초록 ▼

A support apparatus is described for use in the field of workstation design. The support apparatus is movably attachable to a seating device to selectively provide both dorsal and ventral support to a seated user. The support apparatus is movable, by a user in the seated position, between the positi

A support apparatus is described for use in the field of workstation design. The support apparatus is movably attachable to a seating device to selectively provide both dorsal and ventral support to a seated user. The support apparatus is movable, by a user in the seated position, between the position providing ventral support and the position providing dorsal support. Also described is a method of selectively supporting either the ventral or dorsal side of a user by one apparatus, the apparatus moveable by a user in the seated position.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for use by a user seated on a seating device, the apparatus comprising: a support movably associated with the seating device such that when the support is in a first position, the support is adapted to provide ventral support for the user as the user leans forwar

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for use by a user seated on a seating device, the apparatus comprising: a support movably associated with the seating device such that when the support is in a first position, the support is adapted to provide ventral support for the user as the user leans forwardly against the support, and when the support is in a second position, the support is adapted to provide dorsal support for the user as the user leans back against the support, wherein the support is selectively movable from the first to the second position by the user while in the seated position, the support being attachable to a pivot arm that is rotatably attachable to the seating device, the pivot arm having: a first substantially horizontal member rotatably mountable to the seating device; and a riser connected to the first substantially horizontal member, the support adapted to be movably attachable to the riser to accommodate different users, the riser having a second attachment means for connecting the riser to the first substantially horizontal member, the second attachment means adapted for selectively adjusting the support to a predetermined height. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the second attachment means comprises a bolt and a plurality of holes within the riser, the bolt placed within one of the plurality of holes to attach the riser to the first substantially horizontal member. 3. An apparatus for use by a user seated on a seating device, the apparatus comprising: a support movably associated with the seating device such that when the support is in a first position, the support is adapted to provide ventral support for the user as the user leans forwardly against the support, and when the support is in a second position, the support is adapted to provide dorsal support for the user as the user leans back against the support, wherein the support is selectively movable from the first to the second position by the user while in the seated position, the support being attachable to a pivot arm that is rotatably attachable to the seating device, the pivot arm having: a first substantially horizontal member rotatably mountable to the seating device, the first substantially horizontal member having an adjustable length; and a riser connected to the first substantially horizontal member, the support adapted to be movably attachable to the riser to accommodate different users. 4. An apparatus for use by a user seated on a seating device, the apparatus comprising: a support movably associated with the seating device such that when the support is in a first position, the support is adapted to provide ventral support for the user as the user leans forwardly against the support, and when the support is in a second position, the support is adapted to provide dorsal support for the user as the user leans back against the support, wherein the support is selectively movable from the first to the second position by the user while in the seated position, the support being attachable to a pivot arm that is rotatably attachable to the seating device, the pivot arm having: a first substantially horizontal member rotatably mountable to the seating device; and a riser connected to the first substantially horizontal member, the riser having an adjustable length, the support adapted to be movably attachable to the riser to accommodate different users. 5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the pivot arm further comprises a second substantially horizontal member adapted to movably attach the support to the riser. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the support is attachable to the pivot arm such that the support is selectively adjustable to a predetermined height. 7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the support is movably attached to the second substantially horizontal member by a first attachment means. 8. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the support further comprises a cushion. 9. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a stop adapted to allow the support to be rotatable 180 degrees, the stop having a first pin adapted to contact the first substantially horizontal member when the support is in die first position; and a second pin adapted to contact the first substantially horizontal member when the support is in the second position. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a collar attachable to the seating device, the collar adapted to allow the first substantially horizontal member to rotate, the collar selectively maintaining the support a predetermined height. 11. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the support is movably attached to the second substantially horizontal member by a first attachment means. 12. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the riser; and the second substantially horizontal member comprises a metal tube; a metal bar, or an integral rod. 13. The support apparatus of claim 4 in which the pivot arm is composed of two pieces telescopically mounted to each other. 14. The support apparatus of claim 4 or 5 in which the riser is comprised of two pieces telescopically mounted to each other. 15. The support apparatus of claim 14, in which the riser comprises a first and a second piece being connectable by a knob passing through a groove in one piece, the length of the riser thereby being adjustable to accommodate different users. 16. An apparatus for use by a user seated on a seating device, the apparatus comprising: a support movably associated with the seating device such that when the support is in a first position, the support is adapted to provide ventral support for the user as the user leans forwardly against the support, and when the support is in a second position, the support is adapted to provide dorsal support for the user as the user leans back against the support, wherein the support is selectively movable from the first to the second position by the user while in the seated position, the support being attachable to a pivot arm that is rotatably attachable to the seating device, the pivot arm having: a first substantially horizontal member rotatably mountable to the seating device, the first substantially horizontal member having an adjustable length; and a riser connected to the first substantially horizontal member, the support adapted to be movably attachable to the riser to accommodate different users; and a second substantially horizontal member adapted to movably attach the support to the riser, in which the second substantially horizontal member has an adjustable length. 17. A support apparatus for use by a user seated on a seating device, the support apparatus comprising: a pivot arm being rotatably attachable to the seating device, the pivot arm further comprising a riser between a first substantially horizontal member and a second substantially horizontal member; and a support attachable to the pivot arm and moveably functionally associated with the seating device such that when the support is in a first position, the support is adapted to provide ventral support for the user as the user leans forwardly to contact the support, and when the support is in a second position, the support is adapted to provide dorsal support for the back of the user as the user leans back against the support. wherein the support is selectively movable from the first to the second position by the user while in the seated position, in which at least one of the first substantially horizontal member, the second substantially horizontal member, and the user has an adjustable length. 18. The support apparatus of claim 17 in which the support is selectively adjustable to one of a plurality of predetermined heights to accommodate different users. 19. The support apparatus of claim 18 in which the support is adjustable to one of the predetermined heights by adjustably attaching the support to the seating device. 20. The support apparatus of claim 19 in which the pivot arm further comprises a first substantially horizontal member rotatably mountable to the seating device and connectable to a riser by a second attachment means, the height of the support being adjustable by adjusting the second attachment means. 21. The support apparatus of claim 17 in which the support further comprises a cushion. 22. The support apparatus of claim 17 in which the first substantially horizontal member, the second substantially horizontal member, and riser comprise a metal rube or a metal bar. 23. The support apparatus of claim 17 in which two of the first substantially horizontal member, the second substantially horizontal member, and the riser comprise an integral rod. 24. The support apparatus of claim 17 in which the support is movably attachable to the second substantially horizontal member, the first substantially horizontal member being rotatably mountable to the seating device. 25. The support apparatus of claim 4 or 17 in which the first substantially horizontal member forms an approximately 90 degree first angle from a first horizontal plane with the riser. 26. The support apparatus of claim 25 in which the second substantially horizontal member forms an approximately 90 degree second angle with the riser from a second horizontal plane. 27. The support apparatus of claim 17 in which the first substantially horizontal member has an adjustable length. 28. The support apparatus of claim 17 in which the riser has an adjustable length. 29. The support apparatus of claim 28 in which the height of the support is adjustable by adjusting the length of the riser. 30. The support apparatus of claim 29 in which the length of the riser is adjustable by a knob with a groove in the riser for adjusting the length of the riser. 31. The support apparatus of claim 17 in which the support is attached to the pivot arm by a first attachment means. 32. The support apparatus of claim 31 in which the support is moveably attached to the second substantially horizontal member on the riser by a knob engaging a slot in a bracket attached to the support. 33. The support apparatus of claim 17 in which the first position and the second position are 180 apart. 34. A method of supporting a user seated in a seating device, the method comprising: providing a support apparatus having a a pivot arm rotatably attachable to the seating device, the pivot arm comprising a riser between and first and second substantially horizontal members, the riser having an adjustable length; a support movably mountable to the pivot arm such that when the support is in a first position, the support is adapted to provide ventral support for the user as the user leans forward to contact the support and when the support is in a second position, the support is adapted to provide dorsal support for the user as the user leans back against the support, rotating the support apparatus such that the support is at the front of the chair so that the user can lean forward to contact the support, the support thus providing ventral support; leaning forward to contact the support; rotating the support apparatus such that the support is at a rear of the seating device while seated; leaning backward to contact the support, the support thus providing dorsal support; and adjusting the length of the riser to change the height of the support for a different user. 35. The method of claim 34 further comprising: selectively moving the support to one of a plurality of predetermined heights. 36. The method of claim 35 in which the step of changing the height of the support further comprises changing a length of a riser on the pivot arm such that the support apparatus may accommodate different users. 37. The method of claim 36 in which the step of changing the height of the support further comprises adjusting a first attachment means between the support and the riser.