Patent Publication Number: US-2023132747-A1

Title: Adaptive support

Description:
SUMMARY 
     The disclosure describes adaptive-support furniture including several support rungs, a first frame member, a second frame member, several pulleys, a first elongate flexible member and a second elongate flexible member. The support rungs each have first and second ends. The first frame member at least partially houses the first ends of the support rungs. The second frame member at least partially houses the second ends of the support rungs. The pulleys are provided to the first and second ends of the support rungs and to the first and second frame members. The first elongate flexible member is threaded through the pulleys of the first frame member and the pulleys of the first ends of the support rungs such that motion of the first ends of the support rungs is interdependent. The second elongate flexible member is threaded through the pulleys of the second frame member and the pulleys of the second ends of the support rungs such that motion of the second ends of the support rungs is interdependent. 
     Further, the disclosure describes an adaptive support including several cylinders, several pistons, and a reservoir. The pistons each have a first end received by one of the plurality of cylinders and a second end provided with a support rung. The reservoir is in unrestricted fluid communication with the cylinders and is configured such that, through a fluid held within the reservoir and cylinders, relative motion between the support rungs is inversely related. 
     Still further, the disclosure describes adaptive-support equipment including several pistons, at least one frame member and an elongate flexible member. The pistons each have a first end provided with a rung and second end provided with pulleys. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, example constructions are shown in the drawings. However, the disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers. 
       Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a front view of a base state of example adaptive-support equipment according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a top view of the base state of the example adaptive-support equipment of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a right-side view of the base state of the example adaptive-support equipment of  FIGS.  1  &amp;  2   . 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a left-side view of the base state of the example adaptive-support equipment of  FIGS.  1 - 3   . 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a perspective of the base state of the example adaptive-support equipment of  FIGS.  1 - 4   . 
         FIG.  6    illustrates a left-side view of a displaced state of the example adaptive-support equipment of  FIGS.  1 - 5   . 
         FIG.  7    illustrates a perspective view of a displaced state of example adaptive-support equipment according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG.  8    illustrates a left-side view of the displaced state of the example adaptive-support equipment of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  9    illustrates a right-side view of the displaced state of the example adaptive-support equipment of  FIGS.  7  &amp;  8   . 
         FIG.  10    illustrates a perspective view of a base state of example adaptive-support equipment according to a third embodiment. 
         FIG.  11    illustrates a front view of the base state of the example adaptive-support equipment of  FIG.  10   . 
         FIG.  12    illustrates a top view of the base state of the example adaptive-support equipment of  FIGS.  10  &amp;  11   . 
         FIG.  13    illustrates a left-side view of the base state of the example adaptive-support equipment of  FIGS.  10 - 12   . 
         FIG.  14    illustrates a left-side view of a displaced state of the example adaptive-support equipment of  FIGS.  10 - 13   . 
         FIG.  15    illustrates a cut-away view of the displaced state of example adaptive-support equipment of  FIGS.  10 - 14   . 
         FIG.  16    illustrates a perspective view of a base state of example adaptive-support equipment according to a fourth embodiment. 
         FIG.  17    illustrates a front view of the base state of the example adaptive-support equipment of  FIG.  16   . 
         FIG.  18    illustrates a top view of the base state of the example adaptive-support equipment of  FIGS.  16  &amp;  17   . 
         FIG.  19    illustrates a left-side view of the base state of the example adaptive-support equipment of  FIGS.  16 - 18   . 
         FIG.  20    illustrates a left-side view of a displaced state of the example adaptive-support equipment of  FIGS.  16 - 19   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the disclosure and manners by which they may be implemented. Although the preferred mode of carrying out disclosed systems, apparatus and methods has been described, those of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that other embodiments for carrying out or practicing disclosed systems, apparatus and methods are also possible. 
     It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. Further, the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 
     When a person&#39;s weight is to be supported for extended periods of time, points of concentrated pressure can lead to discomfort, known as ‘hot spots’. In cases where a person is wheelchair-bound or bedridden, these hot spots can lead to bed sores which can cause serious medical problems. A smooth distribution of pressure eliminates hot spots. 
     Embodiments of the disclosure substantially eliminate, or at least partially address, problems in the prior art, providing a true, constant force, contouring surface to offer support while eliminating pressure concentrations. 
     Disclosed support equipment is configured to maximize comfort by distributing a person&#39;s weight evenly and contouring to their shape. An equal force and/or pressure, contouring support system actively adapts to a person&#39;s weight. A supporting contour is independent of the contour&#39;s displacement resulting in an equal distribution of forces along this contour. 
     Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the disclosure will be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments construed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow. 
     It will be appreciated that described features are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 
       FIGS.  1 - 6    illustrate example adaptive-support equipment which may take the form of adaptive-support furniture  1000 . Adaptive-support furniture  1000  includes several support rungs  1110  with pulleys  1114  and  1118 , a first frame member  1120  with pulleys  1124 , a second frame member  1140  with pulleys  1444  and elongate flexible members  1132  and  1134 . 
     As used herein, the term “pulley” refers to an element configured to maintain position and/or orientation of the elongate flexible members with a contact surface while providing an inflection point and accommodating sliding of the elongate flexible members over the pulleys. In some embodiments the contact surface does not rotate about a center point and can be made of a low friction material, for example high molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE). 
     Support rungs  1110  span the first  1120  and second  1140  frame members to provide a compound support surface for a user of adaptive-support furniture  1000  and are at least partially housed at first ends by first frame member  1120  and at second ends by second frame member  1140 . 
     Frame members  1120  and  1140  may be configured to constrain each of the first and second ends of the support rungs  1110 , for example, to a single dimension of translation. The first ends of the support rungs  1110  may be constrained by slots or channels  1122  in first frame member  1120  while the second ends of support rungs  1110  may be constrained by slots or channels  1142  in second frame member  1140 . 
     Two or more of the slots or channels  1122  and  1142  may be relatively angled. For example, a first slot or channel may be vertical when furniture  1000  is placed in a horizontal orientation, a second slot or channel may be angled a few degrees relative the first slot or channel and a third slot or channel may be angled a few degrees relative to the second slot or channel. The interface between support rungs  1110  and the slots or channels  1122  and  1142  in the frame members  1120  and  1140  may be low friction, for example, by including bearings, bushings, lubricants, HMWPE, or combinations of these. 
     Pulleys  1114  are provided to the first ends of support rungs  1110 . Pulleys  1124  are provided to first frame member  1120 , for example, between slots or channels  1122  and above an upper limit thereof. 
     First elongate flexible member  1132  is strung back and forth between pulleys  1124  and pulleys  1114  from a front to a rear of seat  1100  to offer an adjustable and adaptable suspension of the first ends of support rungs  1110 . Threaded through pulleys  1124  and pulleys  1114 , first elongate flexible member  1132  links support rungs  1110  such that motion of the first ends of support rungs  1110  is interdependent. 
     Pulleys  1118  are provided to the second ends of support rungs  1110 . Pulleys  1144  are provided to second frame member  1140 , for example, between slots or channels  1142  and above an upper limit thereof. 
     Second elongate flexible member  1134  is strung back and forth between pulleys  1144  and pulleys  1118  from the front to the rear of seat  1100  to offer an adjustable and adaptable suspension of the second ends of support rungs  1110 . Threaded through pulleys  1144  and pulleys  1118 , second elongate flexible member  1134  links support rungs  1110  such that motion of the second ends of support rungs  1110  is interdependent. 
     In accordance with the interdependence of the ends of support rungs  1110 , movement of one or more of support rungs  1110  in a first direction causes one or more other support rungs  1110  to move in a second direction opposite or substantially opposite the first direction. Elongate flexible members  1132  and  1134 , the pulleys of the frame members  1120  and  1140  and the pulleys of the support rungs  1110  are configured to cooperate to equalize force among support rungs  1110 . Pressure may also be equalized for equal surface areas. Support rungs  1110  respond to external pressure from a user naturally, without requiring a feedback loop of electronic or digital sensing, analysis of sensor data and activation of powered motors. 
     Adaptive-support furniture  1000  further includes retraction devices or reels  1152  and  1154  provided to first frame member  1120  and retraction devices or reels  1156  and  1158  provided to each frame member  1140 . Reels  1152 ,  1154 ,  1156  and  1158  are configured to adjust a baseline position of support rungs  1110  by adjusting the length of elongate flexible members threaded through the pulleys of the frame members  1120  and  1140  and support rungs  1110 . 
     For example, rotating reel  1152  in a first direction wraps an increasing length of elongate flexible member  1132  around reel  1152  to thereby decrease the length of elongate flexible member  1132  available for passing around pulleys  1114  and  1124 . This effectively raises the baseline position of the first ends support rungs  1110 . It follows that rotating reel  1152  in a second direction opposite the first direction results in a decreased length of elongate flexible member  1132  wrapped around reel  1152  thereby increasing the length of elongate flexible member  1132  available for passing around pulleys  1114  and  1124  which effectively lowers the baseline position of the first end of support rungs  1110 . Similar actions of reel  1156  results in similar responses to elongate flexible member  1134  and, thereby, second ends of support rungs  1110 . Supplemental reels  1154  and  1158  may be provided to similarly adjust the available lengths of elongate flexible members  1132  and  1134 , respectively. 
