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Adjustable lumbar support with extensive configurabilityAdjustable lumbar support with extensive configurability description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060226683, Adjustable lumbar support with extensive configurability. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to seats, including vehicular seats. More particularly, the present invention relates to an adjustable lumbar support for a seat configurable to provide a wide range of lumbar support shapes and depths. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] It is well recognized that a person sitting in a seat for an extended time period may desire additional support to obtain greater seat comfort and/or alleviate seat discomfort. Vehicle operators, vehicle passengers, and people whose jobs require them to be seated for extended periods of time are typically chief among those individuals who seek such additional support. The support is typically desired to provide greater comfort in the lower or in the lumbar region of the back. As used herein, the term "seat" applies to a variety of seat structures, including chairs and vehicular seats. [0005] The discomfort problem has been addressed in the prior art in several ways. A simple, although not complete, solution is to utilize a pillow placed low in the seat against the back thereof. By configuring the pillow into different shapes, a variation in lumbar support can be achieved. More permanent solutions to lumbar support problems have also been addressed, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,643 issued to A. Colasanti, et al., on Dec. 31, 1993; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,348 issued to A. Colasanti on Mar. 2, 1993. [0006] Both of the devices described in the '643 and '348 patents are of complex construction and require substantial time and cost for fabrication and installation. The requirements for the installation of a mounting plate, as well as the inter-securement of the bladder and plate elements, are primary reasons for the high cost, complexity of construction and the need of substantial time for the manufacture and installation of each device. [0007] Other devices are also known in the art. Among these other devices are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,615 issued to H. Fanti on Feb. 4, 1986, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,360, issued on May 2, 2000, and assigned to the predecessor in interest of the assignee of the present application. The device of the '360 patent includes a lumbar support system comprising unitary and divided leaf members. This device proved to be complicated and costly to manufacture. [0008] In addition to providing adjustment of the lumbar support in a horizontal direction, i.e. to increase or decrease the amount of support provided, it may be also desirable to provide adjustment of the lumbar support across a wider vertical range to accommodate a wide range of heights among seat occupants. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,474,358, 6,676,214, 6,652,028, and 6,338,530 disclose assemblies with vertically adjustable lumbar supports. In such devices the "bump" providing the support is slid up or down, for example along rails, to place the lumbar apex in a desired location. Accordingly, in placing the apex vertically, the profile of the "bump" is not changed, but the location is selectable vertically within a range. Such devices are sometimes called "four-way" lumbar support adjusters (i.e., adjustable forward and back, and up and down). However, such vertical movement of lumbar support parts within the seat, particularly while under load by an occupant, can damage the interior parts of the soft seat material, or the lumbar support itself. Also, the "bump" shape does not change, which may not provide comfortable support in all cases, even if the bump is optimally placed. Often, the bottom edge of the bump is fixed in a "back" position, thereby limiting adjustability and apex profile. [0009] Other devices have been proposed wherein four-way adjustability is simulated, without actually having the vertical movement of the lumbar support mentioned above. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/983,420, filed Nov. 9, 2004, and assigned to the Assignee of the present application, discloses a lumbar support adjuster including two overlapping support plates, both individually suspended and actuated. The support plates are arranged vertically, one above the other. U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,407 and 6,601,919 also disclose lumbar support adjusters, both including selective manipulation of adjacent sinuous coil spring members made from wire and used to provide support within a seat. Manipulation of such wires, in particular while under load by an occupant, can also cause damage to the soft, backside of the seat, even if no vertical motion is utilized. [0010] Therefore, although various of the devices above have certain useful applications, the need still exists for a further improved lumbar support apparatus providing a range of adjustability, addressing at least one or more of the drawbacks of the above devices. SUMMARY [0011] It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a lumbar support apparatus that provides a comfortable range of lumbar support configurations, and that is not potentially destructive of other seating components. [0012] According to certain aspects of the invention, an adjustable lumbar support for a seat having a seat frame is disclosed, the adjustable lumbar support including a laterally rigid floating support plate for providing support to a lumbar region of a seat, the support plate having a front surface and a rear surface, and a first support linkage and a second support linkage for supporting the floating support plate, the first support linkage being disposed laterally upward from the second support linkage along the floating support plate. Each support linkage is adapted for engaging the seat frame and has an effective length and at least one spring member disposed between the floating support plate and the seat frame, each support linkage supporting the floating support plate in a pivotal manner. An actuator selectively adjusts the effective length of either or both of the first and second support linkages, whereby an amount of lumbar support provided by the floating support plate is increased as the effective length of the first or second support linkage is decreased via the movement of the floating support plate relative to the support frame. Various options and modifications are possible. [0013] For example, the first support linkage may be defined by a first cable member and first spring member, wherein the first spring member is adapted for engaging