Patent Publication Number: US-11045005-B2

Title: Stackable active seat

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Active seating allows a user freedom of movement while remaining seated. For example, a user may be able to pivot, rotate, or otherwise move the seat while sitting in the seat. Other seating includes pedals or other structures that can be moved by the user while the user remains seated. Improvements are desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some aspects of the disclosure are directed to an active seat allowing a user to tilt in one or more directions. For example, such an active seat could be used in a classroom setting, a daycare, or at home. Two or more active seats can easily stack together for compact storage. 
     In certain implementations, an active seat includes a seat disposed at a first end of a body; a convex surface disposed at a second end of the body; and a stacking notch defined at an intermediate location along the body between the first and second ends. The convex surface defines at least a first rocking path about which the active seat tilts. 
     In certain examples, the stacking notch defines a flat surface extending along part of the length of the body. 
     In certain examples, the flat surface is recessed laterally inwardly from an outer periphery of the body taken at the first and second ends. 
     In certain examples, the convex surface defines a plurality of rocking paths. In an example, at least one of the rocking paths is rotationally offset from another of the rocking paths. In an example, at least one of the rocking paths is laterally offset from another of the rocking paths. 
     In some examples, the active seat is monolithically formed. In other examples, at least the convex surface is formed from a separate piece than the seat. In certain examples, the active seat is fabricated from a first monolithically-formed body defining the seat and the stacking notch and from a plate coupled to the body. 
     In certain implementations, multiple active seats can be stored in a stacked configuration. For example, adjacent active seats are oriented at 90 degree rotational offsets from each other while aligning the flat surfaces to oppose each other. In certain examples, the active seats define resting surfaces that contact either the floor or resting surface of a supporting active seat to enhance stability of the stack. 
     A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of the present disclosure. A brief description of the drawings is as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is top perspective view of an example active seat configured in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is bottom perspective view of the active seat of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a side elevational view of the active seat of  FIG. 1  shown in solid lines in a first tilted position along a first example rocking path and in dashed lines in a second tilted position along the first rocking path; 
         FIG. 3B  is a side elevational view of the active seat of  FIG. 3A  rotated 90 degrees, the active seat being shown in solid lines in a first tilted position along a second example rocking path and in dashed lines in a second tilted position along the second rocking path; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the active seat of  FIG. 1  with the convex surface illustrated as a separate plate shown exploded from the active seat; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a stack of active seats shown exploded from each other for ease in viewing; 
         FIG. 6  shows the stack of active seats from  FIG. 5  assembled together; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the stack of active seats from  FIG. 5  showing that one or more active seats in the stack may be flipped in a reverse orientation within the stack. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present disclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     The present disclosure is directed to a stackable active seat. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an example active seat  100  extends between a first end  102  and a second end  104 . The active seat  100  includes a first end portion  110 , a second end portion  112 , and a connecting portion  114 . The first end portion  110  defines the first end  102  of the active seat and the second end portion  112  defines the second end  104  of the active seat  100 . 
     A seating surface  118  is disposed at the first end portion  110 . In some implementations, the seating surface  118  is flat. In other implementations, the seating surface  118  is contoured. In some examples, the seating surface  118  is formed by a depression in the first end portion  110 . In other examples, the seating surface  118  has portions raised above the first end portion  110 . In the example shown, the seating surface  118  is integral with the first end portion. In other examples, the seating surface  118  may be a separate piece mounted to the first end portion  110 . The seating surface  118  faces in a first direction. 
     A convexly contoured surface  120  is disposed at the second end portion  114 . The convexly contoured surface  120  faces in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. The convexly contoured surface  120  defines at least one rocking path R 1  along which the active seat  100  can tilt. Tilting the active seat  100  along the rocking path translates the seating surface  118  along a corresponding tilting path T. 
     In certain implementations, the convexly contoured surface  120  defines multiple rocking paths (e.g., see rocking paths R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 ) along which the active seat  100  can be tilted. In some examples, the rocking paths are rotationally offset from each other (e.g., compare rocking paths R 1  and R 2 ), thereby allowing a user to rock along different directions (e.g., forward-rearward, side-to-side, etc.). In other examples, the rocking paths are laterally offset from each other (e.g., compare rocking paths R 1  and R 3 ), thereby allowing the user to rock back and forth at different lateral tilt angles. For simplicity, three example rocking paths R 1 , R 2 , R 3  are shown. In an example, the convex surface  112  is oblong. In other examples, the convex surface  112  may have other contoured shapes (e.g., a spherical cap). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , as the active seat  100  tilts along a rocking path R 1 , R 2 , there is a change in angle θ between the longitudinal axis L of the active seat  100  and a reference axis normal to a floor F on which the stool is disposed. In each of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the active seat  100  is shown in solid lines tilted to a furthermost position along the rocking path R 1 , R 2  in a first direction and is shown in dashed lines tilted to a furthermost position along the rocking path R 1 , R 2  in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. It is noted that the active seat  100  can tilt along any of the rocking paths defined by the convex surface  112 . 
     In certain implementations, the convex surface  120  allows the active seat  100  to tilt up to an angle of 45 degrees in either direction along the rocking path R 1 . In certain implementations, the convex surface  120  allows the active seat  100  to tilt up to an angle of 40 degrees in either direction along the rocking path R 1 . In certain implementations, the convex surface  120  allows the active seat  100  to tilt up to an angle of 35 degrees in either direction along the rocking path R 1 . In certain implementations, the convex surface  120  allows the active seat  100  to tilt up to an angle of 30 degrees in either direction along the rocking path R 1 . In certain implementations, the convex surface  120  allows the active seat  100  to tilt at an angle of between about 5 degrees and about 45 degrees in either direction along the rocking path R 1 . In certain implementations, the convex surface  120  allows the active seat  100  to tilt at an angle of between about 10 degrees and about 35 degrees in either direction along the rocking path R 1 . In certain implementations, the convex surface  120  allows the active seat  100  to tilt at an angle of between about 15 degrees and about 25 degrees in either direction along the rocking path R 1 . 
     In some implementations, the convex surface  120  is integral with the second end portion  112 . In other implementations, the convex surface  120  is a defined by a separate piece  140  that is mounted to the second end portion  112  (e.g., see  FIG. 4 ). For example, the separate piece  140  may define one or more fastener openings  142  through which fasteners (e.g., screws) may be disposed to hold the separate piece  140  to the second end portion  112 . In certain examples, the separate piece  140  is formed of a different material (e.g., a more rigid material, a stronger material, a differently textured material, etc.) than the second end portion  112 . 
     In certain examples, a part  134  of the second end portion  112  extends laterally outwardly beyond the convex surface  120 . This part  134  provides a stop surface that inhibits further tilting of the active seat  100  along the rocking paths R 1 , R 2 , R 3 . In some examples, the part  134  defines a periphery around the separate piece  140 . In other examples, the part  134  is integral with the second end portion  112 . 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the connecting portion  114  extends between the first end portion  110  and the second end portion  112 . The connecting portion  114  defines oppositely facing flat surfaces  122 . In certain examples, the flat surfaces  122  are connected by oppositely facing side surfaces  124 . In the example shown, the side surfaces  124  are convexly curved. In other examples, the side surfaces  124  can be flat or concavely curved. 
     In certain implementations, the connecting portion  114  has a transverse cross-dimension that is less than a transverse cross-dimension of the first end portion  110  and is less than a transverse cross-dimension of the second end portion  112 . In certain examples, any transverse cross-dimension of the connecting portion  114  is less than the corresponding transverse cross-dimensions of the first and second end portions  110 ,  112 . In certain examples, the active seat  100  has an I-shaped profile. In certain examples, the active seat  100  has an I-shaped profile in a first orientation and in a second orientation that is rotated 90 degrees from the first orientation. 
     In some implementations, the first end portion  110  is shaped the same as the second end portion  112 . In other implementations, the first and second end portions  110 ,  112  are similarly sized and shaped, but are not the same. In certain examples, the first and second end portions  110 ,  112  contour or taper outwardly as they transition away from the connecting portion  114 . 
     In certain implementations, the active seat  100  is configured to enable multiple active seats be stored in a stack. To stack the active seats  100 , a first active seat  100  is flipped 90 degrees to lie sideways on the floor F. In certain examples, the first and second end portions  110 ,  112  define resting surfaces  126 ,  128 , respectively, that contact the floor F when the active seat  100  is laid sideways on the floor F. In the example shown, the resting surfaces  126 ,  128  are flat. In other examples, the resting surfaces  126 ,  128  can be concave or slightly convex. In certain examples, each of the first and second end portions  110 ,  112  defines oppositely facing resting surfaces  126 ,  128 . 
     The active seat  100  is oriented on the floor so that one resting surface  126  of the first end portion  110  and one resting surface  128  of the second end portion  112  lie on the floor F. In such an orientation, a first of the flat surfaces  122  faces the floor F and the second flat surface  122  faces away from the floor F. A second active seat  100  is then oriented sideways so that it has a first flat surface  122  aligned with and facing the second flat surface  122  of the first active seat  100 . However, the second active seat  100  is rotated 90 degrees relative to the first active seat  100  (e.g., see  FIG. 5 ). Accordingly, the resting surfaces  126 ,  128  of the second active seat  100  face the floor F, but do not align with the resting surfaces  126 ,  128  of the first active seat  100 . 
     The second active seat  100  is laid over the first active seat  100  so that the first flat surface  122  of the second active seat  100  is supported by the second flat surface  122  of the first active seat  100  (e.g., see  FIG. 6 ). The first and second end portions  110 ,  112  of the second active seat  100  are rotationally offset from the first and second end portions  110 ,  112  of the first active seat  100 . The first active seat  100  holds the first and second end portions  110 ,  112  of the second active seat  100  off the ground F. 
     If a third active seat  100  is added to the stack, the third active seat  100  can have the same orientation as the first active seat  100  (e.g., see  FIG. 5 ) or can be flipped 180 degrees relative to the first active seat  100  (e.g., see  FIG. 7 ). As shown in  FIG. 6 , downward-facing resting surfaces  126 ,  128  of the second active seat  100  rest on upward-facing resting surfaces  126 ,  128  of the first active seat  100 . If oriented as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , then first resting surfaces  126  of the first and second active seats  100  contact each other and second resting surfaces  128  of the first and second active seats  100  contact each other. If oriented as shown in  FIG. 7 , then a first resting surface  126  of the first active seat  100  contacts a second resting surface  128  of the second active seat  100  and a second resting surface  128  of the first active seat  100  contacts a first resting surface  126  of the second active seat  100 . 
     Having described the preferred aspects and implementations of the present disclosure, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts may readily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended that such modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.