     In a further example, a tensioning device (not illustrated) may be provided to level support rungs  1110  to the baseline position when furniture  1000  is not in use. 
     A dog  1153  and biasing member  1155  may be provided to selectively prevent movement of reel  1152 . By overcoming the resistance of biasing member  1155 , dog  1153  may be disengaged from a toothed surface of reel  1152  allowing reel  1152  to be rotated to the appropriate position for the preferred baseline level of support rungs  1110 . In an example, biasing member  1155  may be a spring. A rigid elongate member such as a shaft  1157  may be fixedly coupled between reel  1152  and reel  1156  such that the two reels rotate together. Locking the two reels  1152  and  1156  together in this way encourages balanced levelling or positioning of both first and second ends of support rungs  1110 . 
     Each support rung end is constrained to at most three degrees of freedom. For example, each support rung  1110  may be allowed to rotate about its longitudinal axis and each of the first and second ends may be allowed to translate within any constraining mechanism of the first and second frame members  1120  and  1140 . Independent translation of the first and second ends of support rungs  1110  may yield rotation about a horizontal, transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     Support rungs  1110 , frame member  1120 , frame member  1140 , slots or channels  1122  and slots or channels  1142  cooperate to yield a single compound support surface. In an example, such a compound support surface may provide a seat  1000  for a chair. One or more additional compound support surfaces may be produced by duplicating these components. For example, with a second compound support surface, a back  1200  may be provided to seat  1100 . 
     While the compound support surface of seat  1100  is illustrated by way of example in  FIGS.  1 - 6    as including eleven support rungs  1110 , it will be appreciated that any number of support rungs  1110  suitable for supporting the desired portion or portions of a user&#39;s body may be included. Similarly, while back rest  1200  is illustrated by way of example as including eleven support rungs  1110 , it will be appreciated that any suitable number of support rungs  1110  may be included. 
     Depending on the body parts to be supported by support rungs  1110 , the compound support surface may be divided into zones so that parts requiring different amounts of support are supported by the different zones. As illustrated, adaptive-support equipment  1000  includes only a single zone for seat  1100 . However, by fixing elongate flexible member  1132  at one of pulleys  1124  and elongate flexible member  1134  at the paired one of pulleys  1144 , two zones can be created. The two zones would not be in communication and support rungs  1110  of the separate zones would behave independently. In this case, there would be front and rear zones of seat  1100 . 
     In another example, the number of elongate flexible members could be multiplied to multiply the number of independent support zones. For example, multiplying the single elongate strand on each side into two strands such that each strand is strung between a subset of the paired pulleys yields two independent zones that each include interdependent support rungs  1110 . This form may be suitable for separately supporting a user&#39;s legs and a user&#39;s torso. 
     It may be noted that back  1200  could be considered a separate zone from seat  1100  since it includes separate elongate flexible members and, therefore, support rungs independent from the support rungs of seat  1100 . The number of zones will be determined by the ultimate configuration and need of a particular system and body position. The zones will often be broken up along the length of a person&#39;s body. 
     A pedestal and one or more legs, collectively referenced by numeral  1300 , may be provided to seat  1100  to elevate the same above an environmental support surface such as a floor or the ground. Further, arm rests (not illustrated) may be coupled with back  1200  or seat  1100  and foot or leg rests (not illustrated) may be coupled with seat  1100  to support or elevate a user&#39;s feet and/or legs. In some cases, the foot or leg rests (not illustrated) could be considered a separate, third zone comprised of a third support structure comparable to the compound support structure of the seat  1100 . 
     Adaptive-support furniture  1000  may be provided in any of a variety of dimensions suitable for supporting either or both of juvenile and adult human users. For example, seat  1100  may be about or approximately 16-24″ by about 12-18″ and could take rectangular or square shapes. In a further example, back  1200  may be about or approximately 16-24″ wide by about or approximately 14-30″ tall. In another example, dimensions of adaptive-support furniture  1000  may be suitable for supporting animals, such as canines, pinnipeds, or bovines. 
