BACKGROUND ART Generally, chairs include sofas or a diversity of seats which use cushions made of sponge members so as to provide comfortableness to chair users, are constructed to have desired configurations and then are covered by fabric or leather, wood chairs which are made of wood, plastic chairs which are made by injection-molding plastic, and office and household chairs which are generally used in offices and homes. Recently, efforts have been attempted to provide chair users with full satisfaction by constructing seating portions of the chairs to have a variety of configurations.

On the other hand, before ossification is fully completed, the hip bone which serves to connect lower limbs constituting the hip of the human body, is composed of three parts including the ilium, the pubis and the ischium. When adulthood is

attained, these three parts are fused one with another into one bone, the fused region of the three parts can be viewed from the acetabulum which is concaved and is positioned at the center of an outer surface of the hip bone.

Here, the ischium which is positioned rearward and downward of the hip bone, is composed of the body of ischium and the ramus of ischium. The body of ischium adjoins the acetabulum, and the ischial tubercles project rearward and downward of the body of ischium.

The ischial tubercles which project rearward and downward of the body of ischium, are brought into direct contact with an upper surface of a seating portion of a chair when the hip is seated on the seating portion, and by this, a load of the human body exerts pressure on lower ends of the ischial tubercles.

Consequently, in seating portions of seats, sofas or the like which are made of sponge members, or of a variety of chairs or the like, sections on which the hips of the human bodies are seated, are brought into direct contact with the hips of the human bodies, and, by loads of the human bodies, pressure is exerted on ischial tubercles and thereby pains are induced, whereby, since it is difficult to maintain a seated status for a lengthy period of time, efficiency upon conducting study or work is deteriorated.

Also, as a chair user is seated on a seating portion at a certain posture for a long period of time for the purpose of conducting study or work, pressure acting on the anus, which can

cause a disease such as piles, is increased, whereby health of the human body can be injured.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a seat for avoiding hip pain, wherein a seating portion is constructed in such a way as to enable the ischial tubercles of the human body to be inserted therethrough, and thereby, even when a chair user is seated on the seating portion for a lengthy period of time, it is possible to alleviate suffering caused by pressure exerted on the hip due to a load of the human body and at the same time, ventability is secured, whereby the chair user can be prevented from being attacked by a disease such as piles and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a seat for avoiding hip pain, wherein cushioning force is rendered to the seating portion constructed as just mentioned above in such a way as to improve comfortableness upon being seated, and an outer cover is prevented from sagging in such a way as to afford clean outer appearance.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat for avoiding hip pain, comprising: a seating portion perforated, at a location where the hip of the human body is seated, with a hole through which lower ends of both ischial tubercles of the hip are inserted and by which the pubic

region of the human body is prevented from being interfered with; and an auxiliary seating pad made of a flexible material, arranged on an upper surface of the seating portion in such a way as to cover the hole, and having a slit which is defined along a transverse direction in a manner such that the auxiliary seating pad is expanded in forward and rearward directions when the hip is seated thereon and is returned to its original shape when the hip is removed therefrom.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat for avoiding hip pain, comprising: a seating portion disposed on a support member in a manner such that the hip of the human body is seated on the seating portion, the support member being perforated with a venting hole, the seating portion being perforated with a seating slot which extends along leftward and rightward directions with respect to the venting hole and a hole which extends along forward and rearward directions and cooperates with the seating slot to define substantially a contour of a deformed rhombus, in a manner such that the seating portion is expanded to provide cushioning force to the hip when lower ends of both ischial tubercles of the hip are inserted into the seating slot and the hole and is returned to its original shape when the lower ends of both ischial tubercles of the hip are removed from the seating slot and the hole.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat for avoiding hip pain,

comprising: a seating portion perforated, at a location where the hip of the human body is seated, with a hole through which lower ends of both ischial tubercles of the hip are inserted and by which the pubic region of the human body is prevented from being interfered with; and a flexible deformation preventing member having a cylindrical configuration, inserted into the hole of the seating portion in such a way as to prevent the hole from being vanished when the seating portion is pressed by a weight of the human body, and possessing a flange part on which the hip of the human body is seated.

According to yet still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a chair made of a suitable material such as wood, plastic and the like and being capable of avoiding a pain of the hip, comprising: a seating portion perforated with a hole by which lower ends of both ischial tubercles of the hip and the pubic region of the human body are prevented from being interfered with; and a pad disposed in the hole of the seating portion and made of a flexible material in such a way as to provide cushioning force to the hip when the hip is seated on the seating portion.

By the features of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a load of the human body from exerting pressure on the lower ends of the ischial tubercles when the hip of the human body is seated on the seating portion, ventability is rendered to the hip and the pubic region of the human body, and cushioning force is afforded to the hip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; FIGs. 3a and 3b are perspective views illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a perspective view independently illustrating a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5a is a perspective view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5b is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 5a; FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a state wherein the seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention is used;

FIG. 7a is a perspective view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7b is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 7a ; FIGs. 8a and 8b are partial plan views illustrating variations of the seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a partially cross-sectioned side view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the seventh embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a partially cross-sectioned perspective view illustrating a deformation preventing member which is used in the seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the seventh embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a partially cross-sectioned side view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the eighth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 12a is a perspective view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the ninth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 12b is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C- C of FIG. 12a; FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the tenth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. A seating portion 200 of a chair 100 or the like, on which the hip of the human body is to be seated, is perforated with a hole 10. The hole 10 comprises an ischial tubercle inserting section which is defined to have an ellipsoidal contour in a manner such that lower ends of both ischial tubercles are inserted therein and an extended section which is defined in front of the ischial tubercle inserting section to have substantially a contour of an isosceles triangle in a manner such that the pubic region of the human body is not interfered with when the hip is seated on the seating portion 200 of the chair 100. Therefore, ventability is rendered to the seating portion 200 from bottom to top. In this state, according to the present invention, an auxiliary seating pad 12 which is made of a flexible material, is arranged on an upper

surface of the seating portion 200 in such a way as to cover the hole 10. The auxiliary seating pad 12 has a slit 14 which is defined along a transverse direction in a manner such that the auxiliary seating pad 12 is expanded in forward and rearward directions when the hip is seated thereon and is returned to its original shape when the hip is removed therefrom.

Also, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. As can be readily seen from FIG. 1, the seating portion 200 is perforated with the hole 10, and the hole 10 comprises the ischial tubercle inserting section which has an ellipsoidal contour and the extended section which has a contour of an isosceles triangle and is defined in front of the ischial tubercle inserting section. In the present embodiment, a sponge member 16 is coupled from above to the seating portion 200. The sponge member 16 is perforated with a hole 10a which has the same contour as the hole 10. The sponge member 16 is enveloped by an outer cover 18 which is made of fabric or the like. At a predetermined location on the outer cover 18 which envelopes the sponge member 16, an auxiliary seating pad 12 which is made of a flexible material, is installed on the outer cover 18. The auxiliary seating pad 12 is defined with a slit 14 which extends in the transverse direction, in a manner such that the lower ends of the ischial tubercles can be inserted into the slit 14 when the hip is seated on the auxiliary seating pad 12.

FIGs. 3a and 3b are perspective views illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. First, referring to FIG.

3a, the seating portion 200 is perforated with the hole 10, and the hole 10 comprises the ischial tubercle inserting section which has an ellipsoidal contour and the extended section which has a contour of an isosceles triangle and is defined in front of the ischial tubercle inserting section. In the present embodiment, a pair of bands 20 which are made of a flexible material, are arranged, parallel to each other in the transverse direction, on the seating portion 200 in a manner such that a slit-like opening 14 is defined therebetween and above the hole 10. In FIG. 3b, as described above, the sponge member 16 is coupled from above to the seating portion 200. The sponge member 16 is perforated with the hole 10a which has the same contour as the hole 10. The sponge member 16 is enveloped by the outer cover 18 which is made of fabric or the like. At the predetermined location on the outer cover 18 which envelopes the sponge member 16, the outer cover 18 is defined with a slit 14 in a manner such that the lower ends of the ischial tubercles are inserted into the slit 14 when the hip is seated on the outer cover 18. In the present embodiment, a pair of bands 20 which are made of a flexible material, are attached to the outer cover 18 so as to render cushioning force to the hip when the hip is seated on the pair of bands 20. If the hip is removed from the seating portion 200 constructed as mentioned above, by

returning force of the pair of bands 20, the outer cover 18 is returned to its original shape, whereby it is possible to prevent an outer appearance of the seating portion 200 from being deteriorated due to sagging of the outer cover 18.

Here, a size, a shape and elastic force of each band 20 which is installed above the hole 10 defined in the seating portion 200, can be varied depending upon a use of the seating portion 200, an age of a person employing the seating portion 200, etc.

Hereinafter, operations of the seats for avoiding hip pain, in accordance with the first through the third embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

First, as shown in FIGs. 1 and 2, if the hip is seated on the seating portion 200 which is perforated with the hole 10 or on the seating portion 200 which is constructed in a manner such that the sponge member 16 which is perforated with the hole 10a having the same contour as the hole 10, is coupled from above to the seating portion 200, the sponge member 16 is enveloped by the outer cover 18, and the auxiliary seating pad 12 which is defined with the slit 14 in the transverse direction, is installed on the outer cover 18 at the predetermined location, as the slit 14 which is defined in the auxiliary seating pad 12, is widened in the forward and rearward directions, the lower ends of the ischial tubercles are inserted into the slit 14.

Then, the lower ends of the ischial tubercles, which are inserted into the slit 14, are continuously inserted into the

holes 10 and 10a which are respectively defined in the seating portion 10 and the sponge member 16, thereby to be prevented from being brought into direct contact with the seating portion 200. Consequently, it is possible to avoid a pain which can be otherwise induced when pressure is exerted on the lower ends of the ischial tubercles due to direct contact between the lower ends and the seating portion 200. Also, as cushioning force is rendered to the hip, comfortableness upon being seated is improved.

Further, due to adequate functioning of the holes 10 and 10a which are respectively defined in the seating portion 200 and the sponge member 16, it is possible to prevent the pubic region of the human body from being interfered with while being seated. Also, because ventability is afforded from bottom to top through the holes 10 and 10a, it is possible to prevent a chair user from being attacked by prickly heat, eczema and the like at the anus region and the pubic region. Also, since the holes 10 and 10a which are respectively defined in the seating portion 200 and the sponge member 16, prevent the anus region from being brought into direct contact with the upper surface of the seating portion 200 when the hip is seated on the seating portion 200, pressure acting on the anus region is remarkably decreased, whereby the chair user can be prevented from being attacked by a disease such as piles.

Also, as shown in FIGs. 3a and 3b, after the pair of bands 20 are installed on the seating portion 200 along the transverse

direction in such a way as to define the slit-like opening 14 therebetween, if the hip is seated on the seating board 200, as described above, as the slit-like opening 14 is widened in the forward and rearward directions, the lower ends of the ischial tubercles are inserted into the slit-like opening 14. As a consequence, it is possible to avoid a pain which can be otherwise induced when pressure is exerted on the lower ends of the ischial tubercles due to direct contact between the lower ends and the seating portion 200. Also, as cushioning force is rendered to the hip, comfortableness upon being seated is improved.

On the other hand, if the hip is removed from the seating portion 200 of the chair 100 according to the present invention, or the like, as the lower ends of the ischial tubercles which are inserted into the slit or the slit-like opening 14, are taken out of the slit or the slit-like opening 14, the auxiliary seating pad 12 or the pair of bands 20 which are made of a flexible material, enable the slit or the slit-like opening 14 which is widened due to inserting of the ischial tubercles therein, to be returned to its original contour, whereby it is possible to prevent the outer appearance of the seating portion 200 from being deteriorated by sagging of the auxiliary seating pad 12 or the outer cover 18 around the slit or the slit-like opening 14.

In succession, constructions of seats for avoiding hip pain, in accordance with the fourth and the fifth embodiments of

the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view independently illustrating a seating portion of the seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention. According to this fourth embodiment of the present invention, in consideration of the fact that the ischial tubercles 30 are gradually widened from the lower ends toward upper ends thereof, the hole 10 into which the ischial tubercles 30 are inserted, is defined in a manner such that it has a contour which is similar to a cross-section of the ischial tubercles 30 thereby to enhance seatability. In other words, the hole 10 is perforated so that its width is gradually increased from a center toward both ends thereof. In this connection, it is preferred that the hole 10 have substantially a oo-shaped contour.

FIG. 5a is a perspective view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 5b is a cross- sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 5a. This embodiment represents an example in which the hole 10 is applied to a chair which is made of a variety of materials such as plastic, wood or the like. When the hole 10 is applied to the seating portion 200 of the chair made of a variety of materials such as plastic, wood or the like, in order to prevent an edge part of the perforated hole 10 from being brought into contact with the hip and thereby exerting pressure on the hip and allow

a load of the chair user to be easily supported by the hip, the edge part of the hole 10 is formed with a seating surface 32 which is inclined by a predetermined angle toward the inside of the hole 10.

Also, a rear center part of the seating surface 32 is formed with a coccyx seating section 34. Therefore, by the fact that the lower ends of the ischial tubercles are inserted into the hole 10 and the hip is seated on the seating surface 32, it is possible to prevent the coccyx 36 which is positioned at a lower end of the tailbone, from being brought into direct contact with the upper surface of the seating portion 200 and thereby being pressed.

In the meanwhile, it is to be readily understood that a contour of the hole 10 which is adopted according to the present invention, is not limited to a specific one, and instead, can be varied in diversity of ways without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, a separate pad can be arranged at a lower end of the hole 10 in such a way as to elastically support the lower ends of the ischial tubercles which are inserted into the hole 10.

Hereinafter, operations of the chairs each capable of avoiding a pain of the hip, in accordance with the fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

First, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the seating portion 200 which is made of a sponge

member, is perforated with a hole 10, and by enveloping the seating portion 200 using fabric, leather or the like, a seat which is to be used as an automobile seat, sofa, etc., is completed. Thereafter, as the hip is seated on the seating portion 200 so that the lower ends of the ischial tubercles are inserted into the hole 10, because comfortableness is rendered by elasticity of the sponge member and the lower ends of the ischial tubercles 30 of the hip are not brought into direct contact with the seating portion 200, the load of the chair user is not transferred to the ischial tubercles 30 and thereby does not exert any pressure on the lower ends of the ischial tubercles 30. Also, since the anus region of the chair user is not brought into direct contact with the seating board 200, pressure acting on the anus region is remarkably decreased.

On the other hand, according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, as best shown in FIG. 5a, the seating portion 200 of the chair 100 which is made of a variety of materials such as plastic, wood or the like, is perforated with the hole 10. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, if the hip is seated on the seating portion 200 so that the lower ends of the ischial tubercles of the hip are inserted into the hole 10 of the seating portion 200, due to the presence of the seating surface 32 which is formed so as to be inclined by the predetermined angle toward the inside of the hole 10, the hip is smoothly seated on the seating surface 32 around the hole 10.

Thus, because the lower ends of the ischial tubercles 30

of the hip are not brought into direct contact with the seating portion 200, the load of the chair user is not transferred to the ischial tubercles 30 and thereby does not exert any pressure on the lower ends of the ischial tubercles 30. Also, since the coccyx 36 which is positioned at the lower end of the tailbone, is seated on the coccyx seating section 34 and the hip is seated on the seating surface 32, it is possible to prevent the coccyx 36 from being pressed against the seating portion 200.

Further, ventability is rendered to the hip which is inserted into the hole 10, from the lower end of the hole 10 perforated in the seating portion 200.

