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Lumbar support

Lumbar support description/claims

The invention refers to a lumbar support for a seat backrest with a lumbar pad and a toggle linkage to adjust the position of the lumbar pad.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,533 discloses a seat backrest having an upholstered cushion portion supported by a rigid frame portion including means to produce a desired supporting contour in the lumbar region of the seat occupant. The contour-producing means includes a lumbar pad resiliently biased pivoted arm members connecting the lumbar pad to the frame through a toggle linkage, and handle means operable from the side of the backrest for adjustably positioning the lumbar pad in a plurality of fixed positions forward of the frame.

DE-A1-29 35 352 relates to a seat backrest with a lumbar pad formed of a flexible plate which is adjustable by a motor with a spindle and a nut, wherein the motor rotates the spindle to move the nut along the spindle and wherein the nut is coupled to the lumbar pad via a rope or cable. A similar construction is known from DE-U1-299 12 855.

EP-A1-1 566 119 discloses a lordosis support including a plate that is adapted to be curved, and an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the curvature of the plate wherein the plate is elastically biased into a curved position and the adjusting mechanism is adapted to reduce the curvature of the plate.

The object of the invention is to improve the adjustment of the lumbar support.

According to the invention, that object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

The lumbar support for a seat backrest according to the invention has a lumbar pad and a toggle linkage to adjust the position of the lumbar pad. Furthermore, it comprises a motor with a spindle and a nut, wherein the motor rotates the spindle to move the nut along the spindle and wherein the nut is coupled to the toggle linkage, which includes an arm member which is pivotably connected to a frame and bears the lumbar pad and a link coupled to the nut and the arm member.

The motor driven lumbar support allows an adjustment of the lumbar pad while the user is sitting in his normal position. In addition, the position of the lumbar pad is not limited to fixed positions.

Further embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the subordinate claims.

In one embodiment of the invention, the lumbar support comprises a frame for supporting the motor with the spindle and provides a pivot point for the toggle linkage. Preferably, the link is coupled to the arm member in a middle region between the connection of the arm member to the frame and the connection of the lumber pad to the arm member.

In a second embodiment, the spindle is pivotably fixed to the frame with one end and is connected to the arm member via the nut. It is also possible that the toggle linkage has a scissor-type construction.

Furthermore, the lumbar support has a control unit to move the lumbar pad by actuating the motor. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control unit has a time setting device to set a time period for periodically activating the motor to move the nut in order to change the position of the lumbar pad. This function has a very positive influence on the spinal column because the sitting position of the user changes periodically.

Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will be explained by the following description and the drawings.

In the drawings

FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of a seat furniture with a lumbar support,

FIG. 2 shows a three dimensional view of the seat frame and the lumbar support,

FIGS. 3a and 3b show a side elevation of the lumbar support in two different positions of the lumbar pad,

FIG. 4 shows a side elevation of the lumbar support of a second embodiment and

FIG. 5 shows a side elevation of the lumbar support of a third embodiment.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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