GB2349814A

GB2349814A - Body mouldable seat

Info

Publication number: GB2349814A
Application number: GB9927544A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin John Giles
Original assignee: GP SIM TECH Ltd
Current assignee: GP SIM TECH Ltd
Priority date: 1998-11-23
Filing date: 1999-11-23
Publication date: 2000-11-15
Also published as: GB9927544D0; GB9825465D0

Abstract

A mouldable seat comprises a squab compartment 1 and a back compartment 2, both of which are constructed from an airtight fabric material and partially filled with a granular filling, for example polystyrene spheres. In use the weight of a person sitting on the seat, moulds the seat around the person, at the same time forcing air out of the compartments through seams 4, resulting in a stiffer more supportive structure, which will retain its shape even if the person vacates the seat.

Description

289 Final.doc 22-Nov-99 01:11 2349814 Seat The present invention relates

to a flexible seat and in particular it relates to a seat in the form of a cushion which will fit to the shape and give support to a user of the seat.

It is known to have plastic bags partly filled with plastic spheres or balls which can be placed on a floor and sat on, the user squashing the bag and the spheres causes the bag to fit around the person. However these bags give no real support as a person sitting on such a bag will not be held, but will have very little resistance to sideways movement and in fact it is very easy to fall or slide off such a seat.

It also known to have a cloth bag containing solid balls or spheres such as bean bags and for these to be used as a seat or cushion. In practice these give very little supporl as a user will be free to easily move away and the bag will conform to such is movement.

In computer controlled games which involve the control and steering of a vehicle.

such as a racing car or aircraft, it is desired to give a player as accurate simulation of the feel of the vehicle as possible and purpose built steering wheel consoles and steering wheel and gear change, braking and acceleration simulations are used. In these a player will sit behind a framework with the steering wheel in front of him with gear change and accelerator pedals etc. placed in the position of use and a screen or VDU in place so that the picture can be seen by the player. Such frameworks arc usually placed on a floor and the user sits on the floor or on a low cushion optionall,, on a flat projection of the framework. This is not always satisfactory and we have devised an improved seating arrangement.

According to the invention there is provided a flexible seat made of a substantiall., air I impervious fabric material container partially filled with a solid particulate filling and which comprises a base seat section and a back section, there being a means whereb 289 Final.doc 22-Nov-99 01:11 2 air inside the container can escape in a controlled manner when a person sits on the seat through limited air escape means so that the seat conforms to the shape of a person who sits on the seat.

It is a feature of the invention that, unlike seats made of air impervious plastics material the controlled escape of air enables the seat to fit around and the shape of a person sitting in the seat and, unlike seats made of cloth material, which allow air to escape through the cloth, the seat maintains a structural form when person sits on il and this shape stays substantially the same even if a person moves whilst seated, so 10 that it provides support.

This conformity to the shape of a person provides a seat which is customised for the person and which has sufficient rigidity to provide support for the user and makes the seat very suitable for use with a game simulator and the like.

With seats made of a cloth bag filled with spheres it has been found that, when a person sits on it, it tends to flatten out and provide little or no support as there is no constraint on the movement of the spheres and air can freely enter and leave the bag.

In the present invention, once the seat has conformed to the shape of a person sitting down it will retain its shape when the person gets up and there is an inbuilt resistance to movement. It can be considered that once the seat has taken a shape there is a marked inertia to any change of shape analogous to thixotropic effect in liquids. 25 Thus, in use a person sits on the seat, waits for a short period of time whilst the air is forced out of the seat slowly and in a controlled manner by the weight of the person and the seat then conforms to the shape of the person. If the person tries to move the seat resists a change in shape and so there is support provided to the user. This gives the effect, to the user, of a custom built seat similar to those used in racing cars so 30 that, in a car simulation game, if the driver tries to move around on the seat in 2B9 Final.doe 22-Nov-99 01:11 3 accordance with the perceived movement of the car on the screen he will be constrained by the seat.

Preferably the seat is made of at least two compartments with one compartmenl approximating to the back and one compartment approximating to the seat or squab.

This arrangement facilitates the arrangement of the support. Optionally at least the seat compartment is shaped so that the sides can more easily conform to the shape of a person sitting on it.

Preferably the movement of air from within the seal is out through narrow seams or gaps between the sections put together to make the seat. It is important that thesc gaps are sufficiently narrow to prevent rapid movement of air but sufficiently, wide to allow the air to escape quickly enough so that there is not an unacceptable delay before the seat takes the shape of a user. is Alternatively or additionally there are one or more valves which can control the air flow out of the seat when a person sits on it so that the desired degree of support and control is obtained. 20 The fabric material is preferably a robust plastics material such as a polyethylene. polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride etc. optionally for comfort the material can be fabric covered. The filling of the seat is preferably composed of spheres which can be made from a 25 solid plastics material e.g. polystyrene and preferably have a diameter of 3-5mm, e.g. 4min. The escape of the air is preferably at a rate of 1 litre per minute to 50 litres per minute and more preferably from 10 litres per minute to 3 0 litres per minute. 30 The invention is described in the accompanying drawing in which a seat consists of a 289 Final.doe 22-Nov-99 01:11 4 base compartment (1) and a back compartment (2) each of which are partially filled with expanded polystyrene balls of 4mm diameter. The seat is made from air impervious plastic material and covered in a cloth fabric. There are seams (4) between the compartments through which air between the compartments can escape in a controlled regulated manner.

In use, a person sits on seat (3) and his weight will cause air to escape through the seams (4) in a controlled way and the balls within the compartments to slowly take the shape of his body. As a result of the construction a person is supported and is unable to move suddenly in any direction. When a person gets up the seat will retain its shape unless another person sits on it and causes it to change shape.

Thus the seat can be placed on a floor in front of a games console and provides a more realistic simulation of a seat in a racing car etc.

289 Final.doc 22-No-99 01:11

Claims

1. A flexible seat made of a substantially air impervious fabric material container partially filled with a solid particulate filling and which comprises a base seat section and a back section, there being a means whereby air inside the container can escape in a controlled manner when a person sits on the seat through limited air escape means so that the seat conforms to the shape of a person who sits on the seat.

2. A seat as claimed in claim I which is made of at least two compartments with one compartment approximating to the back and one compartment approximating to the seat or squab.

3. A seat as claimed in claim 2 in which at least the seat compartment is shaped so that the sides can more easily conform to the shape of a person sitting on it. 15

4. A seat as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which there are one or more valves which can control the air flow out of the seat when a person sits on it.

5. A seat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the fabric material is 20 a polyethylene, polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride.

6. A seat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the solid particulate filling of the seat is composed of spheres which of a solid plastics material.

7. A seat as claimed in claim 6 in which the filling is composed of spheres of diameter of 3-5mm.

8. A seat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the solid particulate filling is made of polystyrene. 30 289 Final.doc 22-Mov-99 - 01:11

9. A seat as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing.