EP1581080A2 - Gerät und verfahren für die bidirektionale kabelverstellungeiner ergonomischen stütze - Google Patents
Gerät und verfahren für die bidirektionale kabelverstellungeiner ergonomischen stützeInfo
- Publication number
- EP1581080A2 EP1581080A2 EP03790252A EP03790252A EP1581080A2 EP 1581080 A2 EP1581080 A2 EP 1581080A2 EP 03790252 A EP03790252 A EP 03790252A EP 03790252 A EP03790252 A EP 03790252A EP 1581080 A2 EP1581080 A2 EP 1581080A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- traction
- support
- cable
- wire
- slider
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
- B60N2/64—Back-rests or cushions
- B60N2/66—Lumbar supports
- B60N2/667—Lumbar supports having flexible support member bowed by applied forces
- B60N2/6671—Lumbar supports having flexible support member bowed by applied forces with cable actuators
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
- B60N2/64—Back-rests or cushions
- B60N2/66—Lumbar supports
- B60N2/666—Lumbar supports vertically adjustable
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
- B60N2/64—Back-rests or cushions
- B60N2/66—Lumbar supports
- B60N2/667—Lumbar supports having flexible support member bowed by applied forces
- B60N2/6673—Lumbar supports having flexible support member bowed by applied forces with motor driven adjustments
Definitions
- the present invention is in the field of adjustable ergonomic supports for seats, especially automobile seats.
- This invention relates generally to an apparatus for reducing muscle fatigue and discomfort of a seated occupant and, more particularly, to an adjustable ergonomic support structure in a seat.
- the support structure in a seat may be adjusted to relieve muscle fatigue and discomfort.
- a variety of adjustable ergonomic supports for seating are known. These systems involve movement of an ergonomic support towards and away from the seat occupant in order to support various portions of the seat occupant's body. Many such ergonomic support devices, especially lumbar supports, also move vertically, so that apex of a lumbar supporting arch may be adjusted up and down so that the supports may be custom adjusted to particular individuals spine. Individuals who remain seated for an extended period of time may develop symptoms of muscle fatigue and blood circulation problems. It is known that such muscle fatigue and circulation problems may be relieved, in part, by a lumbar support whose position is adjustable along a guide track.
- Such lumbar supports may be roughly divided into four classes. There is an arching basket type, see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,498,063; a push paddle type see, e.g., U.S. Patent Application No. 09/798,657; a tensioning strap type, see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,769,490; and pneumatic systems, see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,637,076, all incorporated by reference herein. All of these various types may be mounted on vertical slides so that they can be adjusted vertically. It is common for arching pressure surface type lumbar supports to be mounted on vertical guide rods.
- a pressure surface may be flexed or bowed outwards to provide a lumbar support, generally through the application of traction via a cable.
- the release of cable traction allows the natural bias of the pressure surface, usually stamped metal or molded plastic, to flatten it into a rest position, which action is augmented by the weight of the seat occupant.
- a four-way power lumbar support system may provide a level adjustment in a vertical direction and an arching adjustment of a flexible, resilient support element in a horizontal direction toward and away from a seat occupant.
- Such a system requires two separate actuators, that is, one for each adjustment direction.
- Conventional variable lumbar support devices have generally included two traction cables for applying the force of the actuators to the lumbar support.
- Bowden cables are commonly used as traction cables for such devices.
- Lumbar supports employing Bowden type or other traction cable assemblies as part of a means for adjusting the lumbar support in a seat are known.
- Bowden or traction cables are coaxial mechanical devices wherein a wire slides axially through a sleeve or conduit. Traction cables have been found to be an efficient means for applying traction to moving parts of a lumbar support.
- Prior art devices which provide lumbar supports that are slidable along a guide track.
- the support elements may be rigid or flexible.
- a traction cable is used to apply force to the support member for adjustment of the support member in one direction.
- Such an arrangement in conventional lumbar support systems has typically required the use of a spring to counteract the force of the traction cable, to bias the support member towards a rest position and to apply force to the support member in the return direction.
- Use of a spring to counteract the force of the traction cable is disadvantageous because overcoming the spring requires higher operating forces for the lumbar support system.
- Such devices include several other drawbacks and limitations as well.
