Abstract:
A therapeutic recumbent chair having back and leg cushions and including an adjustable lumbar support member and an adjustable scapula region support member, each within the back cushion and movable toward and away from a front surface of the back cushion for adjustment of the support members against the back cushion for comfortably supporting the back of a user when the user is seated in the chair. Varying the positions of the adjustable lumbar support member and of the adjustable scapula region support member allows the chair to be configured to properly support a user&#39;s back when the user is in a recumbent position, for minimizing back problems of a user and for treating back disorders.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a therapeutic chair. More particularly, the present invention relates to a therapeutic recumbent chair that is adjustable for providing support surfaces to properly support a user&#39;s back when in a recumbent position, for minimizing back problems of a user and for treating back disorders. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    As reported by the Cornell University Ergonomics web, “An estimated 50% of people in the industrialized world suffer some form of back complaint and many of these are related to poor seat design.” It further notes that the lumbar region of the back is most often the affected part. Many different configurations of chairs having back support arrangements have been proposed and developed. But because of the complexity of the human vertebral column, few of those chairs, although adjustable, function sufficiently well to be suitable for providing proper back support, as well as for treating back disorders. 
         [0005]    The human spine is a complex bony structure that includes several successive regions having different curvatures when it is viewed from the side of a standing person. Those regions include the cervical spine region adjacent to the neck of the person and that normally has a convex curvature when viewed from the side, and below it the thoracic region that normally has a concave curvature when viewed from the side. Below the thoracic region is the lumbar region, which also normally has a concave curvature, and below the lumbar region is the sacrum region. 
         [0006]    Most back support devices are configured to provide support to the lumbar region, because that region is under stress when the person is in the sitting position. In order to relieve that stress, good posture is required that serves to dispose the back muscles and the vertebrae in proper alignment with firm support, or in time painful back disorders can develop. It is important that the back support be provided at proper positions of the vertebral column. 
         [0007]    Another stress point on the back while a person is in the sitting position are the pressure points associated with the lower portion of the scapula, which is the bone that defines the shoulder blade and that connects the upper arm bone, or humerus, with the collar bone, or clavicle. The scapula is a flat bone, roughly triangular in shape, and includes an outwardly-projecting region. The outwardly-projecting regions result in stress on the body when the person is in a recumbent sitting position. Prior recumbent seating arrangements provide back support that does not address the scapular region stress. In instances in which the seating arrangement includes seat back side edges, or wings, that protrude forward of the center of the seat back, such as those founds in automobile seats and some office chairs, cause increased pressure on the scapula region by cupping the person&#39;s back, thereby resulting in discomfort that could later lead to a back disorder. 
         [0008]    Prior seating arrangements are generally directed to treating back conditions, not on preventing them in the first instance. Persons prone to experiencing back problems would find it desirable to have an appealing piece of furniture that serves as a recumbent chair for relaxation, one that helps to prevent back problems, as well as one to treat back disorders in a comfortable, convenient, and passive way. 
         [0009]    There is therefore a need for a chair that both prevents back problems and also treats back disorders when the person is in a recumbent position. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an embodiment of a therapeutic chair is provided for preventing back problems of a user, and also for alleviating back disorders when the user is in the chair in a static, recumbent position. The chair includes a frame that can formed from a pair of parallel side panels supported in spaced relationship by frame support members that extend between and that are connected with each of the frame side panels. The frame support members hold the frame side panels in parallel, laterally spaced relationship. 
         [0011]    As used herein, the term “recumbent” is intended to mean reclining with the back of the user of the chair oriented at an angle of from about 10° to about 80° relative to the plane on which the recumbent chair rests. 
         [0012]    The frame side panels can include respective opposed, inwardly-extending back cushion support flanges for supporting a back cushion, and respective opposed, inwardly-extending seat cushion support flanges for supporting a seat cushion. The back cushion support flanges are disposed at an obtuse angle relative to the seat cushion support flanges. A back cushion is connected with and is supported by the back cushion support flanges, and it includes a rigid rear surface for supporting the back cushion. A seat cushion is connected with and is supported by the seat cushion support flanges and has a rigid lower surface for supporting the seat cushion. 
