GB2198345A

GB2198345A - Body-support device

Info

Publication number: GB2198345A
Application number: GB08723448A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Sandor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-12-09
Filing date: 1987-10-06
Publication date: 1988-06-15
Also published as: GB8723448D0

Abstract

A body-support device (3) (e.g. mounted in a seat back (1)) comprises a gas-permeable backing layer (4) which provides front and rear spaced-apart surfaces, the front surface being adapted to transmit the required body support force into the backing layer towards the rear surface 6 and means 11 to pass a flowable conditioning medium (e.g. air) into the backing layer 4 so that it flows through the backing layer between said surfaces. Desirably the backing layer is a tufted material in which the distal ends of tufts 5 define the front surface. A plenum chamber 7 can be formed behind the rear surface 6 to receive air from a blower 11 and feed it into the chamber 7. Means 13, 14 can be used to condition air in the chamber 7. <IMAGE>

Description

Improved body-support device This invention relates to a body-support device which has particular reference to a back support pad (erg. as part of a seat) and which includes means to pass a conditioning medium (e.g. air) through the bodysupport device.

According to its broadest aspect, a body-support device in accordance with the invention comprises a gaspermeable backing layer which provides front and rear spaced-apart surfaces, the front surface being adapted to transmit the required body support force into the backing layer towards the rear surface and means to pass a flowable conditioning medium into the backing layer so that it flows through the backing layer between said surfaces.

The backing layer could be a non-woven mat of fibrous material (e.g. of mineral or animal fibres) or a structure such as a pile material in which elongate members or tufts project outwardly from a tuft-support member, the tuft-support member forming the rear support surface and regions of the elongate members or tufts remote from the tuft-support member (e.g. the distal ends thereof) defining the front surface. A pile material with tufts of plastics material and of the kind used to simulate grass (e.g. a material known under the Trade Mark "Astroturf") is particularly suitable.

The gas-permeable nature of the backing layer can be used to allow a gaseous conditioning medium (e.g.

air) to flow directly through the backing layer but it is also possible to conduct the conditioning medium through the backing layer in tubes, ducts, pipes or the like conduits and to allow heat transfer between the conduit-borne conditioning medium and air in voids in the gas-permeable backing layer to remove heat from, or pass heat to, the body contacting the front surface of the body-support device.

A body-support device in accordance with the inven tion can define or be incorporated in a seat or mattress and can be faced with a cover material at least on the side thereof contacted by the body. A gas-permeable cover material is preferred to allow body moisture to migrate into the device for removal by the flowing conditioning medium.

A particularly useful application for a device in accordance with this invention is in the seating of a vehicle (e.g. an automobile) and in this application the conditioning medium can be air drawn from the heating/ ventilating and/or cooling system of the vehicle. Where a supply of pressurised conditioning medium is not available, a pressurising means (e.g. a blower) can be provided in a convenient location relative to the device. Such a medium pressurising means can be associated with means for conditioning (e.g. heating, cooling, dehumidifying, disinfecting, perfuming and/or deodorising)the medium.

The rear surface of the backing layer can be perforated and define one surface of a plenum space to which the conditioning medium is supplied. Spacing members or gaskets can be provided at spaced-apart intervals in the plenum space to prevent collapse of this space in the absence of conditioning medium of adequate pressure therein.

Thermal insulating materials can be used in a device in accordance with the invention to reduce the rate of transfer of heat- into/out of those parts of the device not in contact with the user.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the sole figure of which is a partially sectioned perspective view of a seat back incorporating a body-support device in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing, a seat back 1 (e.g. the back of a vehicle seat) is provided on its forward facing surface 2 with a body-support device 3 in accordance with the invention.

The device 3 comprises a mat 4 of synthetic grass material having a plurality- of tufts 5 each of a cluster of flexible plastics blades. The tufts 5 are all secured at one end in a tuft-support sheet 6 and project forwardly to provide a resilient gas-permeable mat against which the back region of a user of the seat can rest.

The sheet 6 defines the front boundary of a plenum chamber 7 closed at the rear by a base sheet 8 and around the edges by side walls 9. Gaskets 10 are provided at intervals between the sheets 6 and 8 to prevent the plenum chamber 7 collapsing under the pressure of the body of a user.

