Vehicle seat with a variable-contour supporting surface

• US 8,602,478 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Voelz, Reimer
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Westbrook, Sunsurraye
• Application Number:
  US12/721,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20100230987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 296/63, 296/68.1, 296/65.01, 296/65.02, 296/65.08, 296/65.12, 296/65.15, 296/65.17, 296/65.18, 297/423.3, 297/180.13, 297/180.14, 2972841-28411
• US Class Current: 296/63
• 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 is provided with a protective surface to support the vehicle passenger and a variable-shape aircushion. The contour of the supporting surface can be varied by changing the shape of the aircushion. A drivable device is also provided with which the aircushion can be compressed at least partially from outside in such a way as to vary the shape of the aircushion, and hence vary the contour of the supporting surface. A motor vehicle is also provided with such a vehicle seat.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a supporting surface;

a variable-shape aircushion, wherein a contour of the supporting surface is adapted to vary by changing a shape of the variable-shape aircushion; and

a drivable device with which the variable-shape aircushion is adapted to compress at least partially from an outside to produce the changing of the shape of the variable-shape aircushion, the drivable device comprising a first pressure portion and a second pressure portion, wherein the variable-shape air cushion is disposed between the first and second pressure portions, wherein the first and second pressure portions are adapted to be moved relative to each other to compress the variable-shape aircushion in a desired manner, and wherein the first pressure portion and the second pressure portion are disposed on opposing lateral sides of the vehicle seat.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the variable-shape aircushion is adapted to incorporate a substantially constant air volume.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the variable-shape aircushion comprises a substantially airtight and substantially sealed sheath adapted to hold the substantially constant air volume.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the variable-shape aircushion is elastically deformable or compressible.

5. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the variable-shape aircushion is integrated in a portion of the vehicle seat.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the variable-shape aircushion is integrated into a sidewall of the vehicle seat.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein changing the shape of the variable-shape aircushion varies a height of the sidewall.

8. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the drivable device is adapted for manual operation.

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the first pressure portion of the drivable device is configured to swivel to thereby compress the variable shape aircushion and vary a height of a sidewall of the vehicle seat.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the first pressure portion and a second pressure portion are adapted to pivot like tongs relative to each other, and one of the first pressure portion or the second pressure portion is a fixed pressure portion.

11. The vehicle seat according to claim 9, further comprising a second variable-shape aircushion with a second drivable device adapted to compress the second variable-shape aircushion, wherein the drivable device and the second drivable device are coupled to provide a substantially simultaneous move into the first position or the second position.

12. The vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the drivable device and the second drivable device are coupled with a shared spindle drive to actuate the drivable device and the second drivable device.

16. The vehicle seat according to claim 3, wherein the substantially sealed sheath is elastically deformable or compressible.

17. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the drivable device is adapted for electrical operation.

18. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the drivable device is adapted for pneumatic operation.

19. The vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the drivable device and the second drivable device are coupled with a shared sheathed cable system to actuate the drivable device and the second drivable device.

20. The vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the drivable device and the second drivable device are coupled with a shared rod assembly to actuate the drivable device and the second drivable device.

13. A motor vehicle, comprising:

drivable

a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat comprising;

a supporting surface;

a variable-shape aircushion, wherein a contour of the supporting surface is adapted to vary by changing a shape of the variable-shape aircushion; and

a drivable device with which the variable-shape aircushion is adapted to compress at least partially from an outside to produce the changing of the shape of the variable-shape aircushion, the drivable device comprising a first pressure portion and a second pressure portion, wherein the variable-shape air cushion is disposed between the first and second pressure portions, wherein the first and second pressure portions are adapted to be moved relative to each other to compress the variable-shape aircushion in a desired manner, and wherein the first pressure portion and the second pressure portion are disposed on opposing lateral sides of the vehicle seat.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 13, further comprising a vehicle door allocated to the vehicle seat that is adapted to move from an open position into a closed position, wherein the vehicle door is adapted to interact with the drivable device such that the drivable device can be moved to a first position by moving the vehicle door to the open position, and to a second position by moving the vehicle door to the closed position, and wherein the vehicle door is operationally connected with the drivable device by a rod assembly or a sheathed cable.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 13 wherein the first pressure portion of the drivable device is configured to swivel to thereby compress the variable shape aircushion and vary a height of a sidewall of the vehicle seat.