Additive manufactured cushioned component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11780355-B1
Application number	US-202217890515-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 18, 2022
Priority date	Aug 18, 2022
Publication date	Oct 10, 2023
Grant date	Oct 10, 2023

Abstract

A seat assembly includes a cushioned component having a lattice matrix. An air bladder assembly is covered by the lattice matrix. The air bladder assembly includes a plurality of air bladders supported on a platform assembly. Each air bladder includes a body portion operable between deflated and inflated conditions. Each air bladder includes a connection stem. A support plate includes a plurality of access apertures disposed therethrough. The air bladder assembly is operably coupled to the support plate. Each air bladder is aligned with at least one access aperture of the plurality of access apertures. A carrier assembly includes a plurality of mounting apertures disposed through an outer surface thereof. The carrier assembly receives the connection stem of each air bladder through at least one mounting aperture of the plurality of mounting apertures. Each air bladder may include a release valve for releasing air therethrough.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat assembly, comprising:
a cushioned component having a lattice matrix;
an air bladder assembly covered by the lattice matrix, wherein the air bladder assembly includes a plurality of air bladders supported on a platform assembly, wherein each air bladder of the plurality of air bladders includes a body portion positioned on an outer surface of the platform assembly and operable between deflated and inflated conditions, wherein each air bladder of the plurality of air bladders includes a connection stem outwardly extending from an inner surface of the platform assembly, and further wherein each air bladder of the plurality of air bladders includes a pressure release valve in fluid communication with the body portion;
a support plate having a plurality of access apertures disposed therethrough, wherein the air bladder assembly is operably coupled to the support plate, such that each air bladder of the plurality of air bladders is aligned with at least one access aperture of the plurality of access apertures; and
a carrier assembly having a mounting aperture disposed through an outer surface thereof, wherein the connection stem is received through the mounting aperture.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the carrier assembly is a contoured surface.

3. The seat assembly of claim 2 , wherein the support plate is a flexibly resilient plate that includes a complementary configuration relative to the contoured surface of the carrier assembly.

4. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein air within at least one air bladder of the plurality of air bladders releases through the pressure release valve upon reaching a threshold pressure within the at least one air bladder of the plurality of air bladders.

5. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein each air bladder of the plurality of air bladders releases air through the pressure release valve until an internal pressure level of the plurality of air bladders is below a threshold pressure.

6. A seat assembly, comprising:
a cushioned component having a lattice matrix; and
an air bladder assembly integrated into the lattice matrix, wherein the air bladder assembly includes first and second air bladders that are spaced-apart from one another and operable between at-rest and pressurized conditions, and further wherein the first and second air bladders each include a non-porous outer casing surrounding an interior cavity, wherein the outer casing and the lattice matrix are integrated components comprised of a common material to define a monolithic structure, wherein the first and second air bladders each include a valve, and further wherein the valve of each of the first and second air bladders releases air from within the first and second air bladders while pressures within the first and second air bladders are more than threshold pressures.

7. The seat assembly of claim 6 , including:
a support plate having an access aperture disposed therethrough, wherein the support plate is flexibly resilient, and further wherein the first and second air bladders are operably coupled to the support plate.

8. The seat assembly of claim 7 , including:
a carrier assembly having a mounting aperture disposed through an outer surface thereof, wherein the outer surface of the carrier assembly is a contoured surface, and further wherein the support plate includes a complementary configuration relative to the contoured surface.

9. The seat assembly of claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second air bladders includes a connection stem outwardly extending from an inner surface of a platform assembly.

10. The seat assembly of claim 9 , including:
an inflation module operably coupled to the connection stem, such that the air bladder assembly is fluidically coupled to the inflation module by one or more supply lines.

11. The seat assembly of claim 10 , wherein the valve is operable between at least two conditions:
an open condition, wherein air is released from inside the first and second air bladders, and further wherein the valve is in the open condition when a pressure level inside the first and second air bladders exceeds a predetermined pressure level threshold; and
a closed condition, wherein the valve is in the closed condition when the pressure level inside the first and second air bladders is less than the predetermined pressure level threshold.

12. The seat assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first and second air bladders each include:
a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor signals the inflation module to send air to the first and second air bladders.

13. A seat assembly, comprising:
a cushioned component having a lattice matrix;
an air bladder having a distal portion and a proximal portion in fluid communication with the distal portion, wherein the proximal portion includes a connection stem outwardly extending therefrom, wherein the air bladder includes a release valve, and further wherein an outermost surface of the distal portion is covered by the lattice matrix, and further wherein the air bladder is operable between at-rest and pressurized conditions;
a support plate having an access aperture disposed therethrough, wherein the support plate is flexibly resilient, and further wherein the air bladder is operably coupled to the support plate, such that the connection stem thereof is received through the access aperture; and
a carrier assembly having a mounting aperture disposed through an outer surface thereof, wherein the connection stem is received through the mounting aperture, and further wherein the outer surface of the carrier assembly is a contoured surface, and further wherein the support plate includes a complementary configuration relative to the contoured surface.

14. The seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein the air bladder includes a platform assembly, and further wherein the distal portion of the air bladder is positioned on an outer surface of the platform assembly, and even further wherein the proximal portion is positioned on an inner surface of the platform assembly.

15. The seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein the air bladder includes a non-porous outer casing surrounding an interior cavity.

16. The seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein the release valve releases air from within the air bladder while a pressure level within the air bladder exceeds a threshold pressure level, and further wherein the release valve is in a closed condition when the pressure within the air bladder is less than the threshold pressure level.

17. The seat assembly of claim 16 , including:
an inflation module operably coupled to the connection stem by at least one supply line.

18. The seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein the support plate is disposed between the air bladder and the carrier assembly.

19. The seat assembly of claim 17 , wherein the air bladder includes a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor signals the inflation module to send air to the air bladder after the release valve releases air.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Romelfanger Megan
• Maloney Patrick
• Boland Brian
• Perkins Alex
• Schein Victoria Leigh
• Kondrad Marcos Silva
• Tamhankar Sangram

Classifications

• B60N2/665 Primary

  using inflatable bladders · CPC title

• A47C4/54

  Inflatable chairs · CPC title

• A47C7/467

  adjustable by fluid means · CPC title

• B60N2/914 Primary

  Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape · CPC title

• B60N2/986

  Side-rests (B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence) · CPC title