Abstract:
A cushion is adapted to set on a seat pan included in a vehicle seat. The cushion includes an inflatable air bag in, for example, a lumbar-support device.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a vehicle seat, and particularly to a seat including an expandable and contractable portion. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a vehicle seat including a cushion having a variable shape. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    According to the present disclosure, a vehicle seat includes an occupant-support base. The occupant-support base could be either a seat bottom or a seat back. The occupant-support base includes a seat pan mounted on a seat-pan support frame and a cushion coupled to the seat pan. 
         [0003]    In illustrative embodiments, the cushion includes a deformable elastic bed made of an elastomeric material and one or more inflatable air bladders made of the elastomeric material and coupled to the deformable elastic bed. Each inflatable air bladder is formed to include an air chamber and a companion air-intake port opening into the air chamber. An air-inlet conduit is provided for each inflatable air bladder. In some illustrative embodiments, the air-inlet conduit is arranged to extend through a neighboring portion of the deformable elastic bed and into a companion air-intake port to deliver pressurized air into the air chamber associated with that companion air-intake port. 
         [0004]    In illustrative embodiments, the cushion comprises a monolithic first sheet made of the elastomeric material and formed to include outer portions of the deformable elastic bed and each of the inflatable air bladders and a monolithic second sheet made of the elastic material and formed to include complementary inner portions of the deformable elastic bed and each of the inflatable air bladders. When the monolithic first sheet is mated to the monolithic second sheet, the deformable elastic bed and each of the inflatable air bladders is formed. 
         [0005]    Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle seat including a seat bottom and a seat back comprising a cushion including a deformable elastic bed surrounding an inflatable air bladder (shown in phantom) that may be inflated by an air pump to expand the size of the inflatable air bladder relative to the deformable elastic bed as suggested in  FIGS. 2 and 7  to support the lower back of a person seated on the vehicle seat; 
           [0008]      FIG. 1   a  is an enlarged perspective view of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 1  showing (in phantom) diagrammatic illustrations of various inflatable air bladders that can be included in a seat back cushion and a seat bottom cushion in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged partial perspective and diagrammatic view of the seat back of  FIG. 1 , with portions broken away, showing use of an air pump to inflate the inflatable air bladder to provide a pneumatic two-way lumbar-support system in the cushion, with portions of the deformable elastic bed broken away to reveal an air-inlet conduit coupled to an air-inlet port formed in a right-side edge of the inflatable air bladder; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective assembly view of the seat back of  FIG. 1 , showing that the seat back includes, from left to right, a cushion cover, a cushion including a multi-chamber deformable elastic bed formed to include a bladder-receiving cavity containing a single inflatable air bladder and a seat pan configured to couple to a seat-pan support frame and to mate with a pad comprising the cushion and the cushion cover; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3   a  is an exploded perspective assembly view of the cushion of  FIG. 3  showing that the cushion includes a monolithic first sheet, a monolithic second sheet, and an air-inlet conduit that is configured to be mounted between the monolithic first and second sheets to provide a passageway for air to travel into the inflatable air bladder formed in the cushion; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial perspective view similar to  FIG. 2  showing that the inflatable air bladder is in a deflated state; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 , with portions broken away, showing the inflatable air bladder in the deflated state on a portion of the underlying seat pan and showing in phantom lines an outer portion of the inflatable air bladder after it has been inflated as suggested in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , with portions broken away, showing the inflatable air bladder in the inflated state; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIGS. 1 and 6 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged exploded assembly view of the components included in the cushion shown in  FIGS. 2-7  showing a monolithic first sheet made of an elastomeric material separated from a companion monolithic second sheet made of the elastomeric material before the two sheets are moved toward one another along the illustrated dotted lines to mate and join together to form the cushion shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 9-11  are a series of sectional views showing three illustrative embodiments of a cushion in accordance with the present disclosure wherein the cushion is formed to include an inflatable air bladder and is coupled to a seat pan in a vehicle seat; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view of a cushion in accordance with a first embodiment, as suggested in  FIGS. 1-7 , showing the use of two sheets that are joined together to form the cushion and showing that an inflatable air bladder is formed when the monolithic first and second sheets are joined together as shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9   a  is a sectional view of another illustrative cushion that is similar to the cushion shown in  FIG. 9  except that one of the sheets included in the cushion is formed to include an air-intake port (for an air-inlet conduit) that is arranged to communicate with an air chamber formed in the cushion and to extend downwardly through an aperture formed in the seat pan supporting the cushion; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9   b  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  showing the two sheets that cooperate to form the cushion shown in section in  FIG. 9   a;    
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view of a cushion in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure showing the cushion resting on an underlying seat pan and showing that the cushion includes, from top to bottom, a flat first sheet, a second sheet formed to include a shell that cooperates with the flat first sheet to form an inflatable air bladder therebetween, and a third sheet formed to include multiple spaced-apart domes; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10   a  is a sectional view of another illustrative cushion that is similar to the cushion shown in  FIG. 10  except that a first of the two sheets included in the cushion is formed to include an air-intake port (for an air-inlet conduit) that is arranged to communicate with an air chamber formed in the cushion and to extend downwardly through an aperture formed in a second of the two sheets included in the cushion and through an aperture in the seat pan supporting the cushion; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view of a cushion in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure showing the cushion resting on an underlying seat pan and showing that the cushion includes, from top to bottom, a first sheet formed to include multiple spaced-apart domes, a second sheet formed to include a shell, and a flat third sheet that cooperates with the shell in the second sheet to form an inflatable air bladder therebetween; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11   a  is a sectional view of another illustrative cushion that is similar to the cushion shown in  FIG. 11  except that a third sheet placed on the seat pan is formed to include an air-intake port (for an air-inlet conduit) that is arranged to communicate with an air chamber formed in the cushion and to extend downwardly through an aperture formed in the seat pan; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a partial perspective and diagrammatic view, with portions broken away, of a cushion made in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure to be included in a seat back of a vehicle seat and showing that the cushion includes a deformable elastic bed formed to include a bladder-receiving cavity containing three separate inflatable air bladders and that each inflatable air bladder is formed to include an air chamber coupled to a manifold by a companion air-inlet conduit and suggesting that the three inflatable air bladders cooperate to form a pneumatic four-way lumbar-support system in the bladder-receiving cavity formed in the deformable elastic bed; 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective assembly view of the components included in the cushion of  FIG. 12  showing three air-inlet conduits and a monolithic first sheet made of an elastomeric material separated from a monolithic second sheet made of the elastomeric material before the two sheets are moved toward one another along the illustrated dotted lines to mate and join together to form the cushion provided with three separate inflatable air bladders shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 12  when the first (lower), second (middle), and third (upper) air bladders are arranged in overlapping shingled relation one to another and each of the air bladders is in a deflated state; 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 14  showing each of the first, second, and third inflatable air bladders in an inflated state; 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  is a sectional view similar to  FIGS. 14 and 15  showing the second inflatable air bladder in an inflated state and each of the first and third inflatable air bladders in a deflated state; 
           [0030]      FIG. 17  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a cushion in accordance with the present disclosure showing that the cushion includes an inflatable air bladder formed by joining two sheets together and showing that an air-inlet conduit extends through an edge of the cushion into an air chamber formed within the inflatable air bladder; 
           [0031]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged perspective view of the air-inlet conduit of  FIG. 17  showing that the air-inlet conduit includes a football-shaped mount flange, an inner air-conducting tube appended to the football-shaped mount flange and arranged to extend into the inflatable air bladder, an outer air-conducting tube appended to the football-shaped mount flange and arranged to extend away from the inflatable air bladder, an air-conducting passageway defined by the inner and outer air-conducting tubes and configured to allow air to communicate with the inflatable air bladder, and a series of hose-retention barbs appended to the outer air-conducting tube; 
           [0032]      FIG. 19  is an enlarged partial sectional view taken about line  19 - 19  of  FIG. 17  showing the first and second sheets joined together to form the inflatable air bladder; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 20  is an enlarged partial sectional view taken about line  20 - 20  of  FIG. 17  showing that the first sheet has been joined to the top surface of the football-shaped flange and the second sheet has joined to the bottom surface of the football-shaped flange thereby coupling the air-inlet conduit between the first and second sheets. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    A vehicle seat  10  includes one occupant-support base  11  configured to provide a seat bottom and another occupant-support base  12  configured to provide a seat back arranged to extend upwardly from the seat bottom as shown in  FIG. 1 . In an illustrative embodiment, seat back  12  includes a cushion  14  including a deformable elastic bed  16  made of an elastomeric material and an adjustable single-bladder pneumatic passenger-support module  18  made of the same elastomeric material as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Illustrative single-bladder designs are shown in  FIGS. 9-11 . 
