JP2024068378A - Seating posture correction device, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a device that is applicable to an existing chair and corrects a seating posture.SOLUTION: A seating posture correction device 3 mountable to a seating face 2 of a chair 1 includes: a seat part 4 on which a user can be seated; a plurality of balloons 5 arranged below the seat part 4; an acceleration sensor 13 that measures inclination of the seat part 4; and an internal pressure control part 15 that individually controls the internal pressure of the plurality of balloons 5 on the basis of a result measurement performed by the acceleration sensor 13 so that the inclination of the seat part 4 is within a predetermined range.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a seated posture correction device, a control method, and a program.

Patent Document 1 discloses a seating condition evaluation device that places multiple pressure sensors on the seating surface and backrest surface and evaluates the seating condition on the seat based on the measured values.

JP 2004-85435 A

Meanwhile, the inventors of this application have developed a device that can be applied to existing chairs and corrects sitting posture.

However, the seated state evaluation device in Patent Document 1 cannot be attached to existing chairs, and does not correct the seated posture.

The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a device that can be applied to existing chairs and that corrects sitting posture.

A sitting posture correction device that can be mounted on a chair seat,
A seating section on which a user can sit;
A plurality of bags arranged under the seating portion;
An inclination measuring means for measuring the inclination of the seating portion;
an internal pressure control means for individually controlling the internal pressure of the plurality of bags based on the measurement result by the inclination measurement means so that the inclination of the seating portion falls within a predetermined range;
including,
A seated posture correction device is provided.
According to the above configuration, a device for correcting a sitting posture is provided that can be applied to an existing chair.

The plurality of bags are
A right ischial pouch corresponding to a right ischial bone, which is a right ischial bone of the user seated on the seating portion;
A left ischial pouch corresponding to a left ischial bone, which is a left ischial bone of the user seated on the seating portion;
A tailbone pouch corresponding to the tailbone of the user seated on the seating portion;
may include:
According to the above-mentioned configuration, the seating posture can be effectively corrected with a small number of bags.

The right ischial pouch is disposed so as to be located directly below the right leg ischial bone,
The left ischial pouch is disposed so as to be located directly under the left leg ischial bone,
The right ischial bladder may be positioned to sit just below the coccyx.
According to the above-mentioned configuration, the seating posture can be corrected more effectively with a smaller number of bags.

The tilt measuring means may be an acceleration sensor provided in the seating portion.
According to the above configuration, the tilt measuring means can be realized simply.

The inclination measurement means may include a pressure distribution sensor that measures a pressure distribution on an upper surface of the seating portion, and a inclination calculation unit that calculates an inclination of the seating portion based on a measurement result by the pressure distribution sensor.
According to the above configuration, the tilt measuring means can be realized simply.

A method for controlling a server capable of communicating with the above-mentioned sitting posture correction device,
acquiring operation data of the seating posture correction device from the seating posture correction device;
transmitting a control signal to the seating posture correction device for controlling the seating posture correction device;
including,
A control method is provided.

A program executable by a server capable of communicating with the above-mentioned sitting posture correction device,
acquiring operation data of the seating posture correction device from the seating posture correction device;
transmitting a control signal to the seating posture correction device for controlling the seating posture correction device;
including,
The program is provided.

This disclosure provides a device that can be applied to existing chairs and corrects sitting posture.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seating posture correction device mounted on a seat of a chair (first embodiment); FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pelvis (first embodiment); FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a seating posture correction device according to a first embodiment. 1 is a control flow of a seating posture correction device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of a seating posture correction device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of an operation management system according to a third embodiment. 13 is a control flow of a server (third embodiment). FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing another specific example of a balloon.

First Embodiment
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG.

Figure 1 shows a seating posture correction device 3 mounted on the seat 2 of an existing chair 1. As shown in Figure 1, the seating posture correction device 3 is portable. The seating posture correction device 3 can be used simply by placing it on the seat 2 of the chair 1.

The seating posture correction device 3 includes a seating section 4 and multiple balloons 5.

