Stools and chairs with translatable armrests

Abstract

An apparatus that supports a user in a variety of positions to comfortably perform tasks, such as applying one or more tattoos to skin of a subject is herein disclosed. The apparatus can be reconfigured to optimally position and support the arms and/or chest of the user. The apparatus includes a vertically movable armrest assembly. Armrests can support the user's forearms while supporting the user's chest such that the user can comfortably perform tasks in front of a chest support of the stool. The armrest assembly can be translated vertically to accommodate the user's body to achieve desired positioning.

1 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A stool comprising:
 a seat assembly;   a post coupled to the seat assembly;   a chest support coupled to the post and configured to support a user's chest; and   an armrest assembly including a first armrest and a second armrest, wherein the armrest assembly is translatable along the post to move at least one of the first armrest or the second armrest lower than the chest support to translate a bottom portion of the at least one of the first armrest or the second armrest away from the chest support while an upper portion of the least one of the first armrest or the second armrest remains generally flush with the chest support, wherein at least one of the first armrest or the second armrest is movable between
 an upright position vertically alongside a respective side of the chest support such that the at least one of the first armrest or the second armrest is generally flush with the chest support to contact the user's chest when the user's chest is against the chest support, and 
 a lowered position below the chest support such that the at least one of the first armrest or the second armrest is positioned to support an arm of the user positioned below the chest support. 
   
     
     
         40 . The stool of  claim 39 , wherein the armrest assembly includes a locking mechanism configured to releasably lock the armrest assembly to the post. 
     
     
         41 . The stool of  claim 39 , wherein the armrest assembly is movable between a plurality of preset vertical positions relative to at least one of the chest support or the seat assembly. 
     
     
         42 . The stool of  claim 39 , wherein the armrest assembly is translatable along the post and movable to pre-set angular positions of the first armrest and/or the second armrest. 
     
     
         43 . The stool of  claim 39 , wherein the first armrest has multiple degrees of freedom. 
     
     
         44 . The stool of  claim 40 , wherein the first armrest is translatable laterally outward away from the post, wherein the armrest assembly includes a lateral lock configured to lock the first armrest at a laterally extended position. 
     
     
         45 . A stool, comprising:
 a chest support;   a seat assembly;   a vertical elongate member coupled to the chest support and the seat assembly; and   an armrest assembly slidable along the vertical elongate member and having a locked state for locking the armrest assembly to the vertical elongate member and an unlocked state for allowing translation of the armrest assembly along the vertical elongate member, wherein the armrest assembly includes
 an armrest positionable to support a user's arm positioned in front of the stool when the user sits on the seat assembly and the user's chest rests against a backside of the chest support, wherein the armrest is positionable at a lowered position for supporting the user's arm and a stowed position for supporting the user's chest positioned against the backside of the chest support, and 
 a lateral adjustment device configured to allow lateral movement of the armrest away from or toward the vertical elongate member while the armrest assembly is fixedly coupled to the vertical elongate member. 
   
     
     
         46 . The stool of  claim 45 , wherein the armrest is slidable along most of a distance between the chest support and the seat assembly, wherein the lateral adjustment device is biased toward a locked configuration. 
     
     
         47 . The stool of  claim 45 , wherein the armrest assembly includes a positioning mechanism operable to clamp onto the vertical elongate member. 
     
     
         48 . The stool of  claim 45 , wherein the armrest is movable between a lowered position and a raised position, wherein the armrest assembly, in the unlocked state, is vertically movable when the armrest is in either the lowered position or the raised position. 
     
     
         49 . The stool of  claim 45 , wherein the armrest assembly is slidably disposed on the vertical elongate member, which carries the chest support, wherein the vertical elongate member is configured to be straddled by the user facing the backside of the chest support. 
     
     
         50 . The stool of  claim 45 , wherein the armrest, in a deployed position, extends forwardly away from the user's chest when the user's chest contacts the backside of the chest support and one of the user's legs is positioned underneath the armrest. 
     
     
         51 . The stool of  claim 45 , wherein the armrest assembly includes is translatable in different directions relative to the chest support. 
     
     
         52 . A stool comprising:
 a seat assembly;   a chest support configured to support a user's chest; and   an armrest rotatable upwardly to a raised position the armrest alongside the chest support such that an arm-support surface of the armrest is generally flush with a backside of the chest support to contact the user's chest when the user's chest is against the backside of the chest support, wherein the armrest is translatable away from a raised position toward a lowered position while at least a portion of the arm-support surface remains generally flush with the chest support, and wherein the arm-support surface at the lowered position is positioned lower than a bottom of the chest support.   
     
     
         53 . The stool of  claim 52 , wherein when the armrest is in a forward lowered orientation, a distance between the arm-support surface and the bottom of the chest support is equal to or greater than 1 inch.