Having Adjustment Means For Seat Surface Tension Patents (Class 297/284.2)
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Patent number: 7637569Abstract: A device for guiding air for air conditioning a body support device, that may include a carrier layer including a contact surface and a opposing surface; a heating conductor disposed upon the contact surface; an air guiding layer including an air-impermeable wall, wherein the air guiding layer is disposed on the opposing surface of the carrier layer; an air-feeding device connectively disposed to the air guiding layer or the air-impermeable wall; and at least one adjusting device including a bladder with a bladder wall, wherein at least a portion of the bladder wall is formed by the air-impermeable wall of the air guiding layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2006Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems AGInventors: Martin Krobok, Markus Köpferr
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Patent number: 7614694Abstract: The invention to a seat, in particular an aircraft passenger seat, comprising seat components such as a seat (10) and a backrest (12), in addition to at least one cover part (20), which is pre-tensioned in at least one direction and at least one section and which extends between frame parts (24) of an allocated seat component. As the seat is provided with at least one controllable adjusting unit (26), which permits the specification of different pre-tensions for the respective cover part (20) within a predefinable range and in a reversible manner, the respective seat user, who occupies the seat can adapt the seat to his or her comfort and health requirements.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2006Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: RECARO Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Oliver Forgatsch, Andreas Erb
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Patent number: 7594701Abstract: Aircrafts troop seating is lightweight and minimizes protruding features on which gear might snag. High strength webbing straps are added to a light weight seat fabric to add strength where strength is required, thus reducing the overall weight. The webbing is of a type used for seatbelts and meets fire regardant requirements. Seat belt style tension adjusters allow adjustment of the seating stretch to improve comfort and crash protection. Internal hardware attachment points are provided to reduce protruding features.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2005Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Conax Florida CorporationInventors: Eric Kawabata, Charlie VanDruff, Michael Duran
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Patent number: 7575278Abstract: A seat back for a vehicular seat has a plate member for supporting a back of a pad and an elastic support mechanism for holding the plate member for moving the plate member in a forward and backward direction. The plate member includes a thoracic vertebra avoiding portion having at least one of a hole and a recessed portion recessed in a direction away from the thoracic vertebrae of a user, so as to avoid a pushing force to the thoracic vertebrae. In addition the thoracic vertebra avoiding portion is vertically elongated at a substantially widthwise center position of the plate member and has a width of 40 to 100 mm.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2007Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Boshoku America, IncInventors: Dan Wissner, Mike Hard, Doug Krueger, Katsuhito Yamauchi, Yukihide Hamajima, Satoshi Nonoyama, Tomoki Nii
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Patent number: 7556317Abstract: A furniture construction and a method of placing a section of fabric in tension on the furniture construction includes providing a pair of rigid members each having a slot extending along one side. A rigid edge portion is provided on opposite sides of the section of fabric. Each rigid edge portion is then inserted into the slot of each rigid member such that the fabric overlies an adjacent side surface of each rigid member. The rigid members are then moved in opposing directions thereby place the fabric in tension. The edge portion of the fabric is sufficiently rigid to retain the fabric within the slot and thereby retain the fabric in tension. The rigid members are then secured to the furniture construction.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2004Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Homecrest Outdoor Living LLCInventor: Donald L. Bottemiller
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Publication number: 20090115234Abstract: A support assembly having a first support region with adjustable degree of support and a second support region with adjustable degree of support for use in a seat structure is provided. The support assembly comprises a support member for incorporation into a seat frame, a first adjustment arrangement for adjusting the degree of support in the first support region, and a second adjustment arrangement for adjusting the degree of support in the second support region. The support assembly further comprises an actuator coupled to the first adjustment arrangement and to the second adjustment arrangement), the actuator being configured to simultaneously act on the first adjustment arrangement and on the second adjustment arrangement in opposite directions.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2007Publication date: May 7, 2009Applicant: L&P SWISS HOLDING COMPANYInventor: Maxime Samain
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Patent number: 7517024Abstract: An arrangement for enabling post-assembly tension adjustment in an elastomeric material application. The arrangement can have a frame structure and a panel of elastomeric material, such as elastomeric mesh, retained to span from a first side to a second side of the frame structure in tension. A tension adjustment assembly enables a post-assembly, selective deflection of the panel of elastomeric material and thus the tension in the panel of elastomeric material. The tension adjustment assembly can, for example, employ a selectively inflatable bladder, an extension and retraction arrangement with a biasing portion, a pivoting member, a laterally slidable member, a roller with a non-concentric pivot axis a deflection member with a tip portion disposed to an outer surface side of the panel of elastomeric material, or a deflection member slidable on an inclined surface in relation to the panel of elastomeric material.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2007Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Inventor: Sava Cvek
