Preshaped Foam Pad Patents (Class 297/452.26)
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Patent number: 6877808Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a sensor assembly that is used to provide data for an occupant classification system. The data is used to determine such characteristics as seat occupant weight and position. These characteristics are used to control deployment of a safety restraint mechanism such as an airbag. The sensor assembly is part of a mat that is placed on top of a foam cushion used to form a seat bottom. Various attachment methods can be used to permanently secure the mat to the foam cushion. Preferably, the mat includes mounting portions that are wrapped around the foam cushion to engage a bottom surface of the foam cushion. Fasteners, adhesives, hook and loop attachments, and other similar attachment members are associated with the mounting portions and are used in various combinations to secure the mat to the foam cushion.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2003Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive CorporationInventors: Harald Lichtinger, Dave Talbot, KunKun Singh, Predrag Janic
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Publication number: 20040245837Abstract: A solid frame orthotic seating device for use in a sling seat that is supported by solid rails, such as a wheelchair. The solid frame orthotic seating device comprises a solid, rigid, non-collapsing, and durable interior skeletal frame with an elevated anterior wedge sloping down to the top surface of the frame, lateral well support arms, and a posterior well. The frame dimensions are designed to place the user's hips into flexion, position the user's pelvis in a neutral to anterior position, and position the user's buttocks into and or below the posterior well. The anterior wedge supports and distributes the weight of the user's body away from the buttocks. The strength and design of the solid frame uniquely promotes proper positioning, and helps to anchor the user by positioning their buttocks into and or below the posterior well and or below the solid lateral well support frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2004Publication date: December 9, 2004Inventor: Gerard Clifford
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Publication number: 20040155512Abstract: The vehicle seat S has at least the sitting area 11 and the seat cushion 10 for supporting the sitting area 11. The seat cushion 10 is formed by using foam as an exterior material in a given form. The backrest 20 for supporting the back area 21 may be molded in the seat cushion at the same time. In addition, the foam may be one selected from the group consisting of PP (polypropylene) bead foam, PE (polyethylene) bead foam, PP foam, PE foam, AS resin(acrylonitrile-styrene resin) foam, EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin) foam and a urethane foam.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2003Publication date: August 12, 2004Inventor: Mitsumasa Nakamura
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Patent number: 6755475Abstract: A cushion structure having multiple indentation load deflection areas created by using inflatable preformed containers within a base cushion foam and method for making same. The invention can be utilized to make cushions for use with separately manufactured upholstery covers as well as for pour-in-place or foam-in-cover upholstered cushions. Such cushions are suitable for use in commercial and residential furniture as well as automobiles, buses, trains and aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2003Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: John M. Tiesler, Bari W. Brown, George B Byma
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Patent number: 6733083Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a cellular plastic layer adjacent to the body of a user. The cellular plastic layer is a layer of a substantially energy absorbing cellular plastic having a density of 30-110 kg/m3, an ILD at 65% indentation of 100-500 N, and a rebound of maximum 10%.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2000Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: Dan-Foam A/SInventors: Dag Landvik, Aage Kristiansen
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Patent number: 6687934Abstract: A seat cushion structure of the invention comprises a cushion body, made of a foamed material, that has a top surface provided with two left and right recessed cavities. A flexible filling material is filled within the recessed cavities of the cushion body. A covering skin is stretched to outwardly cover the flexible filling material and the cushion body, wherein an air gap is left between the flexible filling material and the covering skin. With the above seat cushion structure, comfortable seating and good heat dissipation are provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2002Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Inventor: Tsun-Chi Liao
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Patent number: 6659549Abstract: A seat sensor 10 including a pressure sensing mat 12, and several barbed members or tabs 14 which are integrally formed within sensing mat 12. Sensor 10 is adapted to be operatively installed on a conventional vehicle seat. In order to install sensor 10, several holes or cavities 20 are formed within the foam 22 of the seat in a conventional manner prior to assembly, and tabs 14 are forced into cavities 20. Once tabs 14 are inserted into cavities 20, barbed portions 18 “spring” outward against the sides of the cavities 20, thereby frictionally engaging and/or piercing the sides of the cavities 20 and securing seat sensor 10 to the seat.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2000Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Charles A. Still, Richard W. Wang, Curtis L. Williams
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Patent number: 6625830Abstract: A wheelchair cushion having a solid gel patient interface, a matrix or honeycomb panel and a foam base. The gel layer is mold around and over the honeycomb panel to produce a composite panel with patient interface characteristics of a gel layer, but with reduced weight. The matrix panel cells are open on the lower ends which are bonded to a soft foam base. The matrix panel interacts with the foam base to spread forces and provide pressure reduction and positioning better than solid gel, but with less weight. The foam base may include several layers of differing density and contouring elements. The composite panel conforms to the base contours to provide a contoured patient interface.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Inventor: Neal Lampel
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Publication number: 20030094842Abstract: A passenger seat with low profile seat back recline locking assembly, including a recline unit for controlling movement of the seat back and locking the seat back in a desired recline position. A hydraulic cylinder assembly is pivotally-mounted by a first end thereof to a section assembly module of the seat and by an opposite second end thereof to the seat back unit. The cylinder assembly has a longitudinally-extending axis extending in alignment with the longitudinally-extending, generally vertical plane of the seat back. An actuator is positioned astride and operatively connected to the fluid cylinder adjacent one or the other of the first and second ends thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2001Publication date: May 22, 2003Inventor: John Williamson
