An active chair

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an active chair, comprising a) a base from which one or more columns extend to support a seat and a backrest, which comprise two or more movable support members configured to move about one or more axes, each movable support member supports one or more body portions of a person seated on said active chair, wherein said base further comprises one or two footrests configured to support a seated person's feet, and a driving mechanism adapted with multiple motor units engaged with said footrests providing an independent drive that motivates the travel of one or both footrests relative to said base, b) one or more power units configured to support said movable support members and to allow their motion about two or more axes, c) a control module, configured to activate one or more of said motor units, and d) power supply module, which supplies power to the power-consuming components of said active chair, wherein the independent drive of said one or both footrests facilitates an initial guided travel thereof relative to said base, that promotes movements of a seated person's feet supported thereby and, therethrough, corresponding movements of one or more of said one or more movable support members of said seat and backrest about two or more axes

Description

ALON-OOl PCTAN ACTIVE CHAIRFIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of seating systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to active seating arrangements designed to provide dynamic support for individuals during prolonged periods of sitting.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Prolonged sitting is associated with various health risks, including musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome. Nevertheless, in the modern way of life and work environments, many individuals spend substantial time in sedentary positions, often experiencing discomfort and pain.

[0003] Existing office chairs may offer limited adjustments but are merely designed to provide adaptations to the user's body while maintaining static support. Other existing solutions, such as standing desks and ergonomic chairs, may force some extent of physical activity. However, they do not provide a remedy for persons who are required to be seated for extended periods of time nor mitigate the health risks associated with prolonged static sitting (or standing).

[0004] The present invention is directed at providing a solution for persons who are statically supported for extended periods of time.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In one aspect, the invention relates to an active chair, comprising: a) a base that supports a seat and a backrest, which comprise one or more movable support members configured to move about one or more axes, wherein each movable support member supports one or more body portions of a person seated on said active chair, b) a driving mechanism that comprises one or more power units adapted with one or more motor units, each of which is configured to drive one or more of said one or more movable support members to move about one or more axes, c) a control module, configured to activate one or more of said one or more motor units, and d) a power supply module, which supplies power to the power-consuming components of said active chair, wherein said active chair is configured to promote motion ofALON-OOl PCT one or more body portions of a person seated thereon, by operating said control module to activate one or more of said motor units to drive one or more support members that support said one or more body portions of the seated person.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the active chair comprises: a) a base from which one or more columns extend to support a seat and a backrest, which comprise two or more movable support members configured to move about one or more axes, each movable support member supports one or more body portions of a person seated on said active chair, wherein said base further comprises one or two footrests configured to support a seated person’s feet, and a driving mechanism adapted with multiple motor units engaged with said footrests providing an independent drive that motivates the travel of one or both footrests relative to said base, b) one or more power units configured to support said movable support members and to allow their motion about one, two, or more axes, c) a control module, configured to activate one or more of said motor units, and d) a power supply module, which supplies power to the power-consuming components of said active chair, wherein the independent drive of said one or both footrests facilitates an initial guided travel thereof relative to said base, that promotes movements of a seated person’s feet supported thereby and, therethrough, corresponding movements of one or more of said one or more movable support members of said seat and backrest about one, two, or more axes.

[0007] In another embodiment of the present invention, the active chair comprises: a) a base from which one or more columns extend to support a seat and a backrest, which comprise two or more movable support members configured to move about one, two, or more axes, each movable support member supports one or more body portions of a person seated on said active chair, wherein said base further comprises one or two footrests configured to support a seated person's feet, and a driving mechanism adapted with multiple motor units engaged with said footrests providing an independent drive that motivates the travel of one or both footrests relative to said base, b) one or more power units configured to support said movable support members and to allow their motion about one, two, or more axes, c) a control module, configured to activate one or more of said motor units, d) a power supply module, which supplies power to the power-consuming components of said active chair, and e) one or more sensors configured to detect one or more of the seated person's physiological parameters,ALON-OOl PCT wherein the independent drive of said one or both footrests facilitates an initial guided travel thereof relative to said base, that promotes movements of a seated person's feet supported thereby and, therethrough, corresponding movements of one or more of said one or more movable support members of said seat and backrest about one, two, or more axes.

[0008] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the active chair comprises: a) a base from which one or more columns extend to support a seat and a backrest, which comprise two or more movable support members configured to move about one or more axes, each movable support member supports one or more body portions of a person seated on said active chair, wherein said base further comprises one or two footrests configured to support a seated person's feet, and a driving mechanism adapted with multiple motor units engaged with said footrests providing an independent drive that motivates the travel of one or both footrests relative to said base, wherein each of the one or more footrests comprises two separate surfaces, separately supporting the feet and the toes, b) one or more power units configured to support said movable support members and to allow their motion about one, two, or more axes; c) a control module, configured to activate one or more of said motor units; and d) a power supply module, which supplies power to the power-consuming components of said active chair, wherein the independent drive of said one or both footrests facilitates an initial guided travel thereof relative to said base, that promotes movements of a seated person's feet supported thereby and, therethrough, corresponding movements of one or more of said one or more movable support members of said seat and backrest about one, two, or more axes.

[0009] In certain embodiments of the present invention, the active chair comprises: a) a base from which one or more columns extend to support a seat and a backrest, which comprise two or more movable support members configured to move about one or more axes, each movable support member supports one or more body portions of a person seated on said active chair, wherein said base further comprises one or two footrests configured to support a seated person's feet, and a driving mechanism adapted with multiple motor units engaged with said footrests providing an independent drive that motivates the travel of one or both footrests relative to said base; b) one or more power units configured to support said movable support members and to allow their motion about one, two, or more axes; c) a control module, configured to activate one or more of said motor units; d) a power supply module, which supplies power to the power-ALON-OOl PCT consuming components of said active chair; and e) one or more resistance sensors configured to detect resistance to one or more predetermined movements, wherein the control module is configured to halt the corresponding motor unit or power unit upon detection of a resistance force / moment that exceeds a predetermined threshold; wherein the independent drive of said one or both footrests facilitates an initial guided travel thereof relative to said base, that promotes movements of a seated person's feet supported thereby and, therethrough, corresponding movements of one or more of said one or more movable support members of said seat and backrest about one, two, or more axes.

