Human balance work stool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9833076-B2
Application number	US-201514856054-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2015
Priority date	Sep 16, 2014
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

Novel sit-stand seating devices, more particularly, to sit-stand seats or stools that can tilt forward to provide balanced support for seated to near-standing postures and methods of their use are disclosed. The sit-stand devices are useful, inter alia, to provide stabilized worker positioning to carry out a task for a range of sitting through standing postures in an environment associated with a task for a worker in need thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sit stand device, comprising:
a base having four legs;
a seat comprising a seat pan portion;
a seat post;
a lower seat post supporting member connected to the base;
an upper seat post supporting member;
a connecting member pivotably connected to the base and to the upper seat post supporting member; and two or more leg extension members each pivotably connected to:
the base: and
the upper seat post supporting member;

wherein:
the lower seat post supporting member defines an opening for pivotably supporting the seat post;
the upper seat post supporting member defines an opening for pivotably supporting the seat post, and

the connecting member defines an opening through which the seat post passes.

2. A sit stand device accordingly to claim 1 , wherein the seat further comprises a seat back portion.

3. A sit stand device accordingly to claim 2 , wherein the seat pan and seat back are provided as a continuous element.

4. A sit stand device accordingly to claim 2 , wherein the seat further comprises a sacral support member.

5. A sit stand device accordingly to claim 4 , wherein the sacral support member is pivotably attached to or embedded within the seat.

6. A sit stand device accordingly to claim 5 , wherein the sacral support member is pivotably attached to the seat.

7. A sit stand device accordingly to claim 1 , wherein the seat post is suspended within the device.

8. A sit stand device accordingly to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of spring loaded casters that support the device when it is unloaded.

9. A sit stand device accordingly to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of casters includes three casters spaced substantially equidistant from each other.

10. A sit stand device accordingly to claim 1 capable of maintaining the seat pan portion substantially horizontally while the seat post is tilted in a forward position.

11. A sit stand device accordingly to claim 1 , wherein the seat post is pneumatic.

12. A sit stand device accordingly to claim 1 , capable of returning itself to a more vertical position after a user removes himself from the device.

13. A sit stand device accordingly to claim 4 , wherein the sacral support member has a substantially trapezoidal shape, wherein the trapezoid's sides are longer than either the top side or the bottom side.

14. A sit stand device accordingly to claim 13 , wherein the sacral support member's top side is longer than its bottom side.

15. A method of providing stabilized worker positioning for a range of sitting through standing postures comprising:
providing a sit stand device in an environment associated with a task, the sit stand device comprising:
a base having four legs;
a seat comprising a seat pan portion;
a seat post;
a lower seat post supporting member connected to the base;
an upper seat post supporting member;
a connecting member pivotably connected to the base and to the upper seat post supporting member; and two or more leg extension members each pivotably connected to:
the base: and
the upper seat post supporting member;

wherein:
the lower seat post supporting member defines an opening for pivotably supporting the seat post;
the upper seat post supporting member defines an opening for pivotably supporting the seat post, and
the connecting member defines an opening through which the seat post passes;

sitting in the sit stand device; and
adjusting the positioning of one or more elements of the device to stabilize worker positioning for a posture required to carry out the task.

16. A sit stand device, comprising:
a base having four legs;
a seat comprising a seat pan portion, a seat back portion, and a sacral support member, wherein the seat pan and seat back are provided as a continuous element, and the sacral support member is pivotably attached to the seat;
a pneumatic seat post suspended within the device;
a lower seat post supporting member connected to the base;
an upper seat post supporting member;
a connecting member pivotably connected to the base and to the upper seat post supporting member;
three spring-loaded casters spaced substantially equidistant from each other that support the device when it is unloaded; and
two or more leg extension members each pivotably connected to:
the base: and
the upper seat post supporting member;

wherein:
the lower seat post supporting member defines an opening for pivotably supporting the seat post;
the upper seat post supporting member defines an opening for pivotably supporting the seat post;
the connecting member defines an opening through which the seat post passes;
the device is capable of maintaining the seat pan portion substantially horizontally while the seat post is tilted in a forward position; and
the device is capable of returning itself to a more vertical position after a user removes himself from the device.

Assignees

• Miller Herman Inc

Inventors

• Walker Brock
• Goetz Mark

Classifications

• A47C7/004

  for chairs or stools with central column, e.g. office chairs · CPC title

• A47C7/563 Primary

  provided with a back-rest moving with the seat · CPC title

• A47C9/025

  Stools for standing or leaning against, e.g. in a semi-standing or half-seated position · CPC title

• A47C9/005

  with forwardly inclined seat, e.g. with a knee-support · CPC title

• A47C9/002 Primary

  with exercising means or having special therapeutic or ergonomic effects · CPC title