Air (e.g. from a blower 11 or from the ventilating/ heating system of the vehicle) is led into the plenum 7 via an inlet pipe 12 and passes through the sheet 6 to flow around the tufts 5. The sheet 6 can be of openwork mesh construction but if not, can be perforated at suitable intervals to provide an appropriate degree of air flow through the mat 4. The air acts as a conditioning medium which can be used to cool or heat the back of the user as required. If the air fed to the pipe 12 is not of a suitable temperature its temperature can be adjusted by means of heat-exchange pipes 13 located in the plenum chamber 7 and/or between tufts 5 in the mat 4. The pipes 13 connect to a conditioning unit 14.

The back 1 can be recessed to receive the device 3 but it is not ruled out that the entire front surface of the seat back be provided by the device 3. The exposed front surface of the back 1 and device 3 can be of a suitable wear-resistant and decorative sheet material which if not inherently gas-permeable can be made so by perforations.

The seat cushion of the seat can also be provided with a device 3.

One or both of the sheets 6 and 8 of the plenum chamber 7 (or the flexible pipe 12 leading to it) may be provided with a low emissivity metallised layer and/or metal foil. Further thermal insulation may be provided on the outside of the chamber 7 and/or the flexible pipe.

It will be appreciated that a device in accordance with the invention not only provides support for the body part of the user pressed against it but also ventilates or conditions the body part during use. It can thus be used to evaporatively cool the body part (and prevent a sensation of wetness) and prevent or at least delay the occurrence of body sores in the case of longterm users.

Although shown as part of a seat back, a device according to the invention could be in the form of a removable pad or cushion.

A preferred form of synthetic grass mat 4 has some eighty tufts per square decimeter each with from eight to ten blades per tuft. The blades are approximately 15 to 20 mm long, 1.5 to 2 mm wide and 0.7 to 0.8 mm thick.

In place of a synthetic grass mat, the mat 4 could be a mass of fibres (e.g. in a woven or non-woven mat).

Claims

1. A body-support device comprising a gas-permeable backing layer which provides front and rear spaced-apart surfaces, the front surface being adapted to transmit the required body support force into the backing layer towards the rear surface and means to pass a flowable conditioning medium into the backing layer so that it flows through the backing layer between said surfaces.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the backing layer is a non-woven mat of fibrous material.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the backing layer is a structure in which elongate members or tufts project outwardly from a tuft-support member, the tuft-support member forming the rear support surface and regions of the elongate members or tufts remote from the tuft-support member defining the front surface.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which the tufts are of plastics material.

5. A device as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which means is provided to allow a gaseous conditioning medium to flow directly through the backing layer.

6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the conditioning medium is conducted through the backing layer in conduits and heat transfer between the conduit-borne conditioning medium and air in voids in the gas-permeable backing layer is utilised to remove heat from, or pass heat to, the body of a person contacting the front surface of the body-support device.

7. A body-support device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the rear surface of the backing layer is perforated and defines one surface of a plenum space to which the conditioning medium is supplied.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, in which spacing members are provided at spaced-apart intervals in the plenum space to prevent collapse of this space in the absence of conditioning medium of adequate pressure therein.

9. A device as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which thermal insulating materials are used to reduce the rate of transfer of heat into/out of those parts of the device not in contact with the body of a user.

10. A body-support device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims when incorporated in a seat or mattress and faced with a cover material on the side thereof contacted by the body of a person using the seat or mattress.

11. A seat or mattress as claimed in claim 10, in which a gas-permeable cover material is used to allow body moisture to migrate into the device for removal by the flowing conditioning medium.

12. A vehicle seat incorporating a body-support device as claimed in any one of preceding claims 1 to 9, in which the conditioning medium is air drawn from the heating/ventilating and/or cooling system of the vehicle.

13. A seat incorporating a body-support device as claimed in any one of preceding claims 1 to 9, in which a pressurising means is provided in a convenient location relative to the device and is used to pass a gaseous conditioning medium into the backing layer.

14. A seat as claimed in claim 13, in which the medium pressurising means is associated with means for heating, cooling, dehumidifying, disinfecting, perfuming and/or deodorising the medium.

15. A seat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.