WO1996005755A1 - Piece of furniture with a back for assuming a kneeling position - Google Patents

Abstract

Piece of furniture for assuming a kneeling position, affording an alternative rest position to the seated position. The body is supported from the head to the upper thigh by a large back (2) inclined at approximately 60° for extending the front muscles and aligning the spine with the pelvis and the thighs so as to relieve pressure on the intervertebral disks. The knees rest on a padded support. The piece of furniture consists of a knee support (19), a back (2) with a vertically adjustable apron (4), whose load-bearing strength can also be adjusted, for supporting the lumbar region, so that the piece of furniture can be adjusted to the height and morphology of each person. The piece of furniture does not include a proper seat; arm rests and a rocking chair type mechanism can also be fitted.

Description

 Kneeling posture unit, with backrest

The present invention relates to a kneeling posture furniture with backrest.

Furniture known for kneeling posture is known.

The most similar model we have encountered is a stool with knee support, a seat and a rocking system.

The known devices have the following drawbacks:

1 °) The presence of a seat causes a flexion of the thighs in relation to the trunk.

2 °) They do not include a file.

3 °) They have no ergonomic adjustment according to the size and morphology of each individual.

4 ^e ) The knee bending angle can be excessive, causing circulation problems.

5 °) They are not provided with armrests.

The present invention aims to eliminate these drawbacks.

It allows:

1 °) An elongation of the anterior musculature, from the femoral quadriceps to the psoas thanks to a position of the thighs in the extension of the trunk. This is made possible by a wide ergonomic backrest from the top of the thighs to the shoulders and the head.

And eventually :

2 °) An adjustment in height and tension of a support at the level of the hollow of the kidneys, thus favoring the adaptation to the size and the morphology of each individual.

3 °) A comfortable support for the knees thus respecting an angle of almost 90 ° between the thighs and the calves thus preventing any blockage of the blood circulation.

4 °) Improved comfort by the presence of armrests.

An in-depth research uniting work on ergology (study of muscular work), kinestesis (position conscious of the position and movements of the body), and the pathology of the spine has indeed shown the interest of a alternative posture where the body is supported by a comfortable backrest inclined at about 60 ° and where the knees in the extension of the body and bent moderately, come to rest on a padded support. The originality of the invention resides in particular in the absence of a seat proper.

F UILL: * ^" , (π: 2 Ξ 26) The present invention relates to a kneeling posture furniture comprising a support for the knees, a backrest inclined between 45 and 60 ° relative to the horizontal allowing the support of the back and having no actual seat. The thighs are thus in the extension of the trunk. The backrest is ergonomic and a device adjustable in height and tension allows the hollow of the back to be supported whatever the size and morphology of the people. The knee support is tilted between 30 and 45 ° pa from the horizontal. The invention can be provided with armrests and a rocking system.

The invention makes it possible to respect a natural physiological posture and relax certain sclerotic muscles in our sedentary activity. The efforts of the invention are concentrated on the balance of muscle masses and the pressures exerted on the intervertebral discs.

The proposed furniture allows to relax the anterior muscles, namely mainly:

- The femoral quadriceps

- The great psoas

- The iliopsoas

- The little psoas

Elastic in nature, the intervertebral discs absorb pressure variations between two vertebrae and allow the body to flex. The lesions of the intervertebral discs are serious (herniated discs, pinching); this is why good posture should check:

- Correct distribution of pressures over the entire surface of the disc,

- Total pressure exerted as low as possible.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a 3/4 view of the proposed furniture. This consists of integral parts:

I) Support for the knees (1).

2) A folder (2).

3) A lift system (3).

1) Support for the knees (1).

It is preferably a simple padded bench inclined 30 to 45 ° from the small axis (1.1) relative to the horizontal and an average height of the major axis (1.2) preferably from 20 to 40 cm.

The padding can be provided by a comfortable foam cushion.

RE SHEET; : ^* ., - ^* : T (RULE 26) 2) The file (2).

It is in fact a broad support for the back of the body between the upper thighs and the shoulders.

It consists of two longitudinal uprights (2.1) held together by transverse parts (2.2) ensuring the support and the rigidity of the frame thus formed. Between the extreme transverse pieces is stretched a resistant canvas lined with foam. The longitudinal uprights are inclined from 45 to 60 degrees relative to the horizontal and their shape is such that this file will match the shapes of the body, from bottom to top:

- rounding of the buttocks

- the hollow of the kidneys

- the straight section corresponding to the dorsal vertebrae

- a curvature gradually joining the vertical to provide support for the head.

In the part corresponding to the hollow of the kidneys, a stretched belt (2.3) between the longitudinal uprights (2.1) is adjustable in height and in tension so as to adapt the model to the size and morphology of each individual.

3) The lift system (3).

It joins the backrest (2) to the knee support (1) and supports the assembly. The lift system provides about 20 cm of space for the legs to pass between the backrest and the knee support. It consists of a system of feet which will be fixed on uprights in contact with the ground and joining the whole.

By way of nonlimiting example, a prototype will be described below which has been produced according to the invention:

1) Support for the knees.

It consists of a bench 17 cm wide and 56 cm long. The padding is ensured by a thick foam of 7 cm and density 35. Its height, when the piece of furniture is in the equilibrium position is 23 cm (at the level of the long axis (1.2)).

2). The folder.

Its general dimensions are:

- width: 52 cm.

- length: 100 cm.

- ground clearance: 40 cm.

The longitudinal uprights (2.1) have an ergonomic curvature.

The average tilt of the backrest is 50 °.

The canvas stretched between the 2 extreme transverse supports is lined with a foam of

2 cm thick.

This backrest is provided with 2 armrests fixed on the longitudinal supports (2.1).

3) The lift system is inspired by the Rocking-Chair system with a total wheelbase of 100 cm.

REPLACEMENT SHEET .'RULE 26)

Claims

1) Kneeling posture unit comprising a support (1) for the knees, characterized in that it includes a backrest (2), inclined from 45 to 60 ° relative to the horizontal allowing the support of the back and does not include seat itself. 2) Furniture according to claim 1), characterized in that it is arranged so that thighs are in the extension of the trunk 3) Furniture according to claim 1) or 2), characterized in that it comprises an ergonomic backrest 4) Furniture according to one of claims 1) to 3) characterized in that the back of the part corresponding to the hollow of the kidneys, has a tight belt (2.3), adjusted in height and tension so as to adapt the model to the size and morphology of each individual. 5) Furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support for the knees is inclined between 30 and 45 ° relative to the horizontal. 6) Furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with armrests. 7) Furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a rocking system.