Bottom Or Back With Means To Alter Contour Patents (Class 297/284.1)
  • Patent number: 7401855
    Abstract: A seat with a backrest and sitting surface, in particular for motor vehicles, wherein the backrest comprises a backrest frame and, disposed between it, elements forming an S-shaped backrest with a shoulder area that can be reconfigured in the forwards and backwards directions, and a lumbar spine area that can be reconfigured in the forwards and backwards directions, wherein the elements are swivel-mounted to rotate about an imaginary or real axis extending horizontally between the shoulder and lumbar spine areas and running through the backrest frame or parallel with it in such a way that, without changing an existing inclination setting of the backrest relative to the sitting surface, a reconfiguration of the lumbar area and/or the shoulder area in the forwards direction can be made automatically by reconfiguring the shoulder area and/or the lumbar area in the backwards direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Josef Kohl, Hermann Meiller
  • Publication number: 20080100110
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventor: Su Hwan Hwang
  • Patent number: 7360836
    Abstract: Seat inlay in the form of an elastic grid (10;64) having at least two longitudinal bars (14) which are connected by cross bars (16,18) and have hangers (20) for suspending the inlay in a frame of a seat, and the cross bars (16,18) are made of plastic and are molded to the longitudinal bars (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Inventors: Jörg Schwarzbich, Hermann W. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 7354107
    Abstract: A vehicle seat with a backrest and a seat part. The backrest includes a backrest frame and S-shaped rod elements arranged therebetween so as to form an S-shaped backrest having a shoulder region which can be deformed in the forward and backward direction and a lumbar spine region which can be deformed in the forward and backward direction. The rod elements, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the backrest, are pivotably mounted by their lower and upper ends on the backrest frame such that they can be pivoted about an imaginary axis which extends in the longitudinal direction of the backrest. The rod elements are mounted on the backrest frame such that they can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Josef Kohl, Christian Erker
  • Patent number: 7350869
    Abstract: A chair (1), including a seat (5), wherein the seat (5) includes a barrier zone (10) dividing said seat (5) into a front seat portion (15) and a rear seat portion (20), said rear seat portion (20) being of a material more easily deformed than said barrier zone (10), such that in use, movement of the user's buttocks from said rear seat portion (20) towards said front seat portion (15) urges the rear seat portion (20) towards said barrier zone (10), deforming said rear seat portion (20) and inhibiting said buttocks from moving towards said front seat portion (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventor: Jennifer Anne Davidson
  • Patent number: 7350863
    Abstract: Work chair, comprising a seat, supported in a height-adjustable manner by a column on a foot, and an adjustable backrest, the seat, at least in part, having a substantially horizontal position, and the backrest promoting an upright position of the user's back, characterized in that the column (3) is composed of three parts (4, 5, 6) and as a result provides a two-stage adjustability for the seat height, in that the seat is divided into two parts (7, 8), in such a manner that a rear section (7) is fixed and always retains the substantially horizontal position, while a front section (8) is hinged with respect to the rear section, and in that the front section (8) is secured to the column (3) in a hinged manner (11) by a rod (9) secured to it in a hinged manner (10). The chair can be dimensioned in such a way that it allows an ergonomic working position to be adopted by virtually all users, irrespective of their corporal size, with the possibility of increasing the size of the workstation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventors: Paul Arthur Engels, Joannes Henricus Maria de Kroon, Gaston Lionel van Amerongen
  • Publication number: 20080012410
    Abstract: A sofa of the present invention mainly contains a built-up seat frame which can be easily assembled and disassembled, an inflatable seat cushion positioned horizontally on the seat frame, and an inflatable backrest positioned vertically at a side of the seat cushion. The seat cushion and the backrest are basically air bags with air faucets. A user can pump air into or release air from the air bags for an appropriate degree of softness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventor: Min-Rong Chang
  • Patent number: 7311358
    Abstract: A seat back cushion support presenting device for use in a foldable vehicle seat moves a cushion support member from a position within the seat back frame to a position extended from the seat back frame such that the entire cushion is presented. A pair of presenting members, each including a side bolster support portion, are provided in overlapping arrangement for translation along a presenting device support member and rotation with respect to a cushion support member such that as an activation member moves the presenting members together, the cushion support member is extended along with the side bolster support portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Brennon White, Renato Colja, Robert McMillen, Alan J. King, Barry Jones, Danny D. Alexander, Vanja Cemalovic, Robert Coon, Elliott Hsu
  • Patent number: 7309104
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat fabric, wherein at least a portion of the seat fabric comprises a yarn comprising a shape memory polymer adapted to undergo a change in a modulus of elasticity at a thermal transition temperature; a support material upon which the seat fabric is disposed; and a controller in operative communication with the shape memory polymer, wherein the controller is operable to selectively apply a thermal activation signal to the shape memory polymer to effect a change in the modulus of elasticity of the shape memory polymer, wherein the change in the modulus of elasticity of the shape memory polymer results in a change in a stiffness and/or flexibility of the seat fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20070222263
    Abstract: Vehicle seat has a seat portion and a backrest that includes side wings foldable forwardly onto the seat portion around a backrest swiveling axis to provide a materially horizontal loading area in a cargo position. Adjustment device for flatting the contour of the side wings when the backrest is folded forward onto the seat portion is provided in the side wings. In each side wing, a wing device determines the contour of the side wing with the device swiveling in a longitudinal direction on the backrest frame via a lever mechanism. Backrest can be locked and released when in the use position. A prestressed tension device is connected to the lever mechanism. The tension device exerts tension on the lever mechanism when the backrest is folded forward causing the wing device to swing horizontally inward in the direction of the backrest frame to flatten the contour of the side wings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventor: Dominik Szczudrawa
  • Patent number: 7273252
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a base frame supported on a base, a seat cushion provided on the base frame, and a seat back, wherein the seat back is structured so that a plurality of seat back pieces are arranged in the up-and-down direction with a predetermined space; and the base frame or a lowermost seat back piece is attached with an attachment member that stands so as to be elastically deformed and be able to be twisted around an axis, and the plurality of seat back pieces are attached to the attachment member, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignees: TS Tech Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iijima, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7252335
    Abstract: This invention is a lumbar support device with a pair of side rails, a plurality of transverse wires and a pair of cross-bars extending between the pair of side rails. The lumbar support device is designed for a seat back of a vehicle seat to support an occupant's lumbar region. The invention is designed to include an actuator assembly for changing the contour of the lumbar support device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Maxime Arthur Maurice Samain, Maarten Vanparys
  • Patent number: 7226127
    Abstract: A “task” chair intended primarily for a person working at a computer terminal has a back provided with a pair of upright struts that incorporate respective parallelogram linkages operative to increase the curvature of the lumbar region of the seat back while at least substantially maintaining the contour of the upper region of the backrest when a person leans back in the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: TK Canada Limited
    Inventors: Vladimir Yevko, Eugene Eliseev, Wolfgang Deisig
  • Patent number: 7201446
    Abstract: An adjustable lumbar support (10) adapted to be easily integrated into new or existing seat structures. Adjustable lumbar support (10) includes a floating plate (15) supported by a support linkage. In one embodiment, the support linkage is defined by a cable member (21) and first and second spring members (25) and (26) which engage the seat frame. In an alternate embodiment, the support linkage is defined by first and second spring members 25 engaged with first and second linkage members (52), respectively, and includes a rotary power mechanism (50) for applying a rotating motion to a shaft (54) threadably engaged with first and second linkage members (52). The degree of support provided by floating plate (15) is adjusted by adjusting the effective length of the support linkage. Lumbar support mechanism (10) can be mounted in a state of the art seat back alone or in conjunction with an integral trim attachment array (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Alfmeier Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Massara, Brandon Vogt
  • Patent number: 7152920
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back, a seat cushion, and a system for facilitating relieving of fatigue of a person sitting on the vehicle seat for many hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Sugiyama, Isao Kawashima, Yasuchika Takei
  • Patent number: 7147282
    Abstract: A backrest depth adjustment mechanism which allows adjustment of the backrest assembly in a front-to-back manner with respect to the seat. The backrest assembly generally includes a backrest frame supporting the backrest. The backrest frame includes opposite end portions, and at least one of the end portions includes a backrest depth adjustment mechanism. The backrest depth adjustment mechanism includes a stationary portion and a movable portion, wherein the movable portion is movable with respect to the stationary portion. An actuator mechanism allows the user to actuate the backrest depth adjustment mechanism to move the backrest to a desired depth position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Kimball International, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Hatcher, Michael L. Deimen
  • Patent number: 7140680
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Robert J. McMillen, Robert Renato Colja, Lukic Zeljko
  • Patent number: 7137664
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Robert J. McMillen, Robert Renato Colja, Lukic Zeljko
  • Patent number: 7125077
