A chair includes a seat, a backrest, and a leg rest. A tilt actuator and lift actuator tilt and lift the seat, respectively. A leg rest actuator extends and retracts the leg rest. A backrest actuator pivots the backrest with respect to the seat. A controller simultaneously controls the actuators such that they move sequentially between multiple predefined states. A control panel enables a user to automatically move the chair to any of the predefined states. Progress indicators are included that provide a visual indication of how far the chair has progressed to a commanded state. A controller controls the actuators such that they simultaneously arrive at each state. One or more functions on a control panel may also be automatically disabled and/or automatically enabled as the chair moves into or out of certain ones of the predefined states.

A lift chair includes a lift mechanism that maintains a continuous seating position during forward and elevated movement by supporting the occupant's seat, arms and back. The mobile section of the chair will also lower the occupant to the normal seating height. The gel cushion seating surface is attached at least to the moveable section of the lift chair. The gel cushion seating surface of the chair has a plurality of gel cushion cylinders arranged in a grid that provide a rhythmically changing support area at multiple points on the occupant's buttocks and thighs. This provides a comforting massage which reduces stress on the body associated with prolonged seating.

A seat cushion extension apparatus for a vehicle seat includes an extension unit slidable from a front end portion of a seat frame in a vehicle to a position disposed forwards of the front end portion of the seat frame, locking units for locking the extension unit with respect to the seat frame at a locking position, and allowing the extension unit to be slidable such that the extension unit protrudes forwards of the seat frame at a release position, and a lever for controlling the locking units between the locking position and the release position. The extension unit is supported by guide shafts to be movable forwards and rearwards in housings fixed to the seat frame. The guide shafts are locked in the housings at the locking position and are movable with respect to the seat frame at the release position.

An appliance for use in supporting a woman during the first stage of labour including: a seat portion; a generally horizontal ledge portion is located at a height which is higher than the seat portion and extends across the width of the seat portion; a footrest is located at either side of the ledge portion; and wherein the footrests are located beneath the ledge portion.

Powered recliner chairs, assemblies for use in the chairs, and components for use in the assemblies are provided. Electrical systems for use in the chairs, and components for use in the assemblies are provided. Control systems and methods for operating powered recliner chairs are also provided. Any given chair may be locally and/or remotely controlled.

An apparatus that supports a person in a variety of positions so that a tattoo artist can comfortably apply a tattoo to the skin of the supported person is herein disclosed. The apparatus can be articulated to cause a person's legs and arms to be optimally positioned and supported to receive a tattoo.

A height adjusting mechanism for a dentistry stool comprises a support member, a movable height adjusting assembly and a pushbutton actuator. The support member is coupleable to the stool adjacent a seat of the stool. The movable height adjusting assembly is selectively movable up and down relative to the support member. The pushbutton actuator is positionable on a side of the movable height adjusting assembly adjacent a seated user, and is manually actuatable by the seated user to release the movable height adjusting assembly from a locked position at a current height to allow the movable height adjusting assembly to be moved to a new height. The height adjusting mechanism can be implemented to provide a height-adjustable seat back and/or a height-adjustable torso bar.

A footrest device for armchairs or sofas has two footrest panels, which have substantially the same width, and are movable under the thrust of a crank mechanism between an extracted operating position, in which the two footrest panels project from the front of a support frame, and a retracted rest position, in which the two footrest panels substantially overlap one another.

Novel tools and techniques might provide for implementing seat lifting. In various embodiments, a seat lifter might include one or more first pistons, one or more second pistons, and a seat portion. The one or more first pistons, when actuated (e.g., in response to user input), might cause a rear portion of the seat portion to lift relative to a front portion of the seat portion, the rear portion of the seat portion being lifted by a first height above a seat to which the seat lifter is affixed. The one or more second pistons, when actuated, might cause the front portion of the seat portion to lift by a second height above the seat, the second height being less than the first height. In some instances, the first pistons and the second pistons might be actuated serially (in either order), or might be actuated concurrently.

The time required to complete current-to-target state transitions of a plurality of movable portions constituting a seat is shortened. A seat unit 1 includes an occupant support portion S1, a plurality of movable mechanisms respectively moving a plurality of parts constituting the occupant support portion S1, and an ECU 40 controlling respective operations of the plurality of movable mechanisms. The ECU 40 causes each of the plurality of movable mechanisms to undergo a transition from a current state to a target state and the plurality of movable mechanisms have a first movable mechanism requiring a longest time for the transition. The ECU 40 causes the transitions of the plurality of movable mechanisms other than the first movable mechanism to be completed by completion of the transition of the first movable mechanism from the current state to the target state.