GB2569289A

GB2569289A - Seats

Info

Publication number: GB2569289A
Application number: GB1720455.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walton Thomas
Original assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Current assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Priority date: 2017-12-08
Filing date: 2017-12-08
Publication date: 2019-06-19
Also published as: GB201720455D0

Abstract

A seat 102 for a vehicle (101, figure 1) comprises a frame 103 and a woven fabric 112 / 113, comprising a plurality of warp 114 and weft 115 elements arranged to cover the frame and at least two adjustable tensioning means 117, 119 , 122, 123, each attached to at least one warp or weft element which can adjust the tension of the warp or weft element. Preferably the warp and weft elements comprise elongate webbing straps. In some embodiments, the seat also comprises tension measuring means 121 such as strain gauges on the warp and weft elements. The seat may be arranged with a control means (301, figure 4), which can automatically control the adjustable tensioning means to adjust the seat tension when a user sits down in the seat

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to seats. In particular, but not exclusively it relates to seats for use in vehicles.

Aspects of the invention relate to the seats in which the configuration of the seat is adjustable, a system for adjusting a seat to optimise the comfort for a user of the seat, and a vehicle including a seat in which the configuration of the seat is adjustable.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles such as cars, trucks, aircraft, trains and watercraft are all generally provided with one or more seats so that a user of such a vehicle can sit down when using the vehicle. For many forms of vehicles it is necessary for a driver of that vehicle to be seated to operate the vehicle, for example the driver of a car has to sit in the driver’s seat.

It is known that current seat designs are designed to suit as wide a range of users who would potentially sit in that seat as possible. It is also known that users have a wide range of body shapes. As such the ergonomics of seats, and in particular a support profile provided to a user of a seat, are intended to avoid discomfort for the maximum number of individual body shapes. This approach may be expected to produce a seat that is reasonably comfortable for many users but that is unlikely to be as comfortable as it could be for any given user.

The support profile for a seat is to be understood to be the layout or distribution across the surface of the seat that is in contact with the user of the levels of support that the seat provides to the user of the seat. For optimal comfort for the user the seat will offer greater support in some areas of contact between the user and the seat than in other areas of contact.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a seat that can be adjusted so as to alter the support profile to one that is optimal for a user sitting in the seat. It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a system for adjusting a seat to provide a support profile to one that is optimal for a user sitting in the seat. It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a vehicle containing such a seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a seat that can be adjusted so as to alter the support profile, a system for adjusting the support profile of a seat, and a vehicle including a seat as claimed in the appended claims.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a seat for a vehicle, the seat comprising:

a frame arranged to define a portion of the seat;

a woven fabric suitable for supporting a user of the seat, the woven fabric comprising a plurality of warp and weft elements arranged to cover at least part of the frame; and at least two adjustable tensioning means each attached to at least one warp or weft element, wherein tensional adjustment of the adjustable tensioning means adjusts the tension in the woven fabric to adjust the support for the user.

This provides the advantage that the adjustable tensioning means can be used to alter the tension in at least one warp or weft element of the fabric that supports the user of the seat. The effect of altering the tension in at least one warp or weft element is to provide the user of the seat with more support from that warp or weft element if the tension therein is increased, or provide the user of the seat with less support from that warp or weft element if the tension therein is decreased. Thus, altering the tension in a warp or weft element alters the support profile of the seat. Altering the support profile for the seat can result in a support profile that optimises the comfort of the user of the seat.

If both a warp and weft element of the fabric are attached to separate adjustable tensioning means then the tension and hence support offered by the fabric at the intersection of the warp and weft elements is determined by the tension in both of the warp and weft elements cumulatively. Thus, along a given warp or weft element there can be varying degrees of support offered by the fabric if there are different tensions in the various weft or warp elements that intersect with the warp element.

In some embodiments of the invention there is provided a seat wherein each of the warp and weft elements have first and second ends, wherein the first end is held in a fixed position relative to the frame and the second end is attached to the adjustable tensioning means. This provides the advantage that the adjustable tensioning means increases or decreases the tension in the warp or weft element between the tensioning means and the portion of the frame to which the first end of the warp or weft element is attached, and the tension in each warp or weft element reacts against the frame. If the or each warp and weft element is straight or passes around an element of the frame or other fixed structure, changing the tension in the weft or warp elements will not cause deformation, for example wrinkling, of the fabric. Deformation of the fabric as a result of changes in tension in a warp or weft element is undesirable.

