Chairs and seats – Bottom or back with means to alter contour – Providing support for lower back region
Patent
1992-07-30
1994-08-09
Cuomo, Peter M.
Chairs and seats
Bottom or back with means to alter contour
Providing support for lower back region
2972847, 2972845, 297DIG6, 403 45, 5633, A47C 300
Patent
active
053359658
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a small cushion designed for anatomical support, especially to the lumbar and cervical regions, to be mounted onto the backs of seats.
Such small cushions are well known and are placed inside the seat backs of motor vehicles, their thickness and therefore projection being variable to suit the needs or preferences of the user.
These cushions are made by means of a device comprising a rigid structure combined with an elastic structure.
Convexity of the elastic structure in relation to the rigid structure may be obtained by a system of cams with a tie rod.
The cam is operated from outside the seat by means of a mechanism comprising a gear wheel and worm screw and a transmission shaft worked by an external knob.
The external structure consists of longitudinal metal bands crossing over transversal bands with outwardly projecting ends to ensure adequate spring.
This device is very complex and its outer surface is rough and sharp. It has therefore to be covered with a soft layer of considerable thickness.
The tie rod referred to above is involved in the curving movement of the elastic structure so that much effort is required to work the cam.
The worm strew is inserted to lessen effort when the device is adjusted but the knob has therefore to be given a great many turns making adjustment time far too long.
The device cannot be moved vertically from the lumbar to the cervical region or in between, or adapted to the stature, needs and preferences of the user.
These drawbacks lessen the advantages of the device not only due to its cost but also for practical reasons and duration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject of the present invention is a small cushion, to support the lumbar-cervical regions of the back, of greatly simplified structure and operation, that can be used on the outside of the seat and moved up and down to suit the user.
According to the invention the cushion consists of a curved elastic plate whose longitudinal ends are connected posteriorly by a centrally placed vertical brace.
The brace is formed of a pair of aligned rods, threaded in opposite directions, that screw into an intermediate cylindrical scroll.
The convexity of the plate, and consequently thickness of the cushion and the extent to which it projects out from the surface of the seat back, can therefore be increased or lessened as desired by rotating the scroll one way or the other.
In a preferred embodiment the cushion is placed externally to the seat back while the outer surface of the scroll is knurled and can be turned by the fingers from the outside through a specially made aperture in the outer covering of the seat back.
At the two longitudinal ends of the plate there are pairs of slits for fixing the cushion to the outside of the seat back, at the height preferred by the user, by means of vertical bands wound around the seat back and passing through the slits.
In another embodiment the curved elastic plate is placed inside the seat back.
The scroll is connected to a first transversal shaft, projecting from the side of the seat back, by a bevel gear and a first universal joint.
A first knob is fixed to the first shaft for adjusting plate convexity from the outside.
In another embodiment the curved elastic plate slides on vertical runners fixed to the frame of the seat back and its height inside the seat back is determined by a continuous cord fixed centrally between the two longitudinal ends of the plate.
After passing over transmission rollers mounted at top and bottom of the seat back and rolling freely, the cord winds onto a drum of a second transversal shaft, supported by the seat back, projecting from the side of the seat back and terminating in a second knob for purposes of adjustment.
The scroll is connected to the first transversal shaft and knob by the first and second universal joint connected by an intermediate shaft.
It is an advantage to have the intermediate shaft made in two pieces both axially free but rotating together.
In one type of advantageous embodiment
REFERENCES:
patent: 2673632 (1954-03-01), Stiranka
patent: 3095188 (1963-06-01), Glese
patent: 4627661 (1986-12-01), Ronnhult et al.
patent: 4632454 (1986-12-01), Naert
patent: 4718724 (1988-01-01), Quinton
patent: 5022709 (1991-06-01), Marchino
patent: 5197780 (1993-03-01), Coughlin
patent: 5217278 (1993-06-01), Harrison et al.
Boucher Darnell M.
Cuomo Peter M.
Striker Michael J.
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