U.S. patent application number 10/383175 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-09 for inflatable seat cushion.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sears Manufacturing Company. Invention is credited to Burnes, Daniel, Gryp, Dennis.
Application Number | 20040174056 10/383175 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32030589 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040174056 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gryp, Dennis ; et
al. |
September 9, 2004 |
Inflatable seat cushion
Abstract
The present invention concerns a vehicle seat cushion having
first and second sections. The sections may be pneumatically
inflatable. The first section has an upper chamber and a lower
chamber. The second section also has an upper chamber and a lower
chamber. Each of the said sections are located a spaced distance
apart to form an elongated vertical channel between the sections
and may be located on the forward section of a curved back pan. The
cushion may also be of a unitary construction and each section of
the cushion may be independently inflatable as well.
Inventors: |
Gryp, Dennis; (East Moline,
IL) ; Burnes, Daniel; (Muscatine, IA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Niro, Scavone, Haller & Niro
181 W. Madison-Suite 4600
Chicago
IL
60602
US
|
Assignee: |
Sears Manufacturing Company
|
Family ID: |
32030589 |
Appl. No.: |
10/383175 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/284.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/4221 20130101;
B60N 2/64 20130101; B60N 2/643 20130101; B60N 2/914 20180201; B60N
2/427 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/284.6 |
International
Class: |
A47C 004/54 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A vehicle seat backrest cushion comprising: first and second
pneumatically inflatable sections; said first section comprising an
upper chamber and a lower chamber; said second section comprising
an upper chamber and a lower chamber; and each of said sections
being spaced to form an elongated vertical channel between said
sections.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one passageway
pneumatically connects said chambers.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said upper chambers are in
pneumatic communication with one another and said lower chambers
are in pneumatic communication with one another.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said upper chambers are
pneumatically connected by at least one passageway and said lower
chambers are pneumatically connected by at least one
passageway.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said upper chambers are
independently inflatable and said lower chambers are independently
inflatable.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein all of said chambers are
independently inflatable.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said channel is positioned to
receive the spinal area of a user.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said channel is positioned
minimize force on the spinal area of an occupant.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sections of said cushion
are located on the forward section of a curved back pan.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sections are centrally
located on a backrest of the seat.
11. A vehicle seat backrest cushion comprising: a base and a
protruding section; said protruding section including a plurality
of raised areas; and said raised areas defining a generally
centrally located recess.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said cushion is of a unitary
construction.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said cushion is located on
the forward section of a curved back pan.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 further wherein said channel is
generally located in a central position on a backrest of the
seat.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said channel is positioned to
receive the spinal area of a user.
16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said channel is positioned to
minimize force on the spinal area of an occupant.
17. A vehicle seat backrest cushion comprising: first and second
pneumatically inflatable sections; said first section comprising at
least one chamber; said second section comprising at least one
chamber; and each of said sections being spaced to form an
elongated vertical channel between said sections.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein at least one passageway
pneumatically connects said chambers.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said first section includes
an upper and lower chamber and said second section includes an
upper and lower chamber.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said upper chambers are in
pneumatic communication with one another and said lower chambers
are in pneumatic communication with one another.
21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said upper chambers are
pneumatically connected by at least one passageway and said lower
chambers are pneumatically connected by at least one
passageway.
22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said upper chambers are
independently inflatable and said lower chambers are independently
inflatable.
23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein all of said chambers are
independently inflatable.
24. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said channel is positioned to
receive the spinal area of a user.
25. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said channel is positioned to
minimize force on the spinal area of an occupant.
26. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said sections of said cushion
are located on the forward section of a curved back pan.
27. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said sections are generally
located in a central position on a backrest of the seat.
28. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a seam connects said
sections.
29. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein a seam connects said
sections.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to inflatable cushions used in
vehicle seats and the like. More specifically, the present
invention concerns truck and tractor seating which includes a
backrest cushion that uses spaced sections to form a vertical
channel which does not press against the spine of a user. This
provides a level of comfort that is not found in current seating
designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In typical seating configurations, cushioning is provided
along the entire back pan, which in turn, engages a user's entire
back including the spinal area. It has been found, however, that
the engagement of the spinal area produces an uncomfortable ride
for the occupant.
[0003] The present invention improves the comfort level of a seat
by providing an inflatable cushion which may be located in the back
pan of a seat. To avoid engaging the spine, the inflatable cushion
or bladder is designed to form a recess, channel or depression in
which a user's spine may be located. This, in turn, results in a
vehicle seat with an improved comfort level since pressure on the
spine is diminished.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] These and other features, objects and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following
description and drawings wherein like reference numerals represent
like elements in several views, and in which:
[0005] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2-2.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a front view of another embodiment of the
inflatable cushion that may be used with the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a top view of another embodiment of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] Set forth below is a description of what are currently
believed to be the preferred embodiments or best examples of the
invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and
modifications to the preferred embodiments are contemplated. Any
alternates or modifications in which insubstantial changes in
function, in purpose, in structure or in result are intended to be
covered by the claims of this patent.
[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present invention
includes a vehicle seat 10 having a ergonomically curved backrest
or back pan 12, an inflatable backrest cushion 14, and cover 16.
The construction and design of back pan 12 and cover 16 are well
known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
[0012] Backrest cushion 14 is constructed as an inflatable bladder
having a plurality of spaced sections 20-23 forming a plurality of
chambers. Spacing the sections creates elongated recessed, channels
or depressions and 32 between the sections.
[0013] Because backrest cushion 14 is inflatable, it may be
configured in a number of different ways. As shown in FIG. 2,
chambers 20 and 21 are connected by passageway 50 which allows both
chambers to be pneumatically filled by supply tube 27. Chambers 22
and 23 are similarly configured to permit supply tube 28 to fill
both chambers through use of passageway 52. In another embodiment,
as shown in FIG. 3, sections 20 and 21 form upper chambers and
sections 22 and 23 form lower chambers which are selectively
inflatable through the use of tubes or passageways 40-43. The tubes
allow the chambers to be pneumatically inflated through the use of
pressurized gas which may be supplied by a source on the vehicle.
Configuring the cushions in this matter allows each section to be
individually inflated as desired by the user.
[0014] Sections 20 and 21 may also be constructed so as to be
capable of being inflated in tandem by the use of a single supply
passageway 50. Passageway 50 may be part of a seam 51 that
physically connects or links the sections. Passageway 52 functions
in the same manner as passageway 50 but works with sections 22 and
23. Alternately, the sections may only include one operable chamber
as well.
[0015] In use, the supply tube or passageway is in communication
with an air supply and the amount of inflation is normally
controlled by a valve which allows a user to inflate each section
or all of the sections as desired. As shown in FIG. 2, cushion 14
is located at the forward portion on the curved section of back pan
12. As shown in FIG. 4, channel 30 of cushion 14 is generally
located in a central position on the backrest 12 so as to receive
the spinal area 99 of a user or seat occupant. This results in the
spine resting in channel 30. This, in turn, results in minimizing
the pressure or force exerted against the spine by the cushion and
other seat components. Reducing this pressure results in a more
comfortable ride for the user.
[0016] In another embodiment, cushion 97 is formed by a base
section 100 having a sidewall 102. Also provided is a protruding
section or top portion 104 which has a plurality of raised areas
110 to 113 which are separated by channels 120 and 122. As cushion
97 is unitary in construction with the raised areas 110-113 formed
by areas of increased material which have the capability of
inflating beyond the point of full inflation of the areas forming
channels 120 and 122. As shown with the other embodiments described
above, cushion 97 has a channel or depression 120 which is vertical
and positioned to receive the spinal area of a user. This, again,
reduces the pressure on the spine and results in increased
comfort.
[0017] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those
of ordinary skill in the art that changes and other modifications
can be made without departing from the invention in its broader
aspects. Various features of the present invention are set forth in
the following claims.
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