Abstract:
An exercise chair includes a seat; a base having one or more base supports, the one or more base supports configured to contact a support surface; a seat support supporting the seat, pivotally connected to the base, and biased upward, the seat support including a fulcrum, and wherein downward pressure on the seat by a sitting user causes the fulcrum of the seat support to contact that support surface in addition to one or more of the one or more base supports, forcing the user to maintain a balanced posture on the seat in order to maintain the seat support in a vertical orientation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application 61/086,424, filed Aug. 5, 2008, under 35 U.S.C. 119(e). This provisional patent application is incorporated by reference herein as though set forth in full. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to office chairs and seats (hereinafter “chairs”), and more particularly to ergonomic exercise chairs that enable one to strengthen one&#39;s core muscles while sitting. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Exercise balls are used to perform a variety of exercises to exercise one&#39;s core muscles. Exercise balls are large spherical flexible balls filled with air. Sometimes exercise balls are used by office workers to sit on while at one&#39;s desk. In this application, the exercise ball not only functions as a support for the office worker to sit on, but also enables one to strengthen one&#39;s core muscles while seated because the exercise ball has a tendency to roll if the office worker is not centered on top of the exercise ball. 
     Some of the problems with these exercise ball office chairs is that they are large, bulky, and do not look professional for an office environment. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, an aspect of the invention involves an ergonomic exercise posture chair that performs some of the same functions as the exercise ball (e.g., enables one to strengthen one&#39;s core muscles while seated), but looks like a more traditional office chair, making the ergonomic exercise posture chair much more suitable for an office environment. 
     Another aspect of the invention involves an exercise chair. The exercise chair includes a seat; a base having one or more base supports, the one or more base supports configured to contact a support surface; a seat support supporting the seat, pivotally connected to the base, and biased upward, the seat support including a fulcrum, and wherein downward pressure on the seat by a sitting user causes the fulcrum of the seat support to contact that the support surface in addition to one or more of the one or more base supports, forcing the user to maintain a balanced posture on the seat in order to maintain the seat support in a vertical orientation. 
     One or more implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above include or more of the following: the exercise chair is a stool exercise chair without a back and without armrests; the exercise chair is an office chair with a back and with armrests; the seat is a split seat assembly with separate, independent right and left seat members; the base includes a hub with a ball joint that the seat support is pivotally connected to; the base includes a plurality of radiating support arms; the one or more base supports include a plurality of wheeled based supports; the seat support is an elongated vertical seat support and the exercise chair includes a coil spring surrounding the elongated vertical support and biasing the elongated vertical support upward; the seat support is an elongated, vertical, tubular balance rod; the seat support includes an angular degree of freedom limiter mechanism that limits the pivotal angular degree of freedom of the seat support relative to the base between 0 and 15 degrees; the angular degree of freedom limiter mechanism limits the pivotal angular degree of freedom of the seat support relative to the base between 1 and 10 degrees; the angular degree of freedom limiter mechanism includes a plate secured to the seat support below the base and disposed above the fulcrum, and an adjustable fulcrum that is adjustable for controlling the distance between the fulcrum and plate; the plate is a disc; the disc includes a plurality of stops thereon; the exercise chair includes a lock that automatically locks the seat support in a vertical orientation relative to the base; the exercise chair includes a lock disengagement mechanism; the lock disengagement mechanism includes a lever to actuate the lock disengagement mechanism; the exercise chair includes a back and movable armrests, the movable armrests movable between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position, the lock disengagement mechanism actuatable to disengage the lock with movement of the movable armrests to the substantially vertical position; the lock disengagement mechanism actuatable to engage the lock to lock the seat support in a vertical orientation relative to the base with movement of the movable armrests to the substantially horizontal position; and/or a method of using the exercise chair of the aspect of the invention described immediately above includes sitting downward on the seat, applying downward pressure to the seat, the seat support, the base, and the one or more base supports; imparting downward movement to the seat support and the fulcrum; and causing the fulcrum of the seat support to contact that the support surface in addition to one or more of the one or more base supports, forcing the user to maintain a balanced posture on the seat in order to maintain the seat support in a vertical orientation. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an exercise chair; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the exercise chair of  FIG. 1  and shows the exercise chair with pressure shown centered and applied vertically downward on the exercise chair; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the exercise chair of  FIG. 1  and shows the exercise chair with pressure shown off-centered and applied vertically downward on the exercise chair; 
         FIG. 4  is a front, top perspective view of another embodiment of an exercise chair; 
         FIG. 5  is a right side, bottom perspective view of the exercise chair of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is another front, top perspective view of exercise chair of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is right side elevational view of exercise chair of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged right side elevational view of area  8  of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a simplified view illustrating the angular degrees of freedom of the exercise chair. 
         FIG. 10  is a simplified view illustrating an embodiment of a lock for locking the balance rod relative to a base, the lock automatically actuated and disengaged by a lever and/or armrest(s). 
         FIG. 11  is a right side elevational view of the exercise chair without a seatback or arm rests. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Certain embodiments as disclosed herein provide for an ergonomic exercise posture chair (hereinafter “exercise chair”)  50  and method of using the exercise chair  50 . 
     After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. However, although various embodiments of the present invention will be described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not limitation. As such, this detailed description of various alternative embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the present invention as set forth in any appended claims. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , an embodiment of an exercise chair  50  includes a base  100  with a central hub  110  and three or more (e.g., 4, 5) radiating arms  120 . Casters or wheeled supports  130  are secured to distal ends of the arms  120  for supporting the base  100  and enabling rolling movement of the base  100  on a support surface (e.g., floor). 
     A tubular balance rod or vertical support  140  includes a lower portion pivotally and rotatably coupled to the base  100  at the hub  110 . The balance rod  140  includes an upper tubular pole  150  telescopingly received in a lower tubular pole  160 . The lower tubular pole  160  terminates in a flange/disc/plate  170 . Rubber stops  180  are disposed in an upper part of the flange  170 . A rubber balance support or fulcrum  190  extends downwardly from a lower part of the flange  170 . The balance support  190  may have a convex end  192  that contact the support surface (e.g., floor) as described further below. 
     A lower spring-receiving section  200  is disposed in a top portion of a ball joint  210  of the hub  110 . A lower portion of the lower tubular pole  160  is pivotally and rotatably coupled to the base  100  via the ball joint  210 . The lower tubular pole  160  includes an upper spring-receiving section  220  spaced vertically from the lower spring-receiving section  200 . A compression spring  225  is disposed between the upper spring-receiving section  220  and the lower spring-receiving section  200 . 
     A connector bracket  230  connects the lower pole  160  to the upper pole  150 . 
     In the embodiment shown, air-filled bellows  250  are disposed at a top of the balance rod  140 . The bellows  250  adds a “cushioning” effect and adds controlled instability/play (i.e., between the balance rod  150  and the seat/seat assembly) to the exercise chair  50 . The bellows  250  are controllable/lockable for controlling the instability/play in the exercise chair  50  and may be locked to zero instability/play. In alternative embodiments, the exercise chair  50  does not include bellows  250  or the bellows are replaced by a controlled instability mechanism that adds controlled instability/play to the exercise chair  50 . The connection section  260  is connected to the top of the balance rod  140  by a coupler. The lower connection section  260  is connected to a bottom of the bellows  250  via fasteners. An upper connection section  290  is connected to the top of the bellows  250  via fasteners. 
     A seat connector  300  is coupled to the upper connection section  290 . 
     Different style seats are attached to the seat frame  300 . For example, but not by way of limitation, in an application of the exercise chair  50  where the exercise chair  50  has a stool-like application, which may or may not be used for an office environment, a seat (without a back) is attached to the seat frame  300 . In another application of the exercise chair  50  where the exercise chair  50  is used in an office environment, a seat, seat back, and arm rests are coupled to the seat frame  300 . 
