Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US4890885?dq=6008737
Timestamp: 2014-11-28 06:15:00
Document Index: 408222922

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 2', 'arts 14', 'arts 14', 'arts 14', 'arts 14']

Patent US4890885 - Seat for a vehicle, aircraft or the like - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA seat for a vehicle, aircraft or the like includes a seat part and a backrest whereby the backrest is provided with an integrated headrest. In order that, on the one hand, the area of the cervical spinal column-lordosis of the respective seat user is effectively supported during the driving operation...http://www.google.com/patents/US4890885?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4890885 - Seat for a vehicle, aircraft or the likeAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS4890885 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 07/275,370Publication dateJan 2, 1990Filing dateDec 23, 1988Priority dateNov 24, 1987Fee statusLapsedAlso published asDE3739752A1, EP0317726A2, EP0317726A3, EP0317726B1Publication number07275370, 275370, US 4890885 A, US 4890885A, US-A-4890885, US4890885 A, US4890885AInventorsKay GrossmannOriginal AssigneeDr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche AgExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (7), Referenced by (26), Classifications (13), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSeat for a vehicle, aircraft or the likeUS 4890885 AAbstract A seat for a vehicle, aircraft or the like includes a seat part and a backrest whereby the backrest is provided with an integrated headrest. In order that, on the one hand, the area of the cervical spinal column-lordosis of the respective seat user is effectively supported during the driving operation and, on the other, injuries of the cervical spinal column are at least reduced in case of an impact, a continuously changeable vacuum cushion is arranged at the backrest within the area of the headrest which is adapted to be individually matched to the cervical vertebrae column-lordosis of the respective seat user by means of an extraction pump and at least one valve.
I claim: 1. A seat for a vehicle, aircraft or the like comprising seat means, backrest means including a backrest frame and an integrated headrest means, a continuously changeable vacuum cushion means being arranged at the backrest means within the area of the headrest means, and means including an extraction pump and at least one valve means for individually matching the vacuum cushion means to the physiological cervical spinal column-lordosis of the respective seat user.
2. A seat for a vehicle, aircraft or the like comprising seat means, backrest means including a backrest frame and an integrated headrest means, a continuously changeable vacuum cushion means being arranged at the backrest means within the area of the headrest means, the vacuum cushion means including a cover means of air non-permeable material, and a large number of small plastic material parts arranged inside of the cover means, and means including an extraction pump and at least one valve means for individually matching the vacuum cushion means to the physiological cervical spinal column-lordosis of the respective seat user.
3. A seat according to claim 2, wherein the cover means is secured circumferentially at a backrest frame of the backrest means.
4. A seat according to claim 2, wherein for purposes of positioning the small plastic material parts inside of the cover means--as viewed in vertical direction--several spaced lamellae means disposed one above the other are provided whereby the lamellae means have a large number of air passage openings.
5. A seat according to claim 1, wherein the extraction pump and the valve means are activatable by a switch means which is arranged at the seat.
6. A seat according to claim 1, wherein the extraction pump and the valve means are arranged at a lateral girder of the backrest frame of the backrest means.
7. A seat according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum cushion means is arranged on the side of the backrest frame facing the seat passenger, and a foamed material layer being provided in front of the vacuum cushion means.
8. A seat according to claim 5, wherein the extraction pump and the valve means are arranged at a lateral girder of the backrest frame of the backrest means.
9. A seat according to claim 5, wherein the vacuum cushion means is arranged on the side of the backrest frame facing the seat passenger, and a foamed material layer being provided in front of the vacuum cushion means.
10. A seat according to claim 9, wherein the vacuum cushion means includes a cover means of air non-permeable material, and a large number of small plastic material parts arranged inside of the cover means.
11. A seat according to claim 10, wherein the cover means is secured circumferentially at a backrest frame of the backrest means.
12. A seat according to claim 10, wherein for purposes of positioning the small plastic material parts inside of the cover means--as viewed in vertical direction--several spaced lamellae means disposed one above the other are provided whereby the lamellae means have a large number of air passage openings.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a seat for a vehicle, aircraft or the like which includes a seat part and a backrest, whereby the backrest is provided with an integrated headrest.
A seat of the aforementioned type is known from the DE-OS No. 26 22 556. The backrest is thereby drawn up so far that its upper end area forms an integrated headrest. No measures are taken in connection with this seat to effectively support the lumbar spinal column-lordosis and the cervical spinal column-lordosis of the seat user during the driving operation.
A seat for a motor vehicle is disclosed in the DE-OS No. 32 05 859 which includes a support system for the lumbar area of a person seated on the vehicle seat. In this arrangement, exclusively the area of the lumbar vertebrae spinal column-lordosis of the seat passenger is supported by an air cushion which is integrated into the backrest. Measures for the support of the cervical vertebrae spinal column-lordosis of the respective seat user, however, are also not provided in this arrangement.
It is the object of the present invention to undertake such measures at a seat having a headrest integrated into the backrest that the area of the cervical vertebrae column-lordosis of the respective seat passenger is effectively supported during the driving operation and that, on the other, injuries of the cervical vertebrae column are at least reduced during an impact (from in front, the rear or laterally).
The underlying problems are solved according to the present invention in that a steplessly or continuously changeable vacuum cushion is arranged at the backrest within the area of the headrest which is adapted to be individually adapted by means of an extraction pump and at least one valve to the physiological cervical spinal column-lordosis of the respective seat user.
The advantages principally achieved with the present invention reside in that by the arrangement of a continuously changeable vacuum cushion at the backrest, and more particularly within the area of the headrest, an effective support of the cervical spinal column-lordosis of the respective seat passenger is achieved. Also in longer drives, no fatigue effect of the neck muscles occurs as a result of this support. Additionally, stresses of the neck-, of the neck nape-, of the shoulder- and of the arm-muscles are far-reachingly avoided. Therebeyond, in case of an impact, the bending, respectively, stretching as well as the lateral axial displacement of the cervical spinal column is minimized. An individual headrest adapted to be modelled to the requirements of the user is created by the changeable vacuum cushion so that for different seat passengers an optimized adjustment can be found in each case. In case of a crash, the head is more softly supported by the small plastic parts arranged in the vacuum cushion and injuries or strains of the cervical spinal column is prophylactically precluded.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view on a seat for a vehicle, aircraft or the like in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly in cross section, on the backrest of the seat with the vacuum cushion in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along line III--III of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along IV--IV of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for the control of the variable vacuum cushion in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various views to designate like parts, the seat generally designated by reference numeral 1 for a vehicle, aircraft or the like which is illustrated in FIG. 1, includes a seat part 2 which is connected by way of adjusting fittings (not shown) with a backrest 3 adapted to be adjusted in its inclination. An upper end area 4 of the backrest 3 is constructed as fixed integrated headrest 5. The seat part 2 is displaceably supported at the adjoining body (not shown) by means of guide rails 6 extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
The backrest 3 essentially consists of a backrest frame 7 (FIG. 3), of a foam-material layer 8 and of a decorative seat cover 9 (FIG. 2). Additionally, a vacuum cushion 10 (FIGS. 2-4) continuously changeable within certain limits is provided at the backrest 3 within the area of the headrest 5, which serves for the support of the cervical vertebrae column-lordosis 11 and the head area of seat passengers 12 of different height and body shape.
The vacuum cushion 10 is arranged between the foam material layer 8 and the side of the backrest frame 7 facing the seat passenger 12. According to FIG. 2, the vacuum cushion 10 includes an air non-permeable cover 13 in which a large number of small plastic material parts 14, for example, small polystyrene balls are arranged. The cover 13 composed of two halves 15 and 16 (FIG. 4) is securely connected along the circumference with the backrest frame 7, for example, by gluing or bonding.
For positioning the small plastic material parts 14, several lamellae 17 one arranged above the other are arranged inside of the cover 13, as viewed in the height direction, which are constructed U-shaped as viewed in cross section and are securely connected at their two ends with the inside of the cover 13. The lamellae 17 made of flexible plastic material include a large number of air passage openings 18, whereby the latter have such a size that the small plastic material parts 14 cannot drop down through these openings 18 whereas a through-flow of air is made possible.
The cover 13 is connected in the lower area by way of a hose line 19, on the one hand, with an extraction pump 20 and, on the other with a valve 21 whereby the extraction pump 20 and the valve 21 are activatable alternately by a switch, for example, a two-position toggle switch generally designated by reference numeral 22 (FIGS. 1 and 5). The extraction pump 20 is electrically driven in the illustrated embodiment.
The valve 21 which is closed when non-activated, is arranged in a branch line 23 of the hose line 19 and is preferably constructed as electromagnetic or solenoid valve. Additionally, a check valve 24 is arranged in the hose line 19 downstream of the branching point 23 and upstream of the extraction pump 20 which assures that the air can flow through exclusively in the direction toward the extraction pump 20.
FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram for the control of the variable vacuum cushion 10. The switch 22 thereby normally assumes a neutral center position. The valve 21 is closed in the center position of the switch 22 and the extraction pump 20 is turned off.
If air is now to be evacuated out of the vacuum cushion 10, then the switch 22 is actuated in such a manner that the switching member 25 of the switch 22 abuts at the contact 27. As a result thereof, the electric motor of the extraction pump 20 is activated and the air is sucked out of the vacuum cushion 10. As a result of the evacuation of the cushion, the small plastic material parts 14 are condensed to such an extent that the cervical spinal column-lordosis 11 and the rear head area 29 of the seat passenger 12 are effectively supported. This position is shown in FIG. 4 in full lines (position A). The lamellae 17 are thereby deformed in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
For inflating the vacuum cushion 10, the switch 22 is displaced in the other direction so that the switching member 25 abuts at the contact 28. As a result thereof, the valve 21 opens and the air flows out of the atmosphere through the branching section 23 and the hose line 19 into the vacuum cushion 10 until the latter has its desired shape. The fully inflated position of the vacuum cushion 10 is designated in FIG. 4 by reference character B (dash and dotted lines). In the position B, the vacuum cushion is relatively soft whereas in the position A the vacuum cushion 10 is adjusted relatively hard. In the position A, the rear head area 29 of the seat passenger 12 is fixed both in the vertical as also in the vehicle transverse direction. The vacuum cushion 10 can assume selectively the position A, the position B and all positions disposed therebetween.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4347213 *Mar 28, 1980Aug 31, 1982Rogers Jr John EUsing a bag filled with particles, contoured to the human bodyUS4622185 *Apr 15, 1985Nov 11, 1986Smithers Medical Products, Inc.Polyurethane foamUS4744601 *Apr 29, 1987May 17, 1988Kabushiki Kaisha Cubic EngineeringHeadrest apparatusDE2622556A1 *May 20, 1976Dec 1, 1977Volkswagenwerk AgFahrzeug, insbesondere kraftfahrzeug, mit im wesentlichen horizontal verstellbaren sitzenDE3205859A1 *Feb 18, 1982Oct 14, 1982Aisin SeikiLenden-abstuetzsystem fuer einen fahrzeugsitz *DE3320847A Title not availableEP0094281A2 *Apr 26, 1983Nov 16, 1983Gonzalez Buenaventura SabaterArrangement for the distribution of pressurised fluid to a seat unit having a backrest* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5085488 *Aug 7, 1991Feb 4, 1992Fiat Auto S.P.A.Seat backrest with a layered structureUS5328245 *Oct 30, 1992Jul 12, 1994Thomas J. MarksChair having adjustable back supportUS5556169 *Jul 15, 1994Sep 17, 1996Parrish; Milton E.Multi-layer conformable support systemUS5660438 *Dec 8, 1995Aug 26, 1997Global Upholstery Company Inc.Chair having ergonomic lumbar support cushionUS6213548Aug 12, 1999Apr 10, 2001Trw Inc.Head restraint apparatusUS6824211 *Jul 26, 2001Nov 30, 2004Daimlerchrysler AgHead restraint and method of making and using sameUS7334844 *Jan 6, 2005Feb 26, 2008The Boeing CompanyComposite shell spacecraft seatUS7380886Mar 24, 2005Jun 3, 2008David John CopelloPivot column for a chair armrest or similar mechanismUS7427109Nov 9, 2004Sep 23, 2008General Motors CorporationPneumatic foam cushionUS7469861Mar 31, 2006Dec 30, 2008Virgin Atlantic Airways LimitedSeating system and a passenger accommodation unit for a vehicleUS7472957Mar 31, 2006Jan 6, 2009Virgin Atlantic Airways LimitedSeating system and a passenger accommodation unit for a vehicleUS7523888Feb 6, 2004Apr 28, 2009Virgin Atlantic Airways LimitedSeating system and a passenger accommodation unit for a vehicleUS7604606May 6, 2004Oct 20, 2009Human Touch, LlcIntensity control for massage devicesUS7997654Oct 5, 2009Aug 16, 2011Virgin Atlantic Airways LimitedSeating system and a passenger accommodation unit for a vehicleUS8021313Sep 3, 2009Sep 20, 2011Human Touch, LlcIntensity control for massage devicesUS8469445 *Aug 18, 2010Jun 25, 2013Grammer AgMotor vehicle headrestUS20110198899 *Aug 18, 2010Aug 18, 2011Juergen HertlMotor-vehicle headrestUS20130134760 *Nov 28, 2011May 30, 2013Ford Global Technologies, LlcDual firmness head restraintUS20130187427 *Jan 11, 2013Jul 25, 2013GM Global Technology Operations LLCHead restraint for a vehicle seatDE4110953A1 *Apr 5, 1991Oct 8, 1992Bayerische Motoren Werke AgHead support for vehicle seat - has projecting inflatable projection provided as part of air chamber, being U=shapedDE4110953B4 *Apr 5, 1991May 6, 2004Bayerische Motoren Werke AgKopfst�tze f�r einen Sitz, insbesondere f�r einen KraftfahrzeugsitzDE19509014A1 *Mar 13, 1995Sep 19, 1996Christoph Dr BonkeHead support for seats with back rest matched to individual requirementsEP0739773A2 *Apr 15, 1996Oct 30, 1996M. SCHNIERLE &amp; PARTNER GMBHPassenger seatWO2002074578A1 *Feb 25, 2002Sep 26, 2002Myslowski WlodzimierzNon-stop-active car headrestWO2003045730A1 *Nov 12, 2002Jun 5, 2003Thomas HausmannChild seat, in particular for a motor vehicle or an aircraftWO2004100571A2 *May 6, 2004Nov 18, 2004Interactive Health LlcIntensity control for massage devices* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification297/284.1, 297/452.33, 297/DIG.1, 297/DIG.3, 264/222, 297/452.28International ClassificationB60N2/48Cooperative ClassificationY10S297/03, Y10S297/01, B60N2/4805, A47C27/086European ClassificationA47C27/08E, B60N2/48CLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMar 15, 1994FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 19931226Jan 2, 1994LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesAug 3, 1993REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedNov 23, 1988ASAssignmentOwner name: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, STUTTGFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:GROSSMANN, KAY;REEL/FRAME:004978/0671Effective date: 19881109Owner name: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, GERMANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:GROSSMANN, KAY;REEL/FRAME:004978/0671RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google