Abstract:
A device ( 1 ) for supporting a human body comprising at least one support element ( 10 ) defining a cross-sectional area ( 50 ) and at least one longitudinal bar ( 13 ), whereby the support element ( 10 ) is positionable in height and depth. A support bar ( 11 ) for each of the at least one support elements ( 10 ) is directly connected to the at least one longitudinal bar ( 13 ). The support bar ( 11 ) extends at least partly along a first longitudinal axis ( 12 ) of the at least one support element ( 10 ) through the at least one support element ( 10 ). The support bar ( 11 ) is eccentrically arranged in the cross-sectional area ( 50 ) of the at least one support element ( 10 ). The invention furthermore discloses an application of the device ( 1 ) for supporting a human body in a working system ( 35 ).

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This patent application claims priority of German Patent Application No. 10 2007 038 829.4, filed on Aug. 16, 2007, which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for supporting a human body. In particular, the present invention relates to a device for supporting a human body with at least one support element and at least one longitudinal bar, whereby each of the at least one support element is connected to one or two longitudinal bars and the at least one support element is positionable in height and depth. 
     Furthermore, the present invention relates to a working system in a production line comprising of at least one device for supporting a human body. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Variable devices for supported sitting or standing positions with positioning elements which can be adjusted to accommodate different human body sizes and weight, or to accommodate different sitting and standing positions respectively, as well as to support different body parts, for instance to support stand-sit positions, are known. A standing seat for a public transportation vehicle is disclosed in German Patent DE 198 50 438 C2. The standing seat comprises a support element with a mechanism for height positioning. The support element is laterally arranged above an axis to a pillar which is fixed to the vehicle floor. This standing seat is not positionable in depth. It is not suitable for the use in a multifunctional working system. 
     Furniture for sitting in the residential domain with preferably upholstered support elements is disclosed in German Utility Model DE 80 01 181, whereby the support elements are attached to bars which are arranged to each other with a fixed angle to form an about isosceles triangle. This furniture for sitting does not show positionable support elements. The furniture only offers support for the fundament and the back of a user. 
     A seat for working in a standing position with a horseshoe shaped foot element is disclosed in European Patent EP 0 531 208 B1. The horseshoe shaped foot element is open towards the front relative to the seat. This standing seat is in fact positionable in height and depth, but offers only a support for the fundament of a user. The feet of the user touch the ground while using the standing seat. It is also not suitable for use in a multifunctional working system, especially not in a production line. 
     An ergonomic seat is disclosed in German Utility Model DE 297 21 944 U1, whereby the body&#39;s center of gravity is lowered only insignificantly. The seat includes support elements, but there are no bars connected to the support elements and also no floor element, so that this seat is neither positionable in height nor in depth, though it offers some options for the use by people with different sizes. The seat does not offer any support for the knees or the head. It is also not suitable for the use in a multifunctional working system, especially not in a production line. 
     A workplace seat with a saddle-seat, a longitudinal bar, a floor element and a ball-and-socket joint is disclosed in German Utility Model DE 75 31 129. The workplace seat is positionable in height and depth by means of the ball-and-socket joint. However, it merely offers support for the fundament of a user and is thus only partly suitable for a working system, by no means, however, in a multifunctional working system as, for example, in a production line. A reclining support against which a worker&#39;s fundament can be leaned while the worker is in a standing position is disclosed in published German Patent Application DE 1 149 147. This reclining support is positionable in height, but not positionable in depth, and it only offers a support for the fundament. In addition, it does not allow the support of a human body in a plurality of positions. 
     A lumbar support with support elements fixedly positioned relative to each other is disclosed in French Patent Specification FR 2 569 964. The position of the lumbar support can be altered within a relatively small range along two bars to which the support elements are mounted. This lumbar support is thus positionable in height and depth to a limited degree; however, it only offers support for the fundament of a user. It is suitable as a lumbar support and as a support in seating or standing position in public transport. 
     One disadvantage of the described devices is that they offer no comprehensively integrated solution for the support of diverse different body parts, and that they therefore offer no workplace seat, no knee seat, no support in a standing position, no supported-standing seat and no foot support. 