         [0013]    In a further embodiment of the invention, a pair of laterally spaced, substantially horizontally extending, elongated arm rests can be pivotally connected to and supported by respective ones of the frame side panels to support a user&#39;s arms while the user is seated in the chair. The arm rests are supported for limited pivotal movement in an upward and rearward direction to allow easy access to and egress from the chair. To limit pivotal movement of the arm rests the frame side panels each include a respective stop to limit an angular range of pivotal movement of the arm rests from a first, substantially horizontal position of the arm rests to a second, upwardly directed position in order to facilitate entry onto and egress from the chair. 
         [0014]    In a still further embodiment of the invention, a lumbar adjustment member is positioned within the back cushion for providing support for the lumbar region of a user who is seated in the chair. The lumbar adjustment member includes an adjustably positioned deflecting member positioned within the back cushion for providing support for the lumbar region of the spine of the user. The deflecting member has an adjustment member extending outwardly from a back surface of the back cushion. The adjustment member includes a series of longitudinally spaced, transversely-extending apertures for receiving a lumbar region retaining member in one of the apertures for retaining the adjustment member at a desired outward extension position relative to the back cushion back surface to provide a desired degree of lumbar support for a user. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment of the invention, the chair can include an overhead grab bar above the back cushion to allow the user to grasp the grab bar, or, alternatively, to reach underneath and past the grab bar with the hands for contact with the forearm so as to use it as a lever point to stretch the user&#39;s arms, shoulders, and back. The grab bar also serves for facilitating a comfortable alternate recumbent posture wherein the user grasps the overhead grab bar to maintain a secure position. The grab bar can also be made adjustable in height in spaced relation with the upper edge of the back cushion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The structure, operation, and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a chair in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the chair shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the chair shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the chair shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary view showing the connection between an arm support member and an arm pivot member relative to a side frame of the chair shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the arm pivot member shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a side cross-sectional view through the chair and cushions to show the positions of the lumbar region and scapula region positioning members; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a fragmentary rear perspective view of a lumbar region support disk; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a fragmentary rear perspective view of a scapula region support member; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a fragmentary perspective view of a support guide member and adjustment rod for the lumbar support region support disk and for the scapula region support member; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a fragmentary rear view of the chair shown in  FIG. 1  showing the neck pillow and associated pillow retaining member. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    Referring now to the drawings in more detail, and initially to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , reference numeral  10  generally designates an embodiment of a therapeutic recumbent chair in the general form of a chaise lounge. Although illustrated and described herein in the context of a chaise lounge, it should be appreciated that the structure and the functional features of the present invention can also be utilized in other forms of seating arrangements, such as recliners, automotive seats, and the like. 
         [0029]    Chair  10  includes a frame, which as shown in the drawings includes a pair of parallel frame side panels  12  that are spaced from and that face each other. The side frame panels can each be unitary elements, or, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , they can be formed from a frame back side panel  14  and a frame front side panel  16 , wherein the frame back and frame front side panels are connected together by a side panel connection member  18  utilizing a plurality of screws  20 , or the like. The two-piece side panel arrangement as shown facilitates shipping of the several parts of the unassembled chair in a smaller size shipping container that falls within the container size limitations of some shipping companies, so that shipment of unassembled chairs can be made by common carrier rather than by motor freight. 
         [0030]    As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the frame side panels  12  are supported in spaced, parallel relationship by a pair of frame support members  22  that are connected with and that extend between the frame side panels  12  to maintain them in spaced, parallel relationship. Each frame support member  22  is a U-shaped, tubular support member having a diameter of from about 1 in. to about 2 in. Each frame member has the parallel arms  24  of the U connected to respective ones of the front and rear frame side panels  14 ,  16  by suitable connecting members, such as bolts  26 , or the like. The cross member  28  of the U-shaped support member  22  that extends between and connects with each of the parallel arms  24  is uppermost, as shown, and the lower ends of the parallel arms  24  are each connected to a respective foot  30 , shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4  as a disc for distributing the chair load on the floor surface over a larger area. The frame support member arms  24  are connected to respective ones of the feet  30  by connecting members, such as bolts, or the like, that pass through the feet and that can be received in threaded receptacles (not shown) securely positioned in the open ends of the tubular arms  24  of the support members  22 . Arms  24  of the front frame support member  22  are connected to respective ones of the frame front side panels  16  by bolts  26 , or the like, and arms  24  of the rear frame support member  22  are connected to respective ones of the frame rear side panels  14  by bolts  26 , or the like. 
