GB2192330A

GB2192330A - Chair

Info

Publication number: GB2192330A
Application number: GB08618317A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Hyslop Grosset
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-07-10
Filing date: 1986-07-10
Publication date: 1988-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 2006-07-10
Also published as: GB2192330B; GB8618317D0

Abstract

A chair comprising a seat portion (10), a support portion (20) attached to the seat portion (10), and a base (22) attached to the support portion (20), the base (22) comprising two relatively inclined planar portions (24, 26) on which the chair may be selectively positioned whereby it may be used in a first position (Fig. 1) as a conventional upright chair may be used in a second position as a tipped-forward chair to afford a better posture, as required. A rest (28) is provided for supporting a user's knees when the chair is in the second position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Chair The present invention relates to a chair, and more particularly to a chair which allows a userto assume a more correct posture.

Conventional chairs suffer from the disadvantage that when a person is sitting in the chair, the spine is necessarily curved, exerting strain on the spine, which may eventually lead to back problems. In an attempt to overcome this, an alternative type of chair is known which comprises a forwardly inclined seating portion and a rearwardly inclined kneeling portion arranged in front of and below the seating portion, such that some of the weight of a person is transferred to the kneeling portion. In use, a person sits in a half sitting, half kneeling posture, which results in the user's spine being almost vertical, which is a much more correct position for the spine.

However, such chairs look unconventional, and are not generally used in offices, where a person may be sitting for several hours a day. Thus, in the place where a person most needs to adopt a correct posture, it is not possible because the form of the available alternative chairs is not generally acceptable in offices.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a chair which allows a user to assume a more correct posture, yet which is more acceptable than the alternatives known hereto.

In accordance with the present invention in its broadest aspect, there is provided a chair comprising a seat portion, a support portion attached to the seat portion, and a base attached to the support portion, the base comprising two relatively inclined portions, on which the chair may be selectively positioned.

Preferably, the chair is stable when positioned on one of, or alternatively on either of, the inclined portions.

Preferably, the base comprises two planar portions inclined to one another, and/or a single elongate support portion attached to the seat portion and the base.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a chair comprising a seat portion, a support portion attached to the seat portion, and a base attached to the support portion, the base comprising two relatively inclined planar portions on which the chair may be selectively positioned.

In a preferred embodiment, one portion of the base is arranged substantially parallel to the seat portion, such that the chair may be used in a substantially conventional configuration, and when the chair is positioned on the other portion of the base, it may be used in conjunction with a knee rest, which is positionable relative to the chair.

In this way, the chair may be used as a conventional chair or may be used as a chair to afford a better posture, as required. Moreover, such a chair can be used with a desk and is easy to get into and out of, which is important for a chair which isto be used in an office.

By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of chair in accordance with the present invention, in a first position; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the chair of Fig. 1 in an alternative position, with a person seated thereon.

The illustrated chair comprises a substantially horizontal seat portion 10, a back-support portion 12 inclined at an obtuse angle to the seat portion 10, and two arm rests 14, each of which includes a horizontal portion 16 and a portion 18 inclined downwardly with respect to the horizontal portion at an angle equal to the complement of the inclination of the portion 12 with respect to the base 10. A cylindrical support member 20 extends between the ;:lower surface of the seat portion 10 and a base 22.

The seat portion is adjustable in height by means of a conventional adjusting mechanism 23.

The base 22 comprises a circular metal disc which has been bent across a chord 25 thereof to form a larger planar segment 24 and a smaller planar segment 26 inclined at an angle of about 30C to the segment 24. The two segments of the base 22 are inclined at approximately the same angle as the portion 18 of the arm rest is inclined to the portion 14 of the arm rest, as will be explained hereinafter.

Also illustrated is a knee rest 28 which comprises a padded knee support portion 30 which is pivotally mounted to a support tube 31 which is itself attached to a four-footed base 32.

The chair may be used in the position shown in Fig. 1 or the position shown in Fig. 2. In the position shown in Fig. 1, the chair rests on the rear planar segment 24 and is essentially conventional, and a user's arms are normally rested on the portions 16, which are substantially horizontal in this position. If it is desired to move the chair into the position of Fig. 2, in which the user adopts a more correct posture, it is merely necessary to pivot the chair forwardly about the chord 25 of the base, so that it is then supported on the front planar segment 26 of the base 22. In this position, a user will also rest his knees against the knee engaging portion 30 of the knee rest 28. in Fig. 2, the chair and the knee rest are positioned on a rubber mat 36, which prevents the chair and knee rest from sliding.

In this position, the portions 18 of the arms 14 will be substantially horizontal, providing a good arm rest, and the back-support portion 12 will be substantially vertical, providing a good support for the back.

It will be appreciated that in the embodiment illustrated, the chair is stable in both of the above mentioned positions, i.e., the centre of gravity will always pass through that segment 24, 26 of the base which is in contact with the floor. However, this need not be the case, and the chair may be stable only when positioned on the rear planar segment 24, since when the chair is on its front planar portion 2,4, a person will be resting with his or her knees on the knee rest 28.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. For example, the base need not be of two segments of a circle, but may be of any shape which will support the chair in either of two positions. For example, the base may comprise two inclined square or rectangular planar portions.

Moreover, the base need not comprise two relatively inclined planar portions, but may merely comprise two relatively inclined portions, e.g., two spaced-apart, parallel, elongate, angled portions.

Claims

1. A chair comprising a seat portion, a support portion attached to the seat portion, and a base attached to the support portion, the base comprising two relatively inclined portions, on which the chair may be selectively positioned.

2. A chair as claimed in claim 1, which is stable when positioned on one of, or alternatively on either of, the inclined portions.

3. A chair as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the base comprises two planar portions inclined to one another.

4. A chair comprising a seat portion, a support portion attached to the seat portion, and a base attached to the support portion, the base comprising two relatively inclined planar portions on which the chair may be selectively positioned.

5. A chair as claimed in claim 4, wherein one portion ofthe base is arranged substantially parallel to the seat portion, such that the chair may be used in a substantially conventional configuration, and the other portion of the base is inclined relative to said seat portion so that, when the chair is positioned on this portion of the base, it can be used in a tipped-forward attitude in conjunction with a knee rest, which is positionable relative to the chair.

6. A chair as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein said base is in the form of a metal disc which is bent about a chord to form said two relatively inclined planar portions.

7. A chair, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. A chair as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, in which the support portion comprises a single elongate member attached to the seat portion and the base.

8. A chair, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (a) Claims 1 to 8 above have been deleted or textually amended.

(b) New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:- CLAIMS

1. A chair comprising a seat portion, a support portion attached to the seat portion, and a base attached to the support portion, the base comprising two relatively inclined planar portions on which the chair may be selectively positioned.

2. A chair as claimed in claim 1,wherein one portion of the base is arranged substantially parallel to the seat portion, such that the chair may be used in a substantially conventional configuration, and the other portion of the base is inclined relative to said seat portion so that, when the chair is positioned on this portion of the base, it can be used in a tipped-forward attitude in conjunction with a knee rest, which is positionable relative to the chair.

3. A chair as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said base is in the form of a metal disc which is bent about a chord to form said two relatively inclined planar portions.

4. A chair as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the support portion comprises a single elongate member attached to the seat portion and the base.

5. A chair comprising a seat portion, a support portion attached to the seat portion, and a base attached to the support portion, the base comprising a metal plate which is bent to form two relatively inclined planar portions on which the chair may be selectively positioned.

6. A chair comprising a seat portion, a support portion attached to the seat portion, and a base attached to the support portion, the base comprising a plate-like member having two relatively inclined planar portions on which the chair may be selectively positioned.