Continuously, a construction of the chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain, in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 7a is a perspective view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 7b is a cross- sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 7a. According to this sixth embodiment of the present invention, the seating portion 200 which is installed on the chair 100 to allow the hip of the human body to be seated thereon, is defined with a hole 10. The hole 10 functions to render ventability from a lower part of the chair 100 and has an ellipsoidal contour which extends in the forward and rearward directions when viewed on a plane. Also, a seating slot 40 is defined in the seating

portion 200 in a manner such that the lower ends of the ischial tubercles are inserted therein. The seating slot 40 extends in leftward and rightward directions which are perpendicular to a center of the hole 10.

Here, the seating portion 200 is made of the sponge member 16 to perform a cushioning function for the hip of the human body. The sponge member 16 is enveloped by the outer cover 18 which is made of fabric, etc. The outer cover 18 can have a meshed structure so that the hip is prevented from being excessively inserted into the seating slot 40 and the hole 10 or from being slipped on the seating portion 200.

A seating portion supporting member 112 which is made of a material such as wood or plastic, is secured to the lower end of the seating portion 200 in such a way as to support the seating portion 200. The seating portion supporting member 112 is perforated, at a predetermined position thereof, with a venting hole 50 in a manner such that air flowing through a fastening bracket 114 as will be described later in detail is transmitted to the hip through the venting hole 50 and the hole 10.

Moreover, at a place where a chair leg 110 supporting the chair 100 and the seating portion supporting member 112 are connected with each other, there is disposed the fastening bracket 114. The fastening bracket 114 is opened at its front and rear ends in such a way as to allow air to flow toward the venting hole 50.

Meanwhile, in the case that the chair leg 110 and the

fastening bracket 114 which constitute the chair 100, are positioned and constructed in a way which is different from that as described above, the venting hole 50 of the seating portion supporting member 112 can be perforated at a different proper position and have a modified contour.

FIGs. 8a and 8b are partial plan views illustrating variations of the seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8a, the hole 10 is defined to have a rhombic contour which is elongate in the forward and rearward directions. In the leftward and rightward directions which are perpendicular to the center of the hole 10, the seating slot 40 is defined in the seating portion 200. In FIG. 8b, the hole 10 and the seating slot 40 are integrated with each other to define a rotated rectangular contour.

Hereinafter, operations of the seat for avoiding hip pain, in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

First, according to the present invention, the seating portion 200 in which the sponge member 16 is enveloped by the outer cover 18, is perforated with the hole 10 for performing the venting function. In this state, if the hip is seated on the seating portion 200 which is defined with the seating slot 40, in a manner such that the lower ends of the ischial tubercles of the hip are seated around the seating slot 40, the seating slot 40 is widened, and upward and downward cushioning

functions are implemented around the seating slot 40, whereby comfortableness is rendered to the hip. At the same time with this, because the lower ends of the ischial tubercles of the hip are inserted into the widened seating slot 40 and are not brought into direct contact with the seating portion 200, it is possible to prevent the load of the human body from being directly transferred to the ischial tubercles to exert pressure on the lower ends thereof.

In addition, the air which is supplied through the opened parts of the fastening bracket 114, flows through the venting hole 50 which is perforated in the seating portion supporting member 112 and the hole 10 which is perforated in the seating portion 200, in such a way as to reliably perform the venting function for the hip, whereby it is possible to prevent sweat from coming out around the anus region even when the chair user is seated on the seating portion 200 for a lengthy period of time.

Also, since the anus region of the human body is not brought into direct contact with the seating portion 200, pressure acting on the anus region is remarkably decreased.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, a person skilled in the art will readily recognize that, even in the case of changing the contours of the hole 10 and the seating slot 40 in a diversity of ways, effects which are the same as those aforementioned above, can be obtained.

Next, constructions of chairs each capable of avoiding a

pain of the hip, in accordance with seventh and eighth embodiments of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 9 is a partially cross-sectioned side view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the seventh embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 10 is a partially cross-sectioned perspective view illustrating a deformation preventing member which is used in the seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the seventh embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGs. 9 and 10, a support plate 62 which is made of a rigid material, is formed in such a way as to have a configuration of substantially a quadrangle or a polygon and a predetermined area. A cushion layer 64 which is made of a material such as cotton, soft sponge or the like, is placed on an upper surface of the support plate 62. By the fact that the cushion layer 64 is enveloped by an outer cover 66 which is made of fabric, synthetic resin or the like, the seating portion 200 of the chair 100 is formed. In this chair 100, at a place where the cushion layer 64 is to be brought into contact with the ischial tubercles, the cushion layer 64 is perforated with the hole 10 having an ellipsoidal contour, in a manner such that the ischial tubercles are not brought into contact with the cushion layer 64 when the hip is seated on the seating portion 200. At this time, a deformation preventing member 70 having a cylindrical configuration is inserted into the hole 10 in a manner such that the hole 10 is

prevented from being vanished by the load of the human body when the hip is seated on the seating portion 200. The deformation preventing member 70 is formed, at an upper end thereof, with a flange part 72 on which the hip of the human body is seated.

In the meanwhile, FIG. 11 is a partially cross-sectioned side view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the eighth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, a finger-pressure effecting arrangement 80 is disposed inside the deformation preventing member 70. The finger-pressure effecting arrangement 80 includes an elastic member 82 which has a spring-shaped configuration and is inserted into the deformation preventing member 70 and a pressing member 84 which has substantially a semi-spherical configuration and is located on the elastic member 82 in such a way as to be moved upward and downward by the elastic member 82.

Hereinafter, operations of the seats for avoiding hip pain, in accordance with the seventh and the eighth embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

If the hip of the human body is seated on the seating portion 200 in a manner such that the lower ends of the ischial tubercles are positioned in the hole 10 of the cushion layer 64, since the ischial tubercles of the human body are not pressed against an upper surface of the cushion layer 64, it is possible to avoid a pain which is otherwise induced when pressure is exerted on the lower ends of the ischial tubercles due to direct

contact between the lower ends and the cushion layer 64. Also, since pressure acting on the anus region is remarkably decreased, stability is increased. Moreover, due to the fact that an area through which the seating portion 200 is brought into contact with the human body, is minimized and air flows through the hole 10, an amount of the sweat can be reduced even when the chair user is seated on the seating portion 200 for a lengthy period of time or even in the summer season, whereby the chair according to the present invention can be reliably used in the summer season during which piles or a disease can attack the hip or for a person who is attacked by piles or the disease.

On the other hand, the deformation preventing member 70 prevents the cushion layer 64 which is made a flexible material such as cotton, soft sponge or the like, from being vanished due to the weight of the human body.

Also, according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention, in a state wherein the hip is seated on the seating portion 200, the elastic member 82 is pressed by the weight of the human body through a predetermined heightwise distance. By this, at the same time the pressing member 84 is moved downward by the predetermined heightwise distance, the pressing member 84 applies force to the hip of the human body by the elastic member 82 having elasticity which always acts upward, whereby a finger- pressing function can be rendered to the hip of the human body.

Hereinbelow, constructions of seats for avoiding hip pain, in accordance with the ninth through the eleventh embodiments of

the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 12a is a perspective view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the ninth embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 12b is a cross- sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 12a. In the chair which is made of wood, plastic or the like, the seating portion 200 on which the hip of the human body is seated, is perforated with the hole 10. The hole 10 comprises the ischial tubercle inserting section which is defined to have an ellipsoidal contour in a manner such that the lower ends of the ischial tubercles are inserted therein and the extended section which is defined in front of the ischial tubercle inserting section to have substantially a contour of an isosceles triangle. According to the present invention, in order to render cushionability to the chair which is made of wood, plastic or the like, a pad 90 which is made of a flexible material such as leather or the like, is disposed in the hole 10. Also, in order to securely maintain the pad 90, a plurality of projections 92 are projectedly formed adjacent to an edge on a lower surface of the pad 90 in a manner such that they are spaced apart one from another by a predetermined distance.

Further, an inner edge of the seating portion 200 which inner edge defines the hole 10, is formed with an inward flange part 96 on which the pad 90 is rested. The inward flange part 96 is formed with a plurality of inserting holes 94 into which the

plurality of projections 92 are respectively inserted.

And, FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the tenth embodiment of the present invention. In order to render ventability to the pad 90 which is disposed in the hole 10, the pad 90 is perforated with a venting hole 98. A position and a size of the venting hole 98 can be properly varied depending upon a shape of the chair 100 and a figure of the chair user.

Also, in order to improve ventability of the entire hip of the human body, the pad 90 can be formed of a meshed screen member which is made of an elastic material.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a chair having a seat for avoiding hip pain in accordance with the eleventh embodiment of the present invention. The sponge member 16 is coupled from above to the seating portion 200 which is perforated with the hole 10, in such a way as to enhance cushionability of the seating portion 200. The sponge member 16 is enveloped with the outer cover 18 which is made of fabric, leather or the like. The outer cover 18 and the sponge member 16 are perforated, at predetermined locations, with the holes 10a which have the same contour as the hole 10 of the seating portion 200. A meshed screen member 19 is formed on the outer cover 18.

Hereinafter, operations of the seats for avoiding hip pain, in accordance with the ninth through the eleventh embodiments of the present invention will be described in

detail.

First, the seating portion 200 of the chair 100 which is made of wood, plastic or the like, is perforated with the hole 10, in a manner such that the lower ends of the ischial tubercles of the hip are inserted into the hole 10 and the hole 10 enables the pubic region to be inserted therein and performs the venting function. The plurality of projections 92 which are formed on the lower surface of the pad 90, are respectively inserted into the plurality of inserting holes 94 which are defined in the inward flange part 96 which in turn is formed on the inner edge of the seating portion 200, whereby the pad 90 can be securely maintained with respect to the seating portion 200. Thereafter, as the hip of the human body is seated on the seating portion 200, due to the cushioning function of the pad 90 which is made of a flexible material, it is possible to prevent the lower ends of the ischial tubercles and the pubic region from being pressed. According to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention, in a state wherein the pad 90 is perforated at the predetermined location thereon, with the venting hole 98, if the hip is seated on the seating portion 200, ventability is rendered through the lower surface of the seating portion 200. Also, by forming the pad 90 as the meshed screen member which is made of an elastic material, more excellent venting function can be achieved.

In the meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 14, by the fact that the sponge member 16 is coupled from above to the seating

portion 200, the sponge member 16 is enveloped by the outer cover 18 which has the same configuration as the seating portion 200, the outer cover 18 and the sponge cover 16 are perforated with the holes 10a which have the same contour as the hole 10 of the seating portion 200 and the meshed screen member 19 is formed on the outer cover 18, if the hip is seated on the seating portions 200, in addition to the above-described effects, it is possible to render the cushioning function to the entire hip. Also, by the presence of the meshed screen member 19, the hip is prevented from being excessively inserted into the hole 10 and from being slipped on the seating portion 200.

Here, it is to be readily understood that the seat for avoiding hip pain, according to the present invention, is not limited to chairs, but instead, can be applied in the same way to a variety of seats such as automobile seats, sofas, cushions, etc.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As a result, by the seat for avoiding hip pain according to the present invention, advantages are provided as described below. That is to say, by the fact that a seating portion of the chair is perforated, at a location where the hip of the human body is seated, with a hole, and the seating portion which is perforated with the hole, can be structured in a variety of ways, when the hip of the human body is seated on the seating portion, lower ends of both ischial tubercles of the hip are

inserted into the hole, whereby a pain which can otherwise be induced in the lower ends of the ischial tubercles upon being seated, is avoided, and the pubic region of the human body is prevented from being interfered with. Also, as cushioning force is increased, fatigue while being seated, is reduced. Moreover, because pressure acting on the anus is decreased by the presence of the hole, a chair user is prevented from being attacked by a disease such as piles. Furthermore, due to the fact that ventability is rendered to a supporting member to ensure sanitization, health of the human body is not injured even when the chair user is seated on the seating portion for a lengthy period of time.