Abstract:
A heated and cooled seating unit is disclosed with an apparatus to determine if the chair is in use, such as a pressure sensor, or an electric sensing apparatus. This apparatus controls the heating apparatus and powers the heat off, to conserve power, in the event that a person or object is not seated in the chair.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/451,415, filed 10 Mar. 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to furniture, particularly to chairs, seats and the like. Heated seats, such as in automobiles, provide a level of comfort to users particularly during cold weather months. In addition, cooled seats are desirable in hot and humid conditions. 
         [0003]    Heaters used in these types of seats require a power source. In the case of heated seats in automobiles, the seats are hardwired into the power systems of the vehicles, or portable seat cushions are provided with a DC power source. 
         [0004]    In settings such as home or office, seats and chairs are desirably mobile. A power cord would thus interfere with and limit the mobility of the seats. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A heated and/or cooled task chair is provided without the necessity for a dedicated hard wired power source. 
         [0006]    In a preferred embodiment, the chair will have a heating apparatus located in the seat and or the back. This heating apparatus may comprise one or more of: flexible heating elements, conductive heating yarns, flexible conductive fabrics, or heated elements stitched into the fabrics of the seating apparatus. 
         [0007]    Preferably, the chair has an electric switch to control the heating of the chair. This switch can be positioned in a location visible while seated in the chair. The switch can have an Off, On, Low, Medium &amp; High settings. It may also have indicator light(s) to determine the status of the heating element and or the battery that supplies the heating apparatus. This switch may also provide independent switching of the seat and/or the back heating apparatus. 
         [0008]    The chair may have a rechargeable power source (Battery) located on it to provide power to the heating apparatus. This rechargeable power source may be charged by connecting a cord from the chair or an AC power source, or it may be able to be removed and placed into a charging unit. A connector to charge the battery may be located on the battery or directly built into the chair. In an alternative embodiment, the chair may use wireless technology to charge battery or power the chair. 
         [0009]    The chair may have standard tilt, swivel, height adjustment and rolling swivel casters similar to a typical office chair. 
         [0010]    In another aspect of the present invention, the chair may have an apparatus to determine if the chair is in use, such as a pressure sensor, or an electric sensing apparatus. This apparatus will control the heating apparatus and power the heat off, to conserve power, in the event that a person or object is not seated in the chair. 
         [0011]    This chair may be a standard office chair typically found in the work place or any chair found in the home office, but will provide heat and or cooling to the user. 
         [0012]    This chair will have heating or cooling elements that may be electric or any other method of producing heat or cooling effect. These elements can be located anywhere in the chair, including but not limited to the seat, the back, the lumbar, the arm rests, head rest or the base. 
         [0013]    The chair preferably has an electric switch to control the heating of the chair which may be positioned in a location visible while seated in the chair. The switch can have an Off, On, and may have variable power settings. It may also have indicator light(s) to determine the status of the heating element and or the status of the battery that supplies the heating/cooling apparatus. This switch may also provide independent switching of the Seat and or the Back heating apparatus. In addition, the chair may also include a method of sensing if the chair is in use. This will allow the chair to automatically adjust the power supply or turn the chair off when not in use to conserve energy. This device may be a sensor to determine if the chair is in use by weight or current consumption of heating or cooling elements. 
         [0014]    The chair preferably has a rechargeable power source (Battery) located on or in it to provide power to the heating or cooling apparatus. This (Battery) may be charged Wirelessly, or by connecting a cord from the chair to a power source, or it may be able to be removed and placed into a charging unit. Connector to charge the battery may be located on the (Battery or directly built into the chair. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a chair of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the chair of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the chair of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the chair of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the chair of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a switch box and power switch of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a battery box of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is an electrical schematic of the chair of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a chair  10  of the present invention is shown. Provided are heating elements  30  and  32  located in the seat of the chair and/or in the back of the chair as will be described later. The chair is provided with casters  12  which carry a leg or legs  14 , to hold seat  16 . Armrests are carried by the seat  16 , and the seat  16  has a backrest  26 . Heating elements  30  and/or  32  are powered on and off by a power switch  22 , carried by a switch box  20  coupled to the seat  16 . A detachable power charging cord  24  is detachably coupled to the switch box  20 , which is also coupled to a battery box  28  carrying a battery (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0025]    Instead of or in addition to power switch  22 , the chair  10  can be provided with a wired or wireless remote control to operate the chair. 
         [0026]    A pressure sensor  34  is provided, preferably contained within the seat  16 , to determine if the chair is in use (occupied). The pressure sensor  34  can take the form of a weight sensor, pressure sensor, or electrical conductivity sensor, for example. The pressure sensor  34  communicates with the heating elements  30  and/or  32 , and heat is discontinued in the event that a person or object is not seated in the chair. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a front view of the chair  10  of the present invention is shown. The chair  10  may or may not have casters  12  as are shown in the drawing. Preferably, the chair has a lever to control seat position (not shown). The chair may have a Heating/Cooling elements  30  and  32  located in the Back, Lumbar pad or head rest portions of the chair. The heating elements  30  and  32  may comprise flexible electric heating elements, conductive heating yarns, flexible conductive fabrics or chemical means. 
         [0028]    The chair may have a back  26  that is supported in any method including, but not limited to arms, or vertical post. This back may be comprised of any material including padding, plastic, wood, steel, or cloth. It may be solid, perforated or flexible. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , a top view, side view, and a bottom view of the chair  10  are shown. 
         [0030]    The chair has an electric switch  22  to control the heating of the chair. This switch  22  is preferably positioned in a location that may be visible while seated in the chair. The switch can have an Off, On, Low, Medium &amp; High settings. The chair may also have indicator light(s) to determine the status of the heating element and or remaining power in the battery that supplies the heating apparatus. This switch  22  may also provide independent switching of the Seat and or the Back heating apparatus. 
         [0031]    The chair has a seat  16  that is supported in any method, and may be comprised of any material including padding, plastic, wood, steel, or cloth. It may be solid, perforated or flexible. Swivel and/or tilt mechanism  17  are provided for user adjustability. 
         [0032]    The power source of the chair is preferably a rechargeable power source (Battery) located on or in a battery box  28  to provide power to the heating/cooling apparatus. 
         [0033]    The power source located on or in a battery box  28  (Battery) may be charged by connecting a detachable power charging cord  24 , which is detachably coupled to the switch box  20 , which is also coupled to a battery box  28  carrying a battery, or it may be able to be removed and placed into a charging unit. 
         [0034]    Optionally, a USB cable can be used as a detachable power charging cord  24  to run, charge, operate, or gain feedback from the chair  10  via USB. 
         [0035]    The power source for this chair  10  may also be able to be charged wirelessly. The detachable power charging cord  24  may also be coupled directly to the battery box  28  if desired. The heating/cooling devices may be able to be operated while the battery is being charged. A switch  22  is provided to control all or any of the heating elements  30  and  32 , with adjustability provided for off, low, medium and high heat, with indicator lights showing the power status of the heating elements. 
         [0036]    A sensor  34  is provided to determine if the seat  16  is occupied. If the seat  16  is not occupied, it is preferable to decrease or turn off the heating elements. 
         [0037]    A recessed male electrical connection  40  with a detachable power cord  24  to power heating elements  30  and  32  and charge the battery unit is shown. It is preferred that the battery box  28  be positioned behind the user when seated, so that the knees of the user are not impaired. 
         [0038]    It is preferable that the seat back  26  and seat  16  are made of a soft material covered with a thin layer of material capable of passing heat. The back  26  and seat  16  may also be made from a thermally conductive textile material. 
         [0039]    The chair  10  can be provided with heat in the seat only, or heat in the seat and the lumbar, or heat in the lumbar only. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 6  a perspective view of a switch box  20  carrying power switch  22  is shown. A flange  38  is provided to couple the switch box  20  preferably to the underside of the seat  10 . The recessed male electrical connection  40  is visible, where the detachable power cord  24  is plugged in to power heating elements  30  and  32   
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , perspective view of a battery box  28  of the present invention is shown, which is used to house or carry a battery (not shown). Connection tabs  36  are used to couple the battery box  28  preferably to the underside of chair  10 . 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , an electrical schematic of the chair  10  is shown. Preferably located inside the seat  16  are the compression switch  34 , and the seat heating pad  32 . A separate heating pad  30  is also provided in seat back  26 , and the aforementioned elements are coupled to the control switch  22  residing in switch box  20 . The battery  36  is carried by the battery box  28 , and those elements are detachably coupled to external recharging power source  24  through the switch box  20  at recessed male electrical connection  40 . The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.