Vehicle seat with automatic adjustment mechanisms utilizing inflatable air bags

• US 5,082,326 A
• Filed: 04/25/1990
• Issued: 01/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Okamoto Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Okamoto Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Sakuma, Tadashi, Sekido, Hiroshi, Hioki, Toshimichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US07/514,000
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 297/284, 297/338, 297/460, 297/DIG. 8, 297/DIG. 3, 297/408, 297/430, 297/434, 297/435, 297/431, 297/344, 297/396
• US Class Current: 297/284.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/10 tiltable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2875 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/16 height-adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2222 the back-rest having two or more parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/806 movable or adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/853 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/885 provided with side-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/03 Pneumatic

Abstract

An automatic vehicle seat capable of separately controlling the position or gradient of each portion of a vehicle seat using air bags. Automatic adjustment mechanisms utilizing inflatable air bags are included in the vehicle seat and are capable of adjusting and controlling the height of the seat level, the gradient of a headrest positioned on the seat back, the thigh support of the seat and the mobility of the seat body in a longitudinal direction.

Claims

1. An adjustable vehicle seat comprising:

a seat back which provides a front surface against which an occupant sits, said seat back having an upper and a lower section, said upper section having a hollow portion therein, said seat back having an opening therethrough extending from said upper section into said hollow portion;

a headrest coupled to said upper section of said seat back;

a plurality of air bags positioned within said hollow portion, said air bags being connected together so as to form a stack, said air bags including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said air bags;

a dogleg-shaped lever having a straight portion and a bend, one of said bend being connected to said headrest and another end of said bend portion being pivotally mounted to said upper section of said seat back, said straight portion extending into said hollow portion and being positioned adjacent said air bags; and

means for inflating said air bas so as to move said straight portion of said lever in a direction away from said front surface of said seat back, whereby said headrest is moved in a direction toward said front surface of said seat back for adjusting the position of said headrest.

2. An adjustable vehicle seat according to claim 1 further comprising means for deflating said air bags so as to move said straight portion of said lever in a direction toward said front surface, whereby said headrest is moved in a direction away from said front surface of said seat back.

3. An adjustable vehicle seat comprising:

a seat back which provides a front surface against which an occupant sits, said seat back having an upper and a lower section, said lower section having a hollow portion therein;

a plurality of air bags positioned within said hollow portion, said air bags being connected together so as to form a stack, said air bags including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said air bags;

a dogleg-shaped lever having a straight portion and a bend, one end of said bend being connected to said upper section of said seat back and another end of said bend being pivotally mounted to said upper section of said seat back, said straight portion extending into said hollow portion and being positioned adjacent said air bags; and

means for inflating said air bags so as to move said straight portion of said lever in a direction away from the front surface of said seat back, whereby said upper portion of said seat back is moved in a direction toward said front surface of said seat back for adjusting the position of said upper portion of said seat back.

4. An adjustable seat according to claim 3 wherein said upper section has a second hollow portion therein, said seat back having an opening therethrough extending through said upper section into said second hollow portion;

a headrest coupled to said upper section of said seat back;

a plurality of second air bags positioned within said second hollow portion, said second air bags being connected together so as to form a stack, said second air bas including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said second air bags;

a second dogleg-shaped lever having a straight and a bend, one end of said bend portion of said second lever being connected to said headrest and another end of said bend of said second lever being pivotally mounted to said upper section of said seat back, said straight portion of said second lever extending into said second hollow portion and being positioned adjacent said second air bags; and

means for inflating said second air gabs so as to move said straight portion of said second lever in a direction away from the front surface of said seat back, whereby said headrest is moved in a direction toward the front surface of said seat back for adjusting the position of said headrest.

5. An adjustable vehicle seat according to claim 3 further comprising means for deflating said air bags so as to move said straight portion of said lever in a direction toward said front surface, whereby said headrest is moved in a direction away from the front surface of said seat back.

