U.S. patent application number 12/388650 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-19 for vehicle seat cushion with inflatable air bladder.
This patent application is currently assigned to FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, INC.. Invention is credited to Gregory Brncick.
Application Number | 20100207443 12/388650 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42559250 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100207443 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brncick; Gregory |
August 19, 2010 |
VEHICLE SEAT CUSHION WITH INFLATABLE AIR BLADDER
Abstract
A cushion is adapted to set on a seat pan included in a vehicle
seat. The cushion includes an inflatable air bag in, for example, a
lumbar-support device.
Inventors: |
Brncick; Gregory; (Holland,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARNES & THORNBURG LLP
11 SOUTH MERIDIAN
INDIANAPOLIS
IN
46204
US
|
Assignee: |
FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING,
INC.
Troy
MI
|
Family ID: |
42559250 |
Appl. No.: |
12/388650 |
Filed: |
February 19, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/452.48 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/686 20130101;
B60N 2/914 20180201; B60N 2/665 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/452.48 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/14 20060101
A47C007/14 |
Claims
1. An occupant-support base for a vehicle seat, the
occupant-support base comprising a cushion including a deformable
elastic bed made of an elastomeric material and adapted to support
a portion of an occupant seated on the cushion and a first
inflatable air bladder coupled to the deformable elastic bed and
formed to include a first air chamber and a first air-intake port
opening into the first air chamber, wherein the first inflatable
air bladder is made of the elastomeric material and configured to
expand from a deflated state characterized by a first volume of air
in the first air chamber to an inflated state characterized by a
relatively greater second volume of air in the first air chamber in
response to admission of pressurized air into the first air chamber
through the first air-intake port.
2. The occupant-support base of claim 1, wherein the cushion
comprises a monolithic first sheet made of the elastomeric material
and configured to include outer portions of each of the deformable
elastic bed and the first inflatable air bladder and a monolithic
second sheet made of the elastomeric material and configured to
include inner portions of each of the deformable elastic bed and
the first inflatable air bladder and wherein the monolithic first
sheet is arranged to mate with the monolithic second sheet to cause
outer and inner portions of the first inflatable bladder to mate in
sealing relation to form the first air chamber therebetween and to
cause outer and inner portions of the deformable elastic bed to
mate to form a bladder-receiving cavity containing the first
inflatable air bladder.
3. The occupant-support base of claim 2, wherein the outer and
inner portions of the first inflatable bladder cooperate to form
the first air-intake port therebetween.
4. The occupant-support base of claim 3, further comprising a first
air-inlet conduit arranged to extend through a space defined
between the monolithic first sheet and the monolithic second sheet
to mate with the first air-intake port and formed to include a
first passageway configured to provide means for conducting
pressurized air from a source of pressurized air into the first air
chamber to change the first inflatable bladder from the deflated
state to the inflated state.
5. The occupant-support base of claim 1, wherein the cushion
further includes a second inflatable air bladder made of the
elastomeric material and coupled to the deformable elastic bed to
lie alongside the first inflatable air bladder.
6. The occupant-support base of claim 5, wherein the cushion
further includes a third inflatable air bladder made of the
elastomeric material and coupled to the deformable elastic bed and
the third inflatable air bladder is arranged to lie in spaced-apart
relation to the first inflatable air bladder to locate the second
inflatable air bladder therebetween.
7. The occupant-support base of claim 5, wherein the deformable
elastic bed is formed to include a perimeter edge and a
bladder-receiving cavity containing the first and second inflatable
air bladders therein and lying in spaced-apart relation to the
perimeter edge to cause a perimeter portion of the deformable
elastic bed to surround the first and second inflatable air
bladders.
8. The occupant-support base of claim 7, wherein the second
inflatable air bladder is formed to include a second air chamber
and a second air-intake port opening into the second air chamber
and lying in side-by-side spaced-apart relation to the first
air-intake port formed in the first inflatable air bladder and the
first and second air-intake ports are arranged to lie in
spaced-apart relation to the perimeter edge of the deformable
elastic bed.
9. The occupant-support base of claim 8, further comprising a first
air-inlet conduit arranged to extend through the perimeter portion
of the deformable elastic bed and mate with the first air-intake
port and formed to include a first passageway configured to provide
means for conducting pressurized air from a source of pressurized
air into the first air chamber to change the first inflatable air
bladder from the deflated state to the inflated state and a second
air-inlet conduit arranged to extend through the perimeter portion
of the deformable elastic bed and mate with the second air-intake
port and formed to include a second passageway configured to
provide means for conducting pressurized air from the sources of
pressurized air into the second air chamber to change the second
inflatable air bladder from a deflated state to an inflated
state.
10. The occupant-support base of claim 7, wherein the cushion
further includes a third inflatable air bladder made of the
elastomeric material and coupled to the deformable elastic bed and
the third inflatable air bladder is arranged to lie in spaced-apart
relation to the first inflatable air bladder to locate the second
inflatable air bladder therebetween, the first, second, and third
inflatable air bladders are mounted in overlapping shingled
relation one to another to provide lumbar-support means in the
bladder-receiving cavity for establishing a four-way lumbar
adjustment system using pressurized air from a source of
pressurized air to inflate the first, second, and third inflatable
air bladders separately and in a coordinated simultaneous manner so
that each of the first, second, and third inflatable air bladders
is arranged to be inflated and deflated to cause outer surfaces of
the first, second, and third inflatable air bladders to move in an
outward first direction away from a seat pan underlying and
supporting the deformable elastic bed and each of the first,
second, and third inflatable air bladders, to move in an inward
second direction toward the seat pan, and to move upwardly in an
upward third direction extending from the first inflatable air
bladder toward the third inflatable air bladder and downwardly in
an opposite downward fourth direction extending from the third
inflatable air bladder toward the first inflatable air bladder.
11. The occupant-support base of claim 10, further comprising a
seat pan arranged to underlie and support the deformable elastic
bed and each of the first, second, and third inflatable air
bladders and wherein the cushion comprises a monolithic first sheet
configured to include outer portions of each of the deformable
elastic bed and the first, second, and third inflatable air
bladders, the outer portions being arranged to lie in a
spaced-apart relation to the seat pan, and a monolithic second
sheet configured to include inner portions of each of the
deformable elastic bed and the first, second, and third inflatable
air bladders arranged to lie between the outer portions and the
seat pan, and the first monolithic sheet is arranged to mate with
the monolithic second sheet to cause the outer and inner portions
of the first inflatable air bladder to mate in sealing relation to
one another to form the first air chamber therebetween.