    Abstract: An active bolster adjustment apparatus for use in vehicle seats includes a mounting plate connected with the vehicle seat. An adjustable bolster slider is in sliding communication with the mounting plate, and has an adjustment arm and a pressure surface. A drive unit having an actuator and a gear set and the gear set is in direct communication with the adjustable bolster slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Richard Frank
  • Patent number: 7118176
    Abstract: A bucket seat includes a support surface (14), curved shaped members (1) for supporting the support surface (14), receiving members (2) for receiving respective shaped members (1) and extending in a same direction as the shaped members (1), and an arrangement for rotating the shaped members (1) and the receiving members (2) in opposite direction for changing an inclination of the support surface (14), with an alignment of respective shaped members (1) and the receiving members (2) being maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignees: Grammer AG
    Inventor: Christian Erker
  • Patent number: 7113100
    Abstract: A vehicle tiredness alleviating system provided with at least one of a vehicle air-conditioning system for controlling a temperature in a passenger compartment, a seat heating system for heating the surface of a seat, and a seat vibration system for repeatedly vibrating a seat for a predetermined time, further provided with a means for judging the tiredness degree of a passenger seated on a seat in the passenger compartment and a means for performing at least one of temperature control of the vehicle air-conditioning system, temperature control of the seat heating system, and control of the vibration strength or vibration time of the seat vibration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Yoshinori, Tsuyoshi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7083231
    Abstract: Arching mechanism, for instance for backrests of seats, medical or orthopaedic apparatus or casings and the like, with a pressure element wherein at least one traction element connected with a tensioning mechanism engages, which, when the mechanism is actuated can produce bulging by preserving a relative elevation of apex of the convexity; the arching mechanism can comprise a frame with inserted pressure elements actuatable by adjusting device(s), whereby frame segments are length-variable pressure elements; traction elements provided with tensioning mechanism can engage a slitted, overlapping or bellows-like bulging body for the opening and closing of these areas, which produces a curving of the bulging body in a predetermined direction or directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: L & Property Management Company
    Inventors: Wilhelm Schuster, Sr., Wilhelm Schuster, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7063383
    Abstract: A sliding assembly of a dynamic mechanism of a massage chair is used in a massage chair. The massage chair has a dynamic mechanism and a sliding unit. The sliding unit is movable between two tracks; each track having a first lateral plate and a second lateral plate. At least one of wheel units installed at a periphery of the sliding unit. Each wheel unit includes a first wheel, a second wheel and one elastic element. The elastic element resists one wheel outwards so that the first wheel and second wheel resist against inner sides of the two lateral plates of one respective track. Thus, since the sliding unit has wheels which are tightly resist against the lateral plates of moving tracks, no noise is generated as the dynamic mechanism of the massage chair moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Inventor: Shang Neng Wu
  • Patent number: 7040703
    Abstract: Healthy task seating is achieved by integrating three dynamics into a unique, dynamically balanced chair design that provides: (a) adaptable design features to accommodate a wide range of body dimensions, (b) a series of independent and adjustable support means to accommodate a wide range of tasks, and (c) means for promoting active seating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Garrex LLC
    Inventor: Gary L. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 7011369
    Abstract: An adjustable lumbar support (10) adapted to be integrated into new or existing seat structures. Adjustable lumbar support (10) includes a floating plate (15) supported by a support linkage. In one embodiment, the support linkage is defined by first and second spring members (25) and (26) which engage the seat frame. In an alternate embodiment, the support linkage is defined by first and second spring members (25) and (26) engaged with first and second linkage members (52), respectively, and includes a rotary power mechanism (50) for applying a rotating motion to a shaft (54) threadably engaged with first and second linkage members (52). The degree of support provided by floating plate (15) is adjusted by adjusting the effective length of the support linkage. Lumbar support mechanism (10) can be mounted in a seat back alone or in conjunction with an integral trim attachment array (70). Trim attachment array (70) is adapted to replace the trim wires molded into the cushion foam of a standard seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Alfmeier Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Massara, Brandon R. Vogt
  • Patent number: 7000986
    Abstract: A lumbar support apparatus includes a guide rail on a seat frame, and a bendable occupant support structure mounted for sliding movement on the guide rail. The bendable structure, which is preferably configured as a grid, includes a spring that imparts increasingly bowed contours to the grid upon increasingly arched deflection of the spring relative to the seat frame and the guide rail. The apparatus further includes an actuator, a cable, and a fastener. A first section of the cable extends from the actuator into engagement with the grid so as to apply a bending force to the grid under the influence of the actuator. A second section of the cable extends from the first section to an end portion of the cable that is anchored to the seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Ficosa North America
    Inventors: Antonio Cruz Fernandes de Pinho, Miguel Moutinho de Faria
  • Patent number: 6986549
    Abstract: A seating element is provided, comprising a skeleton having a skin and a plurality of ribs pivotably connected with said skin. The skin forms a substantially flexible support area, which is adapted to support a seating force exerted by a body, e.g. a human sitting or lying on the seating element. The skeleton is configured in such a way that it cooperates to at least partially deform the support area in a direction opposite to the direction of the seating force as a result of the seating force. As a result a comfortable and ergonomic seating posture is obtained. The seating element with skeleton automatically counteracts all movements of the body, thus supporting the body in an optimum way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Inventor: Leif Kniese
  • Patent number: 6981742
    Abstract: A cushion includes a flexible curved main body having a first end formed with a fixed portion and a second end formed with a movable portion, and an elastic mechanism mounted on the main body and biased between the fixed portion and the movable portion of the main body. Thus, the elastic mechanism is stretched by the movable portion of the main body to mate with variation of the curvature of the main body, so that when the main body is pressed and deformed by the user's weight, the main body has a greater elastic action, and the curvature of the main body is changed automatically by the elastic force of the elastic mechanism so as to fit users of different statures and weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Chen Hsing Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-Long Hsiao
  • Patent number: 6945601
    Abstract: A multi-stage backrest assembly for a chair includes a support frame, a back support mounted on the support frame, a head support mounted on the support frame, and a waist support pivotally mounted on the back support. Thus, the backrest assembly has a pivotable function so as to fit the curve of the user's body ergonomically, thereby providing a comfortable effect to the user. In addition, the locking tube of the crossbar of the back support is adjustably mounted on the respective support rod of the support frame, so that the back support is adjustably mounted on the support frame to adjust the height of the back support so as to fit users of different statures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Inventor: Yao-Chuan Wu
  • Patent number: 6926367
    Abstract: A car seat is provided with a detector for detecting whether a seat belt is buckled or unbuckled and a deformation mechanism for partial deformation of the car seat. The partial deformation is held when an ignition switch of a car engine is switched on and the detector detects the seat belt is unbuckled. The partial deformation is canceled when the detector detects the seat belt is buckled. The deformation mechanism displaces at least one element out of a headrest, a seatback and a seat cushion of the car seat so as to partially deform the car seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Tomimatsu
  • Patent number: 6918146
    Abstract: The present invention provides an adjustable seat cushion for furniture that can be customized to an individual level of comfort by the user of the furniture. The adjustable seat cushion has an auxiliary support member that can be inserted into or removed from the support member of the cushion. The auxiliary support members come in a variety of firmnesses so that a desired level of comfort or firmness for the adjustable seat cushion can be achieved by selecting the appropriate auxiliary support member. The cushion can come with a piece of furniture as part of a kit that includes a group of auxiliary support members of varying firmnesses for each adjustable seat cushion on the piece of furniture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: England, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney England
  • Patent number: 6910736
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat or seat back comprising of seat elements which are arranged to resiliently move with respect to each other and arranged to move with respect to a central axis, running centrally through the seat or seat back parallel to the spine of the occupant in a normally seated position, the first and second seat elements moving in opposite directions on either side of the central axis. The seat elements may rotate and are subject to a restoring force urging them to return them to their rest positions such that the user is able to move in a twisting position and the seat back or seat will also twist with the twisting movement of the user and provide support in the newly adopted position of the user. The seat elements could be formed from a single piece of resilient material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Factory Design Limited
    Inventor: Adam White
  • Patent number: 6905170
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: L & P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Robert J. McMillen, Robert Renato Colja, Lukic Zeljko
  • Patent number: 6901617
    Abstract: A multi-layer cushion having a shaped base on which is positioned a resilient, cushioning layer. The shaped base is constructed from a supportive foam and has front and lateral bolsters. The cushioning layer is an inflatable air cell cushion having a flexible base and an array of individual air cells arranged in rows across the flexible base. Rows of cells around the perimeter of the air cell cushion are configured to provide comfortable transition areas between the bolsters and the air cell cushion. The cushion includes a cover that has a lower compartment for the foam base and an upper compartment for the air cell layer. The cover functions to keep the air cell layer in place on the foam layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Roho, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Eric Sprouse, II, David Kenneth Parsons
