Back support

A thoracic back support allows for and assists in the promotion of scapular retraction in a seated human. In various examples, such supports may be rigid or semi-rigid, and they may be convex.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to, but are not limited to, the field of human back support. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to thoracic back support for chairs and other seating apparatuses.

A significant number of people in the United States experiences low back pain at some point in their lives. This back pain may result in pain of a level ranging from inconvenient to debilitating. Back pain may also result in lost productivity due to missed work.

Most chairs and other seating apparatuses (including, for example, couches and the like) have a concave shape to the back support, as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3. This concave shape moves a seated individual's shoulder girdle into an anterior position, resulting in scapular protraction. Because the human body is a kinetic chain, with adjustments to the position of one part of the body affecting the alignment of other parts of the body, this scapular protraction may have a detrimental effect on a person's spinal alignment. Most chairs tend to flatten the natural curve of the lumbar vertebrae (a hypo-lordotic condition) while increasing the curve of the thoracic vertebrae (a hyper-kyphotic condition) and accentuating the cervical curve (a hyper-lordotic position). Further discussion of these conditions may be found, for example, inBasic Biomechanics, Susan J. Hall, 3rd ed, 1999, which is incorporated by reference herein. These conditions may contribute to back pain. As shown inFIG. 3, even a chair with a good lumbar support, if promoting scapular protraction, does not align the spine correctly through all three curves.

It would be beneficial to provide a back support, chair, or other seating apparatus that reduces or eliminates one or more of the conditions caused by scapular protraction. It would further be desirable to provide a back support, chair, or other seating apparatus that would promote scapular retraction, thereby eliminating one or more of the conditions described above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a thoracic back support for a chair or other seating apparatus. A back support of the invention has a convex thoracic support column that promotes scapular retraction in a person seated on a chair or other seating apparatus bearing the back support. A thoracic support column, preferably a convex thoracic support column, provides a back support that allows and/or promotes scapular retraction in a seated person. A column may be a freestanding column or may be integrated into a more traditional chair back. Embodiments of the invention may also include a lumbar support, as shown inFIG. 1.

An embodiment of the invention includes a method for promoting scapular retraction in a person in a seated or reclining position, comprising providing a thoracic support column and a seat appended thereto and performing at least one of sitting or reclining against said thoracic support column, wherein pressure resulting from said sitting or reclining against said thoracic support column promotes scapular retraction. A further embodiment of the invention provides a chair comprising a seat, a plurality of legs depending from the seat, and a back attached to the seat, wherein the back comprises a thoracic support column.

The thoracic support column may comprise a back of a chair. The chair may be, for example, but is not limited to folding chairs, rolling chairs, stadium seats, love seat, couch, stackable chairs, student chairs, airplane seats, helicopter seats, office chairs, school chairs, dining chairs, theater seats, watercraft seats, and ground vehicle seats.

The thoracic support column may be a convex thoracic support column. The thoracic support column may include a central groove. A scapular indentation may be situated on either side of a thoracic support column. A headrest, a lumbar support, a plurality of armrests, a footrest, a swivel mechanism, a height-adjustment assembly, a front-axis pivot, a mid-axis pivot, a horizontal seat adjustment, a seat length adjustment, a seat-tilt adjustment, a split in said seat, a horizontal adjustment for said back, a vertical adjustment for said back, a vibration function, a heating function, a cooling function, a thermostat, and/or a tilt for said back may be provided.

A thoracic support column may comprise a fluid bladder having a filled state and an unfilled state. The user of a chair with a fluid bladder may be able to adjust the fluid bladder between said filled state and said unfilled state to provide a thoracic support column of varying rigidity.

A thoracic back support column may be rigid or semi-rigid. In some embodiments, the thoracic support column is about 2 inches to about 8 inches wide at its base, about 2 inches wide at its topmost point, and about 0.75 inches to about 3.5 inches deep from its apex. The chair back may consist of a thoracic support column. The thoracic support column may be, for example, a cylinder, and elliptic cylinder, and a cylindrical section.

An embodiment of the invention may include a thoracic support for a seating apparatus or reclining apparatus, wherein said thoracic support comprises a convex column.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with specific reference to the figures. Referring toFIG. 1, an embodiment of the invention is shown. It includes a thoracic support column1, a lumbar support3, and a tapered bevel5adjoining the lumbar and thoracic supports. In this embodiment of the invention, at least the portion of the thoracic support column that may come into contact with a seated individual is convex. Although the thoracic support column is depicted as an elliptic cylinder in this embodiment, other embodiments may include a cylinder, half cylinder, or other curved surface. In some embodiments a thoracic support column may appear to be only a portion of a cylinder or elliptic cylinder extending from the plane of the seat back.