6. An adjustable vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat cushion having a top and bottom surface, said top surface on which an occupant sits;

a seat including a front and a rear wall;

a dogleg shaped plate having a straight portion and a bend, said straight portion positioned below said bottom surface of said seat cushion, said straight portion being slidably movable in a direction parallel to said bottom surface, said bend provided to have one end bent downwardly and another end positioned toward said occupant;

a plurality of first air bags positioned on an upper surface of said bend, said first air bags being connected together so as to form a stack, said first air bags including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said first air bags;

a support pad pivotally attached to the end of said bend which is positioned toward said occupant, said support pad having a top and a bottom surface, said top surface of said support pad supporting a portion of said occupant'"'"'s legs, said bottom surface positioned adjacent said plurality of air bags;

means for inflating said first air bags so as to move said support pad in an upward direction for adjusting the position of said support pad;

a vertical plate attached at a right angle to said straight portion of said dogleg shaped plate;

a plurality of second air bags positioned between said vertical plate and the rear wall of said seat portion, said second air bags being connected together so as to form a stack, said second air bags including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said second air bags; and

means for inflating said second air bags so as to slidably move said straight portion in a direction away from the front wall of said seat back, whereby said support pad is moved in a direction away from said front wall of said seat back.

7. An adjustable vehicle seat assembly according to claim 6 further comprising means for deflating said first air bags so as to move said support pad in a downward direction and means for deflating said second air bags so as to move said support pad in a direction toward said front wall of said seat back.

8. An adjustable vehicle seat comprising:

a base;

a vehicle seat cushion having an upper surface upon which an occupant sits and a lower surface;

a pair of bar members for supporting said seat cushion, each of said bar members having a top and bottom end, the top end of one of said bar members being slidably mounted to one end of said lower surface of said seat and the top end of the other of said bar members being slidably mounted to another end of the lower surface of said seat, said bar members being pivotally mounted to one another at a central portion thereof, said bottom end of one of said bar members being mounted to one end of said base and said bottom end of said other of said bar members being mounted to another end of said base;

a plurality of air bags positioned upon said base below said lower surface of said seat and between said bar members, said air bags being connected together so as to form a stack, said air bags including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said air bags; and

means for inflating said air bags so as to upwardly move said lower surface of said seat cushion in a direction away from said base, whereby said upper surface of said seat portion is raised.

9. A vehicle seat according to claim 8 further comprising:

a lock pin extending from said lower surface;

a L-shaped frame including a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, said L-shaped frame pivotally mounted to said base at the intersection of said horizontal and vertical portion, said vertical portion provided with a plurality of rack gears adapted to engage with said lock pin;

a plurality of second air gabs positioned between said base and the end of said horizontal plate which is opposite to the intersection of said horizontal and vertical portion said second air bags being connected together so as to form a stack, said second air gabs including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said air bags; and

means for inflating said second air bags so as to upwardly move said horizontal plate, whereby said lock pin is engaged with a different one of said plurality of rack gears for locking said seat.

10. A vehicle seat assembly comprising;

a vehicle seat body having an upper and lower surface, said body having a front and a rear wall;

a pair of rails having a convex shape provided on the floor of the vehicle, said pair of rails being positioned parallel to said seat body;

a pair of frames having a concave shape attached to said lower surface of said seat body, said pair of frames slidably engaging with said pair of rails;

a vertical partition wall extending vertically from said lower surface of said seat body at a predetermined position along said lower surface;

a rear frame extending vertically from a base and positioned below said seat body;

a front frame extending vertically from said base and positioned below said seat body;

a plurality of first air bags positioned between said vertical wall and said rear frame, said first air bags being connected together so as to form a stack, said first air bags including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said first air bags;

a plurality of second air bags positioned between said vertical wall and said front frame, said second air bags being connected together so as to form a stack, said second air bags including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said second air bags; and

means for inflating said first and second air bags, whereby said seat body slidably moves in one direction when said first air bags are inflated and said seat body moves in the opposite direction when said second air bags are inflated.

11. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 10 further comprising:

rack gears positioned on the outer surface of one of said pair of convex rails;

a L-shaped plate pivotally mounted at a right angle to said convex shaped rails, said L-shaped plate having a vertical and a horizontal portion, said horizontal portion having a lock pin adapted to engage with one of said plurality of rack gears;

a backplate extending from said base in a direction parallel to said L-shaped plate;

a plurality of third air bags positioned between said backplate and the vertical portion of said L-shaped plate said second air bags being connected together so as to form a stack, said second air gabs including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said air bags; and

means for inflating said third air bags so as to move said vertical portion of said L-shaped plate, whereby said lock pin is engaged with a different one of said plurality of rack gears for locking said seat.