  • Patent number: 6893089
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Robert McMillen, Edward J. L. Meszaros
  • Patent number: 6883867
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Schukra Geratebau AG
    Inventor: Knud Klingler
  • Patent number: 6877816
    Abstract: An adjustment device for beds, mattresses, seats and the like, which adjustment device includes several support elements extending across an adjustment direction and together spanning a support plane and at least one drive device for pivoting of support elements relative to each other for the purpose of a slope or trend change of the support plane. The support elements are provided with at least one mounting element extending across the support plane. Each mounting element is provided with a pivot joint in its first end region. Spacer devices are provided to maintain the spacing of adjacent mounting elements relative to each other in the region of the pivot joint. Spacing adjusters to change the spacing of adjacent mounting elements are provided on the region of the second ends of the mounting element opposite the pivot joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Westmont Technik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rolf Farmont
  • Patent number: 6860559
    Abstract: Arching mechanism, for instance for backrests of seats, medical or orthopaedic apparatus or casings and the like, with a pressure element wherein at least one traction element connected with a tensioning mechanism engages, which, when the mechanism is actuated can produce bulging by preserving a relative elevation of apex of the convexity; the arching mechanism can comprise a frame with inserted pressure elements actuatable by adjusting device(s), whereby frame segments are length-variable pressure elements; traction elements provided with tensioning mechanism can engage a slitted, overlapping or bellows-like bulging body for the opening and closing of these areas, which produces a curving of the bulging body in a predetermined direction or directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: L & P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Wilhelm Schuster, Sr., Wilhelm Schuster, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6848744
    Abstract: A chair back comprises a back frame, a movable back support, and a contouring assembly. The back frame includes a portion rearward of the back support. The contouring assembly is coupled to the back support and the portion of the back frame. The contouring assembly pulls the back support toward the portion of the back frame. The present invention is also directed to a chair including such a chair back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Paoli, Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Raftery, John H. Heyder
  • Publication number: 20040251723
    Abstract: A seat position detection device includes a detection means for detecting physical relationship between a stationary rail supported by a vehicle body and a movable rail rigidly connecting a seat and sliding along the stationary rail wherein the detection means includes a magnetic body provided at one of the stationary rail and the movable rail and a magnetic sensor provided at the other of the stationary rail and the movable rail, and the magnetic body is arranged at an entire length of a specified region in sliding direction of the movable rail, and a magnetic pole thereof is directed perpendicular to the slide direction, and the magnetic sensor outputs a signal in response to magnetism from the magnetic body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Hirofumi Endo, Takashi Suzuki, Satoru Tagawa, Keiji Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20040245824
    Abstract: A lumbar support to be installed in a seat has an apex that varies vertically along a guide rail. The said guide rail has an upper stop and a lower stop. A bowing element disposed on the guide rail travels in a substantially vertical plane. A first bowden cable draws an upper portion of the bowing element downward until a lower portion of the bowing element is in abutment with the lower stop such that a low convexity is formed in the bowing element as the bowden cable continues to draw the upper portion of said bowing element further towards said lower stop. A second bowden cable draws a lower portion of the bowing element upward until the upper portion of the bowing element is in abutment with the upper stop and such that a high convexity is formed in the bowing element as the bowing element continues to draw said lower portion of the bowing element further towards the upper stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: L & P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Robert J. McMillen
  • Patent number: 6820933
    Abstract: A spine support is provided in particular for the use in a seat of a vehicle with at least one bending element (20) and at least two independent operating elements (41a, 42a, 41b, 42b) to bend the bending element (20), wherein the first operating element (41a, 42a) engages a first part of the bending element (20) to cause first curvature of the spine support and the second bending element (41b, 42b) engages a second part of the bending element (20) to cause a second curvature of the spine support so that the overall curved shape of the spine support is a superposition of the first and second curvature. According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a spine support, in particular for the use in the seat of a vehicle with at least one bending element (20) and at least one supporting element (30′), wherein the at least one supporting element (30′) is flexibly attached to the at least one bending element (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Fico Cables, LDA
    Inventor: Manuel Fernando Braga Fereira Da Silva
  • Patent number: 6811218
    Abstract: A task chair including a seat support structure, and a seat supported by the seat support structure and having a seating surface which may ergonomically conform to a seated user. The seating surface includes rigid and flexible portions connected to one another, the flexible portions allowing resilient flexing of the seating surface to create conformance zones which dynamically support a seated user in an ergonomic manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Kimball International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Deimen, Derek Schweikarth, Stephen D. Hatcher, Joseph G. Hasenour
  • Publication number: 20040183348
    Abstract: A seating element is provided, comprising a skeleton having a skin and a plurality of ribs pivotably connected with said skin. The skin forms a substantially flexible support area, which is adapted to support a seating force exerted by a body, e.g. a human sitting or lying on the seating element. The skeleton is configured in such a way that it cooperates to at least partially deform the support area in a direction opposite to the direction of the seating force as a result of the seating force. As a result a comfortable and ergonomic seating posture is obtained. The seating element with skeleton automatically counteracts all movements of the body, thus supporting the body in an optimum way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventor: Leif Kniese
  • Patent number: 6782573
    Abstract: A sequentially or serial inflating seat cushion comprising at least three transversely aligned inflatable air bladders connected to a pump and timer. The air bladders are inflated sequentially, from front to back, over a period of approximately eleven seconds and simultaneously deflated to slowly pump blood upward in the legs thereby reducing blood pooling. Connected to the pump is a valve that keeps the air bladders inflated a selective amount of time. The cycle is then repeated continuously. Located adjacent to the back air bladder is a transversely aligned, non-inflating seat section which continuously supports the user's ischial tuberocities to prevent slippage over the seat. An alternate embodiment offers a split seat option with six inflatable bladders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Ib R. Odderson
  • Patent number: 6767060
    Abstract: An article of furniture includes a support having a support surface. A plurality of air bladders are mounted relative to the support surface, each air bladder having expandable foam therein. At least one fluid line fluidly couples the air bladders together. A single valve is fluidly coupled with the at least one fluid line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Pent Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond E. Craft, Randall L. Bixler
  • Patent number: 6758522
    Abstract: A flexible back support for use in seats such as automobile seats or office chairs, includes a central body portion with outwardly extending support fingers such that an arch having a variable apex is formed when the back support is subtended longitudinally. The longitudinal location of an apex and the shape of the arch formed on the back support changes responsively to a load imposed by a person's back. Noise, galling, wear and rough movement between moving parts of the flexible back support are reduced by the coefficient of friction reduction method of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: James T. Ligon, Sr., Stephen T. Porter, James T. Ligon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6755467
    Abstract: A backrest for use with a chair includes a support structure. The support structure has a rigid outer rim and flexible inner back support section. The support section consist of a number of generally parallel slats (vertically extending members) which seperately support parallel longitudinal sections of the person's back. Each slat produces a force against the person's back responsive to the weight placed on the slat by the person's back. As the person shifts positions, each slat moves to dynamically provide an increased or decreased force against the person's back, depending on whether the person is applying an increased or decreased force against the slat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Global Total Office
    Inventor: Zooey Chu
  • Publication number: 20040051357
    Abstract: Disclosed is a seat for snowmobile, personal watercraft or all terrain vehicle, which is filled of synthetic foam and extends horizontally over a given length and on which the user of the vehicle may seat astride. The seat is provided with a cavity that extends horizontally over at least one part of its length. The cavity is filled with an inflated inner tube that acts as an additional suspension for the user. The presence of this inner tube gives additional suspension effect and solves most of the problems of density and performance losses that are usually encountered when the seat is only filled up with synthetic foam. Preferably, the cavity provided within the seat has a length greater than the one of the inner tube so as to give extra space and thus allows the inner tube to expand in the case of an impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Gaston Houle, Mario Houle
  • Patent number: 6679557
    Abstract: An article of furniture includes a support having a support surface. A plurality of air bladders are positioned relative to the support surface, each air bladder having expandable foam therein. At least one fluid line fluidly couples the air bladders together. A single valve is fluidly coupled with the at least one fluid line. A contoured cushion has an inner contoured portion generally conforming to said plurality of air bladders. The plurality of air bladders are mounted between the support surface and the contoured cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Pent Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond E. Craft, Randall L. Bixler