Acceleration compensating vehicular seat assembly

• US 5,707,109 A
• Filed: 02/02/1996
• Issued: 01/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Gamache, Steven T., Massara, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US08/595,667
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 297/DIG. 3, 297/284.9, 297/284.3, 297/284.1, 297/216.1, 297/216.13, 297/452.41, 297/452.33, 297/452.34
• US Class Current: 297/284.9
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/026 varying hardness or support of upholstery, e.g. for tuning seat comfort when driving curved roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/986 Side-rests B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence

Abstract

A vehicular seat assembly (10) includes a pair of bolsters (18, 20) located on either side of the seat back (14). Each of the bolsters (18, 20) includes a primary adjustor (22) which moves the bolster (18, 20) to a position found to be comfortable by the occupant of the seat (10). Each of the bolsters (18, 20) further include a secondary adjustor (26) disposed adjacent the first adjustor (22). The two secondary adjustors (26) operate independently of each other and deploy when the seat assembly (10) senses a predetermined level of lateral acceleration forces (36 or 38). An accelerometer (34) senses the lateral acceleration (36, 38) and a control circuit (32) sends a signal to an activator (40) to deploy the one of the two secondary adjustors (26).

Claims

1. A vehicular seat assembly (10) comprising:

a seat cushion (12);

a seat back (14) pivotal about said seat cushion (12);

two bolsters (18,

     20), with one bolster (18,

     20) secured to each side of said seat back (14);

primary adjustment means (22) for adjusting each of said bolsters (18,

     20) relative to said seat back (14) to provide support to an occupant, and

secondary adjustment means (24) disposed adjacent said primary adjustment means (22) for adjusting each of said bolsters (18,

     20) to provide additional support to the occupant independent of said primary adjustment means (22) when said vehicular seat assembly (10) receives forces of lateral acceleration (36,

     38) above a predetermined threshold.

2. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said secondary adjustment means (24) including first (28) and second (30) adjustable halves.

3. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first (28) and second (30) adjustable halves are extendable between retracted and deployed positions.

4. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 3 further including control means (32) for moving said first (28) and second (30) adjustable halves between said positions independently of each other.

5. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 4 further including sensing means (34) connected to said control means (32) for sensing lateral acceleration (36, 38) of said vehicular seat assembly (10).

6. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 5 further including activating means (40) deploying each of said first (28) and second (30) adjustable halves at first and second lateral accelerations, said first and second lateral acceleration being equal and opposite in direction.

7. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 6 further including deactivating means (58) for retracting each of said first (28) and second (30) adjustable halves at third and fourth lateral accelerations, said third and fourth lateral accelerations being equal in opposite directions.

8. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first (28) and second (30) adjustable halves include inflatable bags (26).

9. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 8 further including valving means (43) controllable by said control means (32), said valving means (43) movable between an open position and a closed position, said valving means (43) allowing fluid to pass into and out of said inflatable bags (26) when in said open position.

10. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 9 wherein said activating means (40) includes a solenoid responsive to said control means (32) for moving said valving means (43) between open and closed positions.

11. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 10 further including a regulator (58) for releasing air from said inflatable bags (26).

12. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 11 further including a reservoir (56) for storing compressed air therein.

13. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 12 further including a compressor (54) for compressing air into said reservoir (56).

14. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 13 further including a pressure sensitive switch (60) for measuring the pressure of the compressed air and said reservoir (56) and for switching said compressor (54) on and off.

15. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 14 wherein said sensing means (34) includes an accelerometer.

16. A vehicle seat assembly (10) comprising:

a seat cushion (12);

a seat back (14) extending out from and pivotal about said seat cushion (12);

at least two bolsters (18,

     20), each of said two bolsters (18,

     20) fixedly secured to said seat back (14) on either side thereof;

a first set of adjustors (22) manually adjustable to a predetermined comfort setting to adjust each of said bolsters (18,

     20) relative to said seat back (14), and

a second set of adjustors (26) disposed adjacent said first adjustors (22) for adjusting each of said bolsters (18,

     20) independently of said first adjustors (22) when Said vehicular seat assembly (10) receives forces of lateral acceleration (36,

     38) above a predetermined threshold.