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Seat with adjustable thigh support assembly

Seat with adjustable thigh support assembly description/claims

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/896,435, filed 22 Mar. 2007.

This invention relates to seating devices.

More particularly, the present invention relates to seating devices with adjustable thigh supports.

While many different seats have been devised that include lower leg supports, inclining backs and a variety of different adjustments, no seats have been devised that take into account the fact that all people have different dimensions. For example, in many instances even people of the same height have different lengths of legs. Further, in many instances the lengths of peoples thighs are different so that a seat with a given depth (i.e. the distances from the front of the seat cushion to the back rest) may be comfortable for some people but may be too long or too short for other people.

Here it must be noted that there is a substantial difference between a portion of a seat that reclines and provides a movable support for the lower legs (i.e. the calves, ankles, and feet) and the portion of the seat that supports the thighs. A person with long thighs sitting in a seat with a short depth can be as uncomfortable as a person with short thighs sitting in a seat with a long depth. In the first instance the feet will generally be on the ground with the thighs above the seat and unsupported. In the second instance the thighs will be supported but the feet may not be able to touch the ground. Both instances are uncomfortable.

It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved adjustable thigh support assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved thigh support assembly that is adjustable for people with different lengths of legs and thighs.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved seat with an adjustable thigh support assembly.

Briefly, to achieve the desired objects and advantages of the present invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment, a seat with an adjustable thigh support assembly includes a seat bottom with a rearward portion and a forward edge. The rearward portion is positioned to receive the buttocks of a person with the thighs extending beyond the forward edge. A thigh support has a rear edge and a forward edge with the forward edge extending generally horizontally beyond the forward edge of the seat bottom. The assembly further includes adjustable apparatus affixing the thigh support to the seat bottom for movement between a retracted position in which the rear edge of the thigh support extends below the forward edge of the seat bottom and an extended position in which the rear edge of the thigh support is in substantial juxtaposition with the forward edge of the seat bottom.

The desired objects and advantages of the present invention are further achieved in different specific embodiments in which the adjustable apparatus includes a lower track assembly affixed to the seat bottom and an upper track assembly affixed to the thigh support. The upper track assembly and the lower track assembly are engaged for supporting and controlling movement of the thigh support. In another embodiment the lower track assembly includes a curved extension and the upper track assembly includes a slide engaged with the curved extension. In still another embodiment the lower track assembly includes a straight extension and the upper track assembly includes a slide engaged with the curved extension. In this latter embodiment the lower track assembly further includes an anchor with an elongated slot therein and the upper track assembly includes a pin slideably engaged in the slot for supporting and limiting movement of the thigh support.

Specific objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seat with adjustable thigh support assembly according to the present invention;

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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