Abstract: A a lumbar support has a flexible seat suspension and a supporting mechanism. The lumbar support device is capable of providing an infinite number of vertical adjustment points. The supporting mechanism is connected to the flexible seat suspension by slide elements and travels up and down the side rails of the flexible seat suspension to the seat occupant's desired position. The movement of the supporting mechanism is accomplished both vertically along the flexible seat suspersion and horizonally relative to the seat by using wire cables, tractions cables, and a series of pulleys. The pulley system reduces the load of the actuators used in the lumbar device making it possible to use smaller, less expensive actuators.

Abstract: A sacral support assembly for use with a seat is provided. The seat includes a seat frame. An adjustable sacral support assembly is connected to the seat frame. The sacral support assembly includes a sacral support member adapted to support the sacrum of a seated user even when an obstruction is located between the user and the sacral support assembly. A method is also provided for delivering primary support to a user's sacrum and sacral-pelvic anatomy and secondary support to the remaining regions of the spine and/or adjacent anatomy to reduce fatigue, increase comfort, structural balance, stability, and posture control for a user, and a system for adjusting and controlling the load distribution from the sacral anatomy to the spine and other anatomical structures adjacent to a user's sacrum, for example, the pelvis, lumbar, thoracic and cervical regions.

Abstract: A seat support includes a panel that is connected to opposite sides of the seat through a pair of fixtures and is operated by an actuator that is connected to at least one of the fixtures. The panel includes a recessed center channel that is bounded by flat side plates and that has apertures extending across the channel. The panel can be made from a single piece of material and may also include top and bottom extensions.

Abstract: A combination lumbar bolster system for attachment to a vehicle seat frame comprises a lumbar support having a flat position and a deployed position, wherein the deployed position is forward of the flat position; a pair of lateral bolsters each having a resting position and an extended position, wherein the extended position is further from the seat frame than the resting position; at least one traction cable operably attached to at least one of the lumbar support and the lateral bolsters; and at least one spring. The traction cable moves the lumbar support between the flat position and the deployed position and the lateral bolsters between the resting positions and the extended positions such that the movements of the lumbar support and the bolsters is coordinated, and the spring opposes the movement of the traction cable.

Abstract: A backrest adjustment device includes a bottom board, a support board movable relative to the bottom board, and two opposite linkages pivotally mounted between the support board and the bottom board to drive the support board to move relative to the bottom board to change the distance between the support board and the bottom board. Thus, the two linkages are pivoted to drive the support board to move relative to the bottom board to change the distance between the support board and the bottom board so as to adjust the position of the backrest relative to the seat.

Abstract: A seat device for a chair having a lumbar support or a seatback is provided. A lower portion of the lumbar support (or seatback) is formed as a shaft having an external teeth portion for positioning pin lugs of a base and fixed blocks. A movable block is joined with one of the fixed blocks. An elastic member is positioned between inner holes of the external teeth portion and an internal teeth portion of the movable block. The fixed blocks are secured by outer covers. A lifter is pivoted to the outer cover secured with the movable block. The lumbar support (or seatback) is separated into a plate including a ladder-type groove and sliders and a pad jointed with a board on the back having a latch member and sliding grooves. A pull bar extends from the board. The angle and height adjustable lumbar support (or seatback) is therefore achieved.

Abstract: An ergonomic device for a seat is disclosed. The ergonomic device includes a first side plate and a second side plate spaced apart from the first side plate. A hinge connects the second side plate to the first side plate. The ergonomic device also includes at least one pulley connected to the first side plate or the second side plate. A traction element is connected to at least one of the side plates, and the traction element has a cable wire generally wrapped about the at least one pulley. The traction element engages the pulley to at least partially collapse the hinge when a tractive force is applied to the traction element.

Abstract: Provided is a chair comprising a seat; a backrest; a first armrest; a second armrest; a seat support structure; and a support structure for supporting the lower back of a seated person; wherein the support structure is directly mechanically-connected to the first armrest and the second armrest; and the support structure is not directly mechanically-connected to either the backrest or the seat. Additionally, provided are methods for supporting the lower back of a seated person in the need of such supporting comprising providing to the person a chair as described above.