     A further disadvantage is that the devices are positionable in height and depth only to a limited extent, if at all, so that they neither satisfy the present ergonomic requirements for a plurality of body positions nor are they suited for the use in a multifunctional work system or a production line. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for supporting a human body which is variably positionable to fit a plurality of anatomic and ergonomic requirements. 
     The above object is solved by a device for supporting a human body, which comprises features and elements of the appended claims. 
     Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims and the following description. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a device for supporting a human body which is used in a working system. 
     This objective is solved by a working system in a production line which comprises features and elements of the appended claims. 
     The device for supporting a human body according to the present invention comprises at least one support element and at least one longitudinal bar. The support elements are usually arranged horizontally lengthwise, so that for instance any part of the human body of a user, such as feet, lower legs, knees, thighs, fundament, abdomen, chest, lower back (lumbar), middle back, upper back (nape of the neck), neck and/or head, can rest on or lean against the respective support element. For the simultaneous support of several parts of a human body more support elements are required accordingly. 
     Each of the support elements is connected to one or two of the longitudinal bars. The support element located furthest from a floor on which the device for supporting a human body stands is connected to a downwards running longitudinal bar. Above this particular support element no further longitudinal bar is required. The support element located opposite to the floor on which the device for supporting a human body stands is connected to at least one longitudinal bar. The other support elements are usually connected to two longitudinal bars, of which one longitudinal bar points downwards with regard to the respective support element and the other longitudinal bar points upwards with regard to the respective support element. In case two support elements are to be positioned relatively far apart from each other, at least an additional longitudinal bar can be arranged between and connected to the two longitudinal bars already carrying the support elements. 
     According to the described embodiments, all of the longitudinal bars run along one single side or end of the support elements, so that the opposite ends of the support elements are free and unsupported ends not connected to any other elements of the device. This embodiment, described below, is not to be considered as a limitation the invention. Advantages of the single side-free and unsupported support elements are an improved ability to rotate the support elements around their own respective first longitudinal axis and around the longitudinal bars, as well as small material consumption. Another advantage is the ergonomically optimal use with regard to the accessibility, for example if the device for supporting a human body is used as knee seat. 
     The support elements are positionable in height and depth so that the device according to the invention enables changes between various different body positions, multifunctional positioning options, as well as settings for inter-individual body differences, such as body size and weight. 
     A single support element comprises a support bar which is eccentrically arranged with respect to the cross-sectional area of the support element and this support bar connects the support element directly to one of the longitudinal bars. The support bar thereby extends at least partly along the first longitudinal axis of the support element through the support element. This enables an eccentric rotation around the first longitudinal axis of the support element. In addition to the previously mentioned positioning options, this characteristic offers further options, especially if each of the at least one support elements is cushioned for body support. Even if several or all of the cushion&#39;s lateral surface areas are equally shaped, the position of such a surface area can vary by eccentrically rotating the respective support element around its support bar, and it can thus be positioned according to the requirements of the user. 
     Over and above that, the cushion&#39;s lateral surface areas can also be shaped differently. For example, the shape of one lateral surface area may be a flat surface, which for instance is suitable as a footrest or as a fundament support. The shape of another lateral surface area of the same cushion may be concave, so that this surface area is suited to rest the knees, also the fundament, the lumbar, etc. The shape of a third lateral surface area may be convex for example, so that this surface area is suited to rest the head. For economical reasons, all cushions are usually of the same shape, so that they are suited to support any of the mentioned body parts. 
     It may be of additional advantage that a foot support is removable and attachable to at least one lateral surface area of the cushion of the support element which is located opposite to the floor on which the device for supporting a human body stands. The foot support, for example a step board with brackets to be fixed onto the cushion, protects the cushion from soiling and abrasions. The foot support should be mountable to each of the lateral surface areas, which is ensured if the lateral surface areas are shaped equally, and, depending on body or leg length of the respective user, a desired position for the foot support can be adjusted by selecting a matching lateral surface area through eccentric rotation of the cushion around its support bar of the support element located opposite to the floor on which the device for supporting a human body stands. 
     The device for supporting a human body according to the invention may comprise a floor element to support the device on its foundation or floor. However, further embodiments are conceivable, where the device is instead, or additionally, mounted to a ceiling or to walls. 