12. The occupant-support base of claim 5, wherein the cushion
comprises a monolithic first sheet made of the elastomeric material
and configured to include outer portions of each of the deformable
elastic bed and the first and second inflatable air bladders and a
monolithic second sheet made of the elastomeric material and
configured to include inner portions of each of the deformable
elastic bed and the first and second inflatable air bladders and
wherein the monolithic first sheet is arranged to mate with the
monolithic second sheet to cause the outer and inner portions of
the first inflatable air bladder to mate in sealing relation to one
another to form the first air chamber therebetween and to cause the
outer and inner portions of the second inflatable air bladder to
mate in sealing relation to one another to form a second air
chamber therebetween.
13. The occupant-support base of claim 12, wherein the outer and
inner portions of the first inflatable air bladder cooperate to
form the first air-intake port therebetween.
14. The occupant-support base of claim 13, further comprising a
first air-inlet conduit arranged to extend through a space defined
between the monolithic first sheet and the monolithic second sheet
to mate with the first air-intake port and formed to include a
first passageway configured to provide means for conducting
pressurized air from a source of pressurized air into the first air
chamber to change the first inflatable air bladder from the
deflated state to the inflated state.
15. The occupant-support base of claim 13, wherein the outer
portion of the deformable elastic bed includes a first plate and a
series of spaced-apart downwardly projecting domes, each downwardly
projecting dome has a first base coupled to the first plate and a
first tip coupled to the first base, and the inner portion of the
deformable elastic bed includes a second plate arranged to mate
with the first plate and a series of spaced-apart upwardly
projecting domes, each upwardly projecting dome has a second base
coupled to the second plate and a second tip coupled to the second
base and to the first tip to cause each companion pair of mating
downwardly and upwardly projecting domes to form a resilient
deformable post included in the deformable elastic bed and arranged
to extend between the first and second plates.
16. The occupant-support base of claim 1, wherein the deformable
elastic bed includes a first web and a second web mated to the
first web to establish a border arranged to extend along at least a
portion of a perimeter edge of the first inflatable air bladder,
the first inflatable air bladder includes a first shell coupled to
the first web at the border and formed to include a first basin and
a second shell coupled to the second web at the border and formed
to include a second basin opening toward and communicating with the
first basin of the first shell, and the first shell is sealingly
coupled to the second shell to establish the first inflatable air
bladder and cause the first and second basins to communicate with
one another to form the first air chamber between the first and
second shells.
17. The occupant-support base of claim 16, wherein the first web of
the deformable elastic bed and the first shell of the first
inflatable air bladder cooperate to establish a monolithic first
sheet made of the elastomeric material.
18. The occupant-support base of claim 17, wherein the second web
of the deformable elastic bed and the second shell of the first
inflatable air bladder cooperate to establish a monolithic second
sheet made of the elastomeric material and the monolithic second
sheet is mated to the monolithic first sheet to align the first and
second basins in registry with one another to form the first air
chamber between the first and second shells.
19. The occupant-support base of claim 18, wherein the first web
includes a first plate and a series of spaced-apart downwardly
projecting domes, each downwardly projecting dome has a first base
coupled to the first plate and a first tip coupled to the first
base and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first
plate, the second web includes a second plate arranged to mate with
the first plate and a series of spaced-apart upwardly projecting
domes, each upwardly projecting dome has a second base coupled to
the second plate and a second tip coupled to the second base and
arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the second plate, and
the second tip is coupled to the first tip to cause each companion
pair of mating downwardly and upwardly projecting domes to form a
resilient deformable post included in the deformable elastic bed
and arranged to extend between the first and second plates.
20. The occupant-support base of claim 1, wherein the first
inflatable air bladder includes a first shell formed to include a
first basin and a second shell formed to include a second shell
formed to include a second basin opening toward the first basin and
the first and second shells are sealingly coupled to one another to
cause the first and second basins to communicate with one another
to form the first air chamber between the first and second
shells.
21. The occupant-support base of claim 20, wherein the first and
second shells mate with one another along a shell interface and
cooperate to form the first air-intake port therebetween along the
shell interface.
22. The occupant-support base of claim 21, further comprising an
air-inlet conduit arranged to extend into the first air-intake port
and formed to include a passageway configured to provide means for
conducting pressurized air from a source of pressurized air into
the first air chamber to change the first inflatable air bladder
from the deflated state to the inflated state.
23. The occupant-support base of claim 22, wherein the air-inlet
conduit is arranged to extend away from the first inflatable air
bladder and through a portion of the deformable elastic bed.
24. The occupant-support base of claim 20, wherein the deformable
elastic bed is formed to include a bladder-receiving cavity and the
first inflatable air bladder is arranged to lie in the
bladder-receiving cavity.
25. The occupant-support base of claim 1, further comprising a seat
pan arranged to underlie and support the cushion and wherein the
deformable elastic bed includes a first web and a second web mated
to the first web to establish a border arranged to extend along at
least a portion of a perimeter edge of the first inflatable air
bladder and arranged to lie in a position between the first web and
the seat pan, the first inflatable air bladder includes a shell
coupled to the first web and formed to include a basin and an
auxiliary sheet sealingly coupled to the shell to close an opening
into the basin to cause the basin to provide the first air chamber
and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the seat pan to
locate the shell therebetween.
26. The occupant-support base of claim 1, further comprising a seat
pan arranged to underlie and support the cushion and wherein the
deformable elastic bed includes a first web and a second web mated
to the first web to establish a border arranged to extend along at
least a portion of a perimeter edge of the first inflatable air
bladder and arranged to lie in a position between the second web
and the seat pan, the first inflatable air bladder includes a shell
coupled to the second web and formed to include a basin and an
auxiliary sheet sealingly coupled to the shell to close an opening
into the basin to cause the basin to provide the first air chamber
and arranged to lie in a position between the seat pan and the
shell.
27. The occupant-support base of claim 1, further comprising a
first air-inlet conduit arranged to mate with the first air-intake
port and formed to include a mount flange located in the first
air-intake port, an inner air-conducting tube coupled to the mount
flange and located inside of the first air chamber, and an outer
air-conducting tube coupled to the mount flange and located outside
of the first air chamber, and wherein the mount flange and the
inner and outer air-conducting tubes are formed to define a first
passageway configured to provide means for conducting pressurized
air from a source of pressurized air into the first air chamber to
change the first inflatable bladder from the deflated state to the
inflated state.
28. An occupant-support base for a vehicle seat, the
occupant-support base comprising a seat pan and a cushion coupled
to the seat pan, the cushion including a monolithic first sheet
made of an elastomeric material and mounted on the seat pan and a
monolithic second sheet made of the elastomeric material and mated
to the monolithic first sheet to trap the monolithic second sheet
between the monolithic first sheet and the seat pan, and wherein
the first and second monolithic sheets cooperate to form a
deformable elastic bed and the monolithic first sheet mates with
the monolithic second sheet to form a first inflatable air bladder
defining a first air chamber located between the monolithic first
and second sheets.
