Pneumatic Lordosis Support

• US 20080315650A1
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prospective Concepts AG
• Original Assignee: Prospective Concepts AG
• Inventors: Habegger, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,857,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/284.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/665 using inflatable bladders

Abstract

A pneumatic lordosis support (1) consists of a cushion (3), which is integrated into the backrest (2) of a seat. Laterally of a vertical center line (7), the cushion encompasses horizontal connections (8) between a front side and a rear side of the cushion (3). The cushion (3) is composed of an air-tight flexible membrane. In the region of the vertical center line (7), the connections (8) encompass breaks. Vertically offset to the connections (8), the cushion (3) encompasses further central horizontal connections (10), which extend substantially across the region of the breaks in the connection (8). In the region where connections (8) and central connections (10) are located close to one another, reduced radii of the membrane lead to the occurrence of less stress than in the remaining cushions (3) and allow the spine of a user to dip into the cushion (3) more softly.

Claims

1. A pneumatic lordosis support (1) consisting of at least one pressurized cushion (3) comprising a front side (5) and a rear side (6), characterized in that

the cushion (3) has at least one uncontinuous first connection (8) of the front side (5) with the rear side (6), said connection (8) being substantially parallel to the spine of a user and subdividing the cushion into compartments,

the cushion (3), in the region of a center line (7) of the cushion (3) being substantially parallel to the spine of the user, encompasses further central connections (10) of the front side (5) with the rear side (6) being substantially perpendicular to the spine of the user, said connections being offset in the direction of the spine of the user with reference to the first connections (8) and being shorter than half the width of the cushion (3).

2. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to patent claim 1, characterized in that

the connection (8) encompasses a break in the region of the center line (7) and the length of the central connections (10) substantially corresponds to the length of the break in the connection (8).

3. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to patent claim 1, characterized in

that the connection (8) to both sides of the cushion leaves open air passages (13) and runs continuously in the region of the center line (7).

4. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to one of patent claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one compartment between the connections (8) encompasses more than one central connection (10).

5. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to one of patent claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the distance between the connections (8) decreases from the broadest compartment comprising the greatest distance between the connections (8) in the direction of the center line (7) towards both edges of the cushion (3), whereby the thickness of the pressurized cushion (3) also decreases towards the upper and the lower edge.

6. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to one of patent claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, on the rear side of the cushion (3), at least one further auxiliary cushion (14) is available, which, in each case, encompasses means for supplying air independent from the cushion (3) and can thus encompass a pressure, which differs from that of the cushion (3) and the further auxiliary cushions (14).

7. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to patent claim 6,

characterized in that

at least two auxiliary cushions (14) which can be pressurized independent from one another, are available on the rear side of the cushion (3),

furthermore a control being available, which pressurizes and again releases the auxiliary cushions (14) independent from one another so as to bring about a massage effect for the user.

8. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to one of patent claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cushion (3) is made of two plastic foils, which are fused by means of dies in connections (8, 10) and edges.

9. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to one of patent claims 1 to 8, characterized in that fastening means are available at the edge of the cushion (3), by means of which the cushion can be positioned.

10. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to one of patent claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the cushion (3) and/or the auxiliary cushions (14) are each divided into two or more air-tight partial cushions, with the partial cushions being supplied with compressed air independent from one another and can have different pressures.

11. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to patent claim 10, characterized in that a control is available, which pressurizes and again releases the partial cushions independent from one another so as to bring about a massage effect for the user.

12. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to one of patent claims 1 to 11, characterized in that means for supplying and leading away compressed air, an operating and control unit, a means for generating compressed air and an operating unit are available.