The seating section 4 is a flat plate-like portion on which the user can sit. Specifically, the seating section 4 includes a base section 4a, which is a metal plate such as a stainless steel plate, and a cushion section 4b, which is a closed-cell structure such as urethane foam and is disposed above the base section 4a.

The multiple balloons 5 are a specific example of a bag body. The multiple balloons 5 are arranged under the seating portion 4. The multiple balloons 5 are fixed to the underside of the seating portion 4. The multiple balloons 5 are fixed to the base portion 4a of the seating portion 4. The multiple balloons 5 include a right ischial balloon 5a, a left ischial balloon 5b, and a coccyx balloon 5c.

The right ischial balloon 5 a is a balloon that corresponds to the right ischial bone, which is the ischial bone on the right leg side of a user seated on the seating section 4 .
The left ischial balloon 5 b is a balloon that corresponds to the left ischial bone, which is the ischial bone on the left leg side of a user seated on the seating section 4 .
The coccyx balloon 5c is a balloon that corresponds to the coccyx of a user seated on the seating section 4.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the pelvis of a user seated on the seating section 4. As shown in Figure 2, the right ischial balloon 5a is positioned so as to be located directly below the right ischial bone. The left ischial balloon 5b is positioned so as to be located directly below the left ischial bone. The coccyx balloon 5c is positioned so as to be located directly below the tailbone.

Typically, the cushion portion 4b of the seating portion 4 is formed with a recess for positioning the pelvis of the user seated on the seating portion 4 relative to the seating portion 4. The recess is typically formed to accommodate the user's buttocks, right thigh, and left thigh. Alternatively, the cushion portion 4b of the seating portion 4 may have a line drawn on it to indicate the position of the buttocks of the user seated on the seating portion 4. In this way, a desired positional relationship between the seating portion 4 and the user's pelvis can be achieved.

Returning to FIG. 1, each balloon 5 is formed in a downwardly convex hemispherical shape. That is, each balloon 5 has a planar fixing surface 5P that faces the base portion 4a of the seating portion 4 in the vertical direction, and a downwardly convex hemispherical surface 5Q. The hemispherical surface 5Q faces the seat surface 2 of the chair 1 in the vertical direction.

However, the shape of each balloon 5 is not limited to the hemispherical shape shown in FIG. 1. Each balloon 5 can have any shape as long as it can hold gas, typically air, inside and can adjust the internal pressure by increasing or decreasing the amount of gas inside. Therefore, instead of the hemispherical shape shown in FIG. 1, each balloon 5 may have a spherical, columnar, ring, box, or other shape. When a columnar shape is adopted as the shape of each balloon 5, as shown in FIG. 8, each balloon 5 has a bellows on the outer periphery so that it expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction according to the internal pressure, and is arranged so that its longitudinal direction is vertical, i.e., perpendicular to the seat surface 2.

Figure 3 shows a functional block diagram of the seating posture correction device 3. The seating posture correction device 3 includes a compressor 10, a tank 11, multiple regulators 12, an acceleration sensor 13, and a control device 14. The compressor 10, the tank 11, the multiple regulators 12, the acceleration sensor 13, and the control device 14 are typically housed in the seating section 4. However, instead of this, the compressor 10, the tank 11, the multiple regulators 12, and the control device 14 may be disposed outside the seating section 4.

The compressor 10 supplies compressed air to the tank 11. The regulators 12 include a right ischium regulator 12a, a left ischium regulator 12b, and a coccyx regulator 12c.

The right ischial balloon 5a, the left ischial balloon 5b, and the coccyx balloon 5c are connected to the tank 11 via the right ischial regulator 12a, the left ischial regulator 12b, and the coccyx regulator 12c, respectively.

The acceleration sensor 13 is a specific example of an inclination measurement means for measuring the inclination of the seating section 4. The acceleration sensor 13 measures the pitch inclination angle and roll inclination angle of the seating section 4, and outputs angle signals indicating the pitch inclination angle and roll inclination angle to the control device 14.