In some embodiments of the invention there is provided a seat wherein the seat comprises at least two actuation means each associated with at least one adjustable tensioning means, whereby activation of an actuation means reversibly alters the tension in the or each warp or weft element attached to each tensioning means with which that actuation means is associated.

This provides the advantage that each actuation means may be associated with one or more adjustable tensioning means. This has the effect that the actuation means may, via the adjustable tensioning means, alter the tension in all the warp or weft elements associated with the or each adjustable tensioning means at the same time. The actuation means may be associated with one adjustable tensioning means, in which case, each adjustable tensioning means may be operated independently of the other adjustable tensioning means of the seat.

Alternatively, the actuation means may be associated with more than one adjustable tensioning means. If the actuation means is associated with more than one adjustable tensioning means then this provides the advantage that fewer actuation means are required for the seat. Further, depending upon the relative location of the more than one adjustable tensioning means that are associated with a particular actuation means, activation of the actuation means can result in alteration of the tension in warp or weft elements symmetrically disposed either side of a line of symmetry in the seat. For example, warp or weft elements at equal distances either side of a line of symmetry that substantially bisects the seat from the front to the back could be subject to alteration of tension on activation of a single actuation means. In this context, the front of the seat is to be understood as being the part of the seat closest to a user’s knees when the user is sitting on their bottom with their legs extended in front of them, and the back of the seat is opposite to the front of the seat.

In some embodiments of the invention there is provided a seat wherein the frame defines a seat base portion and / or a seat back portion of the seat. This provides the advantage that the support profile of the seat can be adjusted for one or both of the seat base portion and seat back portion so giving the maximum amount of adjustability of the support profile of the seat. In some embodiments of the present invention the warp or weft elements extend over only one of the seat base portion or the seat back portion of the seat. In some embodiments of the present invention the warp or weft elements can extend across both of the seat base portion and seat back portion of the seat.

In some embodiments of the invention the woven fabric is loosely woven. In this context, the term “loosely woven” is to be understood to describe a weave where the warp and weft elements of the fabric are sufficiently loose and spaced relative to each other that the small amount of movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the warp and / or weft elements involved with increasing or decreasing the tension within a particular first warp or weft element does not drag or pull any of the other weft or warp elements that are in contact with the first warp or weft element in a direction lateral to their longitudinal axis. This provides the advantage that the causing of wrinkles in the fabric is avoided.

In some embodiments of the invention the weft and warp elements of the fabric have surfaces with coefficients of friction sufficiently low that, when under tension, they will slide over each other when the small amount of movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the warp and / or weft elements involved with increasing or decreasing the tension within a particular first warp or weft element occurs and they do not drag or pull any of the other weft or warp elements that are in contact with that particular warp or weft element in a direction lateral to their longitudinal axis. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the weft and/or warp elements are provided low friction bearing surfaces arranged to separate the weft and warp elements where they intersect, and arranged to keep friction between the weft and warp elements to a minimum. Such bearing surfaces may be formed integrally or added as a surface coating to the weft and/or warp elements.

In some embodiments of the invention there is provided a seat comprising at least two actuation means in which the woven fabric is loosely woven and comprised of a plurality of warp and weft elements each of which has a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, the first end of each of the warp and weft elements is held in a fixed position relative to the frame, the second end of each of the warp and weft elements is attached to an adjustable tensioning means, each adjustable tensioning means is associated with one or more warp or weft elements, each actuation means is associated with at least one adjustable tensioning means, and activation of an actuation means reversibly alters the tension in the or each warp or weft element attached to each tensioning means with which that actuation means is associated.

This provides the advantage that because each of the warp and weft elements is attached to an adjustable tensioning means the adjustment of the tension in the warp and weft elements, and hence the support provided by those elements, can be altered across the whole of the fabric. This allows the support profile to be altered across the whole of the fabric, and hence the comfort of the seat for a user to be optimised.

In some embodiments of the invention the seat comprises at least one tension measurement means, and the or each tension measurement means is adapted to measure the tension in at least one warp or weft element. This provides the advantage that control means can determine, using the tension measurement means, the tension in one or more weft or warp elements in the fabric when a user sits in the seat. The measured tensions in the warp and I or weft elements can then be used to determined how to alter the tensions in the warp and weft elements to provide a support profile that will increase the comfort of the user. For example, a user’s body shape and manner of sitting may cause an area of high tension in the warp and weft elements (a “hot spot”), it is desirable that the tension in the warp and weft elements in the area surrounding the hot spot is increased to increase the support given by the seat around the hot spot. This will decrease the pressure between the hot spot and the user’s body and lead to greater comfort for the user. Such hot spots may occur, for example, beneath the hips of the user or behind their shoulder blades.

In some embodiments of the invention the tension measurement means measures the tension in at least one warp or weft element directly, for example by use of a strain gauge attached to a warp or weft element. In some embodiments of the invention the tension measurement means measures the tension in one or more warp or weft elements in an indirect fashion, for example by measuring a parameter that is affected by the tension in the warp or weft. That parameter may be, for example, the stress or strain experienced by a means for anchoring the adjustable tensioning means to the frame or other fixed object, or other forces experienced by one or more portions of the seat that are in contact with the warp or weft elements.

In some embodiments of the invention there are provided the same number of tension measurement means as there are warp and weft elements. This provides the advantage that the tension of the warp and weft elements across the whole of the fabric can be measured and, in determination on those measurements, the tensions in the warp and weft elements altered so as to alter the support profile of the seat.

In some embodiments of the invention there is provided the same number of adjustable tensioning means as there are warp and weft elements. This provides the advantage that the tension in the individual warp and weft elements can be altered for each warp and weft element independently of the other warp and weft elements. This optimises the ability to alter the support profile of the seat.

In some embodiments of the invention there are provided the same number of actuation means as there are adjustable tension means. This provides the advantage that each adjustable tensioning means can be individually associated with an actuation means, and activation of the actuation means adjust the associated tension adjustment means independent of the other adjustable tension means.

In some embodiments of the invention there is provided a seat which comprises at least one control means, the control means comprises an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving at least one signal, and the control means is adapted to control at least one actuation means in dependence on at least one received signal. This provides the advantage that the control means can control at least one actuation means in dependence on at least one received signal so allowing the control means to alter the tension in one or more of the warp or weft elements in dependence upon one or more different inputs in the form of the received signals. The signals can have a variety of different origins and, as such, the control means can control the operation of at least one actuator in dependence on one or 6 more parameters external to the seat, one or more parameters associated with the seat, or a combination of parameters associated with the seat and external to the seat.

In some embodiments of the invention at least one of the received signals is indicative of the tension in at least one warp or weft element of the seat. This provides the advantage that the tension in the warp or weft elements can be altered in dependence on the tensions experienced in the warp or weft elements when the user sits on the seat.

In some embodiments of the invention at least one received signal is indicative of the tension in at least two adjacent warp or weft elements. This provides the advantage that the tension in a number adjacent warp or weft elements can be measured and averaged so as to seek to minimise the effect of any atypically high or low tensions in the warp or weft elements when the control means is determining how to alter the tension in the warp or weft elements. Such high or low tensions could, for example, be caused by a user sitting on an object resting on the seat when they sit down.

In some embodiments of the invention at least one received signal is indicative of the tension in at least one warp element and at least one received signal is indicative of the tension in at least one weft element. Again, this provides the advantage that it allows the control means to determine how to adjust the tension in the warp and weft elements on the basis of the tension experienced by the warp and weft elements when a user sits on the seat.

In some embodiments of the invention at least one received signal is indicative of the tension in at least two adjacent warp elements and at least one received signal is indicative of the tension in at least two adjacent weft elements. Again, this provides the advantage that the effect of any atypical tensions can be moderated by considering a number of adjacent tension readings.

In some embodiments of the invention at least one received signal originates from a user input means. This provides the advantage that a user can, via a suitable interface, input personal preferences concerning the support profile of the seat, and the control means, in dependence upon the signals received, alter the tensions in the warp and/or weft elements at least partly in determination of the user’s input.

In some embodiments of the invention at least one received signal originates from an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the control means and having instructions stored therein. This provides the advantage that the electronic memory device may include data relating to previous occupants of the seat according to the present invention and, if a user sitting in the seat is recognised as having previously occupied the seat (by a suitable recognition means or they input data to indicate they have previously sat in the seat), the support profile can be altered to the support profile previously used for that user. This is beneficial if a user has previously input personal preferences via a user input means and avoids that user having to repeat that input each time they sit in the seat. The instructions in the electronic memory device may also relate to other aspects of the configuration of the seat.

In some embodiments of the invention at least one received signal is indicative of a parameter determined from the operation of the vehicle in which the seat is located. This provides the advantage that it allows the control means to alter the support profile in dependence on the performance of the vehicle and / or one or more features of the environment proximal to the vehicle. For example, the support profile may be altered in dependence on road conditions, cornering or other factors that will affect the comfort of the user in their seat

In some embodiments of the invention the parameter determined from the operation of the vehicle in which the seat is located is indicative of one or more of the cornering force experienced by a wheel of the vehicle, the activity of a suspension unit of the vehicle, or the speed of the vehicle. This provides the advantage that because each of those parameters may, when they vary, alter what is needed to achieve optimal comfort for the user, the support profile can be altered to meet those changing needs.

In some embodiments of the invention the control means is adapted to control each actuation means in the seat of the present invention. This provides the advantage that only one control means is required to control the whole seat.

In some embodiments of the invention the control means is adapted to control each individual actuation means independently of the other actuation means. This provides the advantage that the maximum control over the tension in the warp and weft elements is achieved.

In some embodiments of the invention there is provided a seat in which the control means is electrically coupled to an electronic memory device, the electronic memory device having instructions stored therein, and the instructions comprise instructions as to how the tensions in warp and / or weft elements proximal to a first warp and / or weft element are to be changed if the tension is changed in the first warp and / or weft element.

This provides the advantage that the control means can ensure that there are smooth, graduated, differences in tension between adjacent warp and/or weft elements leading to an optimal support profile for the user.

In some embodiments of the invention there is provided a seat in which the tension in at least one warp element and at least one weft element is measured when a user first sits in in the seat, and the control means causes at least one actuator to adjust the tension in at least one warp element and at least one actuator to adjust the tension in at least one weft element in dependence on the tensions measured. This provides the advantage that the tensions in at least one warp and weft elements are altered following a user sitting in the seat with the effect that the seat adjusts to provide a comfortable support profile to the user depending upon the particular build and manner of sitting of the user.

In some embodiments of the invention the tension in each warp element and each weft element is measured when the user first sits in the seat. This provides the advantage that the alteration of tension in dependence upon the tensions measured to achieve a desired support profile for the user will be made according to tensions measured rather than some predicted or otherwise theoretical predetermined tension.

In some embodiments of the invention there is provided a seat in which one or both of the warp and weft elements is a fabric tape or a fabric webbing. This provides the advantage that because of the cross-sectional shape of fabric tape and fabric webbing, essentially a rectangle, the loosely woven fabric of the present invention has a substantially flat surface upon which a user can sit. That surface can be sat upon directly by the user. Alternatively, the loosely woven fabric can create a subsurface which is overlaid by a secondary surface. The secondary surface may be attached to the subsurface. That attachment may be loose. The secondary surface may be a fabric, leather or other similar flexible material. This provides the advantage that the secondary surface does not have to have the load bearing 9 characteristics that the loosely woven fabric will possess. In such embodiments the secondary surface may be chosen for its appearance.

In some embodiments of the invention the seat may further comprise at least one means to push or pull at least one warp and / or weft element in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the pushed or pulled warp or weft element. This provides the advantage that an extra degree of alteration of the support profile of the seat is possible by using the push or pull means. This results in a greater amount of possible alteration of the support profile for the user of the seat.

In some embodiments of the invention at least one of the means to push or pull at least one warp and / or weft element is a wire or cord. This provides the advantage that the push or pull means can pull the warp and / or weft element in a particular direction increasing the tension in the warp or weft element being pulled.

In some embodiments of the invention at least one of the push or pull means is a rod or other rigid element. This provides the advantage that the push or pull means can push the warp or weft element in a particular direction. This will change the tension in that warp or weft element and may provide additional support to a user if the warp or weft element is pushed towards the user.

