DE3417972A1 - INFLATABLE LUMBAR REST FOR BACKRESTS OF MOTOR VEHICLE SEATS - Google Patents

Description

Patent application P FORD / GB-411/10. MAY 1984

PATENT APPLICATION

INFLATABLE LUMBAR SUPPORT FOR SKIRTRESTS
OF MOTOR VEHICLE SEATS

The invention relates to an inflatable lumbar support for backrests of motor vehicle seats as described in the preamble of the claim 1 explained Art.

Inflatable lumbar supports for backrests of automobile seats are already known in a large number of embodiments. The only inflatable air chamber initially envisaged, however, was not satisfactory, so that in the further development multiple subdivided air chambers have been proposed which are selective and different could be inflated strongly. This enabled a desired, safe and comfortable support of the lumbar area of a Vehicle occupants can be achieved, but this had to be bought with a high structural effort and a more difficult operation.

The object of the invention is to provide an inflatable lumbar support for To improve backrests of motor vehicle seats of the type explained in the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that with little construction effort and simple operability, a safe and comfortable support of the lumbar region of a vehicle occupant can be achieved can.

According to the invention this object is achieved by an inflatable Lumbar support of the type explained in the preamble of claim 1 has the features indicated in the characterizing part of claim 1.

Copy

Patent application P ■ - '· ..'-.- - ..' FaRD / GB-411/10. MAY 1984

In the patent claims 2 to 6 are further expedient developments the invention explained.

In that the one inflatable air chamber is a ring-like non-inflatable one Comprises area which has the shape of a dog bone and the thus oval air chamber in the area of its oval ends in the inflated If the state is thicker than in the area of its sides, with little construction effort an air chamber becomes one with the increasing inflation pressure significantly increasing lateral support of the lumbar area of a vehicle occupant achieved.

The inflatable lumbar support can in this case be produced in a particularly simple manner only from two material layers made of rubber that are only connected to one another in certain areas.
15th

The invention is based on an embodiment shown in the drawings explained in more detail.

It shows:
20th

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an inflatable lumbar support according to

the invention in connection with its inflator;

Fig. 2 shows a vertical section along the line H-II in

Ed. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a section along the line III-III in Fig. 1 and

FIG. 4 shows a detail of the j shown in circle A in FIG

Valve arrangement. j

j The inflatable lumbar support 10 consists essentially of two right i

angular material layers 12 and 14 made of rubber. The two layers of material 12; and 14 are both along their outer periphery 16 and in a j central, non-inflatable surface area 18 are connected to one another and thus form a single inflatable air chamber 20.

COPY

Patent application P "FCfRD / GB-411/10 MAY 1984

The middle, non-inflatable surface area has the shape of a Dog bone while the inflatable air chamber 20 is substantially oval. The oval ends 24 of the inflatable air chamber 20 are in this case, in the inflated state, thicker than the straight sides 26 of the inflatable air chamber 20, which can be clearly seen in particular from FIG is seen.

The inner, non-inflatable surface area 18 has the advantage that inflation of the air chamber 20 with a smaller amount of air possible is, d. H. fully inflating or deflating the inflatable air chamber 20 can be made much easier and quicker with a normal hand-operated inflator, as will be explained below.

By appropriately designing the interconnected areas Both on the outer circumference 16 and in the inner non-inflatable surface area 18 of the two material layers 12 and 14, a body-appropriate increased arching of the oval ends 24 achieved in a corresponding area lying at a distance from the straight sides 26 will.

The inflatable lumbar support 10- is here connected at the corners of their Material layers 12 and 14 are provided with fastening holes 28 through which they are attached directly to the backrest frame of a motor vehicle seat behind the backrest upholstery in the correct position.

The inflator provided for inflating the inflatable lumbar support 10 consists of a manually operated flexible bellows 28 which is connected to the inflatable lumbar support 10 via a hose 30 is. An inner tube 32 is arranged within the tube 30. When the flexible bellows 28 is compressed, air is over the tube 30 outside the inner tube 32 via a valve 34 pressed into the inflatable air chamber 20. A button 36 on the end of the flexible bellows 28 is used to deflate the inflatable lumbar support 10 pressed, which opens a valve 38, which it is the pressurized Air in the air chamber 20 allows it to flow out via the inner tube 32.

COPY

Patent application P - """.. * ..-"'..' JFORD / GB-411/10. MAY 1984

The formation of such a flexible bellows in connection with a “corresponding vent valve device is described in detail in the earlier patent application file number P 34 09 339.7 of the applicant.
05

On a motor vehicle seat, the flexible bellows 28 is in one area arranged on the side of the seat so that the occupant can easily take the bellows with it the hand can detect the state of the inflatable lumbar support 10 by pressing the bellows 28 or by pressing the button 36 "10 regulate.

The valve 34 shown in FIG. 1 in circle A is shown in detail in FIG. 4 shown. The valve 34 consists of an outer sleeve 40, one end of which clip into a receiving opening in the connector 33 of the inflatable Lumbar support 10 can be used and the other end of which receives the end of the outer tube 30. The inner tube 32 extends directly into the inflatable air chamber 20 and is opposite the sleeve part 40 via a funnel-shaped rubber valve element, » ment 42 sealed, which is set in the sleeve 40 via a part 44 ■ is. If a pressure is generated in the outer tube 30 in the direction of the arrow 46, the funnel-shaped rubber valve element 42 is removed from the inner ι · Lift off the hose 32 and allow the compressed air to flow into the j Allow inflatable air chamber 20. If the pressure of the compressed ^ Air from, so the rubber valve element 42 lays itself back on the circumference of the inner tube 32 and prevents the air from flowing back.

To refill the flexible bellows 28 with new air, are in the area of the valve 34 inlet openings 48 are provided through an inner jacket 50 of the rubber valve element 42 at overpressure in the outer hose 30 are closed, which, however, open at negative pressure in the outer hose 30 to allow air to enter via the inlet openings 48, allow. This air must previously through a filter 52 in the form of a corresponding Foam ring flow. With a new operation! of the flexible bellows 28 again overpressure arises in the outer hose 30, the jacket 50 of the rubber valve elements 42 closes the inlet openings 48 and enables the funnel-shaped part of the rubber valve element 42 allows the air to enter the inflatable air chamber 20.

Claims (6)

Patent application P "FORD / GB-411 / May 10, 1984 -JH- PATENT CLAIMS ./Aufblasbare lumbar support for backrests of motor vehicle seats, with an inflatable air chamber and an inflator actuatable by the occupant ,, characterized in _t that the inflatable air chamber (20) is of annular design and comprises a non-inflatable area (18). 2. Inflatable lumbar support according to claim 1, characterized in that the non-inflatable surface area (18) has the shape of a dog's bone. 3. Inflatable lumbar support according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the inflatable air chamber (20) has an essentially oval shape. 4. Inflatable lumbar support according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the oval ends (24) of the inflatable air chamber (20) are thicker than their straight sides when inflated (26). 5. An inflatable lumbar support according to claims 1 to 5, characterized overall • indicates that it consists of two interconnected only in certain areas of the material layers (12 and 14). 6. Inflatable lumbar support according to claim 5, characterized in that the material layers (12 and 14) consist of rubber. j