         [0035]    Although pneumatic passenger-support module  18  is configured to provide a two-way lumbar-support system in seat back  12  in  FIGS. 2-11 , such a module  18  could be deployed in other suitable locations in seat bottom  11  and seat back  12  to provide comfort adjustment options to a seat passenger as suggested in  FIG. 1   a . It is also within the scope of this disclosure to provide an adjustable multi-bladder pneumatic passenger-support module  418  made of the same elastomeric material as a surrounding deformable elastic bed  416  as suggested in  FIGS. 12-16  to provide, for example, a four-way lumbar-support system as shown. 
         [0036]    Deformable elastic bed  16  and the single inflatable air bladder included in pneumatic passenger-support module  18  are made of the same elastomeric material in accordance with the present disclosure. In illustrative embodiments, an elastomeric material such as a thermoplastics polyurethane (TPU) material is used. Deformable elastic bed  16  is configured to support a portion of an occupant seated on cushion  14  in seat back  12 . Inflatable air bladder  18  can be inflated using pressurized air to expand outwardly in outward directions  19  from a deflated state shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5  to an inflated state shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  6 , and  7  to provide adjustable lumbar support for a passenger seated in vehicle seat  10 . 
         [0037]    Single or multiple inflatable air bladders located elsewhere in vehicle seat  10  can be used to provide adjustable support for other portions of a passenger seated in vehicle seat  10  as suggested in  FIG. 1   a . Vehicle seat  10  can be configured to contain one or more of pneumatic modules  101 - 107  as suggested in  FIG. 1   a  and described herein. Upper back module  101  is configured to inflate and deflate to provide upper back support and could be linked to lumbar-support module  18  for air transfer in accordance with the present disclosure. Left and right backrest bolster modules  102 ,  103  could be inflated and deflated simultaneously for increased lateral support or could be regulated independently for dynamic bolstering in accordance with the present disclosure. Lower back module  104  is inflatable and deflatable to provide pelvis and lower lumbar support when slouching. Left and right bolsters  105 ,  106  could be inflated and deflated simultaneously for increased lateral support or could be regulated independently for dynamic bolstering in accordance with the present disclosure. Thigh extension module  107  could be inflated and deflated to adjust the amount of thigh support in accordance with the present disclosure. Left and right inserts could be inflated continuously (and deflated as needed) to adjust pelvic angle subtly, allowing better blood flow over long trips. 
         [0038]    Seat back  12  includes a cushion cover  20 , cushion  14 , and a seat pan  22  in an illustrative embodiment as shown, for example, in  FIG. 3  and suggested in FIGS.  2  and  4 - 7 . A seat-pan support frame  24  can also be included in vehicle seat  10  to support a seat pan included in seat back  12  or seat bottom  11  as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Cushion  14  is anchored to underlying seat pan  22  using any suitable means and cushion cover  20  is coupled to cushion  14  and/or seat pan  22  using any suitable means and arranged to cover deformable elastic bed  16  and inflatable air bladder  18  as suggested in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         [0039]    In use, a pump controller  24  is used by a vehicle passenger to actuate a source of pressurized air such as pump  26  to generate a stream  28  of pressurized air that is conducted through a hose  30  and then through an air-inlet conduit  34  into an air chamber  36  formed in inflatable air bladder  18  as suggested in  FIG. 2 . This causes inflatable air bladder  18  to expand outwardly and assume its inflated state as suggested in  FIGS. 2 ,  6 , and  7 . It is within the scope of the present disclosure to use any suitable inflation system to inflate and deflate inflatable air bladder  18 . 
         [0040]    As suggested in  FIGS. 3   a  and  8 , cushion  14  comprises a monolithic first sheet  31  made of an elastomeric material such as TPU and a monolithic second sheet  32  made of the same elastomeric material. These sheets  31 ,  32  are mated as suggested in  FIGS. 3   a  and  8  to form deformable elastic bed  16  and inflatable air bladder  18  shown in  FIG. 3 . Deformable elastic bed  16  is formed to include a bladder-receiving cavity  15  and inflatable air bladder  18  is arranged to lie in bladder-receiving cavity  15  as suggested in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  5 . 
         [0041]    Monolithic first sheet  31  includes a first web  41  that is configured to form an outer portion of deformable elastic bed  16  and a first shell  51  that is configured to form an outer portion of inflatable air bladder  18  as suggested in  FIG. 8 . Similarly, monolithic second sheet  32  includes a second web  42  that is configured to form an inner portion of deformable elastic bed  16  and a second shell  52  that is configured to form an inner portion of inflatable air bladder  18  as also suggested in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0042]    First shell  51  is formed to include a first basin  61  and second shell  52  is formed to include a second basin  62  opening toward first basin  61   a  suggested in  FIGS. 4-8 . First and second shells  51 ,  52  are sealingly coupled to one another to cause first and second basins  61 ,  62  to communicate with one another to form air chamber  36  between first and second shells  51 ,  52  as suggested in  FIGS. 5 ,  7 , and  9 . 
         [0043]    Inflatable air bladder  18  is also formed to include an air-intake port  44  opening into air chamber  36  and mating with air-inlet conduit  34  as suggested in  FIGS. 5 and 7 . First and second shells  51 ,  52  mate with one another along a shell interface  53  and cooperate to form first air-intake port  44  therebetween along shell interface  53 . First shell  51  includes a continuous sealing edge  51   s  interrupted by a port-forming edge  51   pf  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Similarly, second shell  52  includes a continuous sealing edge  52 s interrupted by a port-forming edge  52   pf  as shown in  FIG. 8 . When monolithic first sheet  31  is mated to monolithic second sheet  32 , sealing edge  51   s  of first shell  51  is sealingly coupled to sealing edge  52   s  of second shell  52  to form air chamber  36  and port-forming edge  51   pf  of first shell  51  is arranged to lie in stationary confronting relation to port-forming edge  52   pf  of second shell  52  to form air-intake port  44  therebetween as suggested in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0044]    Air-inlet conduit  34  is arranged to extend into first air-intake port  44  and formed to include a passageway configured to provide means for conducting pressurized air from a source  26  of pressurized air into air chamber  36  to change the inflatable air bladder  18  from the deflated state shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  to the inflated state shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In an illustrative embodiment, air-inlet conduit  34  is arranged to extend away from inflatable air bladder  18  and through a portion  16   p  of deformable elastic bed  16  as suggested in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0045]    First web  41  of monolithic first sheet  31  includes a first plate  71  and a series of spaced-apart downwardly projecting domes  72 . Each downwardly projecting dome  72  has a first base  73  coupled to first plate  71  and a first tip  74  coupled to first base  73  and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to first plate  71 . As suggested in  FIG. 8 , domes  72  can be formed to have any suitable shape and frustoconical and frustopyramidal shapes are shown, for example. 
         [0046]    Second web  42  of monolithic second sheet  32  includes a second plate  81  arranged to mate with first plate  71  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4  and a series of spaced-apart upwardly projecting domes  82  as shown best in  FIG. 8 . Each upwardly projecting dome  82  has a second base  83  coupled to second plate  81  and a second tip  84  coupled to second base  83  and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to second plate  81 . As suggested in  FIG. 8 , domes  82  can be formed to have any suitable shape and frustoconical and frustopyramidal shapes are shown, for example. Second tip  84  is coupled to first tip  74  to cause each companion pair of mating downwardly and upwardly projecting domes  72 ,  82  to form a resilient deformable post  43  included in deformable elastic bed  16  and arranged to extend between first and second plates  71 ,  81  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 4 and 6 . 
         [0047]    Once monolithic first and second sheets  31 ,  32  are formed of an elastomeric material and mated (e.g., joined and welded) during a cushion-manufacturing process, an inflatable air bladder  18  is formed in a bladder-receiving cavity  15  formed in deformable elastic bed  16 . It is within the scope of this disclosure to locate bladder-receiving cavity  15  in an interior region of deformable elastic bed  16  so that inflatable air bladder  18  is surrounded on all sides by portions of deformable elastic bed  16 . It is also within the scope of this disclosure to form a bladder-receiving cavity along a perimeter edge of a cushion so that the companion inflatable air bladder is surrounded partly by portions of the companion deformable elastic bed. 
         [0048]    As suggested in  FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b , cushion  14  can be varied slightly to produce a cushion  14 ′ having an elongated downwardly extending air-inlet port  44 ′ formed in second sheet  32 ′. Air-inlet port  44 ′ replaces air-inlet port  44  shown, for example, in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Air-inlet port  44 ′ is formed to include a passageway  44 ′P opening into air chamber  36  and receiving air-inlet conduit  34 . Air-inlet port  44 ′ is formed in second shell  52 ′ and arranged to extend downwardly away from first shell  51  and air chamber  36  through an aperture  22 ′A formed in seat pan  22 ′ as suggested in  FIG. 9   a . Cushion  14 ′ is included in occupant-support base  12 ′. 
         [0049]    Alternative adjustable single-bladder pneumatic passenger-support modules  218 ,  318  within the scope of the present disclosure are shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Module  218  is included in cushion  214  and module  318  is included in cushion  314 . 
         [0050]    As suggested in  FIG. 10 , a seat pan  22  is arranged to underlie and support cushion  214  to produce an occupant-support base  212 . Cushion  214  includes a monolithic first sheet  231 , a monolithic second sheet  232 , and a third (auxiliary) sheet  233 . First and second sheets  231 ,  232  cooperate to form a deformable elastic bed  216 . First and third sheets  231 ,  233  cooperate to form inflatable air bladder  218 . 
         [0051]    Inflatable air bladder  218  includes a shell  251  formed to include a basin  261  that is arranged to open toward overlying third sheet  233 . When third sheet  233  is sealingly mated to first sheet  231  as suggested in  FIG. 10 , basin  261  is closed to form an air chamber  236 . Pressurized air can be supplied to air chamber  236  to inflate inflatable air bladder  218  and move a basin cover  235  of third sheet  233  outwardly in outward direction  219  relative to seat pan  22 . In the illustrated embodiment, second sheet  232  is formed to include a series of domes  237  arranged to lie between and act against each of seat pan  22  and shell  251  of first sheet  231  to support shell  251  during outward movement of basin cover  235  away from shell  251  as inflatable air bladder  218  is inflated. 
         [0052]    Deformable elastic bed  216  includes a first web  241  and a mating second web  242  as suggested in  FIG. 10 . First web  241  is included in first sheet  231  and can be similar to first web  41 . Second web  242  is included in second sheet  232  and can be similar to second web  42 . 
         [0053]    As suggested in  FIG. 10   a , cushion  214  can be varied slightly to produce a cushion  214 ′ having an elongated downwardly extending air-inlet port  244 ′ formed in first sheet  231 ′. Air-inlet port  244 ′ is formed to include a passageway  244 ′P opening into air chamber  236  and receiving air-inlet conduit  34 . Air-inlet port  244 ′ is formed in first shell  251 ′ and arranged to extend downwardly away from third sheet  233  and air chamber  236  through an aperture  232 ′A formed in second sheet  232 ′ and through an aperture  22 ′A formed in seat pan  22 ′ as suggested in  FIG. 10   a . Cushion  214 ′ is included in occupant-support base  212 ′. 
         [0054]    As suggested in  FIG. 11 , a seat pan  22  is arranged to underlie and support cushion  314  to produce an occupant-support base  312 . Cushion  314  includes a monolithic first sheet  331 , a monolithic second sheet  332 , and a third (auxiliary) sheet  333 . First and second sheets  331 ,  332  cooperate to form deformable elastic bed  316 . Second and third sheets  332 ,  333  cooperate to form inflatable air bladder  318 . 
         [0055]    Inflatable air bladder  318  includes a shell  351  formed to include a basin  361  that is arranged to open toward underlying third sheet  333 . When third sheet  333  is sealingly mated to second sheet  332  as suggested in  FIG. 11 , basin  361  is closed to form an air chamber  336 . Pressurized air can be supplied to air chamber  336  to inflate inflatable air bladder  318  and move shell  351  outwardly in outward direction  319  against a portion  335  of first sheet  331  arranged to overlie shell  351 . In the illustrated embodiment, portion  335  of first sheet  331  is formed to include a series of domes  337  arranged to lie against an outer surface of shell  351 . 
         [0056]    Deformable elastic bed  316  includes a first web  341  and a mating second web  342  as suggested in  FIG. 11 . First web  341  is included in first sheet  331  and can be similar to first web  41 . Second web  342  is included in second sheet  332  and can be similar to second web  42 . 
         [0057]    As suggested in  FIG. 11   a , cushion  314  can be varied slightly to produce a cushion  314 ′ having an elongated downwardly extending air-inlet port  34 ′ formed in third sheet  333 ′. Air-inlet port  344 ′ is formed to include a passageway  344 ′P opening into air chamber  336  and receiving air-inlet conduit  34 . Air-inlet port  344 ′ is arranged to extend downwardly away from first shell  351 ′ and air chamber  336  through an aperture  22 ′A formed in seat pan  22 ′ as suggested in  FIG. 11   a . Cushion  314 ′ is included in occupant-support base  312 ′. 
         [0058]    In another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, as suggested in  FIGS. 12-16 , a cushion  414  in an occupant-support base  412  such as a seat back (or alternatively a seat bottom) includes a deformable elastic bed  16  formed to include a bladder-receiving cavity  15  containing an adjustable multi-bladder pneumatic passenger-support module  418  comprising at least two and illustratively three separate inflatable air bladders  418 L (lower),  418 M (middle), and  418 U (upper). Each inflatable air bladder  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U is formed to include, respectively, an air chamber  436 L,  436 M, and  436 U coupled to a manifold  400  by a companion air-inlet conduit  434 L,  434 M, and  436 U and companion hoses  430 L,  430 M, and  430 U as suggested in  FIG. 12 . Manifold  400  is coupled to a source of pressurized air such as pump  426  and to a pump/manifold controller  424 . As suggested in  FIG. 12 , inflatable air bladders  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U cooperate to form a pneumatic four-way lumbar-support system in bladder-receiving cavity  15  formed in deformable elastic bed  16  of cushion  414 . 
