Vehicle seat with variable firmness

• US 7,712,832 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Demick, Robert L., Booth, Daniel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEX, JAMES S
• Application Number:
  US11/759,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20080303326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 297/284.9, 297/452.41, 297/452.7, 297/450.27, 297/284.3, 297/284.2
• US Class Current: 297/284.9
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/026 varying hardness or support of upholstery, e.g. for tuning seat comfort when driving curved roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/70 Upholstery springs ; Upholstery
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/986 Side-rests B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/99 adjustable

Abstract

A vehicle seat includes a frame, a flexible cover, and a material that is sufficiently mounted with respect to the flexible cover such that the material resists displacement of at least part of the flexible cover with respect to the frame. The material is characterized by a first state in which the material is characterized by a first rigidity, and a second state in which the material is characterized by a second rigidity that is greater than the first rigidity. Thus, the firmness of the seat is selectively variable by causing the material to change between the first and second states. A corresponding method is also provided.

Claims

1. A seat assembly for installation in a vehicle comprising:

a seat including a frame and a flexible cover;

said flexible cover defining an occupiable surface;

said seat including two bolsters protruding from opposite sides of the occupiable surface;

said flexible cover at least partially defining the outer surfaces of the bolsters; and

material comprising shear thickening fluid and being characterized by a first state in which the material is characterized by a first rigidity and a second state in which the material is characterized by a second rigidity greater than the first rigidity, said material being mounted with respect to the flexible cover such that the material resists displacement of at least part of the outer surfaces of the bolsters with respect to the frame.

2. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body defining a passenger compartment;

a vehicle seat mounted with respect to the body and at least partially disposed within the passenger compartment;

said seat including a frame, a flexible cover, and material mounted with respect to the cover to resist displacement of at least part of the cover with respect to the frame; and

said material being characterized by a first state in which the material has a first rigidity and a second state in which the material has a second rigidity greater than the first rigidity;

wherein the material comprises shear thickening fluid;

wherein the vehicle seat includes two seat bolsters spaced laterally apart from one another;

wherein the flexible cover at least partially defines the outer surfaces of the seat bolsters; and

wherein the material is mounted with respect to the flexible cover such that the material resists displacement of at least part of the outer surfaces of the seat bolsters with respect to the frame.