JP2006523105A - Ergonomic support device and method with two-way cable adjustment - Google Patents

Abstract

The adjustable lumbar support includes a support assembly that is attachable to the seat frame and a pressure element that engages a support assembly that moves relative thereto. The pressure receiving surface may move in and out to adjust the back support of the seated person, and further move up and down to adjust. A first traction element that engages the support assembly and pressure element moves the pressure element substantially up, and a second traction element that engages the support assembly and pressure element moves the pressure element substantially downward. The movement is caused by at least one actuator that engages the traction element. The traction element may be a traction cable. The coupling with the pressure receiving surface of the traction element may be by a slider.

Description

[Cross-reference of related applications]
This application claims priority from US patent application Ser. Nos. 10 / 307,627 and 10 / 307,665, filed Dec. 2, 2002.
[Description of research and development funded by the federal government]
Not applicable (Appendix)
Not applicable

The present invention is in the field of adjustable ergonomic support devices for seats, in particular automotive seats. The present invention relates to a device for reducing occupant muscle fatigue and discomfort, and more particularly to an adjustable ergonomic support structure for a seat. Adjusting the seat support structure reduces muscle fatigue and discomfort.

Related Art Various adjustable ergonomic support devices for seats are known. These systems include ergonomic support movements toward and away from the occupant to support various parts of the occupant's body. Many such ergonomic support devices, in particular lumbar supports, can also move vertically, allowing the vertices of the lumbar support arch to be adjusted up and down to custom adjust the support device to individual backs.

  If left sitting for a long time, there may be signs of muscle fatigue or blood circulation problems. Such muscle fatigue and circulation problems are partially alleviated by a lumbar support whose position can be adjusted along the guide track.

  Such lumbar supports are roughly divided into four categories. Arch basket type (see US Pat. No. 5,498,063), push paddle type (see US patent application 09 / 798,657), tension strap type (US Pat. No. 5,769,490) Specification) and a pneumatic system (see US Pat. No. 5,637,076). All of which are hereby incorporated by reference. When all these various types are mounted on a vertical slide, they can be adjusted vertically. It is common to mount an arch pressure-receiving surface type lumbar support on a vertical guide rod. The lumbar support may be provided by bending or bending the pressure receiving surface outward and pulling through the cable. By releasing the cable traction, the pressure receiving surface, usually stamped metal or molded plastic, will naturally bias and flatten to the rest position. This movement is supplemented by the weight of the seated person.

  However, there are no natural biases or external forces to help move the arch pressure surface type lumbar support vertically. Prior art lumbar supports have moved the arch pressure receiving surface vertically by spring biasing the rest position, usually the lower position. Vertical movement to higher positions has been made by attaching a single traction cable to the arch pressure surface. This mechanism requires a sufficiently heavy gauge traction cable and actuator to pull the cable, and a sufficiently large force can overcome the opposing tension of the spring.

  Conventional adjustable lumbar support systems typically use mechanical adjustment means or motor and gear assemblies, commonly referred to as actuators, as adjustment means. The four-way power lumbar support system provides level adjustment in the vertical direction and arch adjustment of the flexible elastic support in the horizontal direction toward and away from the occupant. Such a system requires two separate actuators, one for each adjustment direction.

  Conventional adjustable lumbar support devices included two traction cables for applying actuator forces to the lumbar support. Bowden cables are commonly used as traction cables for such devices. Lumbar supports using a Bowden type or other traction cable assembly as part of the seat lumbar support adjustment are known. A Bowden or traction cable is a coaxial mechanical device in which a wire slides axially through a sleeve or conduit. Tow cables have been found to be an effective means for towing the moving parts of the lumbar support.

  It is known to fix the traction cable sleeve end to one part of the lumbar support device and to fix the traction cable wire to the other part of the movable lumbar support device. When securing in this way, pulling the traction cable wire through the traction cable sleeve will move from a substantially flat unsupported position where the movable part of the lumbar support device is relaxed to a tensioned supported position such as a curved arch. Moving. In more expensive lumbar support systems, it is pulled through an electric motor and acts on the end of the traction cable opposite the lumbar support device to pull the wire of the traction cable through the sleeve of the traction cable. For devices that are installed on more economical seats, mechanical actuators are used.

