Abstract:
A fluid filled seat support comprising a bladder, a seat and a rigid or semi-rigid partition therebetween. The seat support allows free proprioceptive motion of user&#39;s body on the bladder but prevents the bladder from conforming to user&#39;s body, which, in many cases, will significantly improve user&#39;s comfort.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a formal application claiming the priority of provisional U.S. patent application No. 61/218,970, filed Jun. 21, 2009, the specification of which is incorporated by reference herewith in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to seating supports used in chairs, seats, sofas, or on stools, benches and floors, etc. 
       DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART 
       [0003]    There are many designs of air- or liquid-filled seat supports. Examples of such products are shown in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.
       7,427,109, issued Sep. 23, 2008 to Embach et al.   7,131,701, issued Nov. 7, 2006 to Yang   7,011,373, issued Mar. 14, 2006 to Hsieh   6,820,938, issued Nov. 23, 2004 to Barrett   6,752,454, issued Jun. 22, 2004 to Ruel et al.   6,677,026, issued Jan. 13, 2004 to Yates   6,659,552, issued Dec. 9, 2003 to Duncan   6,623,080, issued Sep. 23, 2003 to Clapper   6,547,327, issued Apr. 15, 2003 to Yates   6,546,579, issued Apr. 15, 2003 to Leventhal et al.   6,532,962, issued Mar. 18, 2003 to Walker et al.   6,502,263, issued Jan. 7, 2003 to Rowley et al.   6,413,194, issued Jul. 2, 2002 to Gant   6,354,665, issued Mar. 12, 2002 to Ross   6,212,719, issued Apr. 10, 2001 to Thomas et al.   6,159,172, issued Dec. 12, 2000 to Gray et al.   6,125,851, issued Oct. 3, 2000 to Walker et al.   6,125,486, issued Oct. 3, 2000 to Rabon   6,042,186, issued Mar. 28, 2000 to Kojic et al.   5,979,975, issued Nov. 9, 1999 to Hiraoka   5,911,657, issued Jun. 15, 1999 to Meiners   5,881,407, issued Mar. 16, 1999 to Chu Pt   5,845,352, issued Dec. 8, 1998 to Matsler et al.   5,713,631, issued Feb. 3, 1998 to O&#39;Neill et al.   5,702,153, issued Dec. 30, 1997 to Pliska   5,689,845, issued Nov. 25, 1997 to Sobieralski   5,678,891, issued Oct. 21, 1997 to O&#39;Neill et al.   5,634,685, issued Jun. 3, 1997 to Herring   5,634,223, issued Jun. 3, 1997 to Obermaier   5,513,899, issued May 7, 1996 to Michaels et al.   5,500,965, issued Mar. 26, 1996 to Hannagan et al.   5,378,045, issued Jan. 3, 1995 to Siekman et al.   5,369,828, issued Dec. 6, 1994 to Graebe   5,314,235, issued May 24, 1994 to Johnson   5,137,333, issued Aug. 11, 1992 to Chee   5,052,068, issued Oct. 1, 1991 to Graebe   4,965,899, issued Oct. 30, 1990 to Sekido et al.   4,864,671, issued Sep. 12, 1989 to Evans   4,826,249, issued May 2, 1989 to Bradbury   4,789,202, issued Dec. 6, 1988 to Alter   4,761,011, issued Aug. 2, 1988 to Sereboff   4,726,624, issued Feb. 23, 1988 to Jay   4,698,864, issued Oct. 13, 1987 to Graebe   4,592,589, issued Jun. 3, 1986 to Hellwig   4,588,229, issued May 13, 1986 to Jay   4,370,769, issued Feb. 1, 1983 to Herzig et al.   3,965,508, issued Jun. 29, 1976 to Hunter   3,421,163, issued Jan. 14, 1969 to Stoughton   3,408,107, issued Oct. 29, 1968 to Savage   3,297,023, issued Jan. 10, 1967 to Foley   3,276,047, issued Oct. 4, 1966 to Emery   3,171,691, issued Mar. 2, 1965 to Beuhrig, and   3,145,054, issued Aug. 18, 1964 to Sopko, Jr.       
