Chairs and seats – Bottom or back with means to alter contour – Providing support for lower back region
Patent
1996-01-03
1998-08-04
Cuomo, Peter M.
Chairs and seats
Bottom or back with means to alter contour
Providing support for lower back region
2972848, 745024, 745026, A47C 746, B60N 222
Patent
active
057883289
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to adjustable lumbar supports for seats and chairs, and is particularly although not exclusively concerned with such supports as used in association with motor vehicle seats. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with particular reference to motor vehicle seats, but it is to be understood that the invention has wider application. By way of example, the invention may be adopted in aircraft seats, train seats, shipboard seats, and chairs as used for office or recreational purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Adjustable lumbar supports have achieved wide adoption in motor vehicles, particularly for the driver's seat, because of their significant contribution to driver comfort. A wide variety of such supports are available, and they generally suffer from one or more problems. Complexity of construction and consequent expense is a common problem, and less complicated and less expensive systems are usually deficient in operation. Another problem is the relatively high level of effort required to effect adjustment of such supports. Yet another problem is the limited degree of adjustment movement which is available with some lumbar supports.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved adjustable lumbar support, and particularly such a support which is relatively easy to operate. It is yet another object of the invention to provide an improved lumbar support of the kind which utilises a flexible cable in the adjustment mechanism. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sub-assembly for use in a lumbar support system.
Flexible cable is used in some lumbar support systems to connect the actuator of the adjustment mechanism with the lumbar support member or unit to be adjusted. Such cable generally includes a tubular cover and a flexible wire core which extends axially through the bore of the cover and is slidable longitudinally relative to the cover. It is conventional practice to arrange the cable so that the cover is a static part of the adjustment mechanism and the wire core is a dynamic part of that mechanism. In particular, the wire core is connected to the member or unit to be adjusted so as to move with that member or unit as it is adjusted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A lumbar support according to the present invention is characterized in that it uses a flexible cable in the adjustment mechanism and that the wire core and tubular cover are static and dynamic parts respectively of that mechanism.
The invention is applicable to a wide variety of adjustable lumbar supports, but it will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with particular reference to such a support having a flexible strap-like member as the adjustable member of the support. A support of that kind is described in Patent Application PCT/AU92/00503, but that is not the only configuration of such a system to which the invention is applicable.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable lumbar support including, an elongate flexible band which in use extends longitudinally between two opposite sides of a seat back rest, a flexible cable including a tubular cover and a wire core slidably located within said cover, an end portion of said cover having its longitudinal axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said band, a connection between said band and said cover end portion preventing said cover end portion moving longitudinally in one direction relative to said band, an end portion of said wire core extending in said one direction beyond said cover end portion and being connectable to a said side of the seat back rest, and the end of said wire core remote from said core end portion is connectable to an actuator which is operable to move or allow movement of said cover longitudinally relative to said core.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a seat sub-assembly including, a seat back rest having two laterally spaced frame members, an adjustable lumba
REFERENCES:
patent: 4895041 (1990-01-01), Cunningham
patent: 5217278 (1993-06-01), Harrison et al.
patent: 5261293 (1993-11-01), Kelly
patent: 5507559 (1996-04-01), Lance
Allred David E.
Cuomo Peter M.
Henderson's Industries Pty. Ltd.
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