Abstract: A seat assembly including a seat, a backrest and a mounting assembly mounting the seat in a near horizontal orientation for movement along an upwardly concaved arcuate seat path having a center of curvature proximate the center of mass of a person seated on the seat, and mounting assembly further mounting the backrest in a near vertical orientation for movement independently of the seat along a forwardly concaved arcuate path having a center curvature proximate the center of mass of the person. An adjustment assembly is provided for adjusting the radius of curvature of the path of motion of the backrest. Also provided are a backrest tilt adjustment assembly, an armrest adjustment assembly, a seat biasing assembly and a seat motion latching assembly. A method of self-adjusting support and alignment of a backrest also is disclosed.

Abstract: A seat assembly (21) for a vehicle including a seat (22), a seat mounting assembly (20) mounting the seat for movement along an upwardly concaved arcuate path, a backrest assembly (25) having a lower backrest portion (18) coupled for motion with the seat and an upper backrest portion (99) mounted in a vertically extending direction. The backrest assembly further includes a recliner frame and mechanism (32, 33). The seat assembly, also including the steps of mounting the seat (22) for spherically guided movement along said path, mounting the backrest proximate the seat. The assembly (21) and method disclosed further employs mounting the seat (22) having a spherical surface (161) and guide track (28) the guide track mated to spherical support surface (162), and may include slider roller elements (27, 142) such that the seat mounting assembly accommodates lateral, diagonal and fore and aft seat motion (35, 163).

Abstract: A seat assembly including a seat, a backrest and a mounting assembly mounting the seat in a near horizontal orientation for movement along an upwardly concaved arcuate seat path having a center of curvature proximate the center of mass of a person seated on the seat, and mounting assembly further mounting the backrest in a near vertical orientation for movement independently of the seat along a forwardly concaved arcuate path having a center curvature proximate the center of mass of the person. An adjustment assembly is provided for adjusting the radius of curvature of the path of motion of the backrest. Also provided are a backrest tilt adjustment assembly, an armrest adjustment assembly, a seat biasing assembly and a seat motion latching assembly. A method of self-adjusting support and alignment of a backrest also is disclosed.

Abstract: A seat assembly 21 including a seat 22, a backrest 23 and a mounting assembly 24 mounting the seat 22 in a near horizontal orientation for movement along an upwardly concaved arcuate seat path having a center of curvature 37 proximate the center of mass 39 of a person seated on the seat, and mounting assembly 24 further mounting the backrest 23 in a near vertical orientation for movement independently of the seat along a forwardly concaved arcuate path having a center curvature 37 proximate the center of mass 39 of the person. An adjustment assembly 61 is provided for adjusting the radius of curvature of the path of motion of the backrest 23. Also provided are a backrest tilt adjustment assembly 71, an armrest adjustment assembly 90, a seat biasing assembly 110 and a seat motion latching assembly 111. A method of self-adjusting support and alignment of a backrest also is disclosed.

Abstract: A seat assembly (21) for a vehicle including a seat (22), a seat mounting assembly (20) mounting the seat (22) for movement along an upwardly concaved arcuate path, a backrest (25) assembly with a backrest member (23) having a lower portion (18) coupled for arcuate motion with the seat (22) and an upper portion mounted for movement in a vertically extending direction. The backrest assembly (25) further includes a recliner frame and mechanism (32, 33). A method of providing a seat assembly also is disclosed including the steps of mounting the seat (22) for movement along an upwardly arcuate path, mounting the backrest (25) proximate the seat, coupling a lower portion (18) of the backrest for movement with the seat (22) and mounting the upper portion of the backrest (23) for vertically extending movement.

Abstract: A seat assembly 21 including a seat 22, a backrest 23 and a mounting assembly 24 mounting the seat 22 in a near horizontal orientation for movement along an upwardly concaved arcuate seat path having a center of curvature 37 proximate the center of mass 39 of a person seated on the seat, and mounting assembly 24 further mounting the backrest 23 in a near vertical orientation for movement independently of the seat along a forwardly concaved arcuate path having a center curvature 37 proximate the center of mass 39 of the person. An adjustment assembly 61 is provided for adjusting the radius of curvature of the path of motion of the backrest 23. Also provided are a backrest tilt adjustment assembly 71, an armrest adjustment assembly 90, a seat biasing assembly 110 and a seat motion latching assembly 111. A method of self-adjusting support and alignment of a backrest also is disclosed.

Abstract: A seat assembly (21) including a seat (22), a backrest (23) and a mounting assembly (24) mounting the seat (22) in a near horizontal orientation for movement along an upwardly concaved arcuate seat path having a center of curvature (37) proximate the center of mass (39) of a person seated on the seat, and the mounting assembly (24) further mounting the backrest (23) in a near vertical orientation for movement independently of the seat along a forwardly concaved arcuate path having a center curvature (37) proximate the center of mass (39) of the person. An adjustment assembly (61) is provided for adjusting the radius of curvature of the path of motion of the backrest (23). Also provided are a backrest tilt adjustment assembly (71), an armrest adjustment assembly (90), a seat biasing assembly (110) and a seat motion latching assembly (111). A method of self-adjusting support and alignment of a backrest also is disclosed.

Abstract: A seat assembly (21) for a vehicle including a seat (22), a seat mounting assembly (20) mounting the seat (22) for movement along an upwardly concaved arcuate path, a backrest (25) assembly with a backrest member (23) having a lower portion (18) coupled for arcuate motion with the seat (22) and an upper portion (99) mounted for movement in a vertically extending direction. The backrest assembly (25) further includes a recliner mechanism (32, 33). A method of providing a seat assembly also is disclosed including the steps of mounting the seat (22) for movement along an upwardly arcuate path, mounting the backrest (25) proximate the seat, coupling a lower portion (18) of the backrest for movement with the seat (22) and mounting the upper portion (99) of the backrest for vertically extending movement.

Abstract: A seat assembly (21) for a vehicle including a seat (22), a seat mounting assembly (20) mounting the seat (22) for movement along an upwardly concaved arcuate path, a backrest (25) assembly with a backrest member (23) having a lower portion (18) coupled for arcuate motion with the seat (22) and an upper portion (99) mounted for movement in a vertically extending direction. The backrest assembly (25) further includes a recliner mechanism (32, 33). A method of providing a seat assembly also is disclosed including the steps of mounting the seat (22) for movement along an upwardly arcuate path, mounting the backrest (25) proximate the seat, coupling a lower portion (18) of the backrest for movement with the seat (22) and mounting the upper portion (99) of the backrest for vertically extending movement.

Abstract: A seat assembly (21) including a seat (22), a backrest (23) and a mounting assembly (24) mounting the seat (22) in a near horizontal orientation for movement along an upwardly concaved arcuate seat path having a center of curvature (37) proximate the center of mass (39) of a person seated on the seat, and the mounting assembly (24) further mounting the backrest (23) in a near vertical orientation for movement independently of the seat along a forwardly concaved arcuate path having a center curvature (37) proximate the center of mass (39) of the person. An adjustment assembly (61) is provided for adjusting the radius of curvature of the path of motion of the backrest (23). Also provided are a backrest tilt adjustment assembly (71), an armrest adjustment assembly (90), a seat biasing assembly (110) and a seat motion latching assembly (111). A method of self-adjusting support and alignment of a backrest also is disclosed.

Abstract: A seat and lumbar motion chair having a lumbar support assembly which is coupled to the seat and a mounting assembly mounting the seat and the lower end of the lumbar support for movement in a generally horizontal orientation in fore and aft directions. Movement of the seat is along an upwardly tilting path having a compound radius of curvature centered proximate to the mass of a person seated on the seat. The lumbar support mounting assembly is movable at two points, namely, in the fore and aft direction at the rear of the seat and pivotally at the back support. The seating apparatus further includes a back support positioned to engage the person's upper back in the thoracic region. A method including the steps of employing a seat and lumbar support assembly mounted for movement relative to the back support along a fore and aft direction to maintain contact between the person's buttocks with the seat and contact of the lower back with the lumbar support during motion of the person's body.

Abstract: A seat and lumbar motion chair having a lumbar support assembly which is coupled to the seat and a mounting assembly mounting the seat and the lower end of the lumbar support for movement in a generally horizontal orientation in fore and aft directions. Movement of the seat is along an upwardly tilting path having a compound radius of curvature centered proximate to the mass of a person seated on the seat. The lumbar support mounting assembly is movable at two points, namely, in the fore and aft direction at the rear of the seat and pivotally at the back support. The seating apparatus further includes a back support positioned to engage the person's upper back in the thoracic region. A method including the steps of employing a seat and lumbar support assembly mounted for movement relative to the back support along a fore and aft direction to maintain contact between the person's buttocks with the seat and contact of the lower back with the lumbar support during motion of the person's body.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle which includes a seat, a seat back, and mounting means mounting the seat for movement in fore and aft directions in the vehicle along an upwardly concaved arcuate path. The arcuate path has a radius of curvature which is sufficiently large to timely move in front of and to contain the person's buttocks, to significantly slow the rate of deceleration of the person seated on said seat, and being sufficiently small to convert a portion of the linear momentum of the person's buttocks to angular momentum thus maintaining frictional contact of the person's buttocks with the seat during stopping at a high rate of deceleration. A seat assembly which includes a lower lumbar support member that is coupled from movement in response to pelvic tilting movement of the seat also is shown.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle which includes a seat, a seat back, and mounting means mounting the seat for movement in fore and aft directions in the vehicle along an upwardly concaved arcuate path. The arcuate path has a radius of curvature which is sufficiently large to timely move in front of and to contain the person's buttocks, to significantly slow the rate of deceleration of the person seated on said seat, and being sufficiently small to convert a portion of the linear momentum of the person's buttocks to angular momentum thus maintaining frictional contact of the person's buttocks with the seat during stopping at a high rate of deceleration. A seat assembly which includes a lower lumbar support member that is coupled from movement in response to pelvic tilting movement of the seat also is shown.

Abstract: A variable posture chair (1) including a horizontally oriented seat (2), a vertically oriented body support platform (2) and an upwardly inclined leg support platform (4) is disclosed. At least one of the body support platform (2) and leg support platform (4), and preferably both, are movably mounted with respect to the seat (3) to enable support of the user in any one of six support posture modes. Both the body support and leg support platforms (2,4) are pivotally mounted about a central post assembly (10) for the seat (3). A method of supporting a user on the posture chair (1) is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention comprises an ergonomic support system for a person in a seated position comprised of torso support platform, a seat, a shin support platform all supported by a main frame generally the size of a common chair, related attachments for facial and arm supports, further includes a pelvic tilt seat for the system to allow alignment of the body and unimpeded movement of the arms and pelvis and a healthy and comfortable position of the spine.The support platforms are preferably padded and shaped to fit the users body telescoping legs for distance adjustment coupled to a pivotal joints for angular adjustment and sliding joints for height and lateral adjustment provide flexibility for these platforms to adjust to an individual body in various positions.

Abstract: The invention comprises a portable, compact and lightweight mechanic's rest, consisting of a chest support platform, itself supported by front and rear leg members, upon which a user can lean or rest while working on an auto engine or other object. The chest support platform is shaped to comfortably fit the user's chest area, and the leg members can swivel and adjust in length to contact any stable structural member on or near the object being worked on.