     While the first and second frame members  1120  and  1140  may take any of a variety of forms suitable for housing or constraining the ends of support rungs  1110  and for mounting frame member pulleys  1124  and  1144 , in an example, they are substantially planar or plate-like. Similarly, while the first and second frame members  1120  and  1140  may be provided in any of a variety of relative orientations, in an example, they are substantially parallel. By substantially parallel, the first and second frame members may define an angle therebetween of only about 1 or 2 degrees. 
     Support rungs  1110  may take any of a variety of shapes suitable to provide a comfortable, compound support surface to a user of the equipment. Shapes include but are not limited to circular cross-section, elliptical cross-section and rectangular cross-section. 
     Components of adaptive-support furniture  1000  such as support rungs  1110  and frame members  1120  and  1140 , may be formed from any of a variety of strong, durable materials including but not limited to wood, metal, composites or high-density plastics. 
       FIGS.  7 - 9    illustrate additional or alternative adaptive-support equipment which may take the form of adaptive-support furniture  2000 . Adaptive-support furniture  2000  includes several support rungs  2110  with pulleys  2114  and  2118 , a first frame member  2120  with pulleys  2124 , a second frame member  2140  with pulleys  2144 , a first elongate flexible member  2132  and a second elongate flexible member  2134 . 
     Support rungs  2110  span the first  2120  and second  2140  frame members to provide a compound support surface for a user of the adaptive-support furniture  2000  and may be partially housed at first ends by first frame member  2120  and at second ends by second frame member  2140 . 
     Rather than being constrained by frame members  2120  and  2140 , support rungs  2110  may be held together by tethers  2122  and  2142  which limit the spacing between support rungs  2110 . Tether  2122  may hold together or limit the spacing between first ends of support rungs  2110  while tether  2142  may hold together or limit the spacing between second ends of support rungs  2110 . 
     A first set of pulleys  2114  is provided to the first ends of the support rungs  2110 . A second set of pulleys  2124  is provided to first frame member  2120 . First elongate flexible member  2132  is strung back and forth between pulleys  2124  and pulleys  2114  from a front to a rear of seat  2100  to offer an adjustable and adaptable suspension thereof. Threaded through pulleys  2124  and pulleys  2114 , first elongate flexible member  2132  links support rungs  2110  such that motion of the first ends of support rungs  2110  is interdependent. 
     A third set of pulleys  2118  is provided to the second ends of support rungs  2110 . A fourth set of pulleys  2144  is provided to second frame member  2140 . Second elongate flexible member  2134  is strung back and forth between pulleys  2144  and pulleys  2118  from the front to the rear of seat  2100  to offer an adjustable suspension thereof. Threaded through pulleys  2144  and pulleys  2118 , second elongate flexible member  2134  links support rungs  2110  such that motion of the second ends of support rungs  2110  is interdependent. 
     In accordance with the interdependence, movement of one or more of support rungs  2110  in a first direction causes one or more other support rungs  2110  to move in a second direction opposite or substantially opposite the first direction. Elongate flexible members  2132  and  2134 , the pulleys of the frame members  2120  and  2140  and the pulleys of the support rungs  2110  are configured to cooperate to equalize force and/or pressure among support rungs  2110 . 
     Adaptive-support furniture  2000  further includes retraction devices or reels  2152  and  2154  provided to first frame member  2120  and retraction devices or reels  2156  and  2158  provided to second frame member  2140 . Reels  2152 ,  2154 ,  2156  and  2158  are configured to adjust a baseline position of support rungs  2110  by adjusting the length of elongate flexible members threaded through pulleys  2114 ,  2118 ,  2124  and  2144 . 
     For example, rotating reel  2152  in a first direction wraps an increasing length of elongate flexible member  2132  around reel  2152  to decrease the length of the elongate flexible member available for passing around pulleys  2114  and  2124 . This effectively raises the baseline position of the first ends of support rungs  2110 . It follows that rotating reel  2152  in a second direction opposite the first direction results in a decreased length of elongate flexible member  2132  wrapped around reel  2152  thereby increasing the length of the elongate flexible member  2132  available for passing around pulleys  2114  and  2124 . This effectively lowers the baseline position of the first ends of support rungs  2110 . Similar actions of reel  2156  results in similar responses to elongate flexible member  2134  and, thereby, second ends of support rungs  2110 . Supplemental reels  2154  and  2156  similarly adjust the available lengths of elongate flexible members  2132  and  2134 , respectively 
     In a further example, a tensioning device may be provided to level support rungs  2110  to the baseline position when furniture  2000  is not in use. 