29. The occupant-support base of claim 28, wherein the monolithic
first sheet includes a first web coupled to the first inflatable
air bladder, the monolithic second sheet includes a second web
coupled to the first inflatable air bladder, the first and second
webs cooperate to define a deformable elastic bad and to define a
bladder-receiving cavity, and the first inflatable air bladder is
located in the bladder-receiving cavity.
30. An occupant-support base for a vehicle seat, the
occupant-support base comprising a cushion including a monolithic
first sheet made of an elastomeric material and a monolithic second
sheet made of an elastomeric material, wherein the monolithic first
sheet includes a first web having an outer first edge defining a
perimeter edge of the monolithic first sheet and an inner first
edge lying in spaced-apart relation to the outer first edge, the
monolithic second sheet includes a second web having an outer
second edge defining a perimeter edge of the monolithic second
sheet and an inner second edge lying in spaced-apart relation to
the outer second edge and cooperating with the inner first edge to
form a border defining a bladder-receiving cavity, the monolithic
first sheet includes a lower first shell coupled to the inner first
edge of the first web, an upper first shell coupled to the inner
first edge of the first web and arranged to lie in spaced-apart
relation to the lower first shell, and a middle first shell coupled
to the inner first edge of the first web, located in a space
provided between the lower and upper first shells, and coupled to
each of the lower and upper first shells, the monolithic second
sheet includes a lower second shell coupled to the inner second
edge of the second web, an upper second shell coupled to the inner
second edge of the second web and arranged to lie in spaced-apart
relation to the lower second shell, and a middle second shell
coupled to the inner second edge of the second web, located in a
space provided between the lower and upper second shells, and
coupled to each of the lower and upper second shells, the lower
first and second shells mate and cooperate to form a first
inflatable air bladder formed to include a first air chamber, the
middle first and second shells mate and cooperate to form a second
inflatable air bladder formed to include a second air chamber, the
upper first and second shells mate and cooperate to form a third
inflatable air bladder formed to include a third air chamber, and
each of the first, second, and third inflatable air bladders are
arranged to lie in the bladder-receiving cavity.
31. The occupant-support base of claim 30, wherein the lower first
and second shells mate with one another along a shell interface and
cooperate to form a first air-intake port opening into the first
air chamber and extending along the shell interface.
32. The occupant-support base of claim 31, further comprising a
first air-inlet conduit arranged to extend into the first
air-intake port and formed to include a passageway configured to
provide means for conducting pressurized air from a source of
pressurized air into the first air chamber to change the first
inflatable air bladder from a deflated state to an inflated
state.
33. The occupant-support base of claim 32, wherein the first
air-intake conduit is arranged to extend through a space defined
between the first and second webs and located between the inner and
outer first edges of the first web.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle seat, and
particularly to a seat including an expandable and contractable
portion. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a
vehicle seat including a cushion having a variable shape.
SUMMARY
[0002] According to the present disclosure, a vehicle seat includes
an occupant-support base. The occupant-support base could be either
a seat bottom or a seat back. The occupant-support base includes a
seat pan mounted on a seat-pan support frame and a cushion coupled
to the seat pan.
[0003] In illustrative embodiments, the cushion includes a
deformable elastic bed made of an elastomeric material and one or
more inflatable air bladders made of the elastomeric material and
coupled to the deformable elastic bed. Each inflatable air bladder
is formed to include an air chamber and a companion air-intake port
opening into the air chamber. An air-inlet conduit is provided for
each inflatable air bladder. In some illustrative embodiments, the
air-inlet conduit is arranged to extend through a neighboring
portion of the deformable elastic bed and into a companion
air-intake port to deliver pressurized air into the air chamber
associated with that companion air-intake port.
[0004] In illustrative embodiments, the cushion comprises a
monolithic first sheet made of the elastomeric material and formed
to include outer portions of the deformable elastic bed and each of
the inflatable air bladders and a monolithic second sheet made of
the elastic material and formed to include complementary inner
portions of the deformable elastic bed and each of the inflatable
air bladders. When the monolithic first sheet is mated to the
monolithic second sheet, the deformable elastic bed and each of the
inflatable air bladders is formed.
[0005] Additional features of the present disclosure will become
apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of
illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out
the disclosure as presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The detailed description particularly refers to the
accompanying figures in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat including a
seat bottom and a seat back comprising a cushion including a
deformable elastic bed surrounding an inflatable air bladder (shown
in phantom) that may be inflated by an air pump to expand the size
of the inflatable air bladder relative to the deformable elastic
bed as suggested in FIGS. 2 and 7 to support the lower back of a
person seated on the vehicle seat;
[0008] FIG. 1a is an enlarged perspective view of the vehicle seat
of FIG. 1 showing (in phantom) diagrammatic illustrations of
various inflatable air bladders that can be included in a seat back
cushion and a seat bottom cushion in accordance with the present
disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective and diagrammatic
view of the seat back of FIG. 1, with portions broken away, showing
use of an air pump to inflate the inflatable air bladder to provide
a pneumatic two-way lumbar-support system in the cushion, with
portions of the deformable elastic bed broken away to reveal an
air-inlet conduit coupled to an air-inlet port formed in a
right-side edge of the inflatable air bladder;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective assembly view of the seat
back of FIG. 1, showing that the seat back includes, from left to
right, a cushion cover, a cushion including a multi-chamber
deformable elastic bed formed to include a bladder-receiving cavity
containing a single inflatable air bladder and a seat pan
configured to couple to a seat-pan support frame and to mate with a
pad comprising the cushion and the cushion cover;
[0011] FIG. 3a is an exploded perspective assembly view of the
cushion of FIG. 3 showing that the cushion includes a monolithic
first sheet, a monolithic second sheet, and an air-inlet conduit
that is configured to be mounted between the monolithic first and
second sheets to provide a passageway for air to travel into the
inflatable air bladder formed in the cushion;
[0012] FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view similar to
FIG. 2 showing that the inflatable air bladder is in a deflated
state;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4,
with portions broken away, showing the inflatable air bladder in
the deflated state on a portion of the underlying seat pan and
showing in phantom lines an outer portion of the inflatable air
bladder after it has been inflated as suggested in FIGS. 6 and
7;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, with portions broken
away, showing the inflatable air bladder in the inflated state;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIGS. 1
and 6;
[0016] FIG. 8 is an enlarged exploded assembly view of the
