Moveable seat

1. A positionable seat ( 10 ) comprising:

a seat base ( 15 ) having a back end ( 30 ), an opposing front end ( 35 ), a first side ( 40 ) extending between the back end ( 30 ) and the front end ( 35 ), a second side ( 45 ) extending between the back end ( 30 ) and the front end ( 35 ), and a top surface ( 32 );

a cantilever connection device ( 20 ) having a first end affixed to the seat base ( 15 ) and a second end rotatably secured to a support structure ( 25 ) where an axis of rotation ( 70 ) about which the second end of the cantilever connection device ( 20 ) rotates is located above the seat base ( 15 ) such that the seat base ( 15 ) is between a floor and the axis of rotation ( 70 ) when the seat base ( 15 ) is at a seated position; and

wherein the cantilever connection device ( 20 ) supports the seat base ( 15 ) and guides the seat base ( 15 ) along a travel path ( 95 ) between the seated position where the seat base ( 15 ) is located for a user to sit upon the seat base ( 15 ) with the user supported by the cantilever connection device ( 20 ) and the top surface ( 32 ) of the seat base ( 15 ) and (ii) a standing position where the seat base ( 15 ) is located for a user to lean against the top surface ( 32 ) of the seat base ( 15 ) with the user supported by the cantilever connection device ( 20 ) and the top surface ( 32 ) of the seat base ( 15 ).

2. A positionable seat ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an adjustment mechanism ( 90 ) operatively connected to the positionable seat ( 10 ), wherein the adjustment mechanism ( 90 ) releasably lockably secures the seat base ( 15 ) in at least the seated position and the standing position along the travel path ( 95 ).

3. A positionable seat ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein:

an end of the adjustment mechanism ( 90 ) is moveably secured to the seat base ( 15 ) for movement between a back position and a front position;

the adjustment mechanism ( 90 ) urges the back end ( 30 ) of the seat base ( 15 ) away from a floor when the adjustment mechanism ( 90 ) end is at the back position; and

the adjustment mechanism ( 90 ) urges the front end ( 35 ) of the seat base ( 15 ) away from a floor when the adjustment mechanism ( 90 ) end is at the front position.

4. A positionable seat ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein:

the adjustment mechanism ( 390 ) comprises a shaft ( 350 ) having a longitudinal axis ( 370 ) and bearing a first set of splines ( 353 ), wherein the shaft ( 350 ) is connected to the cantilever connection device ( 320 ) second end; and

the adjustment mechanism ( 390 ) further comprises a shaft receiver ( 381 ) affixed to the support structure ( 325 ) wherein the shaft receiver ( 381 ) includes a second set of splines shaped and sized to engage the first set of splines ( 353 );

wherein the shaft ( 350 ) is mounted for longitudinal translation with respect to the shaft receiver ( 381 ) such that translational movement of the shaft ( 350 ) to a first position engages the first ( 353 ) and second sets of splines to prevent rotation of the shaft ( 350 ) about its longitudinal axis ( 270 ) and translational movement of the shaft ( 350 ) to a second position disengages the second set of splines from the first set of splines ( 353 ) to enable the shaft ( 350 ) to rotate about its longitudinal axis ( 370 ).

5. A positionable seat ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the travel path ( 95 ) comprises an arc of a circle.

6. A positionable seat ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a seat support ( 100 ) attached to a portion of the support structure ( 25 );

wherein the seat support ( 100 ) engages the back end ( 30 ) of the seat base ( 15 ) and bears at least a portion of a weight placed on the seat base ( 15 ) when the seat base ( 15 ) is at the seated position.

7. A positionable seat ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a back rest ( 110 ) affixed to a portion of the support structure ( 25 ).

8. A positionable seat ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the support structure ( 25 ) comprises a first wall ( 25 ), and wherein the first wall ( 25 ) comprises an inside wall portion ( 55 ) and an outside wall portion ( 60 ) where the inside wall portion ( 55 ) is located between the seat base ( 15 ) and the outside wall portion ( 60 ).

9. A positionable seat ( 10 ) according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a pivot shaft ( 50 ) having a first end connected to the second end of the cantilever connection device ( 20 );

a pivot plate ( 80 ) affixed to the outside wall portion ( 60 ) of the first wall ( 25 ); and

a pivot bearing ( 65 ) affixed to the inside wall portion ( 55 ) of the first wall ( 25 );

wherein the pivot shaft ( 50 ) passes through the pivot bearing ( 65 ) which supports the pivot shaft ( 50 ) for rotation about its longitudinal axis ( 70 ) and hinders the pivot shaft ( 50 ) from moving towards or away from a floor; and

wherein a second end of the pivot shaft ( 50 ) is rotationally supported by the pivot plate ( 80 ) which cooperates with the pivot bearing ( 65 ) and hinders the pivot shaft ( 50 ) from moving towards or away from a floor.

10. A positionable seat ( 10 ) according to claim 9 , wherein the pivot plate ( 80 ) is further supported by an internal wall structure ( 75 ).

11. A positionable seat ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein:

the cantilever connection device ( 20 ) first end is slidably affixed to the first Side ( 40 ) of the seat base ( 15 ) such that the position of the seat base ( 15 ) may be adjusted with respect to the first end of the cantilever connection device ( 20 ) and thus adjust the height of the seat base ( 15 ) above a floor when the seat base ( 15 ) is at the standing position.

12. A positionable seat ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein:

the seat base ( 15 , 415 ) back end ( 30 , 430 ) includes a back end portion that is moveable away from and toward a center portion of the seat base ( 15 , 415 ).

13. A positionable seat ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein:

the seat base ( 15 , 515 ) back end ( 30 , 530 ) includes a back end portion that is selectively adjustable to incline or decline with respect to a top surface of the seat base ( 15 , 515 ); or

the seat base ( 15 , 515 ) front end ( 35 , 535 ) includes a front end portion that is selectively adjustable to incline or decline with respect to a top surface of the seat base ( 15 , 515 ).

14. A positionable seat ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein:

the top surface ( 32 ) of the seat base ( 15 ) is positioned to engage a user's back when the seat base ( 15 ) is at the standing position.