Vehicle Seat with Variable Firmness

• US 20080303326A1
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Demick, Robert L., Booth, Daniel W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,712,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/284.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/026 varying hardness or support of upholstery, e.g. for tuning seat comfort when driving curved roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/70 Upholstery springs ; Upholstery
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/986 Side-rests B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/99 adjustable

Abstract

A vehicle seat includes a frame, a flexible cover, and a material that is sufficiently mounted with respect to the flexible cover such that the material resists displacement of at least part of the flexible cover with respect to the frame. The material is characterized by a first state in which the material is characterized by a first rigidity, and a second state in which the material is characterized by a second rigidity that is greater than the first rigidity. Thus, the firmness of the seat is selectively variable by causing the material to change between the first and second states. A corresponding method is also provided.

Claims

1. A seat assembly for installation in a vehicle comprising:

a seat including a frame, a flexible cover, and material being sufficiently mounted with respect to the flexible cover to resist displacement of at least part of the flexible cover with respect to the frame;

said material being characterized by a first state in which the material is characterized by a first rigidity and a second state in which the material is characterized by a second rigidity greater than the first rigidity.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the seat includes a headrest;

wherein the flexible cover at least partially defines an outer surface of the headrest; and

wherein the material is mounted with respect to the flexible cover such that the material resists displacement of at least part of the outer surface of the headrest with respect to the frame.

3. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the seat includes a seat bolster;

wherein the flexible cover at least partially defines an outer surface of the seat bolster; and

wherein the material is mounted with respect to the flexible cover such that the material resists displacement of at least part of the outer surface of the seat bolster with respect to the frame.

4. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the material comprises shear thickening fluid.

5. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the material comprises magnetorheological fluid.

6. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the material comprises electrorheological fluid.

7. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body defining a passenger compartment;

a vehicle seat mounted with respect to the body and at least partially disposed within the passenger compartment;

said seat including a frame, a flexible cover, and material mounted with respect to the cover to resist displacement of at least part of the cover with respect to the frame; and

said material being characterized by a first state in which the material has a first rigidity and a second state in which the material has a second rigidity greater than the first rigidity.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the seat includes a headrest;

wherein the flexible cover at least partially defines an outer surface of the headrest; and

wherein the material is mounted with respect to the flexible cover to resist displacement of at least part of the outer surface of the headrest with respect to the frame.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the vehicle seat includes a seat bolster;

wherein the flexible cover at least partially defines an outer surface of the seat bolster; and

wherein the material is mounted with respect to the flexible cover such that the material resists displacement of at least part of the outer surface of the seat bolster with respect to the frame.

10. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the material comprises shear thickening fluid.

11. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the material comprises magnetorheological fluid.

12. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the material comprises electrorheological fluid.

13. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the material is in the first state in the absence of an activation signal, and is in the second state in response to the presence of the activation signal.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising:

a controller; and

at least one sensor configured to monitor at least one vehicle condition and to transmit sensor signals indicative of said at least one vehicle condition to the controller;

said controller being configured to cause the generation of the activation signal when the sensor signals indicate that at least one predetermined condition exists.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein said at least one sensor includes an accelerometer configured to monitor acceleration of the vehicle body;

wherein said sensor signals are indicative of the acceleration of the vehicle body; and

wherein said at least one predetermined condition includes the absolute value of the acceleration of the vehicle body being greater than a predetermined amount.

16. A method of controlling the firmness of a seat in a vehicle, the method comprising:

monitoring the vehicle for at least one predetermined condition;

determining whether said at least one predetermined condition exists; and

causing the rigidity of a material in the seat to change in response to determining that said at least one predetermined condition exists.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said at least one predetermined condition includes the absolute value of the vehicle acceleration being greater than a predetermined amount.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said causing the rigidity of a material in the seat to change in response to determining that said at least one predetermined condition exists includes increasing the rigidity of the material.