Adjustable lumbar seat support

• US 5,806,927 A
• Filed: 04/11/1997
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alfmeier Corporation (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Covers
• Inventors: Schneider, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US08/827,808
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.49, 297/452.51, 297/452.5, 297/284.3, 297/284.6, 297/284.2, 297/284.8, 297/452.15, 297/452.52, 297/284.4, 267/160, 267/42, 248/576, 248/614, 248/618
• US Class Current: 297/284.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/665 using inflatable bladders
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/666 vertically adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6671 with cable actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6673 with motor driven adjustments

Abstract

An adjustable lumbar support device for installation within seats, and particularly vehicular seats, to enable a seat occupant to adjust a seat back to provide a desired amount of support for the lumbar region of the back. The adjustable lumbar seat support includes a pair of leaf spring members which are joined at their opposite edges with hinge members. Application of pressure to or release of pressure from the hinge members causes movement of the leaf members and a corresponding change in the central spacing between the leaf spring members such that the adjustable lumbar seat support is expanded or contracted. A flexion control device is provided to variably regulate the expansion and contraction of the hinge members such that the central spacing between the leaf spring members is changed and the adjustable lumbar seat support is expanded or contracted as desired. An actuator is also provided to enable the effortless operation of the flexion control device and use the adjustable lumbar seat support.

Claims

1. An adjustable lumbar support for seats, said lumbar support comprising:

at least two opposed leaf spring members, said leaf spring members being configured to provide a variable void therebetween;

at least one pair of hinge mechanisms, one hinge mechanism each for joining a pair of opposite edges of said leaf spring members, each of said leaf spring members being divided, adjoining edges of said divided leaf spring members being joined by divided leaf hinge mechanisms whereby an angularly shaped void being formed therebetween when said leaf spring members are joined at said hinge mechanisms such that the distance separating said leaf spring members increases as said hinge mechanisms are drawn together, said divided leaf spring members each defining a slot; and

a flexion control device for selectively regulating the degree of separation between said leaf spring members to obtain a selected support by said lumbar support, said flexion control device being disposed within said void joining said hinge mechanisms such that said slots encompass a portion of said flexion control device and the distance separating said leaf spring members diminishes further as said leaf spring members are drawn together, said flexion control device being a composite structure which enables the discrete control of the degree of flexion of the adjustable lumbar support thereby providing the occupant with a wider range of lumbar support comfort, said composite structure including a trinal extensor having three extensor members, each of said extensor members having a first end and a second end, each first end of each extensor member defining an extensor slot, each extensor slot being co-joined by a pivot for maintaining each of said extensor slots in close relative proximity, said second extensor member ends being positioned one each on each of said divided leaf hinge mechanisms as well as on one of said hinge mechanisms such that said pivot is centrally located between said leaf spring members when said lumbar support is in an opened position, said pivot enabling the slidable movement of said first extensor member ends such that said leaf spring members are variably disposable between an open and a closed position, a portion of said first extensor member ends being received in each said leaf spring member slot when said lumbar support is in a closed position.

2. The adjustable lumbar support of claim 1 wherein said pivot for receiving said slotted ends of said trinal extensor members is selected from the group of connective devices including a nut and bolt assembly, a rivet, a snap ring, and other similar connective devices, said bolt having at least one threaded end, said threaded end for receiving said nut, said nut for keeping said trinal extensor member slotted ends on said rod.

3. The adjustable lumbar support of claim 2 wherein said trinal extensor members of said flexion control device differ in length to facilitate the variable dimensioning of said leaf spring members, a longer trinal extensor member being disposed between two shorter trinal extensor members, said shorter trinal extensor members being of equal length such that said leaf spring members define said parallel leaf cross-section, said second end of said longer trinal extensor member being received on one of said hinge mechanisms, said second ends of said shorter trinal extensor members being received on one each of said divided leaf hinge mechanisms.

4. The adjustable lumbar support of claim 3 further comprising an actuating mechanism for cooperating said flexion control device such that the desirable discrete position for said lumbar support is facilely found.

5. The adjustable lumbar support of claim 4 wherein said actuating mechanism is a motor having an actuator control and an encased cable disposed between said motor and said lumbar support for the motorized operation of said lumbar support, said actuator control being a switch to activate and control the operation of said motor, said encased cable including a casing and a cable wire which slidably moves within said casing, said casing and said cable wire each having a first end and a second end, said first end of each of said casing and said cable being connected to said motor, said second end of said casing being secured a cable guide, said cable guide being received on said hinge mechanism opposite said longer trinal extensor, said cable wire being secured on said pivot of said flexion control device at said second cable wire end such that manipulation of said switch activates said motor and enables the motorized adjustment of said flexion control device and said adjustable lumbar support.

6. The adjustable lumbar support of claim 4 wherein said actuating mechanism is a manual actuation control and an encased cable disposed between said manual actuation control and said lumbar support for the manual operation of said lumbar support, said manual actuation control being a handle, said encased cable including a casing and a cable wire which slidably moves within said casing, said casing and said cable wire each having a first end and a second end, said first end of each of said casing and said cable being connected to said handle, said second end of said casing being secured a cable guide, said cable guide being received on said hinge mechanism opposite said longer trinal extensor, said cable wire being secured at said second cable wire end to said pivot of said flexion control device such that manipulation of said handle enables the manual adjustment of said adjustable lumbar support.

7. An adjustable lumbar support for seats, said lumbar support comprising:

at least two opposed leaf spring members, said leaf spring members being configured to provide a variable void therebetween;

at least one pair of hinge mechanisms, one hinge mechanism each for joining a pair of opposite edges of said leaf spring members, each of said leaf spring members being divided, adjoining edges of said divided leaf spring members being joined by divided leaf hinge mechanisms whereby an angularly shaped void is formed therebetween when said leaf spring members are joined at said hinge mechanisms such that the distance separating said leaf spring members increases as said hinge members are drawn together, said divided leaf spring members each defining a slot;

a flexion control device for variably adjusting said leaf spring members to obtain a selected support by said lumbar support, said flexion control device being positioned within said void such that said slots encompass said flexion control device as said leaf spring members are drawn together, said flexion control device including a trinal extensor having three extensor members of differing length to facilitate the variable dimensioning of said leaf spring members, a longer trinal extensor member being disposed between two shorter trinal extensor members, said shorter trinal extensor members being of equal length such that said leaf spring members define a parallel cross-section, each of said trinal extensor members having a first end and a second end, each first end of each extensor member defining an extensor slot, each extensor slot being co-joined by a rod for maintaining each of said extensor slots in close relative proximity, said second extensor member ends being positioned one each on each of said divided leaf hinge mechanisms as well as on one of said hinge mechanisms such that said rod is centrally located between said leaf members, said rod having at least one threaded end for receiving a nut to keep said slotted ends on said rod, said rod for enabling the slidable movement of said first extensor member ends such that said leaf members are variably disposable between an open and a closed position, said first extensor member ends being received in each said leaf spring member slot when said support is in a closed position; and

an actuating mechanism for operating said flexion control device, said actuating mechanism being motorized for enabling the automated operation of said adjustable lumbar support, said actuating mechanism including a motor having an actuator control and an encased cable disposed between said motor and said lumbar support, said actuator control being a switch to activate and control the operation of said motor, said encased cable including a casing and a cable wire which slidably moves within said casing, said casing and said cable wire each having a first end and a second end, said first end of each of said casing and said cable being connected to said motor, said second end of said casing being secured a cable guide, said cable guide being received on said hinge mechanism opposite said longer trinal extensor, said cable wire being secured on said pivot of said flexion control device at said second cable wire end such that manipulation of said switch activates said motor and enables the motorized adjustment of said flexion control device and said adjustable lumbar support.

8. An adjustable lumbar support for seats, said lumbar support comprising:

at least two opposed leaf spring members, said leaf spring members being configured to provide a variable void therebetween;

at least one pair of hinge mechanisms, one hinge mechanism each for joining a pair of opposite edges of said leaf spring members, each of said leaf spring members being divided, adjoining edges of said divided leaf spring members being joined by divided leaf hinge mechanisms whereby an angularly shaped void is formed therebetween when said leaf spring members are joined at said hinge mechanisms such that the distance separating said leaf spring members increases as said hinge mechanisms are drawn together;

a flexion control device for variably adjusting said leaf spring members to obtain a selected support by said lumbar support, said flexion control device being positioned within said void such that said slots encompass said flexion control device as said leaf spring members are drawn together, said flexion control device including a trinal extensor having three extensor members of differing length to facilitate the variable dimensioning of said leaf spring members, a longer trinal extensor member being disposed between two shorter trinal extensor members, said shorter trinal extensor members being of equal length such that said leaf spring members define a parallel cross-section, each of said trinal extensor members having a first end and a second end, each first end of each extensor member defining an extensor slot, each extensor slot being co-joined by a rod for maintaining each of said extensor slots in close relative proximity, said second extensor member ends being positioned one each on each of said divided leaf hinge mechanisms as well as on one of said hinge mechanisms such that said rod is centrally located between said leaf members, said rod having at least one threaded end for receiving a nut to keep said slotted ends on said rod, said rod for enabling the slidable movement of said first extensor member ends such that said leaf members are variably disposable between an open and a closed position, said first extensor member ends being received in said leaf spring member slots when said support is in the closed position; and

an actuating mechanism for manually operating said flexion control device of said adjustable lumbar support, said actuating mechanism including a manual actuation control and an encased cable disposed between said manual actuation control and said lumbar support, said manual actuation control being a handle, said encased cable including a casing and a cable wire which slidably moves within said casing, said casing and said cable wire each having a first end and a second end, said first end of each of said casing and said cable being connected to said handle, said second end of said casing being secured a cable guide, said cable guide being received on said hinge mechanism opposite said longer trinal extensor, said cable wire being secured at said second cable wire end to said pivot of said flexion control device such that manipulation of said handle enables the manual adjustment of said adjustable lumbar support.