IE64944B1 - Cushion for anatomical support especially for the lumbar and cervical regions to fit onto seat backs - Google Patents

Description

Cushion for anatomical support, especially for the lumbar and cervical regions, to fit onto seat backs The invention concerns a small cushion designed for anatomical support especially to the lumbar and cervical regions, to be mounted onto the backs of seats.

Such small cushions are well known and are placed inside the seat backs of motor vehicles, their thickness and therefore projection being variable to suit Che needs or preferences of the user.

These cushions are made by means of a device comprising a rigid structure associated to an elastic structure.

Convexity of the elastic structure in relation to the rigid structure may be obtained by a system of cams with a tie rod. The cam is operated from outside the seat by means of a mechanism comprising a gear wheel and worm screw and a transmission shaft worked by an external knob.

The external structure consists of longitudinal metal bands crossing over transversal bands with outwardly projecting ends to ensure adequate spring.

This device is very complex and its outer surface is rough and sharp. It has therefore to be covered with a soft layer of considerable thickness.

The tie rod referred to above is involved in the curving movement of the elastic structure so that much effort is required to work the cam.

The worm screw is inserted to lessen effort when the device is adjusted but the knob has therefore to be given a great many turns making adjustment time far too long.

The device cannot be moved vertically from the lumber to the cervical region or in between, or adapted to the stature, needs and preferences of the user.

These drawbacks lessen the advantages of the device not only due to its cost but also for practical reasons and duration. Subject of the invention is a cushion for anatomical support of the lumbar and cervical regions of the spine, so made that it can be set at a higher or lower position on the seat back, as preferred by the user, motor driven, of a very simple structure and easy to operate.

According to the invention the cushion is obtained from a device comprising a curved elastic plate whose longitudinal ends, posteriorly curved inwards, form channels and are connected by a pair of stay rods aligned along the vertical axis of the plate. Said rods are fixed inside the channels and are moved by motor driven means operated from the outside of the seat back.

Said stays (106,111) can therefore be moved closer together or separated farther apart as desired,iri this way increasing or lessening the convexity of the plate and therefore how far it projects from the seat back (42).

The stays are fixed to rods,threaded respectively in one direction and in the other, which screw into the two ends of a threaded cylindrical scroll.

The stays can therefore be brought closer together or separated farther apart by axial rotation of said scroll one way or the other.

Rotation is effected by an electric ratiomotor operated by a three-way switch, placed at the side of the seat back, for the two directions of rotation.

Alternatively the stays may be respectively fixed to two pistons housed at the two ends of a hydraulic and pneumatic cylinder worked by a valve operated by means of a control placed at the side of the seat back. The reciprocal position of the two pistions and therefore convexity of the plate can thus be adjusted at will.

The height at which the cushion is set can be determined by a continuous cord fixed axially to the upper and lower ends of the plate.

After passing over transmission pulleys fixed at the top 5 and bottom of the seat back, said cord winds round the drum of a transversal shaft supported by the seat back and connected to an electric ratiomotor. This motor is operated by a switch for rotation in one direction or in the other and therefore for regulating height of the cushion on the seat back as required.

Alternatively, cushion height is determined by a pair of cords the ends of which are fixed respectively to the upper and lower ends of the plate and, after passing over transmission pulleys fixed at the top and bottom of the seat back, said cords are fixed to the two ends of a piston that slides in a hydraulic and pneumatic cylinder. Said cylinder is operated by a three-position valve for adjusting the height of the cushion on the seat back.

The invention offers evident advantages.

Regulation of convexity of the cushion and therefore the extent to which it projects from the seat back, as well as its height on said seat back, can be done quickly and c onve n i e n 11y .

Structurally the device is extremely simple and consists of just a few pieces easily made and put together.

The resulting device is of great comfort to the user. Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be made still clearer by the following examples of its execution accompanied by diagrammatically drawn figures that showe views in perspective.

Fig. I I. Seat for motor vehicles on which a cushion has been mounted to support the lumbar-cervical regions, Η driven by an electric ratiomotor.

Fig. I2 The same device as above, driven hydraulically.

