Apparatus and method for cyclic adjustment of a supporting element in a seat
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for movement of a lumbar support, comprising:
- a flexible supporting element adapted to be coupled to a seat for movement relative thereto; and
driving means for automatically moving said flexible supporting element through an adjustment cycle that begins at a first position, then makes a first movement in a first direction to a second position, then makes a second movement in a second direction to a third position, then moves in said first direction again.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for moving a lumbar support through a cycle of repeated movements between a more curved position and a less curved position. The movement reduces muscle fatigue by pumping lactic acid out of peri-spinal muscles and by massaging those muscles.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. An apparatus for movement of a lumbar support, comprising:
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a flexible supporting element adapted to be coupled to a seat for movement relative thereto; and
driving means for automatically moving said flexible supporting element through an adjustment cycle that begins at a first position, then makes a first movement in a first direction to a second position, then makes a second movement in a second direction to a third position, then moves in said first direction again. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 38)
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17. An apparatus for automatically moving a supporting element in a seat in a first direction and a second direction according to an adjustment cycle, said apparatus comprising:
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a driving assembly having an output movable in said first direction and said second direction, said output adapted to be connected to said supporting element in said seat;
a power source;
a current controller communicable with said power source for generating current for a pre-configured cycle time;
a switch for automatically establishing a first polarity connection and a second polarity connection between said current regulating means and said driving apparatus, said switch communicating a plurality of current flows from said current regulating means to said driving apparatus through said first polarity and second polarity connections whereby said driving apparatus moves said output in said first direction and said second direction according to said adjustment cycle. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of relieving muscle fatigue in a seat occupant comprising:
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adjusting the curvature of a supporting element;
placing said supporting element in a first position operatively engaging a muscle of the seat occupant wherein the first position defines a first degree of curvature of the supporting element;
adjusting the curvature of the supporting element according to an adjustment cycle comprising starting at said first degree of curvature;
increasing the degree of curvature a first amount to define a second degree of curvature then;
decreasing the degree of curvature of the supporting element a second amount to define a third degree of curvature; and
increasing the degree of curvature from said third degree of curvature back to said second degree of curvature. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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20. The method of claim 20 wherein said in said steps of decreasing the degree of curvature of the supporting element a second amount to define a third degree of curvature and increasing the degree of curvature from said third degree of curvature back to said second degree of curvature are repeated a plurality of times.
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25. An apparatus for movement of a lumbar support, comprising:
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a flexible supporting element adapted to be coupled to a seat for movement relative thereto; and
a driver for automatically moving said flexible supporting element through an adjustment cycle that begins at a first position, then makes a first movement in a first direction to a second position, then makes a second movement in a second direction to a third position, then moves in said first direction again. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 45, 46, 47)
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41. An apparatus for automatically moving a supporting element in a seat in a first direction and a second direction according to an adjustment cycle, said apparatus comprising:
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a driving assembly comprising;
an archable support element;
a traction actuator operatively engaged with said archable support element;
an output movable in said first direction and said second direction, said output being in actuating engagement with said traction actuator;
a motor in driving engagement with said traction actuator;
a power source powering said motor;
a current controller communicable with said power source for generating current for a pre-configured cycle time;
a sensor that monitors the position of said support element, said sensor being in communication with said driving assembly and said current controller to stop said automatic moving in said first direction or in said second direction at pre-configured positions; and
a switch for automatically establishing a first polarity connection and a second polarity connection between said current controller and said driving apparatus, said switch communicating a current from said current controller to said driving apparatus through said first polarity and second polarity connections whereby said driving assembly moves said output in said first direction and said second direction according to said adjustment cycle;
whereby said output of said driving assembly engages said traction actuator to move said archable support element from a first position to a second position and from said second position through said first position to a third position and to repeat said movements between said second position and said third position until stopping said movements after said pre-configured cycle time. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. An apparatus for movement of a lumbar support, comprising:
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a flexible supporting element adapted to be coupled to a seat for movement relative thereto; and
a driver for automatically moving said flexible supporting element through an adjustment cycle that begins at a first position, then makes a first movement in a first direction to a second position, then makes a second movement in a second direction through said first position to a third position, then moves in said first direction again.
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44. A data structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium controlling a lumbar support flexion cycle comprising:
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an instruction to initialize a memory with a first, second and third position upon a user selection of a first position, said second and said third positions being on opposite sides of said first position;
an instruction to move from said first position to said second position;
an instruction to move from said second position to said third position;
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48. A cyclic lumbar support pattern comprising:
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a first movement six millimeters in a first direction;
a second movement 12 millimeters in a second direction; and
a third movement 12 millimeters in said first direction. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51)
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52. A lumbar support movement cycle pattern stored via machine readable storage media, said stored pattern comprising:
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a first plurality of binary values that initialize a memory register with a selected first position of a support element of said lumbar support;
a second plurality of binary values that calculate and store in a memory register a second position and a third position for said support element of said lumbar support, said second position being a pre-configured distance on one side of said first position and said third position being a pre-configured distance on the other side of said first position;
a third plurality of binary values that compare said memory registers of said first, second and third positions to a plurality of position indications from a position sensor;
a fourth plurality of binary values that close a polarity switch to create a current flow driving said support element of said lumbar support from said first position to said second position;
a fifth plurality of binary values to maintain said support element of said lumbar support at said second position for a pre-configured time period;
a sixth plurality of binary values that reverse said polarity switch and create a second flow of electric current to move said support element of said lumbar support from said second position to said third position; and
a seventh plurality of binary values to maintain said support element of said lumbar support at said third position for a pre-configured period of time. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55)
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Specification