Seat adjuster

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11564499-B2
Application number	US-202016933300-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2020
Priority date	Jul 20, 2020
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A seat adjuster may include a support member and a fluid bladder. The support member may have a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end may be connectable to a seat frame such that the support member is disposed at least partially below a suspension portion of said seat frame. The fluid bladder may be disposed at least partially between the support member and said suspension portion. The fluid bladder may be configured to support said suspension portion. A change or adjustment of a volume of the fluid bladder may change or adjust the support provided to said suspension portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat assembly, comprising:
a seat adjuster, including:
a support member having a first end and a second end; and
a fluid bladder;

a seat frame, including:
a seat bottom portion;
a seatback portion; and
a suspension portion;

wherein the first end and the second end are connected to the seat frame such that the support member is disposed at least partially below the suspension portion of the seat frame;
the fluid bladder is disposed between the support member and the suspension portion;
the fluid bladder provides support to said suspension portion;
a change or adjustment of a volume of the fluid bladder changes or adjusts the support provided to the suspension portion;
the support member comprises a flexible body that is resistant to stretching;
the seat bottom portion defines an opening;
the suspension portion is connected to the seat frame and extends across the opening;
the seat adjuster includes a connector connecting the fluid bladder and the suspension portion; and
the fluid bladder hangs from the suspension portion such that the fluid bladder is at least partially suspended in a pocket provided by the support member.

2. The seat assembly according to claim 1 , including an intermediate body configured to facilitate support of said suspension portion via the fluid bladder;
wherein the fluid bladder is disposed at least partially between the support member and the intermediate body.

3. The seat assembly according to claim 2 , wherein:
the fluid bladder and the intermediate body are connected via a connector;
the connector is engaged with the suspension portion; and
the fluid bladder and the intermediate body are connected to the suspension portion via the connector.

4. The seat assembly according to claim 1 , including an intermediate body configured to facilitate support of said suspension portion via the fluid bladder;
wherein the fluid bladder is disposed at least partially between the support member and the intermediate body; and
a flange portion of the fluid bladder is connected to the intermediate body.

5. The seat assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the intermediate body extends substantially across the pocket between the first end and the second end of the support member.

6. The seat assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the support member is configured as a woven rip-stop fabric including a plurality of base fibers and a plurality of reinforcement fibers interwoven with the plurality of base fibers.

7. The seat assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid bladder and the support member are configured to adjustably limit deformation of the suspension portion.

8. The seat assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first end and the second end of the support member are connected to the seat frame on opposite sides of the opening.

9. The seat assembly according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first end and the second end of the support member extend up through the opening and are connected to an upper surface of the seat frame.

10. The seat assembly according to claim 8 , wherein:
the suspension portion includes a wire suspension mat; and
the wire suspension mat is deformable such that a portion of the wire suspension mat protrudes into the pocket, provided by the support member, when a force is applied to the wire suspension mat.

11. The seat assembly according to claim 8 , wherein:
the fluid bladder is disposed below the suspension portion and above the support member;
the seat frame includes a support body disposed at or about a rear of the seat frame, and a seat pan disposed at or about a front of the seat frame;
the suspension portion is connected to the support body; and
the support member is looped completely around the support body.

12. The seat assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first end and the second end of the support member are connected to the seat bottom portion on opposite sides of the opening;
the seat bottom portion includes a first end and a second end disposed on opposite sides of the opening;
the seatback portion is connected to the second end of the seat bottom portion; and
the opening is disposed offset toward the second end of the seat bottom portion.

13. The seat assembly according to claim 12 , wherein:
the seat bottom portion includes a seat pan and a support body;
the seat pan is disposed at the first end of the seat bottom portion;
the support body is disposed proximate the second end of the seat bottom portion;
the first end of the support member is connected to the seat pan; and
the second end of the support member loops around the support body and is connected to a joining region of the support member to form a looped portion that connects the second end of the support member to the second end of the seat bottom portion.

14. A method of operating the seat assembly of claim 1 , the method comprising:
applying a force to the suspension portion;
inflating the fluid bladder to one of a plurality of inflation levels corresponding to a plurality of levels of support; and
limiting deformation of the suspension portion via the fluid bladder and the support member.

15. The seat assembly of claim 1 , comprising:
an intermediate body configured to facilitate support of said suspension portion via the fluid bladder;
wherein
the fluid bladder is at least partially disposed between the support member and the intermediate body;
the intermediate body is at least partially disposed between the fluid bladder and the suspension portion; and
the connector is connected to the suspension portion to connect the fluid bladder and the intermediate body to the suspension portion.

16. The seat assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
the fluid bladder includes a main portion and a flange portion;
the main portion is configured to receive and retain a fluid;
the flange portion has a sturdier construction than the main portion; and
the flange portion is connected to the intermediate body and the suspension portion via the connector.

17. A vehicle comprising the seat assembly of claim 1 .

18. The seat assembly of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of fluid bladders including the fluid bladder;
wherein the plurality of fluid bladders are disposed in a grid pattern and are individually adjustable via an electronic control unit.

19. The seat assembly of claim 18 , wherein, in an uninflated state, at least one of the plurality of fluid bladders is not in contact with the support member.

20. A vehicle comprising the seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the seat assembly comprises a plurality of fluid bladders including the fluid bladder;
the plurality of fluid bladders are individually adjustable via an electronic control unit; and
in an uninflated state, at least one of the plurality of fluid bladders is not in contact with the support member.

Assignees

• Lear Corp

Inventors

• Freeman Lea Adam
• Legh Darren
• Jordan David
• Ford Pete
• Morrison Chris
• Baxter Antony
• Edwards Chris J

Classifications

• A47C27/081

  of pneumatic type · CPC title

• A47C27/085

  of liquid type, e.g. filled with water or gel · CPC title

• A47C7/142 Primary

  by fluid means · CPC title

• A47C27/10

  with two or more independently-fillable chambers · CPC title

• B60N2/7011

  of substantially two-dimensional shape, e.g. hammock-like, plastic shells, fabrics · CPC title