Vehicle seat with inflatable bladder
US5975629A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 18, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 2, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 18, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/86863
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vehicle seat having a bladder with more than two inflatable chambers and an integral control flap, all of one piece, integral construction. To maximize inflatable volume of each chamber, each chamber preferably has a sidewall portion that is generally perpendicular. The control flap has passages in communication with the chambers and valving for selectively controlling inflation of the chambers. Valving preferably includes pinch valves having a generally T-shaped body with legs that pinch passages in the control flap to retain gas in a chamber and selectively inflate or deflate the chamber. The bladder is connected to a gas supply having a pump in communication with a reservoir for storing a charge of pressurized gas in the reservoir so that the pump need not immediately operate when gas is needed to inflate a chamber. To maintain a charge of gas in the reservoir, the gas supply preferably includes a pressure switch for energizing the pump when the reservoir pressure drops below a lower threshold and deenergizing the pump when pressure rises above an upper threshold. A preferred bladder has a chamber for cushioning the thighs of a seat occupant, a chamber for cushioning the butto…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.