 
         [0057]    Inflatable seat supports or support elements, e.g. inflatable cushions or bladders have the advantage of conforming to the user&#39;s body shape and thus reducing the pressure on the buttocks and upper thighs. Such devices can also, when so designed, provide effective and economical proprioceptive stimulation and exercises. However some users, such as seniors or people with weak equilibrium or postural stability, require less intensive and more controlled proprioceptive stimulation. It is also known that a prolonged close contact of the seating with the user&#39;s body creates a need for pressure relief on the sensitive parts of the body, such as the perineal region, ventilation or cooling means in certain cases, and monitoring and/or tracking user&#39;s pelvic motion for improved therapeutic results and wellness recovery and for improved clinical supervision. Such issues have been addressed in the art. 
         [0058]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,760,933 to Li describes an inflatable cushion useful as a seating support wherein the user can balance his/her lumbar body area while seating on the cushion and exercise their lumbar spine and related muscles (proprioceptive stimulation and exercise). On the other hand, as stated above, it is not always desirable for the cushion to conform to the user&#39;s body too closely. People with poor sense of equilibrium or weak postural stability, e.g. some elderly, are known to feel uneasy when sitting directly on an inflated cushion. The benefits or proprioception should be combined with a relative comfort of the user. 
         [0059]    Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide insulation between a fluid-filled seat support and the user&#39;s body to improve user comfort. It is another object of the invention to provide a proprioceptive stimulation and exercise seating arrangement enabling the user&#39;s proprioceptive exercise, even if the user may have poor sense of equilibrium and/or postural stability. It is yet another object of the invention to provide means to monitor and/or track the pelvic motion of the user when sitting on the seating support. Such monitoring and/or tracking is beneficial and often important to allow clinical professionals and/or users themselves to better understand user&#39;s range of motion, better follow prescribed therapeutic exercises, to better monitor user&#39;s compliance with prescribed therapeutic exercises, better prescribe required therapeutic exercises, to better follow user&#39;s wellness progression, etc. 
         [0060]    Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description and drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0061]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is described a seat assembly comprising: 
         [0062]    a bladder that can be filled with a fluid, and 
         [0063]    a rigid or semi-rigid partitioning means associated with the bladder, the partitioning means disposed to separate the bladder from the user&#39;s body when the user sits on the seat assembly. 
         [0064]    In an embodiment of the invention, the seat assembly further comprises a seating element that is associated with the partitioning means on the opposite side thereof relative to the bladder, the seating element shaped and dimensioned to accommodate the user&#39;s body for seating purpose. 
         [0065]    In an embodiment of the invention, the partitioning means is integrated with the bladder. In an embodiment of the invention, the partitioning means is integrated with the seating element. 
         [0066]    In another embodiment of the invention, the bladder, the partitioning means and the seating element are integrated. 
         [0067]    In another embodiment, the partitioning means is separably connected to the bladder. 
         [0068]    In another embodiment, the partitioning means is separably connected to the seating element. 
         [0069]    In yet another embodiment, the partitioning means is shaped to engage the bladder so as to avoid shifting relative to the bladder when the user sits and “sways” on the seat assembly. 
         [0070]    In yet another embodiment, the seating support comprises one or a plurality of motion sensors, corded or cordless, which are attached to, embedded in or otherwise associated with the partitioning means. 
         [0071]    In yet another embodiment, the seating support comprises one or a plurality of corded or cordless motion sensors which are attached to, embedded in or otherwise associated with the seating element. 
         [0072]    In yet another embodiment, the seating support comprises one or a plurality of corded or cordless motion sensors which are attached to, embedded in or otherwise associated with the bladder. 
