Patent ID: 12214707

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

FIG.1illustrates a seat assembly20according to an embodiment. The seat assembly20is a vehicle seat assembly20to seat an occupant within a land vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft. The seat assembly20includes a seat bottom assembly22to support a pelvis and thighs of an occupant. The seat bottom assembly22is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle floor. The seat assembly20also includes a seat back assembly24extending in an upright direction from the seat bottom assembly22to support a back of the occupant. The seat back assembly24includes a seat back frame26for providing structural support to the seat back assembly24. A head restraint assembly28is connected to the seat back frame26and extends above the seat back assembly24to support a head of the occupant.

The seat back assembly24includes a cushion30to provide flexible and comfortable support to the occupant. The cushion30is provided on the seat back frame26. A trim cover of the seat assembly20is omitted inFIG.1to illustrate the underlying components of the seat assembly20. The cushion30provides a seat support with a seat support surface32to receive and contact the seated occupant.

The seat back assembly24includes a plurality of haptic devices34arranged in an array along the seat support surface32. In the depicted embodiment, a plurality of receptacles36are provided in the cushion30to receive the plurality of haptic devices34. The haptic devices34are employed to impart a massage effect upon the seat support surface32to deliver a massage effect to the seated occupant. The plurality of haptic devices34may be connected to the frame26to provide a resilient reaction force to the output massage effect.

With reference now toFIG.2, one of the haptic devices34is illustrated as a pneumatic linear actuator38. The linear actuator38includes a cylinder40with an inner chamber42for receipt of a pressurized fluid, such as pressurized air. A piston44is mounted for translation within the cylinder40and extends into the chamber42. The pressurized air chamber42drives the piston44away from the chamber42in a direction toward the seat support surface32to provide a localized percussive massage upon the seated occupant, akin to a thumb pressure applied manually.

Referring now toFIG.3, the piston44is illustrated extending out of the cylinder40. A massage node46is mounted on a distal end of the piston44for translation with the piston44relative to the cylinder40to impart the percussive massage effect upon the occupant.

Referring again toFIG.1, the seat assembly20may include a compressor48to provide a source of the pressurized air. A valve assembly50is in fluid communication with the compressor48and the plurality of linear actuators34to receive the pressurized air from the compressor48and to distribute the pressurized air to the plurality of linear actuators34. A controller52is in communication with the valve assembly50to control the actuation of the plurality of actuators34.

According to one embodiment, the valve assembly50pressurizes the linear actuators to extend the massage nodes46. According to another embodiment, the valve assembly50may also pressurize the cylinders40in an opposite direction to retract the pistons44and massage nodes46. Alternatively, the valve assembly50may exhaust the pressurized air from the cylinders40to permit a pressure from the seated occupant to retract the plurality of pistons44.

With reference again toFIG.3, the linear actuator38may include a tension spring54to retract the piston44and the massage node46after the pressurized air is exhausted from the cylinder40. According to another embodiment, the spring54may be a compression spring54to extend the piston44; and the pressurized air may drive the piston44to retract in the cylinder40. The linear actuators38ofFIGS.1-3provide a direct, concentrated percussive effect that is more concentrated and a higher intensity than prior art massage air bladders.

FIG.4illustrates a portion of a seat assembly56according to another embodiment. The seat assembly56includes a frame58that supports a camshaft60for rotation relative to the frame58. A motor and transmission62are connected to the camshaft60to rotate the camshaft60. The camshaft60includes a plurality of cam lobes64extending from the camshaft60so that rotation of the camshaft60imparts a localized massage effect upon the seat support surface32. The camshaft60can be oriented horizontally in the seat assembly56, in an upright direction, or at any suitable angle.

FIG.5illustrates an axial end view of the camshaft60. One of the cam lobes64increases in an outward radial dimension from the camshaft60in a first rotary direction, which is clockwise inFIG.5, and gradually increases to a peak outward radial dimension66. The cam lobe64also increases in the outward radial dimension from the camshaft60in a second rotary direction, which is counterclockwise inFIG.5, and abruptly increases to the peak outward radial dimension66. Therefore, rotation of the camshaft60in the clockwise direction provides reaches the peak66after a short angular rotation to provide an abrupt percussion massage effect. In contrast, rotation of the camshaft60in the counterclockwise direction reaches the peak66after a longer angular rotation to provide a more gradual massage effect.

The rate of pressure of the massage effect is determined by a slope on the cam64and a direction of rotation of the camshaft60. Various massage effects can be provided by varying the slope of the cam lobes64, by varying a rotational direction of the camshaft60, and by varying a speed of rotation of the camshaft60. The seat assembly56provides a percussive massage effect, while omitting a compressor, a valve assembly, and hoses associated with pressurized systems.