  Prior art devices are known to provide a lumbar support that is slidable along a guide track. The support element may be rigid or flexible. In some of these prior art devices, a force is applied to the support member using a traction cable for adjustment in one direction of the support member. Such configurations of conventional lumbar support systems generally require the use of a spring to counteract the force of the traction cable, bias the support member toward the rest position, and apply force to the support member in the return direction I was trying. To overcome the spring requires a large operating force on the lumbar support system, it is disadvantageous to use the spring to counteract the force of the traction cable.

  There are several other disadvantages and limitations of such devices. Many of the commonly used adjustable lumbar support devices are composed of a relatively large number of parts. These types of devices are problematic because they are difficult to manufacture, package and assemble. Weight and cost increase. Furthermore, these relatively complex conventional lumbar support devices are expensive to manufacture, unreliable and prone to failure. To overcome the spring force requires a more powerful motor, which further increases weight and cost. In mechanically operated devices, complex coupling is required to overcome the spring force.

  In a competitive market for vehicle seats and equipment, optimizing weight, cost, and durability is important. There is a need in the industry to reduce assembly complexity, reduce package size, reduce cost, and increase durability. Therefore, there is a need to provide an improved and powerful lumbar support system that provides quality performance comparable to conventional lumbar support systems while being cost effective and lightweight.

  In the field of lumbar support as a general automotive component, there is a continuing need to reduce cost, complexity and cost, and increase durability, simplicity, compactness and ease of assembly. There is also a continuing demand for it. In the lumbar support industry, there is a need to achieve movement perpendicular to the lumbar support in a manner that eliminates the cost, complexity and weight of prior art single cable and spring devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an ergonomic support device used for automobile seats and fixtures. The present invention provides a lightweight, low cost and powerful lumbar support system with improved packaging dimensions. With this cable assembly, it is also possible to use small diameter cables and less expensive low power actuators.

  The present invention is a two cable system for vertical movement of a lumbar support. To achieve these objectives, a closed loop cable assembly or two cable assemblies are used. One traction cable end pulls the lumbar support element in the first direction and the other traction cable end pulls the support element in the opposite direction instead of the spring. Usually these directions are vertical. Additional cables move in and out.

  In arch pressure-receiving surface lumbar support with vertical adjustment capability, when the arch pressure-receiving surface is mounted on a vertical guide rail and the pressure-receiving surface is flattened or curved outward to give a lumbar support, Slide vertically on the rail. A traction cable is disposed at one end of the pressure receiving surface and pulls the pressure receiving surface upward. The other end of the traction cable is arranged to pull the pressure receiving surface downward.

  In alternative embodiments, two separate traction cables may be used, or a single traction cable arranged in a loop.

  A commonly used traction cable, such as a Bowden cable, is a coaxial mechanical device having on the inside a tube or sleeve in which the wire is arranged to slide axially. In all embodiments, the end of the Bowden cable sleeve (or wire) is attached to a fixed, non-movable support bracket and the end of the Bowden cable wire (or sleeve) is fixed to the arch pressure surface. . The actuator at the other end of the Bowden cable pulls to draw the wire into the cable. At the first end of the Bowden cable, the towed wire draws a pressure receiving surface attached towards the fixed mounting at the end of the Bowden cable sleeve. The pressure receiving surface slides vertically along the guide rail. The second Bowden cable sleeve end is also fixedly attached to the bracket, and the second Bowden cable is also attached to the pressure receiving surface when tension is applied to the second Bowden cable wire. The pressure receiving surface is arranged to be pulled in the opposite vertical direction. The fixed mounting of the Bowden cable sleeve may be the vertical end opposite the pressure receiving surface. Alternatively, the fixed mounting of the Bowden cable sleeve may be at the same vertical end of the arch pressure surface, the direction of one end of which is 180 ° by a pulley or other deflection device fixedly mounted at the opposite end of the lumbar support. The direction has been changed. The two Bowden cable sleeve ends and the wire ends are the opposite ends of a single Bowden cable and the actuator is remotely engaged to pull in either direction. Alternatively, two separate Bowden cables may be used. Two separate Bowden cables may be driven by a single actuator capable of bi-directional operation or by two separate actuators.