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Patent number: 7494182Abstract: A furniture seating support system includes furniture support structure and a frame having tubular elements connected to the support structure. First and second tubular elements are positioned parallel to each other. A tubular cross member is connected to the frame between the first and second elements. A pair of pivoting joints each connect first element ends to the support structure, permitting first element rotation. Elastically flexible support straps with elastomeric elements are connected to the first and second elements to support an occupant. The cross member position is adjustable to vary strap stiffness. A furniture member cavity is accessible by raising the first element.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2005Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: West & Knowles Design & Engineering, L.L.C.Inventors: David J Westendorf, Kevin J Knowles
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Patent number: 7481493Abstract: To promote bloodstream and reduce fatigue, a seat structure makes a slight sitting posture change by adding a minute body motion with no necessity of moving a cushion frame or a seat frame although it realizes a supporting pressure change at a wide area, not locally, in a seat cushion or a seat back. The seat structure includes a cushioning member for a seat cushion stretched across the cushion frame, and a cushioning member for a seat back stretched across the back frame. The seat structure includes: a lower cloth spring of a seat cushion or a cloth spring of a seat back stretched across the cushion frame or the back frame via a torsion bar; and a cloth spring adjusting member to change a supporting pressure by both cushioning members by adjusting tension of the lower cloth spring or the cloth spring.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2004Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Corporation, Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Atsuki Sasaki, Takeshi Nishiura
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Publication number: 20080303326Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a frame, a flexible cover, and a material that is sufficiently mounted with respect to the flexible cover such that the material resists displacement of at least part of the flexible cover with respect to the frame. The material is characterized by a first state in which the material is characterized by a first rigidity, and a second state in which the material is characterized by a second rigidity that is greater than the first rigidity. Thus, the firmness of the seat is selectively variable by causing the material to change between the first and second states. A corresponding method is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2007Publication date: December 11, 2008Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Daniel W. Booth, Robert L. Demick
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Patent number: 7445287Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2006Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Inventor: Kuo-Ching Chou
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Patent number: 7419215Abstract: A chair is provided having a seat with a resiliently deflectable shell defining a front portion thereof. The front shell is deflectable downwardly in response to the user. An adjustment mechanism is provided which controls the deflected position of the front shell section to provide for controlled deflection of the seat which adjusts the effected length of the seat while also providing for user responsive deflection of the seat.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2005Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: Haworth, Inc.Inventors: Larry Wilkerson, Gardner Klassen, Mark Tomandl
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Patent number: 7416256Abstract: In order to improve seating comfort and vibration absorbency, a structure including a first torsion bar unit 70 disposed in the rear of a seat cushion, and a second torsion bar unit 80 disposed in the front of the seat cushion, and a base net 60 stretched between a rear supporting frame 74 of the first torsion bar unit 70 and a front supporting frame 84 of the second torsion bar unit 80, is provided. Owing to the elastic force of a front torsion bar 81 of the second torsion bar unit 80 positioned in the front of the seat, a sense of stroke at the time of seating is enhanced. Owing to the elastic force of a rear torsion bar 71 of the first torsion bar unit 70 positioned in the rear of the seat, similarly to the conventional structure, a load of a seated person can be sufficiently received and a stable seating comfort can be obtained.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2006Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Seiji Kawasaki, Yasuhide Takata
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Patent number: 7401855Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 14, 2005Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Grammer AGInventors: Josef Kohl, Hermann Meiller
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Patent number: 7396077Abstract: A seat structure is comprised of a support frame having an elastic fabric sheet secured to the frame along opposed lateral sides of the frame and extends across a top seating portion or front part of a backrest thereof. In one embodiment of the invention one or two extensor members are displaceably positioned between the frame and the elastic fabric sheet to a permanent tensioning position where the elastic fabric sheet undergoes an upward displacement and stretching sufficient to support an intended load, herein a user person, thereon or thereagainst in a flexible suspension in the seating or backrest portion and free from contact with any hard surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2006Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: 155124 Canada Inc.Inventor: Paul Boulva