         [0031]    As best seen in  FIG. 3 , each of frame side panels  14 ,  16  has a linear upper edge  32  from which a flange  34  extends in an inward direction, so that flanges  34  of each of frame rear side panels  14  face each other and flanges  34  of each of frame front side panels  16  face each other. Flanges  34  provide the support surfaces for supporting the respective cushions of the chair and include spaced openings for receiving screws (not shown) for connecting the cushions to the chair frame. 
         [0032]    Chair  10  includes a back cushion  36  and a leg cushion  38 . Each of cushions  36 ,  38  includes a rigid back panel  40  (see  FIG. 7 ), a resilient foam body  42  that lies against back panel  40 , and an overlying cover  44 . Back panel  40  can be a plywood panel, resilient foam body  42  can be a resilient foam having a density of from about 1.5 lb/ft 3  to about 3.5 lb/ft 3 , which can be a polyurethane foam, and a polymeric cover  44  that extends over foam body  42  and is connected with back panel  40 . Polymeric cover  44  can be a vinyl coated fabric material. Leg cushion  38  includes a thigh-receiving region  46  adjacent to and inclined relative to back cushion  36  at an angle of from about 75° to about 130°, and a calf-receiving region  48  extending substantially horizontally outwardly from the outer end of the thigh-receiving region  46  and defines an angle therewith of between about 5° and about 45°, to provide a comfortable recumbent chair. 
         [0033]    Although the chair frame is illustrated and described herein as formed from planar side panels interconnected by tubular cross members, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other forms of frame construction could also be utilized. For example, elongated angle members can be interconnected to define an open frame structure to support a back cushion and a leg cushion in the relative positional arrangement as those cushions are shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , chair  10  can include an arm rest  50  at each side of the chair. Arm rests  50  are flat panels, which can be padded if desired, and are connected with frame back side panel  14  for pivotal movement in a vertical plane. Each of arm rests  50  is connected to a respective arm rest support member  52 , which can be an L-shaped tubular member as best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Arm rest support members  52  each have an upper leg  54  that is oriented substantially horizontally and is connected with and underlies arm rest  50  to support it. Arm rest support members  52  each have a lower leg  56  extending at substantially a right angle relative to upper leg  54  and in a downward direction when arm rest  50  is horizontal, to connect at its outer end with an arm rest pivot member  58 . Arm rest pivot member  58  is pivotally supported adjacent to the outwardly-facing surface of frame back side panel  14  and is pivotable about a fixed pivot axis provided by a pivot pin  60  that is connected to and extends outwardly from frame back side panel  14 . 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a stop pin  62  extends outwardly from frame back side panel  14  adjacent to and below pivot pin  60 . Arm rest pivot member  58  includes a pair of spaced stop pads  64  that limit the range of pivotal movement of pivot member  58  and enable the pivot member to pivot about the pivot axis defined by pivot pin  60  through a desired angle, such as 90° as shown, but which can be an angle of from about 70° to about 130°, at the ends of which pivotal movement range one of stop pads  64  comes into contact with stop pin  62  to limit the pivoting of arm rest pivot member  58  and of arm rest  50 . The pivotal movement of one or the other of the arm rests from the substantially horizontal position shown in  FIG. 3  to an elevated position limited by one of stop pads  64  allows the user to easily gain access to or to leave chair  10  from the side without being impeded by arm rest  50 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken through the longitudinal center of chair  10  and of cushions  36 ,  38 . As shown, back cushion  36  includes an inner adjustable lumbar support member  66  at a position within back cushion  36  corresponding substantially with the lumbar region of the back of a user when the user is in a recumbent position in the chair. Lumbar support member  66  is shown in  FIG. 8  as a substantially circular flat plate that is initially in contact with the inner surface of back cushion back panel  34  to contact the back surface of back cushion  36 . Lumbar support member  66  can be moved inwardly into foam cushion material  42  and toward the outer surface of back cushion  36  to accommodate the curvature of the lumbar region of the spine of the user, and to provide the desired degree of lumbar spine support for the user of the chair. Although lumbar support member  66  is shown as of circular form and having a flat outer face, it can also be of oval or elliptical form and can have a convex outer face, if desired. 
