~'~ 95/3d9IS r~ ~', ~ ~ J' ~i' ~ PC°T/~JS95I06462
_1_
I L~ AP CS P~
G~~ ~F I I~
The present invention relates to back supports and more
particularly to back supports used in seatbaeks.
A variety of seatback back support devises provide added
support and comfort to a person's back. These devices are
especially common in vehicle seats or ceffice chairs as lumbar
supports.
Second, typical back supports are relatively heavy and add
undesirable weight to automotive vehicles, thereby limiting the
availability of such supports.
CA 02189347 2004-10-28
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Fourth, typical back supports form a single apex within the supporting arch.
The apex
preferably should be at varying locations within the seatback to provide
support to a variety of
people. Therefore, complicated mounting and gearing mechanisms are needed to
adjust the
position of the support apex relative to the seat. Such mounting and gearing
mechanisms are
subject to breakdown and further add undesirable weight to the seat.
All the above-described limitations and drawbacks are undesirable. Therefore,
an object
of the present invention is to provide a flexible, strong back support that
simplifies manufacture
and assembly of back supports and, correspondingly, vehicle seats or chairs.
Another object of
the present invention is to provide a back support that has an automatically
adjusting apex that
effectively moves along the longitudinal length of the back support. A back
support in
accordance with the present invention therefore properly conforms to a user's
back to provide
greater comfort and support.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a back support for
use within
a seatback, comprising: a flexible support member having a longitudinal axis
and first and
second longitudinal ends, one of the first longitudinal end and the second
longitudinal end being
displaceable relative to the other end within the seatback in which the back
support is employed
2 0 and the flexible support member being configured for engagement with a
pair of horizontal rod
segments affixed to the seatback, the engagement permitting one of the first
and second
longitudinal ends to pivot relative to the seatback and another of the first
and second
longitudinal ends to slide relative to another of the horizontal rod segments.
2 5 In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a back support for
use within a
seatback, comprising: a flexible support member including: a central body
portion having a
longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal ends, one of the first
longitudinal end and the
second longitudinal end being displaceable relative to the other end within
the seatback in
which the back support is employed, and the central body portion being
configured for
3 o engagement with a pair of horizontal rod segments affixed to the seatback,
the engagement
permitting one of the first and second longitudinal ends to pivot relative to
the horizontal rod
segments and another of the first and second longitudinal ends to slide
relative to another of the
CA 02189347 2004-10-28
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horizontal rod segments; and a plurality of support fingers extending
outwardly from the
longitudinal axis of the central body portion, the support fingers have a
rounded end distal from
the central body portion and have a bent perimeter, the bent perimeter bent
toward a back of the
seatback to enhance the comfort provided by the back support and to reduce the
amount of wear
on a seat cushion associated with the seatback.
In yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a back support for
use within a
seatback, comprising: a flexible support member formed of a thin piece of
metal and including:
a central body portion having a longitudinal axis and first and second
longitudinal ends, one of
1 o the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end being
displaceable relative to the other
end within the seatback in which the back support is employed, and the central
body portion
being configured for engagement with a pair of horizontal rod segments affixed
to the seatback,
the engagement permitting one of the first and second longitudinal ends to
pivot relative to the
horizontal rod segments and another of the first and second longitudinal ends
to slide relative to
another of the horizontal rod segments; and a plurality of support fingers
extending outwardly
from the longitudinal axis of the central body portion, the support fingers
have a rounded end
distal from the central body portion and have a bent perimeter, the bent
perimeter bent toward a
back of the seatback to enhance the comfort provided by the back support and
to reduce the
amount of wear on a seat cushion associated with the seatback.
In yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a seat support
comprising: a seat
support frame having first and second horizontally disposed rod segments, each
having a
longitudinal axis and a fixed position relative to a top of the seat support
frame; a single-piece
flexible support member having two longitudinal ends, a first longitudinal end
having a
2 5 clamping member rotatably attaching the first end to the first
horizontally disposed rod segment
and a second longitudinal end having a holding member pivotably and slidably
attaching the
second end to the second horizontally disposed rod segment such that the
holding member
pivots about and relative to the longitudinal axis of the second horizontally
disposed rod
segment; and means, attached to the support member proximate to the first
longitudinal end, for
3 0 longitudinally subtending the support member, whereby the support member
arches outwardly
to support a user's back.
In yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a back support for
use within a
CA 02189347 2004-10-28
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seatback comprising: a unitary flexible support member including a central
body portion
having a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal ends, and a
plurality of support
fingers extending outwardly from the central body portion in a direction
generally perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis of the central body portion; the support fingers each
have a bent
perimeter and a rounded end distal from the central body portion and project
generally forward
from a plane generally defined by the central body portion when the support
member is in a
relaxed position such that the rounded end on each the support finger is
forward of the plane;
the first longitudinal end having a clamping member adapted to be rotatably
attached to a rod
segment on a seatback wherein the back support is employed; the second
longitudinal end
having a holding member adapted to slidably and pivotally couple the second
end to a second
portion of the seatback; and wherein the central body portion, the clamping
member and the
holding member are integrally formed from a single piece of material.
In yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a seat comprising: a
base
member; a seatback member attached to one end of the base member, the seatback
member
having first and second horizontally disposed bars, each having a longitudinal
axis and a fixed
position relative to a top of the seatback member; a single-piece flexible
support member
having two longitudinal ends, a first longitudinal end having a clamping
member rotatably
attaching the first end to the first horizontally disposed bar and a second
longitudinal end having
2 o a holding member pivotably and slidably attaching the second end to the
second horizontally
disposed bar such that the holding member pivots about and relative to the
longitudinal axis of
the second horizontally disposed bar; and means, attached to the support
member proximate the
longitudinal end, for longitudinally subtending the support member, whereby
the support
member arches outwardly to support a user's back.
In yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a back support for
use within a
seatback, comprising: a unitary flexible support member including a central
body portion
having a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal ends, and a
plurality of support
fingers extending outwardly from the central body portion in a direction
generally perpendicular
3 o to the longitudinal axis of the central body portion; the first
longitudinal end having a pair of
clamping members projecting away from the central body portion and having
opposite clamping
surfaces such that the clamping members are adapted to rotatably engage a bar
on the seatback
wherein the back support is employed; the second longitudinal end having a
holding member
CA 02189347 2004-10-28
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adapted to slidably and pivotally couple the second end to a second portion of
the seatback;
wherein the central body portion, the clamping member and the holding member
are integrally
formed from a sidle piece of material.
In yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a back support for
use within a
seatback, comprising: a unitary flexible support member including a central
body portion
having a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal ends, and a
plurality of support
fingers extending outwardly from the central body portion in a direction
generally perpendicular
to the longitudinal is of the central body portion; the first longitudinal end
having a clamping
member adapted to be rotatably attached to a bar on a seatback wherein the
back support is
employed; the second longitudinal end having three holding members, a first
the holding
member lying in a first plane and at least a second the holding member lying
in a second plane
that is essentially parallel to the first plane, the first and second planes
being spaced apart such
that the three holding members are adapted to cooperatively engage a second
portion of the
seatback wherein the back support is employed such that the holding members
may be pivotally
and slidably moveable on the second seatback portion; and wherein the central
body portion, the
clamping member and the holding member are integrally formed from a single
piece of
material.
2 o In yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a back support
for use within a
seatback, comprising: a unitary flexible support member including a central
body portion
having a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal ends, and a
plurality of support
forgers extending outwardly from the central body portion in a direction
generally perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis of the central body portion; the first longitudinal
end having a clamping
2 5 member adapted to be rotatably attached to a bar on a seatback wherein the
back support is
employed; the second longitudinal end having a holding member adapted to
slidably and
pivotally couple the second end to a second portion of the seatback; wherein
the central body
portion, the clamping member and the holding member are integrally formed from
a single
piece of material; means for longitudinally subtending the support member
attached to the
3 0 support member proximate the second longitudinal end, whereby the support
member arches
outwardly to support a user's back and wherein the subtending means comprises
a flexible cable
attached to the support member, a spool, a bar partially disposed within a
central bore defined in
the spool, a clutch spring surrounding a portion of the bar and engaging the
spool, the clutch
CA 02189347 2004-10-28
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spring being biased such that the spool and the clutch spring rotate in only
one direction about
the bar, and a lever handle for rotating the spool about the bar whereby the
cable is wound
around a portion of the spool to thereby shorten an effective length of the
cable, whereby
shortening the effective length of the cable longitudinally subtends the
support member by
drawing the support member second longitudinal end toward the support member
first
longitudinal end.
