VEHICLE SEAT WITH A VARIABLE-CONTOUR SUPPORTING SURFACE

• US 20100230987A1
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Vöelz, Reimer
• Granted Patent: US 8,602,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/68
• 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 is provided with a protective surface to support the vehicle passenger and a variable-shape aircushion. The contour of the supporting surface can be varied by changing the shape of the aircushion. A drivable device is also provided with which the aircushion can be compressed at least partially from outside in such a way as to vary the shape of the aircushion, and hence vary the contour of the supporting surface. A motor vehicle is also provided with such a vehicle seat.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a supporting surface;

a variable-shape aircushion, wherein a contour of the supporting surface is adapted to vary by changing a shape of the variable-shape aircushion; and

a driveable device with which the variable-shape aircushion is adapted to compress at least partially from an outside to produced the changing of the shape of the variable-shape aircushion.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the variable-shape aircushion is adapted to incorporate a substantially constant air volume.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the variable-shape aircushion comprises a substantially airtight and substantially sealed sheath adapted to hold the substantially constant air volume.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the variable-shape aircushion is elastically deformable or compressible.

5. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the variable-shape aircushion is integrated in a portion of the vehicle seat.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the variable-shape aircushion is integrated into a sidewall of the vehicle seat.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein changing the shape of the variable-shape aircushion varies a height of the sidewall.

8. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the driveable device is adapted for manual operation.

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the driveable device is movable from a first position into a second position in which the variable-shape aircushion has a greater compression than in the first position.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the driveable device comprises a first pressure portion and a second pressure portion adapted to compress the variable-shape aircushion and between the variable-shape aircushion is arranged, and which can be moved relative to each other, wherein the first pressure portion and the second pressure portion are adapted to pivot like tongs relative to each other, and one of the first pressure portion or the second pressure portion is a fixed pressure portion.

11. The vehicle seat according to claim 9, further comprising a second variable-shape aircushion with a second driveable device adapted to compress the second variable-shape aircushion, wherein the driveable device and the second driveable device are coupled to provide a substantially simultaneous move into the first position or the second position.

12. The vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the driveable device and the second driveable device are coupled with a shared spindle drive to actuate the driveable device and the second driveable device.

16. The vehicle seat according to claim 3, wherein the substantially sealed sheath is elastically deformable or compressible.

17. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the driveable device is adapted for electrical operation.

18. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the driveable device is adapted for pneumatic operation.

19. The vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the driveable device and the second driveable device are coupled with a shared sheathed cable system to actuate the driveable device and the second driveable device.

20. The vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the driveable device and the second driveable device are coupled with a shared rod assembly or a shared sheathed cable system to actuate the driveable device and the second driveable device.

13. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat comprising;

a supporting surface;

a variable-shape aircushion, wherein a contour of the supporting surface is adapted to vary by changing a shape of the variable-shape aircushion; and

a driveable device with which the variable-shape aircushion is adapted to compress at least partially from an outside to produced the changing of the shape of the variable-shape aircushion.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 13, further comprising a vehicle door allocated to the vehicle seat that is adapted to move from an open position into a closed position, wherein the vehicle door is adapted to interact with the driveable device such that the driveable device can be moved to a first position by moving the vehicle door to the open position, and to a second position by moving the vehicle door to the closed position.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the vehicle door is operationally connected with the driveable device by a rod assembly or a sheathed cable.