HK1189142B - Resistive support mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Resistance support mechanism

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application No.61/417,258 filed on 25/2010 and U.S. provisional application No.61/475,010 filed on 13/2011, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to the field of control and support mechanisms, and more particularly to a resistive support mechanism, preferably for a chair.

Background

Various motion control and support devices are known in the art for controlling and supporting tilting and/or rotational motion. Common prior art examples may be found in chairs, such as office chairs that provide a variety of options for adjusting the tilt of the chair or limiting the degree to which a user of the chair can adjust and/or control the movement of the chair. A common example is an office chair with various degrees of freedom and range of motion aimed at providing mobility, flexibility and optimal ergonomic positioning with minimal dynamic activity. A problem associated with this prior art ergonomic design is that it allows for individual coordination, but is rarely readjusted as it should be, so the user sits stationary in a fixed position for a long time while sitting at the desk. For example, these chairs are able to swivel, tilt flexibly in a limited fore-aft plane, and raise and lower according to the user's requirements. Various mechanisms have been proposed or are known in the art to provide some of the above features. There are conventional adjustable chairs that can be adjusted, for example, by the height, angle, etc. of the chair by means of several independent adjustment devices. Additionally, actively-adjusted chairs provide multi-directional adjustment based on the seating position of the user. Some of the problems associated with prior art systems include the complexity of the mechanisms involved, the difficulty of operation, and the lack of hydraulic control of the tilt and/or swivel movement of the chair.

In addition, other resistive support devices have been used where control and damping of the effective motion is more important, or where temporary motion is desired. These include, for example, construction worker supports, small support equipment, and training equipment. In the case of training devices, the prior art support devices aim at providing resistance against the user's movements while the user is trying to maintain a constant position or participate in the training activity. The resistive support devices in this example generally aim to improve the central strength of the user.

The various prior art devices are substantially limited in the range of motion they support and the resistance they exert. That is, the resistive support is only provided for a small range of motion. Furthermore, prior art devices and mechanisms for providing such resistive support are generally not easily adaptable to different applications and do not provide variable resistance throughout a range of motion. Further, in the case of resistive support apparatus provided on a chair, such resistive support apparatus has heretofore been inadequate to provide central support and reinforcement for a user positioned on the chair, and has not provided a full range of resistive support throughout the full range of tilt and swivel motion. Some of the disadvantages of these prior art designs include the need for the pivot point for the movement to be located a substantial distance below the user's center of gravity, thereby requiring the user to tilt their body more to mobilize their pelvic and lower back skeletal structure to significantly minimize their effect on the active seating surface. Some examples of these prior art devices include those shown in U.S. patent No.7,547,067 to Keilhauer and U.S. patent No.6,997,511 to Marchand.

One such example of a prior art chair having a resistive support mechanism is shown in Thole et al, U.S. patent No.6,209,958 issued on 4/3 2001. Thole discloses one way to implement a tilt control mechanism on a seating assembly. However, Thole mechanisms do not allow for full adaptability of the full range of positions or degrees of resistance in which the chair can be locked while providing universal recline. Thole discloses a tilt control mechanism for a chair wherein the tilt control mechanism defines a pivotal connection between a seat assembly and a base where the seat assembly pivots about a pivot point in virtually any direction extending radially from the pivot point. The tilt control mechanism includes an annular elastomeric ring that resists multidirectional tilting and further biases the seat assembly to a neutral position by a spring effect that mimics a resistive force. The elastomeric ring has a contact area on which the tilting moment of the seat assembly acts, which can be selectively varied to adjust the tilting resistance. Thus, Thole's mechanisms tend to be large and bulky, where a wide variety of resistances are required. Furthermore, the features provided for proper support of the central muscle in the user's body are not discussed in Thole. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a tilt mechanism for a chair or other support surface that addresses at least one of the shortcomings of the Thole patent.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel resistive support mechanism for a surface designed to support a user, such as a chair.

Disclosure of Invention

According to one embodiment of the invention, a resistance motion support mechanism, such as for a chair, is provided that is connected to a mounting surface and a base for providing resistance support to the mounting surface when the mounting surface undergoes one or both of rotational and tilting motion relative to the base. The movement support mechanism includes: a support bearing connected to the mounting surface and the base that allows one or both of tilting and rotational movement of the mounting surface relative to the base; the apparatus includes a pivot ball fixedly attached to a portion of the base, and a resistance cartridge (cartridge) fixedly connected to the mounting surface such that the resistance cartridge experiences movement relative to the base and exerts a resistance force on the base when the mounting surface experiences the one or both of rotational and tilting movement. The resistance cartridge preferably includes a cartridge housing and a resilient member in contacting relationship with the pivot ball and with a wall of the housing such that the resilient member is compressed by relative movement between the resistance cartridge and the pivot ball, thereby providing resistive support to the mounting surface.

