Abstract: A shock absorber for vehicle seat is provided. The shock absorber is suspended on a seat frame so as to elastically support a pad. The shock absorber includes: a plurality of wires that are disposed in parallel to the seat frame, both ends of the wires being locked to the seat frame; and a resinous member that connects the wires to each other, the resinous member having a bent portion, wherein the resinous member is elastically deformable in a direction in which the wires are opposed each other in accordance with a deformation of the bent portion.

Abstract: A seat for a vehicle in which, when the vehicle has a side collision, pressing against a side support portion of a seat cushion by a vehicle body side portion and deformation of the side support portion to the upper side may be suppressed, and in which excellent seating comfort of the seat cushion may be maintained. At a rear seat, when a door trim (32) of a rear side door (30) collides with a side support portion (16A) due to an impact load F of a side collision, a dilatant member (46) provided at the side support portion (16A) hardens instantly. As a result, deformation of the side support portion (16A) is suppressed, and deformation of the side support portion (16A) to the upper side may be suppressed. Therefore, a waist area chamber (28B) of a rear side airbag (28) may be caused to deploy between the waist area of a seat occupant (14) and the door trim (32) as intended.

Abstract: A seating structure includes a backrest member having an upper edge, opposite side edges and a lower edge. The backrest member has a forwardly facing convex shape formed along a vertical centerline thereof between the upper and lower edges. The lower edge has a forwardly facing concave shape. The lower edge has outer portions positioned forwardly of an entirety of the upper edge.

Abstract: A system of controlling various actuators associated with human support surfaces is disclosed. Such a system is made up of a support surface, a controller, and an actuator. The system may optionally include batteries, a means of charging the batteries, and a graphical user interface as well as a communication link between the graphical user interface and the support surfaces. The actuators are capable of altering contour and/or firmness, of a support surface, they may be vibrational or heating/cooling in nature, and they may also alter the overall relative position of a support surface.

Abstract: In a seat, in a state in which tilting of a back main frame around a tilting center is locked by a reclining mechanism, a lower end of a back joint link is turnably joined to a vehicle side. Thus, turning of a first link, a back sub frame and the back joint link is locked, and operation of a back link mechanism is locked. Therefore, a supporting rigidity from rear side of a back side portion can be enhanced by the back link mechanism (the back sub frame), and a crew sitting in the seat can be thoroughly retained.

Abstract: In a seat, in a state in which tilting of a back main frame around a tilting center is locked by a reclining mechanism, a lower end of a back joint link is turnably joined to a vehicle side. Thus, turning of a first link, a back sub frame and the back joint link is locked, and operation of a back link mechanism is locked. Therefore, a supporting rigidity from rear side of a back side portion can be enhanced by the back link mechanism (the back sub frame), and a crew sitting in the seat can be thoroughly retained.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided with a protective surface to support the vehicle passenger and a variable-shape aircushion. The contour of the supporting surface can be varied by changing the shape of the aircushion. A drivable device is also provided with which the aircushion can be compressed at least partially from outside in such a way as to vary the shape of the aircushion, and hence vary the contour of the supporting surface. A motor vehicle is also provided with such a vehicle seat.

Abstract: A state change of a person is captured with timing closer to consciousness of the person. A frequency slope waveform of a time series signal of a pulse wave of a body of a person detected by an air pack is obtained by a frequency slope time-series analyzing and a computing device and a frequency fluctuation time-series waveform is obtained by a frequency fluctuation time-series analyzing and computing device. By comparing changes of two waveforms with each other in a waveform determining device, a state change of a person can be captured with timing closer to consciousness of the person.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back and a seat for supporting an occupant. A cushion is coupled to the seat and has at least one inflatable upper bladder for selectively adjusting the firmness of the cushion. The seat further includes an inflatable lower bladder positioned beneath the upper bladder. The seat is configured such that a vehicle seat hip pivot point is maintained when adjusting the firmness of the cushion by increasing the pressure in the lower bladder when the pressure in the upper bladder is selectively decreased, and by decreasing the pressure in the lower bladder when the pressure in the upper bladder is selectively increased.