[0010] In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for activating the body of a seated person, comprising: a) providing an active chair comprising: i) a base that supports a seat and a backrest, which comprise one or more movable support members configured to move about one or more axes, wherein each movable support member supports one or more body portions of a person seated on said active chair, ii) a driving mechanism that comprises one or more power units adapted with one or more motor units, each of which is configured to drive one or more of said one or more movable support members to move about one or more axes, iii) a control module, configured to activate one or more of said one or more motor units, and iv) a power supply module, which supplies power to the power-consuming components of said active chair, and b) promoting movements of one or more body portions of a person seated on said active chair, by operating said control module to activate one or more of said motor units to drive one or more support members that support said one or more body portions of the seated person.

[0007] In certain embodiments of the present invention, the method for activating the body of a seated person comprises: a) providing an active chair comprising i) a base from which one or more columns extend to support a seat and a backrest, which that includes two or more movable support members configured to move about one or more axes, each movable support member supports one or more body portions of a person seated on said active chair, wherein said base further includes one or two footrests configured to support a seated person’s feet, and a driving mechanism adapted with multiple motor units engaged with said footrests providing an independent drive that motivates the travel of one or both footrests relative to said base, ii) one or more power units configured to support said one or more movable support members and toALON-OOl PCT allow their motion about one, two, or more axes, iii) a control module, configured to activate one or more of said motor units, and iv) a power supply module, which supplies power to the power-consuming components of said active chair, wherein operating said control module to activate one or more of said motor units to motivate an initial guided travel of one or both footrests relative to said base, thereby promoting movements of the supported seated person’s feet and, therethrough, corresponding movements of one or more of said one or more movable support members of said seat and backrest and, therewith, further body portions of the seated person.

[0011] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the method for activating the body of a seated person comprises: a) providing an active chair comprising: i) a base that supports a seat and a backrest, which comprise one or more movable support members configured to move about one or more axes, wherein each movable support member supports one or more body portions of a person seated on said active chair, ii) a driving mechanism that comprises one or more power units adapted with one or more motor units, each of which is configured to drive one or more of said one or more movable support members to move about one or more axes, iii) a control module, configured to activate one or more of said one or more motor units, and iv) a power supply module, which supplies power to the power-consuming components of said active chair; b) promoting movements of one or more body portions of a person seated on said active chair, by operating said control module to activate one or more of said motor units to drive one or more support members that support said one or more body portions of the seated person; and c) detecting one or more physiological parameters of a person seated on the active chair by one or more sensors.

[0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, the method for activating the body of a seated person comprises: a) providing an active chair comprising sensors and movable support members driven by motor units; b) operating a control module to activate one or more of the motor units to promote movements of one or more body portions of a person seated on said active chair; c) detecting one or more physiological parameters of the seated person using the sensors; d) processing collected data to infer the relation between the exerted movements and the physiological parameters; and e) adapting the movement schemes promoted by the motor units to obtain a desired effect on the seated person's physiological parameters.ALON-OOl PCT

[0013] In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a portable active chair kit, comprising: a) an active seat module configured to be removably placed on a seat of an existing chair, said active seat module comprising: i) a seat base; and ii) two or more movable seat sections movably connected to said seat base, wherein said movable seat sections are configured to support body portions of a person seated thereon; and b) a footrest support module, configured to be placed in front of the existing chair, said footrest support module comprising: i) one or more footrest units configured to support one or more feet of the person; and ii) one or more extension-retraction mechanisms configured to extend and retract said footrest units; wherein the powered elevation or descent of said one or more footrest units induces a corresponding passive tilting movement of one or more of said movable seat sections of said active seat module.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the portable active chair kit comprises: a) an active seat module configured to be removably placed on a seat of an existing chair, said active seat module comprising: i) a seat base; and ii) two or more movable seat sections movably connected to said seat base, wherein said movable seat sections are configured to support body portions of a person seated thereon; and b) a footrest support module, configured to be placed in front of the existing chair, said footrest support module comprising: i) one or more footrest units configured to support one or more feet of the person; and ii) one or more extension-retraction mechanisms configured to extend and retract said footrest units, wherein at least one of the extension-retraction mechanisms is a powered mechanism selected from the group consisting of: electromechanical mechanisms, electromagnetic mechanisms, hydraulic mechanisms, and / or pneumatic mechanisms, and combinations thereof; wherein the powered elevation or descent of said one or more footrest units induces a corresponding passive tilting movement of one or more of said movable seat sections of said active seat module.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] For a better understanding of various embodiments of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference is made, by way of example, to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which:ALON-OOl PCT

[0016] Figs. 1A-1B illustrate a perspective view of an active chair, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figs. 2A-2B illustrate a vertical movement of an active chair’s pedestal relative to its base, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figs. 2C-2D illustrate a forward / rearward movement of an active chair’s seat relative to its backrest, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figs. 3A-3B illustrate a forward (Fig. 3 A) and rearward (Fig. 3B) tilt movement of an active chair’s seat, along with its backrest, footrests, and armrests, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figs. 4A-4B illustrate exemplary linear and rotational movements of an active chair’s footrests, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figs. 5A-5B illustrate tilt movements of an active chair’s footrests, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figs. 6A-6B illustrate tilt movements of independent toe supports of an active chair’ s footrests, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figs. 7A-7B illustrate optional narrowing (Fig. 7A) and widening (Fig. 7B) movements of corresponding movable support members of the left and right portions of an active chair, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figs. 8A-8B illustrate an active chair that promotes spreading (Fig. 8A) and joining (Fig. 8B) movements of its seat sections, along with its footrests and armrests, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figs. 9A-9C illustrate rollable objects embedded in backrest support surfaces of an active chair, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figs. 10A-10B illustrate rollable objects embedded in a footrest support surface of an active chair, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figs. 11A-11B illustrate an alternative configuration of an active chair, according to certain embodiments of the present invention;

[0028] Figs. 12-14 illustrate examples of derived courses of motion motivated by the active chair of Figs. 11A-11B; and

[0029] Figs. 15A-15D illustrate a portable active chair kit, according to certain embodiments of the present invention.ALON-OOl PCT

[0030] In the above drawings, structural details of the invention are shown to provide a fundamental understanding of the invention, where the following detailed description, taken with the drawings, makes apparent to those skilled in the art how several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The present invention relates to an active chair that provides dynamic support to a seated person during prolonged sitting. The proposed active chair comprises one or more movable support members that support the body portions of a seated person while causing these supported body portions to move.

