Chairs and seats – Bottom or back with means to alter contour – Providing support for lower back region
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-03
2001-05-08
Nelson, Jr., Milton (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Bottom or back with means to alter contour
Providing support for lower back region
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227618
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to lower back or lumbar supports for seats, and more particularly to adjustable lumbar supports used in seatbacks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Lumbar supports employing Bowden type cable assemblies as part of a means of adjusting the lumbar support commonly attach both the cable and the cable sleeve directly to the flexible support member. This can result in a high level of stress being induced in the flexible support member, particularly when the lumbar support is subjected to an impact load.
It is desired to provide a lumbar support employing a Bowden type cable assembly as part of the adjustment mechanism in which the connection between the cable assembly and the flexible support prevents the development of a high level of stress within the flexible support member when the lumbar support is subjected to an impact load.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A lumbar support mechanism includes a flexible support member, a spring and a cable assembly. The flexible support member has oppositely disposed first and second ends. The spring has a first end and a second end. The first end of the spring is connected to one of the first end and second ends of the flexible support member. The cable assembly includes a sleeve and a cable slidably disposed therein. The sleeve has a first end connected to the second end of the spring. The cable has a first end connected an other of the first and second ends of the flexible support member.
A lumbar support mechanism includes a flexible support member, a spring and a cable assembly. The flexible support member has oppositely disposed first and second ends and is flexible between a fully bowed condition and a relaxed condition wherein the first and second ends are closer to each other in the bowed condition that in the relaxed condition. The spring has first and second ends. The first end of the spring is connected to one of the first and the second ends of the flexible support member. The cable assembly includes a sleeve and a cable slidably disposed therein. The sleeve has a first end connected to the second end of the spring. The cable has a first end connected to an other of the first and second ends of the flexible support member. The spring has an elastic operating range sufficient to accommodate displacement of the first end of the flexible support member relative to the second end of the flexible support member from the fully bowed condition to the relaxed condition without yielding the spring and without any relative cable to sleeve displacement.
The disclosed lumbar support mechanism employs a Bowden type cable assembly as part of the adjustment mechanism with a connection between the cable assembly and the flexible support member which prevents the development of a high level of stress within the flexible support member when the lumbar support is subjected to the an impact load.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4153293 (1979-05-01), Sheldon
patent: 4316631 (1982-02-01), Lenz et al.
patent: 4354709 (1982-10-01), Schuster
patent: 4880271 (1989-11-01), Graves
patent: 5050930 (1991-09-01), Schuster et al.
patent: 5197780 (1993-03-01), Coughlin
patent: 5217278 (1993-06-01), Harrison et al.
patent: 5397164 (1995-03-01), Schuster et al.
patent: 5474358 (1995-12-01), Maeyaert
patent: 5498063 (1996-03-01), Schuster et al.
patent: 5518294 (1996-05-01), Ligon, Sr. et al.
patent: 5609394 (1997-03-01), Ligon, Sr. et al.
patent: 5626390 (1997-05-01), Schuster et al.
patent: 5651583 (1997-07-01), Klingler et al.
patent: 5704687 (1998-01-01), Klingler
patent: 5791733 (1998-08-01), van Hekken et al.
patent: 0540481A1 (1993-05-01), None
patent: 702522B1 (1996-03-01), None
patent: 2013487A (1979-08-01), None
Haba Anthony R.
Ligon, Sr. James T.
Porter Stephen P.
Prendergast William M.
Jr. Milton Nelson
Kang, Esq. Grant D.
Schukra USA, Inc.
Thompson & Coburn LLP
Upchurch, Esq. Gregory E.
LandOfFree
Cable attachment for a lumbar support does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cable attachment for a lumbar support, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cable attachment for a lumbar support will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2549795