12. An adjustable vehicle seat comprising:

a seat cushion having a top and bottom surface, said top surface on which said occupant sits;

said seat cushion having a pair of hollow portions therein positioned at either end of said seat cushion;

a pair of support pads, one of said pair of support pads positioned on one side of said seat cushion and the other one of said pair of support pads positioned on the other side of said seat cushion;

said pair of support pads extending upwardly from said seat cushion;

a plurality of air bags positioned within each one of said pair of hollow portions, said air bags being connected together so as to form a stack, said air bags including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said air bags;

a pair of dogleg-shaped levers having a straight portion and a bend, one of said pair of levers having one end of said bend being connected to said one of said pair of support pads and the other of said pair of levers having one end of said bend being connected to said other one of said pair of support pads, said straight portion of each of said levers extending into a respective one of said hollow portions and being positioned adjacent a respective one of said plurality of air bags; and

means for inflating said air bags so as to move said straight portion of said lever in a direction away from said front surface of said seat back for adjusting the position of said support pads.

13. An adjustable vehicle seat comprising:

a seat back which provides a front surface against which an occupant sits, said seat back having an upper and a lower section, said lower section having a hollow portion therein, a plurality of first air bags positioned within said hollow portion, said first air bags being connected together so as to form a stack, said first air bags including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said air bags, a first dogleg-shaped lever having a straight portion and a bend, one end of said bend being connected to said upper section of said seat back and another end of said bend being pivotally mounted to said supper section of said seat back, said straight portion extending into said hollow portion and being positioned adjacent said air bags, and means for inflating said first air bags so as to move said straight portion of said lever in a direction away from the front surface of said seat back, whereby said upper section of said seat back is moved in a direction toward the front surface of said seat back for adjusting the position of said upper section of said seat back;

said upper section having a second hollow portion therein, said seat back having an opening therethrough extending through said upper section into said second hollow portion, a headrest coupled to said upper section of said seat back, a plurality of second air bags positioned within said second hollow portion, said second air gabs being connected together so as to form a stack, said second air bags including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said second air bags, a second dogleg-shaped lever having a straight portion and a bend, one end of said bend of said second lever being connected to said headrest and another end of said ben of said second lever being pivotally mounted to said upper section of said seat back, said straight portion of said second lever extending into said second hollow portion and being positioned adjacent said second air bags, and means for inflating said second air bags so as to move said straight portion of said second lever in a direction away from the front surface of said seat back, whereby said headrest is moved in a direction toward the front surface of said seat back for adjusting the position of said headrest;

a seat cushion having a top and bottom surface, said top surface on which an occupant sits, a seat including a front and a rear wall, a third dogleg shaped plate having a straight portion and a bend, said straight portion of said third dogleg shaped plate positioned below said bottom surface of said seat cushion, said straight portion being slidably movable in a direction parallel to said bottom surface, said bend provided to have one end bent downwardly and another end positioned toward said occupant, a plurality of third air bags positioned on an upper surface of said bend, said third air bags being connected together so as to form a stack, said third air bags including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said third air bags, a support pad pivotally attached to the end of said bend portion of said third plate which is positioned toward said occupant, said support pad having a top and a bottom surface, said top surface of said support pad supporting a portion of said occupant'"'"'s legs, said bottom surface positioned adjacent said plurality of third air bags, means for inflating said air bags so as to move said support pad in an upward direction for adjusting the position of said support pad, a vertical plate attached at a right angle to said straight portion of said third plate, a plurality of fourth air bags positioned between said vertical plate and a rear wall of said seat portion, said fourth air bags being connected together so as to form a stack, said fourth air bas including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said fourth air bags, and mean for inflating said fourth air bags so as to slidably move said straight portion of said third plate in a direction away from a front wall of said seat back, whereby said support pad is moved in a direction away from said front wall of said seat back; and

a vehicle seat body having an upper and lower surface, said body having a front and rear wall, a pair of rails having a convex shape provided on a floor of the vehicle, said pair of rails being positioned parallel to said seat body, a pair of frames having a concave shape attached to said lower surface of said seat body, said pair of frames slidably engaging with said pair of rails, a vertical partition wall extending vertically from said lower surface of said seat body at a predetermined position along said lower surface of said seat body, a rear frame extending vertically from said base and positioned below said seat body, a front frame extending vertically from said base and positioned below said seat body, a plurality of fifth air bags positioned between said vertical wall and said rear frame, said fifth air bags being connected together so as to form a stack, said fifth air bags including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said fifth air bags, a plurality of sixth air bags positioned between said vertical wall and said front frame, said sixth air bags being connected together so as to form a stack, said sixth air bags including at least one air communicating opening so as to provide communication between adjacent ones of said sixth air bags, and means for inflating said fifth and sixth air bags, whereby said seat body slidably moves in one direction when said fifth air bags are inflated and said seat body moves in an opposite direction when said sixth air bags are inflated.