The present invention relates to a sitting device including a seai_, possibly also a back support, and utilization thereof.

Over a number of years there has been known sitting devices being .particularily constructed for a kneeling-like sitting posture, viz. chairs marketed under the trademark BALANs*- (alternative sitting posture) . Such chairs are inter alia . known from the Norwegian patents Nos. 143 012, 143 189, 145 126, 145 973 and the German utility models G 8307879.7. and G 8313203.1.

Further, a particular sitting device for a kneeling—like Sitting posture is also known from the Norwegian patent 133 090.

However, there are situations where the user of a chair which is particularily designed for a kneeling-like sitting posture desires to use the chair as a conventional chair by placing the feet in the normal way on the floor, whereas in other cases users of conventional office chairs have expressed the need for a chair with possibilities for kneeling-like sitting posture.

The present invention therefore has an object to provide a sitting device which in one state of use looks like a con¬ ventional chair with a seat and possibly a back support, whereas it in a second state can be used for a kneeling- like sitting posture.

The sitting device according to the invention is novel in that the seat is dividable into two or three parts in such a manner that there is created two mutually shiftable units, said units being so arranged that they can be brought to lie on mutually different levels,a*firstofthe units thereby ser¬ ving to support the posterior of the user and the second unit, being at a lower level, serving to support one or both

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of the user's shins.

Further features of the sitting device according to the invention will appear from the subsequent patent claims and from the description below with reference to the attached drawings.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the sitting device according to the invention provided on a leg subframe.

Figs. 3 and 4, figs. 5 and 6, figs. 7 and 8, figs. 9 and

10 and figs. 11 and 12 illustrate five different exemplified embodiments of the sitting device according to the invention.

In fig. 1, the sitting device according to the invention is provided on a leg subframe 1.Basically,the device consists of a seat 2 which in the embodiment of figs. 1 and 2 as well as figs. 3 and 4 is dividable into two parts 3, 4. The sitting device may possibly be provided with a back rest or a back support 5 , although it will be readily understood that such a back rest is not necessary in order to implement the invention. In the embodiment of fig. 1, which is to be considered as an example only and not in any way limiting as regards the scope of the invention, a support column 6 extends upwardly from the subframe 1. The said supporting column 6 may be a step—free and telescopically shiftable column supporting the seat part 4 as also apparent from fig. 2.

In the mode of use shown in figs. 1 and 3, the sitting de¬ vice is used as a conventional chair. In the mode of use made pos¬ sible according to figs. 2 and 4, the parts 3 and 4 of the seat 2 are, however, shifted from each other, so that the frontmost part 3 is situated at a lower level than the rear part 4, the said rear part 4, also denoted the first unit, thereby serving to support the posterior of the user, wheras the front part 3, denoted the second unit, will serve to sup¬ port one or both of the user's shins. As clearly indicated

in figs. 2 and 4, the two parts 3 and 4 are mutually tele- scopically or slidably connected to each other, and the mutu¬ al distance between the two parts 3 and 4 can be made adjust¬ able, e.g. by a suitable locking mechanism (not shown) . As will appear from figs. 1 and 3, the parts 3, 4 of the seat 2 will basically be at the same plane wheras the parts' in the mutually separated state at the mutually dif¬ ferent levels are not in the same plane, since the front part 3, e.g. at its front edge is provided with a tilting mechanism 8 causing the support face for one or both of the shins of the user to be placed in an angle to the part 4.

As seen from figs. 2 and ^' 4, the part 4 has preferably an ^{^} inclined position relative to the horisontal plane, provided by a tilting mechanism provided in connection with the leg subframe 1, 6 of the sitting device. This tilting mechanism may be adjustable, so that the first unit 4 may assume the angle relative to the horizontal plane as desired by the user.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment of the sitting device according to the invention. Contrary to the solution of figs. 3 and 4, where the said first unit 4 has a substan¬ tially bicycle seat-shape and the second unit has a form -which is complementary to the first unit, the units 4 and 3 of figs. 5 and 6 are substantially rectangular and the units are mutually interconnected by means of a sliding mechanism 10. The shin supporting unit 3 may be provided with means ot shown to bring it to a level which is lower than that of the first unit, and to lie in a plane which is different fromthe plane of the first unit 4. Otherwise, the description is substantially the same as for the embodiment of figs. 1- 4.

In figs. 7 and 8, a third embodiment of the device according to the invention is illustrated, said embodiment represen¬ ting a modified version of the embodiment according to figs.

5 and 6. The seat 2 is in this modified version divided into two parts 4 and 3, the faces 4' and 3' of separation between the said two parts being such that the face 3* of the second unit 3, when at a lower level relative to the said first unit, forms an immediate supporting faee for the shin or shins *•of the user.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the sitting device according to the invention, the seat 2 consisting of three mutually parallel parts 11, 12 and 13, the middle part forming the said first unit and the other two 11, 12 form¬ ing the second unit. As clearly appears from fig. 10, the middle unit 13 can be brought to lie at a level which is hig— her than that of the parts 11 and 12, 13 and 11, 12,respective¬ ly forming a mutual angle, and the first unit 13 in any event forming an angle relative to the horisontal plane. As will further appear from fig. 10, the first unit 13 can be con¬ nected to the second unit 11, 12 by means of an articulated mechanism 14. The unit 13 itself can be connected to the said mechanism 14 by e.g. a sliding member 15, which may be provided with a locking mechanism, not shown, in order to bring the first unit 13 to. the required distance from the said mechanism 14.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a fifth embodiment of the seat 2, said seat being a substantially circular and subdivided into angular segments 16, 17, 18. According to theembodiment as shown, the angular segments 17, 18 are fixedly intercon- nected and form the second unit of the sitting device. The first unit 16 is intended to form the support face for the posterior of the user. The two units 16, and 17, 18, resp. are mutually interconnected by means of an intercon¬ nection mechanism 19, which may be adjustable and e.g. of telescopically or slidable type. The description of this embodiment is otherwise as for the embodiment according to figs. 5 and 6. Upon a possible modification of the embodi¬ ment according to figs. 11 and 12, where the user may only require support of one of the shins, it could be visualized

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e.g. to let the angular segment 18 be fixedly connected to the angular segment 16 instead of to the angular segment 17. Thereby, there would be provided a somewhat larger posterior supporting unit 16, 18, whereas the part 17 would serve to support only said . one shin.

It will be readily understood that the device according to the invention, as illustrated by examples in figs. 3 - 12, may be provided on any suitable subframe. Such subframe may either be connected to the said first unit or to the said second unit.

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