- Many of the commonly used adjustable lumbar support devices are composed of a relatively large number of parts. This is problematic because it renders these types of devices difficult to manufacture, package and assemble. Weight and expense are increased.
- these relatively complex conventional lumbar support devices are expensive to manufacture and may be unreliable and prone to breakdown. More powerful motors are required to overcome the forces of the springs, further increasing weight and expense. In mechanically actuated devices, complicated linkages become necessary to overcome the spring force.
- the present invention is an ergonomic support device intended for use in automobile seats and furniture.
- the present invention provides a power lumbar support system having improved packaging dimensions and lighter weight, and lower cost. Use of this cable assembly may also allow for the use of smaller diameter cables and a less expensive, lower power actuator.
- the present invention is a two cable system for vertical movement of a lumbar support.
- a closed loop cable assembly or a two-cable assembly may be used in order to achieve these objectives.
- One traction cable end pulls the lumbar supporting element in a first direction
- another traction cable end instead of a spring, pulls the support element in the opposite direction.
- the directions are usually vertical.
- An additional cable actuates in and out motion.
- an arching pressure surface is mounted on vertical guide rails so that the entire pressure surface may slide vertically on the rails, either when the pressure surface is flat or bowed outwards to provide lumbar support.
- a traction cable is disposed to pull the pressure surface upwards.
- Another end of a traction cable is disposed to pull the pressure surface downwards.
- two separate traction cables may be used, or a single traction cable disposed in a loop fashion may be used.
- Traction cables such as the commonly used Bowden cable, are coaxial mechanical devices having a conduit or sleeve inside of which a wire is disposed to slide axially.
- an end of a Bowden cable sleeve (or wire) is mounted to a fixed, non-moving support bracket and an end of the Bowden cable wire (or sleeve) is fixed to the arching pressure surface.
- An actuator at the other end of the Bowden cable applies traction, drawing the wire into the cable.
- the wire now under traction, draws the pressure surface to which it is attached towards the fixed mounting of the Bowden cable sleeve end. The pressure surface slides vertically along the guide rails.
- the second Bowden cable sleeve end is also fixedly mounted to a bracket and a second Bowden cable wire end is also attached to the pressure surface and disposed to pull the pressure surface in the opposite vertical direction when tension is applied to the second Bowden cable wire.
- the fixed mounting of the Bowden cable sleeves may be on opposite vertical ends of the pressure surface.
- the fixed mounting of the Bowden cable sleeves may be on the same vertical end of the arching pressure surface, with the direction of one end of one of them
- the two Bowden cable sleeve ends and wire ends may be opposite ends of a single Bowden cable, with an actuator remotely engaged thereto in order to pull it in either direction.
- two separate Bowden cables may be used.
- Two separate Bowden cables may be driven by a single actuator capable of bi-directional action, or by two separate actuators.
- this device includes a fixed mounting bracket having a first sleeve support, a second sleeve support and a slider guide; a traction cable having a wire disposed to slide axially through a first sleeve and second sleeve, with the first sleeve having a first sleeve end attached to the first sleeve support and a second sleeve end attached to an actuator operatively engaged with the wire, and the second sleeve having a first sleeve end attached to the second sleeve support and a second sleeve end attached to the actuator.
- the device further includes a slider that is attached to the wire.
- the slider is operatively engaged to the slider guide and adjusts an axial position of a flexible support element as it slides along the slider guide.
- Figure 1 illustrates a back view of a prior art four way lumbar support
- Figure 2 illustrates a back view of a first embodiment of the two cable four way lumbar support of the present invention
- Figure 3 illustrates a back view of another embodiment of the four way lumbar support of the present invention.
- Figure 4 illustrates a side view of the second embodiment of two cable lumbar support of the present invention.
- Fig. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the lumbar support system of the present invention.
- Fig. 6 illustrates a rear view of the lumbar support system of the present invention.
- Fig. 7 illustrates a front view of the lumbar support system of the present invention, without the basket attached.
- Fig. 8 illustrates a rear view of the lumbar support system of the present invention, without the basket attached.
- Fig. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the slider of the present invention.
- Fig. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional bottom view of the slider of the present invention.
- Fig. 11 illustrates front view of an embodiment of the present invention without the basket attached, having a two-cable assembly for height adjustment of the flexible support element.
- Figure 1 depicts a prior art four way lumbar support from a back view.