The cushion 100 in Fig. II, for support to the lumbar-cervical regions, placed inside the seat back 42 of the seat 41 of a motor vehicle, comprises an elastic plate 100 connected at its inward1y-opeηing channe 1 -shaped ends 102, 103, to the internal stays 106,111.

Said stays are fixed to rods threaded respectively in one direction and in the other 105, 110, said rods being then screwed onto the two ends of the threaded scroll 115.

Said scroll is connected to the electric ratiomotor 124 fed through wires 128, 129 and operated by a three-position switch 127, two positions for the different directions of movement and one for switching off.

The plate 100 is connected to the continuous cord 120 which, through transmissions 122, winds onto the drum 123 connected to the ratiomotor 125 worked by switch 126 with the same three positions as the other.

It is thus clear that by working switches 127 and 126, forward projection of plate 100 and its height on the back 42 of the seat 41 can be varied as preferred.

In Fig.12 the plate 130, similar to plate 100, is connected at its tvo ends 102, 103 by internal rods 106, 111, fixed to pistons 131, 132 sliding at the two ends of the hydraulic and pneumatic cylinder 146 served by ducts 159, 160 and controlled by the three-position valve 154.

The plate 130 is connected to the continuous cord 149 whose ends, through the transmissions 151, are fixed to the two ends of the piston 152 sliding in the cylinder 153 operated by the three-position valve 155.

By pressing the valve’s levers, projection of the plate 130 and its height on the back 42 of the seat 41 can therefore be varied to suit individual preference.

Claims (9)

1. Cushion for anatomical support especially for the lumbar and cervical regions, for application to seat backs generally 5 characterized in that it is formed of a device comprising a curved elastic plate (100,130) whose longitudinal ends (102, 103) are posteriorly curved inwards, forming two opposing channels, and are connected by a pair of stays (106,111) aligned along the vertical axis of said plate 10 (100, 130) and fixed inside said channels, action on said device determining, as preferred, reciprocal approach or detachment of said stays (106,111) and therefore increase or reduction of the convexity of said plate (100,130) and also therefore its degree of projection from the surface 15 of the seat back (42), said stays (106,111) being moved by motor driven means operated from outside the seat back (42).

2. Cushion as in claim 1, characterized in that the stays (106,111) are fixed to threaded rods (131,132) whose threads lie respectively in 20 opposite directions and that screw into the two ends of a threaded cylindrical scroll ( 1 15) so that movement of said stays (106,111) closer together or farther apart is determined by axial rotation, in one direction or in the other, of said scroll (115) by an electric ratiomotor( 1 24), 25 operated to effect two directions of rotation by means of a three-position switch (127) placed at the side of the seat back (42).

3. Cushion as in claim 1, characterized in that the stays ( 106, 111) are fixed res30 pectively to two pistons (131,132) housed at the two ends of a hydraulic and pneumatic cylinder (146) operated by a valve worked from the outside of the seat back (42) by a means of control (155) placed at the side of the seat back (42) for adjusting, as desired, the positions of the two pistons and therefore convexity of the plate(l30)

4. Cushion as in claim I,

5. Characterized in that the height at which said cushion is set is determined by a continuous cord (120) fixed axially to the two upper and lower ends (102,103) of the plate (100), which cord, after passing over transmission pulleys ( 122) placed at the top and bottom of the seat

6. 10 back (42), is wound onto the drum (123) of a transversal shaft supported by the seat back (42) and connected to an electric ratiomotor (125) worked by a switch (126) for rotation in one direction or in the other and therefore for regulating as desired the height of the cushion.

7. 15 5. Cushion as in claim 1, characterized in that the height of said cushion is determined by a pair of cords ( 149) whose ends are respectively fixed to the top and bottom (102,103) of the plate (130) and which, after passing over transmission pulleys

8. 20 ( 151) mounted at the upper and lower ends of the seat back (42), are fixed, one at each end,to.a piston (152) that slides in a cylinder (153) worked by a three-position valve (155) for adjusting, as desired, the height of the cushion in relation to the seat back (42).

9. 25 6. A cushion according to any preceding claim substantially as herinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.