Biomechanical vehicle seat
First Claim
1. A seat for a vehicle having a bottom seat cushion and a back comprising a lower back portion and an upper back portion, the upper back portion being supported by frame members and being pivotable about an axis extending transversely of the seat back, the upper back portion having a right side, a left side, a center line centrally located between the right and left sides, a lower edge and an upper edge, the pivot axis being located intermediate the lower edge and the upper edge, the lower edge extending across the center line at a point below the pivot axis whereby the lower edge of the back portion may pivot forwardly with respect to the seat back while the upper edge moves rearwardly with respect to the seat back, and vice versa, and wherein the seat also includes an adjustment mechanism for moving the distance of the pivot axis with respect to the lower back portion between a first position in which the lower edge of the upper back portion adjoins the lower back portion to a second position in which the lower edge of the upper back portion is spaced apart from the lower back portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle seat includes posture enhancing systems to increase occupant comfort. In addition to pelvis support, the seat includes a pivotable thorax and a height adjustment therefor, having a range of adjustment of about 100 mm to accommodate different female and male occupants having different skeletal lengths. The correct positioning of the second pivot point is designed to provide a lumbar curvature which simulates that of a standing occupant. In its most simple form, the seat includes a pelvis support, a thorax pivot mechanism to allow forward movement of the thorax area and reclining of the shoulders and a linear actuator mechanism to allow accurate positioning of this pivot mechanism for the skeletal height for the occupant.
96 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A seat for a vehicle having a bottom seat cushion and a back comprising a lower back portion and an upper back portion, the upper back portion being supported by frame members and being pivotable about an axis extending transversely of the seat back, the upper back portion having a right side, a left side, a center line centrally located between the right and left sides, a lower edge and an upper edge, the pivot axis being located intermediate the lower edge and the upper edge, the lower edge extending across the center line at a point below the pivot axis whereby the lower edge of the back portion may pivot forwardly with respect to the seat back while the upper edge moves rearwardly with respect to the seat back, and vice versa, and wherein the seat also includes an adjustment mechanism for moving the distance of the pivot axis with respect to the lower back portion between a first position in which the lower edge of the upper back portion adjoins the lower back portion to a second position in which the lower edge of the upper back portion is spaced apart from the lower back portion.
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11. A vehicle seat for supporting an occupant, the seat comprising:
- a seat cushion, a pelvic support, a seat back comprising a thorax support including an upper edge, a lower edge, a right side, a left side and a center line between the right and left sides, the thorax support pivots about an axis and is transverse of the seat back, the lower edge extending across the center line at a point below the pivot axis, pivoting of the thorax support urges the occupant'"'"'s thorax region forwardly and simultaneously urges the occupant'"'"'s shoulders rearwardly, the vehicle seat further comprising an adjustment system for varying the distance between the pivot axis and the seat cushion to accommodate occupants having a variety of skeletal lengths.
- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
Specification