Custom controlled seating surface technologies

• US 9,095,215 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2013
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven Jerome Caruso
• Original Assignee: Steven Jerome Caruso
• Inventors: Caruso, Steven Jerome
• Primary Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US14/079,528
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 297/217.3, 297/217.1, 297/284.1, 297/284.3, 345175-176
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/126 for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/00 Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools attaching to floor A47B91/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0228 Hand-activated mechanical switches B60N2/0229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/64 Back-rests or cushions B60N2/2222 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/5808 comprising opening zones for airbags
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

A system of controlling various actuators associated with human support surfaces is disclosed. Such a system is made up of a support surface, a controller, and an actuator. The system may optionally include batteries, a means of charging the batteries, and a graphical user interface as well as a communication link between the graphical user interface and the support surfaces. The actuators are capable of altering contour and/or firmness, of a support surface, they may be vibrational or heating/cooling in nature, and they may also alter the overall relative position of a support surface to another support surface, and/or to the ground plane.

Claims

1. A variable seating system comprising:

a. a body support surface;

b. more than one actuator adapted to change a state of the body support surface;

c. a screen adapted to receive input from a user; and

d. a graphical user interface displayed on the screen for controlling more than one of said actuators, where said graphical user interface;

i. depicts a dynamic picture of at least a portion of the body support surface,

ii. enables a user to select one of the actuators for adjustment;

iii. accepts an input manipulating the appearance of said dynamic picture of the body support surface by graphically deforming an element of said dynamic picture of said body support surface to select a change in state of the body support surface; and

iv. controls the selected actuator to change a state of the body support surface as selected by the user.

2. The system of claim 1, where said screen accepts the input from a finger.

3. The system of claim 2, where a user can graphically input intent by using a finger to move a graphical representation of the body support surface from a first on-screen position to a second on-screen position.

4. The system of claim 1, where said screen accepts the input from a stylus.

5. The system of claim 4, where said stylus can graphically input intent by moving a graphical representation of said body support surface from a first on-screen position to a second on-screen position.

6. The system of claim 1, where the body support surface comprises an instrument to measure data selected from the following;

blood pressure, heart rate, or temperature.

7. The system of claim 1, where the actuator moves to change a state of the body support surface and the motion of the actuator is limited under certain modes of operation.

8. The variable body support system of claim 1, where the input manipulating the appearance of said dynamic picture of the body support surface is accomplished through the use of a voice command.

9. The variable body support system of claim 1, where the input manipulating the appearance of said dynamic picture of the body support surface is accomplished through the use of a cell phone.

10. The system of claim 1, where the control of the actuator can be overridden.

11. The variable seating system of claim 1, adapted for a motor vehicle, in which the body support surface is adapted to be installed as automotive seating disposed within a motor vehicle.

12. The system of claim 1, where said screen accepts an input moving a graphical representation of the body support surface from a first on-screen position to a second on-screen position.