JP2022136909A - Chair, device for changing forward tilt angle, and method for changing forward tilt angle - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a chair capable of shortening the time during which a user's posture is maintained in a sitting position. A chair (1) includes a changing section (20) and a control section (40). The change part 20 is an angle at which the seat surface SS inclines with respect to the horizontal plane, and is an angle that increases as the position of the rear edge of the seat surface SS with respect to the front edge of the seat surface SS in the vertical direction increases. Alter between a first angle and a second angle that is greater than the first angle. The control unit 40 changes the forward tilt angle from the first angle to the second angle, and controls the changing unit 20 to maintain the forward tilt angle at the second angle for a predetermined first maintenance period. [Selection drawing] Fig. 1

Description

Applied for application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Law Posted on website on January 22, 2021 Posted on website on March 1, 2021

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a chair, a forward tilting angle changing device, and a forward tilting angle changing method.

A chair is known in which the forward inclination angle of the seat surface on which the user sits varies between a first angle and a second angle. The forward tilt angle is an angle at which the seat surface is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, and is an angle that increases as the position of the rear edge of the seat surface relative to the front edge of the seat surface in the vertical direction increases. For example, the chair described in Patent Literature 1 repeats swinging of the seat surface by alternately continuing a period in which the forward tilt angle is increased and a period in which the forward tilt angle is decreased.

JP-A-2000-166694

By the way, it is known that if the period in which the user's posture is maintained in a sitting position is excessively long, the health of the user is damaged. For example, it is known that there is a correlation between the period and the probability of contracting a disease such as a musculoskeletal disorder, a heart disease, or a lifestyle-related disease. However, in the above chair, the posture of the user is maintained in a sitting position. Therefore, there is a possibility that the time for which the user's posture is maintained in the sitting position becomes excessively long.

One of the objects of the present invention is to shorten the time for which a user's posture is maintained in a sitting position.

In one aspect, the chair has a seat on which the user sits. The chair includes a modifier and a controller.
The changing part defines a forward tilt angle, which is an angle at which the seat surface is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane and which increases as the position in the vertical direction of the rear edge of the seat surface with respect to the front edge of the seat surface increases, as the first angle. , and a second angle that is greater than the first angle.
The control unit changes the anteversion angle from the first angle to the second angle, and controls the change unit to maintain the anteversion angle at the second angle for a predetermined first maintenance period.

In another aspect, the forward tilting angle changing device is such that the seat surface on which the user sits is tilted with respect to the horizontal plane, and the rear edge of the seat surface is higher in the vertical direction than the front edge of the seat surface. The anteversion angle, which is an angle that increases as a matter of fact, is changed. The forward tilt angle changing device includes a changing section and a control section.
The changer changes the tilt angle between a first angle and a second angle that is greater than the first angle.
The control unit changes the anteversion angle from the first angle to the second angle, and controls the change unit to maintain the anteversion angle at the second angle for a predetermined first maintenance period.

In another aspect, the method for changing the forward tilt angle is such that the seat surface on which the user sits is tilted with respect to the horizontal plane, and the position in the vertical direction of the rear edge of the seat surface with respect to the front edge of the seat surface is high. The anteversion angle, which is an angle that increases as a matter of fact, is changed.
The anteversion angle changing method includes changing the anteversion angle from a first angle to a second angle and maintaining the anteversion angle at the second angle for a predetermined first maintenance period.

The time during which the user's posture is maintained in a sitting position can be shortened.

It is a figure showing composition of a chair of a 1st embodiment. It is a figure showing composition of a chair of a 1st embodiment. It is a flow chart showing processing which a control part of a chair of a 1st embodiment performs. 4 is a time chart showing changes in the forward tilt angle of the chair of the first embodiment; 9 is a flow chart showing processing executed by a control unit of the chair of the first modified example of the first embodiment; It is a time chart showing the change of the forward inclination angle of the chair of the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the process which the control part of the chair of the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment performs. It is a time chart showing the change of the forward inclination angle of the chair of the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure showing the structure of the chair of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the process which the control part of the chair of 2nd Embodiment performs. It is a flow chart showing processing which the control part of the chair of a 2nd embodiment performs.

Embodiments of a chair, a forward tilting angle changing device, and a forward tilting angle changing method of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. FIG.

<First Embodiment>
(Overview)
The chair of the first embodiment has a seat surface on which a user sits. The chair includes a modifier and a controller.
The changing part defines a forward tilt angle, which is an angle at which the seat surface is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane and which increases as the position in the vertical direction of the rear edge of the seat surface with respect to the front edge of the seat surface increases, as the first angle. , and a second angle that is greater than the first angle.
The control unit changes the anteversion angle from the first angle to the second angle, and controls the change unit to maintain the anteversion angle at the second angle for a predetermined first maintenance period.

According to this, the forward tilt angle is maintained at the second angle over the first maintenance period. This makes it difficult for the user to maintain a sitting position. As a result, the user is guided to change the posture to the standing position. Therefore, the time for which the user's posture is maintained in the sitting position can be shortened.
Next, the chair of the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG.

(Constitution)
The chair 1 of the first embodiment will be described below using a right-handed orthogonal coordinate system having an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis, as shown in FIGS. In this specification, the same coordinate system is also used in FIG. 9 described later.

In this example, the x-axis direction, the y-axis direction, and the z-axis direction may be represented as the left-right direction of the chair 1, the front-rear direction of the chair 1, and the up-down direction of the chair 1, respectively. Further, in this example, the positive direction of the x-axis, the negative direction of the x-axis, the positive direction of the y-axis, the negative direction of the y-axis, the positive direction of the z-axis, and the negative direction of the z-axis are the leftward direction of the chair 1. , the right direction of chair 1, the rear direction of chair 1, the front direction of chair 1, the upward direction of chair 1, and the downward direction of chair 1, respectively.
In this example, the positive direction of the z-axis and the negative direction of the z-axis coincide with the vertical upward direction and the vertical downward direction, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the chair 1 includes a support portion 10 , a changing portion 20 , a seat portion 30 whose upper end surface forms a seat surface SS, and a control portion 40 . In this example, the chair 1 comprises a backrest (not shown) that supports the user's back when the user is seated. In this example, the backrest is fixed to the support 10 . Note that the chair 1 may not have a backrest.

The support portion 10 extends in the vertical direction. The support part 10 has its lower end placed on the ground or floor surface. In this example, the support portion 10 includes a columnar body extending in the vertical direction, a plurality of legs extending radially from the lower end of the columnar body, and casters provided at the tip of each leg. Note that the support portion 10 may not have casters. Further, the support portion 10 may include a pedestal such as a disk provided at the lower end portion of the columnar body instead of the plurality of legs and the plurality of casters. Also, the support section 10 may have three or more (for example, four) legs instead of the columnar body, the plurality of legs, and the plurality of casters. Also in this case, casters may be provided at the tip of each leg.

In this example, the length of the support portion 10 in the vertical direction (in other words, the height of the support portion 10) is adjustable. The function of adjusting the height of the support section 10 may be realized using a known technique. Note that the support portion 10 may be non-adjustable in height.
The support section 10 supports the change section 20 . In this example, the support portion 10 supports the change portion 20 at its upper end.

The changing portion 20 includes a first flat plate 21 , a second flat plate 22 , a connecting portion 23 , a spacer 24 , an accommodating portion 25 , an air amount changing portion 26 and an angle sensor 27 .

The first flat plate 21 extends in a plane perpendicular to the z-axis (horizontal plane in this example). In this example, the first flat plate 21 has a rectangular shape with two pairs of sides extending along each of the x-axis and the y-axis. The first flat plate 21 may have a shape other than a rectangular shape (for example, a rectangular shape with rounded corners, a square shape, or a square shape with rounded corners). The lower end surface of the first flat plate 21 is fixed to the support portion 10 .

In this example, the support portion 10 horizontally supports the first flat plate 21 . In this example, the support portion 10 can adjust the forward inclination angle of the first flat plate 21 . The forward inclination angle of the first flat plate 21 is the angle at which the first flat plate 21 is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, and the higher the position of the rear edge of the first flat plate 21 with respect to the front edge of the first flat plate 21 in the vertical direction, the greater the angle. is an angle. In other words, the forward tilt angle of the first flat plate 21 is the counterclockwise rotation angle when the chair 1 is viewed from the left side of the chair 1 toward the right side of the chair 1 .

The function of adjusting the forward inclination angle of the first flat plate 21 may be realized using a known technique. Note that the forward tilt angle of the first flat plate 21 of the support portion 10 may not be adjustable.

The second flat plate 22 extends in a plane parallel to the first flat plate 21 (horizontal plane in this example). In this example, the second flat plate 22 has a rectangular shape with two pairs of sides extending along each of the x-axis and the y-axis. The second flat plate 22 may have a shape other than a rectangular shape (for example, a rectangular shape with rounded corners, a square shape, or a square shape with rounded corners). The second flat plate 22 faces the first flat plate 21 above the first flat plate 21 . A seat portion 30 is fixed to the upper end surface of the second flat plate 22 .

The connecting portion 23 connects the first flat plate 21 and the second flat plate 22 at the front end portions of the first flat plate 21 and the second flat plate 22 so that the second flat plate 22 can swing with respect to the first flat plate 21 . connect. The central axis of swinging of the second flat plate 22 with respect to the first flat plate 21 extends in the x-axis direction (in other words, the lateral direction of the chair 1). In this example, the connecting portion 23 includes a hinge (in other words, a hinge).

Spacers 24 are provided between the first flat plate 21 and the second flat plate 22 at the rear ends of the first flat plate 21 and the second flat plate 22 so as to separate the first flat plate 21 and the second flat plate 22 by a predetermined gap length. Intervene in between. In this example, the spacer 24 is fixed to the first flat plate 21 . Note that the spacer 24 may be fixed to the second flat plate 22 . Also, the spacer 24 may be integrated with at least one of the first flat plate 21 and the second flat plate 22 .

In this example, spacer 24 is configured such that first plate 21 and second plate 22 are parallel to each other. Note that the spacer 24 may be configured such that the second flat plate 22 is inclined with respect to the first flat plate 21 .

The containing portion 25 contains air, and its volume changes according to the amount of the contained air. The accommodation portion 25 is interposed between the second flat plate 22 and the first flat plate 21 .