components included in the cushion shown in FIGS. 2-7 showing a
monolithic first sheet made of an elastomeric material separated
from a companion monolithic second sheet made of the elastomeric
material before the two sheets are moved toward one another along
the illustrated dotted lines to mate and join together to form the
cushion shown in FIG. 3;
[0017] FIGS. 9-11 are a series of sectional views showing three
illustrative embodiments of a cushion in accordance with the
present disclosure wherein the cushion is formed to include an
inflatable air bladder and is coupled to a seat pan in a vehicle
seat;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a cushion in accordance with a
first embodiment, as suggested in FIGS. 1-7, showing the use of two
sheets that are joined together to form the cushion and showing
that an inflatable air bladder is formed when the monolithic first
and second sheets are joined together as shown in FIG. 8;
[0019] FIG. 9a is a sectional view of another illustrative cushion
that is similar to the cushion shown in FIG. 9 except that one of
the sheets included in the cushion is formed to include an
air-intake port (for an air-inlet conduit) that is arranged to
communicate with an air chamber formed in the cushion and to extend
downwardly through an aperture formed in the seat pan supporting
the cushion;
[0020] FIG. 9b is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the two sheets
that cooperate to form the cushion shown in section in FIG. 9a;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a cushion in accordance with
a second embodiment of the present disclosure showing the cushion
resting on an underlying seat pan and showing that the cushion
includes, from top to bottom, a flat first sheet, a second sheet
formed to include a shell that cooperates with the flat first sheet
to form an inflatable air bladder therebetween, and a third sheet
formed to include multiple spaced-apart domes;
[0022] FIG. 10a is a sectional view of another illustrative cushion
that is similar to the cushion shown in FIG. 10 except that a first
of the two sheets included in the cushion is formed to include an
air-intake port (for an air-inlet conduit) that is arranged to
communicate with an air chamber formed in the cushion and to extend
downwardly through an aperture formed in a second of the two sheets
included in the cushion and through an aperture in the seat pan
supporting the cushion;
[0023] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a cushion in accordance with
a third embodiment of the present disclosure showing the cushion
resting on an underlying seat pan and showing that the cushion
includes, from top to bottom, a first sheet formed to include
multiple spaced-apart domes, a second sheet formed to include a
shell, and a flat third sheet that cooperates with the shell in the
second sheet to form an inflatable air bladder therebetween;
[0024] FIG. 11a is a sectional view of another illustrative cushion
that is similar to the cushion shown in FIG. 11 except that a third
sheet placed on the seat pan is formed to include an air-intake
port (for an air-inlet conduit) that is arranged to communicate
with an air chamber formed in the cushion and to extend downwardly
through an aperture formed in the seat pan;
[0025] FIG. 12 is a partial perspective and diagrammatic view, with
portions broken away, of a cushion made in accordance with another
embodiment of the present disclosure to be included in a seat back
of a vehicle seat and showing that the cushion includes a
deformable elastic bed formed to include a bladder-receiving cavity
containing three separate inflatable air bladders and that each
inflatable air bladder is formed to include an air chamber coupled
to a manifold by a companion air-inlet conduit and suggesting that
the three inflatable air bladders cooperate to form a pneumatic
four-way lumbar-support system in the bladder-receiving cavity
formed in the deformable elastic bed;
[0026] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective assembly view of the
components included in the cushion of FIG. 12 showing three
air-inlet conduits and a monolithic first sheet made of an
elastomeric material separated from a monolithic second sheet made
of the elastomeric material before the two sheets are moved toward
one another along the illustrated dotted lines to mate and join
together to form the cushion provided with three separate
inflatable air bladders shown in FIG. 12;
[0027] FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 14-14
of FIG. 12 when the first (lower), second (middle), and third
(upper) air bladders are arranged in overlapping shingled relation
one to another and each of the air bladders is in a deflated
state;
[0028] FIG. 15 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 14 showing each
of the first, second, and third inflatable air bladders in an
inflated state;
[0029] FIG. 16 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 14 and 15
showing the second inflatable air bladder in an inflated state and
each of the first and third inflatable air bladders in a deflated
state;
[0030] FIG. 17 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a
cushion in accordance with the present disclosure showing that the
cushion includes an inflatable air bladder formed by joining two
sheets together and showing that an air-inlet conduit extends
through an edge of the cushion into an air chamber formed within
the inflatable air bladder;
[0031] FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view of the air-inlet
conduit of FIG. 17 showing that the air-inlet conduit includes a
football-shaped mount flange, an inner air-conducting tube appended
to the football-shaped mount flange and arranged to extend into the
inflatable air bladder, an outer air-conducting tube appended to
the football-shaped mount flange and arranged to extend away from
the inflatable air bladder, an air-conducting passageway defined by
the inner and outer air-conducting tubes and configured to allow
air to communicate with the inflatable air bladder, and a series of
hose-retention barbs appended to the outer air-conducting tube;
[0032] FIG. 19 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken about
line 19-19 of FIG. 17 showing the first and second sheets joined
together to form the inflatable air bladder; and
[0033] FIG. 20 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken about
line 20-20 of FIG. 17 showing that the first sheet has been joined
to the top surface of the football-shaped flange and the second
sheet has joined to the bottom surface of the football-shaped
flange thereby coupling the air-inlet conduit between the first and
second sheets.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] A vehicle seat 10 includes one occupant-support base 11
configured to provide a seat bottom and another occupant-support
base 12 configured to provide a seat back arranged to extend
upwardly from the seat bottom as shown in FIG. 1. In an
illustrative embodiment, seat back 12 includes a cushion 14
including a deformable elastic bed 16 made of an elastomeric
material and an adjustable single-bladder pneumatic
passenger-support module 18 made of the same elastomeric material
as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 3. Illustrative single-bladder designs
are shown in FIGS. 9-11.
[0035] Although pneumatic passenger-support module 18 is configured
to provide a two-way lumbar-support system in seat back 12 in FIGS.
2-11, such a module 18 could be deployed in other suitable
locations in seat bottom 11 and seat back 12 to provide comfort
adjustment options to a seat passenger as suggested in FIG. 1a. It
is also within the scope of this disclosure to provide an
adjustable multi-bladder pneumatic passenger-support module 418
made of the same elastomeric material as a surrounding deformable
elastic bed 416 as suggested in FIGS. 12-16 to provide, for
example, a four-way lumbar-support system as shown.
[0036] Deformable elastic bed 16 and the single inflatable air
bladder included in pneumatic passenger-support module 18 are made
of the same elastomeric material in accordance with the present
disclosure. In illustrative embodiments, an elastomeric material
such as a thermoplastics polyurethane (TPU) material is used.
Deformable elastic bed 16 is configured to support a portion of an
occupant seated on cushion 14 in seat back 12. Inflatable air
bladder 18 can be inflated using pressurized air to expand
outwardly in outward directions 19 from a deflated state shown in
FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 to an inflated state shown in FIGS. 2, 6, and 7
to provide adjustable lumbar support for a passenger seated in
vehicle seat 10.
[0037] Single or multiple inflatable air bladders located elsewhere
in vehicle seat 10 can be used to provide adjustable support for
other portions of a passenger seated in vehicle seat 10 as
suggested in FIG. 1a. Vehicle seat 10 can be configured to contain
one or more of pneumatic modules 101-107 as suggested in FIG. 1a
and described herein. Upper back module 101 is configured to
inflate and deflate to provide upper back support and could be
linked to lumbar-support module 18 for air transfer in accordance
with the present disclosure. Left and right backrest bolster
modules 102, 103 could be inflated and deflated simultaneously for
increased lateral support or could be regulated independently for
dynamic bolstering in accordance with the present disclosure. Lower
back module 104 is inflatable and deflatable to provide pelvis and
lower lumbar support when slouching. Left and right bolsters 105,
106 could be inflated and deflated simultaneously for increased
lateral support or could be regulated independently for dynamic
bolstering in accordance with the present disclosure. Thigh
extension module 107 could be inflated and deflated to adjust the
amount of thigh support in accordance with the present disclosure.
Left and right inserts could be inflated continuously (and deflated
as needed) to adjust pelvic angle subtly, allowing better blood
flow over long trips.
[0038] Seat back 12 includes a cushion cover 20, cushion 14, and a
seat pan 22 in an illustrative embodiment as shown, for example, in
FIG. 3 and suggested in FIGS. 2 and 4-7. A seat-pan support frame
24 can also be included in vehicle seat 10 to support a seat pan
included in seat back 12 or seat bottom 11 as suggested in FIGS. 1
and 3. Cushion 14 is anchored to underlying seat pan 22 using any
suitable means and cushion cover 20 is coupled to cushion 14 and/or
seat pan 22 using any suitable means and arranged to cover
deformable elastic bed 16 and inflatable air bladder 18 as
suggested in FIGS. 1-3.
[0039] In use, a pump controller 24 is used by a vehicle passenger
to actuate a source of pressurized air such as pump 26 to generate
a stream 28 of pressurized air that is conducted through a hose 30
and then through an air-inlet conduit 34 into an air chamber 36
formed in inflatable air bladder 18 as suggested in FIG. 2. This
causes inflatable air bladder 18 to expand outwardly and assume its
inflated state as suggested in FIGS. 2, 6, and 7. It is within the
scope of the present disclosure to use any suitable inflation
system to inflate and deflate inflatable air bladder 18.
[0040] As suggested in FIGS. 3a and 8, cushion 14 comprises a
monolithic first sheet 31 made of an elastomeric material such as
TPU and a monolithic second sheet 32 made of the same elastomeric
material. These sheets 31, 32 are mated as suggested in FIGS. 3a
and 8 to form deformable elastic bed 16 and inflatable air bladder
18 shown in FIG. 3. Deformable elastic bed 16 is formed to include
a bladder-receiving cavity 15 and inflatable air bladder 18 is
arranged to lie in bladder-receiving cavity 15 as suggested in
FIGS. 2, 4, and 5.
[0041] Monolithic first sheet 31 includes a first web 41 that is
configured to form an outer portion of deformable elastic bed 16
and a first shell 51 that is configured to form an outer portion of
inflatable air bladder 18 as suggested in FIG. 8. Similarly,
monolithic second sheet 32 includes a second web 42 that is
configured to form an inner portion of deformable elastic bed 16
and a second shell 52 that is configured to form an inner portion
of inflatable air bladder 18 as also suggested in FIG. 8.
[0042] First shell 51 is formed to include a first basin 61 and
second shell 52 is formed to include a second basin 62 opening
toward first basin 61a suggested in FIGS. 4-8. First and second
shells 51, 52 are sealingly coupled to one another to cause first
and second basins 61, 62 to communicate with one another to form
air chamber 36 between first and second shells 51, 52 as suggested
in FIGS. 5, 7, and 9.
[0043] Inflatable air bladder 18 is also formed to include an
air-intake port 44 opening into air chamber 36 and mating with
air-inlet conduit 34 as suggested in FIGS. 5 and 7. First and
second shells 51, 52 mate with one another along a shell interface
53 and cooperate to form first air-intake port 44 therebetween
along shell interface 53. First shell 51 includes a continuous
sealing edge 51s interrupted by a port-forming edge 51pf as shown
in FIG. 8. Similarly, second shell 52 includes a continuous sealing
edge 52s interrupted by a port-forming edge 52pf as shown in FIG.
8. When monolithic first sheet 31 is mated to monolithic second
sheet 32, sealing edge 51s of first shell 51 is sealingly coupled
to sealing edge 52s of second shell 52 to form air chamber 36 and
port-forming edge 51pf of first shell 51 is arranged to lie in
stationary confronting relation to port-forming edge 52pf of second
shell 52 to form air-intake port 44 therebetween as suggested in
FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0044] Air-inlet conduit 34 is arranged to extend into first
air-intake port 44 and formed to include a passageway configured to
provide means for conducting pressurized air from a source 26 of
pressurized air into air chamber 36 to change the inflatable air
bladder 18 from the deflated state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to the
inflated state shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In an illustrative
embodiment, air-inlet conduit 34 is arranged to extend away from
inflatable air bladder 18 and through a portion 16p of deformable
elastic bed 16 as suggested in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0045] First web 41 of monolithic first sheet 31 includes a first
plate 71 and a series of spaced-apart downwardly projecting domes
72. Each downwardly projecting dome 72 has a first base 73 coupled
to first plate 71 and a first tip 74 coupled to first base 73 and
arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to first plate 71. As
suggested in FIG. 8, domes 72 can be formed to have any suitable
shape and frustoconical and frustopyramidal shapes are shown, for
example.
[0046] Second web 42 of monolithic second sheet 32 includes a
second plate 81 arranged to mate with first plate 71 as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 4 and a series of spaced-apart upwardly projecting
domes 82 as shown best in FIG. 8. Each upwardly projecting dome 82
has a second base 83 coupled to second plate 81 and a second tip 84
coupled to second base 83 and arranged to lie in spaced-apart
relation to second plate 81. As suggested in FIG. 8, domes 82 can
be formed to have any suitable shape and frustoconical and
frustopyramidal shapes are shown, for example. Second tip 84 is
coupled to first tip 74 to cause each companion pair of mating
downwardly and upwardly projecting domes 72, 82 to form a resilient
deformable post 43 included in deformable elastic bed 16 and
arranged to extend between first and second plates 71, 81 as shown,
for example, in FIGS. 4 and 6.
[0047] Once monolithic first and second sheets 31, 32 are formed of
an elastomeric material and mated (e.g., joined and welded) during
a cushion-manufacturing process, an inflatable air bladder 18 is
formed in a bladder-receiving cavity 15 formed in deformable
elastic bed 16. It is within the scope of this disclosure to locate
bladder-receiving cavity 15 in an interior region of deformable
elastic bed 16 so that inflatable air bladder 18 is surrounded on
all sides by portions of deformable elastic bed 16. It is also
within the scope of this disclosure to form a bladder-receiving
cavity along a perimeter edge of a cushion so that the companion
inflatable air bladder is surrounded partly by portions of the
companion deformable elastic bed.
[0048] As suggested in FIGS. 9a and 9b, cushion 14 can be varied
slightly to produce a cushion 14' having an elongated downwardly
extending air-inlet port 44' formed in second sheet 32'. Air-inlet
port 44' replaces air-inlet port 44 shown, for example, in FIGS. 6
and 7. Air-inlet port 44' is formed to include a passageway 44'P
opening into air chamber 36 and receiving air-inlet conduit 34.
Air-inlet port 44' is formed in second shell 52' and arranged to
extend downwardly away from first shell 51 and air chamber 36
through an aperture 22'A formed in seat pan 22' as suggested in
FIG. 9a. Cushion 14' is included in occupant-support base 12'.
[0049] Alternative adjustable single-bladder pneumatic
passenger-support modules 218, 318 within the scope of the present
disclosure are shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Module 218 is included in
cushion 214 and module 318 is included in cushion 314.
[0050] As suggested in FIG. 10, a seat pan 22 is arranged to
underlie and support cushion 214 to produce an occupant-support
base 212. Cushion 214 includes a monolithic first sheet 231, a
monolithic second sheet 232, and a third (auxiliary) sheet 233.
First and second sheets 231, 232 cooperate to form a deformable
elastic bed 216. First and third sheets 231, 233 cooperate to form
inflatable air bladder 218.
[0051] Inflatable air bladder 218 includes a shell 251 formed to
include a basin 261 that is arranged to open toward overlying third
sheet 233. When third sheet 233 is sealingly mated to first sheet
231 as suggested in FIG. 10, basin 261 is closed to form an air
chamber 236. Pressurized air can be supplied to air chamber 236 to
inflate inflatable air bladder 218 and move a basin cover 235 of
third sheet 233 outwardly in outward direction 219 relative to seat
pan 22. In the illustrated embodiment, second sheet 232 is formed
to include a series of domes 237 arranged to lie between and act
against each of seat pan 22 and shell 251 of first sheet 231 to
support shell 251 during outward movement of basin cover 235 away
from shell 251 as inflatable air bladder 218 is inflated.
[0052] Deformable elastic bed 216 includes a first web 241 and a
mating second web 242 as suggested in FIG. 10. First web 241 is
included in first sheet 231 and can be similar to first web 41.
Second web 242 is included in second sheet 232 and can be similar
to second web 42.
[0053] As suggested in FIG. 10a, cushion 214 can be varied slightly
to produce a cushion 214' having an elongated downwardly extending
air-inlet port 244' formed in first sheet 231'. Air-inlet port 244'
is formed to include a passageway 244'P opening into air chamber
236 and receiving air-inlet conduit 34. Air-inlet port 244' is
formed in first shell 251' and arranged to extend downwardly away
from third sheet 233 and air chamber 236 through an aperture 232'A
formed in second sheet 232' and through an aperture 22'A formed in
seat pan 22' as suggested in FIG. 10a. Cushion 214' is included in
occupant-support base 212'.
[0054] As suggested in FIG. 11, a seat pan 22 is arranged to
underlie and support cushion 314 to produce an occupant-support
base 312. Cushion 314 includes a monolithic first sheet 331, a
monolithic second sheet 332, and a third (auxiliary) sheet 333.
First and second sheets 331, 332 cooperate to form deformable
elastic bed 316. Second and third sheets 332, 333 cooperate to form
inflatable air bladder 318.
[0055] Inflatable air bladder 318 includes a shell 351 formed to
include a basin 361 that is arranged to open toward underlying
third sheet 333. When third sheet 333 is sealingly mated to second
sheet 332 as suggested in FIG. 11, basin 361 is closed to form an
air chamber 336. Pressurized air can be supplied to air chamber 336
to inflate inflatable air bladder 318 and move shell 351 outwardly
in outward direction 319 against a portion 335 of first sheet 331
arranged to overlie shell 351. In the illustrated embodiment,
portion 335 of first sheet 331 is formed to include a series of
domes 337 arranged to lie against an outer surface of shell
351.
[0056] Deformable elastic bed 316 includes a first web 341 and a
mating second web 342 as suggested in FIG. 11. First web 341 is
included in first sheet 331 and can be similar to first web 41.
Second web 342 is included in second sheet 332 and can be similar
to second web 42.
[0057] As suggested in FIG. 11a, cushion 314 can be varied slightly
to produce a cushion 314' having an elongated downwardly extending
air-inlet port 34' formed in third sheet 333'. Air-inlet port 344'
is formed to include a passageway 344'P opening into air chamber
336 and receiving air-inlet conduit 34. Air-inlet port 344' is
arranged to extend downwardly away from first shell 351' and air
chamber 336 through an aperture 22'A formed in seat pan 22' as
suggested in FIG. 11a. Cushion 314' is included in occupant-support
base 312'.
[0058] In another illustrative embodiment of the present
disclosure, as suggested in FIGS. 12-16, a cushion 414 in an
occupant-support base 412 such as a seat back (or alternatively a
seat bottom) includes a deformable elastic bed 16 formed to include
a bladder-receiving cavity 15 containing an adjustable
multi-bladder pneumatic passenger-support module 418 comprising at
least two and illustratively three separate inflatable air bladders
418L (lower), 418M (middle), and 418U (upper). Each inflatable air
bladder 418L, 418M, and 418U is formed to include, respectively, an
air chamber 436L, 436M, and 436U coupled to a manifold 400 by a
companion air-inlet conduit 434L, 434M, and 436U and companion
hoses 430L, 430M, and 430U as suggested in FIG. 12. Manifold 400 is
coupled to a source of pressurized air such as pump 426 and to a
pump/manifold controller 424. As suggested in FIG. 12, inflatable
air bladders 418L, 418M, and 418U cooperate to form a pneumatic
four-way lumbar-support system in bladder-receiving cavity 15
formed in deformable elastic bed 16 of cushion 414.
[0059] As shown in FIG. 13, a monolithic first sheet 431 made of an
elastomeric material such as, for example, thermoplastics
polyurethane (TPU) is provided alongside a monolithic second sheet
432 made of the same elastomeric material. During a
cushion-manufacturing process in accordance with the present
disclosure, sheets 431, 432 are moved toward one another along the
illustrated dotted lines to mate (using any suitable technique) to
form a cushion 414 including deformable elastic bed 16 and three
separate and independently sealed inflatable air bladders 418L,
418M, and 418U. The process further includes the illustrative step
of mating one of the air-inlet conduits 434 to a companion one of
the inflatable air bladders 418 at an air-inlet port formed in each
of the inflatable air bladders 418.
[0060] As suggested in FIG. 13, in an illustrative embodiment,
monolithic first sheet 431 is formed to include outer portions of
each of deformable elastic bed 16 and first, second, and third air
bladders 418L, 418M, and 418U. Lower first shell 451L is formed to
provide the outer portion of first (lower) air bladder 418L and to
include a lower first basin 461L. Middle first shell 451M is formed
to provide the outer portion of second (middle) air bladder 418M
and to include a middle first basin 461M. Upper first shell 451U is
formed to provide the outer portion of third (upper) air bladder
418U and to include an upper first basin 461U.
[0061] Monolithic first sheet 431 also includes a continuous
sealing edge 431s interrupted by a port-forming edge for each of
the three inflatable air bladders. A portion of continuous sealing
edge 431s is included in each of first shells 451L, 451M, and 451U.
Lower first shell 451L includes port-forming edge 451Lpf, middle
first shell 451M includes port-forming edge 451Mpf, and upper first
shell 451U includes port-forming edge 451Upf. First sheet 431 also
includes laterally extending first and second partition sealing
edges 431a, 431b. First partition sealing edge 431a mates at
opposite ends thereof with continuous sealing edge 431s to form a
partition between lower and middle first basins 461L, 461M. Second
partition sealing edge 431b mates at opposite ends thereof with
continuous sealing edge 431s to form a partition between middle and
upper first basins 461M, 461U.
[0062] As also suggested in FIG. 13, in an illustrative embodiment,
monolithic second sheet 432 is formed to include inner portions of
each of deformable elastic bed 416 and first, second, and third air
bladders 418L, 418M, and 418U. Lower second shell 452L is formed to
provide the inner portion of first (lower) air bladder 418L and to
include a lower second basin 462L. Middle second shell 452M is
formed to provide the inner portion of the second (middle) air
bladder 418M and to include a middle second basin 462M. Upper
second shell 452U is formed to provide the inner portion of third
(upper) air bladder 418U and to include an upper second basin
462U.
[0063] Monolithic second sheet 432 also includes a continuous
sealing edge 432s interrupted by a port-forming edge for each of
the three inflatable air bladders. A portion of continuous sealing
edge 432s is included in each of second shells 452L, 452M, and
452U. Lower second shell 452L includes port-forming edge 452Lpf,
middle second shell 452M includes port-forming edge 452Mpf, and
upper second shell 452U includes port-forming edge 452Upf. Second
sheet 432 also includes laterally extending first and second
partition sealing edges 432a, 432b. First partition sealing edge
432a mates at opposite ends thereof with continuous sealing edge
432s to form a partition between lower and middle second basins
462L, 462M. Second partition sealing edge 432b mates at opposite
ends thereof with continuous sealing edge 432s to form a partition
between middle and upper second basins 462M, 462U.
[0064] First (lower) inflatable air bladder 418L includes lower
first shell 451L sealingly coupled to lower second shell 452L as
suggested in FIG. 12 to cause lower first and second basins 461L,
462L to communicate with one another to form lower chamber 436L
between lower first and second shells 451L, 452L. As suggested in
FIG. 13, lower first shell 451L is coupled to first web 41 in first
sheet 431 and lower second shell 452L is coupled to second web 42
in second sheet 432.
[0065] Second (middle) inflatable air bladder 418M includes middle
first shell 451M sealingly coupled to middle second shell 452M as
suggested in FIG. 12 to cause middle first and second basins 461M,
462M to communicate with one another to form middle air chamber
436M between middle first and second shells 451M, 452M. As
suggested in FIG. 13, middle first shell 451M is coupled to first
web 41 in first sheet 431 and middle second shell 452M is coupled
to second web 42 in second sheet 432.
[0066] Third (upper) inflatable air bladder 418U includes upper
first shell 451U sealingly coupled to upper second shell 452U as
suggested in FIG. 12 to cause upper first and second basins 461U,
462U to communicate with one another to form upper air chamber 436U
between upper first and second shells 451U, 452U. As suggested in
FIG. 13, upper first shell 451U is coupled to first web 41 in first
sheet 431 and upper second shell 452U is coupled to second web 42
in second sheet 432.
[0067] The outer and inner portions 451L, 452L of first inflatable
air bladder 418L cooperate to form a first air-intake port 444L
therebetween. First air-inlet conduit 434L is arranged to extend
through a space 16P defined between monolithic first sheet 431 and
monolithic second sheet 432 to mate with first air-intake port 444L
and formed to include a first passageway configured to provide
means for conducting pressurized air from a source 426 of
pressurized air into first air chamber 436L to change first
inflatable air bladder 418L from the deflated state shown in FIGS.
12 and 14 to an inflated state shown, for example, in FIG. 15.
[0068] The outer and inner portions 451M, 452M of second inflatable
air bladder 418M cooperate to form a second air-intake port 444M
therebetween. Second air-inlet conduit 434M is arranged to extend
through a space 16P defined between monolithic first sheet 431 and
monolithic second sheet 432 to mate with second air-intake port
444M and formed to include a second passageway configured to
provide means for conducting pressurized air from a source 426 of
pressurized air into second air chamber 436M to change second
inflatable air bladder 418M from the deflated state shown in FIGS.
12 and 14 to an inflated state shown, for example, in FIGS. 15 and
16.
[0069] The outer and inner portions 451U, 452U of third inflatable
air bladder 418U cooperate to form a third air-intake port 444U
therebetween. A third air-inlet conduit 434U is arranged to extend
through a space 16P defined between monolithic first sheet 431 and
monolithic second sheet 432 to mate with third air-intake port 444U
and formed to include a third passageway configured to provide
means for conducting pressurized air from a source 426 of
pressurized air into third air chamber 436U to change third
inflatable air bladder 418U from the deflated state shown in FIGS.
12 and 14 to the inflated state shown, for example, in FIG. 15.
[0070] As suggested in FIG. 12, first inflatable air bladder 418L
is made of the elastomeric material and is coupled to deformable
elastic bed 16. Second inflatable air bladder 418M is made of the
elastomeric material and is coupled to deformable elastic bed 16 to
lie alongside first inflatable air bladder 418L. Third inflatable
air bladder 418U is made of the elastomeric material and is coupled
to deformable elastic bed 16. Third inflatable air bladder 418U is
arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to first inflatable air
bladder 418L to locate the second inflatable air bladder 418M
therebetween as suggested in FIGS. 12 and 14-16.
[0071] Deformable elastic bed 16 included in cushion 414 is formed
to include a perimeter edge and a bladder-receiving cavity 15
containing the first, second, and third inflatable air bladders
418L, 418M, and 418U therein as suggested in FIG. 12.
Bladder-receiving cavity 15 lies in spaced-apart relation to the
perimeter edge to cause a perimeter portion of deformable elastic
bed 16 to surround first, second, and third inflatable air bladders
418L, 418M, and 418U as suggested in FIG. 12. First air-inlet
conduit 434L is arranged to extend through perimeter portion 16P of
deformable elastic bed 16 and mate with first air-intake port 444L
and formed to include a first passageway configured to provide
means for conducting pressurized air from a source 426 of
pressurized air into first air chamber 436L to change first
inflatable air bladder 418L from the deflated state to the inflated
state.
[0072] Second inflatable air bladder 418M is formed to include a
second air chamber 436M and a second air-intake port 444M opening
into second air chamber 436M and lying in side-by-side spaced-apart
relation to first air-intake port 444L formed in first inflatable
air bladder 418L as suggested in FIG. 12. First and second
air-intake ports 444L, 444M are arranged to lie in spaced-apart
relation to the perimeter edge of deformable elastic bed 16. Second
air-inlet conduit 434M is arranged to extend through perimeter
portion 16P of deformable elastic bed 16 and mate with second
air-intake port 444M and formed to include a second passageway
configured to provide means for conducting pressurized air from the
sources of pressurized air into second air chamber 436M to change
second inflatable air bladder 418M from a deflated state to an
inflated state.
[0073] Cushion 414 further includes a third inflatable air bladder
418U made of the elastomeric material and coupled to deformable
elastic bed 16 as suggested in FIG. 12. Third inflatable air
bladder 418U is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to first
inflatable air bladder 418L to locate second inflatable air bladder
418M therebetween. First, second, and third inflatable air bladders
418L, 418M, and 418U are mounted in overlapping shingled relation
one to another as suggested, for example, in FIGS. 12 and 14-16 to
provide lumbar-support means in bladder-receiving cavity 15 for
establishing a four-way lumbar adjustment system using pressurized
air from a source 426 of pressurized air to inflate first, second,
and third inflatable air bladders 418L, 418M, and 418U separately
and in a coordinated simultaneous manner so that each of first,
second, and third inflatable air bladders 418L, 418M, and 418U is
arranged to be inflated and deflated to cause outer surfaces of
first, second, and third inflatable air bladders 418L, 418M, and
418U to move (1) outwardly in an outward first direction 401 (see
FIGS. 15 and 16) away from a seat pan 22 underlying and supporting
deformable elastic bed 16 and each of the first, second, and third
inflatable air bladders 418L, 418M, and 418U; (2) inwardly in an
inward second direction 402 toward seat pan 22; (3) upwardly in an
upward third direction 403 extending from first inflatable air
bladder 418L toward third inflatable air bladder 418U, and (4)
downwardly in an opposite downward fourth direction 404 extending
from third inflatable air bladder 418U toward first inflatable air
bladder 418L.
[0074] Seat pan 22 is arranged to underlie and support deformable
elastic bed 16 and each of first, second, and third inflatable air
bladder 418L, 418M, and 418U as suggested in FIGS. 12 and 14-16.
Cushion 414 comprises monolithic first sheet 431 configured to
include outer portions of each of deformable elastic bed 16 and
first, second, and third inflatable air bladders 418L, 418M, and
418U wherein the outer portions are arranged to lie in a
spaced-apart relation to seat pan 22 as suggested in FIG. 14.
Cushion 414 also comprises monolithic second sheet 432 configured
to include inner portions of each of deformable elastic bed 16 and
first, second, and third inflatable air bladders 418L, 418M, and
418U arranged to lie between the outer portions and seat pan 22 as
also suggested in FIG. 14. First monolithic sheet 431 is arranged
to mate with monolithic second sheet 432 to cause the outer and
inner portions of first inflatable air bladder 418L to mate in
sealing relation to one another to form first air chamber 436L
therebetween as suggested in FIGS. 12 and 14.
[0075] First (lower), second (middle), and third (upper) inflatable
air bladders 418L, 418M, and 418U are arranged in overlapping
shingled relation one to another and each of the air bladders is in
a deflated state as suggested in FIG. 14. Each of first, second,
and third inflatable air bladders 418L, 418M, and 418U are shown in
an inflated state in FIG. 15. Second inflatable air bladder 418M is
shown in an inflated state and each of first and third inflatable
air bladders 418L and 418U are shown in a deflated state in FIG.
16.
[0076] An air-inlet conduit 34 extends through an edge of a
deformable elastic bed 14 in cushion 12 into an air chamber 36
formed within inflatable air bladder 18 as shown, for example, in
FIG. 17. Air-inlet conduit 34 includes a football-shaped mount
flange 200, an inner air-conducting tube 201 appended to
football-shaped mount flange 200 and arranged to extend into
inflatable air bladder 18, an outer air-conducting tube 202
appended to football-shaped mount flange 200 and arranged to extend
away from inflatable air bladder 18, an air-conducting passageway
203 defined by inner and outer air-conducting tubes 201, 202, and
configured to allow air to communicate with inflatable air bladder
18. A series of hose-retention barbs 204 is appended to outer
air-conducting tube 202 as shown in FIG. 18.
[0077] First and second sheets 31, 32 are joined together to form
inflatable air bladder 18 as shown in FIG. 19. First sheet 31 has
been joined to a top surface 205 of football-shaped flange 200 and
second sheet 32 has joined to a bottom surface 206 of
football-shaped flange 200, thereby coupling air-inlet conduit 34
between first and second sheets 31, 32 as shown in FIG. 20.
[0078] In accordance with the present disclosure, each inflatable
air bladder included in a cushion of a vehicle seat is arranged to
lie in close proximity to an outer surface of a cushion cover
coupled to the cushion. Such inflatable air bladders in accordance
with the present disclosure function to move that outer surface
more in response to less bladder movement relative to a seat pan
supporting the cushion. This feature enhances bladder
efficiency.
* * * * *