Inflatable seat cushion and body support assembly
First Claim
1. For use as a seat cushion and body support, an inflatable seat cushion assembly, comprising:
- A plurality of independent and individually inflatable chambers, each of said plurality of chambers being secured to at least one other chamber; and
means for controlling each of the chambers, including, for each chamber;
first valve means for connecting a chamber to a pressure source of fluid for inflating a chamber, said check valve means permitting fluid flow from said pressure source of fluid, when pressurized, to the respective chamber, said first check valve means being closable for maintaining said fluid in a respective chamber at a desired amount of inflation thereof;
conduit means for said fluid between said first check valve means and a chamber;
second seatable valve means provided in a control block and in fluid communication with said conduit means and operable to release fluid from a respective chamber, said seatable valve means being biased to a closed position and including means for unseating said valve means to permit fluid flow past the valve to a lower pressure sink while the valve is unseated by said means therefor; and
wherein all of said first check valve means are also located in said control block and communicate with a common pressure manifold and are biased to a closed position to preclude fluid flow from any chamber past its respective valve to said manifold, said manifold also being in said control block, and said first check valve means are operable upon pressurization of said manifold above a predetermined minimum pressure to allow fluid flow past said valves to the respective chambers.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seat cushion and body support assembly is provided where the cushion comprises a plurality of individually inflatable chambers. Each of the chambers is connected, through its own conduit means, to a controllable pressure source so that, when desired, the chambers can be inflated. The chambers may all be inflated simultaneously, and thereafter the operator can control individual vent or dump valves to reduce the pressure or volume of pressure fluid in any respective chamber, thereby achieving a desired contour for the cushion for purposes of body or back support; or the chambers may be individually inflated by operation of a respective valve for each chamber. The inflatable seat cushion and body support is portable, and is particularly intended for use in vehicles such as automobiles and trucks.
165 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. For use as a seat cushion and body support, an inflatable seat cushion assembly, comprising:
-
A plurality of independent and individually inflatable chambers, each of said plurality of chambers being secured to at least one other chamber; and means for controlling each of the chambers, including, for each chamber; first valve means for connecting a chamber to a pressure source of fluid for inflating a chamber, said check valve means permitting fluid flow from said pressure source of fluid, when pressurized, to the respective chamber, said first check valve means being closable for maintaining said fluid in a respective chamber at a desired amount of inflation thereof; conduit means for said fluid between said first check valve means and a chamber; second seatable valve means provided in a control block and in fluid communication with said conduit means and operable to release fluid from a respective chamber, said seatable valve means being biased to a closed position and including means for unseating said valve means to permit fluid flow past the valve to a lower pressure sink while the valve is unseated by said means therefor; and wherein all of said first check valve means are also located in said control block and communicate with a common pressure manifold and are biased to a closed position to preclude fluid flow from any chamber past its respective valve to said manifold, said manifold also being in said control block, and said first check valve means are operable upon pressurization of said manifold above a predetermined minimum pressure to allow fluid flow past said valves to the respective chambers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification