Abstract: Provided is a cushion pad, in which a seating body portion of a seating portion has a bottomless or bottomed first hole arranged at a position at which the first hole overlaps a pair of ischial bones of a seated person in a horizontal projection plane and three or more bottomless or bottomed second holes with areas that are smaller than an area of the first hole in a horizontal projection plane, a center point O51 of the first hole is on or inside a triangle TR obtained by connecting center points of any three second holes from among the three or more second holes in the horizontal projection plane and in the seating portion, the inside of the first hole is a void space, or a soft material portion is arranged inside the first hole.

Abstract: An internally supported cushion for a seating unit is provided. The internally supported cushion includes an internal structure that provides rigidity when used adjacent a back upright or a side upright of a seating unit. The internal structure generally includes a rigid core element that is sandwiched between foam layers. The rigid core element is approximately upright and extends in the lengthwise and widthwise directions of the internally supported cushion. A batting layer is positioned immediately beneath an upholstery covering to prevent the covering from contacting the internal foam layers, which encapsulate the rigid core element.

Abstract: A thoracic support for a seatback of a seat is provided. The thoracic support has a center portion extending in an upright direction and adapted to be positioned adjacent the seatback to align adjacent a thoracic region a user's spine and having a first hardness. A pair of side portions are each disposed on opposing lateral sides of the center portion. The side portions have a second hardness less than the first hardness of the center portion. The pair of side portions and the center portion to define a smooth forward support surface.

Abstract: A thoracic support for a seatback of a seat is provided. The thoracic support includes a center portion extending in an upright direction and adapted to be positioned adjacent the seatback to align adjacent a thoracic region a user's spine. The center portion is formed of a first foam material having a first hardness. A pair of side portions each disposed adjacent to and are connected with the center portion. The side portions are formed of a second foam material having a second hardness. The first hardness is greater than the second hardness so that the center portion provides support to at least a portion of the thoracic region of the user's spine.

Abstract: A chair including a dynamically-flexible back and seat having a shape that adjusts to the movements of a user seated in the chair to enhance user comfort. Each of the back and seat has an air gap formed therewithin and a resilient frame or liner with a spring memory. The resilient liner is adapted to flex in response to compressive forces that are generated as the user slides his body back or from side-to-side in the chair. Accordingly, some of the chair back and some of the chair seat move into respective air gaps so that the shapes of the back and seat change to conform to the movements of the user. The air gaps also establish air flow ventilation channels which run laterally through the back and seat of the chair.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly including at least a component of the seat assembled made of closed-cell foam and having an integral exterior surface. The component may include a backrest, headrest, seat cushion or a component thereof such as an armrest. A method of forming a seat assembly including a first seat component and a second seat component wherein at least one of the first and the second components are made of closed-cell foam.

Abstract: A thoracic back support sits vertically against the back portion of a chair/seat in which a force is transmitted through the thoracic area of the spine of a user. The thoracic back support has an interior resilient substrate that is divided by a shallow groove that extends from the lower cervical spine to the upper lumbar spine. The groove helps to reduce any stress over the spinous processes as the individual leans back against the thoracic back support. When the resilient substrate is compressed, a force is primarily directed into the soft tissue areas adjacent to the spine which allows for the thoracic spine to move into a maximally neutral position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a new and improved system and method for maintaining and improving the function of the human back. A first embodiment of the method may include the steps of sitting in a lumbar support chair for a first period of time with the lumbar portion of the back in a reclined neutral lordosis, placing the feet on an elevated foot support, and standing erect with the assistance of a rod for a second period of time. The lumbar support chair may include a sacral depression, a lumbar protrusion, a thoracic recession, a raised dorsal thigh support, a left thigh protrusion, and a right thigh protrusion. The elevated foot support may be capable of pivoting towards and away from the lumbar support chair and placing the feet on the elevated support may result in the knees being higher than the iliac crest.

Abstract: A chair including a seat member for supporting a user, a backrest member mounted on the seat member, an adjustable platform attached to the backrest member in which the adjustable platform is selectively adjustable to provide a desired contour for supporting the back of a user seated within the chair, and a multipoint adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the adjustable platform along multiple locations of the platform to provide a desired contour for supporting the back of a user seated within the chair. The chair may be custom fitted to a specific user where the curvature of a user's back (e.g., in the spinal region) is measured relative to an idealized curvature, and the multi-point adjustment mechanism of the chair may be dialed in to improve the user's posture as the user uses the chair.

Abstract: A number of variations of loose fill (1) cushions having at least one stabilizer (3) to keep an internal lumbar support (2) in the proper position and alignment. Additionally, some embodiments are shown with a fin 4 above the lumbar support to provide further alignment stability.

Abstract: A back support that provides lumbar support, mid-back support, lateral back support, and arm supports to compensate for a lack of strength in one's core muscles, such as after pregnancy or abdominal surgery. The arm supports are shaped to provide a surface to resist downward force of one's arms while allowing the arms to stay close to the body, as when holding or feeding a baby. The back support encourages proper spinal alignment by providing appropriate areas of support, including a protrusion on the top of the back support that serves as a physical cue to a user when their body is fully upright and centered.

Abstract: A vehicular seat has a pad including a foamed elastic material and a skin member covering a surface of the pad. A groove is formed at the surface of the pad, and the groove is inclined to a line orthogonal to the surface of the pad.

Abstract: A number of variations of loose fill (1) cushions having at least one stabilizer (3) to keep an internal lumbar support (2) in the proper position and alignment. Additionally, some embodiments are shown with a fin 4 above the lumbar support to provide further alignment stability.

Abstract: Provided are a back pad having comfortable riding feeling and an excellent supporting performance for an occupant even if its thickness is reduced, and a seat for a vehicle having the back pad. A back pad (1) comprises a lumber part (2), a back support part (3) on the upper side of the lumber part, and side parts (4, 4) disposed on both the left and right sides of the lumber part (2) and the back support part (3). The back pad (1) is made of polyurethane foam. Since the hysteretic loss of the back support part (3) is larger than that of the lumber part (2), the vibration absorbing performance of the lumber part (2) may be excellent. The hardness of the lumber part (2) is higher than that of the back support part (3) whereby the performance of supporting the lumber of the occupant may be excellent.

Abstract: A seating structure includes a plurality of boss structures arranged in a pattern and a plurality of web structures joining adjacent boss structures within the pattern. At least some of the web structures are spaced apart such that they define openings therebetween. Adjacent rows of said web structures are spaced or staggered.

Abstract: A seat portion (4) for a seat (2), which seat portion (4) comprises at least a first part (8) which is made of a first plastics foam material of a first density, and a second part (10) which is made of a second plastics foam material of a second and different density.

Abstract: Chair backrest, comprising a support structure constituted by a single piece of injected plastic material, including a bearing section having a front surface against which a user's back is to bear. The bearing section has an opening that extends in a lumbar region of the front surface. The backrest comprises a lumbar support panel movably positioned in said opening. The lumbar support panel has a front surface against which a lumbar region of the user's back is to bear and it has an outer perimeter that is connected to the edge of said opening by means of an elastic element that tends to thrust the support panel towards a position in which the front surface of the lumbar support panel projects anteriorly relative to the front surface of said bearing section.

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 general use chair that is configured to provide a dynamic thrust motion to exercise the lower lumbar area of the user's spine to reduce pressure on the user's spine, joints and tissue and promote improved circulation throughout the user's body, particularly the lower back and legs, so as to reduce fatigue, pain and general discomfort from sitting for long periods of time. The chair has a conventional seat and leg assembly components. In one configuration, a back support assembly is pivotally connected to a pair of vertical members extending upwardly from the seat. A lumbar thrust assembly connects to the back support assembly to project a lumbar roller forward and upward to apply the dynamic thrust motion to the user's lower back. The lumbar thrust assembly motion can be manually initiated by the user, by leaning back on the chair, or operatively controlled by a motor and controller unit.

Abstract: An ergonomic chair including a seat support structure with a seat bottom and seat back supported by the seat support structure. The seat bottom is shortened to accommodate the buttocks and ischia, with no weight-bearing on the thighs. The seat back has an upper portion which protrudes forward greater than the lower portion with a sudden transition to provide an innate lumbar support.

