Variable contour seating device

Claim 1

A variable contour seating device comprising an elongated sack-like cover of a flexible material forming a cavity which is loosely filled with a freely flowable filler material, said cover including a pair of generally vertical, opposed side panels, each of which has enlarged curvate end portions and a constricted intermediate portion, and an elongated center panel having its opposed longitudinal sides joined to the perimeter of said side panels so as to provide a longitudinal body supporting upper surface having a generally convex first enlarged end portion adapted to serve as a backrest area, a generally convex second enlarged end portion adapted to serve as a leg rest area, and a generally concave intermediate area adapted to support the derriere of the occupant, the vertical height of said enlarged curvate end portions being greater than the vertical height of said constricted intermediate portions so that the vertical heights of said backrest area and said leg rest area are always greater than the vertical height of said intermediate area, whereby an occupant lying on said body supporting surface can vary the contour thereof by selectively shifting his weight from one to another of said areas so as to cause said filler material to flow in a longitudinal direction from said intermediate area and decrease the vertical height of said intermediate area when weight is shifted onto said intermediate area, and to flow into said intermediate area and increase the vertical height of said intermediate area when weight is shifted from said intermediate area, and can thereby selectively alter the contour of said areas relative to one another and from and back to the initial shape of said seating device imparted by reason of the construction features recited above.