Cellular cushion vehicle seat system

• US 20030030319A1
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roho Incorporated (Permobil Holding AB)
• Original Assignee: Roho Incorporated (Permobil Holding AB)
• Inventors: Clapper, Dennis L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,623,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/452.41
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/082 with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/10 with two or more independently-fillable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/18 in combination with inflatable bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 4/54 Inflatable chairs connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/029 of non-adjustable shape adapted to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape

Abstract

An improved vehicle seat assembly for mounting on the frame of a vehicle driver'"'"'s seat including a polymer support plate attached to the frame, a polyurethane foam base on the support, an inflatable air cell cushion on the base and an elastic cover. The inflatable air cell cushion includes individual inflation zones each comprised of individual interconnected inflation cells. The zones are normally isolated from each other. A center zone having a preset inflation pressure is positioned under the ischial area of the driver. Front, back and side bolster zones provide front-to-back and side-to-side support. The individual air cells of the center zone are interconnected by a serpentine airflow path of reduced area to enhance the vibration and shock absorption characteristics of the zone.

Claims

1. A vehicular seat assembly for the seating of a vehicle driver for use with a vehicular seat frame comprising:

a seat base for attachment to the seat frame;

an inflatable cellular cushion attached to the seat base, said inflatable cellular cushion having a plurality of individual inflatable cells, said plurality of individual inflatable cells arranged in a plurality of individual inflation zones, at least one inflation zone positioned for support of an ischial area of a driver seated on the cushion, and at least one zone configured to provide peripheral support to the driver; and

apparatus for controlling the inflation of the inflatable cellular cushion.

2. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 1 wherein at least the inflation zone positioned for support of an ischial area includes restricted airflow among the individual cells to facilitate dampening of vibration road shock in that zone.

3. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the restricted airflow further comprises air flow channels between predetermined individual cells that facilitate a substantially serpentine air flow path within the predetermined individual cells.

4. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of individual cells further comprises a four fin foldable cell.

5. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 4 wherein each said four fin foldable cell has an aspect ration of not greater than three to one.

6. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 1 wherein said inflatable cushion is formed from vacuum molded plastic.

7. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 1 wherein said inflatable cushion is formed from dip molded neoprene.

8. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the cells of the inflatable cellular cushion are arranged in at least five individual inflation zones.

9. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 8 wherein at least one of the individual inflation zones is positioned for support of the ischial area of the driver and at least four of the individual inflation zones are positioned to provide lateral support to the driver.

10. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 1 wherein said seat base further comprises a polyurethane seat base.

11. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 1 wherein said seat base is attached to a suspension member on the seat frame.

12. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 11 wherein the suspension member is a metal seat pan.

13. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 11 wherein the suspension member is formed from a polymer material.

14. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 11 wherein the suspension member is a fabric.

15. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the apparatus for controlling inflation comprises an external air source fluidly connected to each of the recited individual inflation zones and at least one regulator for regulating air pressure within said individual inflation zones.

16. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 15 wherein the inflatable cellular cushion external air source further comprises the vehicle'"'"'s air source.

17. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 15 wherein the apparatus for controlling inflation comprises a valve positioned between the at least one regulator and the individual inflation zones

18. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 17 wherein said valve allows fluid communication between individual inflation zones when the valve is in an open position and to prevent fluid communication between individual inflation zones when in a closed position.

19. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 15 further comprising pressure sensing means connected between the inflatable cellular cushion and the external air source wherein the pressure sensing means actuates the external air source to maintain a predetermined pressure within the inflatable cushion.

20. An improved truck seat assembly comprising:

a seat frame for mounting in a driver area of a truck, said seat frame including a support member;

an inflatable cellular cushion on said support member, said inflatable cellular cushion assembly comprising a plurality of individual inflatable cells, said plurality of individual cells arranged into at least one center support zone and individual peripheral support zones adjacent said ischial support area;

an external air source fluidly connected to said center support zone and said individual lateral support zones; and

apparatus for regulating a desired air pressure within said recited zones.

21. The improved truck seat assembly of claim 20 wherein the inflatable cushion assembly further comprises a seat base between said inflatable cellular cushion and said support member.

22. The improved truck seat assembly of claim 21 wherein said seat base is a polyurethane foam base.

23. The improved truck seat assembly of claim 20 wherein said support member is a polymer material.

24. The improved truck seat assembly of claim 20 wherein said support member is a supportive fabric.

25. The improved truck seat assembly of claim 20 further comprising at least four peripheral support zones position around said center support zone.

26. The improved truck seat assembly of claim 21 wherein said seat base is a rigid seat base.

27. An improved vehicle seat assembly for a seat frame in the driver area of a vehicle, comprising:

a seat support on the seat frame;

a seat base on said seat support;

an inflatable cellular cushion on said seat base, said cushion having a plurality of inflation zones, at least one of said inflation zones positioned at an ischial area of a driver seated on the seat assembly and at least two of said inflation zones being peripheral inflation zones;

at least one air regulator between the inflatable cellular cushion and an air source; and

a valve positioned between an air regulator and the inflatable cellular cushion.

28. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 27 wherein said seat support is a polymer seat support.

29. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 27 wherein said seat base is a foam seat base.

30. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 27 wherein said seat base is removeably attached to said seat support by a hook and loop fastener.

31. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 30 wherein said seat base is a foam seat base and a section of said hook and loop fastener is molded into said foam seat base.

32. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 27 wherein said valve is disposed to allow fluid communication between said peripheral inflation zones when in an open position and to prevent fluid communication between said inflation zones when in a closed position.

33. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 27 further comprising a cover.

44. The improved cellular cushion cell geometry for cells employed with an inflatable cushion of claim 31 wherein the inflatable cushion is dip molded from a neoprene material.

34. An improved seat assembly for mounting on a vehicular seat frame, comprising:

a support member attached to the seat frame;

a seat base removeably attached to said support member;

an inflatable cellular cushion positioned on said seat base, said inflatable cellular including a center inflation zone, a front inflation zone, a back inflation zone, a first side inflation zone and a second side inflation zone, said recited inflation;

a valve between said inflatable cellular cushion and an air source, said valve designed to allow fluid communication between said front, back, first side and second side inflation zones when in an open position and to prevent fluid communication between said last recited zones when in a closed position, whereby a driver seated on said seat assembly can adjust the inflation of said last recited zones by opening and closing said valve; and

a cover.

35. The seat assembly of claim 34 wherein said support member is a polymer material.

36. The seat assembly of claim 34 wherein said seat base is a polyurethane foam material.

37. The seat assembly of claim 34 wherein said center inflation zone further comprises a preset inflation pressure.

38. The seat assembly of claim 37 further comprising an air regulator between said air source and said inflatable cellular cushion, said regulator disposed to maintain said preset inflation pressure in said center inflation zone.

39. The seat assembly of claim 37 wherein said preset inflation pressure is approximately 40 mm Hg.

40. The seat assembly of claim 34 further comprising padding between said inflatable cellular cushion and said cover.

41. The seat assembly of claim 34 wherein said cover comprises at least a top panel comprised of an elastic fabric.

42. An improved cellular cushion cell geometry for cells employed a inflatable cushion wherein individual cells comprise four fins and an aspect ratio of no greater than three to one (3 to 1).

43. The improved cellular cushion cell geometry for cells employed in an inflatable cushion of claim 42 wherein the inflatable cushion is vacuum molded from a plastic material.

45. A vibration and road shock dampening seat assembly for seating of a vehicle driver, comprising;

a seat frame;

a cushion assembly mounted on the seat frame, said cushion assembly comprising

a seat base, an inflatable cellular cushion on the seat base having a center inflation zone with means within the center inflation zone for dampening vibration and road shock, means for controlling inflation of the inflatable cellular cushion, and a cover.

46. An improved inflatable cellular cushion for a vehicular seat for a driver of the vehicle, comprising:

a center inflation zone for positioning under an ischial area of the driver of the vehicle to dampen vibration and shock to the ischial area during driving, said center inflation zone comprised of a plurality of individual inflatable cells interconnected by a fluid flow path and having a plurality individual inflation zones at its periphery, said fluid flow path having a substantially serpentine pattern to control a rate of air flow between the individual cells thereby enhancing the shock absorbing effect of the cells.