Vehicle seat lumbar system

• US 7,841,663 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Nathan, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr.; Milton
• Application Number:
  US12/243,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20100078974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 297/284.4, 297/284.1, 297/217.3, 297/284.6, 297/248.8, 297/284.7, 701/49
• US Class Current: 297/284.7
• 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 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• 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

A seat assembly includes a seat defining an outer seating surface. An adjustment mechanism is mounted on the seat and includes a member movable relative to the seating surface for altering the contoured shape of the seating surface. A sensor is mounted on the seat. The sensor detects the location of an applied force acting on the seating surface by an occupant seated on the seat back and detects an applied pressure distribution of the force exerted on the seating surface. The sensor supplies a signal indicative of the location of the applied force and the applied pressure distribution of the force. A controller receives the signal and is operable by a seat occupant for storing information corresponding to the location of the applied force and the applied pressure distribution of the force. The controller is operable to move the member by the adjustment mechanism from an initial position to a subsequent position dependent on a subsequent detection of a location of a second applied force and an applied pressure distribution of the force detected by the sensor.

Claims

1. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat defining a seating surface;

an adjustment mechanism mounted on said seat and including a member movable relative to said seating surface for altering a shape of said seating surface;

a sensor mounted on said seat, said sensor detecting a location of an applied force acting on said seating surface by an occupant when seated on said seat and detecting an applied pressure distribution of the force exerted on said seating surface, wherein said sensor supplies a signal indicative of the location of the applied force and the applied pressure distribution of the force; and

a controller receiving said signal and operable by a seat occupant for storing information corresponding to the location of the applied force and the applied pressure distribution of the force, wherein said controller is operable to move said member by said adjustment mechanism from an initial position to a subsequent position dependent on a subsequent detection of a location of a second applied force and a second applied pressure distribution of the second applied force detected by said sensor.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said seat assembly includes a foam pad and a trim cover defining said seating surface, and wherein said sensor is disposed between said foam pad and said trim cover.

3. The seat assembly of claim 2, wherein said sensor is a flexible pad.

4. The seat assembly of claim 3, wherein said flexible pad is separate from said foam pad and said trim cover.

5. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said member of said adjustment mechanism has a curvilinear shape.

6. The seat assembly of claim 5, wherein said member is formed from a plastic sheet.

7. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said adjustment mechanism includes a mounting bracket attached to a frame of said seat, and wherein said member is movably mounted on said mounting bracket.

8. The seat assembly of claim 7, wherein said member is slidably mounted on said mounting bracket.

9. The seat assembly of claim 7, wherein said member is mounted on said mounting bracket such that said member can be bowed.

10. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat including a foam pad and a trim cover defining a seating surface;

an adjustment mechanism mounted on said seat and including a member movable relative to said seating surface for altering a shape of said seating surface;

a flexible sensor pad mounted on said seat and disposed between said foam pad and said trim cover, said sensor pad detecting the location of an applied force acting on said seating surface by an occupant when seated on said seat and detecting an applied pressure distribution of the force exerted on said seating surface, wherein said sensor pad supplies a signal indicative of the location of the applied force and the applied pressure distribution of the force; and

a controller receiving said signal and operable by a seat occupant for storing information corresponding to the location of the applied force and the applied pressure distribution of the force, wherein said controller is operable to move said member by said adjustment mechanism from an initial position to a subsequent position dependent on a subsequent detection of a location of a second applied force and a second applied pressure distribution of the second applied force detected by said sensor pad.

11. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat defining a seating surface;

a member that is movable relative to said seating surface for altering a shape of said seating surface;

a sensor that is adapted to generate a signal that is representative of an applied pressure distribution of a force exerted on said seating surface; and

a controller that is responsive to the sensor signal for selectively storing information corresponding to the applied pressure distribution of the force and that is operable to move said member from an initial position to a subsequent position dependent on a subsequent second applied pressure distribution of a second force exerted on said seating surface and detected by said sensor.