     A dog  2153  and biasing member  2155  are configured to selectively prevent movement of reel  2152 . When the resistance of biasing member  2155  is overcome, dog  2153  may be disengaged from a toothed surface of reel  2152  allowing the reel to be rotated to the appropriate position for the preferred baseline level of support rungs  2110 . In an example, biasing member  2155  may be a spring configured to press dog  2153  against the toothed surface of the reel  2152 . A rigid elongate member such as a shaft  2157  may be fixedly coupled between reel  2152  and reel  2156  such that the two reels rotate together. Locking the two reels together encourages balanced levelling or positioning of the first and second ends of support rungs  2110 . 
     In some embodiments, each support rung end is constrained to at most three degrees of freedom. For example, each support rung  2110  may be allowed to rotate about its longitudinal axis and each of the first and second ends may be allowed to translate by tethers  2122  and  2142 . Independent translation of the first and second ends of support rungs  2110  may yield rotation about a horizontal, transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     Support rungs  2110 , frame member  2120 , frame member  2140 , tether  2122  and tether  2142  cooperate to yield a single compound support surface. In an example, this compound support surface may provide a seat  2100  for a chair. One or more additional compound support surfaces may be produced by duplicating these components. For example, with a second compound support surface, a back rest (not illustrated in  FIGS.  7 - 9   ) may be provided to seat  2100 . While the compound support surface of seat  2100  is illustrated by way of example in  FIGS.  7 - 9    as including eleven support rungs  2110 , it will be appreciated that any number of support rungs  2110  suitable for supporting the desired portion or portions of a user&#39;s body may be included. 
     Depending on the body parts to be supported by support rungs  2110 , the compound support surface may be divided into zones so that parts requiring different amounts of support are supported by the different zones. As illustrated, adaptive-support equipment  2000  includes only a single zone. However, by fixing elongate flexible member  2132  at one of the pulleys  2124  and flexible member  2134  at the paired one of pulleys  2144 , two zones can be created. The two zones would not be in communication and support rungs  2110  of the separate zones would behave independently. In this case, there would be front and rear zones of seat  2100 . 
     In another example, the number of elongate flexible members could be multiplied to multiply the number of independent support zones. For example, multiplying the single elongate strand on each side into two strands such that each strand is strung between a subset of the paired pulleys yields two independent zones that each include interdependent support rungs  2110 . This form may be suitable for separately supporting a user&#39;s legs and a user&#39;s torso. 
     A pedestal and one or more legs, collectively referenced by numeral  2300 , may be provided to the seat  2100  to elevate the same above an environmental support surface such as a floor or the ground. Further, arm rests may be coupled with a back portion or seat  2100  and foot or leg rests may be coupled with seat  2100  to support a user&#39;s feet and/or legs. 
     Adaptive-support furniture  2000  may take any of a variety of dimensions suitable for supporting either or both of juvenile and adult human users. For example, seat  2100  may be about or approximately 16-24″ by about 12-18″ and could take rectangular or square shapes. Components of adaptive-support furniture  2000  such as support rungs  2110  and frame members  2120  and  2140  may be formed from any of a variety of strong, durable materials including but not limited to wood, metal, composites or high-density plastics. 
     While the first and second frame members  2120  and  2140  may take any of a variety of forms suitable for housing or limiting the ends of support rungs  2110  and for mounting the frame member pulleys, in an example, they are substantially planar or plate-like. Similarly, while the first and second frame members  2120  and  2140  may be provided in any of a variety of relative orientations, in an example, they are substantially parallel. By substantially parallel, the first and second frame members  2120  and  2140  may define an angle therebetween of only about 1 or 2 degrees. In another example, first and second frame members  2120  and  2140  may resemble bars. 
     Support rungs  2110  may take any of a variety of shapes suitable to provide a comfortable, compound support surface to a user of the equipment including but not limited to circular cross-section, elliptical cross-section and rectangular cross-section. 
       FIGS.  10 - 15    illustrate additional or alternative adaptive-support equipment which may take the form of adaptive support furniture  3000 . Adaptive-support equipment  3000  includes several pistons  3114 , several cylinders  3122  and a reservoir  3124  within a frame  3120 . Pistons  3114  each have a first end received by one of cylinders  3122  and a second end provided with a support rung  3112 . Cylinders  3122  are mounted or otherwise provided to a frame member  3120  and communicate with a reservoir within frame member  3120 . 