As an example, when the seating part 4 is observed in a direction perpendicular to the forehead plane of a user seated on the seating part 4, the roll inclination angle is zero when the front end of the base part 4a of the seating part 4 is horizontal, positive when the right leg side of the front end of the base part 4a of the seating part 4 is lower than the left leg side, and negative when the right leg side of the front end of the base part 4a of the seating part 4 is higher than the left leg side.

As another example, when the seating part 4 is observed in a direction perpendicular to the sagittal plane of the user seated on the seating part 4, the pitch inclination angle is zero when the side end of the base part 4a of the seating part 4 is horizontal, positive when the knee side of the side end of the base part 4a of the seating part 4 is lower than the back side, and negative when the knee side of the side end of the base part 4a of the seating part 4 is higher than the back side.

The control device 14 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 14a (Central Processing Unit), a readable and writable random access memory (RAM) 14b (Random Access Memory), and a read-only read only memory (ROM) 14c (Read Only Memory). The CPU 14a reads and executes a control program stored in the ROM 14c, causing the hardware, such as the CPU, to function as the internal pressure control unit 15.

The internal pressure control unit 15 individually controls the internal pressure of the multiple balloons 5 based on the measurement results from the acceleration sensor 13 so that the inclination of the seating section 4 falls within a predetermined range.

Here, the internal pressure control unit 15 is configured to be able to individually control the internal pressure of the right ischial balloon 5a, the left ischial balloon 5b, and the coccyx balloon 5c. Specifically, the internal pressure control unit 15 increases or decreases the internal pressure of the right ischial balloon 5a by outputting a control signal to the right ischial regulator 12a. Similarly, the internal pressure control unit 15 increases or decreases the internal pressure of the left ischial balloon 5b by outputting a control signal to the left ischial regulator 12b. Similarly, the internal pressure control unit 15 increases or decreases the internal pressure of the coccyx balloon 5c by outputting a control signal to the coccyx regulator 12c.

In addition, the inclination of the seating portion 4 being within a predetermined range means that the pitch inclination angle of the seating portion 4 is within a first range and the roll inclination angle of the seating portion 4 is within a second range.

The internal pressure control unit 15 adjusts the roll inclination angle by raising and lowering the part of the seating section 4 on the right leg side by increasing and decreasing the internal pressure of the right ischial balloon 5a. The internal pressure control unit 15 adjusts the roll inclination angle by raising and lowering the part of the seating section 4 on the left leg side by increasing and decreasing the internal pressure of the left ischial balloon 5b. The internal pressure control unit 15 adjusts the pitch inclination angle by raising and lowering the rear part of the seating section 4 by increasing and decreasing the internal pressure of the coccyx balloon 5c. The internal pressure control unit 15 may adjust the pitch inclination angle by raising and lowering the front part of the seating section 4 by simultaneously increasing and decreasing the internal pressure of the right ischial balloon 5a and the left ischial balloon 5b.

Next, the control flow of the seating posture correction device 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. First, the internal pressure control unit 15 receives an angle signal indicating the roll inclination angle and the pitch inclination angle from the acceleration sensor 13 (S100). Next, the internal pressure control unit 15 judges whether the inclination of the seating section 4 is within a predetermined range (S110). That is, the internal pressure control unit 15 judges whether the roll inclination angle and the pitch inclination angle of the seating section 4 are appropriate (S110). When the inclination of the seating section 4 is within the predetermined range (S110: YES), the internal pressure control unit 15 returns the process to S100. On the other hand, when the inclination of the seating section 4 is not within the predetermined range (S110: NO), the internal pressure control unit 15 advances the process to S120. In step S120, the internal pressure control unit 15 individually controls the internal pressure of the multiple balloons 5 based on the measurement result by the acceleration sensor 13 so that the inclination of the seating section 4 is within the predetermined range (S120), and returns the process to S100.

For example, if the appropriate range of the roll inclination angle is -3 to +3 degrees, and the measured value of the roll inclination angle is +7 degrees, i.e., when the right leg side of the front end of the base part 4a of the seating part 4 is too low relative to the left leg side, the internal pressure control part 15 raises the right leg side of the base part 4a of the seating part 4 by increasing the internal pressure of the right ischial balloon 5a by a predetermined number of steps. Alternatively, the internal pressure control part 15 may lower the left leg side of the base part 4a of the seating part 4 by decreasing the internal pressure of the left ischial balloon 5b by a predetermined number of steps.

For example, if the appropriate range of the pitch tilt angle is +5 to +10 degrees and the measured value of the pitch tilt angle is -2 degrees, i.e., when the knee side of the base part 4a of the seating part 4 is higher than the back side, the internal pressure control unit 15 raises the back side of the base part 4a of the seating part 4 by increasing the internal pressure of the coccyx balloon 5c by a predetermined step. Alternatively, the internal pressure control unit 15 may lower the knee side of the base part 4a of the seating part 4 by decreasing the internal pressure of the right ischial balloon 5a and the left ischial balloon 5b by a predetermined step.

In this way, the internal pressure control unit 15 repeatedly adjusts the inclination of the seating section 4, so that the inclination of the seating section 4 falls within a predetermined range. As a result, the user's sitting posture is corrected so that the left and right ischial bones are aligned at the same height and the pelvis is tilted slightly forward, i.e., the user's sitting posture is appropriate. By ensuring that the user's sitting posture is appropriate, the user's sense of fatigue after sitting for a long period of time can be alleviated.

The first embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above. The first embodiment has the following features.

That is, the sitting posture correction device 3 that can be mounted on the seat 2 of the chair 1 is:
A seating section 4 on which a user can sit;
A plurality of balloons 5 (bag bodies) arranged under the seating portion 4;
An acceleration sensor 13 (tilt measuring means) for measuring the tilt of the seating portion 4;
an internal pressure control unit 15 (internal pressure control means) that individually controls the internal pressure of the plurality of balloons 5 based on the measurement results of the acceleration sensor 13 so that the inclination of the seating unit 4 falls within a predetermined range;
including.
According to the above configuration, a device for correcting the sitting posture is provided that can be applied to an existing chair 1.

In addition, the plurality of balloons 5 are
a right ischial balloon 5a (right ischial pouch) corresponding to the right ischial bone of a user seated on the seating section 4;
a left ischial balloon 5b (left ischial pouch) corresponding to the left ischial bone of the left leg of a user seated on the seating portion 4;
A tailbone balloon 5c (tailbone pouch) corresponding to the tailbone of a user seated on the seating section 4;
including.
According to the above configuration, the seated posture can be effectively corrected with a small number of balloons 5.

In addition, the right ischial balloon 5a is positioned so as to be located directly below the ischium on the right leg side, the left ischial balloon 5b is positioned so as to be located directly below the ischium on the left leg side, and the right ischial balloon 5a is positioned so as to be located directly below the coccyx.
According to the above configuration, the seated posture can be corrected more effectively with fewer balloons.

The seating posture correction device 3 also includes an acceleration sensor 13 provided in the seat 4 as an inclination measuring means.
According to the above configuration, the tilt measuring means can be realized simply.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Below, differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment will be mainly described, and overlapping descriptions will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, an acceleration sensor 13 is used as a tilt measuring means for measuring the tilt of the seating portion 4.

In contrast, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the pressure distribution sensor 20 and the tilt angle calculation unit 21 constitute a tilt measurement means that measures the tilt of the seating portion 4.

The pressure distribution sensor 20 measures the pressure distribution on the upper surface of the seating section 4 and outputs the measurement result, pressure distribution data, to the control device 14.

The tilt angle calculation unit 21 calculates the tilt of the seating section 4 based on the pressure distribution data acquired from the pressure distribution sensor 20. Specifically, the tilt angle calculation unit 21 determines the center of gravity of the pressure distribution based on the pressure distribution data acquired from the pressure distribution sensor 20, and calculates the tilt of the seating section 4 based on the direction and amount of deviation of the center of gravity from a reference point. That is, the tilt angle calculation unit 21 calculates the roll tilt angle and pitch tilt angle of the seating section 4 based on the direction and amount of deviation of the center of gravity from a reference point. The relationship between the direction and amount of deviation of the center of gravity from the reference point and the roll tilt angle and pitch tilt angle of the seating section 4 may be determined logically or experimentally.

