Beds – Bedclothing – And means to facilitate changing thereof
Patent
1991-07-08
1992-11-03
Grosz, Alexander
Beds
Bedclothing
And means to facilitate changing thereof
5654, 5910, 297DIG3, A47C 746
Patent
active
051597268
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to controlled-rigidity supporting elements comprising a cover which is subject to a control pressure.
The invention applies, by way of non-limiting examples, to pieces of furniture such as individual seats, bench seats or sofas.
The invention relates more particularly to a supporting element which can be adapted to the shape of any user whatsoever in order to obtain retention and support in an anatomically correct position which gives rise to no phenomenon of fatigue and causes no deformation of the spine which is likely to cause lordosis or kyphosis.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The publication FR-A 2,096,133 describes a seat in which the squab is equipped with a cushion containing a resiliently compressible porous mass connected to a reduced-pressure source. This source adjusts the thickness of the cushion until its rigidity is sufficient to resist the compression caused by the load communicated by the user of the seat. It has been found, however, that such a design of the squab is poorly suited to the requirements of lateral retention of the trunk and of sacrolumbar lordosis during the changes in posture of the user of the seat.
The publication EP-A 0,113,613 describes a seat including a partitioned PVC cover containing a layer of particles such as polystyrene balls. This cover is connected by means of a pipe to a vacuum pump. Once suction has been established, the walls of the cover compress the polystyrene balls without any substantial variation in volume, creating a coherence between the balls which hardens the layer in the position required by the sitting position of the user of the seat.
The bursting of the balls following external vibrations and friction communicated to the cover results in a total loss of effectiveness of the lining element. Furthermore, it proves difficult to distribute the balls satisfactorily when the cover is situated in a non-horizontal plane.
The publication EP-A-267,640 describes a cover for surgical use which is capable of preserving a shape by the vacuum effect and in which balls are held in place by adhesive bonding on layers of non-woven fabric or in a plastic network produced by injection-molding.
The publication DE-GM 7,617,960 furthermore discloses a backrest consisting of pneumatic sleeves. Pumps, each equipped with an outlet valve, make it possible to adjust individually the internal pressure of each sleeve and to adapt the backrest to the requirements of the user. It is difficult to modify the support effect while the vehicle is moving, in particular for the driver, and it is possible only if the operating member has been designed in order to be used with just one hand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject of the invention is a controlled-rigidity supporting element comprising an outer cover and an inner filler which is improved with the aim of avoiding the disadvantages which were noted with ball fillers.
According to the invention, the filler consists of a flexible laminated structure, the various strata of which are mounted with relative displacement under the effect of a non-uniform distribution of the force compressing the filler in the absence of any control pressure, and the cover of which is subjected to a variation in pressure in order to eliminate any relative displacement between the various strata, giving them the necessary rigidity.
The supporting element constructed in this way fulfils the function of rigidification and finds its place, for example, in the manufacture of coverings associated with adjustment devices with inflatable air pockets.
It will be able, in particular, to have a substantially more reduced constant thickness, irrespective of the position of use, and to be obtained easily using automated cutting-out methods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge upon reading the description of illustrative embodiments of the supporting element and of an example of the manufacture of a seat which makes use of the supporting element, with reference to the attached
REFERENCES:
patent: 3608961 (1971-09-01), Von Heck
patent: 3730588 (1973-05-01), Braun
Bloch Gerard
Loeb Jean
CESA - Compagnie Europeenne de Sieges pour Automobiles
Grosz Alexander
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