Abstract: A seat with an adjustable thigh support assembly includes a seat bottom with a rearward portion and a forward edge. The rearward portion is positioned to receive the buttocks of a person with the thighs extending beyond the forward edge. A thigh support has a rear edge and a forward edge with the forward edge extending generally horizontally beyond the forward edge of the seat bottom. The assembly further includes adjustable apparatus affixing the thigh support to the seat bottom for movement between a retracted position in which the rear edge of the thigh support extends below the forward edge of the seat bottom and an extended position in which the rear edge of the thigh support is in substantial juxtaposition with the forward edge of the seat bottom.

Abstract: A chair is provided having a seat with a resiliently deflectable shell defining a front portion thereof. The front shell is deflectable downwardly in response to the user. An adjustment mechanism is provided which controls the deflected position of the front shell section to provide for controlled deflection of the seat which adjusts the effected length of the seat while also providing for user responsive deflection of the seat.

Abstract: In order to improve seating comfort and vibration absorbency, a structure including a first torsion bar unit 70 disposed in the rear of a seat cushion, and a second torsion bar unit 80 disposed in the front of the seat cushion, and a base net 60 stretched between a rear supporting frame 74 of the first torsion bar unit 70 and a front supporting frame 84 of the second torsion bar unit 80, is provided. Owing to the elastic force of a front torsion bar 81 of the second torsion bar unit 80 positioned in the front of the seat, a sense of stroke at the time of seating is enhanced. Owing to the elastic force of a rear torsion bar 71 of the first torsion bar unit 70 positioned in the rear of the seat, similarly to the conventional structure, a load of a seated person can be sufficiently received and a stable seating comfort can be obtained.

Abstract: A vehicle seat apparatus including a cushion body provided on a frame member, a seat cushion, a gear member, a driving mechanism, an arm, and a link mechanism having a first bracket rotatably supported at the gear member, a second bracket rotatably supported at the first bracket, and a link bracket, a first end of which is rotatably supported at the second bracket, and a second end of which is connected to the arm. The arm is connected to the gear member through the link mechanism, and with an up-and-down operation of a front-end portion of the cushion body relative to the frame member by means of a swing of the arm, a length of the seating surface is variable in a longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A seat for installation in a vehicle that is adjustable to support an occupant's thighs. The seat includes a generally-horizontal seat frame supporting a seat cushion including a front edge that at least partially extends outwardly beyond the seat frame, a seatback coupled to the seat frame for providing back support to the occupant while seated, and a seat bracket coupled to the seat frame and compatible with a floor bracket supported above a floor of a vehicle cabin for coupling the seat to the vehicle. The seat further includes an adjustable thigh support adjacent to a front portion of the seat cushion.

Abstract: A chair includes a base, a seat, a back, and a control operably supporting the seat and back on the base for movement between upright and recline positions. The seat and back include a stiff perimeter frame with opposing perimeter sections, and a plurality of rods each independently bendable in vertical and angled directions. End bearings on the rods are captured in pockets in the perimeter frame, which limits their inward and outward sliding movement. The control includes front and rear leaf springs and a pivot arm operably supporting the seat and the back for synchronous movement, with the direction of movement being such that energy is stored during recline. The energy stored during recline assists in providing a heavier person with added counterbalancing force during recline. A booster mechanism is also selectively engageable for added support upon recline.

Abstract: Work chair, comprising a seat, supported in a height-adjustable manner by a column on a foot, and an adjustable backrest, the seat, at least in part, having a substantially horizontal position, and the backrest promoting an upright position of the user's back, characterized in that the column (3) is composed of three parts (4, 5, 6) and as a result provides a two-stage adjustability for the seat height, in that the seat is divided into two parts (7, 8), in such a manner that a rear section (7) is fixed and always retains the substantially horizontal position, while a front section (8) is hinged with respect to the rear section, and in that the front section (8) is secured to the column (3) in a hinged manner (11) by a rod (9) secured to it in a hinged manner (10). The chair can be dimensioned in such a way that it allows an ergonomic working position to be adopted by virtually all users, irrespective of their corporal size, with the possibility of increasing the size of the workstation.

