[0001] The present invention relates to a bench designed for work on ground level low surfaces.
[0002] More particularly, the present invention provides a bench type for many kinds of
work having remarkable advantages and innovations with respect to the benches which
are presently on the market.
[0003] Benches for performing work at ground level are already presently known, but they
only consist of elemental basic parts.
[0004] Indeed these benches consist of low-height platforms or simple cushions. The benches
allow the worker using the same to sit down while working at a low height and the
cushions, carpets or platforms allow to work in a kneeling position. These positions
often adopted in a repetitive and alternative way oblige workers to realize muscular
tensions due to the uncomfortable position to do the work.
[0005] The users of these known benches undergo extreme troubles and physical pains on performing
such kind of work and they are quickly tired which has a negative effect on the amount
of work that can be done.
[0006] Actually a device for performing at the same time the double function of working
simultaneously in a kneeling and sitting position is unknown, and such a device is
precisely the subject of the present invention.
[0007] The bench of this invention solves the problem of the prior art and is constituted
by a main frame provided with a suitable zone for sitting down and another for holding
up the knees and by providing means for fastening the conjunct to the user's feet
and legs, so that the user can even move carrying along said bench, meaning this is
a clear additional advantage with respect to the independent elements of seat and
base. Moreover, the bench, subject of the invention, is variable in length by means
of optional extendible assembly points so that it can be adjusted to the user's length.
[0008] The bench disclosed is advantageously characterised in such a manner that when a
work, which is extremely troublesome and corporally painful, is performed at ground
level, such a bench allows to do this work most comfortably and it allows consequently
to avoid tiredness, troubles and corporal pain.
[0009] To facilitate the disclosure, the present description is accompanied by some drawings
wherein an embodiment of a bench according to the invention is shown by way of example.
[0011] Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a side elevation view, a front elevation view
and a top plan view of a bench according to the invention.
[0012] Figure 4 pertains to a detailed view of the bench and its assembly.
[0013] Figure 5 shows a detailed view of the tilting support designed to protect the knees.
[0014] Figure 6 is a side elevation view showing the bench assembly fixed to the user's
legs.
[0015] Figure 7 is a side elevation view showing the bench assembly in a work position and
during physical strain.
[0016] Returning to the figures, in the embodiment illustrated can be well discerned a bench
comprising a main frame 1 suitably and comfortably adapted to the user's feet and
legs. This bench is preferably provided with extendible assembly points 10 so that
its height can be adapted to the user's length. The frame 1 consists mainly of two
parallel, substantially J-shaped profiles.
[0017] To achieve said comfortable position, a tilting support 2 protecting the knees and
a seat 3 have been arranged on the frame as clearly shown in figures 6 and 7. Both
the support 2 for the knees and the seat 3 are covered by a foam material. The foam
material on the knee support 2 is especially important for protecting the knees. Instead
of a foam material, use can also be made of other appropriate resilient materials.
The knee support 2 is connected to the frame 1 by means of a hinge shaft 5.
[0018] In the figures 6 and 7 can be seen how the bench is fixed to the user's legs and
feet with flexible belts 8 and 9, respectively so that it is carried along when the
user is moving. These belts 8 and 9 are fixed respectively to projecting extremities
of the hinge shaft 5 and to the frame 1 near the seat 3. The extremities of the hinge
shaft 5 are provided with cutouts 12 to enable to fasten the belt 8.
[0019] Belts 13 attached to the user's body have also been provided to avoid any possible
corporal damages, since on performing work at ground level, the user's trunk undergoes
the consequences of the effort. With these belts 13, the knee protector 2 and the
seat 3, said corporal damages are substantially avoided and a highly comfortable position
is thereby achieved on performing such work. To ensure a good bench bearing position,
the frame 1 is provided with stops 7.
[0020] The bench can be assembled and disassembled by means of the shaft 4 and the bolts
11 designed to clamp the seat 3 so that a volume reduction may be achieved for packaging
and transport.
[0021] When the user stands up, as shown in figure 6, the bench can comfortably be moved
from one location to another, since the bench construction is based on light weight
materials and can be displaced easily.
1. A bench for ground level low surfaced work , characterized in that it comprises a
substantially J-shaped profiled frame (1), which is provided at its ends respectively
with a transversal knee (2) and seat supporting panel (3) provided with foam material
or the like in the contact area with the user, and in that the knee supporting panel
(2) is hingedly connected to the frame (1) by hinge means (5), the frame (1) being
provided with a transversal shaft (4) and with seat clamping bolts (11) arranged in
such a manner that the bench can be assembled and disassembled and with belts (8,9,13)
adapted to fix the user's knees, feet and body to said bench.
2. A bench according to the previous claim, characterized in that the frame (1) has extendible
assembly points (10) allowing to adjust its length.