[0032] In certain embodiments of the present invention, the abovementioned movable support members may comprise one or more movable sections pertaining to the active chair’s seat and / or backrest, or any other member of the active chair that supports body portions of a person seated thereon. This may also include detachable and add-on members such as armrests and leg / foot supports. The movable support members are driven to move linearly / rotatably relative to one or more axes in accordance with predetermined movements of intended body portions.

[0033] Accordingly, while the proposed active chair may be used as a regular chair where a substantial portion of the seated person is static, it also facilitates a dynamic sitting state in which one or more of the active chair’s movable members are activated to promote temporal / continuous movement of the seated person or parts thereof. Thus, when a person sits on the proposed active chair for extended periods of time (such as during prolonged work in front of a computer or any other task that requires prolonged sitting), the proposed active chair may reduce risks associated with prolonged static sitting.

[0034] In the following detailed description, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention are discussed and illustrated, where references are made to accompanying drawings. These embodiments and accompanying drawings should be understood as non-limiting examples of implementing the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as “optionally“, “for instance”, “for example”, “exemplary”, “e.g.,”, “may”, etc., refer to optional features being selected in certain embodiments of the invention for the sake of simplicity and clarity ofALON-OOl PCT explanation. However, it should be understood that optional features mentioned in different embodiments may be used, in conjunction and / or separately, to implement further embodiments of the present invention.

[0035] Figs. 1A-1B illustrate a perspective view of an active chair 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Chair 100 comprises a base 110 that is optionally mounted on wheels 112 to enable its smooth planar movement, for instance, along an office / workplace floor. Base 110 comprises a pedestal 111 consisting of a column I l la that vertically extends from base 110, and a horizontal plate 11 lb. Column I l la may comprise one or more extendable sections (e.g., in a telescopic arrangement), enabling adjustment of its length; the adjustment may be performed by powered adjustment means, such as by utilizing user-operated actuators driven by one or more pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric motors / pumps (e.g., by an accessible control panel installed with the chair 100). Alternatively, column I l la may be supported by a lifting arm arrangement 201 of base 110, as illustrated in Fig 2B.

[0036] Horizontal plate 111b of pedestal I l l is perpendicularly attached on top of column I l la, optionally at a central portion of plate 111b that provides balanced supports to superior chair members supported thereby, e.g., a seat 120, and a backrest 130. The connection between column I l la and base 110 and / or plate 111b may be through a pivotal coupling that facilitates a pivotal rotation of plate 11 lb or column I l la relative to base 110.

[0037] Pedestal 111 also supports a driving mechanism 140 configured to support and / or drive movable support members of active chair 100 to move about one or more axes and, thus, to cause supported body portions of a seated person to move correspondingly. For example, in the embodiment of Figs. 1A-1B, seat 120 is configured with two movable seat sections 121 and 122, backrest 130 is configured with two movable backrest sections 131 and 132, and where the driving mechanism 140 comprises two power units 141 and 142, each of which supports corresponding sections of seat 120 and backrest 130. Power units 141 and 142 may employ one or more motors (e.g., electric motors, pneumatic pumps, hydraulic pumps, and combinations thereof) in one or more motor units associated with movable seat sections, backrest sections, and / or other movable sections directly or via transmission elements. The transmission elements may include inter alia rail-guided arrangements, rack-and-pinion arrangements, telescopicALON-OOl PCT arrangements, piston arrangements, lifting arm arrangements, cogged wheels, bevel gears, motion straps and other suitable mechanical elements and arrangements, or any combination thereof that transfer the motor-generated movements to the intended movable support members and may also convert the generated movements to a determined direction.

[0038] For the sake of brevity, the term 'power unit', as used herein, may either refer to an assembly that includes motors or a motorless assembly comprising transmission elements that enable motion.

[0039] In certain embodiments, power unit 141 comprises a first motor unit 141a that is designed to travel in a rail-guided motion along guide rails 111c of horizontal plate 111b (e.g., to travel laterally on pedestal 111) and to rotate a superior second motor unit 141b that is configured to tilt a superior third motor unit 141c, where motor unit 141c may be rigidly or movably connected to the movable sections of seat 120 and backrest 130. For example, support rods 131a and 132a of the corresponding backrest sections 131 and 132 may be rigidly attached to motor unit 141c, while seat sections 121 and 122 may be movably supported thereon, for instance, in a rack-and-pinion arrangement (not shown) where bottom serrated rails 123 of seat sections 121 and 122 are engaged with corresponding cogged wheels at the top portion of motor unit 141c. The power unit 142 may be similarly designed to motor units 142a, 142b, and 142c.

[0040] One skilled in the art will readily recognize alternative arrangements and configurations of driving mechanism 140 that may be utilized to move determined sections of the proposed active chair 100. For instance, seat 120 may comprise a single movable section or more than two movable sections, and backrest 130 may comprise more than two movable sections. Furthermore, one or more motor units may be embedded within the movable sections, such as within seat sections 121 and 122. Moreover, additional or fewer motor units may be employed in driving mechanism 140 by utilizing a selective engagement of a single motor to different movable parts through different selectable transmission elements (e.g., by utilizing electrically controlled clutch arrangements).

[0041] Further shown in Figs. 1 A-1B are footrests 151 and 152, configured to support a seated person’s feet in various positions, such as an elevated feet position. Footrests 151 and 152 areALON-OOl PCT movably connected to power units 141 and 142 through adjustable connection rods 151a and 152a (correspondingly). Footrests 151 and 152 comprise footplate adjustment mechanisms 151b and 152b that enable their adaptation to various foot sizes, and feet grasping braces 151c and 152c that hold the feet of a seated person in contact with the support surface of footrests 151 and 152, to ensure that the movement of footrests 151 and 152 effectively promotes a corresponding foot movement. Furthermore, active chair 100 comprises armrests 161 and 162, which are connected by rods 161a and 162a to power units 141 and 142, respectively. In certain embodiments of the present invention, armrests 161 and 162 are connected to power units 141 and 142 via a transmission that facilitates motion of a seated person’ s hands independently from seat sections 121 and 122. Such motion may be a linear motion or a rotational motion about predetermined axes.

[0042] To activate one or more motor units of power units 141 and 142, active chair 100 is adapted with a control module (not shown) that governs the individual or coordinated motion of the motor units, hence the movements of the different movable support members (i.e., seat sections, backrest sections, and footrests sections, promoting corresponding body movements of the seated person. Power units 141 and 142 may be connected to the corresponding movable support components directly or through suitable transmission elements according to predetermined measures of driving force / moment and speed exerted on the movable support members.

[0043] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the movements are limited in amplitude and / or speed to draw minimal to no user’s attention to these movements. The control module may be preconfigured with activation scripts that define activation modes of one or more motors of power units 141 and 142. Each script may define activation modes of selected motors that exert determined motion schemes of the seated person’s body parts as defined, for instance, by motion duration, frequency (i.e., for an intermittent motion scheme), and motion amplitude. Thus, further to the optional selection of various individual motions and motion schemes, the control module facilitates automated operation modes that exert continuous / intermittent movements of a seated person’s body portions with minimal user intervention, and minimal interference to the user’s work routing and focus. Nevertheless, as further illustrated hereinafter, the control module may also facilitate user-initiated movementsALON-OOl PCT of certain movable support members (e.g., by receiving user commands from a user-operated control panel installed with armrests 161 and 162 or any other predetermined portion of active chair 100), such as to allow preliminary adjustment of the active chair or optional body stretches that may be selected by the seated person. As already mentioned, movements may be limited in extent and / or amplitude for exerting subtle movements of the seated person’s body portions so that the user may disregard these movements over a prolonged sitting and maintain focus on their intended tasks.

[0044] Chair 100 further comprises a power supply module that may comprise an independent power supply means (e.g., rechargeable batteries) and / or an external power supply connection to ensure uninterrupted power supply to its power-consuming components, such as the motor units and the control module. An independent power supply may be attached to base 110, or to another suitable portion of chair 100. Optionally, the power supply may be distributed to subunits associated with different power-consuming elements of chair 100.

[0045] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the active chair 100 comprises one or more sensors that provide indications as to predetermined physiological parameters of the seated person (e.g., vital signs and other parameters such as body weight). The sensors may include thermometers, pulsometers, blood pressure sensors, breathing rate sensors, weight sensors, and various combinations thereof, and may be installed at corresponding positions of chair 100 (e.g., a weight sensor may be installed between column I l la and base 110 to detect the overall seated person’s weight; one or more pulsometers may be embedded in one or both armrests 161 and 161, and / or in any other relevant members of chair 100) and may provide realtime physiological and operational data to the control module, which may be collected and stored thereby.

[0046] In certain embodiments, the control module is also adapted with a communication unit that enables interaction between chair 100 and one or more determined external computing devices (e.g., the seated person’s smartphone, a nearby computer, a remote computer, or any other external computing devices). Such communication may be utilized to receive operational instructions and configuration updates, such as operational scripts comprising predetermined movement schemes. Such scripts may be stored on a suitable data storage device of the controlALON-OOl PCT module. Furthermore, the connection with external computing devices may also be utilized to monitor the chair’s performance locally or remotely. The network connection between the communication unit and external computing devices may be established through various interfaces, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or wired connections, and the corresponding configuration of the communication unit, as may be specifically selected according to specific embodiments of the proposed active chair 100.

[0047] The interaction with external computing devices may include communicating collected data associated with the movements exerted on a seated person on the active chair 100 during a determined period of time, corresponding readings of that person’s physiological parameters, and other physical data associated with the seated person (e.g., height, health history, active health conditions). Such data sets may be utilized to infer the effect of certain movement regimes on detected trends of the person’s physiological parameters. Furthermore, the inferred effect may be utilized as a bases for adapting future movements to obtain a desired effect on the seated person’s physiological parameters. Nevertheless, any of the processing of collected data movements and corresponding readings of physiological parameters, inferring, and movement adaptations may either be carried out by local computing hardware and software incorporated with the control module of active chair 100, or by one or more external computing devices to which the collected data is submitted utilizing the abovementioned communication unit.

[0048] The modular structure of active chair 100 combined with various implementations of driving mechanisms 140 facilitate preliminary adaptation of the active chair 100 to specific user-body sizes and proportions, as well as multiple different movement schemes of a seated person’s body portions, as illustrated in the following description. For the convenience of illustration, certain movements are illustrated in the accompanying figures with the aid of linear and curved dashed arrows.

[0049] Figs. 2A-2B illustrate a vertical movement of pedestal 111 relative to base 110, which is obtained by a lifting arm arrangement 201 integrated with base 110, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Lifting arm arrangement 201 may comprise a controllable hydraulic / pneumatic pump installed within base 110. Furthermore, lever arrangement 201 mayALON-OOl PCT be entirely concealed within base 110 at its retracted state. The vertical movement enables a preliminary height adjustment of seat 120, along with backrest 130, footrests 151 and 152, and armrests 161 and 162, namely, of all the components of chair 100 that are supported by pedestal 111. Further shown in Figs. 2A-2B is an exemplary installation of a control module 202 at an accessible position attached to support rods 131a or 132a of backrest 130 or in any other accessible portion of active chair 100. Alternatively, chair 100 may utilize a telescopic vertical column I l la that may comprise pneumatic / hydraulic piston arrangements for adjusting the height of seat 120.

[0050] Figs. 2C-2D illustrate a forward / rearward movement of seat 120 relative to backrest 130 (e.g., sliding one or more seat sections forward by any of motor units 141c, or 142c), which is enabled when motor units 141c and 142c are engaged and pull the serrated rails 123 (also shown in Fig. IB) of seat sections 121 and 122 forward / rearward. In Figs. 2C-2D synchronized movement of both seat sections 121 and 122 is illustrated, such as for adapting the seat-backrest distance to the proportion of a seated person. Nevertheless, control module 202 may also activate motor units 141c and 142c to drive seat sections 121 and 122 separately, to different extents or in opposite directions, such as to promote a rotational stretch of the seated person’s lower back.

[0051] As already explained, the extent of such movements may be limited by the control module of chair 100, for instance, to avoid undesired exaggerated rotation of the seated person’ s back. Such limitations may be preconfigured in control module 202 and may be updated, such as by installing firmware updates to control module 202. Such updates may be performed through a wired / wireless connection with an external computing device (e.g., the seated person’s smartphone, a nearby computer, or a remote computer).

[0052] Figs. 3A-3B illustrate a forward (Fig. 3 A) and rearward (Fig. 3B) tilt movement of seat 120, along with backrest 130, footrests 151 and 152, and armrests 161 and 162, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Such transitioning between a reclining position (Fig. 3B) and a forward-leaning posture (Fig. 3A) of active chair 100 may be performed by activating motor units 141b and 141b to tilt motor units 141c and 141c to which the abovementioned members (i.e., seat 120, backrest 130, footrests 151 and 152, and armrests 161 and 162) areALON-OOl PCT connected. Such tilting may be initiated by a seated person (e.g., through a control panel embedded in any of armrests 161 and 162 or through a mobile device running a suitable active chair control application) for adjusting the active chair to a desired sitting posture.

[0053] Figs. 4A-4B illustrate exemplary linear and rotational movements of footrests 151 and 152, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 4a the length of connection rods 151a and 152a may be adjusted to correspond with a seated person’s leg size and proportions by extending / retracting connection rods 151a and 152a (e.g., by utilizing telescopic connection rods 151a and 152a adapted with auxiliary manual / powered extension / retraction mechanisms). Footrests 151 and 152 may be inclined by utilizing a manual or powered rotation mechanism connected at hinged joints 451 between rods 151a and 152a and motor units 141c and 141c. In addition to a preliminary adaptation to the size and proportions of a seated person, the above linear and inclination movements of footrests 151 and 152 can exert stretching and physical activation of the supported legs and feet.

[0054] Fig. 4B illustrates an optional configuration of footrests 151 and 152, according to an embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of brevity, only footrest 152 is shown in Fig. 4B, however, the following description may also apply to footrest 151. Footrest 152 comprises an extendable frame 452 while footplate adjustment mechanism 152b comprises a length adjustment rack-and-pinion arrangement 453. This configuration enables adjustment of the footrest to the seated person’s foot size. In different configurations of active chair 100, it may be provided with one or two footrests, either of which or both are configured with the illustrated foot length adaptation mechanisms.

[0055] Further tilting movement of footrests 151 and 152 is illustrated in Figs. 5A-5B, in which footplate adjustment mechanisms 151b and 152b comprise tilting mechanisms that tilt the surface of the entire footrest forward or rearward, thereby enabling shin / calf stretch movements that can stimulate the bloodstream through the leg. In alternative configurations of driving mechanism 140, certain motor units and / or transmission arrangements are utilized in lieu / conjunction with power units 141 and / or 142 to enable lateral tilting of footrests 151 and 152, and / or of seat sections 121 and 122.ALON-OOl PCT

[0056] In certain embodiments of the present invention, footrests 151 and 152 comprise independent toe supports 551 and 552 that provide independent support to the toes and enable an independent movement of the toes, as illustrated in Figs. 6A-6C. In this embodiment, footplate adjustment mechanisms 151b and 152b may comprise toe-tilting mechanisms that are linked to toe supports 551 and 552 and are capable of driving the latter to tilt relative to footrests 151 and 152. The independent tilting of toes promotes downward (Fig. 6B) and upward (Fig. 6C) tilting of a seated person’s toes, exerting corresponding stretching of tendons and muscles in the top and bottom areas of the feet (correspondingly), and stimulating the bloodstream therein. To effectively support independent movement of the toes, an additional set of feet grasping braces 151c and 152c may be provided, such that a first set of braces 151c and 152c clings the feet to footrests 151 and 152, and the second set of braces 151c and 152c clings the toes to toe supports 551 and 552. Further shown in Figs. 6B-6C are returning springs 553 that are utilized to return toe supports 551 and 552 to a planar alignment with footrests 151 and 152 without requiring a powered operation.

[0057] Figs. 7A-7B illustrate optional narrowing (Fig. 7A) and widening (Fig. 7B) movements of corresponding movable support members of the left and right portions of the active chair 100, performed by the control module 202 that activates power units 141 and 142 to laterally move along support plate 111b, thereby enabling adjustment of active chair 100 to accommodate seated persons of different body proportions. Furthermore, recurring distancing and approximating of the active chair’s left and right sections (i.e., preferably to a limited extent that is convenient to the seated person) can provide back and buttocks stretch that may alleviate or eliminate the commonly felt discomfort when the seated person transitions to standing following a prolonged sitting. In certain configurations of active chair 100, the seat sections and backrest sections are independently connected to different motors, different motor units, or through separate transmission elements, thereby facilitating independent movements thereof.

[0058] Figs. 8A-8B illustrate how active chair 100 promotes leg spreading (Fig. 8A) and joining (Fig. 8B) movements of the seated person, by horizontal rotations of seat sections 121 and 122 along with footrests 151 and 152 and armrests 161 and 162, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Such a movement scheme may be driven, for instance, by motor units 141a and 142a pivotally rotating motor units 141b and 142b in opposedALON-OOl PCT directions, thereby rotating the superior motor units 141c and 142c along with the seat sections 121 and 122, backrest sections 131 and 132, footrests 151 and 152, and armrests 161 and 162. For instance, leg spreading is promoted by a horizontal rotation of seat sections 121 and 122 that joins their rear sections, while spreading their front sections.

[0059] However, notably in Figs. 8A-8B backrest sections 131 and 132 do not move. Therefore, in the embodiment of Figs. 8A-8B power units 141 and 142 may be configured differently. For example, support rods 131a and 132a of backrest sections 131 and 132 may be firmly attached to motor units 141a and 142a (correspondingly) rather than to the rotatable motor units 141b and 142b.

[0060] Furthermore, multiple alternative configurations of active chair 100 may be selected to establish various combinations of the movement schemes disclosed herein, optionally in conjunction with further movements of portions of the active chair 100, providing different movements of seated persons’ body portions. Such alternative configurations may be obtained by different configurations of the driving mechanism 140, or by removing and / or adding support members associated with different seated persons’ body portions.

[0061] For example, in certain embodiments of the present invention, backrest 130 or specific sections thereof may travel vertically along support rods 131a and 132a or rotate about support rods 131a and 132a of backrest sections 131 and 132. Thereby, further adaptation of backrest 130 to the specific proportions of a seated person may be obtained. Furthermore, such traveling / rotation in predefined movement schemes consisting of subtle movements may be advantageous for stimulating the seated person’s bloodstream, without disrupting primary activities. In further embodiments of the present invention, backrest 130 is divided into more than two sections, which may better correspond to separate regions in the back of seated persons and may provide further optional movement schemes that may improve seated persons’ comfort during and following a prolonged sitting.

[0062] The components of the active chair 100, including the supporting rods and frames, may be manufactured from durable materials such as metal alloys or high-strength polymers.ALON-OOl PCTVarious surfaces may be padded with ergonomic and breathable materials to ensure comfort during extended use.

[0063] Of course, considering the different movement schemes facilitated by active chair 100, it should be realized by a person skilled in the art that the construction assembly, and movement ranges and directions of the movable support members of active chair 100 are designed while considering ergonomic and safety guidelines, such as to reduce or eliminate potential pinching hazards. Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, chair 100 further comprises one or more resistance sensors (e.g., piezoelectric sensors) configured to detect resistance to one or more predetermined movements. Those resistance sensors may be embedded in the motor units of power units 141 and 142, where control module 202 may be configured to halt the corresponding motor unit or power unit upon detection of a resistance force / moment that exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0064] In certain embodiments of the present invention, one or more movable support members comprise rollable objects that are configured to enable relative motion of a supported person’s body portion respectively to the movable support, thereby preventing undesired rubbing and pinching. Figs. 9A-9C illustrate such rollable objects embedded in the backrest support surfaces of active chair 100, in the form of cogged wheels 901, whereas Figs. 10A-10B illustrates such blunt cogged wheels 901 embedded in a footrest 152 and the corresponding grasping brace 152c. The abovementioned cogged wheels may be designed with a blunt finish to provide a smooth contact with the corresponding seated person’s body portion.

[0065] Figs. 11A-11B illustrate an alternative configuration of an active chair 1100, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. The base 1110 of chair 1100 comprises one or two footrests 1101 and 1102, which are configured to support the legs of a person seated on chair 1100. Base 1110 further comprises a driving mechanism, optionally consisting of tracks, rails, supports, motors, and transmission members configured to support and motivate the horizontal, lateral, and vertical guided travel of footrests 1101 and 1102 (i.e., independently from driving mechanism 140) relative to base 1110, thus promoting movements of a seated person’s feet supported thereon.ALON-OOl PCT

[0066] In certain embodiments, the abovementioned driving mechanism comprises linear rails1111 with which pedestals 1112 are engaged to facilitate their guided travel in the horizontal direction (i.e., forwardly or rearwardly relative to common transmission arrangements. Suitable types of motor units 1113 and transmission arrangements will be readily selected by a person skilled in the art from a variety of suitable motor units and transmission members, including, but not limited to one or more servo motors, step motors, racks / gears-and-pinion, drive shafts, drive belts, magnetic direct drives, linear screw shafts, and the like. Furthermore, pedestals1112 comprise lateral segments 1114 and corresponding motor units 1115, utilized to motivate the lateral travel of footrest mounts 1116 along the lateral segments 1114 through common transmission arrangements, while footrest mounts 1116 comprise vertical segments 1116a and motor units 1117, for motivating the vertical travel of footrests 1101 and 1102 (i.e., with footrests 1101 and 1102 mounted thereon), along vertical segments 1116a. Further illustrated in Figs. 11A-11B is an extendable telescopic column I l la (further discussed in reference to Figs. 1A-1B) that facilitates lowering / elevating of the entire seat 120.

[0067] The alternative configuration of active chair 1100 provides an independent drive for footrests 1101 and 1102. Accordingly, active chair 1100 may be operated in a Tower motivation’ mode where the motor units of power units 141 and 142 are idle, and merely enable free motion facilitated by motor units 141a-141c and 142a-142c (e.g., as described in Figs. 1A- 1B) and, thereby, of the movable support members of seat 120 and backrest 130. In this regard, the term “free motion” may refer to enabling the respective rotation and / or displacement of one or more components of active chair 1100 with a minimal or a predetermined friction level therebetween. For example, the interface between power units 141-142 and pedestal 111 may be configured to enable lateral travel thereof at a predetermined level of resistance - to maintain the stability of a seated person and avoid undesired extreme movements of seat sections 121 and 122. Desirable levels of beneficial friction may be provided by suitable internal components of motor units 141a and 142a or by other resistive means, such as coating materials applied onto pedestal 111, or suitable mechanical components that provide the desired clinging level between motor units 141a-142a and pedestal 111. Similarly, a near-free relative rotation is facilitated between motor units 141b-142b and 141a-142a, relative tilt between motor units 141c-142c and 141b-142b, and relative sliding between seat sections 121-122 and motor units 141c, or 142c (as further illustrated in Figs. 1A-1B).ALON-OOl PCT

[0068] In another embodiment of the present invention, active chair 1100 is provided with motorless units 141 and 142, comprising only transmission elements (e.g., tilting hinge, rotating hinge, guiding rail / grooves, rack and pinion) that enable the free or near free respective motion of units 141a-142a, 141b-142b, 141c-142c, and of movable support members supported thereon (such as seat sections 121-122), about one or more axes. Thereby, a simpler version of active chair 1100 is provided, comprising fewer components that may be manufactured, assembled, and maintained at lower costs. Notably, in this embodiment, active chair 1100 is operable in a single Tower motivation’ mode.

[0069] Hence, in the Tower motivation’ mode of operation, powered movements of footrests 1101 and 1102 may be activated (i.e., by a control module such as control module 202 illustrated in Fig. 2B) to promote the corresponding motion of a seated person’s legs which, due to the friction between the seated person’s thighs and seat sections 121 and 122, motivates further movable support members of chair 1100 and body portions (i.e., of the seated person) supported thereby. Examples of derived courses of motion are illustrated in Figs. 12-14.

[0070] For example, Fig. 12 illustrates the promotion of leg spreading and joining movements of a seated person, which can be promoted by motivating footrest mounts 1116 sideways, thus causing the seated person’s feet to spread. Natural spreading motion is facilitated by allowing lateral motion of motor units 141a-142a (i.e., relative to pedestal 111) and respective rotation ofmotor units 141b-142b and 141a-142a. Further illustrated in Fig. 12 is the use of two columns I l la, the synchronous elevating / descending of which facilitates balanced elevation or descending of seat 120, such as adjusting the seat level for individual users, whereas the unsynchronous elevating / descending of columns I l la can motivate lateral tilt of a seated person’s lower back. Such a tilt may be restricted to prevent inconvenience, yet to establish a desired stretch and relief of the seated person’s lower back.

[0071] Fig. 13 illustrates toe tilting movements promoted by another configuration of an active chair 1300, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this configuration, footrests 1101 and / or 1102 comprise separate foot supports 1301a-1302a and independent toe supports 1301b-1302b, like in the embodiment of Figs. 6A-6C. In the embodiment of Fig. 13,ALON-OOl PCT the toe tilting is motivated by activating motor units 1115 with or without extension / retraction of columns 1 I la, to elevate / descend seat 120. For example, upward toe tilting is motivated by descending seat 120, such as by retracting columns I l la and / or activating motor units 1115, to descend footrests 1101 and 1102 against protrusions 1303 that resist the lowering of toe supports 1301b-1302b.

[0072] Fig. 14 illustrates the forward / rearward leaning of seat 120 that can be motivated by elevating footrests 1101 and 1102 with or without retraction of columns I l la. Such leaning movements can promote corresponding stretches on a seated person’s legs and lower back, which can be beneficial to a prolonged seated person.

[0073] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a portable active chair kit 1500 is provided, as illustrated in Figs. 15A-15B. Active chair kit 1500 comprises an active seat module 1510 configured to be positioned, for instance, on the seat portion of a plane seat 1501, and a footrest support module 1520 correspondingly positioned in front of seat 1501.

[0074] Seat module 1510 comprises two movable seat sections 1511 and 1512, that movably support the right and left body portions of a person seated on seat module 1510, whereas footrest module 1520 comprises two footrest units 1521 and 1522, that correspondingly support a seated person’s right and left feet. In certain embodiments of the present invention, footrest units 1521 and 1522 may be integrated into a single unified footrest module 1520, such as by a common support plate (not shown). In either of the integrated / separate configurations, footrest units 1521 and 1522 are adapted with extension-retraction mechanisms configured to extend and retract units 1521 and 1522, thereby elevating and descending the supported legs of a seated person. For example, the extension-retraction mechanisms may be selected from a multitude of powered mechanisms, such as electromechanical mechanisms, electromagnetic mechanisms, hydraulic mechanisms, pneumatic mechanisms, and combinations thereof.

[0075] Accordingly, the extension-retraction of one or both footrest units 1521 and 1522 correspondingly elevates / descends one or both feet of a person seated on active seat module 1510, thus causing the tilting seat sections 1511 and 1512. Such synchronized orALON-OOl PCT unsynchronized tilting can motivate beneficial body movements and stretches of a seated person’s thigh, calf, and lower back muscles and tendons.

[0076] In certain embodiments of the present invention, seat sections 1511 and 1512 are connected to a seat base 1513 (Figs. 15C-15D) by hinges 1514 that facilitate the forward / rearward tilting of seat sections 1511 and 1512 relative to base 1513. Furthermore, the axial forward / rearward position of hinges 1514, respectively, to base 1513 may be adjusted by releasable locking arrangements that enable the detachable affixing in selectable axial positions, for instance, within guiding grooves 1515 of base 1513. The adjustable position allows adjustment of the tilting axis in accordance with the body proportions and weight of individual users of kit 1500, thus, relative to the center of gravity of the seated person and, thereby, establishing a desirable balance between the tilting moments exerted, for instance, by a seated person’s elevated legs (i.e., motivated by extending footrests 1521 and 1522) and by the main body mass of the seated person, to obtain the desirable tilting by utilizing compact, low power motivating drivers with footrest module.

[0077] As mentioned before, the active chair of the present invention supports numerous configurations that facilitate different movement schemes of the seated person. For example, in certain embodiments of the present invention, armrests 161 and 162 are connected to the driving mechanism of footrests 1101 and 1102 via suitable transmission members, to facilitate predetermined motions of armrests 161 and 162 corresponding to initial movements of footrests 1101 and 1102. For example, incorporating a reciprocating transmission arrangement between the footrest supports and armrests 161 and 162 can enable rotational movements of the latter.

[0078] Notably, active chair kit 1500 is operable in a single Tower motivation’ mode explained hereinabove, where synchronous / unsynchronous elevation and / or descending of footrests 1521 and 1522 promote leg upward and downward leg movements. Nevertheless, enhanced configurations of kit 1500 may comprise more advanced transmission arrangements that can motivate a variety of movement axes.

Claims

ALON-OOl PCTCLAIMS1. An active chair, comprising: a) a base from which one or more columns extend to support a seat and a backrest, which comprise two or more movable support members configured to move about one or more axes, each movable support member supports one or more body portions of a person seated on said active chair, wherein said base further comprises one or two footrests configured to support a seated person’s feet, and a driving mechanism adapted with multiple motor units engaged with said footrests providing an independent drive that motivates the travel of one or both footrests relative to said base; b) one or more power units configured to support said movable support members and to allow their motion about two or more axes; c) a control module, configured to activate one or more of said motor units; and d) a power supply module, which supplies power to the power-consuming components of said active chair, wherein the independent drive of said one or both footrests facilitates an initial guided travel thereof relative to said base, that promotes movements of a seated person’s feet supported thereby and, therethrough, corresponding movements of one or more of said one or more movable support members of said seat and backrest about two or more axes.

