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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

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

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a support device for a seat in a vehicle which can support the hip of an occupant.

(b) Description of the Related Art

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.

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.

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

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.

In another embodiment, the main chamber comprises thermoplastic polyurethane.

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.

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.

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.

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

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a support device of a seat for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

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.

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.

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.

<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

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.