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Publication number: 20080079298Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a seatback assembly that includes a backrest comprising shapeable material and an adjustable support, the backrest being attached to the adjustable support, the adjustable support being adjustable to alter the curvature of the backrest from top to bottom and then fix the backrest in place, thus shaping the backrest.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2007Publication date: April 3, 2008Inventors: Thomas J. Whelan, James L. Christofferson
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Patent number: 7147277Abstract: A chair. The chair folds by a plurality of hinges between an expanded position and a collapsed position to seat a person substantially horizontal while the chair is positioned on an angled surface. The chair comprises a back assembly, a seat assembly, a leg assembly, a seat, an arm assembly, and a foot assembly. The chair further comprises at least one anchor that is configured to penetrate the angled surface in order to stabilize the chair on the angled surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2005Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Inventor: Greg Miller
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Patent number: 7128372Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly including a seatback frame and a lumbar support system operatively mounted to the seatback frame. The lumbar support system includes a lower suspension mechanism that is generally aligned with the pelvic and lumbar regions of the occupant of the seat assembly. The lower suspension mechanism includes a pair of bands of flexible material that are stretched about a pair of upstanding support members so as to have a predetermined tension for providing support for the occupant of the seat assembly at the pelvic and lumbar regions.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2005Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Mark Farquhar, Ken McQueen, Mladen Humer, Dale Smallwood
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Patent number: 7128371Abstract: A seat structure includes a seat frame, a three-dimensional net stretched over the seat frame, a skin material for selectively covering the three-dimensional net, and a fastener for connecting a portion of the skin material and the three-dimensional net. The fastener is selectively opened or closed to change a surface rigidity of the seat structure.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2003Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.Inventors: Seiji Kawasaki, Shusuke Takahashi
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Patent number: 7118176Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 7, 2003Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignees: Grammer AGInventor: Christian Erker
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Patent number: 7066537Abstract: A back for a chair includes fabric panel with a flexible carrier attached to the panel around its periphery. The carrier is configured to be secured along a bottom edge to a bottom portion of a chair back frame member. The carrier is also secured to two vertical frame supports at its two upper corners. Preferably, the upper carrier and frame connections are ball and socket joints. A lumbar support is provided that is easily height adjustable, by providing tension to the back frame and requires no screws or adjustment knobs in its adjustment mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2004Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.Inventors: Tim Coffield, Marcus C. Koepke, Jay R. Machael, Craig H. Schultz, Erik A. Steffensen
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Patent number: 7063383Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 18, 2004Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Inventor: Shang Neng Wu
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Patent number: 7059674Abstract: The invention includes a bicycle saddle whose seating surface is made of a stretched membrane, where the membrane is stretched into a vaulted shape from the nose extending at least partially through the rider's crotch toward the cantle at the rear of the seat. The invention further includes at least one carrier member acting upon the membrane to create, at least partly, the vaulted shape, and an attachment of at least part of a perimeter of the membrane to at least one of the carrier members. The attachment further provides the vaulted shape to the membrane and/or a tension to the membrane. The invention also further includes a saddle undercarriage attached to at least one of the carrier members providing at least part of the tension to the membrane, whenever the saddle undercarriage flexes. The saddle undercarriage is further comprised of a means for mounting to a seat post. An embodiment of the invention includes a ventilation path through the seating surface to the rider.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2002Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Inventors: Tylor Garland, Aldia Rauda, Geoffrey Craig Pittfield
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Patent number: 7044551Abstract: A seat structure includes a torsion bar 40 disposed along the width direction in the vicinity of the bottom end of a back frame 20, a pelvis supporting plate 50 is connected to the torsion bar 40, and a flat-type supporting member 60 for the seat back is engaged with the vicinity of the bottom end of the pelvis supporting plate 50 and strained. Slack of the flat-type supporting member 60 can be eliminated by the pelvis supporting plate 50 to enhance the appearance. Further, a vibration inputted from the seat back side, and vibrates as if patting on the back of the human body can be absorbed by an elastic force of the torsion bar 40.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2004Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Kazuyoshi Chizuka, Seiji Kawasaki, Yasuhide Takata, Yumi Ogura, Eiichi Yasuda, Shun'ichi Doi, Kazukata Takei