According to one aspect of the invention, the elastic member is preferably selected from the group consisting of an elastomeric ring, a silicone member, a damping gel, a viscoelastic body, a bonded damping material, and combinations thereof.

According to another aspect of the invention, the pivot ball includes an integral, rigid extension element, and the resilient member is in contacting relationship with the rigid extension element and with the wall of the housing.

According to another aspect of the invention, the elastic member comprises one or more gels in contacting relationship with each other.

According to another aspect of the invention, the one or more gels are preferably a first gel in contact with the first resilient member and a second gel in contact with the first gel and the wall of the housing; wherein the second gel has a higher density than the first gel.

According to another aspect of the invention, the resilient member is adapted to bias the mounting surface to the home position.

According to another aspect of the invention, wherein the housing of the resistance cartridge includes a bearing surface for receiving at least a portion of the support bearing.

According to another aspect of the invention, means are also provided for locking the resistance cartridge in a position in which the mounting surface has undergone movement relative to the base.

According to another aspect of the invention there is also provided a rigid plate connected to the underside of the resilient member, wherein the rigid plate has a surface with a plurality of locking elements located on the surface of the distal end of the resilient member, and wherein the means for locking comprises a locking pad having a surface of a complementary locking element adapted to contact the plurality of locking elements on the rigid plate.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a brake lever for bringing and removing a locking pad into and out of contact with a rigid plate.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is further provided a projecting element extending from the support bearing, the resistance cartridge further comprising a locking surface for receiving the projecting element; wherein the locking surface provides an area of contact with a protruding element adapted to be brought into a friction fit contact relationship with the protruding element upon actuation of the means for locking.

According to another aspect of the invention, the means for locking comprises an adjustment lever adapted to bring the locking surface into friction-fitting contact with the protruding element.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the locking surface is provided on a portion of the housing of the resistance cartridge and the adjustment lever comprises a height adjustment lever adapted to raise and lower portions of the housing into and out of frictional engagement.

According to another aspect of the invention, the locking surface also limits the movement of the protruding element such that the maximum tilting range around the support bearing is about 14 degrees.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a means for varying the resistance.

According to another aspect of the invention, the means for varying the resistance comprises means for varying the distance between the support bearing and the pivot ball to functionally attach the pivot ball at a variable position on the base.

According to another aspect of the invention, the means for varying the distance comprises a spring located within the housing and adapted to exert a force on the resistance cartridge.

According to another aspect of the invention, the housing includes two or more stepped notches vertically offset from one another, the resistance bar being movable between each of the two or more stepped notches to vary the effective length of the spring.

According to another aspect of the invention, the stepped notches are also horizontally offset from each other to facilitate movement of the resistance bar between each of the notches.

According to another aspect of the invention, the means for varying the resistance comprises means for varying the contact area on the base on which the resistance cartridge exerts the resistance to thereby vary the resistance.

According to another aspect of the invention, the means for varying the contact area comprises a vertical position adjustment mechanism effective to increase or decrease the distance between the support bearing and the pivot ball to thereby vary the distance between the point of contact of the resistance and the point about which the tilting motion causes the resistance to be applied to the base to vary.

According to another aspect of the invention, the mounting surface is adapted to mount a base of a seat thereon, the base comprising a base of a chair.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a chair is provided having a chair base, a seat mounted on a mounting surface, and a motion support mechanism as described herein, the chair base being integral with the base of the motion support mechanism.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a chair is provided having a seat, a base, and a motion support mechanism coupled to the base and the seat. The motion support mechanism provides resistive support to the seat when the seat undergoes one or both of rotational and tilting motion relative to the base. The movement support mechanism includes: a support bearing connected to the seat and the base that allows one or both of tilting and rotational movement of the seat relative to the base; a pivot ball sized to be fixedly attached to a portion of the base; and a resistance cartridge fixedly connected to the seat such that the resistance cartridge experiences movement relative to the base and exerts a resistance force on the base when the seat experiences the one or both of rotational movement and tilting movement. The resistance cartridge preferably includes a housing and a resilient member in contacting relationship with the pivot ball and with a wall of the housing such that the resilient member is compressed by relative movement between the resistance cartridge and the pivot ball, thereby providing resistive support to the seat.

Drawings

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a user seated in a chair employing a resistance motion support mechanism according to the present invention.

Fig. 2A and 2B are a top view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a resistance motion support mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3A and 3B are a sectional view and a side view, respectively, illustrating a resistance varying device according to an aspect of the present invention.

