Thoracic air bladder assembly
First Claim
1. A seat assembly comprising:
- a seat back; and
an air bladder assembly oriented within a thoracic region of the seat back comprising;
at least one central longitudinal air bladder region having a support surface, andat least one pair of lateral air bladder regions extending from opposed sides of the at least one central longitudinal air bladder region wherein the at least one pair of lateral air bladder regions are oriented at a non-zero angle to incline laterally and support the thoracic region of a seat occupant;
wherein the at least one central longitudinal air bladder region comprises an upright column of central air bladder regions;
wherein the upright column of central air bladder regions comprises;
a first central air bladder region having a tapered width increasing in a longitudinal direction and sized to fit between an occupant'"'"'s shoulder blades, anda second central air bladder region adjacent the first central air bladder region;
wherein the air bladder assembly is provided with a support surface that is oriented rearward of the seat back contact surface and reclined relative to the seat back contact surface to provide adjustable support to the seat back contact surface, and wherein the air bladder assembly support surface is wedge-shaped so that during inflation the air bladder regions inflate in an upward and forward direction relative to the seat back; and
wherein an area of the air bladder assembly support surface is less than an area of the seat back contact surface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A seat air bladder assembly is provided with at least one central air bladder region having a support surface. At least one pair of lateral air bladder regions extend from opposed sides of the at least one central bladder region. The at least one pair of lateral air bladder regions are oriented at a non-zero angle to incline laterally and support a thoracic region of a seat occupant. A seat assembly is provided with a seat back with a contact surface with a thoracic region. An air bladder assembly is oriented within the thoracic region of the seat back with a support surface that is reclined relative to the contact surface to provide support, and wedge-shaped so that during inflation the air bladder assembly inflates in an upward and forward direction relative to the seat back.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A seat assembly comprising:
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a seat back; and an air bladder assembly oriented within a thoracic region of the seat back comprising; at least one central longitudinal air bladder region having a support surface, and at least one pair of lateral air bladder regions extending from opposed sides of the at least one central longitudinal air bladder region wherein the at least one pair of lateral air bladder regions are oriented at a non-zero angle to incline laterally and support the thoracic region of a seat occupant; wherein the at least one central longitudinal air bladder region comprises an upright column of central air bladder regions; wherein the upright column of central air bladder regions comprises; a first central air bladder region having a tapered width increasing in a longitudinal direction and sized to fit between an occupant'"'"'s shoulder blades, and a second central air bladder region adjacent the first central air bladder region; wherein the air bladder assembly is provided with a support surface that is oriented rearward of the seat back contact surface and reclined relative to the seat back contact surface to provide adjustable support to the seat back contact surface, and wherein the air bladder assembly support surface is wedge-shaped so that during inflation the air bladder regions inflate in an upward and forward direction relative to the seat back; and wherein an area of the air bladder assembly support surface is less than an area of the seat back contact surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An air bladder assembly comprising:
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a central region having a width of approximately sixty millimeters and a length of approximately four hundred millimeters; a pair of wings extending from the central region, each wing having a tapered width expanding at approximately thirty degrees to an end that is at least one hundred millimeters in width to collectively support a thoracic regions; wherein the central region and the pair of wings further define a plurality of longitudinally separated compartments for individual adjustment; and upper seams and lower seams separating the plurality of longitudinally separated compartments; wherein the upper seams and the lower seams are oriented horizontally in the central region; and wherein the upper seams and the lower seams are angled at an outward incline in the pair of wings. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An air bladder assembly comprising:
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a central region having a width of approximately sixty millimeters and a length of approximately four hundred millimeters; and a pair of wings extending from the central region, each wing having a tapered width expanding at approximately thirty degrees to an end that is at least one hundred millimeters in width to collectively support a thoracic region; wherein the central region and the pair of wings further define a plurality of longitudinally separated compartments for individual adjustment; and wherein the plurality of longitudinally separated compartments comprises; a first compartment defined by the central region only with a width, a second compartment defined by the central region and the pair of wings with an overall width greater than the first compartment width, and a third compartment defined by the central region and the pair of wings with an overall width greater than the second compartment width.
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Specification