Chairs and seats – Bottom or back with means to alter contour – Providing support for lower back region
Patent
1996-07-11
1997-12-16
Cuomo, Peter M.
Chairs and seats
Bottom or back with means to alter contour
Providing support for lower back region
2972848, 29728411, A47C 714, A47C 746
Patent
active
056976720
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention concerns improvements in seat arrangements providing adjustable support, and relates more particularly to an adjustable support arrangement wherein the adjustable support is provided by a simplified construction incorporating a wire frame for supporting the upholstery material of the seat.
A seat arrangement providing adjustable lumbar support is known, see EP 0 552 904A, wherein adjustable lumbar support is provided by means of an articulated platform element that is arranged to hinge about an articulation point when a force of longitudinal compression is applied at spaced points on the platform element.
Such an arrangement has two primary disadvantages. Firstly, there is a distinct line of contact between a transverse wire of the articulated platform element and the cushioning of the seat material, so that with an increased lumbar support a more pronounced ridge is formed in the platform element, requiring that significant cushioning material be provided over the corresponding part of the platform element in order that the seat may be adequately comfortable.
Secondly, since the increase of lumbar support must be effected by flexing of the platform element and/or displacement thereof against spring loading, the force required to be applied by a manual actuation means is relatively great, so that a relatively high manual force is required to actuate the system and the components of the actuating means are subjected to correspondingly increased wear.
Another disadvantage of the above mentioned system is that it is primarily applicable to a seat construction of the kind in which the platform element is spring-suspended in a seat frame.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to overcome, or at least to reduce, any one or more of the three above-mentioned disadvantages.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a seat arrangement providing adjustable support, comprising a wire frame structure adapted to be mounted in a seat in order to support cushioning material of the seat, side boundaries of which frame structure incorporate wire portions arranged to extend generally parallel to one another, a first cushion supporting wire element extending tranversely with respect to said frame structure and pivoted to the latter about a tranverse axis, a second cushion supporting wire element pivoted with respect to the first wire element about a second axis tranverse with respect to said frame structure, and actuating means for applying a force between the said two wire elements in order to cause articulation thereof about said second axis, coupled with movement of said second wire element relatively to the said frame structure in a direction generally parallel to the side boundaries of said frame structure, in order to vary the contour of the cushion support provided by said wire frame structure.
According to a second aspect of the invention, a seat arrangement providing adjustable support comprises two wire elements intended to be mounted in a seat frame, said wire elements including transversely extending portions that are hinged relatively to one another for articulated movement in order to vary support provided by cushioning extending thereover in a seat, the said wire elements being connected for articulation at points adjacent lateral boundaries of an area within which said support is to be provided, and being angled away from one another in a region located between said points of articulation, whereby the wire elements provide support for cushioning material along two distinct spaced apart lines of contact with the latter.
Further preferred features and corresponding advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and any appended claims.
The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which,
FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a platform element for incorporation in the frame of a seat back,
FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation corresponding to FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the frame of a seat base incorporat
REFERENCES:
patent: 4671569 (1987-06-01), Kazaoka et al.
patent: 5007677 (1991-04-01), Gzawa et al.
patent: 5449219 (1995-09-01), Hay et al.
patent: 5474358 (1995-12-01), Maeyaert
Barfield Anthony D.
Cuomo Peter M.
Pullmaflex U.K. Ltd.
LandOfFree
Improvements in and relating to seat arrangements providing adju does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Improvements in and relating to seat arrangements providing adju, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Improvements in and relating to seat arrangements providing adju will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-200217