U.S. patent application number 11/641441 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-01 for support device for a seat in a vehicle.
Invention is credited to Su Hwan Hwang.
Application Number | 20080100110 11/641441 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39265005 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080100110 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hwang; Su Hwan |
May 1, 2008 |
Support device for a seat in a vehicle
Abstract
A support device of a seat for a vehicle includes: a main
chamber which is interposed between a seat cushion and a base plate
and the main chamber is deployed by movement of gas therein so as
to be deformed in conformity with a hip line and a body shape of
the driver or the passenger; a support blade which adheres onto the
main chamber and is extended in both sides of the main chamber when
the main chamber is deployed; a compressing member which is
operated by manipulation of a switch, which is disposed near a
driver seat, so as to supply gas into the main chamber; and a
regulation valve which is installed to a tube interconnecting the
compressing member and the main chamber so as to regulate gas
supply to and gas discharge from the main chamber according to the
manipulation of the switch.
Inventors: |
Hwang; Su Hwan;
(Hwaseong-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP (SF)
2 PALO ALTO SQUARE, 3000 El Camino Real, Suite 700
PALO ALTO
CA
94306
US
|
Family ID: |
39265005 |
Appl. No.: |
11/641441 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/284.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/914 20180201;
A47C 4/54 20130101; B60N 2/99 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/284.1 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/46 20060101
A47C007/46 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 31, 2006 |
KR |
10-2006-0106446 |
Claims
1. A support device of a seat for a vehicle comprising: a main
chamber which is interposed between a seat cushion and a base plate
which is disposed below the seat cushion and the main chamber is
deployed by movement of gas therein when an occupant sits on the
seat cushion so as to be deformed in conformity with a hip line and
a body shape of the occupant; a support blade which adheres onto
the main chamber and is extended on both sides of the main chamber
so as to enclose both sides of the pelvis of the occupant when the
main chamber is deployed; a compressing member, which is disposed
near an occupant seat, is operated by the manipulation of a switch,
so as to supply gas into the main chamber; and a regulation valve
which is installed to a tube interconnecting the compressing member
and the main chamber so as to regulate gas supply and gas discharge
from the main chamber according to the manipulation of the
switch.
2. The support device of claim 1, wherein the main chamber
comprises thermoplastic polyurethane.
3. The support device of claim 1, wherein the main chamber is
formed such that the inner surfaces of a main chamber body are
fixed to one another along a longitudinal direction thereof.
4. The support device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of ribs are
formed on an outer surface of the main chamber along a horizontal
direction which are spaced from one another wherein the main
chamber is deployed when gas is supplied to the main chamber from
the compressing member.
5. The support device of claim 4, wherein the length of the ribs
become longer as it approaches both ends of the main chamber from a
center thereof.
6. The support device of claim 5, wherein the ribs are arranged to
be spaced from one another by a constant distance.
7. The support device of claim 1, wherein the support blade
comprises a center part which is formed so as to be flexibly
deformed in conformity with a shape of a rounded hip of the
occupant, and support parts which are respectively connected to
both ends of the center part and the width of which are expanded so
as to sufficiently support both sides of the pelvis of the
occupant.
8. The support device of claim 7, wherein the support blade is
formed wherein the thickness of the support part is greater than
the thickness at a center part.
9. The support device of claim 1, wherein the support blade which
is coupled to the main chamber may be installed to a seat cushion
of a front passenger seat or a rear passenger seat.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2006-0106446 filed in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office on Oct. 31, 2006, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] (a) Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a support device for a seat
in a vehicle which can support the hip of an occupant.
[0004] (b) Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, there is a limit in the width of a seat in a
vehicle which puts an occupant's comfort at a premium. In
particular, a seat back and a seat cushion are generally designed
taking into account pressure distribution using a standard body
model and a lumbar support device.
[0006] However, since a conventional seat structure does not have a
device for regulating the body pressure of an occupant, if an
occupant does not have a normal body size or an occupant leans back
against the upper portion of the seat, pressure distribution on the
upper portion of the backbone or the shoulder may not be optimal,
thereby causing fatigue. Furthermore, in the conventional seat
structure, the seat cushion does not a device for regulating
pressure of the body of an occupant.