     The exercise chair  50  will now be described in use. A user sits on the exercise chair  50 . When this happens, the downward force and shock from the sudden downward force (from the user&#39;s weight) is partially absorbed by the bellows  250 . The downward force causes the balance rod  140  to move downwardly through the ball joint  210 , relative to the ball joint  210 /base  100 . As the balance rod  140  moves downwardly, the upper spring-receiving section  220  causes the compression spring  225  to be compressed. As the spring  225  is compressed, it exerts an upward force on the balance rod  140  (i.e., trying to return the balance rod  140  to its original, non-compressed position). When the balance rod  140  moves downward a sufficient distance, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the exercise chair  50  no longer is supported solely by the casters  130 . Instead, the balance support/fulcrum  190  becomes the primary support for the exercise chair  50 . With the balance support/fulcrum  190  as the primary support for the exercise chair  50 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , if the user is off balance on the exercise chair  50  (e.g., body weight, center of gravity is not centered on the exercise chair  50 ), the balance rod  140  will pivot/rotate within the ball joint  210  and the exercise chair  50  will be off balance. The convex end  192  (or a variety of different replaceable configuration ends and/or balance supports  190 ) can be used to make the exercise chair  50  easier or more difficult to balance. To re-gain balance and maintain the balance rod  140  in the vertical position, perpendicular to the support surface (e.g., floor), as shown in  FIG. 2 , the user has to use the muscles in one&#39;s core/mid-section and use one&#39;s legs to balance, exercising and strengthening these muscles while simultaneously being supported by the exercise chair  50 . 
     Thus, the exercise chair  50  exercises and strengthens one&#39;s core muscles while simultaneously supporting the user. As indicated above, the exercise chair  50  may include different versions, some of which are designed for office use. For example, the exercise chair  50  may include a stool seat version without a seat back/arm rests and the exercise chair  50  may include an office chair version with a seat back/arm rests. The exercise chair  50  functions in a similar manner to exercise ball office chairs, but the exercise chair  50  is much smaller, less bulky, and more professional/suitable for an office environment. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4-8 , another embodiment of an exercise chair  400  will be described. Much of the exercise chair  400  is similar to the exercise chair  50  described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-3 . Similar elements will be shown with like references numbers, but with an “a” suffix, and will not be described below. 
     The exercise chair  400  includes a seat or seat assembly  410  that is secured to and supported by the seat connector  300   a . The seat assembly  410  is a split seat assembly with separate right and left seat members,  420 ,  430  that flex independently. The right and left seat members,  420 ,  430 , independently and respectively support the right and left glutes/lats/rear of a user. The seat members  420 ,  430  are substantially rectangular with rounded edges and outer corners. A small linear gap  440  separates the right and left seat members along their inner length. In an alternative embodiment, the seat/seat assembly is a single seat assembly (i.e., does not include separate seat members). 
     As indicated above, the exercise chair may include a stool seat version without a seat back/arm rests and may include an office chair version with a seat back/arm rests. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a seat back and arm rest assembly  445  of the exercise chair  400  will be described. The seat back and arm rest assembly  445  includes a lower vertical support  450  connected to and extending vertically from a rear of the base  100   a . A rearward angled member/portion  460  extends rearwardly and upwardly from a top of the lower vertical support  450 . An upper vertical support  470  extends vertically from a top of the rearward angled member/portion  460 . 
     An arm rest assembly  480  is connected to the upper vertical support  470  via a coupler  490 . The coupler  490  allows pivotal movement of armrests  500  between at least a horizontal position ( FIG. 4 ) and a vertical position (e.g., vertically down position;  FIG. 7 ). In an embodiment of the exercise chair  400 , a lock disengagement mechanism includes the pivotal/moveable armrests  500  and movement of the armrests  500  to the down position ( FIG. 7 ) may unlock the balance rod  140   a  (e.g., unlock the balance rod  140   a  via lock  570  to unlock the flange/disc  170   a ) from/relative to the base  100   a  to enable/activate the balancing/exercising features of the exercise chair  400 . Movement of the armrests  500  to the horizontal position ( FIG. 4 ) may lock the balance rod  140   a  (e.g., lock the balance rod  140   a  via lock  570  to lock the flange/disc  170   a ) to/relative to the base  100   a  (i.e., lock  570  prevents the flange/disc  170   a  from lowering from the base  100   a ) to disenable/deactivate the balancing/exercising features of the exercise chair  400 . 
