Technical field

The present invention relates to pieces of seat that enable enhanced sound perception via vibration. In particular, the present invention relates to a seat arranged for joint production of vibration and sound according to the preamble of claim 1 .

In this text; in the description and the claims by the term “seat” is meant all types of pieces of furniture and like for buildings of domestic or public uses and for vehicles, such as cars, trains, vessels etc., for example chairs, coaches etc. which are for users typically to sit and to which the users have a skin contact of advantageously of larger skin areas such as skin of the back or of the behind or of the arms or of the thighs of the user.

Background

It is known from prior art to generate vibration effect, especially low frequency effects (LFE) from 15 to 120 Hz, to pieces of seat by using mechanical actuators and/or large loudspeakers. Typically, the vibration actuators are mounted in chairs on seat rests and or on back rests at lumbar area of the user.

In EP patent application publication 3097703 is disclosed an apparatus for comprehensive perception of sound, preferably a cushion, where vibration and sound is produced with a mechanical device wrapped inside a padding, wherein the device radiates sound by generating mechanical vibration directly to the padding that can be felt and listened on the outer surface of the padding, and radiates airborne sound through the padding, which device in order to avoid acoustical and mechanical resonances comprises an acoustically denser and lossy layer and a layer that is acoustically less dense and porous and which device further comprises at least one board, and the vibration of the board is generated using at least one vibrating mechanical actuator.

In EP patent application publication 3244628 is disclosed an apparatus for joint production of vibration and sound, the apparatus comprising means for jointly producing vibration and sound to reproduce an input audio signal provided as input thereto, said means arranged inside a padding to generate mechanical vibration that is perceivable as a vibration and sound on at least one outer surface of the padding and to radiate a sound through said at least one outer surface of the padding; and means for regulating perceivable intensity of vibration in dependence of at least one characteristics of the input audio signal. In this know apparatus the means for jointly producing vibration and sound may comprise at least one mechanical actuator and at least one board, wherein said at least one mechanical actuator is arranged to vibrate said at least one board in accordance with the input audio signal.

In EP patent application publication 3244633 is disclosed a seat arranged for joint production of vibration and sound, the seat comprising vibration means for jointly producing vibration and sound to reproduce an input audio signal provided as input thereto, said vibration means arranged inside a padding of the seat to generate mechanical vibration that is perceivable as a vibration and sound on at least one outer surface of the padding and to radiate a sound through said at least one outer surface of the padding and said vibration means comprising at least one mechanical actuator and at least one board, wherein said at least one mechanical actuator is arranged to vibrate said at least one board in accordance with the input audio signal, and isolation means for mechanically isolating the vibration means from adjacent structures. The board comprises at least one rigid or substantially rigid board arranged in one or more of the following: a backrest of the seat, a seat part of the seat; an armrest of the seat, a footrest of the seat, a headrest of the seat. The mechanical actuator comprises at least two mechanical actuators for reproducing a spatial sound. By this known a sound reproduction arrangement is provided that, on one hand, enables provision of strong low frequency effects without causing severe disturbances to adjacent spaces while on the other hand enables faithful reproduction of the spatial / directional component of the soundscape at a reasonable complexity and cost. Thus, the arrangement with sound board actuator with elastic mounting to a chair provides a chair that vibrates and is mechanically isolated from the floor.

In EP patent application publication 3531715 is disclosed seat arranged for enhanced sound perception via vibration comprising a padding and a sound reproduction assembly, which comprises at least one vibration source, at least one elastic element and at least one frame structure, which sound reproduction assembly is at least partially arranged inside the padding. The elastic elements are non-homogenous element and located in contact with the frame structure and the vibration source and configured to provide mechanically tuned mounting and the elastic element are configured to create at least lateral vibration to the surface of the seat.

Summarv

An objective of the invention is to create a seat arranged for enhanced sound perception via vibration, in which the disadvantages and problems of the arrangements according to prior art eliminated or at least minimized.

An objective of the invention is to create an improved seat arranged for enhanced sound perception via vibration, in which improved soundscape is achieved.

Another objective of the invention is to create an improved seat arranged for enhanced sound perception via vibration, in which vibration distribution to larger possible user contact areas is achieved.

In particular, an object of the invention is to create a seat arranged for enhanced sound perception via vibration, in which the disadvantages and problems relating to only to back area of the user generated soundscape are eliminated or at least minimized.

In order to achieve the above objects and those described later the seat arranged for joint production of vibration and sound according to the invention is mainly characterized by the features of claim 1 . In the dependent claims additional advantageous features and aspects of the invention are defined.

In accordance with the invention the seat arranged for joint production of vibration and sound comprises a backrest and a seatrest forming main components of a body of the seat, which seat comprises a sound reproduction assembly, which comprises elastic vibrating elements as vibration and sound source , wherein the seat further comprises at least at one side of the seat a sound shield, which extends from the backrest towards front side of the seat and the sound shield comprises at least one elastic vibrating element mounted to the sound shield.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the seat comprises at least two sound shields, each extending from the backrest towards front side of the seat.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the sound shield extends in upwards inclined direction towards the front side of the seat.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the seat further comprises handrests (12) and that the sound shield is supported on the corresponding side located handrest by a support arm.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the seat further comprises a headrest and vibration coupling elements coupling the sound shields to the headrest area of the backrest.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the sound shield extends from the backrest at height level of the headrest towards front side of the seat.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the seat further comprises vibration coupling elements coupling the sound shields to the handrest area of the seat.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention mounting elasticity of the vibration coupling elements is configured to produce resonances in frequency range from 15 to 100 Hz.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the seat further comprises vibration coupling elements and sound screens and the elastic vibration elements and/or any other/-s of the main components of the seat are connected to the sound screens by at least one of the vibration coupling elements. According to an advantageous feature of the invention the seat further comprises vibration coupling elements and a sound shell and that the elastic vibration elements and/or any other/-s of the main components of the seat are connected to the sound shell by at least one of the vibration coupling elements.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the sound shell comprises shell modules.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention vibration coupling elements are coupled by a rigid or elastic coupling.

The seat described herein may be employed in domestic, recreational and professional domains of various types. As a few examples in this regard, the seat may be provided as an armchair or a coach or a divan for domestic or public use, as a seat, such as a car seat of a vehicle (in a car, in a bus, in a truck, in a train, in an airplane, etc.), as a seat of a public space such as a movie theatre, an auditorium, a conference room, a hotel etc.

By the invention and its advantageous features several advantages are achieved: The seat provides a natural surround soundscape especially to front of the head of the user sitting in the seat and both left- and right-side stereo is provided i.e. the soundscape is positioned from back towards front in view of the prior art arrangements. The vibration is transmitted to the seat efficiently via the sound shields and the support arms and further to the main components of the seat. The sound shields act as passive shields and as active vibrating sound/vibration sources and thus a richer vibration geometry in 3D is provided. The vibration coupling elements advantageously provided in the seat provide that the vibration is transmitted from the elastic vibration elements to the seat and a strong soundwave feel is created and a strong bass sound reproduction is provided. The sound screens advantageously provided in the seat to act as sound absorbers for external noise, reduce sound leakage from the seat to environment and vibrate and resonate at low frequencies to generate more bass to the user sitting in the seat. The sound shell advantageously surrounding the seat provides for the user with a local acoustic environment. Even one distributed sound and vibration source is enough to create an immersive ambient sound and vibration perception.

The exemplifying embodiments of the invention presented in this patent application are not to be interpreted to pose limitations to the applicability of the appended claims. The verb "to comprise" and its derivatives are used in this patent application as an open limitation that does not exclude the existence of also unrecited features. The features described hereinafter are mutually freely combinable unless explicitly stated otherwise.

In the interest of editorial clarity of the description, in the following we predominantly refer to the sound and vibration generating arrangement (e.g. means for jointly producing vibration and sound) as sound reproduction means, as a sound reproduction assembly, as vibration means or as a vibration assembly.

Brief description of the drawings

Aspects of the invention, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of some example embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings and in the following the invention is described in more detail referring to the accompanying drawing, in which in figure 1 is schematically shown an example of a seat arranged for joint production of vibration and sound in accordance with prior art, in figure 2 is schematically shown an example of an example of a seat arranged for joint production of vibration and sound in accordance with the invention, in figures 3A-3B is schematically shown an advantageous example of a seat according to the invention, in figure 4A-4B is schematically shown another advantageous example of a seat according to the invention, in figure 5 is schematically shown yet another advantageous example of a seat according to the invention, in figure 6 is schematically shown yet another advantageous example of a seat according to the invention and in figure 7 is schematically shown yet another advantageous example of a seat according to the invention.

Detailed description

During the course of the following description like numbers and signs will be used to identify like elements according to the different views which illustrate the invention and its advantageous examples. In the figures some repetitive reference signs may have been omitted for clarity reasons. Various example embodiments of the present invention relate to a seat that is provided for joint production of vibration and sound.

In figure 1 is schematically shown an example of a seat 10 arranged for joint production of vibration and sound in accordance with prior art. The seat 10, which in this example is a chair type seat, is shown with a backrest 11 with advantageously a head-, or neckrest 16, a seatrest 13 and hand-, or armrests 12 that represent main components of a body of the seat 10. The seat 10 is arranged for enhanced sound perception via vibration i.e. the seat is provided with augmented audio. The seat 10 comprises a sound reproduction assembly, which sound reproduction assembly is at least partially arranged inside padding of the headrest 16 and comprises an elastic vibrating element. The structure of the seat 10 resonates and distributes the vibration feel to entire seat and natural surround soundscape is created but mostly only behind the head of the user sitting in the seat 10.

In figure 2 is schematically shown an example of a seat 10 arranged for joint production of vibration and sound in accordance with the invention. The seat 10, which in this example is a chair type seat, is shown with a backrest 11 with advantageously a head-, or neckrest 16, a seatrest 13 and hand-, or armrests 12 that represent main components of a body of the seat 10. The seat 10 is arranged for enhanced sound perception via vibration i.e. the seat is provided with augmented audio. The seat 10 comprises a sound reproduction assembly, which comprises elastic vibrating elements 20. The seat 10 further comprises sound shields 14, which extend from the backrest 11 , advantageously at the headrest 16 height level, towards front side of the seat 10. The sound shields 14 will at least partially extend around an upper part, especially head area of a user sitting in the seat 10. Each sound shield 14 is supported on the corresponding handrest 12 by a support arm 15. Each sound shield 14 comprises the elastic vibrating element 20 mounted at outer end of the sound shields 14, correspondingly. In the seat 10 a natural surround soundscape is created and mostly front of the head of the user sitting in the seat 10 and both left- and right-side stereo i.e. the soundscape is positioned from back towards front in view of the prior art arrangement. The vibration transmitted to seat 10 efficiently via the sound shields 14 and the support arms 15 and further to the main components of the seat 10. The sound shields 14 are configured therefore to act as passive shields and as active vibrating sound/vibration sources and vibration is transmitted and distributed efficiently to the entire seat and thus a richer vibration geometry in 3D is provided.

In figures 3A-3B is schematically shown an example of a seat 10 arranged for joint production of vibration and sound in accordance with the invention. The seat 10, which in this example is a chair type seat, is shown with a backrest 11 with advantageously a head-, or neckrest 16, a seatrest 13 and hand-, or armrests 12 that represent main components of a body of the seat 10. The seat 10 is arranged for enhanced sound perception via vibration i.e. the seat is provided with augmented audio. The seat 10 comprises a sound reproduction assembly, which comprises elastic vibrating elements 20. The seat 10 further comprises sound shields 14, which extend from the backrest

11 , advantageously at the headrest 16 height level, towards front side of the seat 10. The sound shields 14 will at least partially extend around an upper part, especially head area of a user sitting in the seat 10. Each sound shield 14 is supported on the corresponding handrest 12 by a support arm 15. Each sound shield 14 comprises the elastic vibrating element 20 mounted at outer end of the sound shields 14, correspondingly. In the seat 10 a natural surround soundscape is created and mostly front of the head of the user sitting in the seat 10 and both left- and right-side stereo i.e. the soundscape is positioned from back towards front in view of the prior art arrangement. The vibration transmitted to seat 10 efficiently via the sound shields 14 and the support arms 15 and further to the main components of the seat 10. The sound shields 14 are configured therefore to act as passive shields and as active vibrating sound/vibration sources and thus a richer vibration geometry in 3D is provided. The seat 10 further comprises vibration coupling elements 25 from the sound shields 14 to the headrest 16 area of the backrest 11 and vibration is transmitted from the elastic vibration elements 20 to backrest 11 through the vibration coupling elements 25 in the headrest 16 area and a strong soundwave feel is created. Mounting elasticity of the vibration coupling elements 25 is tuned to create resonance, advantageously in frequency range from 15 to 100 Hz together with inertia of the sound shields as indicated by arrows 1 and 2 and additionally the headrest 16 and the sound shields 14 radiate sound at low frequencies, advantageously in range from 14 to 100 Hz, near ears of the user at the same phase as indicated by arrows 2 and 3, and a strong bass sound reproduction is provided.

In figure 4A-4B is schematically shown an example of a seat 10 arranged for joint production of vibration and sound in accordance with the invention. The seat 10, which in this example is a chair type seat, is shown with a backrest 11 with advantageously a head-, or neckrest 16, a seatrest 13 and hand-, or armrests 12 that represent main components of a body of the seat 10. The seat 10 is arranged for enhanced sound perception via vibration i.e. the seat is provided with augmented audio. The seat 10 comprises a sound reproduction assembly, which comprises elastic vibrating elements 20. The seat 10 further comprises sound shields 14, which extend from the backrest 11 , advantageously at the headrest 16 height level, towards front side of the seat 10. The sound shields 14 will at least partially extend around an upper part, especially head area of a user sitting in the seat 10. Each sound shield 14 is supported on the corresponding handrest 12 by a support arm 15. Each sound shield 14 comprises the elastic vibrating element 20 mounted at outer end of the sound shields 14, correspondingly. In the seat 10 a natural surround soundscape is created and mostly front of the head of the user sitting in the seat 10 and both left- and right-side stereo i.e. the soundscape is positioned from back towards front in view of the prior art arrangement. The vibration transmitted to seat 10 efficiently via the sound shields 14 and the support arms 15 and further to the main components of the seat 10. The sound shields 14 are configured therefore to act as passive shields and as active vibrating sound/vibration sources and thus a richer vibration geometry in 3D is provided. The seat 10 further comprises vibration coupling elements 25 from the sound shields 14 to the handrest 12 area of the seat 10 and vibration is transmitted from the elastic vibration elements 20 to handrests 12 through the vibration coupling elements 25 in the handrest 12 area and a strong soundwave feel is created in the handrests 12, as indicated by arrow 2, and the seat 10, as indicated by arrow 3. Mounting elasticity of the vibration coupling elements 25 is tuned to create resonance, advantageously in frequency range from 15 to 100 Hz together with inertia of the handrests 12 and additionally the handrests 12 radiate sound frequencies near resonance, advantageously in range from 15 to 100 Hz in phase with headrest 16 vibration, indicated by arrows 2 and a strong bass sound reproduction is provided.

In figure 5 is schematically shown an example of a seat 10 arranged for joint production of vibration and sound in accordance with the invention. The seat 10, which in this example is a chair type seat, is shown with a backrest 11 with advantageously a head-, or neckrest 16, a seatrest 13 and hand-, or armrests 12 that represent main components of a body of the seat 10. The seat 10 is arranged for enhanced sound perception via vibration i.e. the seat is provided with augmented audio. The seat 10 comprises a sound reproduction assembly, which comprises elastic vibrating elements 20. The seat 10 further comprises sound shields 14, which extend from the backrest 11 , advantageously at the headrest 16 height level, towards front side of the seat 10. The sound shields 14 will at least partially extend around an upper part, especially head area of a user sitting in the seat 10. Each sound shield 14 is supported on the corresponding handrest 12 by a support arm 15. Each sound shield 14 comprises the elastic vibrating element 20 mounted at outer end of the sound shields 14, correspondingly. In the seat 10 a natural surround soundscape is created and mostly front of the head of the user sitting in the seat 10 and both left- and right-side stereo i.e. the soundscape is positioned from back towards front in view of the prior art arrangement. The vibration transmitted to seat 10 efficiently via the sound shields 14 and the support arms 15 and further to the main components of the seat 10. The sound shields 14 are configured therefore to act as passive shields and as active vibrating sound/vibration sources and thus a richer vibration geometry in 3D is provided. The seat 10 further comprises vibration coupling elements 25. In this example the seat 10 is additionally provided with sound screens 36 and the elastic vibration elements 20 and/or any other vibrating seat part/-s 11 , 12, 13, 14, 16 are connected to the sound screens 36 by the vibration coupling elements 25, correspondingly, such that the sound screens 36 are configured to act as sound absorbers for external noise, to reduce sound leakage from the seat 10 generated high frequency sound radiation to environment and to vibrate and to resonate at low frequencies to generate more bass to the user sitting in the seat 10. The vibration coupling elements 25 may be coupled to the sound screens 36 by a rigid or elastic coupling.

In figure 6 is schematically shown an example of a seat 10 arranged for joint production of vibration and sound in accordance with the invention. The seat 10, which in this example is a chair type seat, is shown with a backrest 11 with advantageously a head-, or neckrest 16, a seatrest 13 and hand-, or armrests 12 that represent main components of a body of the seat 10. The seat 10 is arranged for enhanced sound perception via vibration i.e. the seat is provided with augmented audio. The seat 10 comprises a sound reproduction assembly, which comprises elastic vibrating elements 20. The seat 10 further comprises sound shields 14, which extend from the backrest 11 , advantageously at the headrest 16 height level, towards front side of the seat 10. The sound shields 14 will at least partially extend around an upper part, especially head area of a user sitting in the seat 10. Each sound shield 14 is supported on the corresponding handrest 12 by a support arm 15. Each sound shield 14 comprises the elastic vibrating element 20 mounted at outer end of the sound shields 14, correspondingly. In the seat 10 a natural surround soundscape is created and mostly front of the head of the user sitting in the seat 10 and both left- and right-side stereo i.e. the soundscape is positioned from back towards front in view of the prior art arrangement. The vibration transmitted to seat 10 efficiently via the sound shields 14 and the support arms 15 and further to the main components of the seat 10. The sound shields 14 are configured therefore to act as passive shields and as active vibrating sound/vibration sources and thus a richer vibration geometry in 3D is provided. The seat 10 further comprises vibration coupling elements 25. In this example the seat 10 is additionally provided with a sound shell 30 comprising a roof part 31 , a back part 32 and side parts 34 that form at least partially the seat 10 surrounding shelter-type structure. The elastic vibration elements 20 and/or any other vibrating seat part/-s 11 , 12, 13, 14, 16 are connected to the sound shell 30 by the vibration coupling elements 25, correspondingly, such that the sound shell 30 is configured to act as sound absorbers, to vibrate and to resonate at low frequencies. The sound shell 30 surrounds the user with a local active and passive acoustic environment. The vibration coupling elements 25 may be coupled to the sound shell 30 by a rigid or elastic coupling.

In figure 7 is schematically shown an example of a seat 10 arranged for joint production of vibration and sound in accordance with the invention. The seat 10, which in this example is a chair type seat, is shown with a backrest 11 with advantageously a head-, or neckrest 16, a seatrest 13 and hand-, or armrests 12 that represent main components of a body of the seat 10. The seat 10 is arranged for enhanced sound perception via vibration i.e. the seat is provided with augmented audio. The seat 10 comprises a sound reproduction assembly, which comprises elastic vibrating elements 20. The seat 10 further comprises sound shields 14, which extend from the backrest 11 , advantageously at the headrest 16 height level, towards front side of the seat 10. The sound shields 14 will at least partially extend around an upper part, especially head area of a user sitting in the seat 10. Each sound shield 14 is supported on the corresponding handrest 12 by a support arm 15. Each sound shield 14 comprises the elastic vibrating element 20 mounted at outer end of the sound shields 14, correspondingly. In the seat 10 a natural surround soundscape is created and mostly front of the head of the user sitting in the seat 10 and both left- and right-side stereo i.e. the soundscape is positioned from back towards front in view of the prior art arrangement. The vibration transmitted to seat 10 efficiently via the sound shields 14 and the support arms 15 and further to the main components of the seat 10. The sound shields 14 are configured therefore to act as passive shields and as active vibrating sound/vibration sources and thus a richer vibration geometry in 3D is provided. The seat 10 further comprises vibration coupling elements 25. In this example the seat 10 is additionally provided with a sound shell 40 comprising a roof part modules 41 , a back part 43 and side part modules 42 that form at the seat 10 from the sides, back and above surrounding shelter-type structure. The elastic vibration elements 20 and/or any other vibrating seat part/-s 11 , 12, 13, 14, 16 are connected to the sound shell 40 by the vibration coupling elements 25, correspondingly. The vibration coupling elements 25 may be coupled to the sound shell 40 by a rigid or elastic coupling.

In the description in the foregoing, although some functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not. Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments or examples, those features may also be present in other embodiments or examples whether described or not. Above the invention has been described by referring to some advantageous examples only to which the invention is not to be narrowly limited. Many modifications and alterations are possible within the invention as defined in the following claims.