  In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus is arranged to slide axially through the first sleeve support, the second sleeve support and a fixed mounting bracket having a slider guide, and the first sleeve and the second sleeve. A first sleeve having a first sleeve end attached to the first sleeve support and a second actuator attached to an actuator operably engaged with the wire. And a second sleeve has a first sleeve end attached to the second sleeve support and a second sleeve end attached to the actuator. The apparatus further comprises a slider attached to the wire. The slider is operably engaged with the slider guide and adjusts the position of the shaft of the flexible support element as it slides along the slider guide.

  Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various preferred embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers indicate like elements, FIG. 1 shows a prior art four-way lumbar support from the back. The arch pressure receiving surface 2 is attached to the guide rail 4 by a slide mount 6. The slide mount 6 moves the entire arch pressure receiving surface 2 vertically or “up and down”. Up and down are two of the “four directions” in which the lumbar support moves. The other two of the four directions are “inside and outside”. That is, going to the seated person and leaving the seated person. The movement toward the seated person is made by giving an arch to the flexible pressure receiving surface 2. This is done by moving the two pairs of slide guide rail mounts 6 relative to each other. This movement is made by a traction cable that pulls the upper and lower parts of the arch pressure receiving surface together. Thus, there is a traction cable 8 consisting of a traction cable tube 10 (also called a “sleeve” or “sheath”). The wire 12 is pulled coaxially through the tube 10 to pull the lumbar support. The other end of the traction cable 8 that is most commonly a Bowden cable is pulled by an actuator (not shown).

  In the illustrated embodiment, arch or “inside-out” movement is effected by traction of the arch pressure receiving surface 2 by the traction assembly 14. There are a variety of traction assemblies, and assembly 14 is just one of them. A feature common to all of them is that they pull and pull the top and bottom of the arch pressure receiving surface 2 together.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the mount 16 is hinged to the arch pressure receiving surface 2 with a hinge 18. The mount 16 has a Bowden cable tube mount 20 and a Bowden cable wire mount 22. Opposite ends of the arch pressure receiving surface 2 are a hinge 24 and a deflection mount member 26. The deflection mount member 26 includes a deflector 28 that changes the path of the Bowden cable wire 12 from the Bowden cable tube mount 20 around the deflector 28 to the Bowden cable wire mount 22. In operation, when an actuator (not shown) applies a force to pull the Bowden cable wire 12 to the Bowden cable tube 10, the mount 16 and the mount 26 are pulled together, and the end of the arch pressure receiving surface is correspondingly moved. When pulled, the arch or curve provides lumbar support.

  The two-cable system of the present invention performs “up / down” movement, not “inside / outside” movement of the four-way lumbar support. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the arch traction assembly 14 may be replaced with other such assemblies known in the art and those developed in the future. The two-cable vertical mobile system described below will work equally well with any such arch traction assembly.

  As with the prior art systems, the vertical movement of the arch pressure receiving surface is made regardless of the curved cross section of the arch pressure receiving surface 2.

  The guide rail 4 is attached to the upper bracket 30 and the lower bracket 32. (Orientation can be chosen by design. Even if the bracket, mount and other elements of the present invention are installed as “up” or “bottom” ends, it is not important to the operation of the present invention.) In the figure, the spring 34 biases the pressure receiving surface towards what is shown as the lower position. The spring 34 is attached to one end of the bracket 32, and the other end is attached to the upper part of the arch pressure receiving surface 2 by a mount 33. In order to move the arch pressure receiving surface from the lowermost part, it must be pulled upward by the pulling cable 36. Accordingly, the vertically movable Bowden cable 36 has a tube 38 in which the wire 40 slides coaxially. The tube 38 is attached to the bracket 30 with a mount 42. The mount 42 causes the wire 40 to pass past or through it, where it is attached to the arch pressure surface 2 with the mount 44. At the other end of the cable 36, an actuator (not shown) pulls the wire 40 into the tube 38. The arch pressure receiving surface 2 is pulled upwardly toward the bracket 30 while resisting the force of the spring 34.

  It is obvious that the traction cable 36 and the actuator to be pulled must have sufficient power and size to overcome the tension of the spring 34 in order to move the arch pressure surface 2 vertically and then maintain it in the selected position. is there.

  The two-cable vertical moving system of the present invention eliminates the prior art spring 34 and allows the use of small, lightweight, and less expensive components corresponding to the cable 36 and its actuator.

  FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the first embodiment of the two-cable vertical movable system of the present invention. Similar to the prior art, the arch pressure receiving surface 102 slides vertically on the guide rail 104 via the mount 106.

  The novel two-cable vertical movable system of the present invention uses one cable end to pull the arch pressure receiving surface 2 up and the other cable end pulls it down, eliminating the need for a spring To do. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the bracket 130 has two mounts that include the traction cable 110 instead of only one traction cable 136. The traction cable 136 has a tube 138 mounted with a mount 142 of the bracket 130. The second traction cable 110 has a tube 112 mounted on a bracket 130 with a mount 114.

  Another mount 144 serves to fix the Bowden cable wire end to the arch pressure receiving surface 102. The invention is made by using a two-wire two-boden cable with two ends or a single bowden cable with a single wire composed of loops. The two ends of this single wire are applied to the vertical movement of the arch pressure receiving surface. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which a single Bowden traction cable wire is configured in a loop having a first end 120A and a second end 120B mounted on the arch pressure receiving surface 102 with a mount 144. FIG. Between end regions 120 A and 120 B, the wire travels as a loop through Bowden cable tube 138 and through actuator 150 powered by electric motor 152. Various actuators are known in the industry, including those that pull a continuous Bowden cable wire loop in either direction. After engaging and moving the actuator 150, the single Bowden cable wire loop may return to the single mounting 144 to the arch pressure receiving surface 120 through the deflection point or tube 112 around the pulley 116. Alternatively, a separate mount may be used.

  In operation, the actuator 150 can pull the Bowden cable wire 120A / B in the first direction to pull the mount 144 and lift the arch pressure receiving surface 102. The actuator 150 can also pull the Bowden cable wire 120A / B in the opposite direction, pull the arch pressure receiving surface 102 vertically with the mount 144 and pull it down.

  FIG. 3 shows a modified embodiment of the two-cable vertical movable system of the present invention. The arch pressure receiving surface 202 is mounted on the guide rail 204 by the mount 206. In this embodiment, the upper traction cable 236 has a tube 238 attached to the upper bracket 230 with a mount 242. Wire 220 advances through tube 242 or past tube 238 to mount 244 to secure wire 220 to arch pressure surface 202 at one end. In the illustrated embodiment, actuator 250 powered by motor 252 may pull wire 220 into tube 238 to raise arch pressure receiving surface 202 vertically.

  A second traction cable 210 is attached to the opposite end of the arch pressure receiving surface 202. In the illustrated embodiment, the second wire 222 that moves axially through the tube 212 is not a continuous loop with an upper wire 220 but a completely separate wire. Out of the tube 212, through or past the mount 214, which may be located at the intersection of the guide rail 204 or at a separate bracket (not shown), the wire 222 goes to the mount 224, A wire 222 is fixed to the arch pressure receiving surface 202. Actuator 226 powered by electric motor 228 pulls wire 222 to tube 212. By this pulling, the arch pressure receiving surface 202 is pulled downward. During operation, in conjunction with another operation of actuators 250 and 226 in a known manner, two separate cables can raise and lower the arch pressure surface 202 without a spring.

  FIG. 4 is a side view of an arch pressure-receiving surface lumbar support incorporating the two-cable system of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows the arch pressure receiving surface 202 at a low vertical position and a virtually high position. The arch pressure surface 202 may be slightly curved or relatively flat, or may be high or low when fully arched. The actuator not shown in FIG. 4 may be electrical or manual.

  FIG. 5 shows a flexible support element 302 slidably connected to a guide wire 303. The support element may be known to those skilled in the art as a “basket”. The support element 302 can be adjusted with respect to the guide wire 303 in the inner and outer directions and in the vertical direction along the guide wire 303. The support element 302 may be made of common materials including plastic, metal, or combinations thereof, and is naturally biased into a substantially flat shape.

  The substantially parallel guidewire member 303 ′ has an end stop 304 that prevents the support element 302 from sliding beyond the end stop 304. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the guidewire 303 is made substantially U-shaped and provides two substantially parallel guidewire members 303 ′ that guide the support element 302 when adjusted vertically. A single wire member. Guidewire 303 is adaptable to mount the entire assembly on a seat frame (not shown). A mounting bracket 305 is connected to each of the guidewire members 303 'located between the opposite end stops 304 of the parallel guidewire members 303'. Any type of attachment device may be used to secure the mounting bracket 305 to the guidewire member 303 '. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the mounting bracket 305 may be attached to a parallel guidewire member 303 ′ via a plurality of anti-friction sleeve bracket slots 306. The mounting bracket 305 also includes a plurality of sleeve supports 307 for receiving and securing the traction cable sleeve.

  A slider 308 is configured to be slidable on the mounting bracket 305. The means for constructing the slider 308 in the mounting bracket 305 is different. For example, FIG. 5 shows the slider engaged with the slider guide slot 309 of the mounting bracket 305. As a result, the slider 308 slides along the slider guide slot 309 mounting bracket 305. The slider guide may include a number of different structures designed to engage a slider 308 that slides along the slider guide 309, such as a slot shown in FIG. 5 or a guide rail (not shown). .

  The illustrated flexible support element 302 is adjustable horizontally toward and away from the occupant. This horizontal adjustment is made by the traction cable configuration. The traction cable configuration includes a first traction cable 310 comprised of the first wire 311 of the first sleeve 312, and the first cable is attached to the first actuator 313. The first actuator 313 may be any actuator used in a conventional mechanical lumbar support system for adjusting the arch direction of the flexible support element. The first wire 311 of the traction cable configuration is pulled out from the first sleeve 312, one end is fixed to the first actuator 313, and the other end is fixed to the support element 302. The first wire 311 may be attached to the support element 302 in a variety of different ways known in the industry, including the hook 314 shown in FIG. By pulling the first wire 311 to the first sleeve 312, the lower portion of the support element 302 is pulled upward, and the distance between the upper and lower ends of the support element 302 is shortened. Thereby, the support element 302 bends outward to form an arch that supports the waist and back of the seated person. When the first actuator 313 is reversed in order to pull out the first wire 311 from the first sleeve 312, the distance between the upper and lower ends of the support element 302 becomes longer, and the support element 2 returns to its natural relaxed shape. With the natural forces that emerge, the support element 302 is moved to an unsupported substantially flat shape.

  The first actuator 313 engages with the first wire 311 to pull the first wire 311. The first actuator 313 is rotated by various means including a flywheel and a lever. The first actuator 313 may be driven via an electric motor. The first actuator 313 is advantageously attached to a seat frame (not shown) or to the bracket 305 as shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. When the first actuator 313 is attached to the bracket 305, it is easy to pack, transport and install the lumbar support device 1.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, there is a second traction cable 315 that is a closed loop single cable (shown) or two separate substantially opposite cables. The second traction cable 315 is composed of the second wire 316 in the upper sleeve 317 and the lower sleeve 318. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper sleeve 317 is fixed to one end of the sleeve support 307 of the mounting bracket 305 and is fixed to the other end of the second actuator 319. Sleeve support 307 is positioned to align sleeve 317 and wire 316 with slider 308 and slider guide slot 309. The lower sleeve 318 is fixed to the sleeve support 307 ′ at the lower end of the slider guide slot 309 and is fixed to the second actuator 319 at the other end. Similar to the first actuator 313, the second actuator 319 can be advantageously mounted on a seat (not shown) or on the bracket 305 as shown in FIG. The ends of the upper sleeve 317 and the lower sleeve 318 may be secured to the mounting bracket 305 in a number of different ways, such as sleeve supports 307, 307 ', as shown in FIG. The second wire 316 is operably engaged with the second actuator 319 and attached to the slider 308.

  An actuator known in the industry, such as the illustrated actuator 319, engages a central portion of a single wire, such as wire 316, and proceeds through opposite Bowden cable sleeves, such as illustrated sleeves 317 and 318. In such a case, the two ends of the wire 316 are both attached to the slider 308 as in the illustrated embodiment. Alternatively, two separate traction cables with two separate sleeves and two separate wires may be attached to two separate actuators. In this case, each cable has a sleeve and wire end attached to the actuator, and the opposite end of each cable has an opposite sleeve end attached to the sleeve support 307, 307 ' The opposite end advances from the attached sleeve end to the slider 308. Thus, the slider 308 is pulled in a first direction, e.g., up by pulling through one Bowden cable wire, and the slider 308 is pulled in a second direction, e.g., by pulling through the second Bowden cable wire end. Pulled down. Thus, by sliding in the first direction, whether the slider 308 acts by two ends of a single wire, such as the illustrated wire 316, or by two separate wires, the slider Is pulled up, and pulling in the second direction pulls the slider down.