     In an example, cylinders  3122  are open to reservoir  3124  and no valves or similar control structure are/is provided between cylinders  3122  and reservoir  3124  so that reservoir  3124  is in unrestricted fluid communication with cylinders  3122 . 
     One or more seals may be provided in an external surface of pistons  3114  or to an internal surface of cylinders  3122  to prevent a fluid held in cylinders  3122  and/or reservoir  3124  from escaping through the spacing between cylinders  3122  and pistons  3114 . In an example, the seals may be gaskets such as O-rings or toric joints. 
     A fluid contained by the reservoir and cylinders links the pistons such that motion of the pistons is interdependent. It follows that support rungs  3112  are also linked such that motion of support rungs  3112  is also interdependent. 
     Reservoir  3124  is configured such that, through a fluid held within reservoir  3124  and cylinders  3122 , relative motion between support rungs  3112  is inversely related. Movement of one or more of support rungs  3112  in a first direction causes one or more other support rungs  3112  to move in a second direction opposite or substantially opposite the first direction. 
     Support rungs  3112  cooperate to yield a single compound support surface. In an example, this compound support surface may provide a seat  3100  for a chair. One or more additional compound support surfaces may be produced by duplicating these components. For example, with a second compound support surface, a back rest may be provided to seat  3100 . While the compound support surface of seat  3100  is illustrated by way of example in  FIGS.  10 - 15    as including nine support rungs  3112 , it will be appreciated that any number of support rungs  3112  suitable for supporting the desired portion or portions of a user&#39;s body may be included. 
     Through a fluid, reservoir  3124 , cylinders  3122  and pistons  3114  are configured to cooperate to equalize, among support rungs  3112 , an external pressure applied thereto. As the fluid is pressed from one cylinder  3122  by a piston  3114  it is redistributed to reservoir  3124  and other cylinders  3122  until an equal force from the fluid stops pistons  3114 . 
     In accordance with the interdependence, movement of one or more of support rungs  3112  in a first direction causes one or more other support rungs  3112  to move in a second direction opposite or substantially opposite the first direction. Cylinders  3122 , reservoir  3124 , a fluid held within reservoir  3124  and pistons  3114  are configured to cooperate to equalize force and/or pressure among pistons  3114  which, in turn, contour support rungs  3112  in accordance with the equalized force and/or pressure. Support rungs  3112  respond to external pressure from a user naturally, without requiring a feedback loop of electronic or digital sensing, analysis of sensor data and activation of powered motors. 
     The baseline position of pistons  3114  and support rungs  3112  is set by adjustment of the volume of fluid held within reservoir  3124 . Increasing the amount of fluid within reservoir  3124  pushes pistons  3122  out to raise support rungs  3112 , while reducing the amount of fluid draws pistons  3122  into lower support rungs  3112 . 
     Depending on the body parts to be supported by support rungs  3112 , the compound support surface may be divided into zones so that parts requiring different amounts of support are supported by the different zones. A zone control or valve  3152  may be provided to selectively prevent fluid communication between groups of the cylinders and/or between volumes/regions of the reservoir. The valve effectively yields two independent zones that each include interdependent support rungs  3112 . With the zone control open, all support members are linked in a constant force and/or pressure state. 
     As illustrated, adaptive-support equipment includes two zones. However, in another example, the number of valves could be multiplied to multiply the number of independent support zones. For example, multiplying the single valve by a number n yields n+1 independent zones that each include interdependent support rungs  3112 . The number of zones will be determined by the ultimate configuration and need of a particular system and body position. The zones will often be broken up along the length of a person&#39;s body. The zones will allow for communication of the support rungs so that they work together to support the person with equal force. 
     Frame member  3120  may be configured to constrain the pistons, for example, to a single dimension of translation. While frame member  3120  may take any of a variety of forms suitable for housing the reservoir and housing or constraining the pistons, in an example, frame member  3120  is substantially planar or plate-like or a relatively thin rectangular prism. 
     Each support rung  3112  may be constrained to at most two degrees of freedom. For example, each support rung  3112  may be allowed to rotate about a central axis of the piston to which it is coupled and each piston may be allowed to translate along the same axis. 
     A pedestal and one or more legs, collectively referenced by numeral  3300 , may be provided to seat  3100  to elevate the same above an environmental support surface such as a floor or the ground. Further, arm rests may be coupled with a back portion or seat  3100  and foot or leg rests may be coupled with the seat  3100  to support a user&#39;s feet and/or legs. 
     Adaptive-support furniture  3000  may take any of a variety of dimensions suitable for supporting either or both of juvenile and adult human users. For example, seat  3100  may be about or approximately 16-24″ by about 12-18″ and could take rectangular or square shapes. 