Other embodiments of the invention may include a thoracic support column but no lumbar support, or a thoracic support column and lumbar support but no tapered bevel. Seating incorporating a back support of the invention should also include a horizontal seating surface; however, one may also recognize that a back support alone may be placed in a horizontal position and used as a place for a person to recline.

In some embodiments of the invention the angle of the back support relative to the seating surface is fixed. In other embodiments the angle may be adjusted by the user. Preferably the angle, when set, is about 11 degrees declination of the neutral spine (or 101 degrees if 0 degrees is considered to be the horizontal seat pan). If measuring toward the top of the thoracic curve, the angle would be greater than if measuring near the lumbar curve. Alternatively, the angle may vary between 0 and about 22 degrees declination of the neutral spine (or 90 to about 112 degrees if 0 degrees is considered to be the horizontal seat pan). These angles are only exemplary, and should not be construed to limit the claims.

An example of a curved surface that may be used as a thoracic support column is shown inFIG. 4. InFIG. 4, a chair back7includes a thoracic support column9.FIG. 4further depicts an individual11seated in a chair including an embodiment of a thoracic support column of the invention. It should be noted that the individual's scapula are in a retracted position compared to the position that would be achieved with a conventional chair lacking a thoracic support column. It will be noted that a back support may be created by providing a sheet that is contoured around a convex thoracic support. One such chair is shown in top view inFIG. 4.

Further benefits of a thoracic support column are shown inFIG. 5.FIG. 5includes a side view of an individual13seated in a chair15including a chair back with a thoracic support column17of the invention. As may be seen inFIG. 5, a seated individual who is able to make use of a thoracic back support is able to exhibit scapular retraction, which allows a more natural alignment of the spine. For a person without a significant number of chest and shoulder adhesions, such a position would be more comfortable than the position encouraged by a traditional chair.

A thoracic support column as used herein may be of any length, though generally it will extend for a distance of about 9 inches above the lumbar vertebrae. For reasons of head comfort, it is preferred that the thoracic support column not extend above the neck height of the user; however, in some embodiments of the invention such extension may occur. In some embodiments, the length of the thoracic support column may be varied during initial manufacture. In some embodiments, the thoracic support column may be situated on a bar or column that allows the thoracic support column to be moved vertically and secured when a desired position is reached. In some embodiments, a thoracic support column comprises multiple nested columns that may be moved vertically independent of each other and secured when a desired position is reached.

FIG. 6shows an office chair19including a seat20, a thoracic support column21, recessed sections23and25, both of which allow for scapular retraction, and a lumbar support27.

FIG. 7shows, in profile, another office chair29, including a seat30, a thoracic support column31, a lumbar support33, and a head support35. A head support may be, for example, an adjustable head support that may support the occipital bone. It may include vertical adjustment as well as a forward and backward pivot.

FIG. 8shows yet another office chair including a thoracic support column37, a head rest39, seat40, lumbar support41, and frame43. Mounting points in the frame allow vertical adjustment at each location. This also allows each location to pivot.

FIG. 9shows another office chair including a rigid, convex thoracic support column45, contoured head rest47allowing a fit below a user's occipital bone, lumbar support49, seat51, frame53, fabric mounting bar55, and fabric57. A layer of fabric goes over the supports and another goes under. The layers may be connected, for example, via zipper mechanisms, stitching, or a hook and eye fastener (for example, Velcro®) forcing the fabric to more closely contour the supports themselves.

Back supports including thoracic support columns as described and shown herein may be used in a variety of seating applications. These include, for example, but are not limited to, office chairs, school chairs, dining chairs, couches, love seats, stadium seating, recliners, vehicular seating (including, for example, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and school buses), movie theater seating, watercraft seating, and aircraft seating. Examples of various embodiments are shown throughout the figures; for example, various embodiments are shown inFIGS. 10-12as well as throughout the other figures.

FIG. 13shows a chair59including a fluid bladder61that may include one or more chambers. The fluid bladder may be inflated to provide a stable thoracic support column. The bladder may be rigid or semi-rigid, and its rigidity may be controlled by a user. This could be controlled, for example, by one or more automated or manual pumping controls that regulate displacement of the fluid. The chair ofFIG. 13also includes an elastic material in the chair back, allowing comfortable support when the support column is inflated. The bladder may be filled with, for example, air or water.