     For user friendly options, the floor element may be rotatable, preferably in a continuous adjustable manner. The floor element should be centrically rotatable, to ensure that during and before or after a rotation the part of the floor element which moves during the rotation overlaps with the lower part of the floor element which is located opposite to the floor on which the device for supporting a human body stands and which is stationary during the rotation. The floor element should be securable by using stop elements which are well known in the prior art, so that it is immobile in a fixedly secured position, to ensure that a user can work from the device without undesired alterations of the position of the device. 
     For miscellaneous use, the floor element of the device for supporting a human body may comprise an element for floor guidance, for example a roller ring of an office or work chair according to the prior art. Alternatively, or in addition, the floor guidance element may interact with a translation element located on the floor. The translation element may, for example, be familiar guide rails, and the floor guidance element may be wheels or castors according to the prior art which are navigable (mobile, wheeled, passable) on those guide rails. Such an embodiment is suitable for production line work. Typically, the translation of the floor element should be positionable, preferably in a continuous adjustable manner. 
     The floor element may comprise an anti-slipping element, for instance of rubber. 
     With respect to the construction of the device, the longitudinal bar opposite to the floor on which the device for supporting a human body stands is connected to the floor element, and all longitudinal bars are longitudinally arranged in series, so that all of the support elements are connected to the longitudinal bars with one of their ends of the support elements. If an embodiment comprises more than one longitudinal bar, different ends of the support elements may be mounted to the respective longitudinal bars, for example, the longitudinal bars can be alternately connected to the right or the left end of the support elements. The support elements are usually positionable in height as well as in depth through altering the position of the longitudinal bars, preferably in a continuous manner. In addition, each of the support elements is positionable in height and depth independently of the other support elements, by means of an eccentric rotation of the support element around its respective support bar. 
     The angle between two successive longitudinal bars is usually positioned by means of a joint, whereby the joint connects the two successive longitudinal bars. The angle between the floor element and the respective longitudinal bar is positioned accordingly, whereby the joint connects the floor element with the respective longitudinal bar. 
     For skewed user positions, for example, where the user has to lean forward to the right or left, it may be advantageous if at least one of the support elements is rotatable around a second longitudinal axis defined by the longitudinal bar to which the respective support element is connected. 
     It may be of additional advantage to use longitudinal bars of different length, for example shorter longitudinal bars for the head and longer longitudinal bars for the trunk. 
     Positioning elements, known from prior art, may be arranged at various positions of the device in order to effect the desired position of the device. Thus the angle between two successive longitudinal bars can be positioned by means of the positioning elements at the joints. The angle between the floor element and its respective longitudinal bar may be positioned accordingly by means of a positioning element at the joint of this longitudinal bar. Positioning elements at the ends of the support elements may adjust the eccentric rotation of the support elements around their respective support bars. Furthermore, the rotation of the floor element may be adjustable by means of a positioning element at the floor element. The positioning elements may be operated manually or automatically. 
     The multitude of positioning elements may turn manual positioning into a laborious process. Centrally controlled positioning is therefore desirable, whereby each of the support elements, each of longitudinal bars and the floor element are positionable individually but centrally by a positioning module. The device according to the invention may comprise an mechanical/electronic positioning module with which the body proportions and the weight of the user are determined and stored by means of Radio Frequency Identification technology or other identification technologies known from the prior art. The actual position of the device is sensed and actuators are used to place the device into the requested position. Such a mechanical/electronic positioning module may in addition comprise a transponder, which reads and stores the body proportions and the weight of the user as well as the individually ideal and requested positions of the support elements from an electronic chip. 
     All parts of the device can be manufactured of any standard components, or rather are standard components; in other words, standardized assembly parts which are not subject to any national or international norms. 
