1. A seating device for maintaining body posture while sitting or doing sitting exercises, the device comprises: a backrest portion, for supporting back of a human, including: a middle section, in middle of the backrest portion, having a convex curve, such that the convex curve of the middle section conforms with shape of back of a human or shape of vertebral column of a human using the seating device; and a bendable outer section surrounding the middle section; and a sitting portion, for supporting lower body of a human including buttocks and legs, the sitting portion includes a front edge and a rear edge that connects with lower section of the backrest portion, and where the front edge has larger thickness than the rear edge, such that the sitting portion has a tapered shape with thicker front edge than the rear edge, and where the front edge further tapers down towards front of the sitting portion to provide a smooth front end to the sitting portion.

2. The seating device of claim 1, wherein the middle section of the backrest portion is a cut-out curved section or the middle section of the backrest portion is a continuous curved section of the backrest portion.

3. The seating device of claim 1, wherein the middle section adapts with the S-shape of the entire vertebral column of a person including flexible thoracic region, lumbar curve and pelvic region, to provide maximum support and comfort to these body parts of the person while the person is sitting in a sitting position including a cross legged position for performing a yoga asan, or any other sitting exercise or yoga asan, or sitting in a conventional manner.

4. The seating device of claim 3, wherein the middle section is configured to be designed at a height from the lower section of the backrest portion such that the convex curve of the middle section perfectly adapts with the S-shape of the entire vertebral column, particularly the flexible thoracic and lumbar area, of the person.

5. The seating device of claim 1, wherein shape of the sitting portion including the thicker front edge than the rear edge and the smooth front end is tapered such that the sitting portion allows a person to sit in a desired sitting position, including cross legged position, or in a conventional manner or in a yoga asan position, and further allows the person to sit with little open knees, and not tightly crossed knees, for longer hours without feeling acute pain in the knees.

6. The seating device of claim 1, shape of the sitting portion including the thicker front edge than the rear edge and the smooth front end is tapered such that the sitting portion keeps body weight of a person more in buttock areas and keeps ankles of the person at a specific height below the sitting portion, putting much less pressure on the ankles and the knees, reducing induced pain in the ankles caused due to longer sitting time on floor or in cross legged position.

7. The seating device of claim 6, wherein the specified height is 1 inch.

8. The seating device of claim 1, wherein the outer section of the backrest portion surrounding the middle section is bendable to an extent, such that when a person needs to stretch after long sitting hours, the outer region bends, making the middle section pressing the vertebral column, and thereby relaxing associated muscles of that body part.

9. The seating device of claim 3, wherein the backrest portion including the middle section naturally activates or presses certain acupressure points B13, B14, B15, B18, B19, B20, B21, B23, B47, B48 and G30 in back of a person, thus relieving pain in associated muscles.

10. The seating device of claim 1, wherein the device is kept on floor for doing floor exercises that involve sitting positions, sitting in cross legged positions, and other floor sitting positions.

11. The seating device of claim 1, wherein the seating device is kept on a regular chair, and is used for conventionally sitting any time.

12. The seating device of claim 1, wherein the seating device further includes multiple leg supports to allow the seating device to stand on its own.

13. The seating device of claim 1, wherein the shape of the sitting portion is such that a taller person easily adjusts himself by sliding forward accordingly.

14. A seating device for maintaining body posture while sitting or doing sitting exercises, the device comprises: a backrest portion, for supporting back of a human, including a middle section, in middle of the backrest portion, having a convex curve, such that the convex curve of the middle section conforms with shape of back of a human or shape of vertebral column of a human using the seating device; and a sitting portion, for supporting lower body of a human including buttocks and legs, the sitting portion includes a front edge and a rear edge that connects with lower section of the backrest portion, and where the front edge has larger thickness than the rear edge, such that the sitting portion has a tapered shape with thicker front edge than the rear edge, and where the front edge further tapers down towards front of the sitting portion to provide a smooth front end to the sitting portion.

15. The seating device of claim 14, wherein the backrest portion further includes a bendable outer section surrounding the middle section.