Abstract: This invention teaches a chair comprising a seat; a backrest; a first armrest; a second armrest; a seat support structure; means for supporting the lower back of a seated person; a first slider; a second slider; a first slideway having a plurality of cavities; and a second slideway having a plurality of cavities, wherein the first slider and the second slider are disposed at two opposite ends of the means for supporting the lower back of a seated person; the first slideway is cooperating with the first slider and is connected to the first armrest; and the second slideway is cooperating with the second slider and is connected to the second armrest.

Abstract: A belt lumbar for a vehicle seat has a pair of brackets that are respectively located at opposite ends of the belt, a platform that extends between the brackets, and hinges that connect the platform to the brackets. A bowden cable extends between and pulls the brackets toward each other from a first position to a second position. The hinges are living hinges which have more flexibility than the pair of brackets and the platform. In response to the brackets moving toward each other, the hinges rotate relative to the platform and the brackets and extend the platform away from the brackets. Springs connect the ends of the belt to the sides of the seat frame.

Abstract: A backrest adjusting device for office chairs comprising: a seat portion having a seat cushion and a stand for supporting the seat cushion; a back having a frame, a back cushion fixed on the surface of the frame, a connecting member for connecting the bottom of the back to a rear side of the seat portion, a hollow containing space formed at the middle section of the back, an n-shaped member being disposed in the containing space and extended backward; and a first attaching device installed on the n-shaped member of the containing space, thereby achieving the adjustment of the three-dimensional space of position, longitudinal buffer and angular rotation. Moreover, the back further includes a support member disposed at the top of the back, and a second attaching device installed on the support member and having a structure identical to the first attaching device. Meanwhile, the first attaching device has an attaching body made in compliance with the shape of a human waist to form a backrest bump.

Abstract: A motor vehicle seat system, control arrangement, actuating arrangement, and process are used to control a lumbar support device of a motor vehicle seat. The lumbar adjustment device has a first drive for adjustment in a first adjustment direction and a second drive for adjustment in a second adjustment direction. The adjustment directions differ from each other. A first adjustment position is ascertained in the first adjustment direction and the drive movement of the second drive is controlled as a function of at least one of the first adjustment position and the temporal change in the first adjustment position.

Abstract: A fold down seat back has an ergonomic support device in it. A traction cable is operatively engaged at one end with the lumbar support device to actuate it. The fold down seat back includes a rotating cable tension unit and a fixed torsion bar. The rotating member moves relative to the fixed member when said fold down seat back is folded down. The traction cable is comprised of a sleeve having a first end and a second end and a wire having a first end and a second end. The wire is disposed to slide axially through the sleeve. The first sleeve end is attached to the rotating cable tension unit. The wire end is attached to the fixed torsion bar. The wire end may be attached to the torsion rod with a pulley. These attachments of the sleeve end and the wire end cause the wire to be drawn axially through the sleeve when the seat back is folded up, extending a lumbar support, and cause the wire to be relaxed when the seat back is folded down, flattening the lumbar support.

Abstract: A fold down seat back or seat bottom has at least one ergonomic support device in it. A traction cable is operatively engaged at one end with the ergonomic support device to actuate it. The fold down seat back includes a rotating cable tension unit and a fixed torsion bar. The rotating member moves relative to the fixed member when said fold down seat back is folded up. The traction cable is comprised of a sleeve having a first end and a second end and a wire having a first end and a second end. The wire is disposed to slide axially through the sleeve. The first sleeve end is attached to the rotating cable tension unit. The wire end is attached to the fixed torsion bar. The wire end may be attached to the torsion rod with a pulley.

Abstract: A dual drive actuation system includes a driver gear, a pair of actuators with driven gears, and a transmission for switching the driver gear between the pair of actuators. The transmission can be controlled by a solenoid, and the driver gear can be powered by a motor. The dual drive actuation system can be used with different actuators that are changed based on their required usage, sizing and range of motion.

Abstract: A fold down seat back has a lumbar support device in it. A traction cable is operatively engaged at one end with the lumbar support device to actuate it. The fold down seat back includes a rotating cable tension unit and a fixed torsion bar. The rotating member moves relative to the fixed member when said fold down seat back is folded down. The traction cable is comprised of a sleeve having a first end and a second end and a wire having a first end and a second end. The wire is disposed to slide axially through the sleeve. The first sleeve end is attached to the rotating cable tension unit. The wire end is attached to the fixed torsion bar. The wire end may be attached to the torsion rod with a pulley. These attachments of the sleeve end and the wire end cause the wire to be drawn axially through the sleeve when the seat back is folded up, extending a lumbar support, and cause the wire to be relaxed when the seat back is folded down, flattening the lumbar support.

