Thoracic air bladder assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016206103-A1
Application number	US-201514599650-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 19, 2015
Priority date	Jan 19, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A seat air bladder assembly is provided with at least one central air bladder region having a support surface. At least one pair of lateral air bladder regions extend from opposed sides of the at least one central bladder region. The at least one pair of lateral air bladder regions are oriented at a non-zero angle to incline laterally and support a thoracic region of a seat occupant. A seat assembly is provided with a seat back with a contact surface with a thoracic region. An air bladder assembly is oriented within the thoracic region of the seat back with a support surface that is reclined relative to the contact surface to provide support, and wedge-shaped so that during inflation the air bladder assembly inflates in an upward and forward direction relative to the seat back.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An air bladder assembly for a seat comprising:
at least one central longitudinal air bladder region having a support surface; and at least one pair of lateral air bladder regions extending from opposed sides of the at least one central bladder region wherein the at least one pair of lateral air bladder regions are oriented at a non-zero angle to incline laterally and support a thoracic region of a seat occupant.

2 . The air bladder assembly of claim 1 wherein upper and lower seams of the at least one pair of lateral air bladder regions are oriented at the non-zero lateral angle.

3 . The air bladder assembly of claim 1 wherein the non-zero angle is further defined as an angle in a range of fifteen to forty-five degrees.

4 . The air bladder assembly of claim 1 wherein the non-zero angle is further defined as thirty degrees.

5 . The air bladder assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one pair of lateral air bladder regions are also oriented at a second non-zero angle relative to the at least one central air bladder region support surface to incline forward.

6 . The air bladder assembly of claim 5 wherein the second non-zero angle is further defined as an angle in a range of fifteen to forty-five degrees.

7 . The air bladder assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the at least one pair of lateral air bladder regions has a support surface defined by an irregular quadrilateral shape.

8 . The air bladder assembly of claim 7 wherein the irregular quadrilateral shape is further defined as a trapezoid.

9 . The air bladder assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one central air bladder region comprises an upright column of central air bladder regions.

10 . The air bladder assembly of claim 9 wherein the upright column of central air bladder regions comprises:
a first central air bladder region having a tapered width increasing in a longitudinal direction; and
a second central air bladder region adjacent an increased width of the first central air bladder region.

11 . The air bladder assembly of claim 10 wherein the increased width is further defined as greater than sixty millimeters.

12 . The air bladder assembly of claim 10 wherein the at least one pair of lateral air bladder regions extend from opposed sides of the second central air bladder region.

13 . The air bladder assembly of claim 12 wherein the at least one pair of lateral air bladder regions is further defined as a first pair of air bladder regions;
wherein the upright column of central air bladder regions further comprises a third central air bladder region adjacent the second central air bladder region and spaced apart from the first central air bladder region; and
wherein the air bladder assembly further comprises a second pair of lateral air bladder regions extending from opposed sides of the third central bladder region wherein the second pair of lateral air bladder regions are oriented at a non-zero angle relative to one another to support the thoracic region of the seat occupant.

14 . A seat assembly comprising a seat back and an air bladder assembly according to claim 1 oriented within a thoracic region of the seat back.

15 . The seat assembly of claim 14 wherein the seat back is provided with a contact surface; and
wherein the air bladder assembly is provided with a support surface that is reclined relative to the contact surface to provide support, and wedge-shaped so that during inflation the air bladder regions inflate in an upward and forward direction relative to the seat back.

16 . An air bladder assembly comprising:
a central region having a width of approximately sixty millimeters and a length of approximately four hundred millimeters; and a pair of wings extending from the central region, each wing having a tapered width expanding at approximately thirty degrees to an end that is at least one hundred millimeters is width to collectively support a thoracic region.

17 . The air bladder assembly of claim 16 wherein the central region and the pair of wings further define a plurality of longitudinally separated compartments for individual adjustment.

18 . A seat assembly comprising a seat back and an air bladder assembly according to claim 16 oriented within a thoracic region of the seat back.

19 . The seat assembly of claim 18 wherein the seat back is provided with a contact surface; and
wherein the air bladder assembly is provided with a support surface that is reclined relative to the contact surface to provide support, and wedge-shaped so that during inflation the air bladder assembly inflates in an upward and forward direction relative to the seat back.

20 . A seat assembly comprising:
a seat back provided with a contact surface with a thoracic region; and an air bladder assembly oriented within the thoracic region of the seat back with a support surface that is reclined relative to the contact surface to provide support, and wedge-shaped so that during inflation the air bladder assembly inflates in an upward and forward direction relative to the seat back.

Assignees

• Lear Corp
• Winsen C Zouzal

Inventors

• Zouzal Winsen C
• Patrick Gerald
• Galbreath Ashford Allen
• Pereny Michelle A

Classifications

• B60N2/914

  Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape · CPC title

• A47C27/083

  with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors · CPC title

• A47C7/40

  for the back · CPC title

• A47C27/10

  with two or more independently-fillable chambers · CPC title

• B60N2/525 Primary

  using gas · CPC title