16. The seating device of claim 14, wherein the middle section is configured to be designed at a height from the lower section of the backrest portion such that the convex curve of the middle section perfectly adapts with the S-shape of the entire vertebral column, particularly the flexible thoracic and lumbar area, of the person.

17. The seating device of claim 14, wherein shape of the sitting portion including the thicker front edge than the rear edge and the smooth front end is tapered such that the sitting portion allows a person to sit in a desired sitting position, including cross legged position, or in a conventional manner or in a yoga asan position, and further allows the person to sit with little open knees, and not tightly crossed knees, for longer hours without feeling acute pain in the knees.

18. The seating device of claim 14, shape of the sitting portion including the thicker front edge than the rear edge and the smooth front end is tapered such that the sitting portion keeps body weight of a person more in buttock areas and keeps ankles of the person at a specific height below the sitting portion, putting much less pressure on the ankles and the knees, reducing induced pain in the ankles caused due to longer sitting time on floor or in cross legged position.

19. The seating device of claim 14, wherein the device is kept on floor for doing floor exercises that involve sitting positions, sitting in cross legged positions, and other floor sitting positions, or the seating device is kept on a regular chair, and is used for conventionally sitting any time, or

20. The seating device of claim 14 further includes multiple leg supports to allow the seating device to stand on its own.

FIELD OF INVENTION
[001] The present invention generally relates to a sitting device for maintaining perfect body posture while doing floor sitting exercises. More particularly, the present invention relates to a comfortable chair for maintaining body posture of the vertebral column while performing yoga and other sitting exercises on the floor.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[002] Exercises have become a necessary daily routine in our day-today’s lives. People follow different exercise regimes for fulfilling their physical activities needs, such as gym, outdoor activities, walking, and the like. Many of them follow yoga exercises, more particularly called yoga asans as their exercise regime. While a lot of people do yoga asans, they are not naturally provided with a perfect yogic body. Hence, doing certain yoga asans for longer durations may be painful and specifically impact certain body parts of people. A lot of people are not able to perform and sit in specific yoga asans, such as sukhasan, where one needs to sit on the floor with crossed legs in a specific position. Such exercises in yoga may induce pain in spine, vertebral column, lumbar curve, knees, calves, any other body part, while sitting for longer durations.
[003] In India and around the world, where yoga is widely spreading, more and more people are adapting yoga exercises for being physically and mentally fit. However, due to specific positions in yoga, mostly people find it difficult to perform such exercises for longer durations. In this technological era, there have been some devices developed that make it easy for people to perform yoga asans that need cross legged positions. Such as a US Patent Number US7628455B2 provides a seating device for allowing a user to sit in either a cross-legged yoga position or in a conventional manner, the seating device including leg supports which can be adjusted into a variety of positions to supporting a user's legs when sitting cross-legged in a variety of places to accommodate the user's comfort level. The seat may also have an attached back support. In another embodiment the apparatus includes a seat having a surface area wide enough to allow a user to sit on the seat in a cross-legged position and having a contoured front to allow a user's legs to hang comfortably over the front of seat while the user sits in a conventional manner. However, the patent does not focus on providing a comfortable posture to the back of a human, maintaining the vertebral column of the human in perfect posture according to the yoga asan. Also, the patent does not disclose providing ease and comfort to the other parts, than the human back, such as knees and calves. Therefore, there might still exist a problem that the person who is doing the yoga asan would not be able to perform for longer durations due to inducing back and knees pain.
[004] Therefore, there is a continuous need for a device or an apparatus that may ease or decrease the pain induced in certain body parts while doing yoga, and bring more comfort to the human body. Additionally, there is also an important parallel need in such devices of being equally effective while doing the yoga exercises, not compromising the effects provided by the yogic postures, while also providing bodily comfort to the people who are doing the yoga exercises.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[005] Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a comfortable seating device for maintaining perfect body posture of a human while performing a yoga exercise or any other exercise that involves cross legged position while sitting on the floor, such as sukhasan.
[006] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a seating device for providing comfort and supporting back and other body parts of a human while sitting in a cross legged position, or otherwise in a conventional way.
[007] It is further an objective of the present invention to provide a seating device that supports and comforts body parts, such as vertebral column, lumbar curve, knees, calves and the like that may be affected by pain induced due to sitting for longer duration on floor/or any other support in cross legged position or a conventional way.
[008] It is also an additional objective of the present invention to provide a seating device which provides the same yoga effects to a human doing yoga or other exercise as provided when such devices are not used, while also providing comfort and ease to the human. Therefore, the seating device, while gives comfort, does not compromise with the important effects of yoga exercises provided.
[009] An embodiment of the present invention provides a seating device for maintaining body posture while sitting or doing sitting exercises, the device comprises a backrest portion, for supporting back of a human, including a middle section, in middle of the backrest portion, having a convex curve, such that the convex curve of the middle section conforms with shape of back of a human or shape of vertebral column of a human using the seating device; and a bendable outer section surrounding the middle section; and a sitting portion, for supporting lower body of a human including buttocks and legs, the sitting portion includes a front edge and a rear edge that connects with lower section of the backrest portion, and where the front edge has larger thickness than the rear edge, such that the sitting portion has a tapered shape with thicker front edge than the rear edge, and where the front edge further tapers down towards front of the sitting portion to provide a smooth front end to the sitting portion.
[0010] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a seating device for maintaining body posture while sitting or doing sitting exercises, the device comprises: a backrest portion, for supporting back of a human, including a middle section, in middle of the backrest portion, having a convex curve, such that the convex curve of the middle section conforms with shape of back of a human or shape of vertebral column of a human using the seating device; and a sitting portion, for supporting lower body of a human including buttocks and legs, the sitting portion includes a front edge and a rear edge that connects with lower section of the backrest portion, and where the front edge has larger thickness than the rear edge, such that the sitting portion has a tapered shape with thicker front edge than the rear edge, and where the front edge further tapers down towards front of the sitting portion to provide a smooth front end to the sitting portion.
[0011] A yet another embodiment provides the seating device includes multiple leg supports to allow the seating device to stand on its own.
[0012] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular descriptions of exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] FIGs. 1A and 1B illustrate a front view of a seating device showing middle section of the seating device for providing perfect body posture in a cross legged yoga position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a seating device showing a curved middle section of the seating device for providing perfect body posture in a cross legged yoga position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] This patent describes the subject matter for patenting with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The principles described herein may be embodied in many different forms.
[0016] Illustrative embodiments of the invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
[0017] The present invention discloses a seating device with a curved middle section that maintains a desired body posture while performing certain yoga asans, such as the ones which require sitting in a cross legged position, or while sitting in a conventional manner, either on a floor or any other sitting support. In an embodiment, a yoga asan that may be performed on the seating device is sukhasan. The seating device has a backrest portion and a sitting portion. The backrest portion has a middle section which is curved, and has a convex shape such that the middle section conforms with back of a human, or a user using the seating device. The convexly curved middle section adapts with the shape of vertebral column of a person, while sitting in a yoga asan, such as sukhasan. The curved middle section is designed such that to provide maximum support and comfort to the back of a person.
[0018] Further, the design of the sitting portion of the seating device is such that it provides small flexibility in position of knees while sitting in a cross legged position for a yoga asan, or otherwise. The sitting portion has larger thickness in front edge than rear edge towards the backrest portion, giving it a tapered form with thicker front edge than the rear edge. Furthermore, the front edge gradually tapers down to provide smooth front end to the sitting portion. Therefore, such design of the sitting portion allows a person to sit with little more open knees while performing a yoga asan, sitting on the seating device. The device offers to allow the person for doing yoga and other such exercises for longer time, with maximum comfort and support to the back and knees, and avoiding the pain induced while doing such exercises for longer durations.
[0019] Referring to FIGs. 1A and 1B illustrates a front view of the seating device with curved middle section in a backrest portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The seating device 100 has a backrest portion 102 and a sitting portion 104. The backrest portion 102, further, has a middle section 106 which is convexly curved to conform with the shape of back or vertebral column of a person, including flexible thoracic region, lumbar curve and pelvic region, to provide maximum support and comfort to these body parts of the person while he/she is sitting in a cross legged position for performing a yoga asan, any other sitting exercise, or sitting in a conventional manner. The curved middle section 106 is designed at a height ‘h’ from a lower section of the backrest portion 102, or from the rear edge of the sitting portion 104, such that the convex shape of the middle section 106 perfectly adapts with the S-shape of the entire vertebral column, particularly the flexible thoracic and lumbar area, of the person. The seating device 100 is especially designed to maintain perfect body posture of the vertebral column while sitting in a yoga asan, which requires sitting in a cross legged position, or a simple sitting position. A preferable yoga asan is sukhasan. Further, the height ‘h’ is designed in accordance with an average height of an Indian person. A taller person can easily adjust himself by sliding forward accordingly. Therefore, the seating device 100 is suitable for variable heights of people.
[0020] In an embodiment, the middle section 106 in the backrest portion 102 may be a cut-out curved section. In an embodiment, the middle section 106 in the backrest portion 102 may be a continuous curved section of the backrest portion 102.
[0021] The design of the backrest portion 102 of the seating device 100 offers to allow the person to sit in a position which automatically activates or presses certain acupressure points B13, B14, B15, B18, B19, B20 and B21. Further, the design of the backrest portion 102 has an additional feature of providing extraordinary relief in backache patients. Due to the unique backrest portion 102, after long sitting hours, one may need to stretch his/her back, which may be comfortably done on the seating device 100 to feel a healing pressure in the lower back region, which are thoracic and lumbar region. In FIG. 1B, outer region 108 (shaded part) of the backrest portion 102 surrounding the middle section 106 is bendable. Hence, after long sitting hours, when one needs to stretch, the outer region 108 bends, this in turn makes the middle section 106 presses the vertebral column, thereby relaxing associated muscles of that body part. The design offers to allow the person to sit in a position which naturally compresses certain acupressure points B23, B47, B48 and G 30 in the lower back, thus relieving the backache in associated muscles.
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the seating device 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The side view 200 of the seating device 100 shows the convex curved shape of the middle section 106 that bulges out from the backrest portion 102. The side view 200 also shows tapered design with thicker front edge 104A and thinner rear edge 104B of the sitting portion 104, additionally showing smooth curved front end 104C.
[0023] The sitting portion 104 of the seating device 100 is uniquely designed. The sitting portion 104 has a gradually tapered thickness. The thickness, ‘a1’, of a front edge 104A of the sitting portion 104 is larger than thickness, ‘a2’ of a rear edge 104B of the sitting portion 104. Also, the front edge 104A gradually tapers down towards a front end 104C of the sitting portion 104, providing a smooth curve to the front end 104C. Such unique design of the sitting portion 104 allows the person to sit comfortably in a desired sitting position, including and not limited to cross legged position in a conventional manner or in sukhasan position, other sitting yoga position, or a conventional sitting manner. Also, the unique design of the sitting portion 104 provides the person to sit with little open knees, and not tightly crossed knees, for longer hours. Hence, a person may sit in such desired positions without feeling acute pain in the knees with more comfort and ease for longer durations.
[0024] Further, since the sitting portion 104 is tapered in design, with rear edge 104B, towards the backrest portion 102, being thinner in thickness than the front edge 104A, therefore, such unique design of the sitting portion 104 keeps the body weight of the person more in buttock areas. Hence, ankles of the person are kept at a specific height below, putting much less pressure on them. A pre-specified height at which the ankles are kept completely depends on the measurements of the seating device 100. A preferable pre-specified height is 1 inch. It may be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the pre-specified height for the ankles to be comfortable may vary depending on the dimensions and design of the seating device 100, without deviating from the meaning and scope of the present invention. Because, the ankles are kept at a pre-specified height due to the unique design of the sitting portion 104, otherwise induced pain in the ankles, caused due to longer sitting time on floor, is now largely reduced, allowing extra comfort to the ankles.
[0025] It may be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the seating device 100 may also be used for other sitting exercises, or just sitting conventionally for providing support and comfort to the back of a person, while sitting for longer hours, without deviating from the meaning and scope of the present invention.
[0026] In a preferable embodiment, the seating device 100 may be kept on floor, for doing floor exercises that involve sitting positions, sitting in cross legged positions, and other floor sitting positions. In another embodiment, the seating device 100 may be kept on a regular chair, and may be used for conventionally sitting any time. In this situation, the backrest portion 102 provides support and comfort to the person; while he/she may use the seating device 100 anywhere, such as, while working in an office for longer hours, or at home, or usually sitting for relaxing. In another embodiment, the seating device 100 may be provided with leg supports, which may allow the seating device 100 to stand on its own, and can be used as a therapeutic chair.
[0027] Advantageously, the present invention provides the seating device 100 that has curved middle section in the backrest portion, and tapered sitting portion. The unique design of the seating device 100 provides comfort to a person, by maximum supporting vertebral column of the person while he/she is sitting in a cross legged position of a yoga asan, or conventionally sitting on a floor or any other support. The seating device 100 provides comfort and eases out pain induced in certain body parts of the person, while performing desired yoga asans, such as sukhasan, for longer durations. Thereby, allowing the person to do the yoga asan for longer durations in comfort. Also, while providing maximum comfort to the person doing yoga, the seating device 100 does not compromise with the physical advantageous effects provided to the person from yoga asans. Specific acupressure points are naturally pressed while sitting on the seating device 100.
[0028] Further, the seating device allows the person to sit with little more open knees, allowing sitting for longer duration with bodily comfort. Additionally, an appropriate and comfort knee flexion helps in maintaining proper blood flow through the lower limbs, thus preventing numbness, which is mostly experienced after sitting in sukhasan for long duration. Also, sitting in such yoga positions, like sukhasan, on the seating device 100 press calf muscles that in turn increases the blood flow to the heart, helping in normal heart activities. Further, pressing calf muscles is a well-known Indian way of improving digestion. It is an age old technique for balancing center of gravity. The acupressure points (stomach 34, 36, 38, 40) are pressed in the sukhasan. Additionally, practicing sukhasan on the seating device 100 may also help in avoiding knee joint pain to a maximum extent.
[0029] Furthermore, the seating device 100 provides a sitting position to the person, doing yoga asan, such as sukhasan, or other cross legged exercise, in which the ankles are also provided with most comfort, since the design of the seating device 100 keeps the ankles, around, one inch below, thus keeping the body weight more in the buttock region and avoiding pressure and pain which is induced otherwise in the ankles.
[0030] While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Indeed, the novel methods, devices, and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the methods, devices, and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

We Claim:
1. A seating device for maintaining body posture while sitting or doing sitting exercises, the device comprises:
a backrest portion, for supporting back of a human, including:
a middle section, in middle of the backrest portion, having a convex curve, such that the convex curve of the middle section conforms with shape of back of a human or shape of vertebral column of a human using the seating device; and
a bendable outer section surrounding the middle section; and
a sitting portion, for supporting lower body of a human including buttocks and legs, the sitting portion includes a front edge and a rear edge that connects with lower section of the backrest portion, and where the front edge has larger thickness than the rear edge, such that the sitting portion has a tapered shape with thicker front edge than the rear edge, and where the front edge further tapers down towards front of the sitting portion to provide a smooth front end to the sitting portion.

2. The seating device of claim 1, wherein the middle section of the backrest portion is a cut-out curved section or the middle section of the backrest portion is a continuous curved section of the backrest portion.

3. The seating device of claim 1, wherein the middle section adapts with the S-shape of the entire vertebral column of a person including flexible thoracic region, lumbar curve and pelvic region, to provide maximum support and comfort to these body parts of the person while the person is sitting in a sitting position including a cross legged position for performing a yoga asan, or any other sitting exercise or yoga asan, or sitting in a conventional manner.

4. The seating device of claim 3, wherein the middle section is configured to be designed at a height from the lower section of the backrest portion such that the convex curve of the middle section perfectly adapts with the S-shape of the entire vertebral column, particularly the flexible thoracic and lumbar area, of the person.

5. The seating device of claim 1, wherein shape of the sitting portion including the thicker front edge than the rear edge and the smooth front end is tapered such that the sitting portion allows a person to sit in a desired sitting position, including cross legged position, or in a conventional manner or in a yoga asan position, and further allows the person to sit with little open knees, and not tightly crossed knees, for longer hours without feeling acute pain in the knees.

6. The seating device of claim 1, shape of the sitting portion including the thicker front edge than the rear edge and the smooth front end is tapered such that the sitting portion keeps body weight of a person more in buttock areas and keeps ankles of the person at a specific height below the sitting portion, putting much less pressure on the ankles and the knees, reducing induced pain in the ankles caused due to longer sitting time on floor or in cross legged position.

7. The seating device of claim 6, wherein the specified height is 1 inch.

8. The seating device of claim 1, wherein the outer section of the backrest portion surrounding the middle section is bendable to an extent, such that when a person needs to stretch after long sitting hours, the outer region bends, making the middle section pressing the vertebral column, and thereby relaxing associated muscles of that body part.

9. The seating device of claim 3, wherein the backrest portion including the middle section naturally activates or presses certain acupressure points B13, B14, B15, B18, B19, B20, B21, B23, B47, B48 and G30 in back of a person, thus relieving pain in associated muscles.

10. The seating device of claim 1, wherein the device is kept on floor for doing floor exercises that involve sitting positions, sitting in cross legged positions, and other floor sitting positions.

11. The seating device of claim 1, wherein the seating device is kept on a regular chair, and is used for conventionally sitting any time.

12. The seating device of claim 1, wherein the seating device further includes multiple leg supports to allow the seating device to stand on its own.

13. The seating device of claim 1, wherein the shape of the sitting portion is such that a taller person easily adjusts himself by sliding forward accordingly.

14. A seating device for maintaining body posture while sitting or doing sitting exercises, the device comprises:
a backrest portion, for supporting back of a human, including a middle section, in middle of the backrest portion, having a convex curve, such that the convex curve of the middle section conforms with shape of back of a human or shape of vertebral column of a human using the seating device; and
a sitting portion, for supporting lower body of a human including buttocks and legs, the sitting portion includes a front edge and a rear edge that connects with lower section of the backrest portion, and where the front edge has larger thickness than the rear edge, such that the sitting portion has a tapered shape with thicker front edge than the rear edge, and where the front edge further tapers down towards front of the sitting portion to provide a smooth front end to the sitting portion.

15. The seating device of claim 14, wherein the backrest portion further includes a bendable outer section surrounding the middle section.

16. The seating device of claim 14, wherein the middle section is configured to be designed at a height from the lower section of the backrest portion such that the convex curve of the middle section perfectly adapts with the S-shape of the entire vertebral column, particularly the flexible thoracic and lumbar area, of the person.

17. The seating device of claim 14, wherein shape of the sitting portion including the thicker front edge than the rear edge and the smooth front end is tapered such that the sitting portion allows a person to sit in a desired sitting position, including cross legged position, or in a conventional manner or in a yoga asan position, and further allows the person to sit with little open knees, and not tightly crossed knees, for longer hours without feeling acute pain in the knees.

18. The seating device of claim 14, shape of the sitting portion including the thicker front edge than the rear edge and the smooth front end is tapered such that the sitting portion keeps body weight of a person more in buttock areas and keeps ankles of the person at a specific height below the sitting portion, putting much less pressure on the ankles and the knees, reducing induced pain in the ankles caused due to longer sitting time on floor or in cross legged position.

19. The seating device of claim 14, wherein the device is kept on floor for doing floor exercises that involve sitting positions, sitting in cross legged positions, and other floor sitting positions, or the seating device is kept on a regular chair, and is used for conventionally sitting any time, or

20. The seating device of claim 14 further includes multiple leg supports to allow the seating device to stand on its own.