Abstract:
The present invention is a lumbar and bolster support for a seat, especially for an automotive second row seat or a chair back rest. The lumbar and bolster support has a lumbar support member adjustable between a retracted position and an extended position, and a first bolster member and a second bolster member adjustable between a first position and a second position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/913,744 filed Apr. 24, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to the field of lumbar support systems, especially as such systems are used in automotive seats and chair back rests. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    Lumbar support systems have become a popular feature for use in automotive seats, office chairs, beds, lounge chairs and various other furniture and equipment used for sitting or reclining. Numerous and varied designs of lumbar support systems have been developed and produced. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is a lumbar and bolster support for a seat, especially for an automotive second row seat or a chair back rest. 
         [0007]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purpose of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom view the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a back perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present invention, its application, or its uses. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-4  an apparatus  10  to provide a lumbar and bolster support in a seat back is provided comprising a lumbar support basket  20 , two bolster paddles  30 ,  31 , a suspension wire  40 , an actuator  50 , a first, second and third bowden cable wire assemblies  52 ,  54 ,  56 , a center bracket assembly  60 , four spring and spring tube assemblies  62 ,  63 ,  64 ,  65 , four pivot plates  70 ,  71 ,  72 ,  73 , two hinge wires  74 ,  75 , two pivot wires  76 ,  77 , two trim wires  80 ,  81 , two bolster wires  78 ,  79  and two slider assemblies  90 ,  91 . 
         [0015]    According to the depicted embodiment an upper portion of the suspension wire  40  is attached by clips  42 ,  43  to a seat back (not shown) and a lower portion is hingedly attached to the lumbar support basket  20  as best seen in  FIG. 1 . Although the suspension wire  40  is depicted as a generally U-shaped wire, it need not be limited to a U-shaped wire. The lumbar support basket  20  is preferably designed such that it is naturally biased in a retracted position, for example by making it at least in part out of elastic material. The lumbar support basket  20  preferably has a number of through-holes as depicted. The sides of the lumbar support basket  20  are hingedly attached to the two pivot wires  76 ,  77 , respectively, as best seen in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0016]    The pivot wires  76 ;  77  are in turn hingedly connected to the four pivot plates  70 ,  71 ;  72 ,  73 , two on each side. Two pivot plates  70 ,  71 ;  72 ,  73  are connected to each bolster wire  78 ;  79  on its respective side. The pivot plates  70 ,  71 ;  72 ,  73  connect to the bolster wire  78 ;  79  preferably at a middle portion of the bolster wire  78 ;  79  on its respective side. Outer portions of the two bolster wires  78 ,  79  are fixed to the two bolster paddles  30 ,  31 , respectively. Inner portions of the two bolster wires  78 ,  79  are hingedly attached to the two slider assemblies  90 ,  91 , respectively. The two slider assemblies  90 ,  91  are slidable with respect to the center bracket assembly  60 . The two bolster paddles  30 ,  31  are fixed to the two trim wires  80 ,  81 , respectively. The two trim wires  80 ,  81  are slideably connected to two clips  82 ,  83 , which are attached to a seat frame (not shown). The two pivot plates  70 ,  71 ;  72 ,  73  are also hingedly connected to the hinge wire  74 ;  75 , on its respective side. The two hinge wires  74 ,  75  are both hingedly connected to opposite sides of the center bracket assembly  60  as best seen in  FIG. 2 . Accordingly, when the slider assemblies  90 ,  91  slide with respect to the center bracket assembly  60 , the two bolster paddles  30 ,  31  are moved between a first position and a second position. 
         [0017]    Preferably, two spring assemblies  62 ,  63 ;  64 ,  65  on each side of the center bracket assembly  60  are attached such that one end of each spring is fixed with respect to a portion of the hinge wire  74 ,  75 , and the other end is fixed with respect to a portion of the respective slider assembly  90 ,  91  as best seen in  FIG. 2 , thereby biasing the two bolster paddles  30 ,  31  in the first position. 
         [0018]    The actuator  50  is attached to the suspension wire  40 . A first end of the first bowden cable  52  is operatively connected to the actuator  50 . The second end of the conduit portion of the first bowden cable assembly  52  is fixed with respect to a first pivot wire  77 . The second end of the wire portion  53  of the first bowden cable assembly  52  is fixed with respect to a second pivot wire  76  as best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . A portion of the wire  53  of the first bowden cable assembly  52  runs through a channel in the lumbar support basket  20  such that when tension is applied to the wire  53 , the lumbar support basket  20  is moved to an extended position. Preferably, when such tension is removed the lumbar support basket  20  is moved back to the retracted position due to its natural bias. 
         [0019]    The conduit portions of the second and third bowden cable assemblies  54 ,  56  are fixed with respect to the center bracket assembly  60 . The wire portions of the second and third bowden cable assemblies  54 ,  56  are attached to the slider assemblies  90 ,  91 , respectively. Accordingly, when tension is applied to the wire portions of the second and third bowden cable assemblies  54 ,  56 , the slider assemblies  90 ,  91  are moved slidingly with respect to the center bracket assembly  60  such that the two bolster paddles  30 ,  31  are moved from the first position to the second position. 
         [0020]    As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with respect to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.