[0007] Therefore, the present invention provides a support device
for a seat in a vehicle which supports the body of an occupant in a
stable manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a
support device for a seat in a vehicle which includes: a main
chamber which is interposed between a seat cushion and a base plate
in which the main chamber is disposed below the seat cushion and is
deployed by the movement of gas therein when an occupant sits on
the seat cushion so as to be deformed in conformity with a hip line
and a body shape of the driver or the passenger; a support blade
which adheres onto the main chamber and is extended along both
sides of the main chamber so as to enclose both sides of the pelvis
of the occupant when the main chamber is deployed; a compressing
member which is operated by the manipulation of a switch, which is
disposed near the occupant seat, so as to supply gas into the main
chamber; and a regulation valve which is installed to a tube
interconnecting the compressing member and the main chamber so as
to regulate gas supply to and gas discharge from the main chamber
according to the manipulation of the switch.
[0009] In another embodiment, the main chamber comprises
thermoplastic polyurethane.
[0010] In another embodiment, the main chamber may be formed such
that inner surfaces of a main chamber body are fixed to one another
along a longitudinal direction thereof.
[0011] In another embodiment, a plurality of ribs may be formed on
an outer surface of the main chamber along a horizontal direction
to be spaced from one another such that the main chamber is
deployed when the gas is supplied to the main chamber from the
compressing member.
[0012] In another embodiment, the length of the ribs may become
longer as it approaches both ends of the main chamber from a center
thereof. In another embodiment, the ribs may be arranged to be
spaced from one another by a constant distance.
[0013] In another embodiment, the support blade may include a
center part which is formed so as to be flexibly deformed in
conformity with a shape of a rounded hip of the occupant, and
support parts which are respectively connected to both ends of the
center part and the width of which are expanded so as to
sufficiently support both sides of the pelvis of the occupant. In
another embodiment, the support blade may be formed such that the
thickness of the support part is greater than the thickness at a
center part. In another embodiment, the support blade which is
coupled to the main chamber may be installed to a seat cushion of a
front passenger seat or a rear passenger seat.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a support device of a seat for a
vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a support blade of a support
device of a seat for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b are drawings showing operation states of
a support device of a seat for a vehicle according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing another operation state of a
support device of a seat for a vehicle according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
TABLE-US-00001 <Description of Reference Numerals Indicating
Primary Elements in the Drawings> 100: main chamber 200: support
blade 300: compressing member 400: regulation valve
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0018] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will
hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, a support device for
a seat in a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention includes: a main chamber 100 which is interposed
in which a seat cushion 3 and a base plate 4 which is disposed
below the seat cushion 3. The main chamber 100 is deployed by
movement of gas therein when the driver 2 or the passenger sits on
the seat cushion 3 so as to be deformed in conformity with a hip
line and a body shape of the driver or the passenger. A support
blade 200 which adheres onto the main chamber 100 and is extended
in both sides of the main chamber 100 so as to enclose both sides
of the pelvis of the driver 2 or the passenger when the main
chamber 100 is deployed. A compressing member 300, which is
disposed near a driver seat, is operated by manipulation of a
switch 10, so as to supply gas into the main chamber 100. A
regulation valve 400 which is installed to a tube 20 connects the
compressing member 300 and the main chamber 100 so as to regulate
gas supply and gas discharge from the main chamber 100 according to
the manipulation of the switch.
[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, the main chamber 100 is made of
thermoplastic polyurethane. Thermoplastic polyurethane is a
specific type of thermoplastic and has excellent anti-abrasion,
flexibility, and tensile strength. Thermoplastics are materials
that soften or melt when heated and harden when cooled.
Thermoplastic polymers consist of long polymer molecules that are
not linked to each other. Thermoplastics include, but are not
limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester,
polyvinyl chloride, acrylics, nylons, spandex-type polyurethanes,
and cellulosics.
