Thin inflatable elastomeric seat

• US 4,826,249 A
• Filed: 02/22/1988
• Issued: 05/02/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Bradbury, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ASCHENBRENNER, PETER
• Application Number:
  US07/158,869
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452, 297/DIG. 3, 297/455, 297/289, 5/455, 5/456
• US Class Current: 297/452.41
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7011 of substantially two-dimensional shape, e.g. hammock-like, plastic shells, fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/03 Pneumatic

Abstract

A thin inflatable elastomeric vehicle seat comprised of a pair of elastomeric sheets which are heat sealed together to define a peripheral manifold and discrete horizontal sections, pressurized with a gas to stretch the elastomeric material into its hysteresis range and then attached to a frame to provide a cushioned seat.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

frame means including laterally spaced, generally horizontal side frame portions and resilient means extending thereacross for supporting a seat and laterally spaced, generally vertically extending side frame portions and resilient means extending thereacross for supporting a backrest,

said seat and backrest each comprising a pair of elastomeric sheets which are sealed together adjacent their outer side edges to define a circumferentially extending flange having a pair of side portions and a pair of end portions, said sheets being made from a block copolymer consisting of polytetramethylene terephthalate polyester and polytetramethylene ether,

said sheets also being sealed together transversely of their side flange portions at spaced longitudinal locations therealong to define a plurality of horizontally extending passages whose ends terminate at a location spaced from the adjacent side portions of said flange to define with the sealed side edges a manifold between said side flange portion and said ends of said passages which are in communication with each other,

said passages and manifold being pressurized with a gas to stretch the block copolymer material defining the passages and manifold into its hysteresis range, said passages being sealed off from said manifold after pressurization to provide a semi-rigid lightweight and cushioned seat and backrest which is relatively thin and provided with individual cushioned portions, and means for attaching said circumferential flange of said seat and backrest to said frame means.

4. A vehicle seat assembly, as defined in claim 1, and wherein said pressurized gas stretches said elastomeric sheet material to at least 20% elongation from its free state condition.

2. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

frame means including laterally spaced, generally horizontal side frame portions and thin resilient means extending thereacross for supporting a seat and laterally spaced, generally vertically extending side frame portions and thin resilient means extending thereacross for supporting a backrest,

said seat and backrest each comprising a pair of elastomeric sheets which are sealed together adjacent their outer side edges to define a circumferentially extending flange having a pair of side portions and a pair of end portions, said sheets being made from a block copolymer consisting of polytetramethylene terephthalate polyester and polytetramethylene ether,

said sheets also being sealed together transversely of their side flange portions at spaced longitudinal locations therealong to define a plurality of horizontally extending passages whose ends terminate at a location spaced from the adjacent side portion of said flange, said side edges of said flange and said ends of said passages along with the passages located closest to the end portions of said flange defining a circumferentially extending manifold in communication with said passages,

said manifold having an inlet and said passages and manifold being pressurized with a gas to stretch the block copolymer material defining the passages and manifold into its hysteresis range, said manifold being sealed off and said ends of said passsages being sealed off from said manifold after pressurization to provide a semi-rigid lightweight seat and backrest which is relatively thin and provided with individual cushioned portions, and means for attaching said circumferential flange of said seat and backrest to said frame means.

3. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

frame means including laterally spaced, generally horizontal side frame portions and thin resilient means extending thereacross for supporting a seat and laterally spaced, generally vertically extending side frame portions and thin resilient means extending thereacross for supporting a backrest,

said seat and backrest each comprising a pair of elastomeric sheets which are sealed together adjacent their outer side edges to define a circumferentially extending flange having a pair of side portions and a pair of end portions, said sheets being made from a block copolymer consisting of polytetramethylene terephthalate polyester and polytetramethylene ether,

said sheets also being sealed together transversely of their side flange portions at spaced longitudinal locations therealong to define a plurality of horizontally extending passages whose ends terminate at a location spaced from the adjacent side portion of said flange, said side edges of said flange and said ends of said passage along with the passage located closest to the end portions of said flange defining a circumferentially extending manifold in communication with said passages,

said manifold having an inlet and said passages and manifold being pressurized with an inert gas stretch the block copolymer material defining the passages and manifold to at least 20% elongation from its free state condition, said manifold being sealed off and said ends of said passages being sealed off form said manifold after pressurization to provide a semi-rigid lightweight and cushioned seat and backrest which is relatively thin and provided with individual cushioned portions, and means for attaching said circumferential flange of said seat and backrest to said frame means.

5. A vehicle seat assembly, as defined in claim 3, and wherein said thin resilient means comprises a plurality of thin elastomeric filaments lightly stretched across and attached to the side frame portions of said frame means.

6. A vehicle seat assembly, as defined in claim 5, and wherein said frame means is made from a lightweight metal tubular material.

7. A vehicle seat assembly, as defined in claim 6, and wherein said thin elastomeric filaments are made from a block copolymer consisting of polytetramethylene terephthalate polyester and polytetramethylene ether.