Fig. 4A and 4B are a sectional view and a side view, respectively, showing a resistance varying device according to another aspect of the present invention.

Fig. 5A and 5B are a plan view and a sectional view, respectively, showing a locking device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6A and 6B are detailed views showing a portion of fig. 5B when the locking device is in the locked position and the unlocked position, respectively.

Fig. 7A and 7B are sectional views of an alternative locking device in an unlocked position and a locked position, respectively.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a resistive support mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9A and 9B are top and cross-sectional views of another embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig. 10A, 10B and 10C are a top view, a cross-sectional view and an exploded view, respectively, of another embodiment according to the present invention including a height adjustment device.

Fig. 11 and 12 are detailed views of elements of the locking device of fig. 5.

Fig. 13A and 13B illustrate a chair undergoing a tilting motion according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

The preferred embodiments of the present invention described below teach a motion support mechanism that is capable of providing resistive support and that is equivalent to alternately acting as a motion support mechanism and a resistive motion support mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is applied to chairs, such as office chairs. The resistive support mechanism described herein assists in providing the additional benefit of increasing the central strength of the user on the chair and mobilizing the joints of the pelvis and vertebrae, thereby, for example, preventing contractures and atrophy of the supporting soft tissues, and in fact, enhancing the durability of the associated supporting musculature around these joints to counter potential back pain and injury due to prolonged sitting by enabling the user to continuously oppose the rotational movement of the ball. This ability to affect continuous and/or dynamic motion also assists in improving blood circulation and redistribution of seating pressure to reduce pressure points directly related to the seating comfort of the user.

Some embodiments of the invention also enable the user to limit this movement by increasing/decreasing the resistance and/or locking the system in the desired position. For example, one such desired position would enable a user to sit with their knees lower than their hips to promote a more upright pelvis and natural extension and balance of the spine. The present invention also allows for a gentle (mil) fit to alleviate orthopedic abnormalities that lower the individual's buttocks, for example, sitting on one side relative to the other, in order to allow the spine to be upright on a horizontal fixation surface, the spine will be changed to be upright, further complicating spinal balance and alignment, pain, and injury. These features may also be advantageously used to accommodate other factors that affect proper pelvic positioning, such as a bursa that may tend to cause similar uneven positioning of the pelvis.

In addition, the motion support mechanism as described herein may be applied to other seating devices, such as dentist's chairs, laboratory stools, car seats, mahjongg chairs, lounge chairs such as wooden cross-bars, amusement park ride chairs, child school stools, and similar devices that would be beneficial in providing resistive support to a user. Other applications include equipment intended to support a user in an upright position, such as a structural support surface or stand. In the case of a dental hygienist using the chair of the hygienist, for example, when the user arrives to perform their task, the free movement of the seat through the motion support mechanism prevents acceleration of forces through the lower lumbar region of the user, thereby mitigating the potential for sprains associated with such movement, which helps to mitigate pain and injuries that the user may experience while sitting on a fixed level seating surface.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a user 10 is shown seated in a chair 15. According to the present invention, the chair 15 may include a seat 20, a back 25, a base 30, and a resistive support mechanism 40 (not shown in FIG. 1) within a housing 60. A link 45 is provided on the housing 60 between the housing 60 and the seating portion 20 for attaching the seat thereto. Fig. 2A shows a top view of the housing 60 and the connecting piece 45. The connector 45 is adapted to mount the seat of the chair on the chair and may be referred to herein alternatively as a mounting surface. The chair 15 may also include various other elements known in the art including, but not limited to, a height adjustment mechanism, armrests, and various other adjustment devices that are otherwise unrelated to the resistive support mechanism described herein. For clarity, in the following description, reference to a vertical axis refers to an axis that coincides with the cylindrical axis of the base 30. Reference to a horizontal axis refers to an axis perpendicular to a vertical axis. Furthermore, reference to tilting and/or rotational movement has its general meaning, wherein tilting movement refers to rotation about a horizontal axis and rotational movement refers to rotation about a vertical axis. This specification also describes the elements of the invention necessary to put the invention into practice and also sets forth preferred embodiments as contemplated by the invention. However, the various hardware and general mechanical elements to be used for assembling the mechanism or chair according to the invention may not be illustrated, but are considered to be within the abilities of those skilled in the art. Fig. 13A and 13B illustrate the chair 15 showing two degrees of freedom in its motion as provided by the resistive support mechanism 40 of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2B, one embodiment of a resistive support mechanism according to the present invention is shown that includes a support bearing 50 connected to the mounting surface 45 and the base 30. The support bearing 50 allows for one or both of tilting and rotational movement of the mounting surface 45 relative to the base 30. The base 30 may include a shoulder 32 that is friction fit into the support bearing 50 such that the base 30 does not move relative to the support bearing 50. The mounting surface 45 is free to tilt or rotate relative to the support bearing 50 such that the support bearing 50 allows one or more of rotational or tilting movement of the mounting surface 45 relative to the base 30. The housing 60 is the main body of support for the mounting surface 45, the housing 60 preferably including posts to secure the seating surface to a mechanism preferably arranged to include all or most of the elements of the resistive support mechanism within it. Preferably, the housing 60 also includes a bearing surface 75 for receiving at least a portion of the support bearing 50. The surfaces of the support bearing 50 and the support surface 75 will be arranged so that there is minimal friction between these surfaces so that movement on the support bearing 50 is relatively unconstrained. The housing 60 preferably extends directly from the mounting surface 45 and is integrally formed with the mounting surface 45. The function of the bearings and bearing surfaces is basically known in the art and will not be described further herein. The present invention also contemplates the use of functional alternatives to bearings and bearing surfaces that provide the full two degrees of freedom of motion enabled by the support bearing 50 and bearing surface 75.

The pivot ball 55 is positioned on a portion of the base 30. As will be explained below, the pivot ball 55 has a resistance providing means acting thereon to provide resistance support to the mechanism. Various ways of implementing the resistance providing means are contemplated. The resistance providing means is preferably implemented by a resistance cartridge 40 acting on the pivot ball 55. In this way, the resistive and/or damping forces are applied perpendicular to the vertical plane of the mounting surface 45, resulting in a more stable and controlled ride compared to prior art devices. For example, the aforementioned entire patent enables an elastic material disposed therein to undergo various compression and torsional forces, resulting in various compression and torsional forces being applied to the elastic material.

In the embodiment of fig. 2B, the resistance cartridge 40 is fixedly connected to the mounting surface 45, thereby enabling the resistance cartridge 40 to undergo tilting and/or rotational movement relative to the base 30 and to exert a resistive force on the base 30 as the resistance cartridge 40, and thus the mounting surface 45, undergoes relative movement relative to the base 30. The resistance cartridge 40 provides the core function of the resistive support mechanism of the present invention. In this embodiment, the resistance cartridge 40 includes, among other things, a resilient member 65b, a pivot ball 55, and a cartridge housing 70. The resilient member 65b is disposed in contacting relationship with the pivot ball 55 via the extension member 65a and in contacting relationship with the cartridge housing wall 70 of the resistance cartridge 40 such that, in operation, the resilient member 65 is compressed by relative movement between the resistance cartridge 40 and the pivot ball 55. Preferably, pivot ball 55 has a snug but sliding interface with extension member 65 a. When the mounting surface 45 is tilted, the resilient material 65b is compressed between the wall 70 and the extension member 65 a. Preferably, the extension member 65a is formed of a rigid material that forms a loop around the pivot ball 55 and thereby extends radially outward toward the wall 70. The sliding interface between the extension member 65a and the pivot ball 55 enables the entire mounting surface 45 to tilt, while the resilient member 65b provides a damping feature that prevents unrestricted movement of the mounting surface 45 and allows smooth movement over a maximum range of movement to thereby provide resistive support to the mounting surface 45 and any object attached thereto, such as the seat 20 (fig. 1).

The elastic member 65b is preferably selected from an elastomeric ring, silicone, gel, a series of rubber elements and any similar material known to have damping properties or to be able to resist relative movement when compressed or subjected to forces. It is also contemplated that combinations of resilient members may be employed to vary the resistance applied across the effective range of motion. For example, the resilient member 65b may include a first resilient member in contacting relationship with the extension element 65a and a second resilient member in contacting relationship with the wall 70. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the elastic member 65b is a viscoelastic material bonded to the wall 70 and to the extension element 65 a. The use of viscoelastic materials provides a damping effect where the material deforms, absorbs and distributes more load as the material is compressed and slowly recovers when the load is removed. The result is that when resistive support mechanism 40 returns to the home position, the movement back to the home position is dampened and controlled based on the material properties. The use of viscoelastic materials enables the rate of resistance to be weighted, making the flow characteristics of the elastic member more pronounced, thus providing increased damping. That is, when a load is applied and thus a hysteresis effect is observed, the viscoelastic material has an effect of exhibiting viscous and elastic characteristics.