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Patent number: 6938955Abstract: A powered lumbar support mechanism includes a lumbar plate having a power mechanism having connecting links connected to opposite ends of the plate. One of the connecting links is longitudinally movable to change the convexity of the outer surface of the plate to adjust the lumbar support. The power mechanism includes a housing which retains a threaded rod threaded into a worm gear mechanism held within the housing. The housing also retains a motor having a worm which drives the threaded worm gear. The housing can also incorporate a second threaded rod, threaded to a second threaded worm gear also fixed within the housing such that the end of the second threaded rod is connected to a seat support so as to allow for the adjustability of the vertical position of the lumbar mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2002Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Assignee: L&P Property Management Co.Inventor: James R. VanSickle
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Patent number: 6893089Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 7, 2003Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Robert McMillen, Edward J. L. Meszaros
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Patent number: 6814407Abstract: A lumbar support device has a seat frame, a pair of brackets connected to opposite sided of the seat frame, a pair of flexible members connected to the pair of brackets in such a manner as to respectively form a pair of center sections across the seat frame, and an actuator assembly operatively connected to each one of the flexible members. Each one of the flexible members preferably has a pair of levers on opposite sides of the center sections that rotate about the brackets. In operation, the actuator assembly selectively bows the center portions of the flexible members. The actuator assembly preferably includes a reversible gear and a pair of bowden cables that move one pair of levers when the reversible gear is rotated clockwise and move the other pair of levers when the reversible gear is rotated counter-clockwise.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2002Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: L & P Property Management CompanyInventor: Donald David Mundell
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Patent number: 6676211Abstract: Improved block of seats for airports, having a bearing structure (1), on which a cover (2) is incorporated which determines the consecutive surfaces of the seats and back-rests, where each section of the cover (2) is made up of a laminar structure (7) that is assembled between a pair of profiles (6), which are fastened with respect to the bearing structure (1) by means of fittings (5) which in the assembly establish a positioning of the profiles (6) determining a tightening of the laminar structures (7).Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Figueras International Seating, S.A.Inventor: José Figueras Mitjans
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Patent number: 6672666Abstract: A seat frame assembly for supporting an occupant in an automotive vehicle includes a pair of spaced apart, longitudinally extending side members interconnected by at least one generally transverse cross member defining a horizontal plane therebetween. The seat frame assembly also includes a side bolster frame pivotally secured to at least one of the side members. The side bolster frame is movable between a support position extending laterally outwardly from the side member and angled upwardly from the horizontal plane, and a deflected position extending generally parallel to the horizontal plane. In addition, the seat frame assembly includes a resilient trim cover extending in tension between the side bolster frame and the opposing side member for automatically pivoting the side bolster frame from the support position to the deflected position in response to a load from the occupant on the side bolster frame, thereby facilitating ingress and egress to the occupant on the seat frame assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2002Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: GRA★MAG Truck Interior Systems, L.L.C.Inventors: Edwin L. Stiller, Robert Powell, Sharon St. Pierre
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Patent number: 6663177Abstract: A vehicle seat formed by a contoured tubular frame defining the edges of a seat base and a seat back and having tensioned belts and an elastomeric mesh seat fabric. The contoured tubular frame is wrapped in foam padding for comfort and impact protection. Two belts are provided in each of the seat base and seat back. The elastomeric seat mesh fabric forms an elastomeric seating surface that wraps around the seat occupant. The elastomeric mesh seat fabric is secured to the belts that provide seating surface contour and minimize excursion of the elastomeric mesh seat fabric. A cushion is provided under the elastomeric seating surface near the front of the seat to prevent submarining in an impact. An eccentric lumbar cushion is provided on a flexible shaft to permit adjustment of the degree of lower back support.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2001Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Ernesto E. Blanco, H. Winston Maue, Sofy Tarud, Joshua A. Goldwitz, Josue Sznitman, Mara B. Ignatius
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Patent number: 6644752Abstract: A seat member 10 of the present invention is provided with a belt member 200 in the back side of each cushioning member, in which the belt member is held by engaging with an appropriate portion of a back frame 30 at its one end and with an appropriate portion of a seat frame 40 at the other end, is disposed in the vicinity of, at least, either right or left side of a sitting person in a direction along the longitudinal cross-section, and is designed to have the length in the overlapping area with the above-described cushioning members shorter than the length along an expanded state of the cushioning members in the same area and is designed to be made of a material having a higher stiffness than those of respective cushioning members. By disposing the belt member 200, when a person takes a seat, it becomes possible to support the waist of sitting person since a portion corresponding to the belt member is relatively bulged out.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2001Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yasuhide Takata
