Stool with domed base and seat

Abstract

A stool having a center column connecting a domed base and a domed seat is disclosed. The domed seat and/or the domed base may be resiliently deformable during use to provide a user with a “bouncing” sensation. The domed seat and/or domed base also may define or contain inflatable or fillable bladders to give them shape and/or provide the aforementioned “bouncing” sensation. The distance between the domed seat and domed base may be varied in some embodiments to adjust the height of the stool.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A stool, comprising:
 a center column having an upper end and a lower end;   a domed base provided at the center column lower end; and   a domed seat provided at the center column upper end, wherein the domed seat defines or contains an inflatable seat bladder.   
     
     
         2 . The stool of  claim 1  wherein the domed seat comprises a seat rigid portion having a handle recess. 
     
     
         3 . The stool of  claim 1  wherein the domed base defines or contains an inflatable base bladder. 
     
     
         4 . The stool of  claim 3  wherein the domed base contains a ballast weight. 
     
     
         5 . The stool of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a sealed gas passage extending through the center column fluidly connecting the seat bladder to the base bladder; and   an inflation valve connected to at least one of the seat bladder and the base bladder.   
     
     
         6 . The stool of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a sealed gas passage extending from an outer surface of the center column to at least one of the seat bladder and the base bladder; and   an inflation valve provided in the sealed gas passage.   
     
     
         7 . The stool of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first inflation valve connected to the seat bladder; and   a second inflation valve connected to the base bladder.   
     
     
         8 . The stool of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a gas pressure relief valve connected to one of the seat bladder and the base bladder.   
     
     
         9 . The stool of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 at least one inflation pump integrated into at least one of the domed seat and the domed base and connected to at least one of the seat bladder and the base bladder.   
     
     
         10 . The stool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inflation valve connected to the seat bladder; and   a gas pressure relief valve connected to the seat bladder.   
     
     
         11 . The stool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a height adjustment mechanism disposed within the center column connecting the domed seat to the domed base.   
     
     
         12 . The stool of  claim 11 , wherein the center column comprises an outer shroud and an inner shroud surrounding the gas cylinder. 
     
     
         13 . The stool of  claim 11  wherein the domed base defines or contains a base bladder. 
     
     
         14 . The stool of  claim 13  wherein the domed base contains a ballast weight. 
     
     
         15 . The stool of  claim 11  wherein the domed base is uninflatable. 
     
     
         16 . The stool of  claim 1  wherein the domed seat has a diameter and a center height, and wherein the ratio of the diameter to center height is less than 5:1. 
     
     
         17 . A stool, comprising:
 a base having a curved outer surface adapted to rest on a flooring surface;   an inflatable seat having a curved upper surface in its inflated state; and   a center column extending between the base and the inflatable seat.   
     
     
         18 . The stool of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a height adjustment mechanism disposed within the center column and connecting the base and the seat; and   an actuator assembly configured to actuate the height adjustment mechanism to adjust the height of the seat relative to the base.   
     
     
         19 . The stool of  claim 18 , further comprising a ballast weight provided at the base. 
     
     
         20 . The stool of  claim 17 , further comprising a ballast weight provided at the base. 
     
     
         21 . The stool of  claim 17 , wherein the seat in its inflated state has a seat diameter and a seat center height defining a seat diameter to height ratio, wherein the base is un-inflatable and has a base diameter and a base center height defining a base diameter to height ratio, and wherein the base diameter to height ratio is greater than the seat diameter to height ratio. 
     
     
         22 . The stool of  claim 21 , wherein the seat diameter to height ratio is less than 5:1. 
     
     
         23 . The stool of  claim 17 , wherein the seat in its inflated state has a seat diameter and a seat center height defining a seat diameter to height ratio, wherein the base is inflatable and, in its inflated state, has a base diameter and a base center height defining a base diameter to height ratio, wherein the seat diameter to height ratio is the same as the base diameter to height ratio. 
     
     
         24 . The stool of  claim 23 , wherein the seat diameter to height ratio is less than 5:1. 
     
     
         25 . The stool of  claim 17 , wherein the seat in its inflated state has a seat diameter and a seat center height defining a seat diameter to height ratio, wherein the base is inflatable and, in its inflated state, has a base diameter and a base center height defining a base diameter to height ratio, wherein the base diameter to height ratio is greater than the seat diameter to height ratio. 
     
     
         26 . The stool of  claim 25 , wherein the seat diameter to height ratio is less than 5:1. 
     
     
         27 . The stool of  claim 17 , further comprising an inflation valve or pump connected to the inflatable seat. 
     
     
         28 . The stool of  claim 17 , wherein the base is inflatable. 
     
     
         29 . The stool of  claim 28 , further comprising a ballast weight provided at the base. 
     
     
         30 . The stool of  claim 28 , further comprising an inflation valve or pump connected to at least one of the inflatable base and inflatable seat. 
     
     
         31 . A stool, comprising:
 a base having a curved outer surface adapted to rest on a flooring surface;   a resiliently deformable seat having a curved upper surface which is adapted to provide a bouncing sensation to a user; and   a center column extending between the base and the deformable seat.   
     
     
         32 . The stool of  claim 31 , wherein the seat defines or contains a seat bladder containing one of a gas, a liquid, and a gel. 
     
     
         33 . The stool of  claim 31 , wherein the base is resiliently deformable to provide a bouncing sensation to a user. 
     
     
         34 . The stool of  claim 33 , wherein the base defines or contains a seat bladder containing one of a gas, a liquid, and a gel.