Air cushion for chair and chair utilizing the air cushion

• US 4,965,899 A
• Filed: 04/14/1989
• Issued: 10/30/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Okamoto Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Okamoto Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Sekido, Hiroshi, Hioki, Toshimichi
• Primary Examiner(s): TRETTEL, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US07/338,560
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 5/499, 5/450, 5/453, 5/455-457, 5/481, 297/284, 297/DIG. 3, 428/264
• US Class Current: 297/284.6
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 4/54 Inflatable chairs connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/029 of non-adjustable shape adapted to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/467 adjustable by fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/665 using inflatable bladders
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/99 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/03 Pneumatic

Abstract

A vehicle seat assembly is provided having a inflatable bag positioned within its seat cushion. The bag comprises first and second fabric members joined by a rib fabric member. Each first and second member is a laminate consisting of a meshed middle fabric sandwiched between two thermoplastic resin layers adhered to one another via the meshes. Only the outer peripheries of the two resin layers are in direct sealing contact with one another. An air port is sealingly connected to the first or second member to allow air to be supplied or removed from the bag to change its contour.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly which comprises

a seat cushion which provides an upper surface on which a user sits, said upper surface having a contour,

an inflatable bag device positioned within said seat cushion, said inflatable bag device comprising first and second generally rectangular outer fabric members which are in direct sealing contact with one another along only peripheries thereof, a rib fabric member connected between said first and second outer fabric members inwardly of said peripheries thereof, each said first and second fabric member being made of a laminated sheet member consisting of a meshed middle fabric layer sandwiched between two thermoplastic synthetic resin layers, the two layers being adhered to each other through the meshes of the middle layer,

an air port sealingly connected to one of said first and second outer fabric members, and

a pipe means connected to said air port to enable air to be supplied to or removed from said inflatable bag device, thereby changing the contour of said upper surface of said seat cushion.

2. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein said inflatable bag device comprises a plurality of rib fabric members connected between said first and second outer fabric members.

3. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, including a plurality of pipe means, and wherein said inflatable bag device comprises a plurality of air ports sealingly connected in one of said first and second outer fabric members, a respective pipe means being connected to a respective air port.

4. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein said middle fabric layer of each of said first and second fabric members is a woven fabric which has 70 to 200 meshes and which is made of yarns which have a coarseness of 50 to 100 microns which display non-expandable and retractable properties and which have high strength.

5. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein said rib fabric member has a tubular shape, and wherein said rib fabric member is connected to said first outer fabric member along two parallel lines and to said second outer fabric member along two parallel lines.

6. A vehicle seat assembly which comprises

a seat back which provides a front surface against which a user leans, said front surface having a contour,

an inflatable bag device positioned within said seat back, said inflatable bag device comprising first and second generally rectangular outer fabric members which are in direct sealing contact with one another along only peripheries thereof, a rib fabric member connected between said first and second outer fabric members inwardly of said peripheries thereof, each said first and second fabric member being made of a laminated sheet member consisting of a meshed middle fabric layer sandwiched between two thermoplastic synthetic resin layers, the two layers being adhered to one another through the meshes of the middle layer,

an air port sealingly connected to one of said first and second outer fabric members, and

a pipe means connected to said air port to enable air to be supplied to or removed from said inflatable bag device, thereby changing the contour of said front surface of said seat back.

7. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 6, wherein said inflatable bag device comprises a plurality of rib fabric members connected between said first and second outer fabric members.

8. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 6, including a plurality of pipe means, and wherein said inflatable bag device comprises a plurality of air ports sealingly connected in one of said first and second outer fabric members, a respective pipe means being connected to a respective air port.

9. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 6, wherein said said middle fabric layer of each of said first and second fabric members is a woven fabric which has 70 to 200 meshes and which is made of yarns which have a coarseness of 50 to 100 microns which display non-expandable and retractable properties and which have high strength.

10. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 6, wherein said rib fabric member has a tubular shape, and wherein said rib fabric member is connected to said first outer fabric member along two parallel lines and to said second outer fabric member along two parallel lines.

11. A vehicle seat assembly which comprises

a seat cushion which provides an upper surface on which a user sits, said upper surface having a contour,

an expandable and retractable mechanism positioned within said seat cushion, said expandable and retractable mechanism comprising a plurality of inflatable bag devices which are each formed of first and second generally rectangular outer fabric members that are sealingly connected together along peripheries thereof, thereby providing interior chambers therein, each of said first and second generally rectangular outer fabric member being made of laminated sheet members consisting of a meshed middle fabric layer sandwiched between two thermoplastic synthetic resin layers, the two layers being adhered to one another through the meshes of the middle layer, said plurality of inflatable bag devices being connected together so as to form a stack and including openings in at least one of the first and second outer fabric members thereof, each opening of each inflatable bag device being in register with an opening in another inflatable bag device so as to provide communication between said interior chambers therein, and an air port means sealingly connected to one of said inflatable bag devices,

a support plate located in said seat cushion between said upper surface of said seat cushion and said expandable and retractable mechanism therein,

an air pump, and

a pipe means connecting said air pump with said air port of said expandable and retractable mechanism to enable air to be supplied to or removed therefrom and thus control the movement of said support plate within said seat cushion and thereby change the contour of said upper surface of said seat cushion.

12. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 11, wherein said inflatable bag device contains permeable urethane foam.

13. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 11, wherein said inflatable bag device comprises a plurality of rib fabric members connected between said first and second outer fabric members.

14. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 11, including a plurality of pipe means, and wherein said inflatable bag device comprises a plurality of air ports sealingly connected in one of said first and second outer fabric members, a respective pipe means being connected to a respective air port.

15. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 11, wherein said middle fabric layer of each of said first and second fabric members is a woven fabric which has 70 to 200 meshes and which is made of yarns which have a coarseness of 50 to 100 microns which display non-expandable and retractable properties and which have high strength.

16. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 11 further comprising a rib fabric member connected between said first and second outer fabric members inwardly of said peripheries thereof.

17. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 16, wherein said first and second outer fabric members and said rib fabric member of said inflatable bag device are made of tarpaulin.

18. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 16, wherein said rib fabric member has a tubular shape, and wherein said rib fabric member is connected to said first outer fabric member along two parallel lines and to said second outer fabric member along two parallel lines.

19. A vehicle seat assembly which comprises

a seat back which provides a front surface against which a user sits, said front surface having a contour,

an expandable and retractable mechanism positioned within said seat back, said expandable and retractable mechanism comprising a plurality of inflatable bag devices which are each formed of first and second generally rectangular outer fabric members that are sealingly connected together along peripheries thereof, thereby providing interior chambers therein, each of said first and second generally rectangular outer fabric members being made of laminated sheet members consisting of a meshed middle fabric layer sandwiched between two thermoplastic synthetic resin layers, the two layers being adhered to one another through the meshes of the middle layer, said plurality of inflatable bag devices being connected together so as to form a stack and including openings in at least one of the first and second outer fabric members thereof, each opening of said inflatable bag device being in register with an opening in another inflatable bag device so as to provide communication between said interior chambers therein, and an air port means sealingly connected to one of said inflatable bag devices,

a support plate located in said seat back between said front surface of said seat cushion and said expandable and retractable mechanism therein,

an air pump, and

a pipe means connecting said air pump with said air port of said expandable and retractable mechanism to enable air to be supplied to or removed therefrom and thus control the movement of said support plate within said seat back and thereby change the contour of said front surface of said seat back.

20. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 19, wherein said inflatable bag device contains permeable urethane foam.

21. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 19, wherein said inflatable bag device comprises a plurality of rib fabric members connected between said first and second outer fabric members.

22. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 19, including a plurality of pipe means, and wherein said inflatable bag device comprises a plurality of air ports sealingly connected in one of said first and second outer fabric members, a respective pipe means being connected to a respective air port.

23. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 19, wherein said middle fabric layer of each of said first and second fabric members is a woven fabric which has 70 to 200 meshes and which is made of yarns which have a coarseness of 50 to 100 microns which display non-expandable and retractable properties and which have high strength.

24. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 19 further comprising a rib fabric member connected between said first and second outer fabric members inwardly of said peripheries thereof.

25. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 24, wherein the first and second outer fabric members and said rib fabric member of said inflatable bag device are made of tarpaulin.

26. A vehicle seat assembly according claim 24, wherein said rib fabric member has a tubular shape, and wherein said rib fabric member is connected to said first outer fabric member along two parallel lines and to said second outer fabric member along two parallel lines.