Abstract: A solid frame orthotic seating device for use in a sling seat that is supported by solid rails, such as a wheelchair. The solid frame orthotic seating device comprises a solid, rigid, non-collapsing, and durable interior skeletal frame with an elevated anterior wedge sloping down to the top surface of the frame, lateral well support arms, and a posterior well. The frame dimensions are designed to place the user's hips into flexion, position the user's pelvis in a neutral to anterior position, and position the user's buttocks into and or below the posterior well. The anterior wedge supports and distributes the weight of the user's body away from the buttocks. The strength and design of the solid frame uniquely promotes proper positioning, and helps to anchor the user by positioning their buttocks into and or below the posterior well and or below the solid lateral well support frame.

Abstract: A seat for marine use including a hollow primary seat structure. The primary seat structure has a generally upright back portion and a seat portion formed integrally with the back portion and extending forwardly therefrom. The back portion includes at least a pair of first female connector structures, and the seat portion includes at least a pair of second female connector structures. The seat further includes a pair of armrests having integral hook-shaped connectors at first ends thereof. The hook-shaped connectors are received in the first female connectors of the primary seat structure. The armrests also include integral male connectors at second ends that are received in the second female connector structures of the primary seat structure.

Abstract: A seat bottom assembly for a passenger seat, includes a flexible component; and a structural support member underlying the flexible component. The support member is selectively moveable between a first, forward position in which the seat bottom has a nominal length in a longitudinal direction, and a second, rearward position in which a portion of the flexible component bends downward over the structural component such that at least a portion of the seat bottom assembly has an effective length less than the nominal length. The left and right sides of the seat bottom assembly may be independently varied in length.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for use in sitting on a vehicle and a method for use in manufacturing a seat. The apparatus can include a base, a back secured with the base and a seat pan secured with the base. The seat pan can further include a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to pivot relative to the second portion, such that the first portion of the seat pan pivots allowing a distal end to pivot so that the distal end can be moved out of a relative alignment with the second portion. The seat pan can be movably secured with the base allowing the seat pan to move generally horizontally. The back can also be pivotably secured at with the base allowing a lower portion of the back proximate the seat pan to pivot.

Abstract: An adjustable seat cushion thigh support system 10 for the use of a seat and method for providing same. The seat has a cushion pan 12 that is fixed in relation to a vehicle. A pair of side rails 14 and a rear cross member 16 form the fixed cushion pan 12. The thigh support system 10 has fixed anchor brackets 18 that extend inwardly from side rails 14. Slider brackets 20 are adapted to move forwardly and rearwardly in relation to the anchor brackets 18. A cushion ramp 22 is supported by the slider brackets 20 so as to permit forward and rearward motion of the cushion ramp 22 when the slider brackets 20 move in relation to the cushion pan 12. The cushion ramp 22 underlies the seat cushion thigh support.

Abstract: Seat structure designed to reduce weight and improve various functions such as impact absorbency, vibration absorbency. A torsion bar arranged along a width direction, and an arm connected to the torsion bar and enforced in a direction of falling backwards in a normal state are provided in the rear of a seat cushion, and a cushioning member is arranged between a supporting frame supported by the arm and a front frame provided at the front of the seat cushion, whose front edge is vertically movable rotationally. When working a pedal or standing up, since the front edge of the front frame is forced to move in a downward direction by a leg portion, a haunch supporting portion of the cushioning member is relatively lifted upward, so that support force to lift up the haunches works.

Abstract: In the case of a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, with a seat part structure (5), a seat cushion (7) positioned on the seat part structure (5) and an antisubmarining ramp (11) effective at the latest at the beginning of a crash, the antisubmarining ramp (11) is movable in a recess (9) of the seat cushion (7).

Abstract: A vehicle seat, which provides an enhanced level of comfort, by the use of dual independently supported seat cushions is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an inner seat cushion and an outer seat cushion, each of which is independently supported by a compressed air pneumatic device to control vertical movement, and by parallelogram linkages control lateral movement, and allow for vertical transition of the seats while maintaining them horizontal. The occupant of this vehicle seat can independently adjust the distribution of body weight shared by the inner seat cushion and the outer seat cushion from time to time, in order to change the pressure pattern against body parts and to provide optimum ergonomic seating posture. Furthermore, by adjusting the air supply, the occupant can increase or decrease the seat's effective spring rate, thus controlling the ride height and the seat's compliance for travel on both rough terrain and smooth roadways.

Abstract: A vehicle seat section adjusting device includes a seat section adjusting element for adjusting the width of a seat section. The adjusting device includes a mounting mechanism for movably supporting the seat section adjusting element on the seat, and a drivable adjusting mechanism for adjusting the seat section adjusting element from or to a rest position relative to the mounting mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bicycle seat providing comfort during both leisure and high performance riding. The invention comprises a suspension frame system, an adjustable nose pad, an arcuate seat pad with a center opening, a movable nose pad, and a gap between the nose pad and the seat pad.

Abstract: A mechanism for changing a position of a support surface (3) for seats and couches and a length of which changes in a longitudinal direction, includes two horizontally spaced, telescopic rods (1) having each a bent region and displaceable in two telescopic sleeves (2), and two slide connection elements carrying a deformable region (22) of the support surface (3) and surrounding respective telescopic rods (1).

Abstract: In a vehicle occupant restraint system for restraining a lower part of a vehicle occupant, an arrangement for moving a restraining member from a retracted position to a deployed position upon detection and/or prediction of a vehicle crash by a crash sensor is adapted in such a manner that the restraining member cannot be made to move from the deployed position to the retracted position by an external force applied to the restraining member but can be made to move from the retracted position to the deployed position and from the deployed position back to the retracted position by a force transmitted from a power actuator to the restraining member via a power transmitting member. Thus, while the restraining member is capable of withstanding the load of restraining the vehicle occupant, even when the restraining member is deployed, it can be brought back to the retracted position so that the restraining system can be used repeatedly.

Abstract: There is provided a longitudinal extension mechanism of an armrest that includes a main body of an armrest, a fixed hinge shaft being non-rotatably fixed to a bracket and serving as a rotation axis of the armrest main body, an armrest extension provided at an end of the armrest main body so as to straightly move in the longitudinal direction of the armrest main body, and a length extending apparatus for allowing the armrest extension to straightly move with respect to the arm rest main body due to rotation of the armrest main body about the fixed hinge shaft. Therefore, when the armrest rotates to a horizontal posture, the armrest extension automatically protrudes by a certain length and the total length of the armrest is increased, thereby maximizing the convenience to a user. In addition, when the armrest rotates to a vertical posture, the total length of the armrest is decreased, thereby improving a reception ability and appearance.

Abstract: A seat for an automobile vehicle comprises a seat pan (2) and a seat back (3), the seat pan (2) featuring a seating surface that is approximately horizontal extending from the seat back (3) to a forward limit (43), the seating surface comprising a fixed seating surface (4) and a mobile front section (5) spanning at least part of the width of the forward limit (43). The front section (5) can move between a raised position in which it is aligned with the fixed seating surface (4), and a tilted position in which the front section (5) is tilted down below the fixed seating surface (4) forming ridge (44) with it that is more or less parallel with the forward limit (43), this position being suitable to accommodate a seated child.

Abstract: A passenger seat for a vehicle includes a seat back; and a seat bottom, which may be mounted to a fixed backshell. The seat bottom is selectively configurable such that at least a portion of one side thereof is higher than at least a portion of the opposite side thereof, relative to a floor of said vehicle, so as to support a passenger who is seated on said seat bottom in a rotated position wherein one of said passenger's hips is higher than the other hip relative to said floor.

Abstract: An aircraft seat includes a seat cushion and a seat back. The seat cushion has a rear portion along the seat back and a front portion of complementary shape to the rear portion to form a complete seat cushion. The rear portion moves between a raised position and a lowered position. A coupling arrangement connects the front portion to the rear portion so that when the front portion is in the raised position along the seat back the front portion is in the lowered position, in which at least part of it is retracted under the rear portion. When the rear portion is in its lowest position along the seat back the front portion is in a raised, advanced position at the same height as the rear portion to form therewith the seat cushion of the seat for receiving a seated passenger.

Abstract: A device for adjusting a seat depth of a chair has a seat carrier, an adjusting part which is arranged pullable out on a front edge of the seat carrier, a spindle rotatably supported in the adjusting part, two nuts arranged on the spindle so that during a rotation of the spindle they move on the spindle in opposite directions, and two braces hingedly supported on the seat carrier and connected with the nuts.

Abstract: A catch member (14) extending in the width direction of a seat cushion (1) is arranged inside a front portion of the seat cushion (1) and is supported so as to be vertically movable. There are also provided a torsion spring (16) for urging the catch member (14) to move upward and a pendulum member (18) for operating with an inertial force upon an abrupt deceleration to inhibit vertical movement of the catch part. When a passenger sits on the seat cushion (1), the catch member (14) moves downward to preclude deterioration in seating comfort. When the passenger's rear end (22) starts to move forward upon an abrupt deceleration, the catch member (14) is locked and the rear end (22) is caught by the catch member (14). This makes it possible to suppressed the forward movement of the passenger with reliability, and allow lightweight and low-cost configuration with simple configuration.

Abstract: Provided is an anti-submarine vehicle seat device which can reliably prevent submarining without complicating the assembling of the seat assembly, and is adapted to be retrofitted. Major parts of the device are incorporated into a subassembly which comprises a casing adapted to be attached to a seat frame, a power actuator fixedly secured in the casing, an arm pivotally supported by the casing, and adapted to be actuated by the power actuator, and a lock mechanism for keeping the arm substantially at an actuated position once the arm is actuated by the power actuator.

Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus protects an occupant sitting on a seat adjacent to a side door of a vehicle when a side collision or a rollover occurs. The occupant protection apparatus includes a push-up device for pushing up a part of a hip portion of the occupant adjacent to the side door when the side collision or the rollover occurs. In the occupant protection apparatus, when the side collision of the vehicle occurs, the push-up device pushes up the part of the occupant's hip to tilt an upper body of the occupant away from the side door. It is preferable that the push-up device includes an inflatable bag and a gas generator for inflating the bag.

Abstract: A chair is provided having a seat with a resiliently deflectable shell defining a front portion thereof. The front shell is deflectable downwardly in response to the user. An adjustment mechanism is provided which controls the deflected position of the front shell section to provide for controlled deflection of the seat which adjusts the effected length of the seat while also providing for user responsive deflection of the seat.

Abstract: An adjustable child seat includes a seat body having a seat back and a seat portion. The seat portion has a first base and a second base movably mounted to the first base. The child seat further includes a seat adjusting mechanism for adjusting the length of the seat to customize to differently sized children. In addition, the child seat includes a recline mechanism connected to the first and second bases to selectively tilt the seat body. The child seat can also include two adjustable armrests, and adjustable headrest, and an adjustable shoulder belt clip.

Abstract: In a vehicle occupant restraint system provided in association with a vehicle seat for preventing a vehicle occupant from slipping forward under a seat belt in an impact situation such as a vehicle crash, a pair of support members are provided on either side of the seat frame, and pivotally support a pair of arms across which a cross member extends. The cross member comprises an energy absorbing structure adapted to undergo a controlled deformation under a load occurring as the front part of the seat bottom is raised. The energy absorbing structure may consist of a relatively deformable member wrapped around the cross member or a feature for controlling a mode of deformation of the cross member. When the cross member consists of a pipe member, the energy absorbing structure may comprise a relatively deformable member filled inside the pipe member or perforations formed in the pipe member.

Abstract: A seat vertical position adjusting device includes a driving mechanism equipped to a base plate portion of a seat cushion for driving a cushion frame to be movable in the vertical direction relative to the base plate portion. The driving mechanism includes a shaft having a first axial portion and a second axial portion which is positioned on the first axial portion, and eccentrically rotated relative to the first axial portion, a first internal gear, a second internal gear, and a pinion gear is mounted on the second axial portion. The number of gear teeth of the first internal gear is less than the number of gear teeth of the second internal gear at least by one.

Abstract: Multiple-position seating units, methods for operating seating units, and methods for installing seating units are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the seating unit includes a first seat portion and a second seat portion. The first seat portion has a first upper surface with a front extremity. The first seat portion can be moveable between first and second positions. In the second position, the first seat portion is tilted forwardly downwardly. The second seat portion has a second upper surface that can be configured to support at least one shin of a person. The second seat portion can be moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the deployed position, the second upper surface is spaced apart from the front extremity of the first seat portion.

Abstract: An aircraft seat includes a seat cushion and a seat back. The seat cushion has a rear portion along the seat back and a front portion of complementary shape to the rear portion to form a complete seat cushion. The rear portion moves between a raised position and a lowered position. A coupling arrangement connects the front portion to the rear portion so that when the front portion is in the raised position along the seat back the front portion is in the lowered position, in which at least part of it is retracted under the rear portion. When the rear portion is in its lowest position along the seat back the front portion is in a raised, advanced position at the same height as the rear portion to form therewith the seat cushion of the seat for receiving a seated passenger.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a lower-leg support, transferable from a stowed position into a utilization position, and a footrest. To achieve comfortable support with easy operation, the footrest has a footplate that may be folded out and that is located in the stowed position approximately parallel, and in the utilization position approximately perpendicular, to the lower-leg support, and coacts with an energy storage device.

Abstract: An adjustable work chair such as an office chair has a height-adjustable seat comprising a front seat part (2) and a rear seat part (3) connected by a hinge (4) that extends transversely of the seat. A first arm (15) is coupled between the front part of the seat and the head of a fixed part (13) of a seat lift (14), and a second arm (16) is coupled between an extendable piston of the lift (14) and the underside of the rear part (13) of the seat.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has a back-rest (1) and a squab (2), a transverse beam (3) provided at the front of the squab is provided with a chamber (13), at least part of one wall being constituted by a plastically deformable metal sheet (12). The chamber is associated with a gas generator adapted to inflate the chamber (13) with an associated plastic deformation of the sheet. The inflated chamber minimizes the risk of an occupant of the seat “submarining” beneath a safety belt.

Abstract: Seat pan (3) of an automobile vehicle seat including an anti-submarining crossmember (6) which extends crosswise and which can move towards the rear from a rest position to an extension position and towards the front from the extension position. The crossmember (6) is installed so as to pivot around a transverse axis (A) on a sliding carriage (7) guided in translation on the seat pan framework. Extension means (10) are arranged to connect the crossmember (6) and the carriage (7) so as to pivot the crossmember in relation to the carriage from the rest position to the extension position and energy dissipation means (9) connecting the carriage (7) to the seat pan framework (5) to exert a retention force on the carriage during movement of the carriage forwards.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat portion, a seat pan integrated in the seat portion, and a viscous mass arranged within the seat pan, wherein the viscous mass is actuatable to form a ramp.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprising a seat back pivotally mounted on a seat proper to pivot about a transverse horizontal axis of rotation, the seat proper having a rigid framework which carries flexible padding and on which a support member is movably mounted to move vertically, the support member being adapted to form an abutment preventing the user of the seat from plunging into the padding downwards and forwards when the seat is subjected to high forward deceleration. The seat further comprises a coupling device connected to the support member and adapted to raise said support member when the seat back pivots backwards, and to lower the support member when the seat back pivots forwards.

Abstract: An adjustable child seat includes a seat body having a seat back and a seat portion. The seat portion has a first base and a second base movably mounted to the first base. The child seat further includes a seat adjusting mechanism for adjusting the length of the seat to customize to differently sized children. In addition, the child seat includes a recline mechanism connected to the first and second bases to selectively tilt the seat body. The child seat can also include two adjustable armrests, and adjustable headrest, and an adjustable shoulder belt clip.

Abstract: A booster seat having a body including a seat back and a seat pan for supporting an occupant thereon and an adjustable thigh support coupled to the seat pan and being movable closer to or further away from the seat pan. The booster seat further includes a pair of adjustable arm rests coupled to the body, each arm rest being located on opposed sides of the body and being pivotable about an axis that extends generally transverse to the body. The booster seat includes a pair of head rests coupled to the seat back, each head rest being located on opposed sides of the seat back and being pivotable about an axis that extends generally along the height of the body.

Abstract: A seat pan of an automobile vehicle seat includes an anti-sub-marining cross member to limit the movement of a pelvis of a user towards the front of the seat, the cross member extending crosswise to a seat pan framework and being able to move towards the front while exerting pelvis retention forces during the movement of the pelvis and cross member towards the front of the seat. The seat pan includes energy dissipation means to control, from a predetermined threshold, forces transmitted by the cross member to the occupant of the seat. The ends of the cross member are connected to links that pivot on the seat pan framework about an axis passing through lower ends of said links so that the movement of the cross member towards the front is in the form of an arc of a circle, defined by the pivoting of the links towards the front, opposing the retention force exerted by the energy dissipation means which are connected to upper ends of the links and near the cross member.

Abstract: A seat vertical position adjusting device includes a driving mechanism equipped to a base plate portion of a seat cushion for driving a cushion frame to be movable in the vertical direction relative to the base plate portion. The driving mechanism includes a shaft having a first axial portion and a second axial portion which is positioned on the first axial portion, and eccentrically rotated relative to the first axial portion, a first internal gear, a second internal gear, and a pinion gear is mounted on the second axial portion. The number of gear teeth of the first internal gear is less than the number of gear teeth of the second internal gear at least by one.

Abstract: A booster seat having a body including a seat back and a seat pan for supporting an occupant thereon and an adjustable thigh support coupled to the seat pan and being movable closer to or further away from the seat pan. The booster seat further includes a pair of adjustable arm rests coupled to the body, each arm rest being located on opposed sides of the body and being pivotable about an axis that extends generally transverse to the body. The booster seat includes a pair of head rests coupled to the seat back, each head rest being located on opposed sides of the seat back and being pivotable about an axis that extends generally along the height of the body.

Abstract: An adjustable chair for vehicles in which the frame structure is easy to manufacture and includes few components while still providing adjustment in several directions. By adjustment in several directions, it is meant, for example, adjustment of the length of the chair seat, as well as the height of the back of the chair. By manufacturing each frame in one piece with integrated attachments and similar, it is also possible to utilize the same frames for both manually and electrically operated chairs. The chair includes a seat part and a back part each of which have several possibilities for adjustment for individual and ergonomic adaption of the chair; including the aspects of length, height, side support and lumbar support. An operator is provided for adjusting the seat and the back parts, together with components that form parts thereof.

Abstract: An adjustable chair device and method of use for supporting a user in either a traditional seated position in which a pair of legs of the user rest upon a floor, or in a relaxed seated position in which the legs of the user are supported above the floor, provides a base supporting an aft cushion assembly, a forward cushion assembly, and an upwardly extending seat back which cooperate to support the user in a seated position. The forward cushion assembly is adjustably attached to the aft cushion assembly with an adjustment assembly that allows both horizontal and vertical adjustment of the forward cushion assembly.

Abstract: A seat structure for a chair which has a frame with a front frame section and a rear frame section, the front frame section and rear frame section being joined by an articulation joint such that the front frame section may be articulately moved with respect to the rear frame section. There are provided stopper means to limit the degree of articulation of the front frame section. There is also provided means for connecting the front and rear frame sections together.

Abstract: A protector device for a child-care instrument such as a child safety car seat or a child bed provides cushioning and protection around the child while allowing the support space for receiving the child to be adapted to different stages of the growth of the child. The protector device includes a head protector surrounding the child's head, an upper protector surrounding the child's upper body, and a lower protector surrounding the child's lower body. Protector elements may also support the child's head and body from below. The adaptable protector device makes the child-care instrument safer and more comfortable for the child in various stages of growth.

Abstract: A reclinable passenger seat having a seat frame mounting a seat bottom, a seat back extending upwardly from the seat bottom, and a seat bottom/seat back articulation assembly for simultaneously varying the adjustment of the seat bottom and seat back relative to each other. A translation linkage is provided for mounting the seat bottom and seat back for translating movement of the seat bottom relative to the seat back as the seat back is reclined from an upright position and raised to an upright position. The translation linkage extends the effective length of the seat bottom relative to the seat back to provide additional support to the buttocks and legs of the seated passenger.

Abstract: A chair has a seat shell, a cushion having a front edge which extends outwardly beyond a front edge of the seat shell, a shaft arranged under a seat surface, an actuating element connected with the shaft and also connected with the front edge of the cushion, at least one first toothed disc arranged on the shaft, an endless element guided on the toothed disc and connected with the seat shell, a second toothed disc which together with the first toothed disc is displaceable parallel to the seat shell, so that by raising or lowering of the actuating element the front edge of the cushion is displaceable forwardly or rearwardly.