Personal supporting device

Abstract

A personal supporting device supports a person thereon in various seated positions. The device includes a base member and a deck pivotally supported on the base member for pivotal movement about a hinge axis. Each of the base member and the deck include plural docking stations at spaced positions from the hinge axis for coupling a support arm between docking stations of the deck and base member respectively. Accordingly, the deck may be supported at various inclinations in relation to the base member by varying the docking stations to which the support arm is coupled on both the deck and the base member. The flexibility offered by multiple docking stations on both the deck and the base member ensures that the support arm can be safely mounted in compression at an acute interior angle while providing a wide range of angles at which the deck may be supported.

1 . A personal supporting device for supporting a person thereon in various positions, the device comprising: 
 a base member for being supported on the ground;    a deck pivotally supported at one end thereof on the base member for pivotal movement relative to the base member about a hinge axis; and    a support arm for being supported between the base member and the deck;    each of the base member and the deck including plural docking stations at spaced positions from the hinge axis, each docking station being configured for being selectively coupled to one end of the support arm;    whereby the support arm may be coupled to each of the base member and the deck at various spaced positions from the hinge axis for supporting the deck at various inclinations in relation to the base member.    
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein each inclination of the deck in relation to the base member corresponds to a different mounting configuration of the support arm and wherein the docking stations are configured such that the support arm lies at an acute interior angle facing the hinge axis relative to the base member in each mounting configuration.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the docking stations comprise sockets formed in respective confronting surfaces of the deck and the base member.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the docking stations comprise first sockets for mating with a first end of the support arm and second sockets for mating with a second end of the support arm, the first and second sockets being configured differently from one another.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 4  wherein each of the deck and the base member include both first and second sockets.  
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 5  wherein one of the deck or the base member includes only one first socket and only one second socket.  
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 4  wherein the first end of the support arm only mates with the first sockets and the second end of the support arm only mates with the second sockets.  
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 4  wherein the first sockets are larger in dimension than the second sockets so as to prevent the first end of the support arm being received in one of the second sockets.  
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 8  wherein there is provided an auxiliary bar which is wider than the deck in a direction of the hinge axis, the auxiliary bar being arranged to be received in at least one of the first sockets for supporting the deck in an auxiliary position at an inclination in relation to the base member.  
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 4  wherein the first end of the support arm is wider than the second end of the support arm in a direction of the hinge axis when coupled between the base member and the deck so as to prevent the first end of the support arm being received in one of the second sockets.  
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the docking stations of one of the deck or the base member comprise a first socket nearest to the hinge axis for mating with a first end of the support arm and a second socket farthest from the hinge axis for mating with a second end of the support arm, the first and second sockets being configured differently from one another.  
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein the opposing one of said one of the deck or the base member includes docking stations comprising a second socket nearest to the hinge axis for mating with the second end of the support arm and a first socket farthest from the hinge axis for mating with the first end of the support arm.  
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein at least one of the deck and the base member include plural docking stations between said first and second sockets thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein each inclination of the deck in relation to the base member corresponds to a different mounting configuration of the support arm and wherein the docking stations are configured such that the support arm lies at an acute interior angle facing the hinge axis relative to the base member in each mounting configuration.  
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided an auxiliary bar which is wider than the deck in a direction of the hinge axis, one of the deck and the base member forming at least one bar mount for receiving the auxiliary bar therein parallel to the hinge axis in an auxiliary position in which the deck is supported at an inclination in relation to the base member.  
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 15  wherein said one of the deck and the base member includes a plurality of bar mounts each corresponding to an auxiliary position of the deck.  
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 15  wherein the bar mount may comprise one of the docking stations.  
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 1  comprising exercise equipment for supporting a person in a seated position in which the deck is configured for supporting a back of the person thereon.