[0021] The main chamber 100 is formed such that the inner surfaces
of a main chamber body 101 are fixed to one another along a
longitudinal direction. It is preferable that the fixing step
occurs by ultrasonic welding or heat welding.
[0022] Moreover, a plurality of ribs 500 are formed on an outer
surface of the main chamber 100 along a horizontal direction and
are spaced from one another such that the main chamber 100 is
deployed when gas is supplied to the main chamber 100 from the
compressing member 300.
[0023] The length of the ribs 500 may become longer as it
approaches both ends of the main chamber 100 from a center thereof.
Additionally, the ribs 500 are arranged to be spaced from one
another by a constant distance.
[0024] The support blade 200 includes a center part 210 which is
formed so as to be flexibly deformed in conformity with the shape
of a rounded hip of the driver 2 or the passenger. Support parts
220 which are respectively connected to both ends of the center
part 210 and the width of which are expanded so as to sufficiently
support both sides of the pelvis of the driver 2 or the passenger.
Additionally, the support blade 200 is formed such that a thickness
t' of the support part is greater than a thickness t of a center
part. Moreover, the compressing member 300 may be realized by a
pump which compresses gases including air.
[0025] The support blade 200 which is coupled to the main chamber
100 may be installed on a seat cushion of a front passenger seat or
a rear passenger seat. Additionally, the support blade 200 may also
be installed in a seat in the back of a driver seat, a front
passenger seat, and a rear seat.
[0026] Operation states of a support device of a seat for a vehicle
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will
be explained with reference to the drawings.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 3a and FIG. 4, when the driver 2 is
sitting on the seat cushion 3 of a driver seat, the driver 2 turns
on the switch 10 such that the seat is adjusted in conformity with
the seat cushion 3 and the body shape of the driver 2. Electric
power is applied to the compressing member 300 in response to the
manipulation of the switch such that gas generated in the
compressing member 300 is supplied to the main chamber 100 via the
regulation valve 400.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 3b and FIG. 4, gas passes through the
regulation valve 400 which is supplied to an inner space of the
main chamber 100 through the tube 20, so the main chamber 100 is
deployed, and at this time, both sides of the main chamber 100 are
expanded toward an upper direction by the ribs 500 formed in the
main chamber 100.
[0029] Accordingly, the main chamber 100 is deployed in conformity
with a line of the hip of the driver 2, thereby supporting the body
of the driver 2.
[0030] At the same time, the center part 210 of the support blade
200 which is disposed on the main chamber 100 is formed in a
lattice shape so as to be flexibly deformed, thereby allowing the
main chamber 100 to smoothly deform in the deployment
direction.
[0031] Imaginary pressure acting on the main chamber 100 by the
driver 2 is shown by the arrow, and both ends of the support part
220 of the support blade 200 are moved in directions of the arrows
so as to sufficiently support both sides of the pelvis of the
driver 2 by the deployment operation of the main chamber 100,
thereby enclosing both sides of the pelvis of the driver 2.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, after gas is sufficiently
supplied to the main chamber 100 in a state that the driver 2 is
seated on the seat cushion 3, the driver 2 manipulates the switch
so as to turn off the operation of the compressing member 300. If
the operation of the compressing member 300 is turned off, the gas
is not supplied any more through the regulation valve 400, so the
state shown in the drawing is maintained.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the seat cushion 3 is deformed by the
operations of the main chamber 100 and the support blade 200, so
that the hip 2a of the driver 2 can be stably supported.
[0034] Meanwhile, if the driver 2 intends to change the state of
gas supplied to the main chamber 100, the driver 2 may manipulate
the switch such that gas is discharged to the outside via the
regulation valve 400.
[0035] Although the support blade 200 which is coupled to the main
chamber 100 and is installed only to the driver seat in the
embodiment of the present invention, it can also be installed to a
seat cushion of a front passenger seat or a rear seat and in a seat
in the back of a driver seat, a front passenger seat, and a rear
seat.
[0036] While this invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments,
it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the
disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover
various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within
the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *