Abstract: A pump housing may accommodate a pump unit and a pump motor, especially for a lumbar support function or massage function for mounting in a vehicle seat, wherein the pump motor and the pump unit are attached to one another along a longitudinal axis, and furthermore may support the pump motor with at least two flexible support elements in a radial direction and a second coil spring in an axial direction. Related pump and seat concepts are also disclosed.

Abstract: A connecting element for connecting ports of a valve array's valve attachment block to a supply block may include first engagement elements on one side for establishing a connection to the ports, and second engagement elements on another side for establishing a connection to the supply block. The first and second engagement elements may be configured to establish gas-tight connections, wherein the connecting element includes a flexible material. In a further combination, the supply block has an attachment side for attaching tubes to the supply block and a connection side for connecting the supply block to the connecting element, the connection side having engagement elements which are engageable with the second engagement elements of the connecting element for establishing a gas-tight connection. The supply block may be less flexible than the connecting element. A further combination may include the valve array.

Abstract: A massage device for a seat, in particular for a vehicle seat, is provided. The massage device includes at least one air cushion. The at least one air cushion has an air inlet so as to allow individual filling thereof with air via an air supply system. A vibration generating device is arranged between the air supply system and the air cushion and is in fluid communication with the air cushion so as to apply pressure vibrations to the air cushion. In addition, a seat including the massage device is also provided.

Abstract: An air cushion arrangement installable in an interior of a seat having a seat surface may have at least one air cushion and an air supply system for variably supplying the at least one air cushion with air, wherein at least one air cushion is assigned a pulsation generator, the at least one air cushion being non-fluidically connected to the pulsation generator. The air cushion and the pulsation generator are configured to generate a pulsation in a direction of the seat surface of the seat (e.g., if the air cushion arrangement were installed in the interior of the seat). A seat assembly including such an air cushion arrangement is also disclosed.

Abstract: A valve system includes a housing with a tank connection for connecting to a fuel tank, a filter connection for connecting to an activated carbon filter, and a filling tube connection for connecting to a filling tube of the fuel tank. Both the tank connection and the filter connection and/or the filling tube connection can be in form of a connecting piece, connected directly or indirectly to the fuel tank through a connecting line leading to the fuel tank, the activated carbon filter or the filling tube. The tank connection/filter connection or the tank connection/filling tube connection can be fluidically connected to one another through a main vent duct. The tank connection or a tank-side main vent duct, and the filter connection or a filter-side main vent duct, can be fluidically connected by means of a secondary vent duct.

Abstract: An air cushion device for a seat includes at least one first air cushion and a second air cushion, first and second air inlets, first and second air ducts, and a device preventing the second air duct from being pinched off by a fixing wire of a seat cover.

Abstract: A connecting element for connecting ports of a valve array's valve attachment block to a supply block may include first engagement elements on one side for establishing a connection to the ports, and second engagement elements on another side for establishing a connection to the supply block. The first and second engagement elements may be configured to establish gas-tight connections, wherein the connecting element includes a flexible material. In a further combination, the supply block has an attachment side for attaching tubes to the supply block and a connection side for connecting the supply block to the connecting element, the connection side having engagement elements which are engageable with the second engagement elements of the connecting element for establishing a gas-tight connection. The supply block may be less flexible than the connecting element. A further combination may include the valve array.

Abstract: An actuator for a valve element includes one base plate; one actuating element having a first end section, a second end section, and a sealing element on the first end section; one connecting element; and one SMA element having a U-shape including two parts substantially parallel to one another, a first end, a second end, and a middle section between the two parts. The actuating element is at least partially arranged on and connected to the base plate via the second end section. The connecting element is conductively connected to two points of the SMA element. A middle section of the SMA element is connected to the first end section of the actuating element so that a shortening of the SMA element causes a stroke of the sealing element.

Abstract: A valve arrangement includes a housing with pump and consumer connections, and first and second actuators arranged symmetrically. Each first and second actuator includes one base plate; one actuating element having first and second end sections, and a sealing element in the first end section; one connecting element; and one SMA element having a U-shape with first and second ends, and a middle section between the ends. The actuating element is at least partially arranged on and connected to the base plate via the second end section. The connecting element is conductively connected to two points of the SMA element. The middle section is connected to the first end section of the actuating element so that shortening the SMA element causes a stroke of the sealing element. A related pump mechanism is disclosed.

Abstract: A valve includes a flow chamber, an actuating chamber, and an opening. An actuating element can close or open the valve opening. An SMA element can move the actuating element in the opening direction. The flow chamber and the actuating chamber are separated by a separating wall. A first area of the flow chamber is attachable to an air supply unit to supply air to the flow chamber. A second area of the flow chamber is attachable to a media reservoir and is connectable to atmosphere to release air from the flow chamber via an opening. An actuator is pivotable on the valve housing via a second end section, and has a first end section coupled adjacent a first end of the actuating element so that the opening to the atmosphere is either released or closed.

Abstract: A massage device for a seat, in particular for a vehicle seat, is disclosed. The massage device comprises at least one air cushion, wherein the at least one air cushion has an air inlet so as to allow individual filling thereof with air via an air supply system, wherein a vibration generating device is arranged between the air supply system and the air cushion and is in fluid communication with the air cushion so as to apply pressure vibrations to the air cushion. In addition, the a seat comprising the massage device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pump housing may accommodate a pump unit and a pump motor, especially for a lumbar support function or massage function for mounting in a vehicle seat, wherein the pump motor and the pump unit are attached to one another along a longitudinal axis, and furthermore may support the pump motor with at least two flexible support elements in a radial direction and a second coil spring in an axial direction. Related pump and seat concepts are also disclosed.

Abstract: An air cushion device for a seat includes at least one first air cushion and a second air cushion, first and second air inlets, first and second air ducts, and a device preventing the second air duct from being pinched off by a fixing wire of a seat cover.

Abstract: A valve system includes a housing with a tank connection for connecting to a fuel tank, a filter connection for connecting to an activated carbon filter, and a filling tube connection for connecting to a filling tube of the fuel tank. Both the tank connection and the filter connection and/or the filling tube connection can be in form of a connecting piece, connected directly or indirectly to the fuel tank through a connecting line leading to the fuel tank, the activated carbon filter or the filling tube. The tank connection/filter connection or the tank connection/filling tube connection can be fluidically connected to one another through a main vent duct. The tank connection or a tank-side main vent duct, and the filter connection or a filter-side main vent duct, can be fluidically connected by means of a secondary vent duct.

Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting a contour of a seat, and a seat with a contour-adjusting mechanism, may include a selectively fillable air cushion and a support arrangement including a support element on which the air cushion is mounted.

Abstract: A valve arrangement includes a housing with pump and consumer connections, and first and second actuators arranged symmetrically. Each first and second actuator includes one base plate; one actuating element having first and second end sections, and a sealing element in the first end section; one connecting element; and one SMA element having a U-shape with first and second ends, and a middle section between the ends. The actuating element is at least partially arranged on and connected to the base plate via the second end section. The connecting element is conductively connected to two points of the SMA element. The middle section is connected to the first end section of the actuating element so that shortening the SMA element causes a stroke of the sealing element. A related pump mechanism is disclosed.

Abstract: A valve includes a flow chamber, an actuating chamber, and an opening. An actuating element can close or open the valve opening. An SMA element can move the actuating element in the opening direction. The flow chamber and the actuating chamber are separated by a separating wall. A first area of the flow chamber is attachable to an air supply unit to supply air to the flow chamber. A second area of the flow chamber is attachable to a media reservoir and is connectable to atmosphere to release air from the flow chamber via an opening. An actuator is pivotable on the valve housing via a second end section, and has a first end section coupled adjacent a first end of the actuating element so that the opening to the atmosphere is either released or closed.

Abstract: An actuator for a valve element includes one base plate; one actuating element having a first end section, a second end section, and a sealing element on the first end section; one connecting element; and one SMA element having a U-shape including two parts substantially parallel to one another, a first end, a second end, and a middle section between the two parts. The actuating element is at least partially arranged on and connected to the base plate via the second end section. The connecting element is conductively connected to two points of the SMA element. A middle section of the SMA element is connected to the first end section of the actuating element so that a shortening of the SMA element causes a stroke of the sealing element.

Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting a contour of a seat, and a seat with a contour-adjusting mechanism, may include a selectively fillable air cushion and a support arrangement including a support element on which the air cushion is mounted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pump comprising a housing (2), comprising at least one pump chamber (15), comprising an inlet valve (30) that has a valve element (30a) which controls an inlet opening (30c), comprising an outlet valve (33) that has a valve element (33a) which controls an outlet opening (33c), comprising a pressure relief valve (43) that has a valve element (43a) which controls a pressure relief opening (43c) and on which a spring element (48) acts in the closing direction (31), and comprising a spring chamber (49) that receives the spring element. A stop element (51) which can be accessed from the housing outer face and which can be adjusted in the closing direction (31) is arranged in the spring chamber (49), the spring element (48) end that faces away from the closing direction resting against the stop element.