Abstract: A lumbar support for a seat includes an archable pressure surface having an upper region and a lower region and a force actuator such as an electric motor. The force actuator is held in a housing. The actuator housing is fixedly attached to said archable pressure surface in a compact design. A force transmission element such as a cable is connected to at least one of the upper and lower regions of the pressure surface and the force transmission element is also connected to the actuator. When force is applied by the force actuator to the cable, the pressure surface arches from a substantially flat position to an arched position.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for adjusting the arching of a resiliently flexible support element for supporting the pelvic and/or lumbar vertebrae in a back rest of a seat including an arching means. According to the invention, a flexible support element is suspended in a seat by multiple guide rods, and a Bowden cable is connected to the support element in such a manner as to arch the support element when traction is applied thereto. A restoring spring draws the support element from its arched position. An intermediate spring is used in combination with the Bowden cable such that the support element resiliently yields to major pressure. Another spring provides compensating forces to counteract the arching adjustment, thereby substantially reducing the force to be exerted in order to adjust the degree of arching.

Abstract: A variable lumbar support has a support assembly mountable on a seat frame, a pressure element engaged with the support assembly to move in relation to it in a first direction and a second direction. The directions are substantially parallel and opposite and usually vertical. A first traction element engaged with the support assembly and the pressure element moves the pressure element in the first direction and a second traction element engaged with the support assembly and with the pressure element moves the pressure element in the second direction. At least one actuator engaged with the traction elements causes the movement.

Abstract: A unitized back plate and lumbar support device for a seat including a back plate, a housing with a channel, which housing is fixedly attached to the back plate, and an extending paddle. The extending paddle has a free end with a pressure surface, the surface being a load bearing element proximal to a seat occupant, and the extending paddle has an encapsulated end in extendible communication with the channel in the housing. An actuator mediates travel of the extending paddle between a substantially retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A device for lumbar support for an office chair having a seatback including a seatback frame and a membrane stretched over the seatback frame. The device can be arranged behind the membrane and can be housed in the seatback frame to provide vertical and horizontal adjustment independent of the membrane. Preferably, the device includes a central part having two comparably rigid carrier elements connected to each other via an elastic element arranged therebetween, the rigid carrier elements each including a guide track that can be arranged in the seatback frame to provide the vertical adjustment. A front part includes a cushion attached to an upholstery plate, the upholstery plate facing the membrane. A rear part includes a plastic plate. The cushion and the plastic plate are connected via a clip connection, and the clip connection is guided in slots of the carrier elements.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes posture enhancing systems to increase occupant comfort. In addition to pelvis support, the seat includes a pivotable thorax and a height adjustment therefor, having a range of adjustment of about 100 mm to accommodate different female and male occupants having different skeletal lengths. The correct positioning of the second pivot point is designed to provide a lumbar curvature which simulates that of a standing occupant. In its most simple form, the seat includes a pelvis support, a thorax pivot mechanism to allow forward movement of the thorax area and reclining of the shoulders and a linear actuator mechanism to allow accurate positioning of this pivot mechanism for the skeletal height for the occupant.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for supporting the back of a seated person by providing primary support to the back of the seated person at the junction between the lower thoracic vertebrae and the upper lumbar vertebrae and surrounding tissues. More specifically, the primary support is preferably provided to the spine in a target region between the 11th thoracic vertebrae and the 2nd lumbar vertebrae of a user of the chair, and more preferably between the 1st lumbar vertebrae and the 12th thoracic vertebrae.

Abstract: A chair back comprises a rear surface, a front surface spaced from the rear surface and a side extending between the front and rear surfaces; a lumbar support member positioned between the front and rear surfaces and mounted for vertical movement with respect to the chair back and for forward movement with respect to the front surface; a first control member positioned on the rear surface of the chair back for adjusting the forward movement of the lumbar support member; and, a second control member positioned adjacent one of the sides of the chair back for adjusting the vertical height of the lumbar support member.