Occupant centering ergonomic support apparatus and method

• US 7,140,681 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2003
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: McMillen, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garrett, Erika
• Application Number:
  US10/654,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20050046252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 297/284.1, 297/284.2, 297/284.3, 297/284.4, 297/362.11, 297/284.9, 297/452.29, 297/452.34, 297/452.35, 297/452.36
• US Class Current: 297/284.9
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6671 with cable actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6673 with motor driven adjustments
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/986 Side-rests B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/99 adjustable

Abstract

An ergonomic support for an automobile seat includes a pivoting bolster on a mounting rod. Behind the bolster is a slide rod. A lever is disposed between the bolster and the slide rod. The lever is pivotally attached to a medial position of the bolster and the lever is slidingly engaged with the slide rod. A traction cable has a sleeve mounted to a bracket on the mounting rod and a wire attached to the lever. Traction on the traction cable moves the lever, which causes the bolster to extend.

Claims

1. An ergonomic support for a transportation vehicle seat comprising:

a guide rod adapted to mount on a seat frame;

a bolster pivotally attached to said guide rod, said bolster having a retracted position and an extended position;

a slide rod attached to said guide rod;

a lever pivotally attached to said bolster and disposed to slidingly engage said slide rod such that movement of said lever relative to said slide rod and to said bolster mediates movement of said bolster between said retracted position and said extended position.

2. The ergonomic support of claim 1 further comprising:

a traction cable said traction cable having a sleeve and having a wire disposed to slide axially within said sleeve, said sleeve and said wire each having a first end and a second end;

said first ends of said sleeve and said wire being operatively engaged with an actuator for applying traction to said traction cable; and

said second end of said wire being attached to said lever such that traction applied to said traction cable by said actuator moves said lever in order to extend said bolster.

3. The ergonomic support of claim 2 wherein said actuator is a power actuator.

4. The ergonomic support of claim 2 wherein said actuator is a manual actuator.

5. The ergonomic support of claim 2 wherein transportation vehicle seat is a folding seat and said actuator is a self-presenting linkage within said folding seat.

6. The ergonomic support of claim 5 wherein said self-presenting linkage is mounted to a seat bottom frame over a seat bottom base.

7. The ergonomic support of claim 5 wherein said self-presenting linkage is a traction module having a housing and a pulley.

8. The ergonomic support of claim 2 wherein said second end of said sleeve is mounted to said guide rod.

9. The ergonomic support of claim 1 wherein said bolster is mounted as a thigh support.

10. The ergonomic support of claim 1 wherein said bolster, said lever and said slide rod are configured metal rods.

11. The ergonomic support of claim 1 wherein said bolster is a lateral bolster on a seat back.

12. The ergonomic support of claim 1 wherein said bolster is a lateral bolster on a seat back, in combination with a second lateral support on an opposing side of said seat back.

13. The ergonomic support of claim 12 wherein said lateral supports are combined with a lumbar support.

14. The ergonomic support of claim 13 wherein said lumbar support is an arching pressure surface.

15. A method of assembling a bolster for an ergonomic support comprising;

pivotally attaching a bolster to a guide rod, said guide rod being adaptable for mounting in a seat frame;

fixedly attaching a slide rod to said guide rod;

disposing a lever between said bolster and said slide rod such that said lever is pivotably engaged with said bolster and slidingly engaged with said slide rod; and

operatively engaging a traction cable with said lever such that traction on said cable causes movement of said lever that extends said bolster.

16. An ergonomic support for a vehicle seat, the ergonomic support comprising:

a guide rod assembly, said guide rod assembly having at least one slide rod;

at least one bolster pivotally attached to said guide rod assembly;

at least one lever pivotally attached to said at least one bolster and disposed to slidingly engage said at least one slide rod;

at least one traction cable having a sleeve and having a wire disposed to slide axially within said sleeve, said sleeve and said wire each having a first end and a second end, said first ends of said sleeve and said wire being attached to said at least one lever; and

at least one actuator attached to said second ends of said sleeve and said wire, wherein engagement of said at least one actuator applies a tractive force to said wire such that said wire moves said at least one lever to pivot said at least one bolster.

17. The ergonomic support of claim 16 wherein said at least one actuator is a power actuator.

18. The ergonomic support of claim 16 wherein said at least one actuator is a manual actuator.

19. The ergonomic support of claim 16 wherein said vehicle seat is a folding seat and said at least one actuator is a self-presenting linkage within said folding seat.

20. The ergonomic support of claim 16 further comprising a lumbar support operatively connected to said guide rod assembly.