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Publication number: 20030173805Abstract: A process for increasing or reducing the internal pressure of at least one hollow body (HK—1, HK—2, HK—3) to a specified set internal pressure. The set internal pressure is adjusted so that several pressure-increasing steps or pressure-reducing steps are conducted successively until the internal pressure deviates from the set internal pressure at most by a specified tolerance. Each of these steps brings about a pressure increase or pressure reduction the amount of which is not larger than a specified upper limit. In this way, impairments of comfort owing to the rise in pressure or the reduction in pressure are especially avoided. The actual internal pressure is only measured at the beginning of the process, the amount is calculated. In one design of the invention, this amount depends upon the volumes of the hollow bodies (HK—1, HK—2, HK—3) and a supply line (VL) as well as (in the case pressure is increased) from the pressure which a pressure generator generates.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2003Publication date: September 18, 2003Inventors: Christoph Kern, Wolfram Schroeder, Daniel Schulz
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Patent number: 6616229Abstract: A car seat having a seat part and a central spring system for the seat part. The central spring system can be adjusted to vary the hardness of the seat part. Additionally, the car seat is provided with side reinforcements on the seat part that extend in the traveling direction, whose position or the position of their upper edge regions is adjustable in accordance with the hardness of the spring system of the seat. The adjustment of the spring system is such that a greater degree of hardness corresponds to a higher position of the upper edge regions of the side reinforcements.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2000Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Peer Küster, Mirco Polak, Karl Georg Suhle
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Patent number: 6609753Abstract: A reclinable seat includes a seat bottom with a seat frame, and a backrest with a backrest frame pivotably connected to the seat bottom to be adjustable to an upright seating configuration and a reclined lying configuration. The seat bottom includes a support arrangement having an adjustable firmness. A firmer support is provided in the upright seating configuration, and a softer support is provided in the reclined lying configuration. In the support arrangement, seat support rods extend across the seat bottom and are pivotably supported on the seat frame. A shaft is connected to the backrest frame. Straps are connected to the shaft and to each of the seat support rods while weaving over and under the rods. When the recline angle of the backrest is adjusted, the shaft rotates and either pulls or slackens the straps to pivot the support rods between a firmer orientation and a softer orientation.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2001Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbHInventor: Tobias Schmidt-Schaeffer
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Publication number: 20030155798Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat bottom having first and second portions and a central support portion, disposed between the first and second portions, and a seat back having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the seat back extends upwardly from and supported by the seat bottom. To support a user and to provide resiliency to the seat assembly, the invention includes an elastic mat having a first end mounted to the first portion and a second end mounted to one of the second portion and the bottom portion of the seat back such that the elastic mat is suspended over the central support portion of the seat assembly. The seat bottom includes at least two rails adjacent and spaced from one another for retaining a portion of a seat track of a base that is further attached to a post, extending from a floor of the boat.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2003Publication date: August 21, 2003Applicant: Moeller Marine ProductsInventor: David L. Butler
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Publication number: 20030127895Abstract: A seat frame assembly for supporting an occupant in an automotive vehicle includes a pair of spaced apart, longitudinally extending side members interconnected by at least one generally transverse cross member defining a horizontal plane therebetween. The seat frame assembly also includes a side bolster frame pivotally secured to at least one of the side members. The side bolster frame is movable between a support position extending laterally outwardly from the side member and angled upwardly from the horizontal plane, and a deflected position extending generally parallel to the horizontal plane. In addition, the seat frame assembly includes a resilient trim cover extending in tension between the side bolster frame and the opposing side member for automatically pivoting the side bolster frame from the support position to the deflected position in response to a load from the occupant on the side bolster frame, thereby facilitating ingress and egress to the occupant on the seat frame assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventors: Edwin L. Stiller, Robert Powell, Sharon St. Pierre
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Publication number: 20020145320Abstract: A futon style sofa bed, preferably made from a metal frame, and having an elastomeric material stretched to cover the frame. The elastomeric material obviates the need for support slats, as well as cushions or a mattress. In a preferred embodiment, the frame members are made from steel tubing, and the fabric is oriented within the frame so that the warp direction (the direction of primary stretch) runs from front to back or from side to side in the seat frame, and also in the seat back. Adjusting means is disclosed, for adjusting the length and/or width of the frame, thus adjusting the tension of the fabric stretched about the frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2001Publication date: October 10, 2002Inventors: Bernhard Zeiler, Ralph Allen Cantrell, Anthony R. Waldrop
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Publication number: 20020130540Abstract: An arrangement in passenger vehicles, that diverts the impact energy in impacts away from the passengers to the remaining mass of the vehicle thereby protecting the passengers, and in the same arrangement provides utilitarian access to the vehicle, such utilitarian access making it possible to both install multi-element contoured surround seats for passengers and the driver, and also a safety device for head-on collision protection that obviates the need for conventional seat belts and front impact airbags. An indo-skeletal structural arrangement proposed for the vehicle, provides further benefits by targeting the strength of the vehicle to protect passengers while minimizing other massive elements in the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2001Publication date: September 19, 2002Inventor: Arjuna Indraeswaran Rajasingham
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Publication number: 20020060484Abstract: A reclinable seat includes a seat bottom with a seat frame, and a backrest with a backrest frame pivotably connected to the seat bottom to be adjustable to an upright seating configuration and a reclined lying configuration. The seat bottom includes a support arrangement having an adjustable firmness. A firmer support is provided in the upright seating configuration, and a softer support is provided in the reclined lying configuration. In the support arrangement, seat support rods extend across the seat bottom and are pivotably supported on the seat frame. A shaft is connected to the backrest frame. Straps are connected to the shaft and to each of the seat support rods while weaving over and under the rods. When the recline angle of the backrest is adjusted, the shaft rotates and either pulls or slackens the straps to pivot the support rods between a firmer orientation and a softer orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2001Publication date: May 23, 2002Inventor: Tobias Schmidt-Schaeffer
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Patent number: 6349991Abstract: In a seat, particularly a car seat, having a seat portion and a backrest, a pressure element is located in the rear of the seat portion and in the lordotic area of the backrest which can be used to adjust the firmness of the seat and, where applicable, the contour of the areas of the seat covering the pressure elements. Both pressure organs can be adjusted only in tandem with each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1999Date of Patent: February 26, 2002Assignee: Bertrand Faure Sitzechnik GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Steffen Jaekel
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Patent number: 6311570Abstract: Method of adjusting a lying or sitting element with a supporting frame and elastic strips running transversely to this with adjustable initial tension which are downwardly deformed to varying extents when a person is placed on them, an ideal contour of the deformed lying or sitting surface and an ideal pressure distribution being individually determined for the user and, while the user is resting on the element, both the deformation of the strips and the bearing pressure being measured and being approximated to the desired value by changing the tension.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Inventor: Bartholomäus Niedermühlbichler
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Publication number: 20010022458Abstract: A car seat having a seat part and a central spring system for the seat part. The central spring system can be adjusted to vary the hardness of the seat part. Additionally, the car seat is provided with side reinforcements on the seat part that extend in the traveling direction, whose position or the position of their upper edge regions is adjustable in accordance with the hardness of the spring system of the seat. The adjustment of the spring system is such that a greater degree of hardness corresponds to a higher position of the upper edge regions of the side reinforcements.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2000Publication date: September 20, 2001Inventors: Peer Kster, Mirco Polak, Karl Georg Suhle
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Patent number: 6254186Abstract: An adjustable lumbar support for the backrest of a seat, including an elongate flexible band having first and second ends attachable to sides of a backrest. A drive member is connected to the band so as to tension the band and so decrease the extent to which the band curves rearwardly with respect to the ends thereof. The band includes a plurality of pleats, extending transverse to the length of the band and arranged to expand or collapse in response to changes in the longitudinal tension in the band. As shown, the pleats form part of a shield overlying a tensionable strap. In another arrangement (not shown) the pleats are disposed between and interconnect adjacent relatively rigid rib-like elements. The drive may include a motor driving a screw-threaded spindle arranged at right angles thereto and connected to the band so that the spindle extends in the longitudinal direction of the band. A carriage responds to rotation of the spindle so as to tension the band.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 1999Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Henderson's Industries Pty LtdInventor: Mark Falzon
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Patent number: RE39604Abstract: An improved seating arrangement having a pair of rigid sides which include a back portion and a seat portion. Flexible webbing members extend between the rigid sides in the back and seat portions. Various arrangements are provided for increasing and decreasing the length and tension of the flexible webbing to provide a three dimensional variation in the contour of the flexible webbing in the back and/or seat portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: Convaid Products, Inc.Inventor: Mervyn M. Watkins