Massage device for a vehicle seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016296413-A1
Application number	US-201615093421-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 7, 2016
Priority date	Apr 9, 2015
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to one aspect of the disclosure, a massage device for a vehicle seat is provided. The message device includes a linear series of inflatable massage cells which are to be arranged in succession below a cover of a backrest or a seat body of the vehicle seat, supply and venting lines to and from the massage cells. A compressed air pump is connected to the supply inventing lines. A valve arrangement is provided for the selective supply of massage cells with compressed air and for the selective venting of massage cells. A control unit is provided for controlling the compressed air pump and the valve arrangement, said control unit being arranged for carrying out massage functions by controlling the compressed air pump and the valve arrangement according to a predetermined sequence set individually by the user for the selective inflation and venting of massage cells in the linear series.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A massage device for a vehicle seat comprising:
a linear series of inflatable massage cells which are to be arranged in succession below a cover of a backrest or a seat body of the vehicle seat, supply and venting lines to and from the massage cells; a compressed air pump connected to the supply inventing lines; a valve arrangement for the selective supply of massage cells with compressed air and for the selective venting of massage cells; and a control unit controlling the compressed air pump and the valve arrangement, said control unit being arranged for carrying out massage functions by controlling the compressed air pump and the valve arrangement according to a predetermined sequence set individually by the user for the selective inflation and venting of massage cells in the linear series, wherein the linear series of massage cells comprises a plurality of units in succession in the longitudinal direction, each of which units comprises a primary massage cell which can be inflated and deflated selectively through an associated valve, and at least one secondary massage cell following the primary massage cell, which secondary massage cell is connected to the associated primary massage cell via a supply and venting line, in which supply and venting line a passive flow restrictor is configured such that the inflation and deflation of the secondary massage cell follows the inflation and deflation of the associated primary massage cell with a predetermined time delay.

2 . The massage device according to claim 1 , wherein each passive flow restrictor in the supply and venting line between the primary massage cell and the associated secondary massage cell is configured such that the delay time between the point in time in which the primary massage cell reaches 80% of its volume fill capacity, and the point in time in which the associated secondary massage cell reaches 80% of its volume fill capacity is in the range between 0.2 s and 10 s.

3 . The massage device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one secondary massage cell is associated with a further secondary massage cell successive in the linear series of massage cells, which further secondary massage cell is connected to its associated secondary massage cell by a supply and venting line in which a passive flow restrictor is disposed which is configured such that inflation and deflation of the further secondary massage cell follows inflation and deflation, respectively, of the associated secondary massage cell with the predetermined time delay.

4 . The massage device according to claim 3 , wherein the passive flow restrictor between a secondary massage cell and its associated further secondary massage cell is configured such that the delay time between the point in time when the secondary massage cell upon inflation reaches 80% of its maximum volume capacity, and the point in time when the further secondary massage cell reaches 80% of its maximum volume fill capacity is in the range between 0.2 and 10 s.

5 . The massage device according to claim 1 , wherein the successive primary and secondary massage cells in the linear series are arranged to overlap in the longitudinal direction of the linear series such that for each pair of consecutive primary and secondary massage cells one of the primary or second is partially overlapping the preceding second or primary massage cell.

6 . The massage cell according to claim 5 , wherein the primary and secondary massage cells in the linear series have the same extension in the longitudinal direction of the linear series, and in that the overlap of adjacent massage cells is in the range 10%-70% of the longitudinal extension of the series of massage cells.

7 . The massage device according to claim 1 , wherein the primary and secondary massage cells are configured such that they are, in the inflated state, wedge-shaped when viewed in cross-section through a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of the linear series of primary and secondary massage cells, wherein the wedge-shape of all of the primary and secondary massage cells in oriented in the same direction.

8 . The massage device according to claim 7 , wherein the side of the wedge-shape of the primary and secondary massage cells which is higher in the inflated state is at least double the height of the in the longitudinal direction opposing lower side.

9 . The massage device according to claim 7 , wherein the primary and secondary massage cells are configured in a manner of a folding bellows, wherein the outer folds are connected together on one side so that, after inflation of the folding bellows-like primary and secondary massage cells, the connected side forms the lower side of the wedge-shape in the inflated state.

10 . The massage device according to claim 9 , wherein the primary and secondary massage cells in each case are formed by two folding bellows elements disposed on top of each other, wherein the interior spaces of the folding bellow elements are connected such that they can be inflated and deflated in common.

11 . The massage device according to claim 9 , wherein the primary and secondary massage cells in each case are formed by three folding bellows elements disposed on top of each other, wherein the interior spaces of the folding bellow elements are connected such that they can be inflated and deflated in common.

12 . A method of operating a massage device for a vehicle seat comprising:
providing a linear series of inflatable massage cells which are to be arranged in succession below a cover of a backrest or a seat body of the vehicle seat, supply and venting lines to and from the massage cells; providing a compressed air pump connected to the supply inventing lines; providing a valve arrangement for the selective supply of massage cells with compressed air and for the selective venting of massage cells; providing a control unit controlling the compressed air pump and the valve arrangement; defining a predetermined sequence for inflating and venting by a user; selectively inflating and venting of the massage cells in the linear series according to the predetermined sequence, wherein the linear series of massage cells comprises a plurality of units in succession in the longitudinal direction, wherein each of which units comprises a primary massage cell which can be inflated and deflated selectively through an associated valve, and at least one secondary massage cell following the primary massage cell, which secondary massage cell is connected to the associated primary massage cell via a supply and venting line, in which supply and venting line a passive flow restrictor is disposed which is configured such that the inflation and deflation of the secondary massage cell follows the inflation and deflation of the associated primary massage cell with a predetermined time delay.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the delay time between the point in time in which the primary massage cell reaches 80% of its volume fill capacity, and the point in time in which the associated secondary massage cell reaches 80% of its volume fill capacity is in the range between 0.2 s and 10 s

14 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein at least one secondary massage cell is associated with a further secondary massage cell successive in the linear series of massage cells, which further secondary massage cell is connected to its associated secondary massage cell by a supply and venting line in which a passive flow restrictor is disposed which is configured such that inflation and deflation of the further secondary massage cell follows inflati

Assignees

• Kongsberg Automotive Ab

Inventors

• Norman Ronny
• Saren Jari

Classifications

• A61H2205/086

  Buttocks · CPC title

• A61H2205/081

  Back · CPC title

• B60N2/976

  massaging systems · 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

• A61H2201/0149

  Seat or chair · CPC title