- An arching pressure surface 2 is mounted on guide rails 4 at slide mounts 6.
- the slide mounts 6 allow vertical or “up and down” travel of the entire arching pressure surface 2. Up and down are two of the “four way” directions in which such a lumbar support may move. The other two of the four ways are “in and out.” That is, towards a seat occupant and away from the seat occupant. Movement towards the seat occupant is achieved by arching the flexible pressure surface 2. It is achieved by moving the two pairs of slide guide rail mounts 6 towards one another. This movement is achieved by a traction cable drawing an upper portion and a lower portion of the arching pressure surface together.
- traction cable 8 consisting of traction cable conduit 10 (also called a “sleeve” or “sheath”).
- a wire 12 is drawn coaxially through the conduit 10, applying traction to the lumbar support. Traction is applied at the other end of the traction cable 8, most commonly a Bowden cable, by an actuator (not shown).
- the arching or "in and out” movement is achieved by traction that is applied to the arching pressure surface 2 by traction assembly 14.
- traction assembly 14 is only one. The feature common to all of them is that they apply traction to draw the upper portion and lower portion of the arching pressure surface 2 towards one another.
- the mount 16 is hingedly attached to the arching pressure surface 2 at hinge 18.
- Mount 16 has a Bowden cable conduit mount 20 and a Bowden cable wire mount 22.
- a hinge 24 At the opposite end portion of the arching pressure surface 2, is a hinge 24, and a deflection mount member 26.
- the deflection mount member 26 has a deflector 28 which redirects the path of the Bowden cable wire 12 from the Bowden cable conduit mount 20 around the deflector 28 and back to the Bowden cable wire mount 22.
- an actuator is not shown
- the mount 16 and mount 26 are drawn together, correspondingly drawing the ends of the arching pressure surface together, thereby causing the arch or bow that provides lumbar support.
- the two cable system of the present invention is directed not towards the "in and out” movement but the "up and down” movement of the four way lumbar support. Accordingly, those of skill in the art will appreciate that arching traction application assembly 14 may be replaced by any other such assembly known in the art, or to be developed in the future. The two cable vertical motion system described below will work equally well with any such arching traction application assembly.
- the vertical motion of the arching pressure surface may be effected regardless of the profile to which the arching pressure surface 2 has been bowed.
- Guide rails 4 have mounted on them an upper bracket 30 and a lower bracket 32. (Orientation is a design choice. Whether the brackets, mounts, and other elements of the present invention are installed as the "upper” or “lower” end is immaterial to the operation of the present invention.)
- the depiction of the prior art in figure 1 illustrates that springs 34 bias the pressure surface towards what is there shown as its lower position.
- the springs 34 are mounted at one end on bracket 32 and at their other end to the upper portion of arching pressure surface 2 with mounts 33.
- traction In order to move the arching pressure surface from its lower most position, traction must be applied by a traction cable 36 in an upward direction. Accordingly, the vertical motion Bowden cable 36 has a conduit 38 with a wire 40 sliding coaxially through it.
- the conduit 38 is mounted on bracket 30 at mount 42.
- Mount 42 allows wire 40 to proceed past or through it to where wire 40 is mounted on arching pressure surface 2 at mount 44.
- An actuator (not shown) at the other end of cable 36 draws wire 40 into conduit 38.
- the arching pressure surface 2 is pulled as a whole, upwards towards bracket 30, against the force of springs 34.
- traction cable 36 and the actuator that applies traction to it must be of sufficient power and size to overcome the tensioning force of springs 34 in order to move the arching pressure surface 2 vertically and thereafter to maintain it in a selective position.
- the two cable vertical motion system of the present invention allows elimination of the prior art springs 34, and allows the use of smaller, lighter and less expensive components corresponding to cable 36 and the actuators for it.
- Figure 2 depicts a back view of a first embodiment of the two cable vertical motion system of the present invention.
- an arching pressure surface 102 slides vertically on guide rails 104 via mounts 106.
- bracket 130 has mounts for not one traction cable, 136, but two, including also traction cable 110.
- Traction cable 136 has a conduit 138 mounted at mount 142 on bracket 130.
- Second traction cable 110 has a conduit 112 mounted on bracket 130 at mount 114.
- FIG. 1 Another mount, 144 serves to fix Bowden cable wire ends to the arching pressure surface 102.
- the present invention may be achieved by using either two Bowden cables with two wires having two ends, or, alternatively, by a single Bowden cable having a single wire arranged in a loop so that the two ends of the single wire may be applied for vertical movement of the arching pressure surface.
- Figure 2 depicts an embodiment wherein a single Bowden traction cable wire is arranged in a loop having a first end 120A and the second end 120B, both of which are mounted to arching pressure surface 102 at mount 144. Between its end regions 120A and 120B, the wire proceeds as a loop through the Bowden cable conduit 138 and through actuator 150, powered by electric motor 152.
- actuators are known in the art, including those that can apply traction in either direction to a continuous Bowden cable wire loop. After travelling through its engagement with actuator 150, a single Bowden cable wire loop may proceed back through conduit 112, around a deflection point or pulley 116 and back to a single mounting 144 to the arching pressure surface 120. Alternatively, a separate mount may be used.
- actuator 150 can pull the Bowden cable wire 120 A/B in a first direction to apply traction to mount 144 and raise the arching pressure surface 102.
- the actuator 150 can also apply traction to Bowden cable wire 120 A B in the opposite direction to apply vertical traction to arching pressure surface 102 at mount 144 to draw it downwards.
- Figure 3 depicts an alternative embodiment of the two cable vertical motion system of the present invention.
- arching pressure surface 202 rides on guide rails 204 at mounts 206.
- the upper traction cable 236 has a conduit 238 mounted to upper bracket 230 at mount 242.
- Wire 220 proceeds from conduit 238 through or past mount 242 to mount 244 fixing wire 220 to arching pressure surface 202 at one end.
- actuator 250 powered by motor 252 may draw wire 220 into conduit 238 in order to vertically raise the arching pressure surface 202.
- a second traction cable 210 is attached to the opposite end of the arching pressure surface 202.
- the second wire 222 which travels axially through conduit 212, is not a continuous loop with the upper wire 220, but rather an entirely separate wire.
- mount 214 which may be placed on transverse section of guide rails 204 or, alternatively, placed on a separate bracket (not shown)
- wire 222 proceeds to mount 224 where wire 222 is fixed to arching pressure surface 202.
- two separate cables may raise and lower the arching pressure surface 202 without the presence of springs.
- Figure 4 is a side view of an arching pressure surface lumbar support incorporating the two cable system of the present invention.
- Figure 4 shows the arching pressure surface 202 in a lower vertical position and, in phantom, in a raised position.
- the arching pressure surface 202 may be raised and lowered whether it is minimally arched or relatively flat, and when it is maximally arched.
- Actuators, not shown in figure 4 may be electrical, or, alternatively, may be manual.
- Fig. 5 shows a flexible support element 302 slidably connected to a guide wire 303.
- the support element is sometimes known as a "basket” by those of skill in the art.
- the support element 302 is capable of adjustment in an in/out direction and an up/down direction relative to and along the guide wire 303.
- the support element 302 may be made of any general material including plastic, metal or any combination thereof and is naturally biased towards a substantially flat shape.
- the substantially parallel guide wire members 303' have end stops 304 which prevent the support element 302 from sliding beyond the end stops 304.
- the guide wire 303 is comprised of a single wire member fabricated in a substantially U- shaped manner to provide two substantially parallel guide wire members 303' that guide the support element 302 as it is adjusted in an up/down direction.
- the guide wire 303 is adaptable to mount the entire assembly in a seat frame (not shown).
- a mounting bracket 305 is connected to each of the guide wire members 303' at a position between the opposite end stops 304 of the parallel guide wire members 303'. Any type of attachment device may be used to secure the mounting bracket 305 to the guide wire members 303'. For example, as shown in Fig.
- the mounting bracket 305 may be attached to the parallel guide wire members 303' via a plurality of anti-friction sleeve basket slots 306.
- the mounting bracket 305 also includes a plurality of sleeve supports 307 for receiving and securing traction cable sleeves.
- a slider 308 is slidably arranged on the mounting bracket 305.
- the means by which the slider 308 is arranged on the mounting bracket 305 may vary.
- Fig. 5 shows the slider engaged in a slider guide slot 309 of the mounting bracket 305, which allows for the sliding of the slider 308 along the slider guide slot 309 mounting bracket 305.
- the slider guide may comprise a number of different structures designed to engage the slider 308 as it slides along the slider guide 309, such as the slot shown in Fig. 5, or alternatively, a guide rail (not shown).
- the depicted flexible support element 302 is capable of adjustment in a horizontal direction toward and away from a seat occupant. This adjusting in a horizontal direction is accomplished by virtue of a traction cable arrangement.
- the traction cable arrangement includes a first traction cable 310 comprised of a first wire 311 in a first sleeve 312, wherein the first cable is attached to a first actuator 313.
- the first actuator 313 may be any actuator used in conventional mechanical lumbar support systems for the purpose of providing arching directional adjustment of a flexible support element.
- the first wire 311 of the traction cable arrangement extends from the first sleeve 312 and is fixed at one end to the first actuator 313 and fixed at its other end to the support element 302.
- the first wire 311 may be attached to the support element 302 in a number of different ways known in the art, including by way of a hook 314, as shown in Fig. 5. Traction drawing the first wire 311 into the first sleeve 312 will draw the bottom of support element 302 upwards, shortening the distance between the top and bottom ends of the support element 302. This causes the support element 302 to bow outwards and create an arch to support the seat occupants' lumbar spine.
- Reversing the first actuator 313 to extend the first wire 311 out of the first sleeve 312 will lengthen the distance between the top and bottom ends of the support element 302 and, along with the natural force that is created by the support element 2 as it returns to its natural, relaxed shape, will cause the support element 302 to move toward an unsupporting, substantially flat shape.
- the first actuator 313 engages the first wire 311 in order to put traction on the first wire 311.
- the rotating action of the first actuator 313 may be accomplished by a variety of means, including hand wheels or levers.
- the first actuator 313 may also be driven via an electric motor.
- the first actuator 313 may be mounted on the seat frame (not shown) or may advantageously be mounted to the bracket 305, as shown in the embodiment seen in Fig. 5. Attaching the first actuator 313 to the bracket 305 is advantageous for ease of packaging, shipping and installation of the lumbar support device 1.
- a second traction cable 315 that is a closed loop single cable (depicted) or, alternatively two separate, substantially opposing cables.
- the second traction cable 315 is comprised of a second wire 316 in an upper sleeve 317 and a lower sleeve 318.
- the upper sleeve 317 is fixed at one end to a sleeve support 307 of the mounting bracket 305, as shown in Fig. 5, and is fixed at its other end to a second actuator 319.
- the sleeve support 307 is positioned to align sleeve 317 and wire 316 with the slider 308 and slider guide slot 309.
- the lower sleeve 318 is fixed to sleeve support 307' at the bottom end of the slider guide slot 309 and is fixed at its other end to the second actuator 319.
- the second actuator 319 may be mounted on the seat (not shown) or may advantageously be mounted to the bracket 305, as shown in Fig. 5.
- the second wire 316 is
- Actuators known in the art may engage a central portion of a single wire such as wire 316 progressing through opposing Bowden cable sleeves such as the depicted sleeves 317 and 318. In such a case, as in the depicted embodiment, the two ends of wire 316 are both attached to slider 308.
- two separate traction cables with two separate sleeves and two separate wires may be attached to two separate actuators. In this case each cable would have a sleeve and a wire end attached to one actuator and an opposite end of each cable would have the opposite sleeve end attached to sleeve support 307 or 307' and the opposite end of the wire would proceed from the sleeve end to be attached to the slider 308.
- slider 308 would be drawn in a first direction, for example upwards, by traction applied to it through one Bowden cable wire and the slider 308 would be drawn in a second direction, for example downwards, by traction on it by a second Bowden cable wire end. Accordingly, whether the slider 308 is acted upon by the two ends of a single wire, as depicted wire 316, or whether it is acted upon by two separate wires, traction in a first direction will draw the slider upwards and the traction in the second direction would draw the slider downwards.
- a yoke wire 320 has two engaging hooks 321, shown in Figs. 5,6 and 7, at one of its ends that engage two holes 322, at the top end of the support element 302. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the slide 8 includes a third engaging hook 323, which engages the yoke wire 320.
- Yoke 320 serves to rigidly attach slider 308 with support surface 302. Alternative attachments may be used. Accordingly, when slider 308 moves in either a first or second direction, the support element 302 will also move in the same first or second direction.
- the user selected degree of curvature of the flexible support element 302 will be preserved as the second Bowden cable(s) 315 moves the support element 302 upwards and downwards.
- a fixed (non-flexing) support may be used.
- the device shown in Fig. 5 operates in the following manner.
- the support element 302 is shown in a substantially flat, undeflected shape.
- the first actuator 313 is activated to retract the first wire 311, the distance between the top and bottom ends of the support element 302 decreases, resulting in the bowing of the support element 302 in an outward direction and thus providing additional lumbar support.
- the first actuator 313 may be activated by the occupant of a seat by use of a variety of equivalent activating means that are known in the art. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that that a variety of equivalent activating means may be used with the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims herein.
- the seat occupant may discontinue activation of the first actuator 313.
- the tension between the first cable mount fixation to slider 308 and the first wire 311 mount 314 on support surface 302, will maintain the degree of curvature selected by the user after the user disengages that actuator.
- the first actuator 313 may be reversed to extend the first wire 311, thus increasing the distance between the top and bottom ends of the support element 302.
- the flexible support element 2 begins to relax in an inward direction, thereby flattening the support element 302.
- the system may also be operated to provide for adjustment of the support element 302 in a vertical direction.
- the linear movement of the second wire 316 is transferred to the slider 308 and causes the slider 308 to slide in an upward direction, along the slider guide 9 of the mounting bracket 5.
- the slider 308, in turn, transfers the force of the movement of the second wire 316 to the support element 302 through the fixed yoke wire 320. This transferred force causes the support element 302 to move in an upward direction along the guide wire members 303'.
- Adjustment of the support element 302 in a downward direction is likewise achieved by activating the second actuator 319 in a second direction to cause a second, opposing tractive force pulling the second wire 316 in a downward direction, again moving support element 302 through the linkage of Yoke 320.
- Figures 9 and 10 are a close up and a cross section, respectively, illustrating a closer view of the slider 308 and its connections with the other elements of the present invention.
- Vertical traction wire 316 is mounted to a upper portion of slider 308 at mounts 330. Any of a variety of mounts known in the art may be used. Typically, bullets on the ends of wire 16 would be seated in a recess molded or cut into the top of slider 308.
- the slider guide slot has been fabricated by cutting guide slot 309 from mounting bracket 305, also producing the upturn edges of metal bracket 305 from where slot 309 has been cut.
- first sleeve 310 Underneath slider 308 and obscured by it in the perspective view of figure 305, is a sleeve support for first sleeve 310. The end of first sleeve 310 is thereby attached to slider 308 so that arching tension may be applied to the support element. From the end of first cable sleeve 310 proceeds first cable wire 311 which proceeds to mount to support element 302 at hook 314 as shown previously in figure 305.
- the cable assembly for the adjustment of the support element 402 in the vertical direction includes two separate traction cables — an upper traction cable 424 and a lower traction cable 425, shown in broken lines.
- This embodiment is similar to the other embodiment described herein, except that this embodiment employs two separate traction cables 424, 425 for level adjustment in a vertical direction.
- the upper traction cable 424 has one end operably coupled to an actuator 428 having a two-cable output and an opposite end operably coupled to the slider 408.
- the upper traction cable 424 is comprised of an upper traction cable wire 426 in an upper sleeve 429.
- the lower traction cable 425 likewise, has one end operably coupled to the two-cable output actuator 428 and an opposite end operably coupled to the slider 8 and is comprised of a lower traction cable wire 427 in a lower sleeve 430. Adjustment in a vertical direction is achieved by activation of the actuator 428, which pulls either the upper traction cable wire 426 or the lower traction cable wire 427 to cause upward or, alternatively, downward travel. The linear movement of the upper traction cable wire 426 and the lower traction cable wire 427 is transferred to the slider and 408 causes the slider 408 to slide in either an upward or downward direction, along the slider guide 409 of the mounting bracket 405.
- the slider 408, transfers the force of the movement of the wires 426, 427 to the support element 402 through the fixed yoke wire 420. This transferred force causes the support element 402 to move in an upward or downward direction along the guide wire members 403'.