Abstract: A stroller seat pod includes a seat bottom having front, left side, right side, back, top, and underside; seat back having first piece and second piece, first piece and second piece slidably connected to one another; first piece of seat back being hingedly connected to seat bottom such that seat back and seat bottom have first seat position and second seat position, wherein, in first seat position, seat back and seat bottom have open configuration for sitting, and wherein, in second seat position, seat back and seat bottom have a closed configuration for storage; second piece of seat back being connected to first piece of seat back such that first piece of seat back and second piece of seat back have first backrest position and second backrest position, wherein, in first backrest position, first piece of seat back and second piece of seat back are extended relative to one another to increase seat back area for sitting, wherein, in second backrest position, first piece of seat back and the second piece of seat

Abstract: A seat has a first ischial region, a second ischial region, a tailbone region and a thigh transitional region, each having at least one slot. Each slot generally opens outward, away from a center of the seat. Each slot may have an elongated central portion and two distal portions extending from the central portion. The central portion and distal portions may be substantially linear and may have a specific configuration relative to each other to provide desired support characteristics. The slots may allow flexing and cantilevering of portions of the seat to dynamically contour the seat based on the weight of the user. Multiple grooves may be included at the front of the seat to facilitate curling of the front of the seat.

Abstract: A lumbar support assembly (2) comprises a support arrangement (3) which may have the form of a wire framework with two side wires (4) and a plurality of transverse wires (6). A Bowden cable arrangement (10) with a single Bowden cable is attached by two plate clips (15, 17) to the two side wires (4). A first end portion (13) of the wire (12) of the Bowden cable arrangement (10) is anchored to a front edge of a seat frame (1), while a second end portion (14) of the wire (12) is coupled to an actuator (20) for adjusting the tension of the Bowden cable. The lumbar support assembly (2) thus requires only one single Bowden cable to arch the lumbar support assembly at least in a lumbar region and to adjust the degree of lumbar support accordingly.

Abstract: A backrest inclination structure for lumbar support enables a backrest to enter a free state when a user sitting at any position of a chair lifts a lever of a spring continuous control unit, such that the backrest fits the user's moving back when the backrest is configured for movable inclination. Hence, the backrest can move together with the user's back ergonomically to provide lumbar support. Accordingly, the user can sit comfortably on the chair and be free from lumbago and kyphosis which are common among sedentary individuals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat with a seat part and with a seat back part for supporting a driver of the vehicle in the sitting position on the vehicle seat, wherein the vehicle seat is characterized by an additional vehicle driver's torso support device which can be disposed outside the seat part and the seat back part and which can be temporarily disposed at least partially in an otherwise seat-free torso support region at the level of or above the upper third of the seat back part in front of the seat back part and laterally off-centre on the seat back part, in order to provide support, laterally off-centre of the seat back part, at least at the level of the shoulder or chest region of the driver who is sitting on the vehicle seat when he adopts a seated working posture oriented to the side or backwards, wherein the additional vehicle driver's torso support device is disposed so as to be movable by a moving device from a parked position into an additional torso support position in the otherwise se

Abstract: A chair back according to embodiments of the present invention includes a rigid support member for reclinable attachment to a base, a flexible frame member having a flexible frame and a mesh, the mesh at least partially spanning the frame, and a seat attachment member moving in synchronization with the rigid support member at a different rate than the rigid support member during reclining of the rigid support member, wherein a first portion of the flexible frame member is affixed to the rigid support member, wherein a second portion of the flexible frame member flexes freely, wherein the seat attachment member contacts at least part of the second portion of the flexible frame member, wherein the first portion moves with the rigid support member and the second portion moves with the seat attachment member such that a curvature of the second portion increases as the rigid support member reclines.

Abstract: A suspension seat comprises a structural layer and a stretchable top layer above the structural layer. The structural layer comprises a cut-out. The perimeter of the cut-out is defined by a plurality of discrete members. The discrete members allow the buttocks (i.e., the tissue surrounding the ischial sacrococcygeal aspects of the skeleton) of a wheelchair user to enter into the cut-out with gradual pressure minimizing high pressure concentrations at the edges of the cut-out. The stretchable top layer bears load via tension as the wheelchair user buttocks deflects into the cut-out.

Abstract: A seat back assembly includes a back frame and an adjustable support mounted to the back frame. The adjustable support moves between a first position and a second position with respect to the back frame. A stationary back cushion is mounted to the back frame and defines an opening sized to receive the adjustable support. When the adjustable support is in the opening, both the adjustable support and the stationary back cushion provide support surfaces for the back of an occupant of the seat. When the adjustable support is moved toward the second position to at least partially remove the adjustable support from the opening, the opening accommodates equipment of an occupant of the seat.

Abstract: A pelvic support apparatus for a seat having a seat back and a seat pan includes a frame positioned within the seat back and a pelvic support member coupled with the frame adjacent a bottom of the seat back and a rear of the seat pan. The pelvic support member is movable between a first, retracted position, and a second, extended position that provides support to a pelvic area of a person seated in the seat. The pelvic support member has first and second lateral support portions operable to provide support to the pelvic area, each lateral support portion spaced from a central axis of the seat back.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat with a seat part and with a seat back part for supporting a driver of the vehicle in the sitting position on the vehicle seat, wherein the vehicle seat has an additional vehicle driver's torso support device which can be disposed outside the seat part and the seat back and which can be temporarily disposed at least partially in an otherwise seat-free torso support region in front of the seat back part and laterally and/or above the seat back part, in order to provide support, laterally off-centre of the seat back part, at least at the level of the shoulder region of the driver who is sitting on the vehicle seat when he adopts a seated working posture oriented to the side or backwards, and wherein the additional vehicle driver's torso support device comprises a seat back extension device which is disposed on the seat back part (3) so as to be movable in translation along a horizontal axis in order to be able to move the additional vehicle driver's torso support device su

Abstract: A back and neck cushion therapy device for wearing, attaching to a backpack, or placing over a chair. The device can include a pouch with a traction device disposed therein. The traction device can include a head, a body, and a lower back traction. Straps can be connected to the pouch, allowing a user to strap the device about the user. The traction device can have various indention load deflections, providing firmness or softness. The traction device can be shearable, allowing the user to cut the traction device to a custom size. The pouch can be fastened to a backpack. A reversible back and neck cushion therapy device can include two pouches with two traction devices, such that a user can select a firm side or a soft side. The reversible back and neck cushion therapy device can be hung over a chair back.

Abstract: An upholstered armchair conceals stirrup assemblies in the armrests of the chair for manual deployment to position foot stirrups extending inwardly and above the armrests.

Abstract: A seat having a plurality of defined zones for supporting the human anatomy. The zoned seating can also include one or more recoil shields that can be one piece, multiple pieces, or can itself comprise multiple sections that correspond with the multiple zones or individual zones. The seating can also include inserts to assist in supporting or isolating certain desired portions of the human anatomy. The seating includes both seat back structures and seat pan structures, with each including a zoned configuration designed to support and stabilize specific structures of the human anatomy in a defined manner. The zones can separate independent and defined zones that are designed to be separate and act as individual anatomical support areas that collectively support, cradle and permit the human anatomy to be supported in a comfortable manner. It is preferred that the zones act and operate independently from one another.

Abstract: A four way lumbar support for an automobile seat includes a wire array, a fixed frame, and a basculating arm. When in its extended position, the basculating arm exerts pressure on the wire array thus providing lumbar support to the seat occupant at that point. A system of cables and sliding connections allows the basculating arm to slide along the fixed frame so that the lumbar support may be provided at different heights within the seat.

Abstract: In a seat, in a state in which tilting of a back main frame around a tilting center is locked by a reclining mechanism, a lower end of a back joint link is turnably joined to a vehicle side. Thus, turning of a first link, a back sub frame and the back joint link is locked, and operation of a back link mechanism is locked. Therefore, a supporting rigidity from rear side of a back side portion can be enhanced by the back link mechanism (the back sub frame), and a crew sitting in the seat can be thoroughly retained.

Abstract: A lumbar support mechanism includes a damper having one end supported by the inside of a seat back and the other end capable of extension and contraction. Seesaw links are provided with each having one end connected to the other end and capable of extension and contraction. An intermediate portion is supported at a swing fulcrum by the seat back with the other end extending in the width direction of the seat back, and swung around the swing fulcrum. Pantograph links are connected to the respective seesaw links and are movable up and down in the back and forth direction in conjunction with the swing of the corresponding seesaw links. The lock-release lever is operated to release the lock mechanism of the damper. The extension and contraction force of the damper is transmitted to the pantograph links via the corresponding seesaw links with the pantograph links shifting the pad provided in the seat back.

Abstract: In a seat (10), in a state in which tilting of a back main frame (16) around a tilting center (16A) is locked by a reclining mechanism (18), a lower end of a back joint link (26) is turnably joined to a vehicle side. Thus, turning of a first link (22), a back sub frame (24) and the back joint link (26) is locked, and operation of a back link mechanism (14) is locked. Therefore, a supporting rigidity from rear side of a back side portion (12B) can be enhanced by the back link mechanism (14) (the back sub frame (24)), and a crew sitting in the seat (10) can be thoroughly retained.

Abstract: A seating element has an archable element with a first side to face an occupant of a seat when the seating element is installed in a seat and a second side opposite of the first side. A pneumatic arching element is arranged at the second side of the archable element.

Abstract: Lumbar support for a seat backrest, comprising a support basket (10) extending in the longitudinal direction of the seat backrest, a frame (12) to which the support basket (10) is mounted and an adjustment device (11) which changes the position of the support basket relative to the frame, the adjustment device including a plurality of adjustment members (60) some of which are movable with respect to one another.

Abstract: A lumbar support for a vehicle backrest has a resting element with a front surface shaped for supporting an area of the back of a user; the resting element is connected to a frame of the backrest via elastic elements, which are bistable for allowing the resting element to click from an advanced position to a rearward position when a thrust against the front surface exceeds a given threshold.

Abstract: A seat device capable of retaining a person's seated position is provided as seats for vehicles, for example. The seat device has an upper body support member having an upper body support surface that supports an upper body back of a person seated. The upper body support surface has slant ridges for ribs. The slant ridges can touch the ribs of the person from beneath and are slanted according to the ribs, the ribs descending with person's exhalation.

Abstract: A seat device has an upper body support member having an upper body support surface that supports an upper back of a person. The support surface has aid ridges for shoulder blades. The aid ridges are located to be fit to a range of fifth to seventh ribs of the ribs in a vertical direction of the seat member, and are substantially horizontal in a width direction of the seat device. The support surface is located such that a length from a center line of the support surface in a width direction thereof to a center-line-side end of each of the aid ridges is equal to or larger than a length from a backbone center line to a backbone end of the person and equal to or smaller than a length from the backbone center line to a shoulder blade of the person.

Abstract: A device for retaining a person' seated position is provided as seats for vehicles, for example. The device has a seat member and an upper body support member. The seat member a seat surface on which a person is seated. The upper body support member has an upper body support surface that supports an upper body back of the person. The upper body support surface has a pair of support projections for ilia, which are fit to a pair of ilium projections of the person, the ilium projections being projected rearward when the person is seated on the seat surface of the seat member. The seat surface has a pair of accommodating recesses for ischiums, which accommodates therein a pair of ischium projected portions of the person, the ischium projected portions being projected downward.

Abstract: A device for retaining a person's seated position is provided as seats for vehicles, for example. The device has a seat member and an upper body support member. The seat member has a seat surface on which a person is seated. The seat surface has a pair of reference ridges each of which is fit to a recess between a biceps femoris muscle and a semimembranosus muscle of each of thighs of the person. The upper body support member has an upper body support surface that supports an upper body back of the person. Various types of ridges are provided on the upper body support surfaces for stabilizing the upper body of the person seated on the seat.

Abstract: A seating element has an archable element with a first side to face an occupant of a seat when the seating element is installed in a seat and a second side opposite of the first side. A pneumatic arching element is arranged at the second side of the archable element.

Abstract: A massage chair includes a seat, a backrest and a front cover. The front cover is shaped to cover the front face of the backrest and the top face of the seat. The upper and lower ends of the front cover are detachably attached to the upper part of the backrest and the front part of the seat through upper and lower attachments, respectively. The left and right ends of the front cover are detachably attached only to the left and right ends of the seat through left and right attachments, respectively. The attachment positions of the left and right ends of the front cover correspond to positions of the left and right ends of the seat, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the hardness and geometry of seating elements of a motor vehicle seat, in particular for adjusting the curvature and/or width of side bolsters of a seat bottom or a backrest, of an upper rest part of a divided backrest, a lumber support or thigh rest of a seat bottom having supporting wings, the position of which can be changed by way of pivotable actuating elements is provided. The actuating elements are part of an adjustment module for adjusting the seating element, said module comprising a carrying element which can be connected to the seating element and on which the actuating element is pivotably mounted and can be adjusted along a control curve by means of a spindle drive connected to the carrying element.

Abstract: A chair or a seat, in particular a seat for motor vehicles, includes an ergonomic device for supporting the body of the occupant, comprising a supporting panel having supporting laths, set at a distance from one another, which can be arched towards the body of the occupant, each independently of the others, by a respective actuator, which includes an actuator element constituted by a shape-memory material, which undergoes a reduction in length following upon heating above a predetermined transition temperature, higher than ambient temperature. Associated to the panel are electrical-supply means for supply of the shape-memory actuators and electronic control means for activating the laths independently and/or in succession according to any predetermined logic, in particular according to successive waves of activation, for example from above downwards, or from below upwards, or alternately from above and from below, so as to obtain a massaging effect.

Abstract: A backrest for a vehicle seat includes a backrest frame, which is surrounded by a cover and has an upper backrest with an adjustable inclination. An additional frame is hinged so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis to a side plate, the cover, or the backrest frame. The pivot axis is arranged in an upper region of the backrest, and the additional frame extends upwards from the pivot axis in the installed position of the backrest. The additional frame can be secured in different angular positions in relation to the backrest frame, and, thus, a variable gap forms between the additional cover of the additional frame and the cover of the backrest frame.

Abstract: A seating element has an archable element with a first side to face an occupant of a seat when the seating element is installed in a seat and a second side opposite of the first side. A pneumatic arching element is arranged at the second side of the archable element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and processing method for drying lumber, for example two-by-four studs in an environment in a kiln in a manner to avoid warping, including crook, bow, cup and twist. The lumber pieces are stacked in a normal manner with stickers for providing air flow between courses of the lumber pieces, and the stack is dried while a horizontal force is provided to the respective courses of lumber in the stack to hold the individual pieces of lumber in edge to edge contact throughout the drying, equalizing, conditioning and cooling process for first drying of lumber, redrying of lumber or in a treatment process for removing warp from previously dried lumber. A vertical force comprising a weight or other force generating device can be also applied to the stack of lumber to augment the overall reduction in warpage if so evidenced.

Abstract: The present invention is a lumbar and bolster support for a seat, especially for an automotive second row seat or a chair back rest. The lumbar and bolster support has a lumbar support member adjustable between a retracted position and an extended position, and a first bolster member and a second bolster member adjustable between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: An occupant lumbar support system includes a flexible lumbar support member having homogenously connected first and second connection braces. The lumbar support member is deflectable to a plurality of lumbar support positions. A rigid displacement rod is connected at a first rod end to one of the connection braces. A lumbar member actuation mechanism has a rotatable first actuation arm receiving a second displacement rod end. The actuation member translates the displacement rod causing the first and second connection braces to move toward each other, deflecting the lumbar support member to any of the lumbar support positions. A cable is connected at a first end to an actuation mechanism second actuation arm and at a second end to a displaceable lever manually movable to co-rotate the first and second actuation arms and translate the displacement rod.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a lower seat cushion and a seatback. The vehicle seat includes a pivot point that is configured for rotating generally horizontally from an inboard position to an outboard position. An extended seat track may extend within an interior of the vehicle between a front row and a rear row. The vehicle seat is movably attached to the extended seat track and is configured to move along the extended seat track between the front row and the rear row. The vehicle seat may also be configured to provide individualized comfort to the user. The lower seat cushion and the seatback each include a surface. A controller is configured to actuate the lower seat and the seatback to selectively change a contour of the respective surface to match contours of the user.

Abstract: A system of controlling various actuators associated with human support surfaces is disclosed. Such a system is made up of a support surface, a controller, and an actuator. The system may optionally include batteries, a means of charging the batteries, and a graphical user interface as well as a communication link between the graphical user interface and the support surfaces. The actuators are capable of altering contour and/or firmness, of a support surface, they may be vibrational or heating/cooling in nature, and they may also alter the overall relative position of a support surface.

Abstract: An self adjusting back support assembly for a seat is provided comprising a plurality of pivotally adjustable back support members juxtaposed one another such that each of said back support members is able to pivot about an axis contained wholly within an adjacent back support member allowing the back support assembly to adopt a serpentine contour substantially following a contour of an occupant's back.

Abstract: A manipulable lumbar support adapted for use with a seat upright defining a first surface condition, includes a structure disposed within the upright and presenting a first configuration, and an actuator employing an active material element configured to cause the structure to achieve a second configuration when activated.

Abstract: A pneumatic lordosis support (1) consists of a cushion (3), which is integrated into the backrest (2) of a seat. Laterally of a vertical center line (7), the cushion encompasses horizontal connections (8) between a front side and a rear side of the cushion (3). The cushion (3) is composed of an air-tight flexible membrane. In the region of the vertical center line (7), the connections (8) encompass breaks. Vertically offset to the connections (8), the cushion (3) encompasses further central horizontal connections (10), which extend substantially across the region of the breaks in the connection (8). In the region where connections (8) and central connections (10) are located close to one another, reduced radii of the membrane lead to the occurrence of less stress than in the remaining cushions (3) and allow the spine of a user to dip into the cushion (3) more softly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thin profile adjustable lumbar support system, particularly for use in automotive seat backs and other equipment used for sitting and reclining. The lumbar support system is assembled utilizing injection molding and overmolding technology to form some components and connect other components.

Abstract: A vehicle seat device includes a seat cushion frame and a seatback frame including a lower-side frame supported at a lower end portion thereof to be tiltable relative to a rear end portion of the seat cushion frame, an upper-side frame arranged at an upper portion of the lower-side frame, and a center bending mechanism coupling the lower-side frame and the upper-side frame to be bendable forward, wherein the center bending mechanism bends the upper-side frame about a rotational center that is ahead of a seatback outer layer covering a front surface of the seatback frame. The movement of the upper-side frame when tilted comes close to the movement of the passenger who bends forward. The slip between the seatback outer layer and the back of the passenger can be minimized, and thus, it becomes possible to lessen an uncomfortable feeling of a passenger.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a seat adjusting method and a seat adjusting system capable of actively adjusting a user's sitting posture and comfort according to the body weight of different users. Stress sensors are provided for detecting a stress distribution situation of a seat support surface. Airbags are buried into the support surface for actively changing the level of the support surface in order to increase a contact area between the support surface and the user, and the stress distribution situation can be matched with an expected ratio to provide the best ergonomic support effect to users.