         [0073]    In yet another embodiment, the motion sensors are attached to, embedded in or associated with any combination of the bladder, partitioning means and seat element. Such sensors may be corded or cordless, and may be capable of sensing the various therapeutic and/or athletic exercise motions and/or testing such as, but not limited to, clockwise and/or anticlockwise pelvic rotations, left and/or right side pelvic rocking, front and back pelvic rocking, and any other motion a pelvic may engage in any other angle, direction, range or speed, when substantially seated on said seating support. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0074]    Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0075]      FIG. 1  is a simplified side view of an embodiment of the seat assembly; 
           [0076]      FIG. 2   a  is a simplified side view of another embodiment of the seat assembly; 
           [0077]      FIG. 2   b  is a side view of another embodiment of the seat assembly; 
           [0078]      FIG. 2   c  is a side view of another embodiment of the seat assembly; 
           [0079]      FIG. 2   d  is a side view of another embodiment of the seat assembly; 
           [0080]      FIG. 2   e  is a side view of another embodiment of the seat assembly; 
           [0081]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bladder; 
           [0082]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the partitioning element of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0083]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an exemplary seating element; 
           [0084]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the seat assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0085]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the seat assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0086]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the seating element of  FIG. 1  with a plurality of motion sensors; 
           [0087]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the partitioning element of  FIG. 1  with a plurality of motion sensors; 
           [0088]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the integrated seating and partitioning elements of  FIG. 2   b  with a plurality of motion sensors; 
           [0089]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the bladder of  FIG. 1  with a motion sensor 
           [0090]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the integrated bladder and partitioning element of  FIG. 2   c  with a plurality of motion sensors 
           [0091]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the integrated bladder, seating and partitioning elements of  FIG. 2   d  with a plurality of motion sensors. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0092]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the seat assembly of the invention. The assembly consists of a bladder  1 , a divider or partitioning element  2  and a seat  3 . The bladder is made of an air- and waterproof material, e.g. a polymeric/fabric material which is flexible but not stretchable to a significant degree, e.g. a cushion as described in the above-referenced Li document. The bladder is sized to correspond to the size of a typical seat, e.g. a chair. 
         [0093]    The divider  2  is a rigid or semi-rigid plate, e.g. made of a 5 mm thick PCV, a piece of wood panel, a sheet of aluminum, or a piece of sufficiently stiff rubber. The divider separates the bladder  1  from the seat  3 . The bladder  1 , divider  2  and seat  3  are attached together by separable means such as Velcro strips  4 . The seat may be formed of foam or a rigid material and may be shaped for comfort of the user. The divider  2  may form a base for the seat  3 . The bladder  1 , divider  2 , and seat  3  may be attached, bonded or otherwise associated by non-separable means such as, but not limited to, adhesive bonding, fastener bonding, nailing, bolting, molding, RF welding, ultrasonic welding, heat sealing, etc. 
         [0094]      FIG. 2   a  illustrates another embodiment of the seat assembly. The divider  2  is shaped to partly encompass the bladder  1  to restrict their relative movement. The seat  3 , divider  2  and bladder  1  are attached together by Velcro strips  4  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). The elements  1 ,  2  and  3  may also be attached, bonded or otherwise associated by non-separable means such as, but not limited to, adhesive bonding, fastener bonding, nailing, bolting, molding, RF welding, ultrasonic welding, heat sealing, etc. 
         [0095]      FIG. 2   b  illustrates another embodiment of the seat assembly. The seat  3  is integrated with the divider  2 . The integrated divider/seat  2 ,  3  is attached to bladder  1  by Velcro strips  4  ( FIG. 3 ). The elements  1  and  2 , 3  may also be attached, bonded or otherwise associated by non-separable means such as, but not limited to, adhesive bonding, fastener bonding, nailing, bolting, RF welding, ultrasonic welding, heat sealing, etc. 
         [0096]      FIG. 2   c  illustrates another embodiment of the seat assembly. The seat  3  is separated from the bladder  1  by a divider  2 , wherein the bladder  1  is integrated with the divider  2  for example by welding, adhesive bonding or molding. The integrated divider/bladder  1 ,  2  is attached to the seat  3  by Velcro strips. They may also be attached, bonded or otherwise associated by non-separable means such as, but not limited to, adhesive bonding, fastener bonding, nailing, bolting, RF welding, ultrasonic welding, heat sealing, etc. 
         [0097]      FIG. 2   d  illustrates another embodiment of the seat assembly. The seat  3 , the divider  2  and the bladder are integrated or fixedly secured together for instance by welding, adhesive bonding or molding. 
         [0098]      FIG. 2   e  illustrates another embodiment of the seat assembly. The seat  3  and the divider  2  are a single element which is integrated with the bladder  1  by means such as, but not limited to, adhesive bonding, fastener bonding, nailing, bolting, RF welding, ultrasonic welding, heat sealing, etc. 