The second embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above. The second embodiment has the following features.

That is, the tilt measurement means includes a pressure distribution sensor 20 that measures the pressure distribution on the upper surface of the seating portion 4, and a tilt angle calculation unit 21 that calculates the tilt of the seating portion 4 based on the measurement results by the pressure distribution sensor 20.
According to the above configuration, the tilt measuring means can be realized simply.

Third Embodiment
The third embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The following description will focus on the differences between the present embodiment and the first embodiment, and will not include redundant descriptions.

Figure 6 shows a functional block diagram of the operation management system 100. As shown in Figure 6, the operation management system 100 includes a server 30 and a plurality of seating posture correction devices 3.

The server 30 is equipped with a CPU 30a (Central Processing Unit) as a central processing unit, a readable and writable RAM 30b (Random Access Memory), and a read-only ROM 30c (Read Only Memory). The CPU 30a reads and executes a control program stored in the ROM 30c, which causes the hardware such as the CPU to function as an operation management unit 30d and a controller 30e. The seating posture correction device 3 further includes a communication interface 30f. The operation management unit 30d and the controller 30e are capable of bidirectional communication with a WAN 31 (Wide Area Network) via the communication interface 30f.

Each of the multiple sitting posture correction devices 3 is capable of bidirectional communication with the server 30 via the WAN 31. The multiple sitting posture correction devices 3 include a sitting posture correction device 3 arranged in the user's home, a sitting posture correction device 3 arranged in the user's workplace, a sitting posture correction device 3 arranged in an exercise facility, and a sitting posture correction device 3 arranged in a nursing care facility.

In this embodiment, the operation management system 100 includes a server 30 and multiple seating posture correction devices 3. Thus, the operation management system 100 typically includes a server 30 and at least one seating posture correction device 3.

Each seating posture correction device 3 further includes a communication interface 40, an operation data transmission unit 41, and a control signal receiving unit 42.

The operation data transmission unit 41 and control signal reception unit 42 of each seating posture correction device 3 can communicate bidirectionally with the WAN 31 via the communication interface 40.

The operation data transmission unit 41 of each sitting posture correction device 3 generates operation data indicating the operation status of the sitting posture correction device 3 and transmits the generated operation data to the server 30. The operation status can typically be defined by at least one of the control history of the internal pressure control unit 15, the operation time of the internal pressure control unit 15, and the operation time of the internal pressure control unit 15. The operation data transmission unit 41 generates and transmits the operation data at a specified interval. The specified interval is typically once a day.

The control signal receiver 42 of each sitting posture correction device 3 receives a control signal from the server 30. The internal pressure controller 15 controls the internal pressure of the right ischial balloon 5a, etc. based on the control signal received by the control signal receiver 42. The control signal is a signal for controlling the sitting posture correction device 3. The control signal is typically a signal that defines the control of the internal pressure by the internal pressure controller 15. As an example, the control signal defines control to raise and lower the internal pressure of the right ischial balloon 5a at a specified interval. In this way, the server 30 can freely control the internal pressure of the right ischial balloon 5a remotely.

The operation management unit 30d of the server 30 receives operation data from each seating posture correction device 3 and stores the received operation data in the RAM 30b.

The controller 30e of the server 30 generates a control signal for each seating posture correction device 3 based on the operation data collected by the operation management unit 30d, and transmits the generated control signal to the corresponding seating posture correction device 3. The controller 30e typically generates a control signal for each seating posture correction device 3 that defines control for raising and lowering the internal pressure of the right ischial balloon 5a at a specified interval when the operating status satisfies a specified condition, and transmits the generated control signal to the corresponding seating posture correction device 3.

Next, the control flow of the server 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows the control flow of the server 30.

S400:
First, the operation management unit 30 d of the server 30 receives operation data from each of the sitting posture correction devices 3 .

