Sitting means having sensing device

Abstract

Device and method for encouraging and urging an occupant in a sitting means to have optimum sitting posture, in which one or a plurality of sensors are provided to the seat member and/or the back member of the sitting means to which the thighs, hip, spine, shoulder blades and/or ribs, and/or the head of an occupant are contacting when the occupant sits in the sitting means in right sitting posture, said sensors generate/send signals to the microcomputer when an occupant on the sitting means contacts or activates said sensors, upon receiving the signals, the microcomputer orders the responding means either to produce responding signal or not, according to predetermined program, and when the responding means responds, the occupant, upon recognizing the responding signal, tries to contact or activate all the sensors in order to stop the response by correcting his/her sitting posture.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A sensing device for a sitting means or a covering member covering a sitting means, for encouraging and urging an occupant to have optimum sitting posture, 
 said sitting means having a substantially horizontal seat member which supports the thighs and pelvis of an occupant and a substantially vertical back member which is vertically positioned above the seat member and supports the back of the occupant, and    said covering member consisting of a seat covering element which supports the thighs and pelvis of an occupant and a back covering element which is vertically positioned above the seat covering element and supports the back of the occupant when said covering member is placed over a sitting means;    said sensing device comprising; 
 one or a plurality of sensors for generating electrical signal when an occupant contacts or activates the sensor(s) and sending said signal to a microcomputer, said sensor(s) being provided to said sitting means or said covering member to which the body of an occupant is positioned;  
 a microcomputer which stores in memory data for the sensor(s) provided to the sitting means or the covering member, data for the signal generated by each sensor, and data for the number(s) of said sensor(s), in a predetermined program, and which is further programmed to discriminate which signal is generated by which sensor, to compare the number of the signal(s) sent by the sensor(s) with the number of the sensor(s) preset in said predetermined program, and to order the responding means either to respond or not;  
 a responding means for producing responding signal in accordance with the order of the microcomputer, said responding means including devices for producing an auditory signal, a visible signal and/or a vibratory signal;  
 a switch part being provided with several kinds of switches;  
 a power supply being battery supplied or A/C power supplied via a plug;  
 said one or a plurality of sensors, microcomputer, responding means, switch part and power supply being electrically interconnected to one another; and  
 said microcomputer being so programmed, according to said predetermined program, that;  
 the microcomputer examines the presence of a signal(s) sent thereto by the sensor(s), and if no signal is detected, the microcomputer let the responding means remain in non-responding state,  
 when an occupant contacts or activates the sensor(s) provided to the sitting means or the covering member and thereby the number of the signal(s) sent to the microcomputer coincides with the preset number of the sensor(s), the microcomputer orders the responding means to remain in non-responding state,  
 when the occupant does not contact or activate at least any one sensor and thereby the number of the signal(s) sent to the microcomputer is less than the preset number of the sensor(s), the microcomputer orders the responding means to produce responding signal, and it is arranged that the response is stopped when the occupant, upon recognizing the responding signal, corrects his/her sitting posture and contacts or activates all the sensor(s) the number of which is preset.  
   
     
     
         2 . A combination of a sensing device with a sitting means for encouraging and urging an occupant in a sitting means to have optimum sitting posture, comprising: 
 a sitting means having a substantially horizontal seat member which supports the thighs and pelvis of an occupant and a substantially vertical back member which is vertically positioned above the seat member and supports the back of the occupant, and    a sensing device for said sitting means: 
 said sensing device comprising; 
 one or a plurality of sensors for generating electrical signal when an occupant contacts or activates the sensor(s) and sending said signal to a microcomputer, said sensor(s) being provided to the seat member and/or the back member of said sitting means to which the body of an occupant is positioned,  
 a microcomputer which stores in memory data for the sensor(s) provided to the sitting means, data for the signal generated by each sensor, and data for the number(s) of said sensor(s), in a predetermined program, and which is programmed to discriminate which signal is generated by which sensor, to compare the number of the signal(s) sent by the sensor(s) with the number of the sensor(s) preset in the predetermined program, and to order the responding means either to respond or not,  
 a responding means for producing responding signal in accordance with the order of the microcomputer, said responding means including devices for producing an auditory signal, a visible signal and/or a vibratory signal,  
 a switch part being provided with several kinds of switches,  
 a power supply being battery supplied or A/C power supplied via a plug,  
 said one or a plurality of sensors, microcomputer, responding means, switch part and power supply being electrically interconnected to one another; and  
 said microcomputer being so programmed, according to said predetermined program, that;  
 the microcomputer examines the presence of a signal(s) sent thereto by the sensor(s), and if no signal is detected, the microcomputer let the responding means remain in non-responding state,  
 when an occupant sitting on the sitting means contacts the sensor(s) provided to the sitting means and thereby the number of the signal(s) sent to the microcomputer coincides with the preset number of the sensor(s), the microcomputer orders the responding means to remain in non-responding state,  
 when the occupant does not contact or activate at least any one sensor and thereby the number of the signal(s) sent to the microcomputer is less than the preset number of the sensor(s), the microcomputer orders the responding means to produce responding signal, and it is arranged that the response is stopped when the occupant, upon recognizing the responding signal, corrects his/her sitting posture and contacts or activates all the sensor(s) the number of which is preset.  
 
   
     
     
         3 . A combination of a sensing device with a covering member for a sitting means for encouraging and urging an occupant in a sitting means covered with a covering member to have optimum sitting posture, comprising: 
 a covering member for a sitting means,    said sitting means having a substantially horizontal seat member which supports the thighs and pelvis of an occupant and a substantially vertical back member which is vertically positioned above the seat member and supports the back of the occupant,    said covering member consisting of a seat covering element which supports the thighs and pelvis of an occupant and a back covering element which is vertically positioned above the seat covering element and supports the back of the occupant when said covering member is placed over said sitting means, and    a sensing device for said covering member: 
 said sensing device comprising; 
 one or a plurality of sensors for generating electrical signal when an occupant in the sitting means covered With said covering member contacts or activates the sensor(s) and sending said signal to a microcomputer, said sensor(s) being provided to the seat covering element and/or the back covering element of said covering member to which the body of an occupant is positioned,  
 a microcomputer which stores in memory data for the sensor(s) provided to the covering member, data for the signal generated by each sensor, and data for the number(s) of said sensor(s), in a predetermined program, and which is programmed to discriminate which signal is generated by which sensor, to compare the number of the signal(s) sent by the sensor(s) with the number of the sensor(s) preset in said predetermined program, and to order the responding means either to respond or not,  
 a responding means for producing responding signal in accordance with the order of the microcomputer, said responding means including devices for producing an auditory signal, a visible signal and/or a vibratory signal,  
 a switch part being provided with several kinds of switches,  
 a power supply being battery supplied or A/C power supplied via a plug,  
 said one or a plurality of sensors, microcomputer, responding means, switch part and power supply being electrically interconnected to one another; and  
 said microcomputer being so programmed, according to said predetermined program, that;  
 the microcomputer examines the presence of a signal(s) sent thereto by the sensor(s), and if no signal is detected, the microcomputer let the responding means remain in non=responding state,  
 when an occupant sitting on the sitting means covered with said covering member contacts the sensor(s) provided to the covering member and thereby the number of the signal(s) sent to the microcomputer coincides with the preset number of the sensor(s), the microcomputer orders the responding means to remain in non-responding state,  
 when the occupant does not contact or activates at least any one sensor and thereby the number of the signal(s) sent to the microcomputer is less than the preset number of the sensor(s), the microcomputer orders the responding means to produce responding signal, and it is arranged that the response is stopped when the occupant, upon recognizing the responding signal, corrects his/her sitting posture and contacts or activates all the sensor(s) the number of which is preset.  
 
   
     
     
         4 . The sensing device according to  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said sensors for the sitting means or covering member comprises as follows: 
 Said sensor for the seat member or seat covering element is provided either to the front part of said seat member or seat covering element to which the thigh bones of an occupant is positioned or to the rear part thereof to which the ischial tuberosities of an occupant are positioned, and said sensor for the back member or back covering element, is provided to the lower part of the back member or back covering element to which the hip of an occupant is positioned.    
     
     
         5 . The sensing device according to  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said sensors for said sitting means or covering member comprises as follows; 
 Said sensor for the seat member or seat covering element is provided either to the front part of said seat member or seat covering element to which the thigh bones of an occupant is positioned or to the rear part thereof to which the ischial tuberosities of the occupant is positioned,    said sensor for the back member or back covering element is provided to the lower part of the back member or back covering element to which the hip of an occupant is positioned, and    said sensor for the back member or back covering element is further provided to the middle part of said back member or back covering element, along the vertical line at the center thereof, to which the thoracic vertebrae of an occupant is positioned.    
     
     
         6 . The sensing device according to  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said sensors for said sitting means or covering member comprises as follows; 
 Said sensor for the seat member or seat covering element is provided either to the front part of said seat member or seat covering element to which the thigh bones of an occupant are positioned or to the rear part thereof to which the ischial tuberosities of the occupant are positioned,    said sensor for the back member or back covering element is provided to the lower part of the back member or back covering element to which the hip of the occupant is positioned, and    a pair of said sensor for the back member or back covering element is further provided to the upper part of the back member or back covering element to which the shoulder blades and/or ribs are positioned,    said pair of sensors being horizontally spaced apart and symmetrical to each other along the vertical line at the center of said back member or back covering element.    
     
     
         7 . The sensing device according to  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said sensors for said sitting means or covering member comprises as follows; 
 Said sensor for the seat member or seat covering element is provided either to the front part of said seat member or seat covering element to which the thigh bones of an occupant are positioned or to the rear part thereof to which the ischial tuberosities of the occupant positioned,    said sensor for the back member or back covering element is provided to the lower part of the back member or back covering element to which the hip of the occupant is positioned, and    said sensor for the back member or back covering element is further provided to the middle part of the headrest of the back member or the headrest part of the back covering element to which the cranial bones of the occupant are positioned.    
     
     
         8 . The sensing device according to  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said sensors for said sitting means or covering member comprises as follows; 
 Said sensor for the back member or back covering element is basically provided to the lower part of the back member or back covering element to which the hip of the occupant is positioned, and    at least one sensor among the following sensors is provided to said back member or back covering element;    a sensor for being provided to the middle part of said back member or back covering element, along the vertical line at the center thereof, to which the thoracic vertebrae of the occupant is positioned,    a pair of sensors for being provided to the upper part of the back member or back covering element to which the shoulder blades and/or ribs are positioned, said pair of sensors being horizontally spaced apart and symmetrical to each other along the vertical line at the center of said back member or back covering element, and    a sensor for being provided to the middle part of the headrest of the back member or the headrest part of the back covering element to which the cranial bones of the occupant are positioned.    
     
     
         9 . The sensing device according to  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said sitting means has a seat member and a plurality of small back members, and said covering member has a seat covering element to be placed over a seat member of a sitting means and a back covering element to be placed over said plurality of small back members of a sitting means, and 
 said sensors for said sitting means or covering member comprises as follows;    One or a plurality of sensors for said plurality of small back members or said back covering element to be placed over said plurality of small back members are basically provided to the lower parts of said plurality of small back members or to the lower part of said back covering element to which the hip of the occupant is positioned, and    at least one sensor among the following sensors is provided to said plurality of back members or said back covering element;    a sensor for being provided either to the front part of said seat member or seat covering element to which the thigh bones of an occupant are positioned or to the rear part thereof to which the ischial tuberosities of the occupant are positioned,    a sensor for being provided to the middle part of said plurality of back members or said back covering element, along the vertical line at the center thereof, to which the thoracic vertebrae of the occupant is positioned,    a pair of sensors for being provided to the upper parts of said plurality of back members or said back covering element to which the shoulder blades and/or ribs are positioned, said pair of sensors being horizontally spaced apart and symmetrical to each other along the vertical line at the center of said plurality of back members or said back covering element, and    a sensor for being provided to the middle part of the headrest of said plurality of back members or the headrest part of said back covering element to which the cranial bones of the occupant are positioned.    
     
     
         10 . The sensing device according to  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said switch part includes a sensor-selecting switch for the occupant to select the sensor(s) which he/she wants to operate, and 
 said microcomputer stores in memory data for some of and/or all the sensor(s) provided to the sitting means, data for the signal generated by each sensor, and data for the number(s) of said some of and/or all the sensor(s), in a predetermined program, and    said microcomputer is further programmed to discriminate which signal is generated by which sensor and to compare the number of the signal(s) sent by said some of and/or all the sensor(s) with the number of said some of and/or all the sensor(s) preset in said predetermined program, and to order the responding means either to respond or not, according to said predetermined program.    
     
     
         11 . The sensing device according to  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said sensor for said sitting means or covering member comprises as follows; 
 Only one sensor at the lower part of the back member or back covering element for the hip of an occupant to be positioned is provided to the sitting means or the covering member, or    only one sensor at the lower part of the back member or back covering element for the hip of an occupant to be positioned is selected among the sensors provided to the sitting means or the covering member by a sensor-selecting switch, such that the microcomputer is programmed to proceed, according to the predetermined program, as follows;    Said microcomputer examines the presence of signal sent thereto, and if no signal is detected, the microcomputer let the responding means remain in non-responding state,    when an occupant contacts or activates said sensor, the sensor generates and sends a signal to the microcomputer,    upon receiving the signal the number of which coincides with the preset number of the sensor, the microcomputer let the responding means remain in non-responding state,    when the occupant removes the hip and the sensor stops generating/sending the signal to the microcomputer for the first time, the microcomputer orders the responding means to produce responding signal to notify the occupant that he/she is not contacting or activating the sensor,    it is arranged that the response is stopped when the occupant, upon recognizing the responding signal, corrects his/her sitting posture and contacts or activates said sensor within certain standard time period, and    if the occupant continuously does not contact or activate the sensor and thereby the signal is not sent to the microcomputer ( 91 ) during said standard time period, the microcomputer orders the responding means to remain in non-responding state after the standard time period has elapsed.    
     
     
         12 . The sensing device according to  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said sensor for the hip of an occupant is provided to the back member or back covering element to be positioned within the range of 5 cm-30 cm from the surface of the rear part of the seat member or seat covering element.  
     
     
         13 . The sensing device according to  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said sensor for the thoracic vertebrae of an occupant is provided to the back member or back covering element to be positioned within the range of 30 cm-70 cm from the surface of the rear part of the seat member or seat covering element.  
     
     
         14 . The sensing device according to  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said pair of sensors for the shoulder blades and/or ribs of an occupant is provided to the back member or back covering element to be positioned within the range of 30 cm-90 cm from the surface of the rear part of the seat member or seat covering element.  
     
     
         15 . The sensing device according to  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said microcomputer is so programmed, in a predetermined program, as to maintain the responding means in hold state for a given standard time, until said standard time elapses, and after lapse of such standard hold time, the microcomputer permits the responding means to respond.  
     
     
         16 . The sensing device according to  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said sensors for the back member or back covering element are comprised of weight detecting sensors which can detect the weight or pressing force of the occupant applied to the back member or back covering element, 
 a standard degree of pressing force for each sensor is preset and stored in memory and a standard degree of pressing force for any one sensor may be the same as or different from that of the other sensor; and    the microcomputer is so programmed that, the pressing force applied to each sensor is checked through a determination as to whether the pressing force exceeds the preset standard degree or not,    when the pressing force applied to any one sensor exceeds the standard degree, the microcomputer orders the responding means to produce responding signal, and    when the responding means produces responding signal, it is arranged such that the response is stopped when the occupant, upon recognizing the responding signal, reduces the pressing force applied to said sensor.    
     
     
         17 . The combination of a sensing device with a sitting means according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said sitting means has an “L” shaped support member which is connected to the body of the seat member for mounting the back member or which is separately prepared and affixed to the body of the seat member, and said sensor for the back member is provided to the part of said “L” shaped support member, within the space between the seat member and the lower part of the back member of the sitting means, to which the hip of an occupant is positioned.    
     
     
         18 . The combination of a sensing device with a sitting means according to  claim 2 , wherein said sitting means has a pair of raised portions or a pair of side support members provided to the lateral sides of the back member thereof to support or fit the natural physical curvature of the ribs of an occupant, and said pair of sensors for the shoulder blades and/or ribs of an occupant is provided to the parts of said pair of raised portions or side support members of the back member to which the shoulder blades and/or ribs of an occupant are positioned.  
     
     
         19 . The combination of a sensing device with a sitting means according to  claim 2 , wherein the lower part of the back member of said sitting means has a lumbar-supporting element, a mechanically inflatable device or a fluid-inflatable device to support the lumbar region of an occupant, 
 said lumbar-supporting element being separately manufactured and provided to the front of the lower part of the back member, and said mechanically inflatable device and fluid-inflatable device being positioned within or to the front of the lower part of said back member, and    said sensor for the hip of an occupant is provided to the part of said lumbar-supporting element, mechanically inflatable device or fluid-inflatable device to which the hip of an occupant is positioned.