end 62D of the inflatable body 61 D, being here fixedly attached to, respectively, the wall 65D and the wall 64D. In addition, the lower cell 60D comprises a rear elastic band 52D connecting the tab 50D to the side wall 13D so as to fix the lower cell 60D to the side wall 13D. When inflating the inflatable body 61 D, the rear elastic 52D is stretched under the effect of a shortening of the inflatable body 61 D in the anteroposterior direction AP, and when deflating the inflatable body 61 D, the rear elastic 52D elastically returns the inflatable body 61 D in the anteroposterior direction AP.This results in particular in that the deflation of the inflatable body 61 D is improved, while controlling the anteroposterior deformations of the inflatable body 61 D 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 arranged 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 relative to the median plane P1. In addition, a front elastic band 54D connects the tabs 51D and 53D to each other. The front elastic band 54D is designed so as to stretch when the inflatable body 61D is inflated and, when the inflatable body 61D is deflated, to pull the tabs 51D and 53D towards each other, pressing the inflatable body 61D, which improves deflation.

[0063] As clearly visible in Figure 1, the fire-extinguishing chair 1 further comprises a flexible covering 100 which is only partially shown in Figures 2 and 3 for reasons of visibility. The flexible covering 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 21 G, 21 D, 61 G and 61 D, the flexible covering 40, pressed into contact against the user by the inflatable cells 21 G, 21 D, 61 G and 61 D, deforms around the body of the user, seated 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, outside of the cells 20G, 20D, 60G and 60D, the flexible covering 100 directly covers at least a portion of the frame 10, in particular the bottom 11 and the cap 12, so as to be interposed between the user seated on the seat 14 and this portion of the frame. In all cases, the flexible covering 100 is typically made up of several panels, which respectively cover different regions of the hugging chair 1 and which are assembled together. By way of non-limiting example, the flexible covering 100, in particular each of the aforementioned panels, comprises a foam, deformable under a pressure force, and a cover covering this foam.

[0065] According to an advantageous optional arrangement, implemented here, the hugging chair 1 comprises a straight elastic fastening means 110D which, as shown in Figure 2, is located vertically above the high cell 20G and connects the side wall 13D to the flexible covering 100. This elastic fastening means 110D is adapted to be stretched during inflation of the inflatable body 21 D and to, during deflation, elastically return the flexible covering 100 against the side wall 13D by pressing the inflatable body 21 D between the side wall 21 D and the flexible covering 40. The deflation of the inflatable body 21 D is thereby improved. For example, the straight elastic fastening means 110D comprises an elastic cable.

[0066] Of course, the hugging chair 1 then comprises 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 80 air circuit.

[0068] As shown in Figure 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 air under pressure. Preferably, the pump 83 does not suck in air and is not intended to actively participate in the deflation of the inflatable bodies 21G, 21D, 61D and 61G, in order to prevent the operating noise of the pump from misleading the user about the inflation or deflation phase of the inflatable bodies 21G, 21D, 61D and 61G.

[0070] Branch 81 connects pump 83 to high 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 high cells 20G and 20D, and which, opposite branch 81, opens into the open air. This exhaust line 87 is provided with a normally open valve 88 whose flow section when fully open is smaller than that of the normally closed valve 85. When inflating 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 actuates the pump 83 which then sends pressurized air to inflate the inflatable bodies 21G and 21D.When the inflatable bodies 21G and 21G are sufficiently inflated to embrace 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 coming from the high cells 20G and 20D to escape through the exhaust line 87. Thus, in the event of an incident, the nature of the valves of the 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 branch 81, but applied to the high cells 60G and 60D. Thus, branch 82 connects pump 83 to the low cells 60G and 60D and is provided with a normally closed valve 86. Branch 82 is associated with an exhaust line 88 of the air circuit 80, which is connected to branch 82 between the normally closed valve 86 and the low cells 60G and 60D, and which, opposite branch 82, opens into the open air. This exhaust line 89 is provided with a normally open valve 90 whose flow section when fully open is smaller than that of the normally closed valve 86. The control unit 84 ensures the operation in connection with branch 82 in a similar manner to that in connection with branch 81.

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

[0073] According to a particularly advantageous optional arrangement, the air circuit 80 comprises an exhaust line 93, which connects to the branch 81 between the valve 85 and the pump 83 and which also connects to the branch 82 between the valve 86 and the pump 83. Opposite the branches 81 and 82, the exhaust line 93 opens into the open air. The exhaust line 93 is provided with a normally closed valve 94, the flow section of which when fully open is greater than that of the normally open valves 88 and 90. In addition, the branch 81 comprises a pressure sensor 91, positioned between the normally closed valve 85 and the upper cells 20G and 20D. Similarly, the branch 82 comprises 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 21 D of the high cells 20G and 20D is then advantageously carried out in two successive phases. In an initial phase, the control unit 84 opens the valve 88 by deactivating it, without activating the normally closed valve 94, which allows the air coming from the high 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, which allows the air coming from the high cells 20G and 20D to also escape through the exhaust line 93. Since the flow section at full opening of the valves 94 and 85 is greater than that of the valve 88, the deflation of the inflatable bodies 21G and 21D is faster during the final phase than during the initial phase, which ensures complete deflation of the inflatable bodies 21G and 21D that is both rapid and efficient.The transition from the initial phase to the final phase is controlled by the control unit 84 based on the pressure measurement from the sensor 91: it has passed from the initial phase to the final phase when the pressure measured by the sensor 91 falls below a first predetermined threshold. Following similar considerations, the deflation of the inflatable bodies 61 G and 61 D of the high cells 60 G and 60 D can also be carried out in two successive phases. During this deflation, it has passed 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 aforementioned first threshold.

