Patent ID: 8573688

Claim:
A seating device ( 20 ) that may be reconfigured in use without destroying the utility of said device ( 20 ) as a body support, said device ( 20 ) comprising: a seat surface ( 24 ) for supporting a human body in a sitting posture; a support structure ( 26 ) for supporting said seat surface ( 24 ) at an elevated position above a floor surface; a moveable arm ( 40 ) having upper ( 42 ) and lower ( 44 ) ends, said lower end ( 44 ) moveably connected to said support structure ( 26 ) and said upper end ( 42 ) extending laterally outwardly and upwardly therefrom in a deployed condition; a document shelf ( 22 ) connected to said upper end ( 42 ) of said moveable arm ( 40 ) in said deployed condition to support documents at a convenient reading distance laterally elevated relative to said seat surface ( 24 ) while said seat surface ( 24 ) supports a human body; a recessable joint ( 46 ) connecting said document shelf ( 22 ) and said moveable arm ( 40 ), said recessable joint ( 46 ) moveable to a tucked position below said seat surface ( 24 ) in conjunction with reconfiguration of said document shelf ( 22 ) to a stowed condition adjacent said seat surface ( 24 ), wherein the functionality of said seat surface ( 24 ) as a body support is substantially unimpeded when said document shelf ( 22 ) is in either of said stowed and deployed conditions; and a fixed seat ( 24 ) defining said seat surface ( 24 ) for supporting a human body in a sitting posture; said document shelf ( 22 ) nestling with said fixed seat ( 24 ) when said device ( 20 ) is disposed in said stowed condition; wherein said document shelf ( 22 ) overlies said fixed seat ( 24 ) when said device ( 20 ) is disposed in said stowed condition.