         [0037]    Similarly, back cushion  36  includes an inner, adjustable scapula region support member  68  at a position within back cushion  36  and spaced upwardly from lumbar support member  66  to lie opposite the scapula region of the back of a user of chair  10 . Scapula region support member  68  is shown in  FIG. 9  as a flat plate of substantially oval or elliptical form, and is initially in contact with the inner surface of back cushion back panel  34 . Scapula region support member  68  preferably has its major axis extending in the longitudinal direction of back cushion  36 , and it can be moved inwardly into the foam cushion material  42  and toward the outer surface of back cushion  36  to lie opposite to and to accommodate the upper region of the user&#39;s back between the scapula bones, and to provide the desired degree of additional back support for the user of the chair. 
         [0038]    As best seen in  FIG. 7 , each of lumbar support member  66  and scapula region support member  68  is attached to a respective adjustment rod  70 . Each adjustment rod  70  is connected with the rearwardly-facing surface of the respective plate, the side that faces the back cushion support panel, by a respective bolt  72 , and it slidably extends rearwardly through an opening formed in back cushion back panel  40 . 
         [0039]    Each of adjustment rods  70  includes a plurality of transversely-extending, longitudinally spaced throughbores  74 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . Adjustment rods  70  pass slidably through an opening  76  in a respective guide member  78  that is attached to back panel  40  of back cushion  36  by screws  80 , or the like. Each of guide members  78  includes a narrow throughbore  82  that passes transversely through guide member  78  and through guide member opening  76  to receive a cylindrical retaining pin  84  having an enlarged end or a ring  86 . Pin  84  passes through one of throughbores  74  provided in adjustment rod  70  to lock adjustment rod  70  and the associated lumbar support member  66  and the associated scapula region support member  68  in a desired position spaced from back cushion support panel  40  to provide the desired degree of back support for the user. The adjustment of each of lumbar support member  66  and scapula region support member  68  is effected by removing retaining pin  84  and pushing adjustment rod  70  toward back cushion  36  until the desired position of lumbar support member  66  and scapula region support member  68  is achieved. 
         [0040]    In addition to the lumbar and scapula region support members  66 ,  68 , and as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4  and  7 , chair  10  includes a pillow  88  that rests against the back cushion and that can be adjustably positioned along back cushion  36  for supporting the neck of the user of chair  10 . Pillow  88  extends between and within the outer side ends of back cushion  36  and has a wedge shape when viewed in transverse cross section. The wedge shape of pillow  88  has a wedge angle defined by the outwardly-facing surfaces of pillow  88  and of such a magnitude, such as between about 270° and about 225°, so that pillow  88  does not completely fill the area behind the user&#39;s neck. 
         [0041]    Adjustment of the position of pillow  88  along the outer surface of back cushion  36  is effected by a retaining component  90  that is connected with pillow  88  to extend rearwardly of pillow  88  and to pass over and around the upper end of back cushion  36 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . Retaining component  90  includes a series of pairs of laterally spaced openings that can contain grommets  92 , through one pair of which openings a pair of screw posts (not shown) that are located at the back face of back cushion back panel  40  and that extend outwardly and to which a retaining nut, or the like (not shown) is applied to secure retaining component  90  when pillow  88  is in the desired position on the surface of back cushion  36 . Retaining component  90  is positioned relative to the upper edge of back cushion  36  to maintain pillow  88  in the desired position on the outer face of back cushion  36  for maximum comfort of the user. 
         [0042]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 1-4 , chair  10  includes an overhead grab bar  94  that is supported by and that extends upwardly from and outwardly of back panel  40  of back cushion  36 . Overhead grab bar  94  is a generally U-shaped component that is suitably connected to back cushion back panel  40 , such as by screws, or the like (not shown), and is provided to allow the user of chair  10  to grasp grab bar  94  and pull, or to use it as a lever point in contact with the forearms to stretch the user&#39;s arms, shoulder, and back, and for providing the user with a comfortable, alternate posture with arms overhead by grasping of bar  94 . Overhead grab bar  94  can be a tubular member having a diameter of from about 1 in. to about 2 in., and including a substantially horizontally-extending bar  96  and a pair of substantially parallel arms  98  that extend from respective outer ends of horizontally-extending bar  96  and that are connected to back cushion back panel  40  by screws or the like (not shown). 
         [0043]    If desired, and also during assembly of the chair components, the position of back cushion  36  along frame back side panel  14  can be adjusted by grasping the two back cushion moving handles  100  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 11  and moving back cushion  36  in the desired direction along flanges  34  of frame back side panel  14 . 
         [0044]    Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended to encompass within the appended claims all such changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the present invention.