Massage system for a vehicle seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10369074-B2
Application number	US-201314917729-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2013
Priority date	Sep 20, 2013
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

A massage system includes a common line, first and second restrictors for flow, an air pump, and first and second pairs of air cells. The line includes, and extends between, first and second portions. The line alternately flows supply and venting air. The first and second restrictors are in series along the line for controlling the alternating flow of the supply and venting air. The air pump provides the supply air, and is in communication with the second portion. The first pair of air cells is in communication with, and individually branches off from, the first portion. The second pair of air cells is in communication with, and individually branches off from, the line between the first and second portions. The second restrictor is disposed between the second pair of air cells and the pump, and the first restrictor is disposed between the first and second pair of air cells.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A massage system for a vehicle seat comprising:
a plurality of inflatable air cell pairs arranged in series;
a supply line structure having a connection for fluid communication from and to each one of the plurality of inflatable air cell pairs;
a pump for supplying air under pressure to the supply line structure;
venting means for venting the supply line structure;
a plurality of passive flow restrictors for controlling air flow to and from the plurality of inflatable air cell pairs to provide a sequential inflation/deflation of one air cell pair to the next air cell pair of the plurality of inflatable air cell pairs, the plurality of passive flow restrictors having reduced flow cross-sections, and each passive flow restrictor of the plurality of passive flow restrictors arranged downstream of each respective pair of the plurality of inflatable air cell pairs and disposed in the supply line structure such that the flow resistance from the pump and the venting means to one air cell pair of the plurality of inflatable air cell pairs increases with respect to the flow resistance of the adjacent air cell pair of the plurality of inflatable air cell pairs facilitating sequential inflation upon the pump supplying air under pressure to the supply line structure, wherein the plurality of passive flow restrictors are dimensioned such that the delay time between an air cell pair reaching 80% of its volume fill capacity to the next adjacent air cell pair of the plurality of inflatable air cell pairs reaching 80% of its volume fill capacity is between 0.5 s to 30 s, and are sequentially deflated when venting the supply line structure by the venting means, wherein the plurality of passive flow restrictors are arranged in series with one another.

2. The massage system for a vehicle seat according to claim 1 , wherein the supply line structure comprises a supply line to which each one of the plurality of inflatable air cell pairs is connected, and wherein the plurality of passive flow restrictors are disposed in the supply line.

3. The massage system for a vehicle seat according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a valve disposed in the supply line structure between the pump and plurality of inflatable air cell pairs, the valve adapted to switchably operate between a state in which the pump is in fluid connection with the plurality of inflatable air cell pairs and a state in which the supply line structure is open to the environment for venting the supply line structure.

4. The massage system for a vehicle seat according to claim 2 , wherein a first passive flow restrictor of the plurality of passive flow restrictors is downstream of the pump in the supply line and upstream of a first air cell pair of the plurality of inflatable air cell pairs and has a through-going passage of an effective inner diameter of 0.4 to 2 mm, wherein a second passive flow restrictor upstream of a second air cell pair has an effective inner diameter of 5-80% of the diameter of the first passive flow restrictor, and wherein a third passive flow restrictor upstream of a third air cell pair has an effective inner diameter in the range of 10-100% of the diameter of the second passive flow restrictor.

5. The massage system for a vehicle seat according to claim 4 , wherein the first passive flow restrictor has an effective inner diameter of 0.5-1.5 mm, the second passive flow restrictor has an effective inner diameter of 10-30% of the diameter of the first passive flow restrictor, and the third passive flow restrictor has an effective inner diameter of 50-80% of the diameter of the second passive flow restrictor.

6. A massage system of a vehicle seat comprising:
first, second, and third air cells adapted to inflate upon receipt of air;
a common supply line in direct fluid communication with each one of the first, second, and third air cells, and adapted to flow air in supply flow direction to inflate the first, second, and third air cells, wherein the first air cell is located upstream of the second air cell and the second air cell is located upstream of the third air cell with respect to the supply flow direction;
a first flow restrictor located in the common supply line upstream of the first air cell with respect to the supply flow direction;
a second flow restrictor located in the common supply line upstream of the second air cell, and between the first and second air cells, wherein air flowing through the second flow restrictor in the supply flow direction is supplied by the first flow restrictor; and
a third flow restrictor located in the common supply line upstream of the third air cell, and between the first and second air cells, wherein air flowing through the third flow restrictor in the supply flow direction is supplied by the second flow restrictor.

7. The massage system set forth in claim 6 , wherein a flow cross section of the third flow restrictor is smaller than a flow cross section of the second flow restrictor.

8. The massage system set forth in claim 7 , wherein the flow cross section of the second flow restrictor is smaller than a flow cross section of the first flow restrictor.

9. A massage system comprising:
a common line adapted for the flow of supply air and the opposite flow of venting air, the common line including and extending between first and second portions;
first and second flow restrictors arranged in series along the common line for controlling the flow of the supply air and the venting air;
an air pump adapted to provide the supply air and in fluid communication with the second portion;
a first pair of air cells in fluid communication with and individually branching off from the first portion; and
a second pair of air cells in fluid communication with and individually branching off from the common line between the first and second portions, wherein the second flow restrictor is disposed between the second pair of air cells and the pump, and the first flow restrictor is disposed between the first and second pairs of air cells.

10. The massage system set forth in claim 9 , further comprising:
a third pair of air cells in fluid communication with and individually branching off from the common line between the second flow restrictor and the pump.

11. The massage system set forth in claim 10 , further comprising:
a third flow restrictor arranged in series with the first and second flow restrictors, and along the common line for controlling the flow of the supply air and the venting air, wherein the third flow restrictor is disposed between the third pair of air cells and the pump.

12. The massage system set forth in claim 9 , further comprising:
an air vent in fluid communication with the common line for the expulsion of the venting air, and disposed between the second flow restrictor and the pump.

13. The massage system set forth in claim 11 , further comprising:
an air vent in fluid communication with the common line for the expulsion of venting air, and disposed between the third flow restrictor and the pump.

Assignees

• Kongsberg Automotive Ab

Inventors

• Oberg Peter
• Saren Jari
• Josefsson Daniel

Classifications

• A61H2201/5002

  Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient · CPC title

• B60N2/976

  massaging systems · CPC title

• A61H2205/081

  Back · CPC title

• A61H2201/1623

  Back · CPC title

• A61H9/0078 Primary

  with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs (mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776) · CPC title