The wall 70 of the resistance cartridge 40 includes an outer surface that is vertically slidable within the housing 60 to thereby allow the resistance cartridge 40 to have its vertical position adjusted within the housing 60, as will be described in further detail below. In a preferred embodiment, the elastic member 65b is a viscoelastic ring, the extension element 65a is a ring-shaped rigid material, and the extension element 65a is hinged to the pivot ball 55 and radiates outward to compress the elastic member 65b with damping properties. It is also contemplated that the second resilient member may be provided to include a plurality of gels in contact with each other and/or with the leading edge of the extension member 65 a. Where a plurality of gels are included, it is preferred that gels further away from the pivot ball 55 will have a higher density than those closer to the pivot ball 55, although variations thereon are within the scope of the invention. This allows the resistance to tilt to be greater as the degree of tilt increases.

Furthermore, the provision of the resilient member 65 as described herein enables the mounting surface 45 and the seat 20 mounted thereon to be biased towards an original position without tilting or rotating due to the pre-compression of the resilient member 65. Thus, if a user seated in the chair leans in one direction and is supported there by the illustrated resistive support mechanism, and then stands, the chair will return to the unbiased original position.

According to an aspect of the present invention, means are provided for varying the resistance force acting on the pivot ball 55. This allows the resistance force applied by the resistance cartridge to be increased or decreased depending on, for example, the resistance support mechanism or the intended use of the user. In the case of a chair, a larger user may require more resistance than a small size user. In addition, regardless of size, the user may wish to have more or less resistance, which will enable the user to be more likely to restore the core musculature to affect the training phenomenon, and to have the opportunity to mobilize the user's pelvic and spinal area and/or reduce the forces acting on the sitting supporting soft tissues and joints in question, as the user may be required to make repetitive movements as best shown by the work of the dental hygienist as an example. In the illustrated embodiment of fig. 2B, the means for varying the resistance comprises a spring 80 compressed between a bottom area 85 of the housing 60 and an underside 95 of the resistance cartridge 40. To vary the force applied to thereby vary the resistance in the resistance cartridge, a resistance bar 90 is preferably provided that is functionally attached to the attachment plate 95. The resistance bar 90 is adapted to be movable to change the position of the attachment plate 95, and thus the resistance cartridge 40, relative to the base 30 under the urging of the spring 80. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the position of the resistance cartridge 40 relative to the base 30, i.e., how far the resistance cartridge 40 acts above the base 30, depends on the effective resistance force applied by the resistance cartridge 40 since the point of tilt/rotation is fixed. That is, the effective distance between the pivot ball 55 and the support bearing 50 is dependent upon the resistance force applied by the resistance cartridge 40. Referring to fig. 3A and 3B, a spring 80 (not shown for ease of illustration) is used to bias the underside 95 of the resistance cartridge 40 within the housing 60, and all components therein, to a highest vertical position, as indicated by the position of the locking pin 100 within the helix 102. In this embodiment, the position of pin 100 along the pitch of helix 102 may be set by adjusting saddle 108 by moving resistance bar 90 within the pitch of helix 102. It should be noted that the spirals 102 are disposed on both sides of the resistance cartridge 40, with one side including the pitch within which the rod 90 moves and the other side including the corresponding pitch within which the pins 100 are disposed to secure the other side within the corresponding pitch. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there is more resistance in the system when the pin 100 is at a lower pitch within the helix 102, since the resistance cartridge 40 is away from the point of rotation/tilt.

Various other embodiments and embodiments of the invention are described below, however, the principle of operation is to have a support bearing and pivot ball arranged as described above. Furthermore, means for varying the resistance by varying the distance between the pivot ball on which the resilient material acts and the support bearing are preferably provided. Referring now to fig. 4A and 4B, a variation of the means for varying the resistance is shown in which a spring 400 acts on the underside 405 of the collet housing 410 to bias the collet housing 410 to the uppermost position in a similar manner as described with reference to fig. 3. However, in this embodiment, the height of the cartridge housing is limited by the position of the rod stop 415 within the series of pitches 420. The rod 425 is movable so that the rod stop 415 can be placed at the desired pitch 420. Thus, the spring 400 exerts an upward force on the resistance cartridge 440 such that the resistance cartridge 440 is positioned at a location that is limited by a particular pitch in the series of pitches 420 in which the rod stop 415 is positioned.

According to another aspect of the invention, means are also provided for locking the resistance cartridge 40 in any position in which the mounting surface 45 has undergone movement relative to the base. Such a locking arrangement provides the benefit of enabling a seat or other equipment mounted on the mounting surface 45 to be locked in place and thereby preventing the mechanism from returning to its original position. The different embodiments of the means for locking described herein allow locking in any predetermined incremental position or at a free-floating position. The inclusion of a means for locking may be of particular benefit where the resistive support mechanism is configured in an environment where it may not always be beneficial for the resistive function to be activated or alternatively to provide an additional function where the mechanism may be locked in any position of tilt or rotation during use.

Referring to fig. 5A, 5B and 6A, 6B, an embodiment of a locking device according to the present invention is shown. The resistance support mechanism of this embodiment includes a rigid plate 500 positioned on the underside of the extension member 565 within the resistance cartridge. The rigid plate 500 has a surface with a plurality of locking elements 505, the plurality of locking elements 505 being located on a surface distal to a contact surface with the extension member 565. To lock the resistive support mechanism in place, a locking pad 510 having complementary surfaces of a locking element 535 (shown in fig. 12) is provided and adapted to contact the plurality of locking elements 505 of the rigid plate 500. When the locking element 505 is engaged with the complementary locking element 535, the tilting and/or rotational movement is further prevented. An exemplary embodiment of a rigid plate 500 having a plurality of locking elements 505 is shown in fig. 11. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of locking elements 505 are disposed on the underside of the rigid plate by raised surfaces 530, as shown. A corresponding locking pad 510 is shown in fig. 12, the locking pad 510 having a ridged protrusion 535 that may be in and out of contact with a raised surface 530 of the rigid plate 500. The surfaces described as locking elements may also take on a variety of alternative shapes and materials and combinations that provide similar locking features. Can be used in a similar manner as described aboveOne example of an alternative locking washer and locking element of (a) is an example of what is known as a closeable fastener, such as that manufactured by 3M^TMUnder the trade name DualLock^TMThe product for sale.

Other locking devices contemplated include systems like bicycle disc brakes, multi-layer compression plates and rotors, and gaskets, all of which may be applied to the present invention in a manner similar to that described below, preferably the locking device of the present invention can be actuated in any predetermined increment or at any engagement point, as will be possible in the various embodiments described herein.

Referring back to fig. 5B, the brake lever 525 is provided adapted to raise and lower the locking pad 510, for example, by a twisting motion of an actuating cam mechanism, to thereby bring the complementary locking element 535 of the locking pad 510 into and out of contact with the raised surface 530 of the rigid plate 500. Referring to the details of fig. 12, one embodiment of a means for adjusting the brake lever 525 to raise and lower in this manner is the provision of an angled slot 540 sized and dimensioned to frictionally fit with the brake lever 525. Sliding the brake lever 525 in an upwardly inclined direction will bring the locking pad 510 into contact with the raised surface 530, while sliding the brake lever 525 in a downwardly inclined direction will disengage the locking pad 510 from the raised surface 530. The angle of the slot and the dimensions of the slot and the brake lever 525 will be determined in such a way that the brake lever requires a minimum force to actuate a force greater than that applied during operation, thereby preventing accidental movement of the brake lever 525.

Having thus described a presently preferred embodiment of the invention comprising a resistance cartridge and optional means for varying the resistance and for locking the motion support mechanism in a particular position, various alternatives will now be described. In particular, the alternatives relate to alternative means for varying the resistance and/or for locking the movement support mechanism. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to a particular combination of embodiments of the resistance cartridge, the means for varying the resistance, and the means for locking in the combination as described. The invention, which is limited only by the claims at the end of the specification, contemplates combinations of the resistance cartridge, the means for varying the resistance, and the means for locking described herein. In the following description, elements common to the above description are not described in further detail, and operations related thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Referring now to fig. 7A and 7B, an embodiment of the invention is shown in which the support bearing 750 includes one, and preferably two, support tabs 705. The resistance cartridge preferably includes a locking surface 710 that provides a corresponding area of contact with the support tab 705 that is adapted to form a friction fit contact relationship with the tab 705 upon actuation of the means for locking. To actuate the lock, the adjustment lever 715 is configured to move the resistance cartridge to a position where its motion is locked. The adjustment lever 715 is adapted to impart rotational movement by rotating the support tab 705 into contacting relation with the locking surface 710. Fig. 8 shows a resistance cartridge according to this embodiment. The lever 715 may be rotated about a generally horizontal axis to allow movement of the lever 715, and then rotated about a generally horizontal axis to engage the locking feature as described above. In this way, the locking mechanism, i.e., lever 715, can be activated and deactivated by rotation about a horizontal axis as desired by the user, and can be used to perform locking by rotation about a vertical axis. Also shown in fig. 8 is a force adjustment lever 720 for raising or lowering a resistance cartridge to change the portion of the base 725 that acts on the portion of the base 725 to change the resistance in the motion support mechanism, as described above. In practice, the locking device as described and illustrated with respect to fig. 7 and 8 may have a maximum tilt range of about ± 14 degrees around the support bearing.

It has been found that adjusting the resistive support mechanism according to the present invention to have a tilt range of about fourteen degrees allows for effective deployment of the joint involving reasonable constraints that optimize the range of motion and ensure safety considerations.

