초록 ▼

A support device and associated appurtenances, which support a user's torso while in a forward leaning position. The device includes a rest the user can lean his/her torso on while working in a forward leaning position, and support structure adapted which can adjust the angle, height, and/or lateral

A support device and associated appurtenances, which support a user's torso while in a forward leaning position. The device includes a rest the user can lean his/her torso on while working in a forward leaning position, and support structure adapted which can adjust the angle, height, and/or lateral position of the rest. A support device includes support structure, and a rest supported by the support structure, from a base. The rest can support the torso of a user, from the base, as the user leans his/her torso against the rest. Transport structure can be used to move the support structure back and forth along the base. One or more pivotations can be used from base to rest. The invention is useful anywhere a user leans forward for an extended time, such as dentists, working over a desk, over a drafting table, or over a manufacturing line or assembly line.

대표청구항 ▼

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: 1. A support device adapted and configured to support a user's torso, said support device adapted to be used with a patient chair, said patient chair having a base, said support device comprising: a) a padded rest which a user, who is not a p

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: 1. A support device adapted and configured to support a user's torso, said support device adapted to be used with a patient chair, said patient chair having a base, said support device comprising: a) a padded rest which a user, who is not a patient seated in said patient chair, can lean his torso against, said torso includes said user's abdominal area, chest area and anterior shoulder area; b) a transport structure including a horizontal track which is connected to said base, said transport structure capable of moving linearly along said base on said horizontal track, said transport structure capable of being temporarily fixed in a first position along said horizontal track against linear movement with respect to said base, and said transport structure capable of being subsequently released from said first position so as to again enable linear movement of said transport structure along said base on said horizontal track; and c) a support structure connecting said transport structure to said padded rest, said support structure having an angled bracket secured to said padded rest which permits said padded rest to pivot with respect to said angled bracket, an upright bracket secured to said transport structure, and a coupler joining said angled bracket to said upright bracket, said coupler allowing said angled bracket to be tilted relative to said upright bracket in any direction, and said coupler including a ball swivel having a screw friction lock. 2. The support device of claim 1 wherein said transport structure is adapted and configured to be operatively coupled to one of the group consisting of: a dental chair, said base located adjacent to a dental chair, and a desk. 3. The support device of claim 2 wherein said coupler permits said padded rest to pivot relative to said transport structure. 4. The support device of claim 3 wherein said pivot structure enables said padded rest to pivot with respect to said angled bracket. 5. The support device of claim 1 wherein said coupler permits said padded rest to pivot relative to said support structure. 6. The support device of claim 5 wherein said pivot structure enables said padded rest to pivot with respect to said angled bracket. 7. The support device of claim 6 further comprising an extension structure operative with at least one of said transport structure, said support structure, and said padded rest, so as to enable said padded rest to be extended further away from, and/or retracted toward, said base. 8. The support device of claim 1 further comprising an extension structure operative with at least one of said transport structure, said support structure, and said padded rest, so as to enable said padded rest to be extended further away from, and/or retracted toward, said base. 9. The support device of claim 1 wherein said transport structure comprises a track, having a length, and said support structure being operatively movable along said length of said track. 10. A support device adapted and configured to support a user's torso, said support device adapted to be used with a patient chair, said patient chair having a base, said support device comprising: a) a padded rest which a user, who is not a patient seated in said patient chair, can lean his torso against, said padded rest having a front and a rear, said padded rest being adapted, configured and mounted such that a user can approach said padded rest from said front and lean his torso on said padded rest, and said torso includes said user's abdominal area, chest area and anterior shoulder area; b) a transport structure including a horizontal track which is connected to said base, said transport structure capable of moving linearly along said base on a said horizontal track, said transport structure capable of being temporarily fixed on said horizontal track in a first position against linear movement with respect to said base, and said transport structure capable of being subsequently released from said first position so as to again enable linear movement of said transport structure along said base on said horizontal track; and c) a support structure connecting said transport structure to said padded rest, said support structure having an angled bracket secured directly to said padded rest which permits said padded rest to pivot with respect to said angled bracket, an upright bracket secured to said transport structure, and a coupler joining said angled bracket to said upright bracket, said coupler allowing said angled bracket to be tilted relative to said upright bracket in any direction. 11. The support device of claim 10 wherein said padded rest pivots with respect to said support structure, about a pivot axis which extends in a direction parallel to at least a portion of said track traversed by said transport structure. 12. The support device of claim 11 further comprising an extension structure operative with at least one of said transport structure, said support structure, and said padded rest, so as to enable said padded rest to be extended further away from, and/or retracted toward, said base. 13. The support device of claim 10 wherein said transport structure is adapted and configured to be operatively coupled to one of the group consisting of: a dental chair, said base located adjacent to a dental chair, and a desk. 14. The support device of claim 10 further comprising an extension structure operative with at least one of said transport structure, said support structure, and said padded rest, so as to enable said padded rest to be extended further away from, and/or retracted toward, said base. 15. A support device adapted and configured to support a user's torso, said support device adapted to be used with a patient chair, said patient chair having a base, said support device comprising: a) a padded rest which a user, who is not a patient seated in said patient chair, can lean his torso against, and said torso includes said user's abdominal area, chest area and anterior shoulder area; b) a transport structure including a horizontal track which is connected to said base, said transport structure capable of moving linearly along said base on said horizontal track, said transport structure capable of being temporarily fixed in a first position along said horizontal track against linear movement with respect to said base, and said transport structure capable of being subsequently released from said first position so as to again enable linear movement of said transport structure along said base on said horizontal track; and c) a support structure connecting said transport structure to said padded rest, said support structure having an angled bracket pivotably coupled by a pivot structure to said padded rest, an upright bracket secured to said transport structure, and a coupler joining said angled bracket to said upright bracket, said coupler allowing said angled bracket to be tilted relative to said upright bracket in any direction, and said coupler including a ball swivel having a screw friction lock. 16. The support device of claim 15 wherein said padded rest has a front and a rear, said padded rest being adapted and configured such that a user can approach said padded rest from said front and lean his torso on said padded rest, and across an axis of pivotation of said pivot structure. 17. The support device of claim 16 wherein said pivot structure enables said padded rest to pivot with respect to said support structure. 18. The support device of claim 15 wherein said transport structure is adapted and configured to be operatively coupled to one of the group consisting of: a dental chair, said base located adjacent to a dental chair, and a desk. 19. The support device of claim 18 further comprising an extension structure operative with at least one of said transport structure, said support structure, and said padded rest, so as to enable said padded rest to be extended further away from, and/or retracted toward, said base. 20. The support device of claim 15 wherein said pivot structure enables said padded rest to pivot with respect to said support structure. 21. The support device of claim 15 further comprising an extension structure operative with at least one of said transport structure, said support structure, and said padded rest, so as to enable said padded rest to be extended further away from, and/or retracted toward, said base. 22. The support device of claim 15 further comprising an extension structure operative with at least one of said transport structure, said support structure, and said padded rest, said extension structure enabling said padded rest to be extended further away from, and/or retracted toward said base. 23. The support device of claim 15 wherein said horizontal track has a length, and said support structure is operatively movable along said length. 24. The support device of claim 23 wherein at least one of said horizontal track and said support structure comprises a locking structure adapted and configured to temporarily lock said support structure against movement along said length of said horizontal track. 25. A support device adapted and configured to support a user's torso, said support device adapted to be used with a work station, said support device comprising: a) a substrate effective to support an object on which work is to be performed; b) a padded rest which a user can lean his torso against while working on said object in association with said substrate, said torso includes said user's abdominal area, chest area and anterior shoulder area; c) a transport structure including a horizontal track which is connected to said substrate, said transport structure capable of moving linearly along said substrate on said horizontal track, said transport structure capable of being temporarily fixed in a first position along said horizontal track against linear movement with respect to said substrate, and said transport structure capable of being subsequently released from said first position so as to again enable linear movement of said transport structure along said substrate on said horizontal track; and d) a support structure connecting said transport structure to said padded rest, said support structure having an angled bracket secured to said padded rest which permits said padded rest to pivot with respect to said angled bracket, an upright bracket secured to said transport structure, and a coupler joining said angled bracket to said upright bracket, said coupler allowing said angled bracket to be tilted relative to said upright bracket in any direction, and said coupler including a ball swivel having a screw friction lock. 26. The support device of claim 25 further comprising a pivot structure operatively engaged in at least one of said padded rest and said support structure. 27. The support device of claim 25 wherein said transport structure is adapted and configured to be operatively coupled to a desk. 28. The support device of claim 25 further comprising an extension structure operative with at least one of said transport structure, said support structure, and said padded rest, said extension structure enabling said padded rest to be extended further away from, and/or retracted toward said substrate. 29. A support device adapted and configured to support a user's torso, said support device adapted to be used with a manufacturing facility having work stations where manufacturing work is to be performed by workers as the predominant work at said work stations, each of said work stations including a support device, said support device comprising: a) a padded rest which a user can lean his torso against, said torso includes said user's abdominal area, chest area and anterior shoulder area; b) a transport structure including a horizontal track which is connected to each of said work stations, said transport structure capable of moving linearly along said horizontal track, said transport structure capable of being temporarily fixed in a first position along said horizontal track against linear movement with respect to said respective work station, and said transport structure capable of being subsequently released from said first position so as to again enable linear movement of said transport structure along said respective work station on said horizontal track; and c) a support structure connecting said transport structure to said padded rest, said support structure having an angled bracket secured to said padded rest which permits said padded rest to pivot with respect to said angled bracket, an upright bracket secured to said transport structure, and a coupler joining said angled bracket to said upright bracket, said coupler allowing said angled bracket to be tilted relative to said upright bracket in any direction, and said coupler including a ball swivel having a screw friction lock. 30. The support device of claim 29 wherein said transport structure is coupled to each of said work stations, and said transport structure serves as an interface between said work station and said support structure, the coupling of said transport structure to said work station being operative to enable movement of said transport structure, and thus said support device, with respect to said work station. 31. The support device of claim 30 further comprising a pivot structure operatively engaged in at least one of said padded rest and said support structure. 32. The support device of claim 31 wherein said at least first and second work stations are disposed inside a generally closed building. 33. The support device of claim 29 further comprising a pivot structure operatively engaged in at least one of said padded rest and said support structure. 34. The support device of claim 33 wherein said pivot structure enables said padded rest to pivot with respect to said support structure. 35. The support device of claim 29 wherein said at least first and second work stations are disposed inside a generally closed building. 36. The support device of claim 29 wherein said padded rest comprises an interfacing surface sufficiently expansive in length and width that a user thereof can comfortably lean the weight of his torso on said interfacing surface, and wherein said support device includes an adjustment structure which enables adjustment of said padded rest with respect to said work station, regarding at least one of height of said padded rest, and angle of said interfacing surface with respect to a horizontal plane. 37. The support device of claim 36 wherein said adjustment structure enables said padded rest to pivot with respect to said support structure. 38. The support device of claim 29 wherein said horizontal track has a length, and said support structure is operatively movable along said length. 39. The support device of claim 38 further comprising a locking structure adapted and configured to temporarily lock said support structure against movement along said length of said horizontal track.