Back support for a chair

Abstract

There is described a back support for a chair. The back support comprises a body for receiving a back of a user when the user is in a seated position on said chair. The body has one or more shape adaptive members capable of adapting their shape in response to pressure applied by the back of the user when the user is in a said seated position. The one or more shape adaptive members are positioned proximal the user's vertebral column when the user is in the seated position.

1 . A back support for a chair, comprising:
 a body for receiving a back of a user when said user is in a seated position on said chair; and   one or more shape adaptive members attachable to said body;   wherein the shape of the or each shape adaptive member is variable in response to pressure applied thereto by the back of said user when said user is in said seated position; wherein, the one or more shape adaptive members are arranged proximal said user's vertebral column when the user is in said seated position.   
   
   
       2 . A back support according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is a substantially vertical body having a support surface against which the user's back is received. 
   
   
       3 . A back support according to  claim 2 , wherein the support surface is a substantially flat surface. 
   
   
       4 . A back support according to  claim 2 , wherein the support surface is contoured to conform to the user's back. 
   
   
       5 . A back support member according to  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the body proximal the support surface is provided with a soft and flexible material. 
   
   
       6 . A back support member according to  claim 2 , wherein said one or more shape adaptive members are located proximal said support surface. 
   
   
       7 . A back support member according to  claim 6 , wherein the one or more shape adaptive members comprise a pouch containing a quantity of gel material. 
   
   
       8 . A back support member according to  claim 7 , wherein the gel material is a hydrogel or a polymer gel. 
   
   
       9 . A back support member according to  claim 8 , wherein the gel material is a viscoelastic polyurethane gel. 
   
   
       10 . A back support member according to  claim 7 , wherein the pouch is constructed from a polyurethane film material which assumes the shape of the gel material contained therein. 
   
   
       11 . A back support member according to  claim 10 , wherein the shape of the pouch changes in response to pressure applied thereto by the back of the user, which causes a change in the distribution of the gel within the pouch. 
   
   
       12 . A back support member according to  claim 7 , wherein the pouch is an elongated strip. 
   
   
       13 . A back support member according to  claim 7 , wherein the or each pouch is positioned on the support surface of the body. 
   
   
       14 . A back support member according to  claim 13 , wherein the or each pouch extends along the support surface for substantially the height of the body. 
   
   
       15 . A back support member according to  claim 14 , wherein the or each pouch extends centrally along the support surface of the body to be positioned adjacent the vertebral column of the user when said user is in said seated position. 
   
   
       16 . A back support member according to  claim 2 , wherein the body has one or more recesses formed therein for receiving the one or more shape adaptive members. 
   
   
       17 . A back support member according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or more shape adaptive members are attachable within the one or more recesses by way of an adhesive. 
   
   
       18 . A back support member according to  claim 7 , wherein two shape adaptive members are positioned on the support surface of the body. 
   
   
       19 . A back support member according to  claim 18 , wherein each shape adaptive member extends along the support surface for substantially the height of the body. 
   
   
       20 . A back support member according to  claim 19 , wherein each shape adaptive member extends centrally along the support surface of the body to be positioned adjacent the vertebral column of the user when said user is in said seated position. 
   
   
       21 . A back support member according to  claim 20 , wherein the shape adaptive members are separated by a gap. 
   
   
       22 . A back support member according to  claim 21 , wherein the gap is recessed from an outer surface of the shape adaptive members to define an open space between the shape adaptive members. 
   
   
       23 . A back support member according to  claim 22 , wherein the open space between the shape adaptive members receives the region of the user's back proximal the spinous process of the user's vertebral column when said user is in said seated position. 
   
   
       24 . A back support member according to  claim 21 , wherein each shape adaptive member may have a width of between 25-75 mm. 
   
   
       25 . A back support member according to  claim 24 , wherein the shape adaptive members are positioned to receive the region of the user's back proximal the transverse processes of the user's vertebral column when said user in said seated position. 
   
   
       26 . A back support member according to  claim 17 , wherein the one or more shape adaptive members are attached to the body such that they are substantially flush with the support surface of the body. 
   
   
       27 . A back support member according to  claim 17 , wherein the one or more shape adaptive members are attachable to the body such that they at least partially project beyond the support surface of the body. 
   
   
       28 . A chair comprising:
 a base;   a seat supported on said base; and   a back support attachable to said base and extending substantially vertically therefrom, said back support comprising:   a body for receiving a back of a user when said user is seated on said seat and one or more shape adaptive members attachable to said body, wherein the shape of the or each shape adaptive member is variable in response to pressure applied thereto by the back of said user when said user is seated on said seat; wherein, the one or more shape adaptive members are arranged proximal said user's vertebral column when the user is seated on said seat.