Chairs and seats – Bottom or back – Contoured bottom
Patent
1993-12-22
1995-08-08
Brown, Peter R.
Chairs and seats
Bottom or back
Contoured bottom
5481, 5653, 29745221, A47C 718
Patent
active
054392705
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a static chair and has been devised particularly though not solely for a mass seating application.
BACKGROUND ART
In many mass seating situations such as concert halls, theatres, or opera chambers, individual seats on fixed bases are provided for the patrons. Such seats commonly have a shell supporting the seat and backrest portions and the seat portion may be designed to tip up to allow access along narrow rows.
The cushion and backrest on seats of this type are typically designed to suit an average person seated in an upright position. During long performances, it is common for patrons to become uncomfortable and/or restless and to slump in their seats into a position where the chair no longer provides the desirable anatomic support.
It is possible to overcome this problem using so-called dynamic seats which have adjustable seat and backrest portions but it is generally impossible or impractical to incorporate any form of dynamic seating in a fixed mass seating situation such as a concert chamber or theatre.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a static seat which will give some of the advantages of a dynamic seat, and comfortably support users of different sizes in either upright or slumped positions.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention therefore provides a seat having a cushion formed from resilient foam material comprising a base layer of foam of predetermined density and at least two zones of relatively low density foam inset into the upper face of the base layer, the first said zone being positioned so as to be located beneath the buttocks of a typical user seated in an upright position and the second said zone being positioned so as to be located beneath the buttocks of a typical user seated in a slumped position.
Preferably said zones are substantially oval in plan view having longer and shorter axes, the longer axis being orientated transversely across the cushion.
Preferably said first and second zones overlap one another.
Preferably the front edge of the cushion is formed from a region of foam having a lower density relative to the base layer foam.
Preferably the upper face of the front edge region is curved outwardly and downwardly from the upper face of the base layer.
Preferably the cushion further comprises at least one foundation layer of foam beneath the base layer, the foundation layer foam having a higher density than the base layer foam.
Preferably the seat incorporates a backrest formed from resilient foam material comprising a lumbar support region positioned so as to be located across the lumbar region of a typical user seated in an upright position, and a lower region located beneath the lumbar region, the lower region foam having a lower density than the lumbar support region foam.
Preferably the lumbar support region tapers in thickness upwardly from the lumbar region of a typical user and is overlaid by an upper back support region which tapers in thickness downwardly from the top of the backrest, the upper back support region foam having a lower density than the lumbar support region foam.
Preferably the forward face of the backrest is generally concave in horizontally section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within its scope, on preferred form of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a static theatre seat according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective partial view of the cushion of the seat shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 2A is a transverse cross-section through the foundation layer of the cushion in the region under the soft zones;
FIG. 3 is a vertical section through the cushion shown in FIG. 2, showing a long legged user seated on the cushion;
FIG. 4 is a similar view to FIG. 3 showing a short legged user seated on the cushion;
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the backrest portion of the seat shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6
REFERENCES:
patent: 3503649 (1970-03-01), Johnson
patent: 3642323 (1972-02-01), Taylor
patent: 3751111 (1973-08-01), Taylor et al.
patent: 3987507 (1976-10-01), Hall
patent: 4522447 (1985-06-01), Snyder et al.
patent: 4696516 (1987-09-01), Yeum
patent: 4726086 (1988-02-01), McEvoy
patent: 4835801 (1989-06-01), Walpin et al.
patent: 4837881 (1989-06-01), Kondo et al.
patent: 5085488 (1992-02-01), Dal Monte
Patents Abstracts of Japan, M1181, p. 14, JP, A, 3-193540 (Delta Togyo K.K.) 23 Aug. 1991.
LandOfFree
Static chair does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Static chair, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Static chair will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-967113