Supporting part for a seat

• US 6,378,948 B1
• Filed: 03/27/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Reflex Holding GmbH
• Original Assignee: Magna Reflex Holding GmbH
• Inventors: Macher, David, Zorn, Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US09/445,629
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.28, 297/180.11, 297/180.12, 297/180.13, 297/452.26, 297/452.27, 297/180.1, 542/1, 565/3, 565/4
• US Class Current: 297/452.28
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/126 for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/425 Supplementary back-rests to be positioned on a back-rest or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/643 shape of the back-rests B60N2/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/646 shape of the cushion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/70 Upholstery springs ; Upholstery
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7005 detachable

Abstract

A supporting part for a seat has at least one plastic layer made of a material composed of thermally reversibly deformable material. The plastic layer can be shaped from a first shape into any predeterminable second shape at a shaping temperature higher than its temperature of use and can be fixed in this reversible shape at a temperature range lower than the shaping temperature. This layer can also be returned to its first shape by reheating it up to the shaping temperature. Another layer arranged as a heating layer is provided to apply a thermal treatment to the intermediate layer made of a material that can also o be reversibly deformable.

Claims

1. A supporting part for supporting an occupant in a seat comprising:

a multilayered member having a supporting layer for supporting said supporting part on the seat;

an intermediate layer of thermally reversibly deformable material supported by said supporting layer and deformable from a predetermined first shape to a second shape conforming to the contours of the occupant in the seat;

a heating layer sandwiched and affixed between said supporting layer and said intermediate layer for heating said intermediate layer to a predetermined temperature to form said second shape, said heating layer including strip conductor heating elements embedded in a resin layer which are energized by an external power supply; and

a covering layer affixed to said intermediate layer for enclosing said intermediate layer and said heating layer between said covering layer and said supporting layer.

2. The supporting part as set forth in claim 1 wherein said heating layer further includes a plurality of carbon fibers embedded in said resin layer and electrically connected to said strip conductor heating elements.

3. The supporting part as set forth in claim 2 wherein said resin layer is an epoxy resin layer.

4. The supporting part as set forth in claim 2 wherein said intermediate layer is formed of a plastic material having closed pores having gas therein.

5. The supporting part as set forth in claim 2 wherein said intermediate layer is formed of ethylene vinyl foam having closed air voids.

6. The supporting part as set forth in claim 2 wherein said temperature for deforming said intermediate layer is between 50 degrees Celsius and 90 degrees Celsius.

7. The supporting part as set forth in claim 2 wherein the density of said intermediate layer is between 30 kg/m³ and 280 kg/m³.

8. A seat for supporting an occupant in a vehicle comprising:

a seat cushion having a resilient foam pad at least partially encased in a cover material;

a seat back having a resilient foam pad at least partially encased in a cover material;

a supporting part affixed between said foam pad and said cover material of at least one of said seat cushion and said seat back, said supporting part comprising a multilayered member having an intermediate layer of thermally reversibly deformable material supported by, said foam pad and positioned adjacent said cover material, said intermediate layer being deformable from a predetermined first shape to a second shape conforming to the contours of the occupant in the seat, and a heating layer sandwiched and affixed between said foam pad and said intermediate layer for heating said intermediate layer to a predetermined temperature to form said second shape, said heating layer including strip conductor heating elements embedded in an resin layer which are energized by an external power supply and a plurality of carbon fibers embedded in said resin layer and electrically connected to said strip conductor heating elements.

9. The seat as set forth in claim 8 wherein said resin layer is an epoxy resin layer.

10. The seat as set forth in claim 8 wherein said intermediate layer is formed of a plastic material having closed pores having gas therein.

11. The seat as set forth in claim 8 wherein said intermediate layer is formed of ethylene vinyl foam having closed air voids.

12. The seat as set forth in claim 8 wherein said temperature for deforming said intermediate layer is between 50 degrees Celsius and 90 degrees Celsius.

13. The seat as set forth in claim 8 wherein the density of said intermediate layer is between 30 kg/m³ and 280 kg/m³.