The air amount changing section 26 changes the amount of air contained in the containing section 25 under the control of the control section 40 . In this example, the air amount changing unit 26 includes a switching valve, an air compressor, a pressure regulating valve, and a vacuum pump. The switching valve switches between inflow of air into the housing portion 25 and outflow of air from the housing portion 25 . The air compressor compresses air and sends the compressed air to the housing section 25 through the switching valve. The pressure regulating valve regulates air pressure between the air compressor and the switching valve. The vacuum pump exhausts air from the housing portion 25 through the switching valve.
In this example, the accommodation portion 25 and the air amount changing portion 26 correspond to the swing portion that swings the second flat plate 22 with respect to the first flat plate 21 .

The angle sensor 27 detects the angle of the second flat plate 22 with respect to the horizontal plane. In this example, the angle detected by the angle sensor 27 corresponds to the forward inclination angle of the seat surface SS. The forward tilt angle of the seat surface SS is the angle at which the seat surface SS is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, and is an angle that increases as the position of the rear edge of the seat surface SS with respect to the front edge of the seat surface SS in the vertical direction increases. . In other words, the forward tilt angle of the seat surface SS is the counterclockwise rotation angle when the chair 1 is viewed from the left side of the chair 1 toward the right side of the chair 1 .

The angle sensor 27 is fixed to the second flat plate 22 (the upper end surface of the second flat plate 22 in this example). In this example, the angle sensor 27 is positioned at the rear end of the second flat plate 22 .
In this example, the angle sensor 27 includes an acceleration sensor.
The angle sensor 27 may detect the angle of the second flat plate 22 with respect to the vertical direction.

The seat portion 30 is fixed to the upper end surface of the second flat plate 22 . The upper end surface of the seat portion 30 forms a seat surface SS. In this example, the seat surface SS has a curved surface along at least a portion of the user's buttocks when the user is seated. The seat surface SS may be flat.
In this example, the front end of the seat portion 30 is positioned forward of the front end of the changing portion 20 in the front-rear direction of the chair 1 .

The control unit 40 includes a processing device and a storage device. In this example, at least part of the control unit 40 is configured by an LSI (Large Scale Integration) circuit. At least part of the control unit 40 may be configured by a programmable logic circuit (eg, PLD (Programmable Logic Device) or FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array)).

The control unit 40 controls the air amount changing unit 26 by causing the processing device to execute a program stored in the storage device. In this example, control by the control unit 40 is performed by sending and receiving signals between the control unit 40 and the air amount changing unit 26 and the angle sensor 27, respectively. Further, in this example, the control unit 40 receives an instruction input by the operation of the user of the chair 1 .
A detailed description of the functions of the control unit 40 will be supplemented by a description of the operation of the chair 1, which will be described later.

For example, the processing device may include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). For example, the storage device may include RAM (Random Access Memory), semiconductor memory, organic memory, HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or SSD (Solid State Drive).

With such a configuration, when the air amount changing unit 26 increases the amount of air accommodated in the accommodating unit 25 under the control of the control unit 40, the second flat plate 22 tilts forward with respect to the first flat plate 21. oscillates to increase As a result, as represented in FIG. 2, the anteversion angle is greater than in the case represented in FIG. Further, when the air amount changing unit 26 reduces the amount of air accommodated in the accommodating unit 25 under the control of the control unit 40, the forward inclination angle of the second flat plate 22 with respect to the first flat plate 21 decreases. swing to.
In this example, the changing unit 20 and the control unit 40 correspond to a forward tilt angle changing device.

(motion)
Next, an example of motion of the chair 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG.
In this example, the control unit 40 executes the forward tilt angle control process represented by the flowchart in FIG.
The control unit 40 waits until it receives a start instruction input by the user of the chair 1 (“No” determination in step S101 of FIG. 3). Then, when the user of the chair 1 inputs a start instruction, the control unit 40 accepts the input start instruction.

Accordingly, the control unit 40 proceeds to step S102 in FIG. 3 and changes the forward tilt angle to the sitting angle (step S102 in FIG. 3). In this example, the control unit 40 controls the air amount changing unit 26 so that the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 matches the sitting angle.

The sitting position angle is a forward inclination angle that allows the user of the chair 1 to easily maintain the posture in a sitting position (in this example, a sitting position or a sitting position). In this example, the sitting angle is 0 degrees. The sitting angle may be an angle of -5 degrees to 5 degrees. In this example, the sitting angle corresponds to the first angle. The control unit 40 then controls the air amount changing unit 26 so that the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 is maintained at the sitting angle.
Thereby, the user of the chair 1 sits on the seat surface SS of the chair 1 . In other words, the user of chair 1 sits on chair 1 .

Next, the control unit 40 starts measuring elapsed time (step S103 in FIG. 3).
Next, the control unit 40 waits until the forward tilting start time arrives (“No” determination in step S104 of FIG. 3). In this example, the forward leaning start point is the point at which a predetermined waiting time has passed since the user input a start instruction. In this example, the waiting time is one hour. The standby time may be 20 minutes to 4 hours (preferably 30 minutes to 1 hour).

After that, the control unit 40 changes the forward tilting angle to the standing position guidance angle at the time when the forward tilting start time arrives (in this example, time T11 in FIG. 4) (step S105 in FIG. 3). In this example, the control unit 40 controls the air amount changing unit 26 so as to increase the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 at a predetermined increasing speed. In this example, the rate of increase is 5 degrees/minute. The increasing speed may be 1 degree/minute to 80 degrees/minute (preferably 2 degrees/minute to 10 degrees/minute).

The control unit 40 controls the air amount changing unit 26 so as to continue increasing the forward tilt angle until the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 matches the standing posture guidance angle. The standing guidance angle is greater than the sitting angle.

The standing posture guidance angle is a forward tilting angle at which the user of the chair 1 can hardly maintain a sitting posture. In other words, the standing guidance angle is a forward tilting angle that guides (or encourages) the user of the chair 1 to change the posture from the sitting position to the standing position. In this example, the standing guidance angle is 35 degrees. Note that the standing posture guidance angle may be an angle of 30 degrees to 45 degrees. The standing posture guidance angle is preferably an angle of 35 degrees to 40 degrees. In this example, the standing guidance angle corresponds to the second angle.

Then, the control unit 40 waits until a predetermined standing guidance time elapses from the time when the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 matches the standing guidance angle (time T12 in FIG. 4 in this example). (“No” determination in step S106 of FIG. 3). In this example, the standing guidance time is 1 minute. The standing guidance time may be 10 seconds to 10 minutes (preferably 30 seconds to 2 minutes). In this example, the controller 40 controls the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 until the standing position guidance time elapses after the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 matches the standing position guidance angle. The air amount changer 26 is controlled so as to maintain the angle at the standing position guidance angle. In this example, the period from when the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 matches the standing guidance angle to when the standing guidance time elapses corresponds to the first maintenance period.
Thereby, the user of the chair 1 changes the posture from the sitting position to the standing position. In other words, the user of chair 1 stands up from chair 1 .

After that, the control unit 40, when the standing guidance time has passed since the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 coincides with the standing guidance angle (in this example, time T13 in FIG. 4), The forward tilt angle is changed to the sitting angle (step S107 in FIG. 3). In this example, the control unit 40 controls the air amount changing unit 26 so as to decrease the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 at a predetermined decreasing speed. In this example, the magnitude of the decreasing speed is equal to the magnitude of the increasing speed. Note that the magnitude of the decreasing speed may be greater than the magnitude of the increasing speed.

Then, the control unit 40 adjusts the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 to the sitting position angle from the point in time when the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 coincides with the sitting position angle (time T14 in FIG. 4 in this example). The air amount changing unit 26 is controlled so as to maintain .
After that, the control unit 40 returns to step S101 in FIG. 3, and repeats the processing of steps S101 to S107.

As described above, the chair 1 of the first embodiment has the seat surface SS on which the user sits. The chair includes a changing section 20 and a control section 40 .
The changing part 20 is an angle at which the seat surface SS is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, and the forward tilt angle is an angle that increases as the position of the rear edge of the seat surface SS with respect to the front edge of the seat surface SS in the vertical direction becomes higher. It changes between a first angle (sitting position angle in this example) and a second angle (standing guidance angle in this example) that is larger than the first angle.
The control unit 40 changes the forward tilt angle from the first angle to the second angle, and controls the changing unit 20 to maintain the forward tilt angle at the second angle for a predetermined first maintenance period.

According to this, the forward tilt angle is maintained at the second angle over the first maintenance period. This makes it difficult for the user to maintain a sitting position. As a result, the user is guided to change the posture to the standing position. Therefore, the time for which the user's posture is maintained in the sitting position can be shortened.

Furthermore, in the chair 1 of the first embodiment, the second angle is an angle of 35 degrees to 40 degrees.

By the way, when the forward tilt angle is between 35 degrees and 40 degrees, it tends to be difficult for the user to maintain a sitting posture. Therefore, according to the chair 1, the user is more reliably guided to change the posture to the standing position. As a result, the time for which the user's posture is maintained in the sitting position can be shortened.

Further, the chair 1 of the first embodiment includes a seat portion 30 having a seat surface SS and a support portion 10 that supports the changing portion 20. As shown in FIG.
The changing portion 20 includes a first flat plate 21 fixed to the support portion 10, a second flat plate 22, and a swinging portion (accommodating portion 25 and air amount changing portion 26 in this example).
The second flat plate 22 is attached to the first flat plate 21 at the front end portion of the first flat plate 21 so that the seat portion 30 is fixed and the central axis of swinging extends in the lateral direction of the seat surface SS. are pivotably connected to each other.
The swinging portion swings the second flat plate 22 with respect to the first flat plate 21 .

By the way, when the front end of the seat surface SS moves relatively large in the vertical direction, the user sitting on the seat surface SS often feels uncomfortable. In contrast, according to the chair 1, it is possible to shorten the distance that the front end of the seat surface SS moves in the vertical direction as the forward tilt angle changes. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user sitting on the seat surface SS from feeling uncomfortable.

Further, according to the chair 1, compared to the case where the second flat plate 22 is swingably connected to the first flat plate 21 at a position behind the front end of the first flat plate 21, the forward inclination angle increases, the distance by which the rear end of the seat surface SS rises in the vertical direction can be lengthened. As a result, the user's buttocks can be raised sufficiently high in the vertical direction as the forward tilt angle increases. As a result, the user can be more reliably guided to change the posture to the standing position.

Furthermore, in the chair 1 of the first embodiment, the swinging portion accommodates air between the second flat plate 22 and the first flat plate 21, and has an accommodation portion whose volume changes according to the amount of the accommodated air. and an air amount changing unit 26 that changes the amount of air accommodated in the accommodating part 25 .

According to this, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of vibration accompanying a change in the forward tilt angle. In addition, it is possible to suppress the noise caused by the change in the forward tilt angle. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user sitting on the seat surface SS from feeling uncomfortable.

In the chair 1 of the first embodiment, the forward tilt angle may be maintained at the standing guidance angle. In this case, the chair 1 may be configured to change the forward tilt angle to the sitting position angle when an end instruction is received from the user of the chair 1 .

By the way, the chair 1 of the first embodiment uses air pressure to change the forward tilt angle. Note that the chair 1 of the modified example of the first embodiment may be configured to change the forward tilt angle using liquid (for example, oil) pressure instead of air pressure. In this case, the chair 1 may be equipped with hydraulic cylinders.

Moreover, the chair 1 of the first embodiment measures the elapsed time and controls the forward tilt angle based on the measured elapsed time. It should be noted that the chair 1 of the modified example of the first embodiment uses the biological information of the user of the chair 1 or the information processing device used by the user of the chair 1 instead of the elapsed time or in addition to the elapsed time. The forward tilt angle may be controlled based on the motion information.

For example, the biometric information of the user of the chair 1 is information representing sleepiness of the user. In this case, the chair 1 may be configured to detect drowsiness of the user using a known technique and increase the forward tilt angle when drowsiness is detected. Furthermore, in this case, the chair 1 may be configured to increase the rate of increase of the forward tilt angle when drowsiness is detected.

Further, for example, the operation information of the information processing device used by the user of the chair 1 is information indicating the end of a task (for example, processing corresponding to predetermined work or work) executed by the information processing device. In this case, the chair 1 may be configured to detect the end of the task executed by the information processing device using a known technique, and increase the forward tilt angle when the end of the task is detected. .

<First Modification of First Embodiment>
Next, the chair of the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment is demonstrated. The chair of the first modified example of the first embodiment differs from the chair of the first embodiment in that it guides the user to change his or her posture a plurality of times. The following description focuses on the points of difference. In addition, in the description of the first modification of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment designate the same or substantially similar components.

(motion)
An example of motion of the chair 1 of the first modified example of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG.
In this example, the control unit 40 executes the forward tilt angle control process represented by the flowchart in FIG.
The control unit 40 waits until it receives a start instruction input by the user of the chair 1 (“No” determination in step S101A of FIG. 5). Then, when the user of the chair 1 inputs a start instruction, the control unit 40 accepts the input start instruction.

Accordingly, the control unit 40 proceeds to step S102A in FIG. 5 and changes the forward tilt angle to the sitting angle (step S102A in FIG. 5). In this example, the control unit 40 controls the air amount changing unit 26 so that the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 matches the sitting angle.

The sitting angle is a forward tilting angle at which the user of the chair 1 can easily maintain a sitting posture. In this example, the sitting angle is 0 degrees. The sitting angle may be an angle of -5 degrees to 5 degrees. In this example, the sitting angle corresponds to the first angle. The control unit 40 then controls the air amount changing unit 26 so that the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 is maintained at the sitting angle.
Thereby, the user of the chair 1 sits on the seat surface SS of the chair 1 . In other words, the user of chair 1 sits on chair 1 .

Next, the control unit 40 starts measuring elapsed time (step S103A in FIG. 5).
Next, the control unit 40 waits until the first forward tilting start time arrives (“No” determination in step S104A of FIG. 5). In this example, the first forward leaning start time point is a time point when a predetermined first waiting time has elapsed after the user inputs a start instruction. In this example, the first waiting time is 30 minutes. The first standby time may be 10 minutes to 2 hours (preferably 20 minutes to 1 hour).

After that, the control unit 40 changes the forward tilting angle to the first standing guidance angle at the time when the first forward tilting start time arrives (time T21 in FIG. 6 in this example) (step S105A in FIG. 5). ). In this example, the control unit 40 controls the air amount changing unit 26 so as to increase the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 at a predetermined first increase speed. In this example, the first rate of increase is 5 degrees/minute. The first increasing speed may be a speed of 1 degree/minute to 80 degrees/minute (preferably 2 degrees/minute to 10 degrees/minute).

The control unit 40 controls the air amount changing unit 26 to continue increasing the forward tilt angle until the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 matches the first standing posture guidance angle. The first standing guidance angle is greater than the sitting angle.

The first standing guidance angle is a forward tilt angle that allows the user of the chair 1 to recognize that a change in posture is recommended. In other words, the first standing posture guidance angle is a forward tilting angle that makes the user of the chair 1 recognize that it is recommended to change the posture from the sitting position to the standing position. In this example, the first standing guidance angle is 15 degrees. Note that the first standing posture guidance angle may be an angle of 10 degrees to 25 degrees. In this example, the first standing induction angle corresponds to a third angle that is greater than the first angle and less than the second angle.

Then, the control unit 40 sets the predetermined first standing guidance time from the time when the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 matches the first standing guidance angle (in this example, time T22 in FIG. 6). It waits until it elapses (“No” determination in step S106A of FIG. 5). In this example, the first standing guidance time is 1 minute. The first standing guidance time may be 10 seconds to 10 minutes (preferably 30 seconds to 2 minutes).

In this example, the control unit 40 detects the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 by the angle sensor 27 until the first standing guidance time elapses after the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 matches the first standing guidance angle. The air amount changing unit 26 is controlled so as to maintain the forward tilt angle to be the first standing posture guidance angle. In this example, the period from when the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 matches the first standing guidance angle to when the first standing guidance time elapses corresponds to the second maintenance period.
Thereby, the user of the chair 1 may change the posture from the sitting position to the standing position. It should be noted that the user of the chair 1 may maintain a sitting posture.

After that, the control unit 40 controls the timing at which the first standing guidance time elapses after the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 coincides with the first standing guidance angle (in this example, at time T23 in FIG. 6). ), the forward tilt angle is changed to the sitting angle (step S107A in FIG. 5). In this example, the control unit 40 controls the air amount changing unit 26 so as to decrease the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 at a predetermined first decrease speed. In this example, the magnitude of the first decreasing speed is equal to the magnitude of the first increasing speed. Note that the magnitude of the first decreasing speed may be greater than the magnitude of the first increasing speed.

Then, the control unit 40 changes the timing from the time when the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 matches the sitting angle (in this example, time T24 in FIG. 6) to the second forward tilt start time (in this example, in FIG. 6). Until time T25), the air amount changing unit 26 is controlled so that the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 is maintained at the sitting angle. In this way, the control unit 40 waits until the second forward tilting start time arrives (“No” determination in step S108A of FIG. 5). In this example, the second forward leaning start point is the point of time when a predetermined second waiting time has elapsed after the start instruction is input by the user. The second standby time includes a first standby time, a time for changing the forward tilt angle from the sitting angle to the first standing guidance angle, a first standing guidance time, and a forward tilt angle from the first standing guidance angle. longer than the sum of the time to change to the sitting angle. In this example, the second waiting time is one hour. The second standby time may be 20 minutes to 4 hours (preferably 30 minutes to 2 hours).

After that, the control unit 40 changes the forward tilting angle to the second standing guidance angle at the time when the second forward tilting start time arrives (in this example, time T25 in FIG. 6) (step S109A in FIG. 5). ). In this example, the control unit 40 controls the air amount changing unit 26 so as to increase the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 at a predetermined second increasing speed. In this example, the second rate of increase is equal to the first rate of increase. Note that the magnitude of the second increasing speed may be greater than the magnitude of the first increasing speed.

The control unit 40 controls the air amount changing unit 26 to continue increasing the forward tilt angle until the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 matches the second standing posture guidance angle. The second standing posture guidance angle is greater than the sitting posture angle and greater than the first standing posture guidance angle.

The second standing posture guidance angle is a forward tilting angle that makes it difficult for the user of the chair 1 to maintain a sitting posture. In other words, the second standing guidance angle is a forward tilting angle that guides (in other words, encourages) the user of the chair 1 to change the posture from the sitting position to the standing position. In this example, the second standing guidance angle is 35 degrees. The second standing posture guidance angle may be an angle of 30 degrees to 45 degrees. In this example, the second posture guidance angle corresponds to the second angle.

Then, the control unit 40 controls the predetermined second standing guidance time from the time when the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 matches the second standing guidance angle (in this example, time T26 in FIG. 6). It waits until it elapses ("No" judgment in step S110A of FIG. 5). In this example, the second standing guidance time is equal to the first standing guidance time. The second standing guidance time may be longer than the first standing guidance time. For example, the second standing guidance time may be 10 seconds to 10 minutes.

In this example, the control unit 40 detects the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 by the angle sensor 27 until the second standing guidance time elapses after the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 matches the second standing guidance angle. The air amount changer 26 is controlled so as to maintain the forward tilt angle to the second standing posture guidance angle. In this example, the period from when the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 matches the second standing guidance angle to when the second standing guidance time elapses corresponds to the first maintenance period.
Thereby, the user of the chair 1 changes the posture from the sitting position to the standing position.

After that, the control unit 40 controls the second standing guidance time from the time when the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 coincides with the second standing guidance angle (in this example, time T27 in FIG. 6). ), the forward tilt angle is changed to the sitting angle (step S111A in FIG. 5). In this example, the control unit 40 controls the air amount changing unit 26 so as to decrease the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 at a predetermined second decrease speed. In this example, the magnitude of the second decreasing speed is equal to the magnitude of the second increasing speed. The magnitude of the second decreasing speed may be greater than the magnitude of the second increasing speed.

Then, the control unit 40 adjusts the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 to the sitting angle from the point in time when the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 coincides with the sitting angle (time T28 in FIG. 6 in this example). The air amount changing unit 26 is controlled so as to maintain .
After that, the control unit 40 returns to step S101A in FIG. 5, and repeats the processing from step S101A to step S111A.

As described above, according to the chair 1 of the first modified example of the first embodiment, the same actions and effects as the chair 1 of the first embodiment are achieved.
Furthermore, in the chair 1 of the first modified example of the first embodiment, the control unit 40 changes the forward tilt angle from the first angle (the sitting angle in this example) to a second angle that is larger than the first angle and In this example, the angle is changed to a third angle (in this example, the first standing guidance angle) that is smaller than the second standing guidance angle), and the forward tilt angle is changed to the third angle over a predetermined second maintenance period. After that, the change unit 20 is controlled so as to change the anteversion angle to the second angle and maintain the anteversion angle over the first maintenance period.

According to this, the forward tilt angle is maintained at the third angle, which is larger than the first angle, over the second maintenance period. This guides the user to change the posture to the standing position. Furthermore, even when the posture of the user is maintained in a sitting position, the forward tilt angle is changed to a second angle that is larger than the third angle, and the forward tilt angle is maintained at the second angle for the first maintenance period. maintained over Therefore, the user is more reliably guided to change the posture to the standing position. As a result, the time for which the user's posture is maintained in the sitting position can be shortened.

It should be noted that the chair 1 of the first modification of the first embodiment is set at the time when the second standing guidance time elapses from the time when the forward tilt angle matches the second standing guidance angle (in this example, the After time T27), the forward tilt angle may be maintained at the second standing posture guidance angle. In this case, the chair 1 may be configured to change the forward tilt angle to the sitting position angle when an end instruction is received from the user of the chair 1 .

Note that the chair 1 of the first modified example of the first embodiment guides the user to change the posture twice, but guides the user to change the posture three or more times. It may be configured as

<Second Modification of First Embodiment>
Next, the chair of the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment is demonstrated. The chair of the second modified example of the first embodiment is different from the chair of the first modified example of the first embodiment in the second standing posture without changing the forward tilt angle from the first standing posture guidance angle to the sitting posture angle. The difference is in the change to the guiding angle. The following description focuses on the points of difference. In addition, in the description of the second modification of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals as those used in the first modification of the first embodiment denote the same or substantially similar components.

(motion)
An example of motion of the chair 1 of the second modified example of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG.
In this example, the control unit 40 executes the forward tilt angle control process represented by the flowchart in FIG. The forward tilt angle control process of FIG. 7 differs from the forward tilt angle control process of FIG. 5 in that the processes of steps S107A and S108A are deleted.

Therefore, similarly to the first modified example of the first embodiment, the control unit 40 sets the forward tilt angle to the first vertical tilt angle from the time when the first forward tilt start time arrives (in this example, time T31 in FIG. 8). After the change to the posture guidance angle, the forward tilt angle coincides with the first standing guidance angle (in this example, time T32 in FIG. 8), and the first standing guidance time elapses (in this example, in FIG. 8 time T33), the forward tilt angle is maintained at the first standing posture guidance angle (steps S101A to S106A in FIG. 7).

After that, the control unit 40 controls the timing at which the first standing guidance time elapses after the forward tilt angle detected by the angle sensor 27 coincides with the first standing guidance angle (in this example, at time T33 in FIG. 8). ), the forward tilt angle is changed to the second standing posture guidance angle (step S109A in FIG. 7).

After that, as in the first modification of the first embodiment, the control unit 40 starts the second standing posture from the time when the forward tilt angle coincides with the second standing posture guidance angle (time T34 in FIG. 8 in this example). The forward tilt angle is maintained at the second standing posture guidance angle until the time point (in this example, time point T35 in FIG. 8) when the posture guidance time elapses (step S110A in FIG. 7).

After that, as in the first modification of the first embodiment, the control unit 40 controls the timing after the second standing guidance time elapses from the time when the forward tilt angle matches the second standing guidance angle (in this example, , time T35 in FIG. 8), the forward tilt angle is changed to the sitting angle.

As described above, according to the chair 1 of the second modification of the first embodiment, the same actions and effects as those of the chair 1 of the first modification of the first embodiment are achieved.

It should be noted that the chair 1 of the second modification of the first embodiment is the time when the second standing guidance time has elapsed from the time when the forward tilt angle matches the second standing guidance angle (in this example, the After time T35), the forward tilt angle may be maintained at the second standing posture guidance angle. In this case, the chair 1 may be configured to change the forward tilt angle to the sitting position angle when an end instruction is received from the user of the chair 1 .

Note that the chair 1 of the second modification of the first embodiment guides the user to change the posture twice, but guides the user to change the posture three or more times. It may be configured as

<Second embodiment>
Next, the chair of 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated. The chair of the second embodiment differs from the chair of the first embodiment in that the posture of the user is detected and the forward tilt angle is controlled based on the detected posture. The following description focuses on the points of difference. In addition, in the description of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment designate the same or substantially similar components.

(Constitution)
As shown in FIG. 9, in the chair 1A of the second embodiment, the changing section 20 includes a pressure sensor 28A in addition to the configuration of the changing section 20 of the first embodiment.
Pressure sensor 28A detects the load applied to seat portion 30 . In this example, the pressure sensor 28A is fixed to the lower end surface of the second flat plate 22 so as to be sandwiched between the second flat plate 22 and the housing portion 25 .

In this example, the fact that the load detected by the pressure sensor 28A is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value corresponds to the detection that the posture of the user of the chair 1A is the sitting position, and the load detected by the pressure sensor 28A is Being smaller than the threshold corresponds to detecting that the posture of the user of chair 1A is standing.
In this example, the pressure sensor 28A corresponds to the detection section that detects the posture of the user of the chair 1A.

Further, the chair 1A includes a controller 40A instead of the controller 40 of the first embodiment. In this example, control by the control section 40A is performed by sending and receiving signals between the control section 40A and each of the air amount changing section 26, the angle sensor 27, and the pressure sensor 28A.
A detailed description of the functions of the control unit 40A will be supplemented by a description of the operation of the chair 1A, which will be described later.