In some aspects, a unitary flexible support member can be formed from a single
sheet of
material. The support member preferably has a central body portion with a
longitudinal axis
1 o and opposite ends at each end of the axis. In some aspects, a number of
support fingers extend
outwardly from the central body portion in a generally horizontal direction.
In some aspects, a
means for arching the support member is attached to the support member to arch
the support
member outwardly to support a person's back.
When an arch is formed on the back support, a person receives comfortable
support for
their back. The apex of the
W~ 95/31918 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ PC'lYtIJS95106462
arch effectively moves longitudinally along the length of the
support to conform to the shape of the user°s back and to
provide maximum support wherever that is most needed.
These and other features and objects of the present
invention will become apparent to a person skilled in the art
from the following detailed description and the appended
drawings.
~I~F I7ESC~IPTI~~F D: T GS
Figure 1 is a diagramatic representation of a person
sitting in a seat including the inventive 'back support.
Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the presently
preferred embodiment of the inventive back support.
Figure 3 is a rear plan view of t:he presently preferred
embodiment of the inventive back support.
Figure 4 is a side plan view illustrating how the
preferred embodiment of the inventive back support arches
outward to support a user's back.
Figure 5 is a bottom plan view cef the inventive back
support as it would appear in a relaxed state~
Figure b is a perspective view of the inventive back
support as it would be attached to a seat frame.
Figure 7 is a front plan view of a portion of the
inventive back support~
Figure 8 is a side plan view of the inventive back support.
~~ 9513i~i~ ,~ ~ % ~ 1-~ ~ ~~'T/IiT~95/~b46~
Fi~u~°e 9 is ~ di~gr~tic ~e~res~n~~a~i~~ ~f ~h~ i~~~~aa~i~~
back ~u~p~~~ illa~s~r~tin~ the ~~ryi~~ ~~~igi~~ ~f ~~~ ~~e~
f~r~ed in the back supp~rta
Fi~~~e 30 is an expl~ded ~erspecti~e ~ie~ cf the ~~~~e~~l~
p~eferx°ed ~~b~dig~ent ~f the ~~a~~.~ndin~ ~~~ ~xn~e~ ~ig~
inventi~re back supp~~°to
~'i~u~°e 11 i~ ~ c~°~ss-~ec~i~nal ~l~~a vi~~ ~f ~~ a~~e~a~l~~
~rindin~ ~ec~i~~a th~~ is used as ~~.~t ~f t3~e ~~~~en~i~a~ ~e~a~o
DA1 19 D~SC~I I~~F
~°i~~are 1 di~~~ atically ~h~~~ ~ ~e~°~~~ ~ ~i~~i~~
seat 10 ~~de up9 in ~~r~9 ~f ~ ~~a~~ack 12 ~ig~ ~ t~~~e l~s
piv~tally ~.~ec~ed ~~ ~e~~b~~k 12 0 ~~~k ~a~~~~~°~ ~a i~
a~ec~s,~ ~.~ ~eat~~ck 12 ~n~ ~ea~~i~n ~aes~ber 11~; is ~~~~~p~i~~~l~
c~nraected ~~ back supp~~~
<IMG>
CA 02189347 2004-10-28
-6-
on" bar 64 as the support member is moved generally upward against bar 64. The
mounting
provided by clamping members 86 and 88 enables efficient assembly requiring a
minimum
amount of tools and a minimum amount of parts. This further enhances one of
the major
advantages of the present invention; providing a lightweight back support
system that provides
enhanced manufacturing and assembling economies. Extension tabs 92 are angled
and provided
at the distal end of clamping members 86 and 88 to further facilitate
assembly. As will be more
fully explained below, cable guide 90 is provided near first longitudinal end
66.
A second plate portion 94 is preferably provided near the second longitudinal
end 70 of
the single-piece support member 62. The second plate 94 is preferably
essentially flat for a
portion of its length and then branches out, forming holding member 96 and
holding member
98. Holding members 96 and 98 are preferably at each transverse end of the
second plate 94 and
effectively straddle holding plate 100. Bar 68 is received between holding
members 96, 98 and
holding plate 100. A polyurethane sleeve (not illustrated specifically) is
preferably provided
around bar 68 to facilitate more frictionless movement along bar 68. Further,
beads 101 are
preferably provided on plate 100 to further facilitate a frictionless
engagement between bar 68
and plate 100 and beads 101 add strength. Raised beads 101 effectively ride on
bar 68 to
provide less surface contact and, therefore, less friction.
2 0 The mounting of the single-piece support member 62 upon bars 64 and 68 is
characterized by a movable and pivotal mounting near the second longitudinal
end 70. Holding
member 96 and 98 have first and second longitudinal ends 102 and 104,
respectively. Ends 102
and 104 serve as stops or abutments for the longitudinal positioning of the
second plate 94
relative to bar 68. As will be described in more detail below, the movement
~~ ~ ~9 ~~~7
W~ 95131918 ~ ~CT'lLTS95106462
_7_
of an actuating cause holdingplate 100 and holding
means will
members 96 and 98 to move pivotally
and longitudinally
(generally upwardor downward the drawing) relative
according
to
to bar 68. Thatisq the support memberbottom end or second
longitudinal 70 pivotsabout bar
end 68 and moves
in an upward
direction (according drawing) whenan actuating means
to the or
adjustment meanscauses support member to
the single-piece 'bow
outward.
ra .'1 ~ ,r ..l
~'~ 9513~9~~ i_ ? ~~: ,~ J '~' ~ ~~~°lf~J~~SI~6~6~
Cable h~using 114 din the cab~di~cen~ ~~' ~°i~~~e 3d extends
Fr~m sleeve 116 t~ are ~~enin~ in hca~sin~ 126 0 ~~~si~.~ 126 is a
p~~°~i~n ~F ~~ae sh~rtening jeans 12~m The sh~rtening ~~a~s is
cased t~ sh~rten the efFective length ~~ the Flexible cable 11~0
1'~ae Flexible cable 110 cable h~using 114 and sh~rgening ~ea~s
12~ t~gether c~~prase the ad,~us~~ent jeans ~~° ac~~a~in~ jeans
130 m T°he h~aasing 126 and sh~rtening jeans 12~ age
~~°eFe~°ably
disp~sed al~ng an ~uter s~a~°face near a seat saach tYaat a ~,se~ has
c~nvenient access ~~ handle 1320 handle 132 is °~sed tc
manipulate the sh~rtening weans 12~ s~c~a that ~~ae eFFecgi~ae
length ~f Flexible cable 11~ is sh~rtened ~r lengthened as
desiredo
W~ 95/3191 jJ ~ ~ '~ "~ ~l ~ PCT//1JS95106462
_g_
comfort and supporto
When the effective length of cable 110 is shortened
the
second longitudinal 70 of flexible support member 62
end is
drawn generally toward
the first longita;tdinal
end 66~ If the
effective length of cable is increased or lengthened,
the then
the second longitudinalend 70 moves in a direction away
from
the first longitudinalnd ~6m It is ts' be understood
e by one
skilled in the art the illustrated 4mbodiment includes
that the
second longitudinal being positioned at the bottom
end of a
seatback relative first longitudinal end and that
to a those
positions could be
reversed or the illusi:rated
embodiment could
be modified accordinglyin order to accommodate such need
or
situation~
~~ ~ 3~
Supp~rt st~°ips 20 ~~e inters~s~ected ~y ~1 ~ag~ ~1~~t~
~~~ ~e~~in~ ~e~ber 26 pref~s~ably f~~~~ t~n~ t~~ ~~~ ~~' ~~c~
supp~rt 16 ~cc~rdin~ t~ ~sae ~a~~a~di~ent a T~~ b~~~s~~ ~~~~e~ 26
inchade~ c~~ctitab 2~ f~~° c~uplgn~ t~ns~.~n ~e~a~~~ 1~ t~
~~ck sup~~°t 160
~3'~ 9513191 PCTII1Tg95106462
-11-
fearing incl~a~des vertex3~. Vertex
member
26 preferably
3~ providestwo ularly ad3acentfaces on bearingmember
26,
and therebyincreases rigidityof bearing member26~ Vertex
the
3g providesthe advantageof allowing 26 to bear
bearing
~ae~ber
against move along reactionsurface 36 in relatively
and a
frictionlessmanner.
~~ ~ ;~ G~ ~ '1
W~ 9~13b9~~ 1~~7C/~J~9~/~~~~~
_1~_
~n~ther ~a~b~~i~en~9 arijt~stin~ ~e~ns 4s0 gs ~ el~~t~°~~e~h~~9c~1
~rindin~ ~e~hanis~ that X11~~s ~ ~nse~° ~~ ~dj~s~ ~~e effe~~l~~
lera~th ~f tensi~n ~ae~nber l~ by ~~nv~nti~nal ~ctu~tin~ ~~~~s ~~c~
~s fin~~rti~ sr~it~hes ~g baztt~n~, a ~re~~~atl~ ~~~f~~°~e~
a~justin~ jeans gill be ~a~re fa~lly ~iesc~°i~~d bel~~o
~~ t~~~«~
'W~ 95/31918 PCTlL1S95106462
-13-
to connecting tab 28. The position of 'back support 16
illustrated in Figure 8 corresponds to the longest effective
length. of tension member 18.
Assume that a different person sits on the seat containing
back support 16. It is likely that the shape and posture of
this second person is different from that of the first person.
V 1 J t
'~~ 9513i91~ _~. . ~ i . ~ ~ ~c~'If'/~J~~S/~~~~~
-14-
The second person°s posterior laambar side is represented by line
50 ° shown in phantomo The curvature of the spine of the person
cor~espondin~ to line 50° and their posture relative to the
setback and the distribution of their body weight imposes a
maximaam load on back support 1~ at the point indicated as ~~°o
Accordin~lys the shape of taack support 16 responsively conforms
to the imposed lo~,d~ fora~in~ arch ~S6 ° shown in phantomo ~p
exists at the point of relatively li~hte~° 1~ad on back
support 16o Therefores back support 16 provides maximaam c~mfort
and support to back 50° because arch ~S6° aid apex ~~°
effectively adjust to the load imposed by back 50°0 ~ back.
support designed in accordance with this invention automatically
provides variable support without further adjustment by the
usero The design of back support 16 provides an arch 45 or ~~°
that responsively conforms to a back 50 or 50°9 respectivelya
Similarlyg the longitudinal position of apex ~~ or ~~° varies
accordir~~ to the load imposed by back 50 or 50°0
a len~thenin~ or sh~rtenin~ of the effective ien~th of
flexible cable 110 (from the preferred embodiments in order to
actuate or adjust the curvature of flexible supp~rt member 52
can be acc~mplished through a variety of meanso ~irst~ tb.e
<IMG>
'? ~ ~7~ ~ ~ III .~
~~ 9513y91~ I~c~"I('~'FtlS~6l~D6~62
-16-
360 ~~~reos around spool 226a In other wordsa one ~a~ll rotation
of spool 226 c~rresponds to ~covin~ the flexible support ~e~be~°
62 from a relaxed position to a ~a~lly or oo~ple~~3y
lon~i~.udinally subtended position pro~idi~~ the r~axi~u~ support
available ~ro~ the support ~e~ber 62m
Spring clutch 232 is received upon bar 224 and fits ~ithi~a
the sleeve porn~n 230 of spool 226m One of the extending ends
on spring clutch 232 nests within slot 233 on sleeve portion 230
of spool 236 such that sp~~1 226 rotates in unison pith spring
clutch 2320 Spria~ clutch 234 is received ~ver sleeve portio~a
230 as can best be seen in Figure lIa Spring clutch 234 is also
referred to as the drive spring because it is biased in a
direction that facilitates a user shortening the effective
length ~f flexible cable 110 to thereby cause an increased
curvature and greater outward boe~in~ of the flexible support
~e~ber 62a