         [0099]      FIG. 3  illustrates the bladder  1  inflated with air or filled with a liquid. The upper side of the bladder  1  is equipped with Velcro strips  4  for attachment to the element  2 . The elements  1  and  2  may also be attached, bonded or otherwise associated by non-separable means such as, but not limited to, adhesive bonding, fastener bonding, nailing, bolting, RF welding, ultrasonic welding, heat sealing, etc. 
         [0100]      FIG. 4  illustrates the divider  2  which, as indicated above, has sufficient rigidity to prevent, at least to a substantial degree, the bladder from conforming to the user&#39;s body and to allow users with poor equilibrium sense and/or postural stability to use the seating support for wellness purposes. The divider is equipped with Velcro strips  4  on the top and bottom sides. 
         [0101]      FIG. 5  illustrates the seat  3  with Velcro strips  4  on the underside. As also shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2   a - 2   e  and  5 , the seat is profiled to afford comfortable seating, and to encourage users to sit at the desired location—a substantially balanced central location—on the proprioceptive seating support to allow user&#39;s body to be comfortably balanced. 
         [0102]      FIG. 6  is a simplified cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the seat assembly of  FIG. 1 , without any attachment means (e.g. Velcro) shown. 
         [0103]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the seat assembly of  FIG. 1  wherein the bladder  1 , the divider  2  and seat  3  are equipped with Velcro strips  4  for attachment to each other. The bladder, divider and seat element may also be attached, bonded or otherwise associated by non-separable means such as, but not limited to, adhesive bonding, fastener bonding, nailing, bolting, RF welding, ultrasonic welding, heat sealing, etc. 
         [0104]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the seating element of  FIG. 1  with a plurality of corded or cordless motion sensors attached, embedded or otherwise associated with the seating element. The sensors may be associated with the seating element by such means as, but not limited to, adhesive bonding, fastener bonding, embedding, nailing, riveting, inserting, etc. In the case of one motion sensor, the sensor should be placed substantially in the centre of the base side of the seating element. In the case of a plurality of sensors, the sensors should be distributed across the base side of the seating element. In the case of corded sensors, the cords (not illustrated) can be channeled to the back side of the seating support to be available to be connected to a monitoring device such as a computer. Such sensors may be capable of sensing the various therapeutic and/or athletic exercise and/or test motions of user&#39;s pelvis and/or body such as, but not limited to, clockwise and/or anticlockwise pelvic rotations (like the motions of a belly dance), left and/or right side pelvic rocking (like the motions of a belly dance), front and back pelvic rocking (like the motions of a belly dance), range of motions, speed of motions, and any other motion a pelvic may engage in any other angle, any direction, any range and/or any speed, when substantially seated on said seating support. 
         [0105]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the divider/partitioning element  2  of  FIG. 1  with a plurality of corded or cordless motion sensors attached, embedded or otherwise associated with the partitioning element. The sensors may be associated with the seating element by such means as, but not limited to, adhesive bonding, fastener bonding, embedding, nailing, riveting, inserting, etc. In the case of one motion sensor, the sensor should be placed substantially in the centre of the upper or lower side of the partitioning element. In the case of a plurality of sensors, the sensors should be distributed across the upper and/or lower side of the partitioning element. In the case of corded sensors, the cords (not illustrated) can be channeled to the back side of the seating support to be available to be connected to a monitoring device such as a computer. Such sensors may be capable of sensing the various therapeutic and/or athletic exercise and/or test motions of user&#39;s pelvis and/or body such as, but not limited to, clockwise and/or anticlockwise pelvic rotations (like the motions of a belly dance), left and/or right side pelvic rocking (like the motions of a belly dance), front and back pelvic rocking (like the motions of a belly dance), range of motions, speed of motions, and any other motion a pelvic may engage in any other angle, any direction, any range and/or any speed, when substantially seated on said seating support. 