Abstract: Many law enforcement officers have lower back problems arising from the habitual wearing of what is generally known as a “Sam Browne” duty belt. Workmen's Compensation now presumes any lower back ailment suffered by a law enforcement officer was caused by a duty belt; and consequently, automatically covers such back problem. A duty belt seat accessory for minimizing excessive pressure on the lower back of a law enforcement officer when he wears a duty belt is disclosed. The seat accessory comprises: a lower back portion having a minimal thickness; an upper back portion having a thickness generally exceeding the thickness of the lower back portion and the equipped duty belt; and, a strap to maintain the back portion in an upright position adjacent to a seat. When the officer leans back his back is supported largely by the upper back portion of the seat accessory and there is no excessive back pressure on his lower back as a result of the equipped duty belt he is wearing.

Abstract: A seating structure includes a plurality of boss structures arranged in a pattern and a plurality of web structures joining adjacent boss structures within the pattern. At least some of the web structures are non-planar and at least some adjacent web structures are spaced apart such that they define openings therebetween. In another aspect, the seating structure includes a plurality of boss structures arranged in a pattern and defining a support surface and a plurality of web structures joining adjacent boss structures within the pattern. At least some adjacent web structures are spaced apart and shaped such that they define substantially non-circular openings therebetween when viewed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the support surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a seat that includes a seat comfort zone that peripherally encompasses a pelvic zone, a front seat zone adjacent to the front side of a seat comfort zone and a first side seat zone, second side seat zone and rear seat zone peripherally encompassing a first side, second side and rear side, respectively, of the seat comfort zone. The seat comfort zone, the pelvic zone, the first side seat zone, the second side seat zone, the front seat zone and the rear seat zone include a soft elastic material. Further, the front seat zone is less firm than the first side seat zone, the second side seat zone, the rear seat zone, the seat comfort zone and the pelvic zone. The first side seat zone, the second side seat zone and the rear seat zone are more firm than the front seat zone, the seat comfort zone and the pelvic zone. The pelvic zone is more elastic than the front seat zone, the comfort zone, the first side seat zone, the second side seat zone and the rear seat zone.

Abstract: A back portion for a chair includes a peripheral frame defining an opening therein. A lumbar support portion is disposed in the opening. The lumbar support portion comprises a substantially rigid panel. Two hinge devices are hingedly mounted on opposite sides of the peripheral frame. The lumbar support portion is mounted on the peripheral frame by the two hinge devices. Each hinge device has a biasing device associated with it to bias the hinge devices forwardly relative to the peripheral frame. A cushion may be mounted atop the lumbar support portion. The cushion has a first substantially planar sheet of resiliently flexible material and a second substantially planar sheet of resiliently flexible material. The first and second sheets are separated by a plurality of spaced webs of resiliently flexible material.

Abstract: An improved method of constructing seating surfaces, provides greater comfort through superior surface adjustments for a variety of users. The seating structure provides greater airflow to contact areas of the occupant's body, and is more efficient and economical to produce. The seating surface construction is comprised of a plurality of support sections, or bosses/platforms and of a plurality of web connectors interconnecting the support sections. The support sections, or bosses/platforms are more rigid than their corresponding web connectors.

Abstract: A seat for use in a motor vehicle has a seat portion, and a back portion having a lower end that is pivotably coupled to the seat portion. The back portion has a cut-out section adjacent the lower end, with the thickness of the back portion at the cut-out section being less than the thickness of the remainder of the back portion. The cut-out section accomodates the police officer's gun belt so that the gun belt and its objects (such as a pistol and handcuffs) will not exert an awkward pressure on the lower back region of the officer's body.

Abstract: The invention relates to an upholstery support for a seat, especially for utilization in an automobile. According to the invention, an especially lightweight of vehicle seat construction is achieved in that the upholstery support is built in the form of a sandwich. Essential elements in said sandwich-type construction are a shell mold allocated to a soft upholstery and a back wall element. A shaped foam part, preferably made of hard foam, is inserted between the latter.

Abstract: A flexible chair back comprising a back supporting surface that is defined by a plurality of generally downwardly directed curvilinear shaped openings arranged in a vertical array. Each of the curvilinear openings is around the next adjacent lower curvilinear opening so that they define a plurality of upwardly directed back supporting members. The back supporting members bend to follow the curvature of the back.