     Support rungs  3112  may take any of a variety of shapes suitable to provide a comfortable, compound support surface to a user of the equipment. Shapes include but are not limited to circular cross-section, elliptical cross-section and rectangular cross-section. 
     Components of adaptive-support furniture  3100  such as support rungs  3112  and frame member  3120  may be formed from any of a variety of strong, durable materials including but not limited to wood, metal, composites and high-density plastics. In an example, pistons  3114 , cylinders  3122  and reservoir  3124  may include one or more fluid-impermeable materials such as high-density plastics. 
       FIGS.  16 - 20    illustrate additional or alternative adaptive-support equipment which may take the form of furniture  4000 . The adaptive-support furniture  4000  includes several pistons  4114 , several pulleys  4116  and  4126 , at least one frame member  4120  and an elongate flexible member  4132 . 
     Pistons  4114  each have a first end provided with a support rung  4112  and a second end provided with pulleys  4116 . Pistons  4114  are at least partially housed by frame member  4120 . In an example, pistons  4114  together with support rungs  4112  resemble a ‘T’ shape in profile with support rungs  4112  being substantially, approximately or about perpendicular with pistons  4114  to provide a compound support surface for a user of the adaptive-support equipment. By substantially, approximately or about perpendicular, support rungs  4112  may define an angle of between from 87 to 93 degrees with pistons  4114 . 
     Frame member  4120  may be configured to constrain motion of pistons  4114 , for example, to a single dimension of translation. Pistons  4114  may be constrained by several receptacles or bores (not visible) through frame member  4120  with the first ends extending from a first side, such as the bottom of frame member  4120  and the second ends extending from an opposite second side, such as the top, thereof. The receptacles or bores of frame member  4120  are configured to enable movement of pistons  4114  along a central axis of pistons  4114 . Bushings may be provided within the receptacles to facilitate free movement of the pistons  4114  therewithin. Each support rung  4112  is constrained to at most two degrees of freedom. For example, each support rung may be allowed to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the piston and may be allowed to translate towards and away from frame member  4120  as pistons  4114  translate within the receptacles or bores of frame member  4120 . 
     Two or more of the receptacles or bores may be relatively angled. For example, a first receptacle or bore may be vertical when furniture  4000  is placed in a horizontal orientation, a second receptacle or bore may be angled a few degrees relative to the first receptacle or bore and a third receptacle or bore may be angled a few degrees relative to the second receptacle or bore. 
     Pulleys  4126  are provided to the at least one frame member  4120 , for example, between the receptacles or bores. A first elongate flexible member  4132  is strung/threaded back and forth between pulleys  4126  of frame member  4120  on one side thereof and pulleys  4116  of pistons  4114  on one side thereof to offer an adjustable suspension of pistons  4114 . Threaded through pulleys  4126  of frame member  4120  and pulleys  4116 , elongate flexible member  4132  links pistons  4114  such that motion of pistons  4114  is interdependent. It follows that support rungs  4112  are also linked such that motion of support rungs  4112  is similarly interdependent. 
     In accordance with the interdependence, relative motion of support rungs  4112  is inversely related such that movement of one or more of support rungs  4112  in a first direction causes one or more other support rungs  4112  to move in a second direction opposite or substantially opposite the first direction. Elongate flexible member  4132 , pulleys  4126  of frame member  4120  and pulleys  4116  of pistons  4114  are configured to cooperate to equalize force and/or pressure among support rungs  4112 . 
     As with the example frame members  1120 ,  1140 ,  2120  and  2140  of  FIGS.  1 - 9   , while frame member  4120  of the adaptive-support equipment may take any of a variety of forms suitable for housing or constraining pistons  4114  and for mounting the frame member pulleys, in an example, it is substantially planar and may be plate-like. 
     Adaptive-support furniture  4000  further includes retraction devices or reels  4152  provided to frame member  4120  and configured to adjust a baseline position of support rungs  4112  by adjusting the length of elongate flexible member  4132  threaded through pulleys  4126  and support rungs  4112 . For example, rotating reel  4152  in a first direction wraps an increasing length of elongate flexible member  4132  around reel  4152  to thereby decrease the length of elongate flexible member  4132  available for passing around pulleys  4116  and  4126 . This effectively raises the baseline position of support rungs  4112 . Rotating reel  4152  in a second direction opposite the first direction results in a decreased length of elongate flexible member  4132  wrapped around reel  4152  thereby increasing the length of elongate flexible member  4132  available for passing around pulleys  4116  and  4126 . This effectively lowers the baseline position of support rungs  4112 . In a further example, a tensioning device may be provided to level support rungs  4112  to the baseline position when furniture  4000  is not in use. 