the seat frame, wherein the first cable member has a first end secured to the actuator and a second end secured to the first spring member, the first cable member sliding in a cable housing secured to the rear surface of the floating support plate. Also, the second support linkage may be defined by a second cable member and second spring member, wherein the second spring member is adapted for engaging the seat frame, wherein the second cable member has a first end secured to the actuator and a second end secured to the second spring member, the second cable member sliding in a cable housing secured to the rear surface of the floating support plate. [0014] A secondary support plate may be mounted within the seat frame and pivotally connected to the floating support plate, the secondary support plate being floatingly positionable relative to the seat frame when the actuator is operated, thereby allowing for a larger amount of lumbar support. The secondary support plate may be located above the floating support plate within the seat frame, and the secondary support plate may be secured to the seat frame by spring members. The secondary support plate may be hingedly connected to the lower support plate. [0015] The floating support plate may be molded in a seatback foam cushion attached to the seat frame, or the floating plate and a seatback foam cushion may be attached to the seat frame via a plurality of cooperating structures for attaching the floating support plate to the foam cushion. [0016] The floating support plate may have a curved front surface, and it may be constructed of a substantially rigid material such that the floating support plate does not flex when loaded by an occupant. [0017] The actuator may include a first actuator mechanism operatively associated with the first support linkage and a second actuator mechanism operatively associated with the second support linkage. The first and second actuator mechanisms may each include an electrical motor, and the electrical motors may be mounted to the seat frame. [0018] The amount of lumbar support may define an apex, the apex being selectively movable substantially vertically and substantially horizontally forward and back relative to the seat frame by manipulation of the first and second actuating mechanisms. Also, the amount of lumbar support provided may have a vertical height, and the vertical height is selectively increasable or decreasable via the first and second actuating mechanisms. [0019] According to other aspects of the invention, a seat assembly would include a seat frame and an adjustable lumbar support as described in various options and combinations above. [0020] According to other aspects of the invention, an adjustable lumbar support for a seat having a seat frame is disclosed, the adjustable lumbar support including a floating support plate for providing support to a lumbar region of a seat, the support plate having a front surface and a rear surface, and a first support linkage and a second support linkage for supporting the floating support plate, the first support linkage being disposed laterally upward from the second support linkage along the floating support plate. Each support linkage is adapted for engaging the seat frame and has an effective length and at least one spring member disposed between the floating support plate and the seat frame, each support linkage supporting the floating support plate in a pivotal manner. A first actuator mechanism selectively adjusts the effective length of the first support linkage and a second actuator mechanism selectively adjusts the effective length of the second support linkage, whereby an amount of lumbar support provided by the floating support plate is increased as the effective length of the first or second support linkage is decreased via the movement of the floating support plate relative to the support frame. A secondary support plate is floatingly mounted within the seat frame and pivotally connected to the floating support plate, the secondary support plate being positionable relative to the seat frame when the actuator is operated, thereby allowing for an amount of lumbar support to be provided by the secondary support plate. Again, various options and modifications are possible. [0021] For example, the first and second actuator mechanisms may each include respective electrical motors, and the first and second support linkages may each include respective Bowden cables. Also, the secondary support plate may be mounted to the seat frame via spring members vertically above the floating support plate within the seat frame. The floating support plate and the secondary support plate may define a width and a height greater than about one-third of the respective horizontal and vertical space between opposite side members of the seat frame. [0022] According to other aspects of the invention, an adjustable lumbar support for a seat having a seat frame is disclosed, the adjustable lumbar support including a floating support plate for providing support to a lumbar region of a seat, the support plate having a front surface and a rear surface, the floating support plate being attached to the seat frame via springs, and a secondary support plate mounted within the seat frame substantially vertically adjacent to the floating support plate and pivotally connected to the floating support plate, the secondary support plate being attached to the seat frame via springs. A first actuator assembly and a second actuator assembly are each operatively connected to the floating support plate via respective first and second Bowden cables, the first and second Bowden cables being spaced from each other substantially vertically within the floating support plate, the first and second actuator assemblies for selectively actuating the respective Bowden cables to alter an amount of lumbar support provided by the floating support plate and secondary support plate. Again, various options and modifications are possible. Continue reading about Adjustable lumbar support with extensive configurability... Full patent description for Adjustable lumbar support with extensive configurability Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Adjustable lumbar support with extensive configurability patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Adjustable lumbar support with extensive configurability or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Seat cushion construction for reclining chair Next Patent Application: Distance adjustment device for chair Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Adjustable lumbar support with extensive configurability patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.54663 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , 174 |
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