Patent Publication Number: US-2022211182-A1

Title: Body support

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 16/748,970 filed Jan. 22, 2020. The &#39;970 application is a continuation of International patent application number PCT/CA/2019/050487 filed Apr. 18, 2019, which in turn claims the priority of each of U.S. Ser. No. 62/660,543 filed Apr. 20, 2018, U.S. Ser. No. 62/718,419 filed Aug. 14, 2018 and U.S. Ser. No. 62/720,254 filed Aug. 21, 2018. The present application also claims the priority of U.S. Ser. No. 62/795,129 filed Jan. 22, 2019, U.S. Ser. No 62/879,560 filed Jul. 29, 2019 and U.S. Ser. No. 62/942,975 filed Dec. 3, 2019, all of which are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The invention relates to the field of seating. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is well known to place chairs or benches in waiting areas where space permits but space does not always so permit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Forming one aspect of the invention is apparatus for use with a wall and by a person leaning against the wall. This apparatus comprises: a receiver mounted in use to the wall; a support having an operative position whereat the support follows the curvature of the buttocks of the person; and a mechanism adapted to suspend the support from the receiver at the operative position. 
     According to another aspect, the mechanism can be adapted, in use, to permit the height of the support to be adjusted. 
     Advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description, with reference to the drawings, briefly described hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus, with internal parts shown in phantom; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded rear view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side transparent view of the structure of encircled area  4  of  FIG. 3  positioned for use against a wall, the support being disposed at a locking, fully lowered position relative to the receiver; 
         FIG. 5  is a transparent view of the structure of encircled area  5  of  FIG. 3  assembled for use with the structure of  FIG. 4 , the support being disposed at a release, fully lowered position relative to the receiver; 
         FIG. 6  is a view of the structure of  FIG. 5 , the support being disposed at a release, fully raised position relative to the receiver; 
         FIG. 7  is a view of the structure of  FIG. 6 , the support being disposed at a locking, fully raised position relative to the receiver; 
         FIG. 8  is a view of the structure of  FIG. 7  in use. 
         FIG. 9A  is a front, top, left perspective view of another embodiment; 
         FIG. 9B  is a rear, left, top perspective view of the structure of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 9C  is a top view of the structure of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 9D  is a right side view of the structure of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 9E  is a bottom, right, front view of the structure of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 9F  is a front view of the structure of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 9G  is a bottom view of the structure of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 9H  is a rear view of the structure of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 9I  is a left side view of the structure of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 10A  is a front exploded view of the structure of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 10B  is a rear exploded view of the structure of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 11A  is a view of the structure of encircled area  11 A of  FIG. 10A  assembled for use; 
         FIG. 11B  is a view of the structure of encircled area  11 B positioned for use with the structure of  FIG. 11A ; 
         FIG. 11C  is a view of the structure of  FIG. 11B  assembled for use; 
         FIG. 11D  is a rear view of the structure of  FIG. 11C ; 
         FIG. 11E  is an enlarged view of the structure of encircled area  11 E of 
         FIG. 11D ; 
         FIG. 11F  is a side view of the structure of  FIG. 11E ; 
         FIG. 12A  is a view similar to  FIG. 11F , with arm  56  pivoted; 
         FIG. 12B  is a view similar to  FIG. 11D  of the structure of  FIG. 12A ; 
         FIG. 12C  is a view similar to  FIG. 11E  of the structure of  FIG. 12A ; 
         FIG. 13A  is a view of the structure of  FIG. 12C  with portions repositioned; 
         FIG. 13B  is a view of the structure of encircled area  13 B of  FIG. 10A  positioned for use with the structure of  FIG. 13A ; 
         FIG. 13C  is a view of the structure of  FIG. 13B  assembled for use; 
         FIG. 14  is a view of the structure of encircled area  14  of  FIG. 10A  positioned for use with the structure of  FIG. 13C ; and 
         FIG. 15  is a view of the structure of  FIG. 14  assembled for use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The exemplary apparatus  20  shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3  will be understood to comprise a receiver  22 , a support  24  and a mechanism  26 . 
     The exemplary receiver  22  is metal and comprises a backer plate  28  and a pair of flanges  30  extending from the backer plate  28  in spaced, parallel relation to one another. Mounting holes  32 A, 32 B are defined in opposite ends of the backer plate  28  and each flange has apertures  34 A, 34 B disposed in opposite ends. 
     The support  24  has a contoured plastic body  36  in which a socket  38  is defined and further has a resilient foam cover  40  which is adapted for snap-fit engagement with the body  36 . 
     The mechanism  26  comprises a pair of protuberances  42 , 44 , a metal capture plate  46  and a metal toothed plate  48 . 
     Each of the pair of protuberances  42 , 44  will be seen to be defined by a bolt  42 A, 44 A that extends between a pair of the mounting holes in the flanges  30  and is received by a nut  42 B, 44 B. 
     The capture plate  46  is over molded within body  36  and defines, in combination with body  36 , a channel  50  in which bolt  42 A is captured. 
     The toothed plate  48  is also overmolded within body  36  and defines a plurality of grooved sockets  52 . 
     For use:
         Backer plate  28  is placed against a wall  54  and a fastener  56  is passed through socket  38  and through upper mounting hole  32 A into the wall  54 , such that protuberances  42 ,  44  extend horizontally, are vertically spaced from one another and horizontally spaced from one another, as shown in  FIG. 4 ;   Cover  40  is snapped into place on body  36  and support  24  is pivoted to a release position, as shown in  FIG. 5 ;   support  24  is raised to a fully raised position as shown in  FIG. 6 , and a further fastener  56  is passed through lower mounting hole  32 B into the wall, thereby to rigidly secure receiver to the wall; and   support is pivoted to the locking position, whereat protuberance  44  engages one of sockets  52 , thereby to resist further vertical movement, as shown in  FIG. 7 .       