[0075] Any feature described above for one embodiment or variant is applicable to other embodiments and variants described above, as far as technically possible.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. 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 his thighs and the upper part of his body arranged between the two side walls, the frame defining: - an anteroposterior (AP) direction, which extends substantially horizontally and along which a front edge and a rear edge of the seat (14) are distributed, and - a plane of symmetry (P), which extends substantially vertically and parallel to the anteroposterior (AP) direction; - two low cells (60D, 60G), respectively left and right, which are substantially symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry (P), being respectively fixed to a lower part of the left side wall (13G) and to a lower part of the right side wall (13D), and which comprise inflatable bodies (61 D, 61 G), respectively left and right, 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, they embrace the pelvis and thighs of the user seated on the seat (14), the left inflatable body (61 G) being applied against the left thigh while the right inflatable body (61 D) is applied against the right thigh, and - are each adapted to, in the inflated state, expand, transversely to the plane of symmetry (P), progressively when the inflatable body (61 D, 61G) is moved 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 seated on the seat (14); - two high 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 side wall (13G) and to an upper part of the right side wall (13D), and which comprise inflatable bodies (21 D, 21G), respectively left and right, 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 (21 G) being applied against the left shoulder while the right inflatable body (21 D) is applied against the right shoulder of the torso, and - each form, in the inflated state, 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) ends, so as to receive and hold the corresponding shoulder of the user seated on the seat (14); and - a flexible covering (100) covering the upper (20D, 20G) and lower (60D, 60D) cells so as to be interposed between the user seated on the seat (14) and each of the upper and lower cells.

2. A hugging chair (1) according to claim 1, wherein each of the lower cells (60D, 60G) comprises: - 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 arranged at the rear end (63D) of the inflatable body (61 D, 61 G) of the lower cell while the second fixing tab (53D) is arranged at the front end (62D) of the inflatable body of the lower cell, and - a rear elastic (52D), which connects the first fixing tab (50D) to the associated side wall and which is suitable for: - when inflating the inflatable body of the lower cell, stretch under the effect of a shortening of the inflatable body in the anteroposterior (AP) direction, and - when deflating the inflatable body of the lower cell, recall the inflatable body in the anteroposterior direction.

3. A hugging chair (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the lower cells (60D, 60G) comprises two front tabs (51 D, 53D), which are arranged at the front end (62D) of the inflatable body (61 D, 61 G), and a front elastic band (54D), which connects the two front tabs (51 D, 53D) and which is adapted to, upon deflation of the inflatable body of the lower cell, pull the two front tabs towards each other so as to press the inflatable body of the lower cell.

4. A hugging chair (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein for each lower cell (60D, 60G), the inflatable body (61 D, 61 G) 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 low cell (60D, 60G), the inflatable body (61 D, 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) towards the front end (62D) of the inflatable body of the low cell, being secured directly to each other at the rear end (63D) of this inflatable body, while the third wall (66D) is secured 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 high cell (20D, 20G), the inflatable body (21 D, 21 G) comprises: - two walls (28D, 29D), which are opposite 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 (31 D), on either side of which, in the anteroposterior direction (AP), are located the front (23D) and rear (24D) ends of the inflatable body (21 D, 21 G) 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, in the inflated state of the inflatable body of the upper cell (20D; 20G), form the notch (25D) in the extension, transversely to the plane of symmetry (P), of the internal partition (31 D) at the level of which the spacing, transversely to the plane of symmetry (P), between said two walls (28D, 29D) is less than on either side, in the anteroposterior direction (AP), of the internal partition (31 D).

7. Hugging chair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein for each high cell (20D, 20G), the inflatable body (21 D, 21 G) comprises an upper end (26D) and a lower end (27D) and is adapted to, in the inflated state, expand, transversely to the plane of symmetry (P), progressively when the inflatable body is traversed 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 seated on the seat (14).

8. Hugging chair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising, for each high cell (20D, 20G), an elastic fixing means (110D) which: - connects the associated side wall (13D, 13G) and the flexible covering (110) to each other, - is located vertically above the high cell (20D, 20G), and - is adapted to be stretched during inflation of the inflatable body (21 D, 21G) of the upper cell and to recall the flexible covering (100) 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 preceding claim, further comprising an air circuit (80) comprising: - a pump (83), - a first branch (81), which connects the pump (83) to the high 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: - when deflating the inflatable bodies (21 D, 21G) of the high 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 the inflatable bodies (61 D, 61 G), the 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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