Chair for Extended Seating Periods

Abstract

In order to provide comfort during prolonged seating periods and facilitate proper sitting posture, a chair is configured to include a central chair portion defining a pair of seat back mounting sections, a pair of front leg mounting sections, a pair of rear leg mounting sections, and a seat surface. A seat back including a pair of seat back extensions is provided, with each of the seat back extensions mountable on one of the seat back mounting sections. A pair of front leg extensions is mountable on the front leg mounting sections of the central chair portion, while a pair of rear leg extensions is mountable on the rear leg mounting sections of the central chair portion. Such a chair construction permits the seat back, the front leg extensions, and the rear leg extensions all to be adjustable relative to the seat surface and lockable in any of a plurality of discrete positions with respect to the seat surface.

1 . A chair adapted to provide comfort during prolonged seating periods and facilitating proper sitting posture comprising: 
 a central chair portion defining a pair of seat back mounting sections, a pair of front leg mounting sections, a pair of rear leg mounting sections, and a seat surface;    a seat back including a pair of seat back extensions, each of the seat back extensions mountable on one of the seat back mounting sections;    a pair of front leg extensions mountable on the front leg mounting sections of the central chair portion; and    a pair of rear leg extensions mountable on the rear leg mounting sections of the central chair portion;    wherein the seat back, the front leg extensions, and the rear leg extensions are all adjustable relative to the seat surface and lockable in any of a plurality of discrete positions with respect to the seat surface.    
   
   
       2 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the central chair portion is collapsible.  
   
   
       3 . The chair of  claim 1 , further comprising manually operable locking devices adapted to releasably secure the seat back, the front leg extensions, and the rear leg extensions in position relative to the seat surface.  
   
   
       4 . The chair of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the locking devices is formed by a manually releasable latch, disposed on the central chair portion, that is biased into locking engagement.  
   
   
       5 . The chair of  claim 2 , wherein the pair of front leg extensions are substantially rigidly connected to each other.  
   
   
       6 . The chair of  claim 5 , wherein the front leg extensions are interconnected by a support strut.  
   
   
       7 . The chair of  claim 2 , wherein the pair of rear leg extensions are substantially rigidly connected to each other.  
   
   
       8 . The chair of  claim 7 , wherein the rear leg extensions are interconnected by a support strut.  
   
   
       9 . The chair of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one arm rest assembly having an arm rest surface also lockable in a plurality of discreet positions relative to the seat surface.  
   
   
       10 . The chair of  claim 9 , further comprising a manually operable locking device adapted to releasably secure the arm rest surface in position relative to the seat surface.  
   
   
       11 . The chair of  claim 10 , wherein the locking device is formed by a manually releasable latch, disposed on the central chair portion, that is biased into locking engagement.  
   
   
       12 . The chair of  claim 11 , wherein the locking device includes a base affixed to a side of a seat frame supporting the seat surface.  
   
   
       13 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the central chair portion is substantially rigid and non-collapsible.  
   
   
       14 . The chair of  claim 1 , further comprising rollers or casters disposed at ends of the front and rear leg extensions.  
   
   
       15 . The chair of  claim 5 , wherein the pair of rear leg extensions are also substantially rigidly connected to each other.  
   
   
       16 . A process facilitating proper seating to provide comfort during extended periods of sitting comprising: 
 providing a central chair portion including a pair of seat back mounting sections, a pair of front leg mounting sections, a pair of rear leg mounting sections, and a seat surface;    mounting a seat back including a pair of seat back extensions on the seat back mounting sections such that each of the seat back extensions is received on one of the seat back mounting sections;    mounting a pair of front leg extensions on the front leg mounting sections of the central chair portion;    mounting a pair of rear leg extensions on the rear leg mounting sections of the central chair portion; and    adjusting at least one of the seat back, the front leg extensions, and the rear leg extensions relative to the seat surface and locking it in any of a plurality of discrete positions with respect to the seat surface.    
   
   
       17 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the central chair portion is collapsible.  
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one of the seat back, the front leg extensions, and the rear leg extensions is releasable from the discrete positions by operating a manually operable locking device.  
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the locking devices is formed by a manually releasable latch, disposed on the central chair portion, that is biased into locking engagement.  
   
   
       20 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the central chair portion is substantially rigid and non-collapsible.