Seat with pneumatic headrest and thigh adjustment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9821694-B2
Application number	US-201514805697-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2015
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A pneumatically adjustable seat includes a seat frame having a seat back frame portion and a headrest coupled to the seat back frame portion. The headrest includes a resilient cushion. A drive assembly includes a contact member operatively associated with the resilient cushion. A first bladder is operatively coupled to the contact member and in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid. Inflation of the first bladder via the source of pressurized fluid extends the contact member from a first position nearer the seat back frame to a second position further from the seat back frame. A second bladder is operatively coupled to the contact member and in fluid communication with the source of pressurized fluid. Inflation of the second bladder via the source of pressurized fluid pivots the contact member away from an occupant of the seat.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pneumatically adjustable seat comprising:
a seat frame having a seat back frame portion;
a headrest coupled to the seat back frame portion, the headrest including a resilient cushion; and
a drive assembly coupled to the seat back frame portion, the drive assembly including
a contact member operatively associated with the resilient cushion,
a bladder operatively coupled to the contact member and in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid, wherein inflation of the bladder via the source of pressurized fluid moves the contact member from a first position to a second position along a first direction, and
a support member disposed between an interior surface of the headrest and the bladder, wherein the support member is configured to resist movement of the interior surface of the headrest toward the bladder in a second direction transverse to the first direction.

2. The adjustable seat of claim 1 , wherein the contact member engages the resilient cushion with an arcuate surface.

3. The adjustable seat of claim 1 , wherein the contact member engages the resilient cushion with a rectilinear surface.

4. The adjustable seat of claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly is pivotally coupled to the seat back frame portion and further comprising a second bladder operatively coupled to the drive assembly and in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid, wherein inflation of the second bladder via the source of pressurized fluid moves the contact member from a third position to a fourth position.

5. The adjustable seat of claim 1 , wherein the contact member is biased to return automatically to the first position when the bladder is deflated.

6. The adjustable seat of claim 5 , wherein the contact member is biased by a spring to return automatically to the first position when the bladder is deflated.

7. The adjustable seat of claim 1 , wherein the support member moves with the contact member.

8. The adjustable seat of claim 1 , wherein the support member is a support band.

9. The adjustable seat of claim 1 , wherein the support member directly contacts the resilient cushion.

10. A pneumatically adjustable seat comprising:
a seat frame having a seat cushion frame portion;
a cushion extension portion coupled to the seat cushion frame portion, the cushion extension portion including a resilient cushion; and
a drive assembly coupled to the seat cushion frame portion, the drive assembly including
a contact member operatively associated with the resilient cushion,
a bladder operatively coupled to the contact member and in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid, wherein inflation of the bladder via the source of pressurized fluid moves the contact member from a first position to a second position along a first direction, and
a support member disposed between an interior surface of the cushion extension portion and the bladder, wherein the support member is configured to resist movement of the interior surface of the cushion extension portion toward the bladder in a second direction transverse to the first direction.

11. The adjustable seat of claim 10 , wherein the contact member engages the resilient cushion with an arcuate surface.

12. The adjustable seat of claim 10 , wherein the contact member engages the resilient cushion with a rectilinear surface.

13. The adjustable seat of claim 10 , wherein the drive assembly is pivotally coupled to the seat cushion frame portion and further comprising a second bladder operatively coupled to the drive assembly and in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid, wherein inflation of the second bladder via the source of pressurized fluid moves the contact member from a third position to a fourth position.

14. The adjustable seat of claim 10 , wherein the contact member is biased to return automatically to the first position when the bladder is deflated.

15. The adjustable seat of claim 14 , wherein the contact member is biased by a spring to return automatically to the first position when the bladder is deflated.

16. The adjustable seat of claim 10 , wherein the support member moves with the contact member.

17. The adjustable seat of claim 10 , wherein the support member is a support band.

18. The adjustable seat of claim 10 , wherein the support member directly contacts the resilient cushion.

19. A pneumatically adjustable seat comprising:
a seat frame having a seat back frame portion;
a headrest coupled to the seat back frame portion, the headrest including a resilient cushion; and
a drive assembly pivotally coupled to the seat back frame portion, the drive assembly including
a contact member operatively associated with the resilient cushion,
a first bladder operatively coupled to the contact member and in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid, wherein inflation of the first bladder via the source of pressurized fluid moves the contact member from a first position to a second position along a first direction, and
a second bladder operatively coupled to the drive assembly and in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid, wherein inflation of the second bladder via the source of pressurized fluid moves the contact member about a pivot axis from a third position to a fourth position; wherein the contact member is movable along the first direction with respect to the pivot axis.

20. The adjustable seat of claim 19 , wherein the contact member is biased to return automatically to the first position when the first bladder is deflated.

21. The adjustable seat of claim 20 , wherein the contact member is biased by a spring to return automatically to the first position when the first bladder is deflated.

22. The adjustable seat of claim 19 , further comprising a support member disposed between an interior surface of the headrest and the bladder, wherein the support member is configured to resist movement of an interior surface of the headrest toward the bladder in a second direction transverse to the first direction.

23. The adjustable seat of claim 19 , wherein the support member moves with the contact member.

24. The adjustable seat of claim 19 , wherein the contact member is further from the pivot axis in the second position than in the first position.

25. The adjustable seat of claim 19 , wherein the pivot axis is orthogonal to the first direction.

26. A pneumatically adjustable seat comprising:
a seat frame having a seat cushion frame portion;
a cushion extension portion coupled to the seat cushion frame portion, the cushion extension portion including a resilient cushion; and
a drive assembly pivotally coupled to the seat cushion frame portion, the drive assembly including
a contact member operatively associated with the resilient cushion,
a first bladder operatively coupled to the contact member and in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid, wherein inflation of the first bladder via the source of pressurized fluid moves the contact member from a first position to a second position along a first direction,
a second bladder operatively coupled to the drive assembly and in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid, wherein inflation of the second bladder via the source of pressurized fluid moves the contact member about a pivot axis from a third position to a fourth position; wherein the contact member is movable along the f

Assignees

• Leggett & Platt Canada Co

Inventors

• Mcmillen Robert J
• Colja Renato

Classifications

• B60N2/838

  Tiltable · CPC title

• B60N2/02 Primary

  the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable (adjustable arm-rests B60N2/75; adjustable head-rests B60N2/806) · CPC title

• B60N2/62

  Thigh-rests {(B60N2/914 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N2/914

  Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape · CPC title

• B60N2/853

  characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors · CPC title