Seat

Abstract

A seat with a contoured pan comprised of two concavely shaped pads adapted to support the thighs of a user at an optimal selected angle of 27 degrees to the horizontal plane. The combined features enable a user to be directed into a comfortable seating position that emulates the shape of the spine when standing.

1 . A seat with a contoured pan, wherein:
 the contoured pan is supported towards the ends of a mounting bracket,   the mounting bracket having a ball and socket joint positioned substantially centrally along the length of the mounting bracket,   the ball of the ball and socket joint being mounted onto a chair base, wherein the ball and socket joint provides a limited range of movement of the mounting bracket relative to the chair base.   
     
     
         2 . A seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the contoured pan comprises two seat pads, each seat pad mounted towards a respective end of the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         3 . A seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball joint allows at least rotation of the mounting bracket about an axis running front-to-rear of the seat through the ball joint. 
     
     
         4 . A seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball joint allows at least rotation of the mounting bracket about an axis laterally across the seat through the ball joint. 
     
     
         5 . A seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball joint comprises a concave socket formed in the mounting bracket, and a ball for mounting on a chair base, the concave socket and ball being sized to prevent translation movement of the ball in the socket, but to allow rotational movement. 
     
     
         6 . A seat according to  claim 5 , wherein the ball joint further comprises a ring piece mounted on the mounted bracket to retain the ball in the concave socket. 
     
     
         7 . A seat according to  claim 6 , wherein the ring piece limits movement of the mounting bracket by contacting the chair base. 
     
     
         8 . A seat according to  claim 6 , further comprising a resilient element between the ring piece and the chair base. 
     
     
         9 . A seat according to  claim 7 , wherein the ring piece permits rotation of the bracket by up to 21 degrees from the horizontal about a front-to-rear axis through the ball joint. 
     
     
         10 . A seat according to  claim 7 , wherein the ring piece permits rotation of the bracket by an angular amount to provide up to 50 mm of height difference between the parts of the seat pads supporting the ischial tuberosities. 
     
     
         11 . A seat according to  claim 7 , wherein the ring piece permits rotation of the bracket by up to 10 degrees downwards from the horizontal about a lateral axis through the ball joint. 
     
     
         12 . A seat according to  claim 7 , wherein the ring piece permits rotation of the bracket by up to 5 degrees downwards from the horizontal about a lateral axis through the ball joint. 
     
     
         13 . A seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the contoured pan is adapted to direct the thighs of a user to be supported at a position between 22 and 32 degrees to the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         14 . The seat of  claim 1 , wherein in use, when a user is seated, the seat will direct and maintain the user's spine to substantially emulate a standing position. 
     
     
         15 . The seat of  claim 13 , wherein the position is substantially 27 degrees to the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         16 . The seat of  claim 1 , wherein the contoured pan is adapted to support each ischial tuberosity of a user and enabling the thighs of a user to be supported. 
     
     
         17 . The seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat pan is comprised of two at least partially concavely shaped seat pads adapted to support each ischial tuberosity of a user. 
     
     
         18 . The seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat pan is cushioned by a relatively thin layer of padding. 
     
     
         19 . The seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket comprises a resilient element between the ball joint and the points at which the contoured pan is attached to the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         20 . The seat according to  claim 19 , wherein the resilient element is a leaf spring.