Another fluid bladder chair is shown inFIG. 14. It includes recessed areas63and65allowing for scapular retraction, as well as rigid convex vertical thoracic support67. Dashed lines69indicate a contoured fluid bladder in a deflated position. Once inflated the bladder will change shape and push the chair's occupant away from lumbar and thoracic supports, and the back rest will take on a desired shape. A fully inflated bladder may create a flat or nearly flat surface. The bladder could also be designed to create a concave shaped surface (or any other desired shape) for the back support at full inflation. As shown inFIG. 14, a fully inflated bladder may create a nearly flat surface. The bladder could also be designed to create a concave shaped surface for the back support at full inflation.

Yet another bladder configuration for a support column and chair is shown inFIG. 15. This chair includes one or more thoracic bladders71, as well as a lumbar bladder73and base bladder75. When more than one thoracic bladder is present, they may form a gap77that may hold the spinous processes.

FIG. 16shows a fabric covered thoracic support in which the fabric70, when tightened, will pull away from the support72, thus creating a simple flat panel on which the user may rest. The tightening effect of the fabric could be achieved by rotating support columns74on either side of the back support. As each column rotates, one clockwise the other counterclockwise, the fabric would either tighten or loosen depending on the direction of rotation.

Supports may be constructed from foam. For example,FIG. 17shows a foam block incorporating both a rigid foam back79and a memory or non-rigid foam front81. Dashed lines83show contoured memory foam. Users with generally high mass (for example, adults) may sit against the outer foam layer, which contracts and gives the benefit of support from the underlying rigid foam. Users with lesser mass (for example, children), do not compress the outer foam layer, allowing them to have a seating position not affected by the thoracic support, which may be too large to allow scapular retraction in a small person.

Although many embodiments have been described from the perspective of single-person chairs, thoracic supports are also useful for couches, loveseats, and the like. A loveseat is shown inFIG. 18. It includes two cushions85and87, both of which have thoracic support columns89and lumbar supports91. As an additional feature, the couch or loveseat back may be recessed, allowing both sides of each pillow to have a support, so that the cushions can be reversed after use. In a further embodiment, only one side of each cushion has a thoracic support column, so that the couch can be configured as a conventional couch by reversing the cushions. In another embodiment, the seating area93is particularly firm, to maintain proper alignment with the thoracic support. This may have the beneficial effect of permitting a bottom section95of the loveseat or couch to be used as storage.

Although the shape of the thoracic support is generally convex, embodiments of the invention include a concave channel along the edge of the column that is in contact with a user's spine. This is shown as feature97inFIG. 19. This concave channel may be made in any embodiment. A channel allows the vertebrae of a seated individual to rest more comfortably in the chair. This effect may also be achieved as shown inFIG. 15.

In a further embodiment, a lateral support structure is provided to decrease lateral mobility of an occupant. Such an embodiment might be particularly useful, for example, for a person seated in a moving vehicle. One lateral support structure is shown inFIG. 20, at99and101. In this case the lateral support structure is a pair of convex edges. However, the lateral support need not extend the entire length of the back support. For example, lateral support may be limited to the lumbar region, allowing a user's arms to retain a free range of motion.

Embodiments may also provide an adjustable lumbar support. Lumbar adjustment may be accomplished in a variety of ways. One way is shown inFIG. 21, in which the dashed line103represents an adjustable lumbar support boundary. In this adjustable lumbar support, the lower region can slide up and down the upper region, allowing for a more custom fit of the lumbar curve.

Many existing seating devices may be retrofit to have thoracic supports. For example, many office chairs have back portions that are separate from a seating portion. The “stock” back (lacking a thoracic support column) can be replaced with a back having a thoracic support column. Where an existing chair back cannot be removed, or where it is undesirable to do so, a thoracic support may be attached to an existing chair back. One attachable support is shown inFIG. 22. A thoracic support column105and a lumbar support107are provided, along with a tension harness109. This support may be attached to an existing chair.

Dimensions of the thoracic support column may be modified to allow for the comfort of large, small, and average individuals. In some embodiments of the invention this modification must be made during construction of the chair. In other embodiments the modification may be adjusted by a user. For example, if the thoracic support column is shaped as part of a cylinder or elliptic cylinder, one may modify the radius of the cylinder or elliptic cylinder to accommodate a person with more or less space between his/her scapula than is average. The lumbar support may be made taller or shorter depending on the lumbar length of the individual. Adjustments may also be made, for example, based on an individual's thoracic curve, cervical curve, and shoulder girdle size.

Typically, a thoracic support will extend upwardly from the point of the spine above the lumbar vertebrae to at least the most inferior portion of the medial aspect (vertebral border) of the scapula of the seated person. A support may be rigid, meaning that it is not capable of being compressed or bent, or it may be semi-rigid. A semi-rigid support may be bent or partially compressed enough to provide a comfortable seating arrangement, but not enough to forego the benefits of the support.

