Bean bag
A bean bag (also beanbag) is a sealed bag containing dried beans, PVC pellets, expanded polystyrene, or expanded polypropylene. The bags are commonly used for throwing games, but they have various other applications.
Furniture
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Designed by Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini and Franco Teodoro and produced by the Italian company Zanotta in 1969,[1] beanbags have become a globally recognized piece of furniture. It is said that they noticed the staff would sit on bags filled with styrofoam during their coffee and cigarette breaks.[citation needed] The original beanbag chair is called "Sacco", which is a pear-shaped leather bag filled with Styrofoam beans and is still in production today.
Bean bags have evolved far beyond their simple, classic forms to encompass a wide range of styles and designs. Whether you’re looking for something to relax in while gaming, a stylish addition to your living room, or a durable piece for your kids' playroom, there's a bean bag to suit every need.[2]
Bean bags can be made from materials including leather, suede, corduroy and fake fur. Polyester bean bags are waterproof and can be used outdoors. Giant bean bags can also be used as a cheap alternative to buying a sofa or couch.
One of the key reasons people opt for bean bags is their comfort. When sitting for extended periods, comfort plays a crucial role in preventing body strain. Bean bags can mold to the natural curves of your body, reducing pressure points that may lead to discomfort or pain. However, prolonged use of bean bags without proper support can still lead to issues, especially if your posture isn’t optimal.
The Ergonomics of Bean Bags
Ergonomics is about how well something supports your body while reducing stress on muscles and joints. Bean bags are designed to accommodate a wide range of postures, providing flexibility that isn’t possible with conventional chairs. However, while bean bags offer freedom of movement, they do not provide the structured support often recommended by health professionals for prolonged seating. It's essential to vary your position frequently or add extra support like pillows when using a bean bag for long durations.[3]
In August 2014, Ace Bayou Corp recalled 2.2 million bean bag chairs in the United States due to a design fault which allowed the chairs to be unzipped by children. Two children died from suffocation after climbing inside the chairs and inhaling the foam beads.[4]
Games
[edit]- Beanbag was a game referred to at the turn of the twentieth century by Finley Peter Dunne as the antithesis of roughness of politics, Politics ain't beanbag!.[5][6]
- Cornhole is a bean bag tossing game similar to horseshoes and quoits, played with bean bags and two goals.
- Footbag (also known as Hacky Sack, a trademark) is a type of ball-shaped bean bag that is used to play various games.
- Bean bags are also commonly used for juggling.
- In gridiron football beanbags are used to mark the point of a change of possession (where a punt or kickoff is caught, an interception is made, or a fumble occurs)
- Bean bags are often used for a game similar to dodgeball where small square bean bags are slid across the floor with the object to hit the opposing team's players in the foot. The game is particularly popular in American elementary schools as a safer alternative to dodgeball.
Other uses
[edit]- Bean bags are used as bean bag round ammunition for non lethal impact weapons.
- In benchrest and long-range shooting, bean bags or "shooting bags" are often used to support the gun's fore-end and buttstock, and allows the shooter to fine-adjust the aim by gently squeezing the rear bag.
- Clutching technology for robots makes use of bean bags.[7]
- Smaller bean bags can be used to stabilize a camera when a tripod is not available.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Big Bean Bag. "Big Bean Bag".
- ^ Bean Bag. "Bean Bag".
- ^ "Bean Bags Health Benifits".
- ^ Khouri, Andrew (22 August 2014) (22 August 2014). "2.2 million bean bag chairs recalled after two children die". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Chicago Evening Post, October 5, 1895. Excerpted in Finley Peter Dunne and Mr. Dooley: The Chicago Years by Charles Fanning (1978).
- ^ Reeve, Elspeth, What Newt and Mitt Mean When They Say 'This Ain't Bean Bag', Atlantic, January 9, 2012
- ^ Knight, Helen (25 October 2010). "Robots could ditch fingers for beanbags". New Scientist. 208 (2784): 23. Bibcode:2010NewSc.208...23.. doi:10.1016/S0262-4079(10)62681-4.
- ^ "What are alternatives to a tripod when I can't take one along?". Photography. StackExchange. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
External links
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Media related to Beanbags at Wikimedia Commons- wikiHow To Make a Bean Bag
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