S410:
Next, the controller 30 e of the server 30 generates a control signal and transmits the generated control signal to the corresponding seating posture correction device 3 .

The third embodiment has been described above. The third embodiment has the following features.

The server 30 is capable of communicating with multiple seating posture correction devices 3. The control method of the server 30 includes a step of acquiring operation data of the seating posture correction device 3 from the seating posture correction device 3 (S400), and a step of transmitting a control signal for controlling the seating posture correction device 3 to the seating posture correction device 3 (S410).

In the above example, the program can be stored and supplied to the computer using various types of non-transitory computer readable media. Non-transitory computer readable media include various types of tangible storage media. Examples of non-transitory computer readable media include magnetic recording media (e.g., flexible disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives) and magneto-optical recording media (e.g., magneto-optical disks). Examples of non-transitory computer readable media further include CD-ROM (Read Only Memory), CD-R, CD-R/W, and semiconductor memory (e.g., mask ROM. Examples of non-transitory computer readable media further include PROM (Programmable ROM), EPROM (Erasable PROM), flash ROM, and RAM (random access memory). The program may also be supplied to the computer by various types of transitory computer readable media. Examples of transitory computer readable media include electrical signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. The temporary computer-readable medium can provide the program to the computer via a wired communication path, such as an electric wire or optical fiber, or via a wireless communication path.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Chair 2 Seat 3 Sitting posture correction device 4 Seating section 4a Base section 4b Cushion section 5 Balloon 5a Right ischial balloon 5b Left ischial balloon 5c Coccyx balloon 5P Fixing surface 5Q Hemispherical surface 10 Compressor 11 Tank 12 Regulator 12a Right ischial regulator 12b Left ischial regulator 12c Coccyx regulator 13 Acceleration sensor 14 Control device 14a CPU
14b RAM
14c ROM
15 Internal pressure control unit 20 Pressure distribution sensor 21 Inclination angle calculation unit 30 Server 30a CPU
30b RAM
30c ROM
30d Operation management unit 30e Controller 30f Communication interface 31 WAN
40 Communication interface 41 Operation data transmission unit 42 Control signal reception unit 100 Operation management system

Claims (7)

A sitting posture correction device that can be mounted on a chair seat,
A seating section on which a user can sit;
A plurality of bags arranged under the seating portion;
An inclination measuring means for measuring the inclination of the seating portion;
an internal pressure control means for individually controlling the internal pressure of the plurality of bags based on the measurement result by the inclination measurement means so that the inclination of the seating portion falls within a predetermined range;
including,
Sitting posture correction device. The seating posture correction device according to claim 1,
The plurality of bags are
A right ischial pouch corresponding to a right ischial bone, which is a right ischial bone of the user seated on the seating portion;
A left ischial pouch body corresponding to a left ischial bone, which is a left ischial bone of the user seated on the seating portion;
A tailbone pouch corresponding to the tailbone of the user seated on the seating portion;
including,
Sitting posture correction device. The seating posture correction device according to claim 2,
The right ischial pouch is disposed so as to be located directly below the right leg ischial bone,
The left ischial pouch is disposed so as to be located directly under the left leg ischial bone,
The right ischial pouch is positioned so as to be located directly below the coccyx.
Sitting posture correction device. The seating posture correction device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The tilt measuring means is an acceleration sensor provided in the seating portion.
Sitting posture correction device. The seating posture correction device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The tilt measuring means is
a pressure distribution sensor for measuring a pressure distribution on an upper surface of the seating portion;
a tilt calculation unit that calculates a tilt of the seating portion based on a measurement result by the pressure distribution sensor;
including,
Sitting posture correction device. A control method for a server capable of communicating with the seating posture correction device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
acquiring operation data of the seating posture correction device from the seating posture correction device;
transmitting a control signal to the seating posture correction device for controlling the seating posture correction device;
including,
Control methods. A program executable by a server capable of communicating with the seating posture correction device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The server,
acquiring operation data of the seating posture correction device from the seating posture correction device;
transmitting a control signal to the seating posture correction device for controlling the seating posture correction device;
Execute the
program.

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