Support device for vehicle seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10179527-B2
Application number	US-201615160692-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2016
Priority date	May 26, 2015
Publication date	Jan 15, 2019
Grant date	Jan 15, 2019

Abstract

A support device for a vehicle seat includes a bag body. The bag body includes a bag body assembly including at least a first bag body unit and a second bag body unit that are combined with each other. The first bag body unit is disposed to form at least a support surface facing the seated occupant when the first bag body unit is expanded, and the second bag body unit is disposed to press the support surface toward the seated occupant when the second bag body unit is expanded. The first and second bag body units are simultaneously supplied with air and expanded, and a surface of the second bag body unit that faces the seated occupant in an expanded state is smaller than the support surface of the first bag body unit that faces the seated occupant in an expanded state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A support device for a vehicle seat, the support device comprising a bag body disposed in a seat for an occupant, and configured to face the occupant seated on the seat, wherein:
a desired portion of a body of the seated occupant is supported when the bag body is supplied with air and is expanded;
the bag body includes a bag body assembly including at least a first bag body unit and a second bag body unit that are combined with each other;
the first bag body unit is disposed to form at least a support surface that faces the seated occupant when the first bag body unit is expanded, and the second bag body unit is disposed to contact a side of the first bag body unit and to press the support surface of the first bag body unit toward the seated occupant when the second bag body unit is expanded, the side of the first bag body unit being positioned on an opposite side of the support surface from the seated occupant;
the first and second bag body units are simultaneously supplied with air and expanded, and a surface of the second bag body unit that faces the seated occupant in an expanded state is smaller than the support surface of the first bag body unit that faces the seated occupant in an expanded state;
the first and second bag body units are coupled to each other by a coupling portion such that the first and second bag body units are integrated; and
the first and second bag body units are folded onto each other at the coupling portion serving as a boundary such that the first and second bag body units overlap each other in a direction toward the seated occupant.

2. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein the bag body comprises members, wherein in the first bag body unit, the members that constitute the bag body and face each other in a direction toward the seated occupant are connected to each other such that separation of the members from each other is restricted.

3. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first bag body unit is divided into a first region and a second region along the support surface, and a thickness of the second region in a direction toward the seated occupant is larger than a thickness of the first region in the direction toward the seated occupant when the first bag body unit is in the expanded state; and
the second bag body unit in the expanded state contacts the second region of the first bag body unit.

4. The support device according to claim 3 , wherein:
a plurality of the bag body assemblies is provided, and the bag body assemblies are arranged such that the first regions of the first bag body units of the bag body assemblies overlap each other in the direction toward the seated occupant;
the second regions of the first bag body units are arranged to face each other along the support surface facing the seated occupant such that the first regions overlapping each other are positioned between the second regions; and
each of the bag body assemblies is selectively expanded.

5. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the coupling portion is provided with a communication passage that provides communication between the first bag body unit and the second bag body unit; and
air that is supplied to one of the first and second bag body units is supplied to the other of the first and second bag body units via the communication passage.

6. The support device according to claim 5 , wherein:
the first and second bag body units, the coupling portion, and the communication passage are integrally formed by joining two sheet members;
the two sheet members are joined along a joint line that extends along a boundary line that defines the first and second bag body units and the communication passage; and
a groove is provided on at least one of opposed wall surfaces of the two sheet members, the opposed wall surfaces constituting the coupling portion and the communication passage, and the communication passage is secured by the groove when the opposed wall surfaces of the two sheet members are brought into contact with each other.

Assignees

• Toyota Boshoku Kk

Inventors

• Uno Yosuke

Classifications

• B60N2/643

  shape of the back-rests (B60N2/66 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/90

  Details or parts not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60N2/665 Primary

  using inflatable bladders · CPC title

• B60N2/646

  shape of the cushion · CPC title