Thoracic region comfort seating system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9826840-B2
Application number	US-201314423120-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2013
Priority date	Aug 23, 2012
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A thoracic support for a seatback of a seat is provided. The thoracic support includes a center portion extending in an upright direction and adapted to be positioned adjacent the seatback to align adjacent a thoracic region a user's spine. The center portion is formed of a first foam material having a first hardness. A pair of side portions each disposed adjacent to and are connected with the center portion. The side portions are formed of a second foam material having a second hardness. The first hardness is greater than the second hardness so that the center portion provides support to at least a portion of the thoracic region of the user's spine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A thoracic support for a seatback of a seat, the thoracic support comprising:
a center portion extending in an upright direction and adapted to be positioned adjacent the seatback to align adjacent a thoracic region a user's spine, the center portion having a first hardness; and
a pair of side portions each disposed adjacent to and abuts the center portion along one lateral side of the center portion, the side portions having a second hardness,
wherein the first hardness is greater than the second hardness so that the center portion provides support to at least a portion of the thoracic region of the user's spine and further comprising a pocket sized to receive the support, wherein the pocket is adapted to be secured to the seatback.

2. The thoracic support of claim 1 wherein the center portion includes a convex profile in the upright direction along a support surface.

3. The thoracic support of claim 1 wherein the side portions and center portion define a convex profile in a transverse direction from a first edge to a second edge of the support, wherein an apex of the transverse convex profile is defined along the center portion.

4. The thoracic support of claim 1 further comprising at least one fastener adapted to secured the thoracic support to at least one of a forward surface or a surface rearward of the seatback in a stationary position relative to the seatback.

5. A thoracic support for a seatback of a seat, the thoracic support comprising:
a center portion extending in an upright direction and adapted to be positioned adjacent the seatback to align adjacent a thoracic region a user's spine, the center portion formed of a first foam material having a first hardness; and
a pair of side portions each disposed adjacent to and abuts the center portion along one lateral side of the center portion, the side portions formed of a second foam material having a second hardness,
wherein the first hardness is greater than the second hardness so that the center portion provides support to at least a portion of the thoracic region of the user's spine and further comprising a pocket sized to receive the support, wherein the pocket is adapted to be secured to the seatback.

6. The thoracic support of claim 5 wherein the center portion has a constant width extending in the upright direction, and the side portions have a width that narrows from a top to a bottom thereby defining a trapezoidal thoracic support.

7. The thoracic support of claim 5 wherein the side portions and center portion define a convex profile in a transverse direction from a first edge to a second edge of the support, wherein an apex of the transverse convex profile is defined along the center portion.

8. A seat comprising:
a seatback;
a support structure positioned adjacent the seatback and including:
a center portion extending in an upright direction and adapted to be positioned adjacent a seatback to align adjacent a thoracic region a user's spine, the center portion formed of a first foam material having a first hardness; and
a pair of side portions each disposed adjacent to and abuts the center portion along one lateral side of the center portion, the side portions formed of a second foam material having a second hardness,

wherein the first hardness is greater than the second hardness so that the center portion provides support to at least a portion of the thoracic region of the user's spine and further comprising a pocket sized to receive the support, wherein the pocket is adapted to be secured to the seatback.

9. The seat according to claim 8 wherein the seatback is formed of a foam material having a third hardness being less than the second hardness of the side portions.

10. The seat according to claim 8 wherein the first foam material has a first density being denser than a second density of the second foam material.

11. The seat according to claim 10 wherein the seatback is formed of a mesh material having a third density being less than the second density of the side portions.

12. The seat according to claim 8 further comprising a trim material covering the support structure.

13. The seat according to claim 12 wherein the support is embedded in the seatback so that the support is retained in the seatback and stationary relative to the seatback, the trim material thereby continuously covering the seatback and support structure.

14. The seat according to claim 8 wherein the side portions and center portion define a convex profile in a transverse direction from a first edge to a second edge of the support, wherein an apex of the transverse convex profile is defined along the center portion.

15. The seat according to claim 8 wherein the seatback is connected to a seat frame adapted for mounting in a vehicle.

16. The seat according to claim 8 wherein the seatback is connected to a base of an office chair.

17. The seat according to claim 8 wherein each of the side portions abut the center portion along one lateral side of the center portion.

Assignees

• Lear Corp
• Zouzal Winsen C

Inventors

• Zouzal Winsen C
• Galbreath Ashford Allen
• Ali Asad S
• O'Bannon Terry
• Locke Gerald Steven
• Badgley Jennifer
• Hicks Thomas S
• Cichocki Walter T

Classifications

• B60N2/665

  using inflatable bladders · CPC title

• B60N2/64

  Back-rests {or cushions (B60N2/2222 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A47C7/425

  Supplementary back-rests to be positioned on a back-rest or the like · CPC title

• B60N2/643

  shape of the back-rests (B60N2/66 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/646

  shape of the cushion · CPC title