     The device for supporting a human body according to the invention can be used in a working system, especially a working system in a production line. Apart from the use in industrial working systems and office domains, it is also conceivable to use the device in wellness and/or home domains and other private and business domains where a support of the human body in different positions may be required. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       There are numerous ways of advantageously developing and improving the teachings of the present invention. Here, reference is made on the one hand to the claims and on the other hand to the subsequent explanation of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings. In conjunction with the description of the preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings, generally preferred embodiments and improvements to the teachings will also be explained. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of the inventive device for supporting a human body with three support elements; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic side view of the device for supporting a human body according to  FIG. 1  used as a workplace seat; 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic side view of the device for supporting a human body according to  FIG. 1  used as a knee seat; 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic side view of the device for supporting a human body according to  FIG. 1  used as a standing seat; 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic side view of the device for supporting a human body according to  FIG. 1  used as a support in a standing position; 
         FIG. 6  shows a schematic side view of the device for supporting a human body according to  FIG. 1  used in a working system; 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the device for supporting a human body, wherein the device has three support elements and a floor element in an initial position; 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the device for supporting a human body, wherein the device has four support elements and a floor element in an initial position; 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of the device for supporting a human body, wherein the device has five support elements and a floor element in an initial position; 
         FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of the device for supporting a human body, wherein the device has two support elements and a floor element in an initial position; 
         FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the device for supporting a human body, wherein the device has two support elements and a floor element in an initial position; 
         FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the device for supporting a human body, wherein the device has three support elements and a floor element in an initial position; 
         FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the device for supporting a human body, wherein the device has two support elements and a floor element in an initial position; 
         FIG. 14  shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the device for supporting a human body, wherein the device has one support element and a floor element in an initial position; 
         FIG. 15  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the device for supporting a human body used as an office chair; 
         FIG. 16  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the device for supporting a human body used in a guide rail system; 
         FIG. 17  shows a schematic cross-section of a support element; 
         FIG. 18  shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the device for supporting a human body with three support elements and a floor element, the first axis of each support element and the second longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bars; 
         FIG. 19  shows a schematic detailed view of a support element with its first axis and the second longitudinal axis of the two longitudinal bars connected to the support element; 
         FIG. 20  shows a perspective view of a foot support; 
         FIG. 21  shows a perspective view of a joint with a positioning element; 
         FIG. 22  shows an exploded view of a support bar and the parts of its joint; 
         FIG. 23  shows a schematic detailed view of a steel inlay and a spur gear; 
         FIG. 24  shows an exploded view of a support element, a support bar and the parts of its joint; 
         FIG. 25  shows a perspective view of the device for supporting a human body providing measurements specifications; and, 
         FIG. 26  shows a schematic view of the device for supporting a human body in connected to a mechanical/electronic positioning module. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a device  1  for supporting a human body wherein device  1  has three support elements  10  and a floor element  2  on a floor  6  in an initial position, whereby longitudinal bars  13  are arranged vertically with respect to support elements  10 . A user  30  is depicted in order to illustrate the potential proportions with respect to device  1 . Support elements  10  are shown in cross-section, whereby the lower and upper elements  10  are rotated differently around their respective support bar  11  in comparison with the middle support element  10 . Support bars  11  are eccentrically arranged in a cross-sectional area  50  of their respective support element  10  in all three cases (see  FIG. 17 ). The three support elements  10  differ in their positions due to different rotations, even though they are shaped the same, which is also explained in the figures further on. Lower and upper support elements  10  point upwards and middle support element  10  points downwards. 
     In this embodiment, the lower and upper longitudinal bars  13  are shorter than the middle longitudinal bar  13 . 
     Floor element  2  in this and following embodiments is of circular shape; however, other morphologies are possible, for example, a rectangle, a polygon, an eclipse, etc. The following descriptions refer to circular floor elements  2  only, which, however, should not be understood as a limitation of the invention. 
     A three-dimensional coordinate system is shown. The depth of the respective support element  10  and longitudinal bar  13  can be adjusted along the x-axis by means of the above described elements. The height of the respective support element  10  and longitudinal bar  13  can be adjusted along the z-axis by means of the above described elements. Floor element  2  is rotatable within an x/y-plane. Consequently, depending on the rotation of floor element  2 , device  1  is positionable in x- and y-directions and support elements  10  and longitudinal bars  13  are positionable in x-, y- and z-directions. 
       FIG. 2  shows a schematic side view of device  1  for supporting a human body used as a workplace seat. The angles between the respective longitudinal bars  13  are positioned in such a way that user  30  can sit on support element  10  which is opposite to the floor on which device  1  stands, while being supported in both the upper back and the lumbar region by the other two support elements  10 . Support element  10  which was furthest from the floor on which device  1  stands according to the initial position in  FIG. 1  has now, in  FIG. 2 , become support element  10  which is located in the middle of device  1  by positioning longitudinal bars  13  accordingly. In addition, support elements  10  are eccentrically rotated around their respective support bars  11  in such a way that matching lateral surface areas of support elements  10  are arranged according to the required position of the support. 