In some embodiments of the invention the push or pull means is actuated by a second actuation means which is associated with that push or pull means. This provides the advantage that each individual push or pull means can be controlled independently of each other by independent actuation means.

In some embodiments of the invention the seat is provided with at least one control means, the control means comprising an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving at least one signal, and the control means is adapted to control at least one second actuation means in dependence upon at least one received signal. This provides the advantage that, as discussed in connection with the control means associated with the adjustable tensioning means, the control means can cause actuation of the or each of the second actuators in dependence upon receipt of one or more received signals. Those received signals may be indicative of measured tensions within the warp and / or weft elements of the seat, user input preferences, parameters relating to the operation of the 10 vehicle in which the seat is located, the environment proximal to the vehicle, and/or other signals.

In some embodiments of the invention there is provided a system for adjusting the support profile of a seat when a user sits in the seat comprising provision of a seat as herein before described.

According to an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a vehicle comprising at least one seat according to the seat as herein before described.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a vehicle 101 including an embodiment of the seat 102 of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the seat 102;

Figure 3 shows a representative schematic detail of the seat 102; and

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a vehicle including an embodiment of the seat 102 of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to Figure 1, a vehicle 101 is provided with at least one seat 102 for a user I driver of the vehicle 101. In the example shown, the seat 102 is a driver’s seat. The vehicle 101 is so configured that a steering wheel (not shown) and user operated controls (not shown) for the vehicle are usable from the driver’s seat 102. From the following description however, it will be noted that the seat 102 according to an embodiment of the invention is not limited to use as a driver’s seat and may be equally employed in the role of a passenger seat.

With reference to Figure 2, the seat 102 is comprised of a frame 103 in which frame elements 104, 105, 106, 107 together define a seat back portion, and frame elements 108, 109, 110, 111 together define a seat base portion. A loosely woven fabric 112 covers the seat back portion of the frame 103, and a loosely woven fabric 113 covers the seat base portion of the frame 103.

The loosely woven fabric 112 is comprised of a number of warp elements 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d, and a number of weft elements 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d which are woven together.

The first ends of each of the warp elements 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d are fixed to the frame element 106 by a fixing means 116a, 116b, 116c, 116d respectively. The fixing means 116a-d may be a rivet or other appropriate known type of fixing means. The second ends of each of the warp elements 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d are each fixed to an adjustable tensioning means 117a, 117b, 117c, 117d respectively. Each of the adjustable tensioning means 117a-d are attached to the frame element 104 with a suitable fixing means (not shown). Attached to each of the warp elements 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d are tension measuring means 118a, 118b, 118c, 118d respectively. The tension measuring means 118a-d are strain gauges applied to the warp elements 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d or other known types of tension measuring means. When the tension measuring means 118a-d are strain gauges, the tension in each warp element 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d is directly measured using those strain gauges.

In other embodiments, not shown, the tension measurement means measures the tension in one or more warp elements 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d in an indirect fashion, for example by measuring a parameter that is affected by the tension in the warp elements 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d. That parameter may be, for example, the stress or strain experienced by a means for anchoring the adjustable tensioning means 117a-d to the frame element 104 or other fixed object, or other forces experienced by one or more portions of the seat that are in contact with the warp elements 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d.

In a similar fashion, the first ends of each of the weft elements 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d are fixed to the frame element 107 by a fixing means (not labeled for clarity of the Figure). The fixing means may be a rivet or other appropriate known type of fixing means. The second ends of each of the weft elements 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d are each fixed to an adjustable tensioning means 119a, 119b, 119c, 119d respectively. Each of the adjustable tensioning means 119a-d are attached to the frame element 105 with a suitable fixing means (not shown). Attached to each of the weft elements 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d are tension measuring means (not labeled for clarity of the Figure). The tension measuring means are strain gauges applied to the weft elements 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d or other known types of tension measuring means.

In other embodiments, not shown, the tension measurement means measures the tension in one or more weft elements 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d in an indirect fashion, for example by measuring a parameter that is affected by the tension in the weft elements 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d. That parameter may be, for example, the stress or strain experienced by a means for anchoring the adjustable tensioning means 119a-d to the frame element 105 or other fixed object, or other forces experienced by one or more portions of the seat that are in contact with the warp elements 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d.

The woven fabric 112 is loosely woven in that the warp and weft elements 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d, 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d of the fabric are sufficiently loose and spaced relative to each other that the small amount of movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis (not shown) of the warp and / or weft elements 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d, 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d involved with increasing or decreasing the tension within a particular first warp or weft element 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d, 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d does not drag or pull any of the other weft or warp elements that are in contact with the first warp or weft element in a direction lateral to their longitudinal axis.

In this context, the term “loosely woven” is to be understood to describe a weave where the warp and weft elements of the fabric are sufficiently loose and spaced relative to each other that the small amount of movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the warp and I or weft elements involved with increasing or decreasing the tension within a particular first warp or weft element does not drag or pull any of the other weft or warp elements that are in contact with the first warp or weft element in a direction lateral to their longitudinal axis. This provides the advantage that any adjustment of tension of the weft element will not cause, due to friction or drag between the weft and warp element, any significant change in the tension of the warp, and vice versa.

In some examples the weft and warp elements of the fabric have surfaces with coefficients of friction sufficiently low that, when under tension, they will slide over each other when the small amount of movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the warp and / or weft elements involved with increasing or decreasing the tension within a particular first warp or weft element occurs and they do not drag or pull any of the other weft or warp elements that are in contact with that particular warp or weft element in a direction lateral to their longitudinal axis. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the weft and/or warp elements are provided low friction bearing surfaces arranged to separate the weft and warp elements where they intersect, and arranged to keep friction between the weft and warp elements to a minimum. Such bearing surfaces may be formed integrally or added as a surface coating to the weft and/or warp elements.

The warp and weft elements 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d, 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d are comprised of a fabric tape or fabric webbing.

The loosely woven fabric 113 is comprised of a number of warp elements 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, and a number of weft elements 121a, 121b, 121c, 121 d which are woven together.

The loosely woven fabric 113 is constructed in the same fashion as loosely woven fabric 112, on this basis, the following description is to be read to be equivalent to the description for fabric 112. The first ends of each of the warp elements 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d are fixed to the frame element 108 by a fixing means (not labeled for clarity of the Figure). The fixing means may be a rivet or other appropriate known type of fixing means. The second ends of each of the warp elements 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d are each fixed to an adjustable tensioning means 122a, 122b, 122c, 122d respectively. Each of the adjustable tensioning means 122a-d are attached to the frame element 110 with a suitable fixing means (not shown). Attached to each of the warp elements 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d are tension measuring means (not labeled for clarity of the Figure). The tension measuring means are 14 strain gauges applied to the warp elements 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d or other known types of tension measuring means.

In a similar fashion, the first ends of each of the weft elements 121a, 121b, 121c, 121 d are fixed to the frame element 111 by a fixing means (not labeled for clarity of the Figure). The fixing means may be a rivet or other appropriate known type of fixing means. The second ends of each of the weft elements 121a, 121b, 121c, 121 d are each fixed to an adjustable tensioning means 123a, 123b, 123c, 123d respectively. Each of the adjustable tensioning means 123a-d are attached to the frame element 109 with a suitable fixing means (not shown). Attached to each of the weft elements 121a, 121b, 121c, 121d are tension measuring means (not labeled for clarity of the Figure). The tension measuring means are strain gauges applied to the warp elements 121a, 121b, 121c, 121d or other known types of tension measuring means.

With reference to Figure 3, the adjustable tensioning means 117a is comprised of a support frame 200 on which there is rotatably mounted a spindle 201. The second end of the warp element 114a is fixed to spindle 201 (by means not shown) and warp element 114a is taken onto the spindle 201 when the spindle is rotated in a first direction, and taken off the spindle 201 when the spindle is rotated in a second opposite direction.

Spindle 201 is provided with a releasable locking means such as a ratchet and pawl arrangement (not shown) which may prevent rotation of the spindle when in a locked configuration, and allow rotation of the spindle when in an unlocked configuration. The releasable locking means is provided with a power supply (not shown) to power the locking and unlocking of the locking means.

Also mounted on support frame 200 is an actuation means 202. The actuation means 202 is mechanically engaged with spindle 201 and activation of the actuation means 202 causes spindle 201 to rotate in the first or second directions on receipt of a first and second control signal respectively. The power supply for actuation means 202 is not shown. In an example, not shown, the locking means is a discrete component from the actuator means 202. In an alternative example (also not shown) the locking means may be integral with the actuator means 202.

Figure 3 is representative of the configuration of each of adjustable tensioning means 117ad, 119a-d, 122a-d, and 123a-d where the warp or weft elements are suitably relabeled.

With reference to Figure 4 the vehicle 101 is provided with a seat 102, an electrical power source 307 which may be provided in the form of a vehicle battery or alternator, a plurality of sensors collectively shown as 305, and an electronic memory device 306. The seat 102 is provided with a control means 301, a plurality of actuators collectively shown as 302, a plurality of releasable locking means collectively shown as 303, and a plurality of tension measuring means collectively shown as 304.

Actuators 302 is comprised of all of the actuators 302 associated with each of adjustable tensioning means 117a-d, 119a-d, 122a-d, and 123a-d. The actuators 302 may be all controlled individually or in groups by the control means 301. In a similar fashion, locking means 303 is comprised of all of the locking means 303 associated with each of adjustable tensioning means 117a-d, 119a-d, 122a-d, and 123a-d. The locking means 303 may be controlled individually or in groups by the control means 301. Tension measuring means 304 is comprised of the tension measuring means 118a-d associated with warp elements 114ad, and the tension measuring means associated with warp elements 120a-d and weft elements 115a-d and 121a-d.

The control means 301 is powered by the electrical power source 307. The control means 301 is comprised of an electronic processor (not shown) which receives one or more input signals from one or more of sensors 305, one or more of tension measuring means 304, and / or electronic memory device 306. The electronic processor processes the received signals according to instructions received from electronic memory device 306, and sends control signals to one or more of the actuators 302 and / or locking means 303. Those signals will cause the locking means 303 to reversibly move between locked and unlocked configuration and the actuators 302 to activate to increase or decrease the tension in the warp or weft associated with each activated actuator. The one or more sensors 305 may include one or more user input means in the form of one or more rocker switches, touch screen, or other known means suitable for a user to control electrical systems in a vehicle.

For purposes of this disclosure, it is to be understood that the controller(s) / control means described herein can each comprise a control unit or computational device having one or more electronic processors. A vehicle and/or a system thereof may comprise a single control 16 unit or electronic controller or alternatively different functions of the controller(s) may be embodied in, or hosted in, different control units or controllers. A set of instructions could be provided which, when executed, cause said controller(s) or control unit(s) to implement the control techniques described herein (including the described method(s)). The set of instructions may be embedded in one or more electronic processors, or alternatively, the set of instructions could be provided as software to be executed by one or more electronic processor(s). For example, a first controller may be implemented in software run on one or more electronic processors, and one or more other controllers may also be implemented in software run on or more electronic processors, optionally the same one or more processors as the first controller. It will be appreciated, however, that other arrangements are also useful, and therefore, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to any particular arrangement. In any event, the set of instructions described above may be embedded in a computer-readable storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium) that may comprise any mechanism for storing information in a form readable by a machine or electronic processors/computational device, including, without limitation: a magnetic storage medium (e.g., floppy diskette); optical storage medium (e.g., CD-ROM); magneto optical storage medium; read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM ad EEPROM); flash memory; or electrical or other types of medium for storing such information/instructions.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis 5 has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A seat for a vehicle, the seat comprising:

a frame arranged to define a portion of the seat;

2. A seat according to claim 1 wherein each of the warp and weft elements has first and second ends, wherein the first end is held in a fixed position relative to the frame and the second end is attached to the adjustable tensioning means.

3. A seat according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the seat comprises at least two actuation means each associated with at least one tensioning means, whereby activation of an actuation means reversibly alters the tension in the or each warp or weft element attached to each tensioning means with which that actuation means is associated.

4. A seat according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the frame defines a seat base portion and/or a seat back portion of the seat.