(motion)
An example of the motion of the chair 1A of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG.
In this example, the control unit 40A executes the forward tilt angle control process represented by the flowchart in FIG. The forward tilt angle control process of FIG. 10 differs from the forward tilt angle control process of FIG. 3 in that the process of step S101 is replaced with the processes of steps S1011B and S1012B.

In this example, the controller 40A waits until it detects that the posture of the user of the chair 1A is the sitting position (step S1011B in FIG. 10). Then, when it is detected that the posture of the user of the chair 1A is the sitting position, the control unit 40A performs standing posture control shown in the flowchart in FIG. 11 independently of the forward tilt angle control processing in FIG. Execute the process. Next, in the forward tilt angle control process, the control unit 40A executes the processes after step S102, as in the first embodiment.

On the other hand, the control unit 40A waits until it is detected that the posture of the user of the chair 1A is the standing position in the standing position control process (step S201B in FIG. 11). Then, when it is detected that the posture of the user of the chair 1A is standing, the controller 40A terminates the forward tilt angle control process in FIG. 10 (step S202B in FIG. 11).

Next, the control unit 40A changes the forward tilt angle to the sitting position angle (step S203B in FIG. 11), and executes the forward tilt angle control process in FIG. 10 independently of the standing position control process in FIG. 11 step S204B). After that, the control unit 40A terminates the standing position control process.

As described above, according to the chair 1A of the second embodiment, the same functions and effects as those of the chair 1 of the first embodiment are exhibited.
Further, the chair 1A of the second embodiment includes a detection unit (in this example, the pressure sensor 28A) that detects the posture of the user of the chair 1A, and the control unit 40A controls the change unit 20 based on the detected posture. to control.

According to this, when the posture of the user of the chair 1A changes to the standing position, the user of the chair 1A can easily sit down by changing the forward tilt angle to the first angle (in this example, the sitting position angle). can.

Note that the chair 1A of the modified example of the second embodiment maintains the forward tilt angle at the second angle (in this example, the standing position guidance angle) when the posture of the user of the chair 1A is maintained in the sitting position. It may be configured to extend the period. According to this, the user of the chair 1A can be more reliably guided to change the posture to the standing position.

Further, the chair 1A of the modified example of the second embodiment includes an infrared sensor in addition to the pressure sensor 28A or in place of the pressure sensor 28A, and detects the posture of the user of the chair 1A using infrared rays. good too. Further, the chair 1A of the modified example of the second embodiment is provided with a camera in addition to or instead of the pressure sensor 28A, and the posture of the user of the chair 1A is determined using an image captured by the camera. may be detected.

In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above. For example, various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art may be added to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1, 1A Chair 10 Supporting part 20 Changing part 21 First flat plate 22 Second flat plate 23 Connecting part 24 Spacer 25 Accommodating part 26 Air amount changing part 27 Angle sensor 28A Pressure sensor 30 Seat parts 40, 40A Control part SS Seat surface

Claims (8)

A chair having a seat surface on which a user sits,
A forward tilt angle, which is an angle at which the seat surface is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane and which increases as the position in the vertical direction of the rear edge of the seat surface with respect to the front edge of the seat surface becomes higher, is defined as a first angle; a changing portion that changes between a second angle that is greater than the first angle;
Control for controlling the changing unit to change the forward tilt angle from the first angle to the second angle and maintain the forward tilt angle at the second angle for a predetermined first maintenance period. Department and
A chair. A chair according to claim 1,
The chair, wherein the second angle is between 35 and 40 degrees. A chair according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The control unit
changing the anteversion angle from the first angle to a third angle larger than the first angle and smaller than the second angle, and maintaining the anteversion angle at the third angle for a predetermined second maintenance period; and then changing the anteversion angle to the second angle and controlling the changer to maintain the anteversion angle for the first maintenance period. The chair according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A detection unit that detects the posture of the user,
The control unit
A chair that controls the modifier based on the detected posture. The chair according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
a seat portion having the seat surface;
a support portion that supports the change portion;
The change unit
a first flat plate fixed to the support;
The front end of the first flat plate is pivotably connected to the first flat plate so that the seat portion is fixed and the central axis of swinging extends in the left-right direction of the seat surface. a second flat plate;
an oscillating portion that oscillates the second flat plate with respect to the first flat plate;
A chair. A chair according to claim 5,
The oscillating portion is
an accommodating portion that accommodates air between the second flat plate and the first flat plate and that changes in volume according to the amount of the accommodated air;
an air amount changing unit that changes the amount of air accommodated in the accommodating unit;
A chair. A forward tilt angle is changed, which is an angle at which the seat surface on which the user sits is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane and which increases as the position in the vertical direction of the rear edge of the seat surface with respect to the front edge of the seat surface becomes higher. A anteversion angle changing device,
a changing unit that changes the forward tilt angle between a first angle and a second angle that is larger than the first angle;
Control for controlling the changing unit to change the forward tilt angle from the first angle to the second angle and maintain the forward tilt angle at the second angle for a predetermined first maintenance period. Department and
An anteversion angle changing device. A forward tilt angle is changed, which is an angle at which the seat surface on which the user sits is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane and which increases as the position in the vertical direction of the rear edge of the seat surface with respect to the front edge of the seat surface becomes higher. A forward tilt angle changing method,
changing the anteversion angle from the first angle to the second angle;
maintaining the anteversion angle at the second angle for a predetermined first maintenance period;
A method of changing an anteversion angle, comprising:

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