Abstract: Child restraint system in a vehicle with features to support and ensconse the head and shoulders of an occupant during lateral impact to the vehicle.

Abstract: A headrest includes a stay, a headrest body, and a dynamic damper attached to the stay. The dynamic damper includes: an attachment member having an attachment portion attached to the stay and an opening having no bottom; an elastic member fixed along its entire perimeter by an edge of the opening and placed in the opening; and a weight embedded in the elastic member and placed in the opening. The attachment member includes a front-side divided body and a back-side divided body. The elastic member is sandwiched between the front-side divided body and the back-side divided body, whereby the elastic member is fixed along its entire perimeter by the edge.

Abstract: An apparatus has conforming arms each respectively attached to a support surface in a pattern for cooperatively receiving an object. Actuators respectively position the plurality of conforming arms between a disengaged state to receive the object and an engaged state to contact the object at a respective contact area to immobilize the object. A control system selectively controls each of the actuators to cause the respective one of the conforming arms to curve inwardly toward the object to cooperatively exert a grasping force upon the object such that only a fraction of total force required to immobilize the object is applied to the object by each individual conforming arm. A selected grasping force of a selected one of the conforming arms corresponds to a relative fragility of the respective contact area.

Abstract: A foldable mattress includes plunger matrix sections and corresponding flexible connectors connecting the plunger matrix sections in side-by-side relation. The flexible connectors are configured to allow the foldable mattress to fold to adjust in shape corresponding to changes in shape of a mechanically adjustable frame supporting the foldable mattress. The foldable mattress may include a foldable edge frame configured to snugly receive and house the plunger matrix sections in side-to-side relation. The edge frame defines a flange on an internal surface of the edge frame configured to support the plunger matrix sections in side-to-side relation in a position allowing the plungers to move up and down within an internal space defined by the edge frame. A top pad lays on top of the edge frame and the plunger matrix sections. A cover encapsulates the edge frame, the plunger matrix, and the top pad into a self-contained mattress unit.

Abstract: A moldable seating system for use with a cushion comprising a moldable seat base and a moldable backrest. The moldable seat base comprises a central portion and a perimeter having a plurality of individually adjustable fingers extending there from. The moldable backrest comprises a moldable center backrest portion and a head support portion. The sides of the moldable center backrest portion comprise a plurality of individually adjustable fingers extending there from. Each of the individual fingers of the moldable seat base and the moldable backrest may be further divided into individually adjustable sections.

Abstract: A dual-spring plunger for a plunger matrix mattress assembly includes an outer tension spring with an upper end fixed to an outer spring mount of a plunger guide body and a lower end located below the guide body positioned to receive a bottom end of a pin of the plunger. An inner tension spring nested within the outer tension spring has an upper end fixed to the inner spring mount of the guide body and a lower end having a spur slidably captured within a slot through a fin of the shaft of the pin. The outer spring is tensioned while the inner spring is not tensioned during a first portion of downward movement of the pin relative to the pin guide, whereas both the outer and the inner spring are tensioned during a second portion of downward movement of the pin relative to the pin guide.

Abstract: A deformable heating element for a steering wheel comprises at least one heating conductor, one side of which is laid on, and fastened to, a front-side layer of a flat base material. The base material, in area of the front-side layer on which the heating conductor is laid and fastened, has a lower compression hardness and/or a volume density than does this base material in the area of its opposite, rear-side layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a sitting orthosis, which is provided with a contact surface where the user of the sitting orthosis makes contact with the sitting orthosis, from a representation of the contact surface of the sitting orthosis. The method comprises of manufacturing a shell part on the basis of the representation of the contact surface by machining processable material under the control of the representation of the contact surface of the sitting orthosis; and arranging a covering layer on the thus obtained shell part. The invention also relates to a sitting orthosis. The sitting orthosis comprises a contact surface where the user of the sitting orthosis makes contact with the sitting orthosis, wherein the sitting orthosis is assembled from a shell part of a material processable by machining and wherein at least the contact surface is provided with a covering layer.