     A back support assembly  510  is connected to a top of the upper vertical support  470  via a coupler  520 . The back support assembly  510  includes a trapezoid-shaped back support  530  with rounded edges and outer corners. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, with the armrests  500  in the horizontal position ( FIG. 4 ), disenabling/deactivating the balancing/exercising features of the exercise chair  400 , and the additional back support offered by the back support assembly  510 , the exercise chair  400  may be used as a regular office chair. With the armrests  500  in the vertical position ( FIG. 7 ), enabling/activating the balancing/exercising features of the exercise chair  400 , the balancing/exercising features of the exercise chair  400  may be used. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , an angular degree of freedom limiter mechanism will be described. The fulcrum  190   a  is adjustable to adjust the distance between the fulcrum  190   a  and the flange  170   a  (i.e., adjust the range of travel), which limits angular degree of freedom as it abuts the bottom of the base  100  or hub  110 , for adjusting the angular degree of freedom A of the balance rod  140   a  relative to the base  100   a  between 0 and 15 degrees, and between 1 and 10 degrees in a more preferred embodiment. For example, but not by way of limitation, the fulcrum  190   a  may threadably engage the a bottom of the balance rod  140  so that rotation (e.g., clockwise) decreases the distance between the fulcrum  190   a  and the flange  170   a , adjusting the range of travel and enabling a lesser degree of freedom of the balance rod  140   a  relative to the base  100   a  and opposite rotation (e.g., counter-clockwise) increases the distance between the fulcrum  190   a  and the flange  170   a , enabling a greater degree of freedom of the balance rod  140   a  relative to the base  100   a.    
     In alternative embodiments, other mechanisms/means such as, but not by way of limitation, the bellows  250  (e.g., adjusting the air in the bellows  250  allowing more/less play), different configuration/size attachable/detachable fulcrums  190   a  may be used to enable greater/lesser angular degree of freedom of the balance rod  140   a  relative to the base  100   a.    
     With reference to  FIGS. 4-6  and  10 , an unlocking mechanism  550  enables a user to enable/activate the balancing/exercising features of the exercise chair  400 . In the embodiment shown, a lock disengagement mechanism includes a lever  560  that is operably coupled to a lock  570  whereby movement of the lever  560  imparts movement to the lock  570  to unlock the balance rod  140   a  (e.g., unlock the balance rod  140   a  via unlocking the flange/disc  170   a ) from/relative to the base  100   a  to enable/activate the balancing/exercising features of the exercise chair  400 . 
     When a user gets off the exercise chair  400 , the compression spring  225  causes the balance rod  140  to return to its normal position and the lock  570  is configured (e.g., via a spring, lever, and/or other mechanical mechanism) to automatically lock the balance rod  140   a  (e.g., lock the balance rod  140   a  via locking the flange/disc  170   a ) to/relative to the base  100   a  to disenable/deactivate the balancing/exercising features of the exercise chair  400  so that the chair  400  is usable as a normal chair. 
     Thus, in one or more embodiments, the lock disengagement mechanism includes the armrest(s)  500  and/or the lever  560  to disengage the lock  570  to enable/activate the balancing/exercising features of the exercise chair  400 . 
     In alternative embodiments, the lock  570  has an alternative configuration and/or locks different elements that that shown and described herein. 
     The above figures may depict exemplary configurations for the invention, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated architectures or configurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention, especially in the following claims, should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments. 
     Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as mean “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, a group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although item, elements or components of the disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent.