U.S. patent number 3,608,960 [Application Number 05/069,374] was granted by the patent office on 1971-09-28 for adjustable back support.
This patent grant is currently assigned to McDonnell Douglas Corporation. Invention is credited to Gale K. Sherman.
United States Patent |
3,608,960 |
Sherman |
September 28, 1971 |
ADJUSTABLE BACK SUPPORT
Abstract
A back support in which a change in contour is provided not only
in the front to rear plane but also vertical adjustment is provided
to match the contour of the back of the seat occupant. Two arms are
attached to a mounting plate secured to the seat back structure
behind the cushion. These arms have outer end supports which pivot
in a horizontal plane from front to rear to vary the "wrap-around"
curvature of the back support. The arms also are tiltable
vertically to adjust the contour to fit. Vertical resilient stays
are provided within the seat cushion adjacent the hinged arms to
spread the cradling effect on the cushion over a satisfactory
distance.
Inventors: |
Sherman; Gale K. (Tustin,
CA) |
Assignee: |
McDonnell Douglas Corporation
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
22088564 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/069,374 |
Filed: |
September 3, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/284.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
7/46 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
7/46 (20060101); A47c 007/46 () |
Field of
Search: |
;297/230,231,284,384,458,459,460 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Zugel; Francis K.
Assistant Examiner: Marquette; Darrell
Claims
I claim:
1. An adjustable back support comprising a mounting plate for
attachment to a seat back structure,
a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said plate for limited movement
in a substantially vertical plane,
each of said arms having outer end supports pivotally mounted
thereon for movement in a substantially horizontal plane,
biased ratchet means for adjustably positioning said outer end
supports in multiple extending positions forwardly of said back
structure, and
a back support cushion positioned over said plate, arms and outer
end supports, whereby the contour of said cushion can be changed
and the position of contour change may be adjusted vertically.
2. An adjustable back support as in claim 1 wherein said cushion
has vertically positioned resilient stays affixed to the rear
surface thereof in line with said outer end supports whereby, upon
extending said outer end supports forwardly, said stays will bow
and spread the cradling effect on said cushion to produce gradual
contour change.
3. An adjustable back support as in claim 2 wherein said cushion
has vertically spaced pockets on the rear surface thereof to
receive the ends of said stays.
4. An adjustable back support as in claim 1 wherein said plate has
limit stops to limit vertical movement of said arms.
5. An adjustable back support as in claim 1 wherein said cushion is
attached to said seat back structure intermediate the ends of said
cushion.
6. An adjustable back support as in claim 1 wherein said outer end
supports are connected to said arms at points intermediate the
outer ends of said arms, and wherein said ratchet means includes
teeth on said arms and tangs pivotally mounted on said outer end
supports engageable with said teeth to adjustably maintain said end
supports in extended positions forwardly of said arms.
7. An adjustable back support as in claim 6 wherein said tangs have
outer ends pivotally connected to said outer end supports and inner
ends engageable with said teeth, and spring means urging said inner
ends into contact with said teeth.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The contour of seat back supports are comfortable for some
occupants while uncomfortable to others, due to anatomical
differences. The area of concern is that referred to as the "small
of the back". Since it is impossible to provide fixed padding to
match all anatomies, various means to provide cushion contour
adjustment have been attempted. Some are elaborate, complex and
inconvenient to adjust while others simply are not suitable to
provide for the desired comfort.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The adjustable back support comprising the present invention
provides for a readily adjustable cushion contour front to rear and
the change in contour may also be easily adjusted vertically as
required to match the contour of the seat occupant.
A mounting plate is rigidly attached to the seat back structure
behind the cushion. A pair of arms are pivotally attached to the
mounting plate for limited vertical movement. Each arm has a hinged
outer end support movable in a horizontal plane, front to rear. A
spring loaded ratchet is provided in each hinged outer arm end, to
hold the outer end in the desired cradling position. A seat back
cushion is installed over this support. When the outer end supports
of the arms are moved forward, the cushion ends are moved forward,
cradling the occupant's torso. Raising or lowering the arms about
their pivot points will determine where the cradling is produced
vertically, as desired by the occupant.
Since the width of the outer end supports is not great, an
undesirable localized contour in the cushion would result when the
support is moved forward to wrap the cushion around the occupant.
To eliminate this condition, a vertical resilient stay is retained
in pockets incorporated in the back of the cushion upholstery cover
-- one at each edge in line with the outer arms of the supports of
the contour changer. When the outer end arms are moved forward, the
stays bow and spread the cradling effect on the cushion over a
satisfactory vertical distance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the seat back without the
cushion;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the seat back with the support in
retracted position;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the seat back with the support in extended
position;
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a portion of the mounting
plate with one arm and outer end affixed thereto;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of an outer endpiece in retracted position
connected to an arm; and
FIG. 6 is a plan view of an outer endpiece in extended
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT
Reference is now made to FIG. 1 wherein there is shown a seat back
structure 10 having a mounting plate 12 fastened to the front
surface thereof midway between the side edges 14 and above the
bottom edge 16 to a position of proximity to the small of the back
of the seat occupant. The seat portion upon which an occupant is to
sit is not shown. Mounting plate 12 has mounting ears 18 with
apertures 20 therein to receive screws, bolts or other fastening
means.
Pivotally mounted at spaced points 22, 24 are a pair of arms 26, 28
adapted for limited rotation in a vertical plane between limit
stops 30 and 32. Hingedly connected to the outer ends of arms 26,
28 are outer end supports 34, 36 which extend outwardly almost to
the side edges 14 of the seat back structure. These supports 34, 36
may pivot vertically about pivot points 22, 24 and may pivot
horizontally through hingelines 38, 40.
Lines 42, 44 46 and 48 illustrate pockets to which fit the ends of
resilient stays 50, 52. These pockets are on the back surface of
the seat back cushion not shown in this view. The lines indicate
their position when assembled. These stays 50, 52 provide a more
gradual contour change when the outer end supports 34, 36 are moved
to their extended position.
The function and operation of the adjustable back support can be
seen when reference is made to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Here can be seen
mounting plate 12 fastened to seat back structure 10. End supports
34, 36 hingedly connected to arms 26, 28 extend forward somewhat,
in FIG. 2, to impart a gentle curve to back cushion 54. Stays 50
and 52 are attached to the back side of cushion 54.
In FIG. 3 the end supports 34, 36 are extended forwardly to adjust
the cushion contour to that of the seat occupant. These supports
are held in this position by a spring-biased ratchet structure
including teeth 56, 58 on arms 26, 28 outwardly of hinge pivots 38,
40 and cooperating tangs 60, 62 pivotally connected to supports 34,
36.
An enlarged view of the mounting plate 12, arm 26 and outer end
support 34 is shown in FIG. 4. This structure has previously been
described except for release handle 64 which is used to retract
support 34 and thus release the ratchet mechanism, and the use of
friction pads 66, 68 between the arms and mounting plate to
maintain the arms in the desired vertical position.
The ratchet mechanism is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5 and 6.
Outer end support 34 is pivotally connected to arm 26 at point 38
inwardly from end 70 of arm 26. Ratchet teeth 56 extend inwardly
from end 70. Tang 60 is pivotally mounted at 72 on support 34 and
has a biasing spring 74 continuously urging end 76,
counterclockwise in these views. Thus, as outer end support 34 is
manually pulled forward by the seat occupant, end 76 of tang 60
engages teeth 56 to maintain the outer end support in extended
position, such as is shown in FIGS. 3 and 6.
The outer end support 34 may be returned to its retracted position
by rearward depression of handle 64, in the form shown.
Alternately, a clockwise rotation of tang 60 by the occupant will
free its end 76 from teeth 56 and permit rearward movement of the
support to its retracted position.
Having described an illustrative embodiment of the present
invention, it is to be understood that other embodiments will occur
to those skilled in the art and that these modifications are to be
construed as part of the present invention.
* * * * *