FRONT SUPPORTING SEATED APPARATUS
A front-support apparatus includes a seat section; and a front support section. The front support section may be substantially perpendicular to the seated section. The front support section may include a top support section, and multiple flanges extending and protruding horizontally from the top support section. The apparatus may be a stand-alone apparatus capable of being placed on a chair via the seat section and held in place on the chair by user weight. Alternatively, the front support section may clamp to a seat of an existing chair to provide support to the user's torso/shoulder area. Alternatively, the apparatus may be integrated with a chair. The apparatus may be adjustable to accommodate users of different sizes.
Back pain is a common and often debilitating ailment. Individuals suffering from back pain sometimes seek expensive medical treatment, ranging from medication, physical therapy, chiropractic services, surgery, etc. Back supporting devices (e.g., back braces, support cushions, specialized mattresses, etc.) are also often used to alleviate back pain.
Poor posture and spinal misalignment is often a culprit leading to back pain. For example, spinal misalignment may place added weight and pressure on spinal discs, leading to back pain, herniated discs, pinched nerves, sciatica, or similar ailments. Poor posture is often exacerbated for an individual when the individual sits on a chair for a substantial period of time, particularly when the user leans forward (e.g., to type on a keyboard, read, or write). Chairs and seats exist with varying degrees of lumbar and thoracic support; however, these remedies are often abandoned by users and only support the user when the user is seated in an upright or back-leaning position. Yoga balls and other backless seating devices that emphasize strengthening of the core also result in fatigue during long use, causing the user to abandon their use after a period time, thereby leading to back pain as described above.
The present invention is described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
Aspects of the present invention may include an apparatus that supports the user from the front while the user is seated. When used in combination with a chair having a back, the user will have both front and back support when sitting in the chair. Advantageously, a user's proper posture while the user is seated may be better maintained even when the user has a tendency to lean forward while seated (e.g., when the user is seated at a computer for typing, reading, writing, etc.). As a result, spinal alignment may be improved, thereby potentially reducing or preventing back pain for the user. Additionally, the present invention may allow for increased productivity due to an increased number of comfortable seating positions for the user, allowing for longer sessions of ergonomically supported sitting.
In some implementations, front support section 102 and seat section 104 may be rigid and integrated components such that front support apparatus 100 is a single, integral piece. As described in greater detail below, front support section 102 and seat section 104 may be separable components that are attachable to each other and adjustable for custom fit based on a user's body shape and size. As further shown in
As described herein, front support apparatus 100 may provide a simple way for a user to obtain support from both the front and the back when front support apparatus 100 is used in conjunction with a chair having a back support. In this way, spinal alignment and/or posture may be improved when the user sits in a chair, particularly for an extended period of time.
It is emphasized that front support apparatus 100 is a device having structural features, as described herein, that permit the front support apparatus to be adapted to an existing chair. For example, front support apparatus 100 may be constructed with appropriate dimensions and shapes such that front support apparatus 100 may be used in conjunction with an existing chair, contrary to other devices in the art. For example, in an embodiment, front support apparatus 100 may be constructed with structural features and with appropriate shapes and dimensions to be placed on an existing chair and held in place by a user's weight during operation (e.g., as described above with respect to
The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention may be made from any variety of suitable materials and may include additional components not shown (e.g., cushions on seat section 104, additional supportive devices, etc.). The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.
The descriptions above are not intended to serve as medical advice, nor should the apparatus described above be used without medical consultation from a licensed and qualified medical professional. The possible benefits of the apparatus may vary on an individual basis and no claim is being made with respect to a specific result for an individual using the disclosed apparatus.
Claims
1. A seating posture support apparatus comprising:
- a seat section; and
- a front support section integral with the seat section, the front support section being substantially perpendicular to the seated section, the front support section comprising a top support section,
- wherein the apparatus is capable of being placed on a chair via the seat section and held in place on the chair by user weight.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front support section is substantially curved.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of flanges extending and protruding horizontally from the top support section, and wherein the seated section includes one or more contour sections directly contacting the front support section.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve, wherein the front support section is provided in the sleeve.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising height adjustment holes in the sleeve.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front support section is substantially narrow in relation to the seated section.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front support section is substantially round.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front support section includes pronged sections.
9. A front torso support apparatus comprising:
- a front support section extending substantially vertically, the front support section comprising a top support section, and
- a clamp at a distal end of the front support section, wherein the clamp is capable of attaching the front support section to a chair seat.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the front support section is substantially curved.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a sleeve, wherein the front support section is provided in the sleeve and the sleeve includes height adjustment holes.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the front support section is detachably connected with a seat section, wherein the seat section is the chair seat.
13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the clamp comprises a knob with a threaded bolt configured to attach to the chair seat.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the front support section is adjustable, the front support section further comprising at least one of an incline angle adjustment mechanism, a height adjustment mechanism, or a depth adjustment mechanism.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the incline angle adjustment mechanism, the height adjustment mechanism, or the depth adjustment mechanism is selected from a group consisting of a pushable spring-loaded pin with corresponding holes, a removable pin with corresponding holes, and a rotatable angle adjustment knob.
16. A chair comprising:
- a back section;
- a seated section; and
- a front support section integral with the seated section, the front support section being substantially perpendicular to the seated section, the front support section comprising a top support section.
17. The chair of claim 16, wherein the front support section is substantially curved.
18. The chair of claim 16, wherein the front support section is substantially straight.
19. The chair of claim 16, further comprising a sleeve, wherein the front support section is provided in the sleeve, the sleeve comprising height adjustment holes.
20. The chair of claim 16, wherein the front support section is substantially narrow in relation to the seated section.
21. The chair of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of flanges extending and protruding horizontally from the top support section.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 4, 2016
Publication Date: Jun 15, 2017
Inventor: Camielle C. Chou (Irvine, CA)
Application Number: 15/344,465