Seating arrangement

Abstract

A chair ( 10 ) includes a stabilising arrangement ( 100 ). The stabilising arrangement ( 100 ) includes a pair of opposed bolsters ( 102 ) laterally arranged relative to at least one of a seat ( 14 ) of the chair ( 10 ) and a backrest ( 16 ) of the chair ( 10 ). The bolsters ( 102 ) are adjustable to bear laterally against a pelvic region of a person seated on the chair ( 10 ) to impart lateral to medial stability to the pelvic region.

1 . A stabilising arrangement for a chair, the stabilising arrangement including a pair of opposed bolsters laterally arranged relative to at least one of a seat of the chair which supports a person's buttocks and a backrest of the chair and the bolsters being adjustable to bear laterally against a pelvic region of the person to impart lateral to medial stability to the pelvic region.  
   
   
       2 . The stabilising arrangement of  claim 1  which is formed as part of one of the seat and the backrest.  
   
   
       3 . The stabilising arrangement of  claim 2  in which each bolster is adjustably mounted relative to one of its associated side of the seat and associated side of the backrest.  
   
   
       4 . The stabilising arrangement of  claim 2  in which each bolster is mounted by a mounting means on one of the seat and the backrest, the adjustability of the bolster being provided by a resilient flexibility of the mounting means.  
   
   
       5 . The stabilising arrangement of  claim 4  in which the mounting means comprises at least one mounting bracket of a resiliently flexible material.  
   
   
       6 . The stabilising arrangement of  claim 5  in which the at least one mounting bracket is of spring steel.  
   
   
       7 . The stabilising arrangement of  claim 1  in which at least a part of each bolster is arranged beneath and forms a part of an armrest arranged on each side of the chair.  
   
   
       8 . The stabilising arrangement of  claim 7  in which each armrest is a split armrest, the part constituting a lower member of the armrest.  
   
   
       9 . The stabilising arrangement of  claim 8  in which the lower member of each armrest is laterally adjustable relative to an upper member of the armrest.  
   
   
       10 . A backrest for a seating arrangement, the backrest including: 
 a support structure for supporting a person's spine; and    a projection extending from an operatively lower edge of the support structure for bearing against a sacral region of the person's spine.    
   
   
       11 . The backrest of  claim 10  in which the projection is substantially centrally arranged along a longitudinal axis of the backrest and is dimensioned to fit between ilium bones of the person's pelvis.  
   
   
       12 . The backrest of  claim 10  in which the projection is in the form of a substantially trapezoidal-shaped wedge.  
   
   
       13 . The backrest of  claim 10  in which the support structure includes a lumbar support region on an operatively front surface of the support structure.  
   
   
       14 . The backrest of  claim 13  in which the lumbar support region is arranged above the operatively lower edge of the support structure to bear, in use, against the person's spine in a region between the person's third lumbar vertebra (L 3 ) to a sacrum of the spine.  
   
   
       15 . The backrest of  claim 10  in which the support structure tapers inwardly towards an operatively top edge so that a width of an operatively upper region of the support structure fits between scapulae of the person.  
   
   
       16 . A component for a seating arrangement, the component including a body member of a resiliently flexible material which, in use, supports a person's buttocks, the body member including a cutaway rear portion, the cutaway rear portion being dimensioned so that ischial tuberosities of the person overhang the cutaway portion, in use.  
   
   
       17 . The component of  claim 16  which constitutes one of a seat of a chair and an accessory to be placed on an existing chair.  
   
   
       18 . The component of  claim 16  in which the cutaway rear portion of the body member is arcuate to form a lip over which the person's buttocks extend, in use.  
   
   
       19 . The component of  claim 16  in which the cutaway portion contains a filling of a resiliently flexible material that is softer than a material of the remainder of the body member.  
   
   
       20 . The component of  claim 16  in which an operatively front edge of the body member has a centrally arranged raised formation which, together with side edges of the body member, define a pair of channels that diverge from the rear portion to the leading edge of the body member.  
   
   
       21 . A component for a seating arrangement, the component including a body member of a resiliently flexible material which, in use, supports a person's buttocks, the body member including a centrally arranged raised formation at an operatively front region which, together with side edges of the body member, define a pair of channels that diverge from a rear portion of the body member to the leading front region of the body member.  
   
   
       22 . A seating arrangement which includes: 
 a frame;    a component mounted on the frame in a substantially horizontal, operative position, the component including a body member of a resiliently flexible material which, in use, supports a person's buttocks, the body member including a cutaway rear portion, the cutaway rear portion being dimensioned so that ischial tuberosities of the person overhang the cutaway portion. in use; and    a backrest mounted on the frame to project upwardly from the component, the backrest including a support structure for supporting a person's spine and a projection extending from an operatively lower edge of the support structure for bearing against a sacral region of the person's spine.    
   
   
       23 . The seating arrangement of  claim 22  in which relative positions of the component and the backrest is such that, between the rear edge of the seat and the lower edge of the backrest, a gap is defined for accommodating the pelvic region of the person seated on the seat.  
   
   
       24 . The seating arrangement of  claim 22  in which the component is adjustably mounted on the frame.  
   
   
       25 . The seating arrangement of  claim 22  in which the backrest is adjustably mounted on the frame.  
   
   
       26 . The seating arrangement of  claim 22  in which the frame comprises an assembly which supports the seat and the backrest, the assembly being adjustably mounted relative to the remainder of the frame to facilitate height adjustment of the assembly relative to a substrate supporting the seating arrangement.  
   
   
       27 . The seating arrangement of  claim 22  which includes at least one armrest.  
   
   
       28 . The seating arrangement of  claim 27  in which the at least one armrest is adjustably mounted relative to the backrest.  
   
   
       29 . The seating arrangement of  claim 28  in which the at least one armrest is mounted on the backrest so that, in a preferred orientation of the armrests relative to the backrest, the at least one armrest bears against the pelvic region of the person.  
   
   
       30 . The seating arrangement of  claim 27  in which the at least one armrest has a length which facilitates its abutment against a desk, in use.  
   
   
       31 . A chair which includes: 
 a seating arrangement comprising a frame; a component mounted on the frame in a substantially horizontal, operative position, the component including a body member of a resiliently flexible material which, in use, supports a person's buttocks, the body member including a cutaway rear portion, the cutaway rear portion being dimensioned so that ischial tuberosities of the person overhang the cutaway portion, in use; and a backrest mounted on the frame to project upwardly from the component, the backrest including a support structure for supporting a person's spine and a projection extending from an operatively lower edge of the support structure for bearing against a sacral region of the person's spine; and    at least one armrest positioned relative to the backrest.    
   
   
       32 . The chair of  claim 31  which includes a pair of laterally spaced armrests.  
   
   
       33 . The chair of  claim 32  in which the armrests are adjustably mounted on the backrest.