DK178665B1

DK178665B1 - Soothing chair

Info

Publication number: DK178665B1
Application number: DKPA201470547A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Pia Riishøj Christiansen; Birthe Søndergaard Pedersen
Original assignee: Protac As
Priority date: 2014-05-22
Filing date: 2014-09-08
Publication date: 2016-10-24
Also published as: EP3128986A1; WO2015176729A1; DK3128986T3; EP3128986B1; PL3128986T3; NO3128986T3; HUE036997T2; DK201470547A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to calming chairs. More specifically, the invention relates to a calming chair with an elastically deformable base section for physically challenged users, such as elderly users.

Description

CALMING CHAIR Technical field of the invention

Background of the invention

It is known that persons who suffer from angst, unrest, or sensory disorders have difficulty in finding rest, sleeping, or relaxing. A reason for this may be that they have difficulty in feeling the boundaries of their own bodies, and they can need a physical object to focus on, preferably something that presses against the body and that they can bend and wrap around themselves. Especially, in the treatment of people suffering from conditions such as neurological diseases, psychiatric disorders, i.e. symptoms of psychosis, dementia, mentally retarded, patients with sensory integration problems, it is known to physically stimulate the proprioceptive sensory system and the tactile sensory system to inhibit the flow of impulses to the central nervous system and obtain a calming effect. Hence, there is an increased focus on providing auxiliary equipment which can stimulate the proprioceptive sensory system and the tactile sensory system.

It is already known to use calming chairs for this purpose. In the international application WO2008119347, a calming chair is shown enclosing balls that stimulate the proprioceptive sensory system and the tactile sensory system of the person sitting in it. Although a very good general solution, this calming chair is developed for users that are not physically challenged. Elderly people, as an example, have difficulties rising from the calming chair without assistance. DE102006045726 discloses an ergonomic seat for e.g. a vehicle or an office chair. The ergonomic seat comprises a seat (1), a bag rest (2) and a seat section (5) fitted between a base section (3) and a cover (4). The seat section (5) can contain granulate, latex or similar and the base section (3) is a foam element.

Hence, there is a need for a calming chair that can be adjusted in a better way to meet the needs of a physically challenged user.

Summary of the invention

Hence, one object of the present invention is to provide a calming chair that is adjusted in a better way to meet the needs of a physically challenged user.

One aspect relates to a calming chair for therapeutic treatment, wherein said calming chair comprises a supporting region comprising a seat part (200), and a back rest (300), wherein the seat part (200) comprises a seat section (202) being filled with a plurality of mutually displaceable substantially spherical objects, and an elastically deformable base section (204), and wherein the seat section (202) is positioned on top of the elastically deformable base section (204), characterized in that the calming chair further comprise: - a side rest (400) for supporting the body of the sitting user; - at least one supportive part (500) which can be placed upon said user, the supportive part (500) being filled with a plurality of objects for increasing the weight of said supportive part, and which objects exert a sporadic pressure on the body of the user, and - at least one pre-shaped element (600) constituting a shell having the shape of a chair.

An advantage of using substantially spherical objects is that they, due to the weight of the user, displace and form according to the shape of the body of the user, whereby a comfortable position can be obtained. The substantially spherical objects can be hollow and have a shell of polymer, glass, metal or the like, and have different kinds of filling such as fluids or solid materials.

In one embodiment, the substantially spherical objects are perfectly spherical, e.g. ball shaped.

The substantially spherical objects may be thermally isolating if the filling is warmed up by heat from the body of the user. The substantially spherical objects can also be solid and made from polymer, glass, metal or the like.

Disclosed herein is a calming chair for therapeutic treatment. The calming chair comprises a supporting region and at least one supportive part.

The supporting region comprises a seat part, a back rest, and a side rest for supporting the body of the sitting user, whereas the supportive part can be placed upon said user.