     The apparatus is shown in use by a person in  FIG. 8  and it will be seen, in use, that the surface of cover  40  generally follows the curvature of the buttocks of the person  58 . 
     Whereas a single person and a single height of the support is shown in  FIG. 8 , it will be appreciated that, by virtue of the plurality of sockets  52 , the height of the support can be adjusted, thereby to permit use by persons of varying height. 
     A further embodiment  20 ′ is shown in  FIGS. 9A-15 . 
     In this embodiment, a modified receiver  22 ′ is provided, as is a modified support  24 ′ and a modified cover  40 ′, all as best seen in  FIGS. 10A and 10B . 
     This receiver  22 ′ includes a mounting plate  51 , a slider  53  and a lever  55 . 
     Plate  51  has a plurality of teeth  56  as seen for example in  FIG. 11D . 
     Slider  53  is slidably mounted to mounting plate  51 . 
     Lever  55  is pivotably mounted to slider  53  and terminates in a pintle  59 . 
     For use, support  24 ′ is secured to plate  51  by nuts  56  and bolts  58  such that apertures  60 A in support  24 ′ are aligned with apertures  62 A in mounting plate  51 , as indicated by  FIG. 11A , and mounting bolts  64  are passed through both and secured to a wall (not shown), as indicated by  FIGS. 11B and 11C . 
     Thereafter, lever  55  is pivoted rearwardly, thereby to release pintle  59  from teeth  56 , as indicated by the sequence of  FIG. 11F and 12A  and by the sequence of  FIGS. 11E and 12C , whereupon support  24 ′ and slider  53  can be moved relative to receiver  22 ′ to bring apertures  60 B in support  24 ′ into alignment with apertures  62 B in mounting plate  51  and bolts  66  can be passed therethough into the wall, as indicated by  FIGS. 13B and 13C . [Support  24 ′ can thereafter be placed into any desired vertical position relative to receiver  22 ′ by commensurate movement of lever  55 .] 
     Cover  40 ′ can be secured to support  24 ′ by bolts  70  to complete the installation. 
     Whereas two embodiments are illustrated, it will be evident that variations are possible. 
     For example, securement mechanisms, such as hook and loop fasteners could be used to secure the cover to the support. 
     Additionally, other adjusters, such as linear actuators could be used. 
     Further, whereas in the second embodiment, the cover is secured to the support with bolts that remain visible in the finished product, plugs could be used to conceal the bolt heads. 
     Accordingly, the invention will be understood to be limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.