Patent ID: 7140691
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: A47C,A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A furniture article having an integral torso support system, the furniture article comprising: a chair having a substantially flat seat portion and a backrest portion; a belt segment having a first end and a second end, the first end being permanently attached to the chair; a belt portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being permanently attached to the chair; a coupling member comprising a plurality of hooks attached to the second end of the belt segment; a retracting member mounted in the backrest portion and connected to the first end of the belt segment, the retracting member being tensioned to retract the second end of the belt segment toward the backrest portion; a retracting unit mounted in the backrest portion and connected to the proximal end of the belt portion, the retracting unit being tensioned to retract the distal end of the belt portion toward the backrest portion; and a coupling unit comprising a plurality of loops attached to the distal end of the belt portion with the coupling unit engaging the coupling member to configure the belt segment and the belt portion as a support configured to be substantially parallel to the seat portion for restraining a torso of a person sitting on the seat portion of the chair as the person leans forward in a direction away from the backrest portion of the chair.