     Support rungs  4112  cooperate to yield a single compound support surface. In an example, this compound support surface may provide a seat  4100  for a chair. One or more additional compound support surfaces may be produced by duplicating these components. For example, with a second compound support surface, a back  4200  may be provided to seat  4100 . While the compound support surface of seat  4100  is illustrated by way of example in  FIGS.  16 - 20    as including eleven support rungs  4112 , it will be appreciated that any number of support rungs  4112  suitable for supporting the desired portion or portions of a user&#39;s body may be included. Similarly, while back rest  4200  is illustrated by way of example as including eleven support rungs  4112 , it will be appreciated that any suitable number of support rungs  4112  may be included. 
     Depending on the body parts to be supported by support rungs  4112 , the compound support surface may be divided into zones so that parts requiring different amounts of support are supported by the different zones. In an example, the number of elongate flexible members could be multiplied to multiply the number of independent support zones. For example, multiplying the single elongate strand on each side into two strands such that each strand is strung between a subset of the paired pulleys  4116  and  4126  yields two independent zones that each include interdependent support rungs  4112 . This form may be suitable for separately supporting a user&#39;s legs and a user&#39;s torso. 
     A pedestal and one or more legs, collectively referenced by numeral  4300 , may be provided to seat  4100  to elevate the same above an environmental support surface such as a floor or the ground. Further, arm rests may be coupled with a back portion or seat  4100  and foot or leg rests may be coupled with seat  4100  to support a user&#39;s feet and/or legs. 
     In another example (not illustrated), a second elongate member may be strung back and forth between pulleys provided to a second side of the frame member and pulleys provided to a second side of pistons to offer additional stability and/or support. 
     Adaptive-support furniture  4000  may take any of a variety of dimensions suitable for supporting either or both of juvenile and adult human users. For example, the seat  4100  may be about or approximately 16-24″ by about 12-18″ and could take rectangular or square shapes. In a further example, the back  4200  may be about or approximately 16-24″ wide by about or approximately 14-30″ tall. In another example, dimensions of the adaptive-support furniture  4000  may be suitable for supporting animals. 
     Support rungs  3112  may take any of a variety of shapes suitable to provide a comfortable, compound support surface to a user of the equipment. Shapes include but are not limited to circular cross-section, elliptical cross-section and rectangular cross-section. 
     Components of adaptive-support furniture  4000  such as support rungs  4112  and frame member  4120  may be formed from any of a variety of strong, durable materials including but not limited to wood, metal, composites or high-density plastics. 
     Elongate flexible members disclosed with reference to  FIGS.  1 - 9  &amp;  16 - 19    may take the form of strings, strands, threads, cords, cables, ropes, belts or bands. 
     Again referring to the support furniture of  FIGS.  1 - 9  &amp;  16 - 19   , it should be noted that while a pulley is often considered to be a device which rotates about an axis to support an elongate flexible member and/or change direction of the elongate flexible member, provided they enable a change of direction of an elongate flexible member and are sufficiently smooth to facilitate relative motion between the elongate flexible member and the pulleys, disclosed pulleys need not rotate. The pulleys may be made of a low friction material and/or include bearing or similar construction. 
     While equipment  1000 ,  2000 ,  3000  and  4000  have been separately described, the disclosure anticipates combining one or more features of one of these with one or more features of another of these. For example, it may be suitable or desirable to combine seat  1100  of equipment  1000  with back  4200  of equipment  4000  or vice versa. Further, it may be suitable or desirable to combine seat  3100  of equipment  3000  with back  1200  of equipment  1000  or vice versa. Similarly, it may be suitable or desirable to combine seat  3100  of equipment  3000  with back  4200 . Further still, it may be suitable or desirable to eliminate back  1200  from equipment  1000 , to eliminate back  4200  from equipment  4000 , to add a back to seat  3100  of equipment  3000  or to add a back to seat  2100  of equipment  2000 . 
     Embodiments of the disclosure are susceptible to being used for various purposes, including, though not limited to, enabling users to provide support solutions for people in any orientation. This applies to people in semi standing positions, to seated, to reclined, and to prone. 
     Modifications to embodiments of the disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “consisting of”, “have”, “is” used to describe and claim disclosed features are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural.