Seat device

• US 10,144,318 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2014
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Ogiso, Takashi, Noso, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Kyung J
• Application Number:
  US15/101,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20160304009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0134 Cushion or similar support
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0157 portable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1238 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1409 Hydraulic or pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1604 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1633 Seat A61H2201/0149 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1654 Layer between the skin and massage elements, e.g. fluid or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5002 Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5056 pneumatically controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/086 Buttocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/00 Devices for suction-kneading massage; Devices for massaging the skin by rubbing or brushing not otherwise provided for electro-medical massage devices applying electric current by contact A61N1/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0078 with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/62 Thigh-rests B60N2/914 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/976 massaging systems

Abstract

Airbags each belonging to one of first and second control blocks are arranged below the thighs of an occupant seated on a seat seating surface (S). Specifically, the first and second control blocks are arranged such that the airbags belonging thereto are adjacent to one another in the seat width direction. Further, a seat device controls the airbags belonging to the first control block and the airbags belonging to the second control block to alternately expand and contract.

Claims

1. A seat device comprising:

a plurality of airbags arranged in a seat width direction at positions below a seating surface of a seat;

an internal pressure control unit for controlling an internal pressure of each of the airbags;

a pressure detection unit for detecting the internal pressure of each of the airbags; and

a position detection unit for detecting the position of each of the thighs of an occupant seated on the seating surface based on distribution of internal pressure changes caused in the airbags,

wherein the internal pressure control unit increases the internal pressures of the airbags located at the positions corresponding to lateral edge sections of each thigh in the seat width direction.

2. The seat device according to claim 1, wherein the internal pressure control unit increases or decreases the internal pressures of the airbags located at the positions corresponding to the lateral edge sections of each thigh in the seat width direction as the time elapses.

3. The seat device according to claim 1, wherein, among the airbags located below the thighs, the internal pressure control unit decreases the internal pressure of each of the airbags other than the airbags located at the positions corresponding to the lateral edge sections.

4. The seat device according to claim 1, wherein the internal pressure control unit controls the internal pressures of the airbags located below the thighs to be equalized.

5. The seat device according to claim 1, wherein, when a lateral acceleration of a vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the internal pressure control unit increases the internal pressures of the airbags located at the positions corresponding to the lateral edge sections.

6. The seat device according to claim 1, wherein the position detection unit determines that the thighs are located above adjacent ones of the airbags in which the internal pressures exceeding a predetermined threshold value are detected.

7. The seat device according to claim 1, wherein the position detection unit determines that, among the airbags located below each of the thighs, two airbags located at opposite ends in the seat width direction are located at the positions corresponding to the lateral edge sections of the thigh in the seat width direction.

8. The seat device according to claim 1, wherein the airbags each extend in the front-rear direction of the seating surface of the seat.

9. The seat device according to claim 1, wherein the airbags are arranged radially to become more spaced apart from the rear side to the front side of the seating surface of the seat.

10. The seat device according to claim 1, wherein the airbags are arranged such that an edge section of each of the airbags extending in a direction perpendicular to the seat width direction overlaps with adjacent one of the airbags.

11. A seat device comprising:

a plurality of airbags arranged below a seat seating surface and arranged in a seat width direction, wherein an edge section of each of the airbags extending in a direction perpendicular to the seat width direction is arranged to overlap with adjacent one of the airbags,

a pressure detection unit configured to detect an internal pressure of each of the airbags, and

a position detection unit configured to detect the position of each of the thighs of an occupant seated on the seat seating surface based on distribution of internal pressure changes caused in the airbags.