Apparatus and method for configurable seating

• US 7,562,934 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schukra North America Limited (Schukra)
• Original Assignee: Schukra North America Limited (Schukra)
• Inventors: Swan, David, Preiss, Thomas Heinz-Gerd, McMillen, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US11/222,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20070063560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 297/219.1, 297/230.1, 297/230.11, 297/230.12, 297/230.13, 297/230.14, 297/248, 297/284.3, 297/284.6, 297/452.41, 297/284.1, 297/284.9, 297/233, 297/452.23, 297/452.25, 297/452.33, 565/4, 565/53, 565/5
• US Class Current: 297/284.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/99 adjustable

Abstract

A configurable vehicle seat having at least two configurations is disclosed. The configurable vehicle seat has a seat base, a seat bottom supported by the seat base, and a seat back coupled to the seat base. The seat back or seat bottom has one or more adjustable profile members, wherein the adjustable profile members may be adjusted such that the seat is adjusted from at least a first configuration to a second configuration.

Claims

1. An adjustable profile member assembly for a bench-type vehicle seat comprising:

a. a first adjustable profile member, the first adjustable profile member being adjustable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first adjustable profile member has a non-flat profile configuration in the first position while the first adjustable profile member has a flat profile configuration in the second position, wherein the first adjustable profile member is located at a fixed location between a first side of the bench-type vehicle seat and a second side of the bench-type vehicle seat such that when the first adjustable profile member is in the non-flat profile configuration in the first position the bench-type vehicle seat is partitioned into a first fraction and a second fraction such that the first fraction and the second fraction can be used separately;

b. a second adjustable profile member located at a fixed location spaced apart from the first adjustable profile member, the second adjustable profile member being adjustable between a first position and a second position, wherein the second adjustable profile member has a non-flat profile configuration in the first position while the second adjustable profile member has a flat profile configuration in the second position;

c. an actuating mechanism operatively connected to the first adjustable profile member and the second adjustable profile member such that the first adjustable profile member can be adjusted between the first position and the second position and such that the second adjustable profile member can be adjusted between the first position and the second position;

d. a master activation mechanism electrically connected to the actuating mechanism, wherein through the use of the master activation mechanism a user can adjust the bench-type vehicle seat between a first configuration of the bench-type vehicle seat wherein the first adjusting member is in the first position and a second configuration of the bench-type vehicle seat wherein the first adjusting member is in the second position.

2. The adjustable profile member assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first adjustable profile member includes an air bladder.

3. The adjustable profile member assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seat further comprises an additional adjustable profile member, the additional adjustable profile member being adjustable between a first position and a second position wherein the additional adjustable profile member has a non-flat profile configuration in the first position while the additional adjustable profile member has a flat profile configuration in the second position.

4. The adjustable profile member assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a first occupant support and a second occupant support, wherein a portion of the second occupant support overlies a portion of the first occupant support.

5. The adjustable profile member assembly according to claim 1, wherein the actuating mechanism is an air compressor.

6. The adjustable profile member assembly according to claim 5, wherein the air compressor further comprises a dump valve.

7. The adjustable profile member assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first adjustable profile member comprises a pad, a pad support for supporting the pad, and a displacement member, wherein when the displacement member is displaced the pad is moved such that the first adjustable profile member is moved between the first position and the second position.

8. The adjustable profile member assembly according to claim 7, further comprising an actuator mechanism connected to the displacement member for actuating the displacement member and operatively connected to the actuating mechanism.

9. The adjustable profile member assembly according to claim 7, wherein the actuator mechanism is a cable.

10. The adjustable profile member assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an occupant support for supporting an occupant in between the first adjustable profile member and the second adjustable profile member.

11. The adjustable profile member assembly according to claim 10, wherein the occupant support is a lumbar support.

12. The adjustable profile member assembly according to claim 10, wherein the occupant support is an upper back support.

24. The adjustable profile member assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first adjustable profile member is located centrally between the first side of the bench-type vehicle seat and the second side of the bench-type vehicle seat such that the first fraction and the second fraction is in the ratio of 50 to 50.

25. The adjustable profile member assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first adjustable profile member is located such that the first fraction and the second fraction is in the ratio of 40 to 60.

13. A configurable bench-type vehicle seat adjustable between at least a first configuration and a second configuration, the configurable bench-type vehicle seat comprising:

a. a seat base;

b. a seat bottom supported by the seal base;

c. a seat back coupled to the seat base, the seat back adapted to pivot from a stowed position to a deployed position; and

d. an adjustable profile member mounted within the seat bottom or the seat back, the adjustable profile member being adjustable between a first position and a second position wherein the adjustable profile member has a non-flat profile configuration in the first position while the adjustable profile member has a flat profile configuration in the second position, wherein the adjustable profile member is located at a fixed location between a first side of the configurable bench-type vehicle seat and a second side of the configurable bench-type vehicle seat such that when the adjustable profile member is in the non-flat profile configuration in the first position the configurable bench-type vehicle seat is partitioned into a first fraction and a second fraction such that the first fraction and the second fraction can be used separately.

14. The configurable vehicle seat according to claim 13, wherein the adjustable profile member is located centrally between the first side of the bench-type vehicle seat and the second side of the bench-type vehicle seat such that the first fraction and the second fraction is in the ratio of 50 to 50.

15. The configurable vehicle seat according to claim 13, wherein the adjustable profile member is located such that the first fraction and the second fraction is in the ratio of 40 to 60.

16. The configurable vehicle seat according to claim 13, wherein the seat back further comprises an additional adjustable profile member, the additional adjustable profile member being adjustable between a first position and a second position wherein the additional adjustable profile member has a non-flat profile configuration in the first position while the additional adjustable profile member has a flat profile configuration in the second position.

17. The configurable vehicle seat according to claim 13, wherein the adjustable profile member comprises a pad, a pad support for supporting the pad, and a displacement member, wherein when the displacement member is displaced the pad is moved such that the first adjustable profile member is moved between the first position and the second position.

18. The configurable vehicle seat according to claim 13, wherein the adjustable profile member includes an air bladder.

19. The configurable vehicle seat according to claim 13, further comprising an actuating mechanism operatively connected to the adjustable profile member such that the adjustable profile member can be adjusted between the first position and the second position, and a master activation mechanism electrically connected to the actuating mechanism wherein through the use of the master activation mechanism a user can adjust the configurable bench-type vehicle seat between the first configuration wherein the adjustable profile member is in the first position and the second configuration wherein the adjustable profile member is in the second position.

20. The configurable vehicle seat according to claim 19, wherein the actuating mechanism is an air compressor.

21. The configurable vehicle seat according to claim 13, wherein the seat back further comprises an occupant support.

22. The configurable vehicle seat according to claim 13, further comprising a headrest operatively connected to the seat back.

23. The configurable vehicle seat according to claim 22, wherein the headrest includes an additional adjustable profile member, the additional adjustable profile member being adjustable between a first position and a second position wherein the additional adjustable profile member has a non-flat profile configuration in the first position while the additional adjustable profile member has a flat profile configuration in the second position.