Referring now to fig. 9A and 9B, another embodiment of a locking device according to the present invention is shown. The locking arrangement of fig. 9A and 9B includes a locking swivel ball 905 positioned above a resistance cartridge 910. The locking swivel ball 905 is generally configured as a swivel ball as described herein about which the motion support mechanism of the present invention can tilt and/or rotate. The lower locking surface disc 915 is disposed in such a manner as to make frictional contact with the locking swivel ball 905. This is generally accomplished by raising or lowering the lock body 920 into and out of contact with the housing body 925 to provide an offset distance between the lock body 920 and the housing body 925. This movement also transfers the load to the locking surface 930 on the underside of the locking body 935 on the top side 940 of the rotating disk 915. Surfaces 930 and 940 have concentric ridges to provide additional locking force. These surfaces may include a rubber grip layer that deforms when the surfaces are brought into contact to provide additional locking. The locking bar 950 is provided to engage and disengage the lock. This may be accomplished, for example, by rotating the locking lever 950 about a vertical axis such that the rotation causes the locking body 920 to be moved vertically to engage or disengage the lock.

Referring to fig. 10A, 10B and 10C, another embodiment of the invention is shown that includes a support bearing 1050 connected to a mounting surface 1045 and a base 1030. The support bearing 1050 allows for one or both of tilting and rotational movement of the mounting surface 1045 relative to the base 1030. The base 1030 does not move relative to the support bearing 1050. The mounting surface 1045 is thus free to tilt or rotate relative to the support bearing 1050 such that the support bearing 1050 allows one or more of rotational and tilting movement of the mounting surface 1045 relative to the base 1030. A housing 1060 with a mounting surface 1045, which may include a post 1046 to secure the seating surface to the mechanism and extend therefrom, is preferably provided to include all or most of the elements of the resistance support mechanism within the resistance cartridge 1040 therein. Preferably, the housing 1060 also includes a support surface 1075 for receiving at least a portion of the support bearing 1050.

A pivot ball 1055 in the resistance cartridge 1040 is positioned on a portion of the base 1030. As described with respect to the previous embodiments of the invention, the resistance applied is varied by allowing the distance between the pivot ball 1055 and the support bearing 1050 to be varied by adjusting the position on the base 1030 on which the pivot ball 1055 acts. Extension element 1063 is a rigid element extending from pivot ball 1055 upon which resilient member 1065 acts. As shown, the resilient member 1065 is compressed between the extension element 1063 and the wall of the resistance cartridge 1040 to provide resistance to tilting and/or rotation.

In this embodiment, a cable 1005 is provided that is adapted to raise or lower the position of the seat or other surface on top of the mounting surface that is susceptible to resistive movement of the resistance cartridge 1010 relative to the base 1015. Cable 1005 may be stretched by the action of lever 1020 rotating about a vertical axis. Cable 1005 may be disposed within the cable duct as shown to prevent damage to the cable. According to the present invention, rotation of the lever 1020 about a vertical axis releases and distributes a length of cable 1005 to actuate a cylinder on top of the base 1015, which causes the cylinder to move up and down. Various other hardware elements are shown in the figures, but are not described as they are provided for ease of installation or have been described with respect to previous embodiments of the invention.

The above-described embodiments are intended to be examples of the present invention, and alterations and modifications may be effected thereto, by those of skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto. For example, various materials may be used to provide the elastomeric rings or gels in the resistance cartridge described above. Furthermore, other means of providing damping and/or resistance properties than by such materials may be envisaged, such as springs. Further, other means for varying the resistance applied are also contemplated. The presently preferred embodiments as described herein are considered to be illustrative of applicants' invention. Similarly, other means for locking the support mechanism of the present invention are also contemplated.

It has also been found that the support bearing of the present invention is located directly below and close to the user's center of gravity, providing the unexpected benefit of more sensitively affecting the articulation of the user's joint than prior art mechanisms. The prior art active seating solutions have pivot points away from the user, resulting in greater tilting of the user's entire body rather than mobilization of critical joints.

Claims (20)

1. A resistive motion support mechanism connected to a mounting surface and a base for providing resistive support to the mounting surface when the mounting surface undergoes one or both of rotational and tilting motion relative to the base, the motion support mechanism comprising:

a support bearing connected to the mounting surface and the base, the support bearing allowing one or both of tilting and rotational movement of the mounting surface relative to the base;

a pivot ball functionally attached to a portion of the base; and the number of the first and second groups,

a resistance cartridge fixedly connected to the mounting surface such that the resistance cartridge experiences movement relative to the base and exerts a resistance force on the base when the mounting surface experiences the one or both of rotational movement and tilting movement;

wherein the resistance cartridge comprises:

a chuck housing; and the number of the first and second groups,

a resilient member in contacting relationship with the pivot ball and with the wall of the housing such that the resilient member is compressed by relative movement between the resistance cartridge and the pivot ball, thereby providing resistive support to the mounting surface;

and wherein said motion support mechanism further comprises means for varying said resistance, wherein said means for varying said resistance comprises means for varying the distance between said support bearing and said pivot ball to functionally attach said pivot ball at a variable position on said base.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is selected from the group consisting of an elastomeric ring, a silicone member, a damping gel, a viscoelastic body, a bonded damping material, and combinations thereof.

3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said pivot ball includes a rigid extension element and said resilient member is in contacting relationship with said rigid extension element and said wall of said housing.

4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the resilient member comprises one or more gels in contacting relationship with each other.

5. The mechanism of claim 4, wherein the one or more gels include a first gel in contact with a rigid extension element of the pivot ball and a second gel in contact with the first gel and the wall of the housing, wherein the second gel has a higher density than the first gel.

6. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the resilient member is adapted to bias the mounting surface to an original position.

7. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a rigid plate connected to an underside of the resilient member, wherein the rigid plate has a surface with a plurality of locking elements on a surface of the resilient member distal end, and wherein the means for locking comprises a locking pad having a surface of a complementary locking element adapted to contact the plurality of locking elements on the rigid plate.

8. The mechanism of claim 7, further comprising a brake lever for moving the locking pad into and out of contact with the rigid plate.

9. The mechanism of claim 7, further comprising a protruding element extending from the support bearing, and the resistance cartridge further comprises a locking surface for receiving the protruding element; wherein the locking surface provides an area of contact with the protruding element adapted to be in a friction fit contact relationship with the protruding element upon actuation of the means for locking.

10. A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said means for locking comprises an adjustment lever adapted to bring said locking surface into said friction fit contact with said protruding element.

11. A mechanism according to claim 10, wherein said locking surface is provided on a portion of said housing of said resistance cartridge and said adjustment lever comprises a lever adapted to rotate said portion of said housing into and out of said frictional engaging contact relationship.

12. A mechanism according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the locking surface also limits the movement of the projecting element such that the maximum range of tilt about the support bearing is ± 14 degrees.

13. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the means for varying the distance comprises a spring located within the housing and adapted to exert a force on the resistance cartridge.

14. A mechanism according to claim 13, wherein the spring is disposed on the interior of the housing between a bottom wall of the housing and an underside of the resistance cartridge.

15. The mechanism of claim 14, further comprising a resistance rod in functional relationship with said spring; the resistance bar is movable to vary the effective length of the spring and thereby vary the force exerted by the spring on the elastic member.

16. The mechanism of claim 15, wherein the housing includes two or more stepped notches vertically offset from one another, and wherein the resistance bar is movable between each of the two or more stepped notches to change the effective length of the spring.

17. The mechanism of claim 16, wherein said stepped notches are further horizontally offset from each other to facilitate movement of said resistance bar between each of said notches.

18. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the means for varying the resistance force comprises means for varying the position of a contact region on the base on which the resistance cartridge exerts the resistance force to thereby vary the resistance force.

19. A mechanism according to claim 18 wherein the means for varying the area of contact comprises a vertical position adjustment mechanism effective to increase or decrease the distance between the support bearing and the pivot ball to thereby vary the distance between the point of contact of the resistive force and the point about which the tilting motion causes the resistive force exerted on the base to vary.

20. A chair having a seat, a base, and a motion support mechanism connected to the base and the seat; the motion support mechanism providing resistive support to the seat when the seat undergoes one or both of rotational and tilting motion relative to the base, the motion support mechanism comprising:

a support bearing connected to the seat and the base, the support bearing allowing one or both of tilting and rotational movement of the seat relative to the base;

a pivot ball sized to be fixedly attached to a portion of the base; and the number of the first and second groups,

a resistance cartridge fixedly connected to the seat such that the resistance cartridge experiences movement relative to the base and exerts a resistance force on the base when the seat experiences the one or both of rotational movement and tilting movement;

wherein the resistance cartridge comprises:

a chuck housing; and the number of the first and second groups,

a resilient member in contacting relationship with the pivot ball and with the wall of the housing such that the resilient member is compressed by relative movement between the resistance cartridge and the pivot ball, thereby providing resistive support to the seat;

and wherein said motion support mechanism further comprises means for varying said resistance, wherein said means for varying said resistance comprises means for varying the distance between said support bearing and said pivot ball to functionally attach said pivot ball at a variable position on said base.