I suppose I could have spelled it "seatand", but the way people use (or mis-use) English, I figured I might as well be first to shorten the word and retain the sound (there are other words where "i" is pronounced "ee"). At least I'm not violating one of the rules, where a vowel, when followed by a single consonant, is supposed to be pronounced as a long-vowel. Others, of course, will pronounce it as if it was spelled "sittand" --but since it's NOT spelled that way, it shouldn't be pronouced that way. The purpose of this paragraph is to point out little details like that (semi-proper English).
Anyway.... The following descriptions are for a basic version of the gadget, suitable for the average person (who doesn't have to turn sideways to go through a door). A wider version would be needed for wider people. Do note that the average standing human, if observed from the side, is mostly flat along the back side. The buttocks stick out some, and this gadget is designed to accommodate that.
Start with a short wide plank, maybe a meter and a half long and half a meter wide (3:1 ratio). Build a height-adjustable framework to hold it off the floor at perhaps a 45-degree angle (tilt should be adjustable, too). Cut the plank about half a meter from one end. The two pieces are now 1:1 and 2:1 in ratio of length to width. The larger piece we mount on the upper part of the framework, and the smaller piece we mount lower-down on the framework with a gap of about a third of a meter between them. We want to make sure the framework does not nearby-occupy the space between the two pieces. Without portraying the angle, here's a sketch of the relevant lengths: ---..------ (periods used to represent spaces) --| At the top edge of the lower piece (pointed at by the vertical bar at left), we make sure it is well-supported and well-cushioned. Lesser cushioning is applied to the upward surfaces of the two pieces, and a head-rest is added to the top of the upper piece. Now it is ready!
Stand beside the gadget and, using the height-adjustment, position the gap so it is just a little lower than your buttocks. Turn so you can squat just a bit and fit that part of yourself into the gap, as you swing the your legs over the lower angled padded piece. You are now sort-of sitting on the strong/padded upper edge of the lower piece, so you don't have to have much weight on your feet as they touch the floor. Without the padding and that angled piece of plank, it would be like sitting on a metal cross-bar, but this is intended to be comfortable. Lean back. The head rest allows you to look forward (instead of upward at an angle) without you using your neck muscles. The lower piece shouldn't be longer than the length of your thighs, allowing the knees to bend and the calves to descend vertically toward the floor. The mathematics of "physics vectors" ensures that a considerable part of your weight is supported by the padded pieces of plank, not by your buttocks. You will be more comfortable than you might first expect.-- Vernon, Sep 05 2008 Rough sketch (side view) http://www.nemitz.net/vernon/sitand.gifNo padding or height-adjuster shown. Feet should be on the ground at lower left, carrying some weight. After all, if we are combining sitting with standing, that would be a prerequisite! Note: consider this Idea to be background for another one, upcoming. [Vernon, Sep 07 2008, last modified Sep 08 2008] kneeling chair http://en.wikipedia...wiki/Kneeling_chairsimilar [afinehowdoyoudo, Sep 08 2008] Variant Sitand http://scifi.about....Of-Sitting-Down.htmI think I once saw the "This Island Earth" movie many years ago, and possibly this Idea is my misremembering the spaceship seats. They ARE different seats! While you can't see it in the picture at the link, a somewhat conventional (perhaps smallish) seating platform extends outward from the long backrest, and the buttocks are seated on that platform. [Vernon, Sep 10 2010] Sorry, brain not working. Sketch, please? (On the other hand, 'perching' stools are baked, but I suspect this is different.)-- neutrinos_shadow, Sep 05 2008 [eyes glazing over] needs a graphic [/ego]-- phoenix, Sep 05 2008 This is either brilliant or would give the user little ease.-- nomocrow, Sep 05 2008 sp: slouch
love the drawing, V. huh?-- po, Sep 07 2008 uh, [po], what are you asking?-- Vernon, Sep 08 2008 either I don't understand the idea or that is a terrible illustration. no part of that looks like a comfortable anything. looks more like stickie the stick mans tool shed than a piece of furniture. On the other hand "stands" for comfortable prolonged standing are very baked especially in sci-fi movies. It doesn't look much better than standing unless you have an ample butt.-- WcW, Sep 08 2008 Sounds like the kneeling chairs that were the latest/greatest thing in the late 70's. There were ads in Popular Science etc. (I was a geeky kid)-- afinehowdoyoudo, Sep 08 2008 [WcW], the text under the link does say that no padding is shown in the sketch, which is mostly the framework to support the planks. Since the pieces of plank are shown on-edge, you might be imagining a resemblance between laying against it and Snoopy laying on top of his doghouse. But there IS a flat surface to support the body in this gadget. You are also ignoring friction between the body and that surface, which allows a fair amount of weight to NOT need support by the buttocks and feet. Note also that the main text specifies that the angle is adjustable, too, although it's not shown in the sketch. Almost any angle shallower than 45 degrees is going to make this thing more a combination of lying down and sitting, than standing and sitting.-- Vernon, Sep 09 2008 UB: Sort of a bed, tilted forwards, and a hole cut to fit your bum into.
Hey - fit some sort of a waste receptacle beneath that gap and you might call that a shtand, Big Vee.-- neelandan, Sep 09 2008 [neelandan], is that what you do to your lounge chairs at home?-- Vernon, Sep 09 2008 No, because they do not have that gap to s(h)it through.-- neelandan, Sep 10 2008 Oh, I just assumed that since you put so much effort into cutting things....-- Vernon, Sep 10 2008 Added the shitbag yet, Vernon?-- neelandan, Sep 14 2010 The question is whether he's emptied it.-- rcarty, Sep 14 2010 random, halfbakery