Patent ID: 7380881
Filing Date: 2008-06-03
Classification: A47C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for use by a person in a seated or other position on a platform, comprising: a base, for supporting the platform, and adapted for coupling to the platform by rolling or low-friction sliding engagement so as to allow repetitive travel of the platform toward and away from a neutral position over an allowed range of travel in response to forces exerted by the person via the platform, wherein in the allowed range of travel the platform moves at least horizontally toward and away from the neutral position; wherein the coupling of the base to the platform is such as to provide a restoring force tending to always move or hold the platform in the neutral position in respect to the base with the person supported on the platform and so always urging the platform toward the neutral position, wherein the coupling of the base to the platform is so that the restoring force acting on the platform in the neutral position or even only slightly displaced from the neutral position is adjustable so as to be at least comparable to a force tending to push the platform away from the neutral position caused by the person merely sitting on or being otherwise positioned on the platform in a relaxed state, and further wherein the coupling of the base to the platform is so that the platform remains in a substantially horizontal orientation throughout the range of travel, and the orientation does not changes so that the platform remains level while the platform moves throughout the range of travel; wherein the coupling of the base to the platform comprises an adjustable post.