Sleeve 236 is also received over bar 224 and abuts the end
~f sleeve porn ~n 230 that is distal fr~~ porn on 22So Sleeve
236 includes slot 237 that receives a pro~ecti~n ~n spring
clutch 232 such that sleeve 236 ~°otates iaa unison pith sp~ol 2260
i~~ 95/31918
PC'T/IJS95I06462
_17_
Lever handle 243 is fixedly connected to secondary housing
240 such that rotation of lever handle 243 rotates the secondary
housing 240 within housing 222. Rotation of secondary housing
240 causes spring clutch 234 or 238 to engage
and rotate sleeve
portion 230 or sleeve 236 depending on the direction that
lever
handle 243 is moved. For example, in the embodiment of Figure
109 when lever hdle 243 is rotated generally downward
(according to the drawing) spring clutch 234 engages sleeve
portion 230 of spool 226 such that the :movement
of the handle
imparts a rotation to the spool 226. en spool 226 is rotated
in this direction flexible cable 110 is wound
about and received
within the circumferential notch 231 such that the effective
length of cable 110 is shortened and the flexible
support member
62 bows outwardly.
Slot 244 is provided in housing 222 to receive flexible
cable 110 such that cable 110 can be wo~tand about spool 226.
Pf
~'~ 95/3~91~ I~~~'ltU~9~l~662
-1~-
D~wel 246 ~.s recc~.ved. In h~le 247 in h~usi~~ 222 1~ ~~~e~ ~~
~~int~in sp~~1 226 ~.n the ~ppr~~ri~~e 1~1 ~~sigg~n ~cl~~f~~ ~~
central b~~°e 227 snd h~using 222 n Ci~ca~afe~cntlal n~~ch 24~ is
pr~vided ~n sp~~1 226 such ~h~~ sp~~1 226 c~~ ~°~~~~c ~~~&ag~
h~tasin~ 222 gad ~e~~ln ~ci~ll~ Axed Any ~~~el 246 0 ~~c s~Z111c~T
in the srg X111 ~ppreclste ~ha~ d~~el 246 as inse~°'~e~. ~~ve~ the
entige assembly ~s c~~pleted es ~.llus~r~~ed in Fi~~a~e llo
~' LY
W~ 95/31918 PCT/L1595/46462
-19-
causing the flexible cable to be wound or unwound in an
undesirable direction upon the lever handle°s return to the
central position.
It is to be further appreciated that some applications of
winding mechanism 220 will not require the sophistication needed
A,J
'~~ ~5131~1~ '-_ ~ (,1 r .J t ~ ~cCII°/1~J~~~1~~a~62
_2~_
to provide ttae infinite ad~tasta'bility and rc~cr~ix~~ features
desired in the preferred embodiment of the back support system
disclosed hereino Accordin~ly~ another emhodime~t of ~~.~di
mechanism 220 does not include spring clutches 234 ~.~d 23~ ~~.d
sleeve 2360 In this emtsodiment9 lever handle 243 directly
en~a~es sprig claztch 2329 which moves shout rod. 224 ~rhen ~ein~
driven by movement of lever handle 243 and 1~cks in the p~si'eion
that it is last moved into by the handlem In this emhodiment9
spool 226 can he wound i~ an ~awindior wirldin~ direction
because lever handle 243 is adapted to en~a~e either end of
spring clutch 2329 depending on the direction of rotat3or~~ of the
handleo
the preceding description is exemplary rather than
limiting in natureo A preferred embodiment was disclosed to
enable a skilled artisan to practice the inventiono
Ndodifications are possible without departing from the purviec~
and spirit of the present invention9 the scope of which is
limited only by the following claims,