2. An active chair according to claim 1, wherein each of said one or more power units further comprises multiple motor units, configured to drive one or more movable support members to move about two or more axes.

3. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the control module is configured to activate one or more of said motor units according to user commands.

4. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the control module is configured to activate one or more of said motor units according to preconfigured operational scripts.

5. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the base is wheeled.

6. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein one or more of said motor units drive one or more of said movable support members directly.ALON-OOl PCT7. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said one or more motor units facilitate one or more of said movable support members through one or more transmission elements.

8. An active chair according to claim 7, wherein the transmission elements comprise transmission arrangements selected from the group consisting of: rail guided arrangements, rack-and-pinion arrangements, telescopic arrangements, piston arrangements, lifting arm arrangements, and any combination thereof.

9. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the control module is configured to activate said one or more motor units individually.

10. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the control module is configured to activate two or more of said motor units in a coordinated manner.

11. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the active chair’ s seat surface comprises two movable seat sections.

12. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the active chair’s backrest comprises two or more movable backrest sections.

13. An active chair according claims 1 or 2, wherein said one or more movable seat sections are configured to move correspondingly to one or more movable backrest sections in one or more axes.

14. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein each of the one or more footrests comprises two separate surfaces, separately supporting the feet and the toes.

15. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the one or more movable support members comprise one or more armrests.

16. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the one or more movable support members comprise rollable objects configured to enable relative motion of a supported person respectively to the movable support.

17. An active chair according to claim 16, wherein the rollable obj ects are in the form of cogged wheels.ALON-OOl PCT18. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the one or more movable support members are configured to linearly move about one or more axes.

19. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the one or more movable support members are configured to rotate about one or more axes.

20. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the one or more motor units comprise motors selected from the group consisting of electric motors, pneumatic pumps, hydraulic pumps, and any combination thereof.

21. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, further comprises one or more sensors configured to detect one or more of the seated person’s physiological parameters.

22. An active chair according to claim 21, wherein the control module is further configured to adapt one or more movement schemes based on the detected physiological parameters to achieve a predetermined physiological effect.

23. An active chair according to claim 21, wherein the sensors are selected from the group consisting of a thermometer, a pulsometer, a blood pressure sensor, a breathing rate sensor, a weight sensor, and any combination thereof.

24. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the control module is configured to activate the one or more motor units according to predefined movement schemes.

25. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, further comprises a communication unit configured to establish communication between the control module and one or more external computing devices.

26. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the one or more columns are extendable, enabling adjustment of the overall height of said active chair.

27. An active chair according to claims 1 or 2, further comprising one or more resistance sensors configured to detect resistance to one or more predetermined movements, wherein the control module may be configured to halt the corresponding motor unit or power unit upon detection of a resistance force / moment that exceeds a predetermined threshold.ALON-OOl PCT28. A method for activating the body of a seated person, comprising: a) providing an active chair comprising: i. a base from which one or more columns extend to support a seat and a backrest, which comprise two or more movable support members configured to move about one or more axes, each movable support member supports one or more body portions of a person seated on said active chair, wherein said base further comprises one or two footrests configured to support a seated person’s feet, and a driving mechanism adapted with multiple motor units engaged with said footrests providing an independent drive that motivates the travel of one or both footrests relative to said base; ii. one or more power units configured to support said one or more movable support members and to allow their motion about two or more axes; iii. a control module, configured to activate one or more of said motor units; and iv. a power supply module, which supplies power to the power-consuming components of said active chair, b) operating said control module to activate one or more of said motor units to motivate an initial guided travel of one or both footrests relative to said base, thereby promoting movements of the supported seated person’s feet and, therethrough, corresponding movements of one or more of said one or more movable support members of said seat and backrest and, therewith, further body portions of the seated person.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the control module activates one or more of said motor units individually.

30. A method according to claim 28, wherein the control module activates two or more of said motor units in a coordinated manner.

31. A method according to claim 28, further comprises a step of detecting one or more physiological parameters of a person seated on the active chair by one or more sensors.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the physiological parameters are selected from the group consisting of: body temperature, heart pulse rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, body weight, and any combination thereof.ALON-OOl PCT33. A method according to claim 31, further comprises a step of collecting data associated with the detected physiological parameters and with movements exerted on body portions of a seated person by the one or more motor units.

34. A method, according to claim 33, further comprises a step of processing the collected data and inferring the relation between exerted movements and the seated person’s physiological parameters.

35. A method according to claim 34, further comprises a step of adapting the movement schemes promoted by one or more of the one or more motor units to obtain a desired effect on the seated person’s physiological parameters.

36. A method according to claim 28, wherein the control module activates the one or more motor units according to preconfigured scripts.

37. A method according to claim 28, wherein the control module activates the one or more motor units according to operational instructions received from one or more external computing devices.

38. A method according to claim 28, wherein the control module activates the one or more motor units according to user commands.

39. A portable active chair kit, comprising: a) an active seat module configured to be removably placed on a seat of an existing chair, said active seat module comprising: i. a seat base; and ii. two or more movable seat sections movably connected to said seat base, wherein said movable seat sections are configured to support body portions of a person seated thereon; b) a footrest support module, configured to be placed in front of the existing chair, said footrest support module comprising: i. one or more footrest units configured to support one or more feet of the person; and ii. one or more extension-retraction mechanisms configured to extend and retract said footrest units,ALON-OOl PCT wherein the powered elevation or descent of said one or more footrest units induces a corresponding passive tilting movement of one or more of said movable seat sections of said active seat module.

40. A portable active chair kit according to claim 39, wherein at least one of the extensionretraction mechanisms is a powered mechanism selected from the group consisting of: electromechanical mechanisms, electromagnetic mechanisms, hydraulic mechanisms, and / or pneumatic mechanisms, and combinations thereof.

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