Adjustable lumbar seat support

• US 6,056,360 A
• Filed: 07/14/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alfmeier Corporation (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Covers
• Inventors: Schneider, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US09/115,060
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 297/284.4, 297/284.8, 297/452.49, 297/452.52, 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 providing lumbar comfort to a seat occupant seated in a seat, said adjustable lumbar support comprising:

at least two opposed leaf spring members for providing support to a lumbar region of an occupant seated in a seat, wherein said leaf spring members are continuous and arcuate in configuration whereby an ellipsoidal volume is formed there between said leaf spring members being pivotally connected at opposite edges;

at least one pair of mechanisms hinge each for pivotally connecting said opposite edges of said leaf spring members such that the distance separating said leaf spring members increases as said hinge mechanisms are drawn together;

an inter-leaf cable for selectively regulating the degree of separation between said leaf spring members to obtain a selected support by said lumbar support, wherein said interleaf cable includes a cable stop for delimiting the range of motion of said inter-leaf cable, said inter-leaf cable for flexing said adjustable lumbar support such that said leaf spring members are variably disposable between an open and a closed position, said inter-leaf cable having a first end and a second end, said second end of said inter-leaf cable being received on one of said at least one pair of hinge mechanisms; and

an actuating mechanism operatively associated with said first end of said inter-leaf cable for providing selective actuation of said leaf spring members between said open and said closed position such that a desirable support position is facilely found.

2. The adjustable lumbar support of claim 1 further comprising at least one fastening device for joining said lumbar support to frame members of the seat, said fastening device being disposed about a periphery of said lumbar support, said fastening device being selected from the group of fasteners consisting of straps, hooks, and hook-and-loop fasteners.

3. The adjustable lumbar support of claim 2 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 another of said at least one pair of said hinge mechanisms, said second end of said cable wire being integrally formed with said first end of said inter-leaf cable such that manipulation of said switch activates said motor and operation of said motor imparts movement of said cable wire and inter-leaf cable to flex said leaf members and enable the variable adjustment of said adjustable lumbar support.

4. The adjustable lumbar support of claim 1 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 said cable wire each had 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 another of said at least one pair of hinge mechanisms, said second end of said cable wire being integrally formed with said first end of said interleaf cable such that manipulation of said handle imparts movement of said cable wire and inter-leaf cable to flex said leaf members and enable the variable adjustment of said adjustable lumbar support.

5. An adjustable lumbar support for providing lumbar comfort to a seat occupant seated in a seat, said adjustable lumbar support comprising:

at least two opposed leaf spring members, said leaf spring members being configured to provide a variable volume there between;

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 volume is formed there between 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;

an inter-leaf cable member for variably adjusting said leaf spring members to obtain a selected support by said lumbar support, said inter-leaf cable member being positioned within said volume formed by said leaf spring members, said inter-leaf cable including a cable stop received on said inter-leaf cable for delimiting the range of motion of said inter-leaf cable, said inter-leaf cable having a first end and a second end wherein said second end is received on one of said at least one pair of hinge mechanisms; and

an actuating mechanism operatively associated with said first end of said inter-leaf cable for operating said inter-leaf cable, 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 another of said at least one pair of hinge mechanisms, said second end of said cable wire being integrally formed with said first end of said inter-leaf cable such that manipulation of said switch activates said motor and operation of said motor imparts movement of said cable wire and inter-leaf cable to flex said leaf members and enable the variable adjustment of said adjustable lumbar support.