         [0059]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , a monolithic first sheet  431  made of an elastomeric material such as, for example, thermoplastics polyurethane (TPU) is provided alongside a monolithic second sheet  432  made of the same elastomeric material. During a cushion-manufacturing process in accordance with the present disclosure, sheets  431 ,  432  are moved toward one another along the illustrated dotted lines to mate (using any suitable technique) to form a cushion  414  including deformable elastic bed  16  and three separate and independently sealed inflatable air bladders  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U. The process further includes the illustrative step of mating one of the air-inlet conduits  434  to a companion one of the inflatable air bladders  418  at an air-inlet port formed in each of the inflatable air bladders  418 . 
         [0060]    As suggested in  FIG. 13 , in an illustrative embodiment, monolithic first sheet  431  is formed to include outer portions of each of deformable elastic bed  16  and first, second, and third air bladders  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U. Lower first shell  451 L is formed to provide the outer portion of first (lower) air bladder  418 L and to include a lower first basin  461 L. Middle first shell  451 M is formed to provide the outer portion of second (middle) air bladder  418 M and to include a middle first basin  461 M. Upper first shell  451 U is formed to provide the outer portion of third (upper) air bladder  418 U and to include an upper first basin  461 U. 
         [0061]    Monolithic first sheet  431  also includes a continuous sealing edge  431   s  interrupted by a port-forming edge for each of the three inflatable air bladders. A portion of continuous sealing edge  431   s  is included in each of first shells  451 L,  451 M, and  451 U. Lower first shell  451 L includes port-forming edge  451 Lpf, middle first shell  451 M includes port-forming edge  451 Mpf, and upper first shell  451 U includes port-forming edge  451 Upf. First sheet  431  also includes laterally extending first and second partition sealing edges  431   a ,  431   b . First partition sealing edge  431   a  mates at opposite ends thereof with continuous sealing edge  431   s  to form a partition between lower and middle first basins  461 L,  461 M. Second partition sealing edge  431   b  mates at opposite ends thereof with continuous sealing edge  431   s  to form a partition between middle and upper first basins  461 M,  461 U. 
         [0062]    As also suggested in  FIG. 13 , in an illustrative embodiment, monolithic second sheet  432  is formed to include inner portions of each of deformable elastic bed  416  and first, second, and third air bladders  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U. Lower second shell  452 L is formed to provide the inner portion of first (lower) air bladder  418 L and to include a lower second basin  462 L. Middle second shell  452 M is formed to provide the inner portion of the second (middle) air bladder  418 M and to include a middle second basin  462 M. Upper second shell  452 U is formed to provide the inner portion of third (upper) air bladder  418 U and to include an upper second basin  462 U. 
         [0063]    Monolithic second sheet  432  also includes a continuous sealing edge  432   s  interrupted by a port-forming edge for each of the three inflatable air bladders. A portion of continuous sealing edge  432   s  is included in each of second shells  452 L,  452 M, and  452 U. Lower second shell  452 L includes port-forming edge  452 Lpf, middle second shell  452 M includes port-forming edge  452 Mpf, and upper second shell  452 U includes port-forming edge  452 Upf. Second sheet  432  also includes laterally extending first and second partition sealing edges  432   a ,  432   b . First partition sealing edge  432   a  mates at opposite ends thereof with continuous sealing edge  432   s  to form a partition between lower and middle second basins  462 L,  462 M. Second partition sealing edge  432   b  mates at opposite ends thereof with continuous sealing edge  432   s  to form a partition between middle and upper second basins  462 M,  462 U. 
         [0064]    First (lower) inflatable air bladder  418 L includes lower first shell  451 L sealingly coupled to lower second shell  452 L as suggested in  FIG. 12  to cause lower first and second basins  461 L,  462 L to communicate with one another to form lower chamber  436 L between lower first and second shells  451 L,  452 L. As suggested in  FIG. 13 , lower first shell  451 L is coupled to first web  41  in first sheet  431  and lower second shell  452 L is coupled to second web  42  in second sheet  432 . 
         [0065]    Second (middle) inflatable air bladder  418 M includes middle first shell  451 M sealingly coupled to middle second shell  452 M as suggested in  FIG. 12  to cause middle first and second basins  461 M,  462 M to communicate with one another to form middle air chamber  436 M between middle first and second shells  451 M,  452 M. As suggested in  FIG. 13 , middle first shell  451 M is coupled to first web  41  in first sheet  431  and middle second shell  452 M is coupled to second web  42  in second sheet  432 . 
         [0066]    Third (upper) inflatable air bladder  418 U includes upper first shell  451 U sealingly coupled to upper second shell  452 U as suggested in  FIG. 12  to cause upper first and second basins  461 U,  462 U to communicate with one another to form upper air chamber  436 U between upper first and second shells  451 U,  452 U. As suggested in  FIG. 13 , upper first shell  451 U is coupled to first web  41  in first sheet  431  and upper second shell  452 U is coupled to second web  42  in second sheet  432 . 
         [0067]    The outer and inner portions  451 L,  452 L of first inflatable air bladder  418 L cooperate to form a first air-intake port  444 L therebetween. First air-inlet conduit  434 L is arranged to extend through a space  16 P defined between monolithic first sheet  431  and monolithic second sheet  432  to mate with first air-intake port  444 L and formed to include a first passageway configured to provide means for conducting pressurized air from a source  426  of pressurized air into first air chamber  436 L to change first inflatable air bladder  418 L from the deflated state shown in  FIGS. 12 and 14  to an inflated state shown, for example, in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0068]    The outer and inner portions  451 M,  452 M of second inflatable air bladder  418 M cooperate to form a second air-intake port  444 M therebetween. Second air-inlet conduit  434 M is arranged to extend through a space  16 P defined between monolithic first sheet  431  and monolithic second sheet  432  to mate with second air-intake port  444 M and formed to include a second passageway configured to provide means for conducting pressurized air from a source  426  of pressurized air into second air chamber  436 M to change second inflatable air bladder  418 M from the deflated state shown in  FIGS. 12 and 14  to an inflated state shown, for example, in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . 
         [0069]    The outer and inner portions  451 U,  452 U of third inflatable air bladder  418 U cooperate to form a third air-intake port  444 U therebetween. A third air-inlet conduit  434 U is arranged to extend through a space  16 P defined between monolithic first sheet  431  and monolithic second sheet  432  to mate with third air-intake port  444 U and formed to include a third passageway configured to provide means for conducting pressurized air from a source  426  of pressurized air into third air chamber  436 U to change third inflatable air bladder  418 U from the deflated state shown in  FIGS. 12 and 14  to the inflated state shown, for example, in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0070]    As suggested in  FIG. 12 , first inflatable air bladder  418 L is made of the elastomeric material and is coupled to deformable elastic bed  16 . Second inflatable air bladder  418 M is made of the elastomeric material and is coupled to deformable elastic bed  16  to lie alongside first inflatable air bladder  418 L. Third inflatable air bladder  418 U is made of the elastomeric material and is coupled to deformable elastic bed  16 . Third inflatable air bladder  418 U is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to first inflatable air bladder  418 L to locate the second inflatable air bladder  418 M therebetween as suggested in FIGS.  12  and  14 - 16 . 
         [0071]    Deformable elastic bed  16  included in cushion  414  is formed to include a perimeter edge and a bladder-receiving cavity  15  containing the first, second, and third inflatable air bladders  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U therein as suggested in  FIG. 12 . Bladder-receiving cavity  15  lies in spaced-apart relation to the perimeter edge to cause a perimeter portion of deformable elastic bed  16  to surround first, second, and third inflatable air bladders  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U as suggested in  FIG. 12 . First air-inlet conduit  434 L is arranged to extend through perimeter portion  16 P of deformable elastic bed  16  and mate with first air-intake port  444 L and formed to include a first passageway configured to provide means for conducting pressurized air from a source  426  of pressurized air into first air chamber  436 L to change first inflatable air bladder  418 L from the deflated state to the inflated state. 
         [0072]    Second inflatable air bladder  418 M is formed to include a second air chamber  436 M and a second air-intake port  444 M opening into second air chamber  436 M and lying in side-by-side spaced-apart relation to first air-intake port  444 L formed in first inflatable air bladder  418 L as suggested in  FIG. 12 . First and second air-intake ports  444 L,  444 M are arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the perimeter edge of deformable elastic bed  16 . Second air-inlet conduit  434 M is arranged to extend through perimeter portion  16 P of deformable elastic bed  16  and mate with second air-intake port  444 M and formed to include a second passageway configured to provide means for conducting pressurized air from the sources of pressurized air into second air chamber  436 M to change second inflatable air bladder  418 M from a deflated state to an inflated state. 
         [0073]    Cushion  414  further includes a third inflatable air bladder  418 U made of the elastomeric material and coupled to deformable elastic bed  16  as suggested in  FIG. 12 . Third inflatable air bladder  418 U is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to first inflatable air bladder  418 L to locate second inflatable air bladder  418 M therebetween. First, second, and third inflatable air bladders  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U are mounted in overlapping shingled relation one to another as suggested, for example, in FIGS.  12  and  14 - 16  to provide lumbar-support means in bladder-receiving cavity  15  for establishing a four-way lumbar adjustment system using pressurized air from a source  426  of pressurized air to inflate first, second, and third inflatable air bladders  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U separately and in a coordinated simultaneous manner so that each of first, second, and third inflatable air bladders  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U is arranged to be inflated and deflated to cause outer surfaces of first, second, and third inflatable air bladders  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U to move (1) outwardly in an outward first direction  401  (see  FIGS. 15 and 16 ) away from a seat pan  22  underlying and supporting deformable elastic bed  16  and each of the first, second, and third inflatable air bladders  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U; (2) inwardly in an inward second direction  402  toward seat pan  22 ; (3) upwardly in an upward third direction  403  extending from first inflatable air bladder  418 L toward third inflatable air bladder  418 U, and (4) downwardly in an opposite downward fourth direction  404  extending from third inflatable air bladder  418 U toward first inflatable air bladder  418 L. 
         [0074]    Seat pan  22  is arranged to underlie and support deformable elastic bed  16  and each of first, second, and third inflatable air bladder  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U as suggested in FIGS.  12  and  14 - 16 . Cushion  414  comprises monolithic first sheet  431  configured to include outer portions of each of deformable elastic bed  16  and first, second, and third inflatable air bladders  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U wherein the outer portions are arranged to lie in a spaced-apart relation to seat pan  22  as suggested in  FIG. 14 . Cushion  414  also comprises monolithic second sheet  432  configured to include inner portions of each of deformable elastic bed  16  and first, second, and third inflatable air bladders  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U arranged to lie between the outer portions and seat pan  22  as also suggested in  FIG. 14 . First monolithic sheet  431  is arranged to mate with monolithic second sheet  432  to cause the outer and inner portions of first inflatable air bladder  418 L to mate in sealing relation to one another to form first air chamber  436 L therebetween as suggested in  FIGS. 12 and 14 . 
         [0075]    First (lower), second (middle), and third (upper) inflatable air bladders  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U are arranged in overlapping shingled relation one to another and each of the air bladders is in a deflated state as suggested in  FIG. 14 . Each of first, second, and third inflatable air bladders  418 L,  418 M, and  418 U are shown in an inflated state in  FIG. 15 . Second inflatable air bladder  418 M is shown in an inflated state and each of first and third inflatable air bladders  418 L and  418 U are shown in a deflated state in  FIG. 16 . 
         [0076]    An air-inlet conduit  34  extends through an edge of a deformable elastic bed  14  in cushion  12  into an air chamber  36  formed within inflatable air bladder  18  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 17 . Air-inlet conduit  34  includes a football-shaped mount flange  200 , an inner air-conducting tube  201  appended to football-shaped mount flange  200  and arranged to extend into inflatable air bladder  18 , an outer air-conducting tube  202  appended to football-shaped mount flange  200  and arranged to extend away from inflatable air bladder  18 , an air-conducting passageway  203  defined by inner and outer air-conducting tubes  201 ,  202 , and configured to allow air to communicate with inflatable air bladder  18 . A series of hose-retention barbs  204  is appended to outer air-conducting tube  202  as shown in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0077]    First and second sheets  31 ,  32  are joined together to form inflatable air bladder  18  as shown in  FIG. 19 . First sheet  31  has been joined to a top surface  205  of football-shaped flange  200  and second sheet  32  has joined to a bottom surface  206  of football-shaped flange  200 , thereby coupling air-inlet conduit  34  between first and second sheets  31 ,  32  as shown in  FIG. 20 . 
         [0078]    In accordance with the present disclosure, each inflatable air bladder included in a cushion of a vehicle seat is arranged to lie in close proximity to an outer surface of a cushion cover coupled to the cushion. Such inflatable air bladders in accordance with the present disclosure function to move that outer surface more in response to less bladder movement relative to a seat pan supporting the cushion. This feature enhances bladder efficiency.