         [0106]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the integrated seating and partitioning elements of  FIG. 2   b  with a plurality of corded or cordless motion sensors attached, embedded or otherwise associated with the integrated body. The sensors may be associated with the seating element by such means as, but not limited to, adhesive bonding, fastener bonding, embedding, nailing, riveting, inserting, etc. In the case of one motion sensor, the sensor should be placed substantially in the centre of the base side of the partitioning/seating element or the upper side of the bladder. In the case of a plurality of sensors, the sensors should be distributed across the base side of the partitioning/seating element or the upper side of the bladder. In the case of corded sensors, the cords could be channeled to the back side of the seating support to be available to be connected to a monitoring device such as a computer. Such sensors may be capable of sensing the various therapeutic and/or athletic exercise and/or test motions of user&#39;s pelvis and/or body such as, but not limited to, clockwise and/or anticlockwise pelvic rotations (like the motions of a belly dance), left and/or right side pelvic rocking (like the motions of a belly dance), front and back pelvic rocking (like the motions of a belly dance), range of motions, speed of motions, and any other motion a pelvic may engage in any other angle, any direction, any range and/or any speed, when substantially seated on said seating support. 
         [0107]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the bladder of  FIG. 1  with a corded or cordless motion sensor attached to, embedded in or otherwise associated with the bladder. The sensor may be associated with the seating element by such means as, but not limited to, adhesive bonding, fastener bonding, embedding, nailing, riveting, inserting, etc. In the case of one motion sensor, the sensor should be placed substantially in the centre of the upper side of the bladder. If a plurality of sensors is provided, the sensors should be distributed across the upper side of the bladder. If corded sensors are used, the cords could be channeled to the back side of the seating support to be available to be connected to a monitoring device such as a computer. Such sensors may be capable of sensing the various therapeutic and/or athletic exercise and/or test motions of user&#39;s pelvis and/or body such as, but not limited to, clockwise and/or anticlockwise pelvic rotations (like the motions of a belly dance), left and/or right side pelvic rocking (like the motions of a belly dance), front and back pelvic rocking (like the motions of a belly dance), range of motions, speed of motions, and any other motion a pelvic may engage in any other angle, any direction, any range and/or any speed, when substantially seated on said seating support. 
         [0108]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the integrated bladder and partitioning element of  FIG. 2   c  with a plurality of corded or cordless motion sensors attached, embedded or otherwise associated with the integrated body. The sensors may be associated with the seating element by such means as, but not limited to, adhesive bonding, fastener bonding, embedding, nailing, riveting, inserting, etc, If only one motion sensor is used, the sensor should be placed substantially in the centre of the upper or lower side of the partitioning element or the upper side of the bladder. In the case of a plurality of sensors, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the sensors should be distributed across the upper or lower side of the partitioning element or the upper side of the bladder. In the case of corded sensors, the cords could be channeled to the back side of the seating support to be available to be connected to a monitoring device such as a computer. Such sensors may be capable of sensing the various therapeutic and/or athletic exercise and/or test motions of user&#39;s pelvis and/or body such as, but not limited to, clockwise and/or anticlockwise pelvic rotations (like the motions of a belly dance), left and/or right side pelvic rocking (like the motions of a belly dance), front and back pelvic rocking (like the motions of a belly dance), range of motions, speed of motions, and any other motion a pelvic may engage in any other angle, any direction, any range and/or any speed, when substantially seated on said seating support. 
         [0109]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the integrated bladder, seating and partitioning element of  FIG. 2   d  with a plurality of corded or cordless motion sensors attached, embedded or otherwise associated with the integrated body. The sensors may be associated with the seating element by such means as, but not limited to, adhesive bonding, fastener bonding, embedding, nailing, riveting, inserting, etc. If only one motion sensor is employed, the sensor should be placed substantially in the centre of the upper or lower side of the partitioning element, the base side of the seating element, or the upper side of the bladder. In the case of a plurality of sensors, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the sensors should be distributed across the upper or lower side of the partitioning element, the base side of the seating element, or the upper side of the bladder. In the case of corded sensors, the cords could be channeled to the back side of the seating support to be available to be connected to a monitoring device such as a computer. Such sensors may be capable of sensing the various therapeutic and/or athletic exercise and/or test motions of user&#39;s pelvis and/or body such as, but not limited to, clockwise and/or anticlockwise pelvic rotations (like the motions of a belly dance), left and/or right side pelvic rocking (like the motions of a belly dance), front and back pelvic rocking (like the motions of a belly dance), range of motions, speed of motions, and any other motion a pelvic may engage in any other angle, any direction, any range and/or any speed, when substantially seated on said seating support. 
         [0110]    Although the description above contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.