Typical thoracic support columns as discussed herein will have a radius of about 1 to 4 inches from its apex, with its steepest grade occurring within the first inch, and between about 0.75 inches to about 3.5 inches deep from its apex (where the apex is the point of the convex column designed to touch a seated person's spine). In another embodiment, where the thoracic support column is not included with a more traditional chair back, it may be deeper than 3.5 inches. In a preferred embodiment, as shown inFIG. 8, a thoracic support is about 7 inches tall and about 5 inches wide at its base, and it has a simple linear curve from its apex to its base, with a functional depth of about 2.5 functional inches and a total depth that may be greater. In one embodiment a lumbar support may be, for example, about 20 inches wide and about 6.5 inches tall, with an airfoil shaped curve having an approximate functional depth of about 3 inches. A head support may be, for example about 4 inches wide and about 1.5 inches tall, and may have a ‘two-globe’ shaped support with a depth of about 1 functional inch.

When integrated into a traditional rectangular chair back, as shown, for example, inFIG. 10, a support may be roughly bell-shaped and have a bottom width of about 20 inches. It will be recognized that although a typical office chair has an approximate width of about 20 inches, both larger and smaller backs are possible, with a general range of about 14 inches to about 30 inches in width, narrowing to a top width of about 4 inches to about 2 inches. An integrated lumbar support may be, for example, about 1 inch to about 6 inches deep from its apex and about 4 inches to about 10 inches tall. It will be recognized that these measurements are exemplary, and they should not be interpreted to limit any aspect of the invention unless included in the claims.

The chairs and other seating apparatus described herein may include other features. For example, they may be made of one or more of a variety of materials, including but not limited to wood, plastic, metal, and polymers. They may have one or more portions covered in textiles; for example, they may be covered by cloth, leather, or vinyl. They may be stackable. the chairs and other seating apparatus may have padding in one or more places. Padding may be, for example, foam, down, or other materials. They may be of unitary construction or constructed from multiple pieces.

The chairs and other seating apparatus may also be capable of adjustment. For example, a chair may be configured to have one or more adjustable aspects including, but not limited to:vertical adjustment of the height of the seating surface, for example by a piston;swivel mechanism;front-axis pivot (also known as a knee tilt), with or without adjustable tension and/or tilt lock;mid-axis pivot, with or without tilt lock;horizontal seat adjustment, by which a seating surface may move away from or toward the back support;seat length adjustment, by which the front portion of the seat would telescope to increase the functional length of the seating surface;seat tilt adjustment, including a mid-axis pivot allowing the front of the seating surface to dip below or rise above the back of the seat;split seat, whereby the seating surface is split down its center axis, allowing varying adjustment and support of each side of the seating surface;vertically and/or horizontally adjusting back support, allowing the back support to move up or down relative to the seating surface, toward the seating surface, or away from the seating surface;tilt adjustment for back support, allowing a user to change the angle of the back support;vertical and/or horizontal adjusting head support, with or without pivot;arm rests, which optionally include vertical, horizontal, and/or transverse slides and pivots; andone or more foot rests.

Patents, patent applications, publications, scientific articles, books, web sites, and/or other documents and materials referenced or mentioned herein are indicative of the levels of skill of those skilled in the art to which the inventions pertain, as of the date each publication was written, and all are incorporated by reference as if fully rewritten herein. Additionally, all claims in this application, including but not limited to original claims, are hereby incorporated in their entirety into, and form a part of, the written description of the invention. Applicants reserve the right to physically incorporate into this specification any and all materials and information from any such patents, applications, publications, scientific articles, web sites, electronically available information, and/or other referenced materials or documents. Applicants reserve the right to physically incorporate into any part of this document, including any part of the written description, the claims referred to above including but not limited to any original claims.

The terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions, or any portions thereof, to exclude any equivalents now known or later developed, whether or not such equivalents are set forth or shown or described herein or whether or not such equivalents are viewed as predictable, but it is recognized that various modifications are within the scope of the invention claimed, whether or not those claims issued with or without alteration or amendment for any reason. Thus, it shall be understood that, although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modifications and variations of the inventions embodied therein or herein disclosed can be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of the inventions disclosed and claimed herein.

Specific methods and apparatuses described and depicted herein are exemplary and not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Other objects, aspects, and embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of this specification, and are encompassed within the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the claims. Where examples are given, the description shall be construed to include, but not to be limited to, only those examples. It will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that varying substitutions and modifications may be made to the invention disclosed herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, and from the description of the inventions, including those illustratively set forth herein, it is manifest that various modifications and equivalents can be used to implement the concepts of the present invention without departing from its scope. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Thus, for example, additional embodiments are within the scope of the invention and within the following claims.