Abstract: A supporting shell for a seat is provided by carrying out in-seat measurements with a plurality of test subjects, wherein the test subjects sit down on a measuring mat placed on a neutral seat frame. The measuring mat has a readily displaceable filling and adapts to the contour of the body of the respective test subject. After the test subject has sat down on the measuring mat and before the test subject leaves the same, the filling inside the measuring mat is fixed in place by applying a negative pressure. The geometric data of the surface contour of the measuring mat are determined and stored for each test subject. The measured surface contours are then superimposed onto one another. This produces an average surface contour which can subsequently be further altered slightly for adaptation to large seat users, and therefore a modified surface contour is created as a basis for the production of the supporting shell of the seat.

Abstract: A seat includes a bearing structure and a number of cushions. The cushions cover the entire area of the seat surface and the backrest of the seat. Each cushion is formed of a textile spacer structure held in a fluid-tight casing. The casing has a connection for a hose line. Before a user sits on the seat, the hose line is open to the outside air. Due to the force applied by the seat user, the cushion and spacer structure are compressed, whereby simultaneously air is displaced out of the cushion. The cushions thus experience a contouring according to the body shape of the seat user. After the user sits down, the contouring can be fixed by blocking device the hose line, and thus separating the reduced air volume in the inside of the cushion from the outside air. In this way, the contouring of the seat cushions is maintained when the seat user leaves the seat.

Abstract: A capacitive occupant sensor for detecting an occupant sitting on a seat cushion of a seat of a vehicle includes a capacitive sensor mat, a cushion member, and a floating electrode. The capacitive sensor mat is disposed in the seat cushion and has a surface. The cushion member is disposed on the surface of the capacitive sensor mat. The floating electrode is disposed on an opposite side of the cushion member from the surface of the capacitive sensor mat. A projected area of the floating electrode with respect to the surface is smaller than the surface. The floating electrode is in an electrically-floating state with respect to the capacitive sensor mat. The occupant is detected based on an occupant capacitance between the capacitive sensor mat and the occupant and a floating capacitance between the capacitive sensor mat and the floating electrode.

Abstract: A vehicle seat component selection system includes a showroom having a vehicle seat component display and a touch screen terminal for input of customer data such as vehicle identification, vehicle assembly location and vehicle assembly volume. The terminal has access to a vehicle seat component database which defines characteristics of each component, such as sourcing location, cost, and compatibility with other components. A customer seat selection report is created by selecting components from the database, with a signal provided in the event incompatible components are selected. The terminal graphically displays the components as they are selected, and indicates a price range for the seat assembly as it is being proposed.

Abstract: A dental chair overlay is used for opening a patient's airway. The dental chair overlay has a body support and a head support. The body support has a superior end and dorsal and ventral surfaces. The distance between the dorsal and ventral surfaces define a thickness of the body support. The head support is attached to the superior end of the body support. The head support has dorsal and ventral surfaces. The distance between the dorsal and ventral surfaces define a thickness of the head support. The thickness of the body support is greater than the thickness of the head support, such that the airway of a patient lying on the dental chair overlay is urged open.

Abstract: A body support assembly in which irregular portions such as bunchy portions and irregular portions are prevented and further curing and holding performance are improved. The body support assembly (1) comprises a flexible cushion body (2) covered with a short-shaped cover body (3) impregnated with a curing resin and the cushion body (2) is made to abut against a user's body to be deformed in a shape matching the user's body, and then the cover body (3) is cured to be used. At least an upper edge portion of the cover body (3) is formed in a thinned edge portion (7) decreasing in thickness gradually from the cushion body (2). The thinned edge portion (7) includes a flange-shaped junction (6) formed by making a side for covering one surface of the cushion body (2) and a side for covering the other surface thereof abut against each other in an upper edge portion of the cover body (3) to be join together.

Abstract: A two-part seat (10) providing full body support that is specific for each crew member (30) on an individual basis. The two-part construction for the seat (10) can accommodate many sizes and shapes for crewmembers (30) because it is reconfigurable and therefore reusable for subsequent flights. The first component of the two-part seat construction is a composite shell (12) that surrounds the crewmember's entire body and is generically fitted to their general size in height and weight. The second component of the two-part seat (10) is a cushion (20) that conforms exactly to the specific crewmember's entire body and gives total body support in more complex environment.

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.

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for individually adapting the saddle of a two-wheeled vehicle, especially bicycle saddles. The local pressing pressure of the buttocks of a test subject is measured on a adapting device (1) with a measuring saddle (2) and a pressure-measuring device (4) arranged on or in the seat surface at individual points or over a large area and in a localizing manner and evaluated. The two-wheeled vehicle saddle (8) is specifically adapted to the shape of the individual buttocks corresponding to the measuring results and is additionally cushioned where the contact pressure is higher.

Abstract: A support contour of a cushion, such as a wheelchair cushion, defines relief areas at locations adjacent to skin covering the ischial tuberosities, the greater trochanters and the coccyx and sacrum of a person sitting on the support contour. Support areas of the support contour transfer force into the pelvic area adjacent to skin covering tissue masses on opposite lateral sides of the posterior buttocks and beneath the proximal thighs of the person. Greater clearance is also provided in the perineal area. Risks of pressure ulcers from pressure and shear forces on bony prominences is reduced while providing support at the broader areas without bony prominences in such a manner to encourage postural alignment. The risks of skin breakdown perineal are diminished.

Abstract: A flexible seat cushion, such as a wheelchair cushion, has an upper surface with a support contour for establishing relatively less pressure on skin adjacent to the bony prominences of the person's pelvic area and relatively more pressure on skin covering adjacent tissue masses. A support member is attached to the rear corner of the cushion. The support member has relatively less flexibility than the seat cushion. The support member is retained to a longitudinal and/or transverse side of the cushion to cause the support member to resist deformation of the support contour from contact with the pelvic area of the person when seated on the seat cushion. Connector member may be connected to the support member to extend along longitudinal and/or transverse sides of the cushion to deform and thereby adjust the support contour for better support of the pelvic area.

Abstract: An extricable seat assembly attachable to a cockpit of a vehicle is configured to allow a driver to be supported in an outstretched position and to allow removal of portions of the seat assembly. The seat assembly generally includes a bottom portion to support the lower torso of the driver, a back portion to support the spinal column of the driver, a left portion to support the left paraspinal area of the driver, and a right portion to support the right paraspinal area of the driver. The bottom portion has a hingedly connectable upper edge. The back portion has a lower edge hingedly and detachably connected to the upper edge of the bottom portion. The back portion further has hingedly connectable left and right edges.

Abstract: A supporting part for a seat has at least one plastic layer made of a material composed of thermally reversibly deformable material. The plastic layer can be shaped from a first shape into any predeterminable second shape at a shaping temperature higher than its temperature of use and can be fixed in this reversible shape at a temperature range lower than the shaping temperature. This layer can also be returned to its first shape by reheating it up to the shaping temperature. Another layer arranged as a heating layer is provided to apply a thermal treatment to the intermediate layer made of a material that can also o be reversibly deformable.

Abstract: A body cushion, comprising: a posterior portion for placement against the posterior of a user; and a pair of leg extensions integrally formed with the posterior portion and extending therefrom, the leg extensions for placement against the upper portions of the legs of the user, wherein each of the leg extensions includes extendable features which permit the leg extensions to extend and contract along a length thereof.

Abstract: A seating system which includes a seating unit formed with a plurality of openings in the seat and back. Each of these openings is designed for selectively receiving a specially designed seat pad. The inventive seat pad includes a base portion suitable for being disposed over the opening and a stem portion for being disposed through the opening, such that the seat pad unit is fixably retained in the opening.

Abstract: A therapeutic cushion device used in combination with an article of furniture to achieve comfort for a user comprises a seat portion, which comprises a plurality of vertically moving pins in substantially close proximity to one another. Each pin comprises a spherical member at a top portion thereof, the spherical members functioning to receive the weight of the user and further functioning to adapt to the contour of the user's body. Vertical movement of the pins and spherical members are accomplished through the usage of a spring means. This allows the device to provide constant stimulation to the body, functioning to facilitate blood circulation of the user by providing multiple pressure points upon the user by means of full body to surface contact. In the preferred mode, the spherical members are manufactured of a wood material and the pins are manufactured of a stainless steel material.