Inflatable cushion apparatus for motor vehicle passenger seats

• US 4,756,574 A
• Filed: 10/24/1986
• Issued: 07/12/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Andres, Rudolf, Moller, Hermann
• Primary Examiner(s): Zugel, Francis K.
• Application Number:
  US06/922,951
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 297/284, 297/DIG. 3, 297/458, 297/459, 297/460, 5/441, 5/446, 5/447, 5/453, 5/464
• US Class Current: 297/284.9
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/467 adjustable by fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/99 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/03 Pneumatic

Abstract

An inflatable cushion is provided to be embedded in the upholstery of a motor vehicle seat. The cushion has one inflatable compartment and is typically placed near an exterior edge of a back support or seat cushion. As the inflatable cushion is inflated, the contours of the back support or seat cushion can be changed. The longitudinal interior edge of the cushion has a wave-like configuration which faces toward the central portion of the back support or seat cushion.

Claims

1. An inflatable cushion embeddable in an outward side of a seat for changing the contours of said side of said seat wherein said cushion includes a wave-shaped bordering facing a center portion of said seat, and a relatively smooth opposite edge facing an outer portion of said seat, said wave-shaped bordering including wave crests of varying height with respect to said opposite edge.

2. The inflatable cushion according to claim 1, wherein each of said wave crests is an equal distance to said smooth opposite edge directly opposite each of said wave crest.

3. The inflatable cushion according to claim 1 wherein said wave crests are connected to one another by a holding strip.

4. The inflatable cushion of claim 1 further including air control means for increasing and decreasing the volume of air within said cushion.

5. The inflatable cushion of claim 1 further including a seat and wherein said cushion is embedded within said seat.

6. The seat and cushion of claim 5 wherein said wave crests are equally spaced from a side of said seat.

7. The seat and cushion of claim 5 wherein said wave crests vary in distance from a side of said seat.

8. The seat and cushion of claim 5 wherein said wave crests are attached at a plurality of locations within said seat.

9. The seat and cushion of claim 5 wherein said wave crests are connected to one another by a holding strip and said holding strip is attached to a plurality of location within said seat.

10. The seat and cushion on claim 5 wherein said cushion when inflated with air produces a wave-like configuration of said seat as said wave crests protrude outwardly from said seat in a direction substantially perpendicular to air surface of said seat.