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Patent number: 6543844Abstract: A support cushion for children's furniture defines a seat cushion area and a back cushion area and has a seating surface that extends over those areas and is contoured to provide positional support and comfort for a child seated on the cushion. The cushion preferably is a one-piece closed cell foam moulding which is flexible to permit variation in the relative angular orientation between the seat cushion and the back cushion area. The seat includes a raised transverse barrier that is spaced forwardly of the rear of the seat for controlling rotation of the pelvis of a child. The cushion further includes a pair of side support pads that extend forwardly from respectively opposite sides of the back to locate against the trunk of a child and cushion against side-to-side movement.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2000Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Bloorview MacMillan CentreInventors: Stephen Ryan, Gloria Leibel, Michael Doell, Alan Barber, Shone Stickel
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Patent number: 6481801Abstract: The present application pertains to a seat pad particularly for motor vehicles seats, with a core portion made of expanded plastics material. The upper side of the core portion facing the seat surface is provided with channel-like grooves, so that the geometry of the remaining core portion allows an optimum distribution of the seat pressure because of the good adaptation to the human anatomy.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2000Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventor: Gerhard Schmale
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Patent number: 6371562Abstract: Reinforcement is given in a vehicle seat with such an arrangement that a plurality of recessions and at least one decorative groove are scatteringly formed in each of two spaced-apart protuberant side support portions of the vehicle seat. A foaming is effected to create a foam padding of a predetermined shape of the seat having two spaced-apart protuberant side support portions, such as to define a plurality of first recessions and at least one first decorative groove in each of those two side support portions, after which, a trim cover assembly is pressingly bonded to the thus-formed foaming pad, thereby forcibly inserting and bonding plural points of the trim cover assembly in those first recessions and decorative groove of padding. A resulting seat is therefore provided not only with a highly enlarged area of cured and hardened adhesive layer, but also with an intensified stretched state of trim cover assembly, whereby an increased reinforcement is given to both two side support portions of the seat.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2000Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masakazu Yoshimura, Makoto Shimada
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Patent number: 6293625Abstract: A seat (10) for a chair having a base (11) and ridges (13) which extend transversely of the base (11). The ridges (13) are raised and are engaged by the Ischial Tuberosities of a person sitting on the seat (10) to prevent a person sliding from the seat (10).Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 1997Date of Patent: September 25, 2001Inventor: Barry J. Dixon
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Patent number: 6286903Abstract: A seat cushion, in particular for folding automobile vehicle seat, and its method of manufacture, the cushion having a lower face adapted to be in contact with a supporting frame and covered with a protective film of expanded synthetic plastic material that is resistant to wear and adheres to the expanded synthetic plastic material of the cushion.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1999Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: SofitecInventor: Georges Proux
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Patent number: 6256819Abstract: A foam cushion suitable for use such as with a wheelchair provides a combination of general pressure relief and positioning control over legs of a patient possibly otherwise having reduced or impaired motor control skills. A desired leg position is achieved by separating the legs and supporting them in a generally parallel position. Two base pieces have predetermined upper profiles and are glued to an upper support element having integrated cubic elements for pressure relief. Channels between adjacent cubic elements facilitate flexure of the upper element to conform to the contours of the two base pieces. Relatively high ILD foam characteristics and relatively high foam densities combined with the subject structure give good results for support and for product life, including compression fatigue considerations.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1998Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Span-America Medical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Edmund K. Maier, Richard W. Raburn
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Patent number: 6241320Abstract: The device relates generally to a seating system and more particularly to seat cushion assemblies having a rearward depression and cushioning insert tailored to fit under the skeletal structure of the user. In particular, the assembly preferably includes an intermediate insert which fits within a base depression and a cushioning insert which can be a fluid bag, air bag, foam or gel. The insert is generally oval shaped and has a rounded bottom. This enables the cushion to be used to fit under the seating bones so as to provide a proper pelvic tilt. Further, the insert can be moved in order to provide controlled movement of the pelvis over time. A first cushioning insert is generally constructed of a material forming baffles so as to define air chambers and having a right and left seat bone area. A second design has a top and bottom so as to define the fluid envelope separated by a central baffle having apertures to allow fluid communication between the right an left portions.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1999Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: Invacare CorporationInventors: Norman Chew, Nenad Medjedovic
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Patent number: 6202234Abstract: A therapeutic pillow for placing on a seat and for being sat upon by a user and for supporting the tail bone of the user and for cradling the buttocks of the user to assure that support for the tail bone of the user is held in place. The pillow includes a base, a support, and a pair of bolsters. The base overlies the seat. The support is disposed axially along the base and supports the tail bone of the user. The pair of bolsters extend axially along the base, straddle the support, cradle the buttocks of the user therebetween so as to assure that the support is held in place under the tail bone of the user, by minimizing lateral movement of the user.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1998Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Inventor: Josephine Henderson