To realize a noble, useful seat with a simple structure designed to follow a natural movement of a seated person in front-rear and left-right directions and to support appropriately a movement of the person continuously changing its posture while the person balances a load. The seat includes the elastic support layer 3 and upper and lower base units 4 and 5 arranged to sandwich the elastic support layer 3. The upper base unit 4 includes the rolling surface 42e bulging toward the lower base unit 5 thereabove via the elastic support layer 3, is rollable in a 360° direction from the tilt reference position IRP in receiving a load of the seated person, and has a moving distal end side tilting more downward as a distance from the position IRP increases, and is configured to move while compressing the elastic support layer 3 by the rolling surface.

An adjustable chair frame with a back and seating surfaces that flex to conform to the shape, weight and movement of an occupant is disclosed. The chair form and proportions provide for a recumbent position that disperses the weight of the occupant more evenly, thereby reducing external and internal physiological point loading. The form also provides ergonomic articulation to minimize internal physiological stresses such as neck/back vertebral compression. Eccentric connections driven by a motor assembly allow positioning adjustment of the components of the chair. Additionally, an air pump assembly may be included to automatically adjust one or more air bladders provided on the interior of the chair frame.

An inflatable cushion for body support is described. The inflatable cushion can be adjusted to manually/automatically set the proper pressure distribution, remove pressure from sensitive regions, alternate pressure, facilitate moisture removal, automatically detect leakage and avoid bottom down, communicate leakage and other problems with the user/caregiver, detect wrong positioning and facilitate position correction. The inflatable cushion can be used either as a chair cushion such as for example as a cushion for wheelchair or as a bed mattress.

An apparatus (1) for positioning the body of a user (100), wherein the apparatus can be used in a seat or in the form of a rest, comprising a seating element (20), a pelvis and lumbar-spine module (13) and a computer unit (40), wherein the pelvis and lumbar-spine module comprises an adjusting element (117) and a sensor (113), and the seating element comprises an adjusting element (108) and three sensors (111, 112), wherein the sensors (111, 112, 113) sense seat-related and rest-related pressures, wherein the computer unit activates the adjusting elements, wherein a first and second sensor (112) and a third sensor (111) sense the seat-related pressure of the first and second ischial tuberosities (102) and of the coccyx (104), wherein the first and the second ischial tuberosities define an ischial-tuberosity level, wherein the adjusting element of the seating element compensates for the ischial-tuberosity level horizontally about the user's sagittal axis, and whereupon the adjusting element of the pelvis and lumbar-spine module tilts the user's pelvis (101) about the horizontal axis of the same until the seat-related and/or rest-related pressure of the coccyx has a value substantially equal to zero.

The presently claimed subject matter is directed to furniture elements. Further, the presently claimed subject matter concerns a furniture covering element configured with a cushioning arrangement.

To provide a user with a new sensation through a tactile sensation, an auditory sensation, and a visual sensation, a human body support device has an overall shape that can easily be used as a chair or a couch. The human body support device includes a frame that is formed from, for example, metal or resin, and a plurality of modules that are arranged in a plurality of sites to support the user body on the frame. These modules include a sound emitting module that is provided with a speaker, and a vibrating and light-emitting module that is provided with an LED and a voice coil motor. These modules have an elastic part that is formed by an elastic material such as a sponge in a location that is in contact with the user body. The orientation and position of the modules are designed so as to be in proper contact with and support the user body, and accordingly, the user body can be comfortably supported.

Variable stiffness apparatuses using an interconnected dual layer fluid-filled cell array. One example of the present apparatuses comprises: a substrate having a first side and a second side; and a plurality of structures coupled to the substrate, where each structure comprises: a flexible first portion having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the first end and the second end, the first portion defining a first chamber; and a second portion having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the first end and the second end, the second portion defining a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber; where each of the plurality of structures is coupled to the substrate such that the first portion is disposed on the first side of the substrate, and the second chamber is disposed on the first side or the second side of the substrate.

Embodiments of chair systems incorporating trekking poles include a low-back design employing fixed-length trekking poles, and a high-back design employing adjustable-length trekking poles that allow for adjusting the recline angle of the chair. The chair system generally includes a tubular frame that releasably engages a flexible seat. The tubular frame includes a front hub and a rear hub spaced one from the other by a cross bar, plus front and rear footings which stabilize the chair system on the ground or undersurface. A V-shaped upper support extending from the front hub supports and holds open the leg portion of the flexible seat, while the trekking poles are releasably engaged with and extend upwardly from the rear hub to support, and hold open and upright the back portion of the flexible seat.

A support device has a main support surface for a person's body, including an auxiliary device influencing the main support surface shape. The auxiliary device includes: a group of supports supporting the main support surface, positioned on the side of the main support surface facing away from the body-supporting side, the supports each including a sub-support surface; an adjuster for each sub-support surface influencing the height of each sub-support surface. The device also includes a monitor for each sub-support surface monitoring the height of the respective sub-support surface; and a programmable control unit controlling the adjuster. The supports include an elastically bendable plate connected to the adjuster. The bending plate is connected to the sub-support surface to influence its height depending on the extent of bending imposed by the adjuster. The adjuster includes an electromotor on the concave side of the bending plate.

Embodiments of chair systems incorporating trekking poles include a low-back design employing fixed-length trekking poles, and a high-back design employing adjustable-length trekking poles that allow for adjusting the recline angle of the chair. The chair system generally includes a tubular frame that releasably engages a flexible seat. The tubular frame includes a front hub and a rear hub spaced one from the other by a cross bar, plus front and rear footings which stabilize the chair system on the ground or undersurface. A V-shaped upper support extending from the front hub supports and holds open the leg portion of the flexible seat, while the trekking poles are releasably engaged with and extend upwardly from the rear hub to support, and hold open and upright the back portion of the flexible seat.