Chairs and seats – Rest for knee – leg – or foot – Connected to chair or seat for relative movement
Patent
1984-12-21
1987-03-31
Hafer, Robert A.
Chairs and seats
Rest for knee, leg, or foot
Connected to chair or seat for relative movement
297 4, 297195, 135 67, A47C 750, A61H 304
Patent
active
046538089
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a supporting device for a person, said supporting device having a posterior supporting face and a leg depending therefrom. As a modification, the posterior supporting face may be connected to a leg base through at least one transition member and a leg depending therefrom. Such supporting devices have been known for a long time, and have e.g. been designed as a walking stick, where the handle of the stick has been divided into two parts and outwardly foldable in order to form support for the person's posterior. Further, the said supporting device has been known in connection with so-called milking stools where the supporting device is attached by means of straps to the person's body.
It is a common feature of the known devices that the support is relatively unstable, and that it is necessary to tension the leg muscles to a great extent in order to be able to provide a stable standing position. Further, there is also a certain risk that an incorrect inclination of the depending leg may cause the person to fall backwards because the leg then suddenly moves relative to the ground.
Further, the invention relates to a supporting device for a person, said supporting device having a posterior supporting face being pivotably connected to a wall. Such a supporting device is known inter alia from the so-called tip-up seats or jump seats found e.g. on public transport means, in theatres and cinemas, in auditoriums, taxis etc.
Such known tip-up seats have frequently a heavy-duty hinge mechanism which in addition is provided with a spring device in order to bring the seat back to the wall after use. It has therefore been desirable in certain cases to simplify such seats, simultaneously enabling the seats to be used for a somewhat more standing-like sitting posture.
The present invention therefore aims to solve these known problems in a simple manner, and the inventive supporting device is characterized by the features which appear from the attached patent claims.
With the present invention, it is primarily obtained that the posterior supporting face coacts with means located in front thereof and being so designed that they will engage a portion of the front of the person's respective thighs.
The present invention therefore avoids a supporting device where a person is inclined to slide off the posterior supporting face, and therefore will have to tension his leg muscles in order to remain on the seat. Further, with the prior art supporting device, it will tend to slide in a rearward direction away from the user, thereby also creating uncertainty when sitting down. Further, with the prior art devices, it is impossible to move with the supporting device or move it to another location without the aid of one or both hands. These advantages are entirely avoided by the present device.
Even with fully relaxed muscles in the legs, the present inventive device will prevent the person from sliding off the seat or feeling too large pressure from the seat (as known from the so-called "standing type chairs" having a seat of the bicycle type), simply due to the supporting face on the front of the thigh. Due to the fact that there is a supporting face both at the front and rear of the person, the person will always feel very safe. When standing freely and upon sitting down, the knees move forward, the thigh contacts the thigh support and the seat is automatically shifted into position. Ordinary office and factory chairs for common sitting level have casters and turning means because the user will always need to be able to move and shift in direct connection with the chair. However, with existing supporting devices, this is not possible when carrying out work in a standing posture. The present supporting device, however, will automatically follow the user, and the user can walk freely about together with the supporting device without paying particular attention thereto.
Thus, the present invention provides for persons carrying out work in a standing posture or simply assuming an almost standing posture,
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Hafer Robert A.
Kramer Arnold W.
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