FIG.6illustrates a seat assembly68according to another embodiment. The seat assembly68includes a frame70. A plurality of guides72are installed upon the frame70. For the depicted embodiment, the guides72are arranged in two pairs of guides72. Each of the guides72may be formed from a metal wire. Each of the guides72may be installed directly upon the frame70, or each may be supported upon a suspension that is connected to the frame70.

A plurality of massage plates74are each supported upon a pair of the guides72. Each massage plate74is formed of a flexible and resilient material, such as a steel alloy, a flexible polymer, a combination thereof, or the like. The massage plates74cooperate with the guides72such that a compression upon the plates74causes one end of the massage plate74to slide along the guides72so that the plate74flexes to extend or bow away from the guides72. A massage node76is provided on each massage plate74to extend forward as the plate74bows outward, to provide a localized massage upon the seated occupant.

A plurality of cables78are provided, each in cooperation with one of the massage plates74to compress and flex the massage plates74. The cables78are also each connected to a motor80to drive the cables78. Operation of each motor80extends or retracts the corresponding cable78, to flex or collapse each massage plate74, to extend or retract each massage node76. The massage plates74can also be adjusted in an upright direction along the guides72to adjust a massage location of the corresponding massage node76. The seat assembly68provides a percussive massage effect, while omitting a compressor, a valve assembly, and hoses associated with pressurized systems.

FIG.7illustrates a solenoid82as one of the linear actuators34of the seat assembly20ofFIG.1. The solenoid82includes a bracket84to attach to the seat frame26or to a suspension upon the seat frame26. The solenoid82actuates a rod86with a massage node88to impart a percussive massage effect upon the occupant. The solenoid82is in electrical communication with the controller52for actuation of the solenoid82.

The solenoid82may include a tension spring90to retract the rod86and the massage node88when the solenoid82is deactivated. According to another embodiment, the spring90may be a compression spring90to extend the rod86; and the charged solenoid82may drive the rod86to retract in the solenoid82. The linear actuator82provides a direct, concentrated percussive effect that is more concentrated with a higher intensity than prior art massage air bladders. The solenoid82provides a percussive massage effect, while omitting a compressor, a valve assembly, and hoses associated with pressurized systems.

Referring again toFIGS.1-3, the controller52may reverse the fluid directions of the valve assembly50to oscillate the massage node46provide a linear vibratory massage effect.

FIG.8illustrates a vibratory massage assembly92according to another embodiment. The massage assembly92includes a rod94, which may be mounted for translation upon the seat back frame26. A massage node96is installed on a distal end of the rod94. A motor98is supported in the massage node96. The motor98drives an eccentric weight100for rotation about an output of the motor98. The offset mass of the weight100imparts a cyclical vibration to the motor98, and consequently to the massage node96and the shaft94. The cyclical vibration causes the node96and the shaft94to vibrate linearly to provide a linear vibration massage effect. The vibratory massage assembly92provides a percussive massage effect, while omitting a compressor, a valve assembly, and hoses associated with pressurized systems.

FIG.9illustrates a massage assembly102according to another embodiment. The massage assembly102includes another linear actuator104to impart a massage effect upon the seat support surface32to deliver a massage effect to the seated occupant. A plurality of the massage assemblies102may be connected to the frame26to provide a resilient reaction force to the output massage effect.

According to an embodiment, the linear actuator104is illustrated as a hydraulic linear actuator104. The linear actuator104includes a cylinder106with an inner chamber108for receipt of a pressurized fluid, such as hydraulic fluid. A piston110is mounted for translation within the cylinder106and extends into the chamber108. The pressurized fluid in the chamber108drives the piston110away from the chamber108in a direction toward the seat support surface32to provide a localized percussive massage upon the seated occupant.

The piston110is illustrated extending out of the cylinder106. A massage node112is mounted on a distal end of the piston110for translation with the piston110relative to the cylinder106to impart the percussive massage effect upon the occupant.

The massage assembly102includes a master hydraulic cylinder114to pressurize the hydraulic fluid. A valve116is in fluid communication with the master hydraulic cylinder114and the hydraulic linear actuator104to convey the hydraulic fluid from the master hydraulic cylinder114to the hydraulic linear actuator104. The controller52is in communication with the valve116to control the actuation of the hydraulic linear actuator104. The master cylinder114can be retracted to retract the fluid, and consequently to retract the piston110and the massage node112.

Air is compressible while hydraulic fluid is not compressible. The hydraulic massage assembly102provides one to one force upon actuation without pressure loss or hysteresis associated with pneumatics.

While various embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.