The back rest may comprise a back section being filled with a plurality of mutually displaceable substantially spherically objects. The back section may be detachable from the remaining back part. The back section may only be connected to the back part at the top of the back section.

The back section - preferably detachable from the back part - may be divided into a number of subsections and/or channels for securing the substantially spherically objects in a user-determined position ensuring that they do not all accumulate at the bottom of the back section, when the back section is attached to the back part.

The supportive part is being filled with a plurality of objects for increasing the weight of the supportive part, and which objects exert a sporadic pressure on the body of the user. Preferably, the plurality of objects is a plurality of mutually displaceable substantially spherically objects.

The seat part comprises a seat section being filled with a plurality of mutually displaceable substantially spherically objects, and an elastically deformable base section. The seat section is positioned on top of the elastically deformable base section.

The term "elastically deformable" refers to the deformation of the base section caused by an applied stress (e.g. the weight of the user), wherein the base section returns to its original shape after the stress is removed (e.g. when the user rises from the calming chair). For any material, an elastic limit (also known as yield strength) is the separation point between elastic and plastic deformation characteristics. That is, an applied stress beneath the elastic limit results in elastic deformation, whereas an applied stress above the elastic limit results in plastic deformation (or breakage for brittle materials). In any case, the selected material should have an elastic limit that allows the base section to withstand normal use of the calming chair.

The elastically deformable base section has several purposes. When the user sits down in the calming chair, the elastically deformable base section absorbs some of the impact energy, thereby avoiding that the user sinks too deep into the seat part. This is especially important for physically challenged users, such as elderly people, since their abdominal muscles are so weak that they drop down into the calming chair rather than performing a controlled sitting motion. Without the elastically deformable base section, elderly people will sink too deep into the seat part for them to rise from the seated position without assistance.

The effect of the elastically deformable base section returning to its original position after deformation by the weight of the user is also an advantage when it comes to continued use. The calming chairs on the market today will need to be rolled manually after use for seat part to be reshaped. This is not necessary with the calming chair of the present invention.

Advantageously, the diameter of the substantially spherically objects, such as balls, in the seat section and/or in the back section can be varied in order to accommodate the different size of users. The diameter of the substantially spherically objects can also be varied in order to exert a more or less sporadic pressure on the body of the user. To obtain the calming effect, it is essential that the pressure exerted on the body of the user is sporadic, opposite to e.g. chairs or other furniture that provide a uniform supporting surface. This means that the body of the user is supported in a number of spots having a mutual distance of approximately the diameter of the substantially spherically objects. It is also important that the substantially spherically objects are mutually displaceable for the user in order to be able to obtain a good support. The inventors have found that the diameter of the substantially spherically objects in the seat section is optimal when being within the range of 2-10 cm.

In one or more embodiments, the diameter of the substantially spherically objects in the seat section is within the range of 2-15 cm, such as within the range of 2-12 cm, e.g. within the range of 2-10 cm, such as within the range of 3-10 cm, e.g. within the range of 4-10 cm, such as within the range of 5-10 cm.

In one or more embodiments, the diameter of the substantially spherically objects in the supportive part is within the range of 2-15 cm, such as within the range of 2- 12 cm, e.g. within the range of 2-10 cm, such as within the range of 3-10 cm, e.g. within the range of 4-10 cm, such as within the range of 5-10 cm.

In one or more embodiments, the elastically deformable base section is made of a cellular structural material.

In one or more embodiments, the elastically deformable base section is made of a foam material, such as polyisocyanate, ethylvinylacetate, and/or polyurethane foams.

The height of the seat section is of importance for how deep the user will sink into the seat part. If too high, the user will sink too much, and if too low, the substantially spherically objects will have difficulty in displacing properly. The latter may result in bruises, especially for elderly people, where the blood flow is challenged.

The height of the seat section may in one or more examples be at least 2 times the diameter of the largest substantially spherically objects present in the seat section, such as 2-10 times, e.g. 2-8 times, e.g. 3-5 times the diameter of the largest substantially spherically objects present in the seat section.

In one or more examples, the height of the seat section is within the range of 4-40 cm, such as within the range of 5-35 cm, e.g. within the range of 5-30 cm, such as within the range of 5-25 cm, e.g. within the range of 10-20 cm. Preferably, the height of the seat section is within the range of 5-15 cm.

The optimal way of rising from a chair, is first to grab onto the calming chair at a position above the legs, and as close to the knees as possible. Then the user should lean forward to bring the centre of gravity above the legs and hands; and shift the feet to maximize base of support. The shift of the feet should be done so as to place the line of gravity within the base of support, i.e. between the feet. This is done by positioning at least a part of heel of the rear positioned foot under a part of the seat part. Hence, the calming chair may be adapted such that when seated, the user is capable of placing at least a part of the heels under the seat part.

In one or more examples, the calming chair is adapted such that when seated, the user is capable of placing at least a part of the heels below at least a part of the elastically deformable base section.

The at least one pre-shaped element shaped may have the supportive properties of the chair. The advantage of the pre-shaped element, which could be made from pre-shaped polymeric material, is that it ensures a dimensionally stable calming chair. The pre-shaped element(s) thereby stabilizes the supporting region.

The pre-shaped element(s) will constitute a shell having the shape of a chair, i.e. the pre-shaped element(s) may form the basis of the calming chair and may be in one continuous piece.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the pre-shaped element(s) comprises a low part which inclining inwards thereby forming a "cut-out" of the pre-shaped element, i.e. a narrowing of the pre-shaped element.

In one or more examples, the pre-shaped element inclines outwards in a direction from the top towards to bottom of the calming chair before it inclines inwards at the "cut-out" at the bottom of the pre-shaped element. At a leg section of the preshaped element, which is positioned behind the users leg, when the user sits in the calming chair and which extends until the "cut-out" at the bottom, the pre-shaped element may have a surface extending substantially vertically instead of inclining outwards. The vertically extending surface provides additional support to the legs of the user when the user is getting out of the chair.

In one or more examples, the calming chair further comprises an armrest.

In one or more examples, at least a part of the side rest is integrated as part of the pre-shaped element.

In one or more examples, at least a part of the arm rest is integrated as part of the pre-shaped element.

In one or more examples, at least a part of the side rest and at least a part of the arm rest are integrated as part of the pre-shaped element.

In one or more examples, the seat part further comprises a part of the pre-shaped element.

In one or more embodiments, the calming chair further comprises a recloseable opening with a fastener, such as a zipper or a hoop and loop fastener, for gaining access to the inside of the calming chair. The advantage of a recloseable opening is that access to the inside of the chair makes it possible to replace the seat section or the elastically deformable base section.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the calming chair comprises a chair cover comprising a reclosable opening with a fastener, such as a zipper or a hoop and loop fastener, for gaining access to the inside of the calming chair. The chair cover may be adapted for covering the entire calming chair or only specific parts of it.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the chair cover covers the preshaped element(s) and the at least one supportive part. The chair cover may also cover the back section with the mutually displaceable substantially spherically objects.

In one or more examples, the seat section (filled with the plurality of mutually displaceable substantially spherically objects) and the elastically deformable base section may be enclosed in a separate seat cover detachable from the chair cover. The seat cover in this way may form a seating pillow. The seating pillow may be detachable from the rest of the calming chair in the sense that it resembles a pillow, which can be placed inside the chair cover and/or on top of the chair cover, e.g. in a recess formed in the pre-shaped element.

In one or more embodiments, the seat section comprises a recloseable opening with a fastener, such as a zipper or a hoop and loop, for gaining access to the inside of said seat section. Through the access to the inner of the seat section, the filling, such as balls, can be replaced with another filling or cleaned and re-filled in the seat section. The recloseable opening in the seat section, may be an opening in the seat cover.

It should be noted that embodiments and features described in the context of one of the aspects of the present invention also apply to the other aspects of the invention.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a calming chair where the supportive parts are detached,

Figure 2 shows a cross section of a preferred embodiment of a calming chair where the supportive parts are detached, and

Figure 3 shows a preferred embodiment of a calming chair.

Figure 4a shows another preferred embodiment of a calming chair seen in a side view and figure 4b shows the same embodiment of the calming chair as seen in a top-down view.

Detailed description of the invention

In Figure 1, a preferred embodiment of a calming chair 100 according to the invention is shown. The calming chair 100 is shown with the supportive parts detached. A pre-shaped element 600, shaped according to the supportive properties of the calming chair, is shown. The side rest 400 and the arm rest 700 are integrated as part of the pre-shaped element 600. The back rest 300 is shown attached to the pre-shaped element 600, and may be filled with a plurality of mutually displaceable substantially spherical objects, or be a cushion of materials well-known in the art, such as a foam material. In an alternative embodiment, the back rest 300 may also be at least partly integrated in the pre-shaped element 600. If the back rest 300 comprises plurality of mutually displaceable substantially spherical objects, it may do so in the form of a back section being detachable from the calming chair 100.

Figure 1 also discloses the seat section 202 of the seat part (shown in figure 2 as item 200), filled with a plurality of mutually displaceable substantially spherical objects, such as balls.

In Figure 2, a cross section of a preferred embodiment of a calming chair 100 is shown. The calming chair 100 is shown with the supportive parts detached. A pre shaped element 600, shaped according to the supportive properties of the calming chair, is shown. The side rest 400 and the arm rest (shown in figure 3 as item 700) are integrated as part of the pre-shaped element 600. The back rest 300 is shown attached to the pre-shaped element 600, and may be filled with a plurality of mutually displaceable substantially spherical objects, or be a cushion of materials well-known in the art, such as a foam material. In an alternative embodiment, the back rest 300 may also be at least partly integrated in the pre-shaped element 600. If the back rest 300 comprises plurality of mutually displaceable substantially spherical objects, it may do so in the form of a back section being detachable from the calming chair 100.

The seat part 200 comprises a seat section 202 being filled with a plurality of mutually displaceable substantially spherical objects, and an elastically deformable base section 204. The seat section 202 is positioned on top of the elastically deformable base section 204. The seat section 202 and the elastically deformable base 204 may be covered by a separate seat cover. The seat cover may form a pillow, which can be removed from the rest of the calming chair 100, if the seat section 202 and the elastically deformable base 204 needs to be changed e.g. to adjust for properties of the calming chair for a specific user.

Figure 2 also discloses that the seat part 200 further comprises a part of the preshaped element 600. The seat section 202 and the elastically deformable base 204 fits into a recess in the pre-shaped element 600, where it is the edge defining this recess that is part of the seat part 200.

The calming chair 100 is adapted such that when seated, the user is capable of placing at least a part of the heels under the seat part. This is shown in figures 4a-b as a "cut-out" of the base section (lower part) of the pre-shaped element 600; or rather the pre-shaped element 600 is shaped such that the base section is narrower than the remaining part of the pre-shaped element 600. The pre-shaped element 600 generally inclines outwards before inclining inwards at the "cut-out" at the bottom of the pre-shaped element 600.

In Figure 3, a preferred embodiment of a calming chair 100 according to the invention is shown. The calming chair 100 is shown with the supportive parts 500 attached. A pre-shaped element 600, shaped according to the supportive properties of the calming chair, is shown. The side rest (shown in figures 1-2 as item 400) and the arm rest 700 are integrated as part of the pre-shaped element 600. The back rest 300 is shown attached to the pre-shaped element 600, and may be filled with a plurality of mutually displaceable substantially spherical objects, or be a cushion of materials well-known in the art, such as a foam material. If the back rest 300 comprises plurality of mutually displaceable substantially spherical objects, it may do so in the form of a back section being detachable from the calming chair 100.

The pre-shaped element 600 is shown in a transparent material, such that the seat section 202 and the elastically deformable base section 204 can be seen. The seat section 202 is positioned on top of the elastically deformable base section 204.

In figures 4a and 4b, another preferred embodiment of a calming chair 100' according to the invention is shown in a see-through side-view and a see-through top-down view, respectively. The calming chair 100' is shown with the supportive parts (shown in figure 5 as item 500) detached. A pre-shaped element 600, shaped according to the supportive properties of the calming chair, is shown. The side rest and the arm rest are integrated as part of the pre-shaped element 600 in the same manner as the embodiment of the preceding figures. The back rest 300 is shown as part of the pre-shaped element 600. A back section (not shown in the drawing) filled with a plurality of mutually displaceable substantially spherical objects may be attached to the back part 300, e.g. at the top of the back section or down along the back part 300.

In figure 4a, the seat section 202 being filled with a plurality of mutually displaceable substantially spherical objects, and an elastically deformable base section 204 is shown as positioned inside a non-transparent seat cover forming a seating pillow. The seating pillow comprising the seat section 202 and the elastically deformable base 204 fits into a recess in the pre-shaped element 600.

The pre-shaped element 600 comprises a low part 601 which inclining inwards thereby forming a "cut-out" of the pre-shaped element, i.e. a narrowing of the preshaped element 600.

The pre-shaped element 600 generally inclines outwards before inclining inwards at the "cut-out" 601 at the bottom of the pre-shaped element 600. At a limited leg section 602 of the pre-shaped element 600, which is positioned behind the users leg, when the user sits in the calming chair and which extends until the "cut-out" 601 at the bottom of the pre-shaped element 600, the pre-shaped element has a surface 602 extending substantially vertically instead of inclining outwards. The vertically surface 602 supports the legs of the user further when the user has to get out of the chair. In the top-down view of the calming chair 100' in figure 4b, the vertical surface 602 can be seen clearly. The measures in figure 4b are merely an example of a dimension which the calming chair 100' may have and should therefore not be seen as a limiting parameter for the dimension of a calming chair 100' in general.

Common for the two shown embodiments of the calming chair 100,100' shown in figures 1-3 and figures 4a-b, respectively, is that they may comprise a chair cover which covers the supportive parts 500, the pre-shaped element 600 and the back rest 300. The seat section 202 and the elastically deformable base 204 may be covered by the chair cover and/or be covered by a separate seating cover. The seating cover may form a seating pillow, which can be removed from the rest of the calming chair 100,100', if the seat section 202 and the elastically deformable base 204 needs to be changed e.g. to adjust for properties of the calming chair for a specific user. The seating pillow may be placed inside the chair cover and/or on top of the chair cover, e.g. in a recess formed in the pre-shaped element as shown in all the figures.

References 100 Calming chair 200 Seat part 202 Seat section 204 Elastically deformable base section 300 Back rest 400 Side rest 500 Supportive part 600 Pre-shaped element 601 Cut-out part of the pre-shaped element 602 Leg part of the pre-shaped element 700 Armrest

Claims

1. Beroligende stol (100) til terapeutisk behandling, hvor den beroligende stol omfatter et understøttende område, som omfatter en sædedel (200) og et ryglæn (300), hvor sædedelen (200) omfatter et sædeafsnit (202), der er fyldt med en flerhed af gensidigt forskydelige i det væsentlige sfæriske genstande, og et elastisk deformerbart basisafsnit (204), og hvor sædeafsnittet (202) er positioneret oven på det elastisk deformerbare basisafsnit (204), kendetegnet ved, at den beroligende stol endvidere omfatter: - en sidestøtte (400) til at støtte den siddende brugers krop; - mindst en støttende del (500), der kan anbringes på brugeren, hvor den støttende del (500) er fyldt med en flerhed af genstande til forøgelse af den støttende dels vægt, og hvilke genstande udøver sporadisk tryk på brugerens krop, og - mindst et på forhånd formet element (600), der udgør en skal med form som en stol.A soothing chair (100) for therapeutic treatment, wherein the soothing chair comprises a support area comprising a seat portion (200) and a backrest (300), the seat portion (200) comprising a seat portion (202) filled with a plurality of mutually displaceable substantially spherical articles, and a resiliently deformable base portion (204), and wherein the seat portion (202) is positioned on top of the resiliently deformable base portion (204), characterized in that the soothing chair further comprises: - a side support (400) to support the body of the seated user; - at least one supporting member (500) which can be placed on the user, wherein the supporting member (500) is filled with a plurality of articles for increasing the weight of the supporting member, and which articles exert occasional pressure on the user's body, and - at least a pre-formed element (600) forming a shell with the shape of a chair.

2. Beroligende stol ifølge krav 1, hvor det mindst ene på forhånd formede element (600) er formet i henhold til den beroligende stols støttende egenskaber, hvor det eller de på forhånd formede elementer omfatter en lav del, der hælder indad og derved danner et "udsnit" af det på forhånd formede element, dvs. en indsnævring af det på forhånd formede element.The soothing chair according to claim 1, wherein the at least one preformed element (600) is formed according to the supporting properties of the softening chair, wherein the preform element (s) comprises a low portion inclined inwardly, thereby forming a "slice" of the preformed element, i.e. a narrowing of the preformed element.

3. Beroligende stol ifølge krav 1 eller 2, hvor de i det væsentlige sfæriske genstande er fuldstændigt sfæriske, f.eks. kugleformede.A sedative chair according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the substantially spherical objects are completely spherical, e.g. spherical.

4. Beroligende stol ifølge et hvilket som helst af kravene 1-3, hvor det elastisk deformerbare basisafsnit er fremstillet af et cellulært strukturmateriale.A soothing chair according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the resiliently deformable base portion is made of a cellular structural material.

5. Beroligende stol ifølge et hvilket som helst af kravene 1-4, hvor det elastisk deformerbare basisafsnit er fremstillet af et skummateriale.A soothing chair according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the resiliently deformable base section is made of a foam material.

6. Beroligende stol ifølge et hvilket som helst af kravene 1-5, hvor sædeafsnittets højde er i området 4-40 cm.A sedative chair according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the height of the seat section is in the range 4-40 cm.

7. Beroligende stol ifølge et hvilket som helst af kravene 1-6, endvidere omfattende et armlæn (700).A sedative chair according to any one of claims 1-6, further comprising an armrest (700).

8. Beroligende stol ifølge et hvilket som helst af kravene 1-7, hvor diameteren af de i det væsentlige sfæriske genstande i sædeafsnittet ligger i området 2-10 cm.A sedative chair according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the diameter of the substantially spherical objects in the seat section is in the range of 2-10 cm.

9. Beroligende stol ifølge et hvilket som helst af kravene 1-8, hvor den beroligende stol omfatter et stolebetræk, som har en genlukkelig åbning med en lukkemekanisme, såsom en lynlås eller en velcrolukning, til at give adgang til indersiden af den beroligende stol.A soothing chair according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the soothing chair comprises a chair cover having a resealable opening with a closing mechanism, such as a zipper or Velcro closure, to allow access to the inside of the soothing chair.

10. Beroligende stol ifølge et hvilket som helst af kravene 1-9, hvor sædeafsnittet omfatter en genlukkelig åbning med en lukkemekanisme, såsom en lynlås eller en velcrolukning, til at give adgang til indersiden af sædeafsnittet.A sedative chair according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the seat section comprises a resealable opening with a closure mechanism, such as a zipper or Velcro closure, to allow access to the inside of the seat section.