- the lumbar support device may be used for providing lumbar support in the seat of an automobile. However, the present invention is not limited to use in automobile seats and may be used in any type of seat.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Seats For Vehicles (AREA)
- Chair Legs, Seat Parts, And Backrests (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US307627 | 1989-02-07 | ||
US10/307,665 US6692074B1 (en) | 2002-12-02 | 2002-12-02 | Apparatus and method for bi-directional cable adjustment of an ergonomic support |
US307665 | 2002-12-02 | ||
US10/307,627 US6908153B2 (en) | 2002-12-02 | 2002-12-02 | Power lumbar support cable apparatus and method |
PCT/US2003/038330 WO2004049869A2 (en) | 2002-12-02 | 2003-12-02 | Apparatus and method for bi-directional cable adjustment of an ergonomic support |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1581080A2 true EP1581080A2 (de) | 2005-10-05 |
Family
ID=32474123
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP03790252A Withdrawn EP1581080A2 (de) | 2002-12-02 | 2003-12-02 | Gerät und verfahren für die bidirektionale kabelverstellungeiner ergonomischen stütze |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1581080A2 (de) |
JP (1) | JP4242348B2 (de) |
AU (1) | AU2003293256B2 (de) |
MX (1) | MXPA05005892A (de) |
WO (1) | WO2004049869A2 (de) |
Families Citing this family (8)
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US7585027B2 (en) * | 2006-04-07 | 2009-09-08 | Schukra Of North America | Overmolded thin-profile lumbar support |
GB201005491D0 (en) * | 2010-03-31 | 2010-05-19 | Corcost Ltd | Corcost-SC010 |
JP5917868B2 (ja) | 2011-09-14 | 2016-05-18 | シロキ工業株式会社 | ランバーサポート装置 |
US9193287B2 (en) | 2012-09-13 | 2015-11-24 | Leggett & Platt Canada Co. | Lumbar support system |
US9199565B2 (en) | 2012-09-13 | 2015-12-01 | Leggett & Platt Canada Co. | Lumbar support system |
US10632882B2 (en) | 2012-09-13 | 2020-04-28 | Leggett & Platt Canada Co. | Lumbar support system |
US9193280B2 (en) | 2012-09-13 | 2015-11-24 | Leggett & Platt Canada Co. | Lumbar support system |
US10358065B2 (en) | 2016-12-23 | 2019-07-23 | Leggett & Platt Canada Co. | Pneumatic four way lumbar |
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DE2804703A1 (de) * | 1978-02-03 | 1979-08-09 | Fritzmeier Ag | Rueckenlehne mit hoehen- und woelbungsverstellung |
IT1250850B (it) * | 1991-10-31 | 1995-04-21 | Fiat Auto Spa | Schienale per sedili, particolarmente sedili automobilistici. |
IT1259398B (it) * | 1992-03-24 | 1996-03-13 | Fiat Auto Spa | Sedile, particolarmente per autoveicoli, con sopporto lombare perfezionato |
US5791733A (en) * | 1996-02-09 | 1998-08-11 | Knoll, Inc. | Adjustable lumbar support |
US5984407A (en) * | 1996-02-23 | 1999-11-16 | Mccord Winn Textron Inc. | Cable attachment for a lumbar support |
US5816653A (en) * | 1997-03-17 | 1998-10-06 | Schukra Of North America Ltd. | Apparatus and method for adjusting the position of a supporting element in a seat |
-
2003
- 2003-12-02 AU AU2003293256A patent/AU2003293256B2/en not_active Ceased
- 2003-12-02 MX MXPA05005892A patent/MXPA05005892A/es not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2003-12-02 WO PCT/US2003/038330 patent/WO2004049869A2/en active Search and Examination
- 2003-12-02 JP JP2004557506A patent/JP4242348B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2003-12-02 EP EP03790252A patent/EP1581080A2/de not_active Withdrawn
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
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See references of WO2004049869A2 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU2003293256A1 (en) | 2004-06-23 |
AU2003293256B2 (en) | 2007-11-29 |
WO2004049869A3 (en) | 2007-06-28 |
JP2006523105A (ja) | 2006-10-12 |
MXPA05005892A (es) | 2005-09-21 |
WO2004049869A2 (en) | 2004-06-17 |
JP4242348B2 (ja) | 2009-03-25 |
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