Sleeping chair

Abstract

Chairs that are capable of moving in a fixed space to promote sleeping in the seated user are described. Also described are methods of inducing sleep in a subject using these sleeping chairs.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A sleeping chair comprising a chair portion, an articulator and a controller wherein the chair portion comprises: 
 a base;    a seat support for supporting a user, wherein the seat support is mounted on said base; and    a back support for supporting the back of a user, wherein the back support is connected to the seat support;    wherein the articulator is connected to the chair portion and to the controller, and the articulator is capable of conferring an upward, downward, forward and braking motion on the chair portion while the sleeping chair remains substantially in place; and    wherein the controller is capable of controlling the movement of the articulator.    
     
     
         2 . The sleeping chair of  claim 1 , wherein the articulator is capable of generating a motion that simulates the motion of a moving vehicle.  
     
     
         3 . The sleeping chair of  claim 1 , wherein the chair portion further comprises a pair of armrests.  
     
     
         4 . The sleeping chair of  claim 1 , wherein the chair portion further comprises a headrest that is connected to the back support.  
     
     
         5 . The sleeping chair of  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a motor and a switch that is capable of turning the motor on and off.  
     
     
         6 . The sleeping chair of  claim 1 , wherein the back support is adjustable to form an angle with the seat support, and the angle ranges from about 90 degrees to about 180 degrees.  
     
     
         7 . The sleeping chair of  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a computer and a program designed to generate a motion on the seat support that simulates the motion of a moving vehicle.  
     
     
         8 . The sleeping chair of  claim 2 , wherein the moving vehicle is a car.  
     
     
         9 . The sleeping chair of  claim 8 , wherein the moving vehicle is moving at a speed between 10 mph and 90mph.  
     
     
         10 . The sleeping chair of  claim 9 , wherein the moving vehicle is moving at a speed selected from the group consisting of 10 mph, 15 mph, 20 mph, 25 mph, 30 mph, 35 mph, and 40 mph.  
     
     
         11 . The sleeping chair of  claim 9 , wherein the moving vehicle is moving at a speed selected from the group consisting of 45 mph, 50 mph, 55 mph, 60 mph, 65 mph, 70 mph, 75 mph, and 80 mph.  
     
     
         12 . The sleeping chair of  claim 2 , wherein the moving vehicle is an airplane.  
     
     
         13 . The sleeping chair of  claim 2 , wherein the moving vehicle is a boat.  
     
     
         14 . The sleeping chair of  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a timer.  
     
     
         15 . The sleeping chair of  claim 1 , wherein the chair portion is covered with one selected from the group consisting of leather, a synthetic material, a cotton fabric, a woolen material and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The sleeping chair of  claim 1 , wherein the chair comprises a safety strap.  
     
     
         17 . A method of inducing sleep comprising the step of: 
 a. allowing a person to sit in a sleeping chair of  claim 1;  and    b. turning on the controller to initiate movement of the sleeping chair.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of setting the controller to automatically turn off after a specified period of time.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of fastening the safety strap prior to turning on the controller.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of adjusting the back support to a reclining position.