5. A seat according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the woven fabric is loosely woven.

6. A seat according to claim 1 comprising at least two actuation means in which the woven fabric is loosely woven and comprised of a plurality of warp and weft elements each of which has a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, the first end of each of the warp and weft elements is held in a fixed position relative to the frame, the second end of each of the warp and weft elements is attached to an adjustable tensioning means, each adjustable tensioning means is associated with one or more warp or weft elements, each actuation means is associated with at least one adjustable tensioning means, and activation of an actuation means reversibly alters the tension in the or each warp or weft element attached to each tensioning means with which that actuation means is associated.

7. A seat according to any preceding claim in which the seat comprises at least one tension measurement means, and the or each tension measurement means is adapted to measure the tension in at least one warp or weft element.

8. A seat according to claim 7 in which the tension measurement means measures the tension directly or indirectly.

9. A seat according to claim 7 or 8 in which there are the same number of tension measurement means as there are warp and weft elements.

10. A seat according to any of the preceding claims in which there are the same number of adjustable tensioning means as there are warp and weft elements.

11. A seat according to any of the preceding claims in which there are the same number of actuation means as there are adjustable tensioning means.

12. A seat according to any of the preceding claims in which the seat comprises at least one control means, the control means comprises an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving at least one signal, and the control means is adapted to control at least one actuation means in dependence on at least one received signal.

13. A seat according to claim 12 in which at least one received signal is indicative of the tension in at least one warp or weft element.

14. A seat according to claim 13 in which at least one received signal is indicative of the tension in at least two adjacent warp or weft elements.

15. A seat according to claim 12 in which at least one received signal is indicative of the tension in at least one warp element and at least one received signal is indicative of the tension in at least one weft element.

16. A seat according to claim 15 in which at least one received signal is indicative of the tension in at least two adjacent warp elements and at least one received signal is indicative of the tension in at least two adjacent weft elements.

17. A seat according to any of claims 12 to 16 in which at least one received signal originates from a user input means.

18. A seat according to any of claims 12 to 17 in which at least one received signal originates from an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the control means and having instructions stored therein.

19. A seat according to any of claims 12 to 18 in which at least one received signal is indicative of a parameter determined from the operation of the vehicle in which the seat is located.

20. A seat according to claim 19 in which the parameter determined from the movement of the vehicle in which the seat is located is indicative of one or more of longitudinal, lateral and/or vertical acceleration of the vehicle.

21. A seat according to any of claims 12 to 20 in which the control means is adapted to control each actuation means.

22. A seat according to claim 21 in which the control means is adapted to control each individual actuation means independently of the other actuation means.

23. A seat according to claim 21 or 22 in which the control means is electrically coupled to an electronic memory device, the electronic memory device having instructions stored therein, and the instructions comprise instructions as to how the tensions in warp and / or weft elements proximal to a first warp and / or weft element are to be changed if the tension is changed in the first warp and / or weft element.

24. A seat according to any of claims 21 to 23 in which the tension in at least one warp element and at least one weft element is measured when a user first sits in in the seat, and the control means causes at least one actuator to adjust the tension in at least one warp element and at least one actuator to adjust the tension in at least one weft element in dependence on the tensions measured.

25. A seat according to claim 24 in which the tension in each warp element and each weft element is measured.

26. A seat according to any preceding claim in which one or both of the warp and weft elements is a fabric tape.

27. A seat according to any of claims 1 to 25 in which one or both of the warp and weft elements is a fabric webbing.

28. A seat according to any preceding claim in which the seat comprises at least one means to push or pull at least one warp and / or weft element in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the pushed or pulled warp and / or weft element.

29. A seat according to claim 28 in which at least one of the means to push or pull at least one warp and / or weft element is a wire or cord.

30. A seat according to claim 28 or 29 in which at least one of the means to push or pull at least one warp and / or weft element is a rod or other rigid element.

31. A seat according to any of claims 28 to 30 in which the or each means to push or pull at least one warp and / or weft element is actuated by a second actuation means associated with that means.

32. A seat according to any of claims 28 to 31 in which the seat comprises at least one control means, the control means comprises an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving at least one signal, and the control means is adapted to control at least one second actuation means in dependence on the at least one signal.

33. A system for adjusting the surface of a seat that is contacted by a user when they sit in the seat comprising a seat according to any of claims 1 to 32.

34. A vehicle comprising at least one seat according to any of claims 1 to 32.