       FIG. 3  shows a schematic side view of device  1  for supporting a human body according to  FIG. 1  used as a knee seat. Here, the angles between longitudinal bars  13  are of different size as compared to  FIG. 2 , namely in such a way that user  30  can sit on support element  10  which is located in the middle of device  1  while the lumbar region is supported by support element  10  which is furthest from the floor on which device  1  is standing, and the knees are supported by support element  10  which is opposite the floor on which device  1  is standing. Once again, support elements  10  are eccentrically rotated around their respective support bars  11  in such a way that matching lateral surface areas of support elements  10  are arranged according to the required position of the support. 
       FIG. 4  shows a schematic side view of device  1  for supporting a human body according to  FIG. 1  used as a standing seat. The angles between longitudinal bars  13  are sized in such a way that user  30  can sit on middle support element  10 , while the lumbar region is supported by upper support element  10 , and the feet are supported by support element  10  arranged on the lowest support element  10 . Support elements  10  are once again eccentrically rotated around their respective support bars  11  to ensure a necessary, matching lateral surface area lateral surface area for support. 
       FIG. 5  shows a schematic side view of device  1  for supporting a human body according to  FIG. 1  used as a support in a standing position, wherein the setting of the angles between longitudinal bars  13  is in such a way that user&#39;s  30  lumbar region leans against upper support element  10  and user&#39;s  30  fundament leans against middle support element  10 . The feet rest on floor element  2 . Lower support element  10  is not required in this type of positioning of device  1 , and it does not support any body part. Upper and middle support elements  10  are again eccentrically rotated around their respective support bars  11  to ensure a matching lateral surface area of the respective support element  10  for support. 
       FIG. 6  shows a schematic side view of device  1  for supporting a human body according to  FIG. 1  used in a working system  35 ; here specifically, in a motor vehicle door production line. Still today, many jobs in commercial industry are carried out in the standing position. Many production line jobs exist, especially in the automobile industry, where assembling is predominantly carried out in a standing position on grounds of the geometry of the components or how the components are conveyed. A change of the body position from standing to sitting reduces the body strain. Guide rails  7  for the translation of device  1  are indicated. Device  1  can be wheeled on guide rails  7  by means of an element for floor guidance (not illustrated) which are attached to floor element  2 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of device  1  for supporting a human body, wherein device  1  has three support elements  10  and floor element  2  in initial position according to  FIG. 1 . Support bars  11  in this embodiment are positioned at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to longitudinal bars  13 . Support elements  10 , longitudinal bars  13  and floor element  2  can be positioned by means of positioning elements  16 . 
       FIGS. 8 to 14  each show a perspective view of device  1  for supporting a human body, wherein device  1  has one to five support elements  10  and floor element  2  in the initial position. Some embodiments have longitudinal bars  13  all of equal length, and other embodiments have longitudinal bars  13  of different lengths. In the embodiments according to  FIGS. 13 and 14  two longitudinal bars  13  are positioned successively without support element  10  branching off in between. 
       FIG. 15  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of device  1  for supporting a human body used as an office chair. A roller ring  4  is arranged underneath floor element  2  for floor guidance. 
       FIG. 16  shows a perspective view of device  1  for supporting a human body used in a guide rail system. Guide rails  7  for the translation of device  1  are indicated. A floor guidance element underneath floor element  2 , for example wheels, runners, skids or blades, is not illustrated. 
       FIG. 17  shows a schematic cross-section of support element  10 . Support bar  11  is eccentrically arranged in cross-sectional area  50  of support element  10 . Support element  10  is thus eccentrically rotatable around support bar  11 , which is indicated by the circular arrow with two arrowheads. A cushion  20  is arranged around support bar  11 . In contrast to the previous embodiments, cushion  20  comprises of three different lateral surface areas  21 , namely a concave surface, a convex surface and a flat surface. Depending on the ergonomic and technical requirements, other morphologies of both cross-sectional area  50  and lateral surface areas  21  of support elements  10  are possible. Even though support elements  10  in the following descriptions always show the same morphology, this should not be understood as a limitation of the invention. 
       FIG. 18  shows a schematic view of device  1  for supporting a human body, wherein device  1  has three support elements  10  and floor element  2 . The first longitudinal axes  12  defined by the respective support elements  10  and the second longitudinal axis  14  defined by longitudinal bars  13  are shown. Device  1  stands on floor  6  supported by means of floor element  2 . An anti-slipping element  8  is indicated underneath floor element  2 . Floor element  2  is reinforced at the connection with the lowest longitudinal bar  13 . In this embodiment and in the initial position, longitudinal bars  13  and therefore their longitudinal axes  14  run decentralized with respect to floor element  2  and above floor element  2  in one line. 
     Positioning elements  16  are attached to the ends of support elements  10  opposite to longitudinal bars  13 , to floor element  2  and to joints  15  of longitudinal bars  13  for their positioning. 
     First longitudinal axes  12  form the rotation axes of support elements  10  and run through support bars  11 , which are hidden by cushions  20 . In addition, first longitudinal axes  12  run through the eccentrically arranged support bars  11  in cross-sectional area  50  (see  FIG. 17 ) of the respective support element  10 , not central with regard to the length of the support elements  10 . For the support of a plurality of body parts, different lateral surface areas  21  face the respective user&#39;s  30  body parts by means of different rotations of support elements  10  around their respective first longitudinal axis  12 . 
       FIG. 19  shows a schematic detailed view of support element  10  according to  FIG. 18  with first axis  12  of support bar  11  and second longitudinal axis  14  of longitudinal bar  13 . 
       FIG. 20  shows a perspective view of a foot support  22  which can be mounted preferably to each lateral surface area  21  of cushion  20  of support element  10  located opposite to the floor on which device  1  stands. 
       FIG. 21  shows a perspective view of joint  15  with positioning element  16 . Here, joint  15  is positioned between two successive longitudinal bars  13 . 
       FIG. 22  shows an exploded view of support bar  11  and the parts of its joint  15  according to the prior art, such as a release handle  43 , two flange-milling elements  44 , a square profile  45  (other morphologies are also possible without limiting the invention), a steel inlay  40  with a spur gear  41 , screws  42  and a steel inlay  46  with a spur gear and a housing-milling element which connects to support bar  11 . The assembled parts form joint  15  which provide several steps for the positioning of angles. The steps are defined by the design of spur gear  41  and the corresponding disc. 
       FIG. 23  shows a detailed view of a commercially available steel inlay  40  and spur gear  41  according to prior art, as well as fitting screws  42 . 
       FIG. 24  shows an exploded view of support element  10 , components of its support bar  11  and components of its joint  15  according to prior art. 
       FIG. 25  shows a perspective view of device  1  for supporting a human body with typical measurement specifications. In this embodiment, the length of longitudinal bars  13  from top to bottom end are 1140.00 mm, 900.00 mm and 420.00 mm respectively. The distance between floor element  2  and the respective joint  15  measures 180.00 mm. An additional roller element  47  is attached to floor element  2 , which functions as an ergonomically optimal positioning device of the entire device  1  for supporting a human body. 
       FIG. 26  shows a schematic view of device  1  for supporting a human body, which is connected to a mechanical/electronic positioning module  25  via a connection  28 ; for example via a radio communication or a cable connection. A chip  26  with user-specific data is read by a transponder  27  of mechanical/electronic positioning module  25  through a signal S of chip  26  which is sent to transponder  27 . The user-specific data for example may comprise of date of birth, sex, body weight, body proportions, and working position of each user  30 . 
     The user data typically varies for different users  30 . Reading the stored user data, mechanical/electronic positioning module  25  calculates then the required positioning for the respective device  1  while considering the requested use of the respective device  1 . Finally, mechanical/electronic positioning module  25  sends the data for positioning the respective device  1  via connection  28  to the respective device  1  according to which motor positioning follows automatically. 
     Finally, it should be noted, in particular, that the previously described exemplary embodiments, only serve to describe the teachings claimed, and are not limiting to the exemplary embodiments. It is conceivable however, that variations and modifications of the invention can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the appended claims.