CHAIR THAT ADAPTS TO MULTIPLE SITTING POSITIONS
An adaptable chair with multiple adjustable components that may be configured by the user for various seating positions, particularly to change between conventional and cross-legged seating position. The adaptable chair's seating surface is comprised of a set of separate surface components for each of the user's right and left thighs. In a conventional seating configuration, the seating surface components are in a closed or joined position and the footrest in an unobtrusive position. To configure the chair for cross-legged seating, the seat components for each thigh may be moved apart to allow a user cross-legged seating position and rest the feet and lower legs upon the footrest. The disclosure describes various means of adjustment to the thigh supports and footrest, and mechanisms for actuating the various configurations to maximize comfort and ease of use.
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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED R&DNot applicable.
PARTIES OF JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENTNot applicable.
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGNot applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a chair whose shape can be adapted to support a user in a plurality of seating positions, principally the conventional seating position and the cross-legged seating position. The invention describes a chair that can convert between these seating positions by means of a divided seat support that may be separated or rejoined as desired with various adjustments and interactions with a footrest and armrests that support cross-legged seating positions, thereby allowing the user to change between positions at will.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONConventional chairs have been found to contribute to poor posture, slouching, back pain and other discomfort, especially when used for long periods consistently such as in an office job, while reading, watching entertainment and other similar sedentary activities.
The cross-legged seating position is considered advantageous to the health by improving posture, flexibility in the legs, back and buttocks.
However, for many people the cross-legged seating position is uncomfortable, difficult and in some cases impossible, especially in conventional chairs. The geometry and seating area of a conventional chair is not suited to cross-legged seating as there is usually not adequate space on the seat for the feet; the armrests often interfere with the position of the legs when crossed; many people are unable, or find it extremely uncomfortable, to sit cross-legged with their feet in the same plane as their buttocks and legs. Lastly, remaining in any single seated position for extended duration of time eventually becomes uncomfortable and unhealthy.
In light of this, it is desirable to have a chair that can adapt between conventional and cross-legged seating positions that users can easily adjust to maximize comfort in either position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention describes a chair that can be adapted at will by the user to allow the user to sit comfortably in either conventional or cross-legged positions, in the same chair, with a variety of user adjustments to maximize comfort. The invention includes a user configurable seating surface that divides the chair seat surface into, for example, one surface for each leg. In a conventional seating configuration, the seating surface is in a closed or joined position, held with a fastening mechanism, and any seat extensions retracted so a user's legs may hang over the end as with any ordinary chair. To configure the chair for, for example, cross-legged seating, the seating surface separates into two seat components, each seat component pivoting about points generally below the hip joint of the user and spreading apart to allow a user cross-legged seating position. Each seat component may be extended to allow distributing the user's weight from buttocks all the way to the end of the knee. Once the seat components are separated, a footrest platform can optionally be moved into the void created by the separated seating components. The footrest may be moved out of the way when in conventional seating position. The forward tilt and and longitudinal angle of the split seating components may also be adjusted. The seating surface components may have an optional adjustment allowing each to slide backward for cross-legged position. Optionally the latches and actuators used to make the chair adjustments in seating position, as well as the motion of the seat components during reconfiguration from one seating configuration to another may be linked mechanically or electro-mechanically such that various adjustments can operate in unison, for example: The lever or latch that releases the split seat components from a standard seating position to a cross-legged position may also cause the foot rest to be released from its resting position, release the knee rest extensions, or cause the seat angle to tilt forward, and/or move the armrests or backrest.
Example embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings summarized below. These drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate example embodiments of the invention, and not to limit the scope of the invention.
Referring now to the drawings,
The example embodiments shown in
An optional footrest assembly 103 may be included upon which the feet and lower legs can rest while in cross-legged seating position. The footrest assembly 103 may optionally be shaped to fit the void created by the separated seating surfaces 101 so it can be raised to fit snugly between them for users wishing to have their feet in the same plane as the seat while sitting cross-legged.
The footrest 103 may include adjustments to be raised or lowered to accommodate comfort of the user. These adjustments may be achieved by various means known to those skilled in the art such as of a cylindrical mounting 106 that slides up and down the chair base 107 and held in various positions by a spring-loaded clamp (not shown), detent ball (not shown), jack screw, rack and pinion (not shown) or similar means.
Another example embodiment of the invention may include adjustments to the seat to support the legs at various angles to maximize user comfort. As show in
In another example embodiment of the invention, the footrest 103 may be optionally moved or rotated out of the way when in conventional seating position as show in
Optionally the seat components may be linked mechanically or electro-mechanically such that during conversion from one seating configuration to another the various adjustments can operate in unison. For example
Other example embodiments of the invention could further coordinate the conversion between various seating configurations by means of levers or latches (not shown) that releases the split seat components from Standard seating position to convert to cross-legged position may also cause the foot rest to be released from its resting position, release the knee rest extensions, or cause the seat angle to tilt forward, and/or move the armrests or backrest.
Claims
1. A chair with multiple adjustable components that may be configured for various seating positions comprising:
- a seating surface which is divided into multiple seating surface components including a buttocks seating surface component of limited depth to support only the buttocks, a left thigh seating surface component and right thigh seating surface component which extend forward from the front edge of the buttocks seating surface component, and
- an integrated footrest,
- wherein said left and right thigh seating surface components may be moved or pivoted outward apart from each other creating a void to accommodate placement of feet and legs in alternative sitting postures, and wherein said footrest may be positioned in the void created by moving said right and left leg seating surface components.
2. The chair in claim 1 wherein said left and right seating surface components may be adjusted vertically while in the separated position, in order to support the knees when sitting in cross-legged position.
3. The chair in claim 1 wherein the footrest may be adjusted vertically.
4. An alternative configuration to the chair in claim 1 whereby the seating surface is comprised of exactly two components, the right thigh seating surface components and left thigh seating surface component, and omitting a separate seating surface component for the buttocks.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 17, 2017
Publication Date: Mar 21, 2019
Inventor: David Christopher McClintock (Santa Barbara, CA)
Application Number: 15/706,716