  The yoke wire 320 shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 has one end that engages two holes 322 and two engagement hooks 321 at the upper end of the support element 302. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the slider 8 includes a third engagement hook 323 that engages the yoke wire 320. The yoke 320 serves to securely attach the slider 308 to the support surface 302. Deformation attachment may be performed. Thus, when the slider 308 moves in the first or second direction, the support element 302 also moves in the same first or second direction. Because the engagement of the first Bowden cable 310 made by arching the flexible support surface 302 is made through the slider 308, when the second Bowden cable 315 moves the support element 302 up and down, the user The curvature of the selected degree of flexible support element 302 is maintained. Alternatively, a fixed (non-curved) support may be used.

  The apparatus shown in FIG. 5 is operated as follows. The support element 302 is shown in a substantially flat, undeflected shape. Actuating the first actuator 313 to retract the first wire 311 reduces the distance between the upper and lower ends of the support element 302 and causes the support element 302 to curve outwardly to provide additional lumbar support. To do. The first actuator 313 may be operated by the seated person by using various equivalent operation means known in the industry. A person skilled in the art can use various equivalent operating means in the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims.

  Once the desired amount of lumbar support is obtained, the occupant may interrupt the operation of the first actuator 313. The tension between the first cable mount fixture to the slider 308 and the first wire 311 mount 314 of the support surface 302 maintains the degree of curvature selected by the user after the user turns off the actuator. . Similarly, when the first actuator 313 is reversed, the first wire 311 is pulled out, and the distance between the upper and lower ends of the support element 302 is increased. As a result, the flexible support element 2 begins to relax in the inward direction and the support element 302 becomes flat.

  Operation of the system can also adjust the support element 302 in the vertical direction. This is done by operating the second actuator 319 in the first direction, so that the second wire 316 is pulled in the first direction, eg, up. The linear movement of the second wire 316 moves to the slider 308, and the slider 308 slides upward along the slider guide 9 of the mounting bracket 5. The slider 308 transfers the movement force of the second wire 316 through the fixed yoke wire 320 to the support element 302. This transferred force causes support element 302 to move upward along guidewire member 303 '.

  Since the slider 308 and the flexible pressure receiving surface 302 move together, a selected degree of the arch of the support element 302 is maintained during its vertical movement through the tension of the actuator 319 through 316. The downward adjustment of the support element 302 is similarly made by operating the second actuator 319 in the second direction, pulling the second wire 316 downward by the second opposite traction force, Again, the support element 302 is moved by the coupling of the yoke 320.

  FIGS. 9 and 10 are an enlarged view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of the relevant portions of other elements of the present invention, shown close to the slider 308. Vertical puller wire 316 is mounted on top of slider 308 with mount 330. Various mounts known in the industry may be used. Generally, the burette at the end of the wire 16 is placed in the recess molding or cut to the top of the slider 308. In the illustrated embodiment, the slider guide slot can be made by cutting the guide slot 309 from the mounting bracket 305 and also from the upward end of the metal bracket 305 where the slot 309 is cut. The upward flange 332 of the mounting bracket 305 that defines the end of the slot 309 slides into engagement with the slider 308 by cooperating complementarily with the slider extension 334. The yoke 320 is fixed to the lower part of the slider 308 with a yoke mount 323. The lower slider 308, which is not clear in the perspective view of the figure, is the sleeve support of the first sleeve 310. The end of the first sleeve 310 may be attached to the slider 308 to apply arch tension to the support element. From the end of the first cable sleeve 310, proceed to the first cable wire 311 and attach to the support element 302 with a hook 314 as shown in the previous figure.

  In another embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the adjustment cable assembly for the support element 402 in the vertical direction includes two separate traction cables, an upper traction cable 424 and a lower traction cable 425, shown in dashed lines. Yes. This embodiment is similar to the other embodiments described herein, except that this embodiment uses two separate traction cables 424, 425 for vertical level adjustment. Upper traction cable 424 has one end operably coupled to actuator 428 having a two-cable output and the other end operably coupled to slider 408. The upper traction cable 424 includes an upper traction cable wire 426 on the upper sleeve 429. Similarly, the lower traction cable 425 has one end operably coupled to the two cable output actuators 428 and the other end operably coupled to the slider 8. A wire 427 is provided. Vertical adjustment is made by operation of the actuator 428 and pulls either the upper traction cable wire 426 or the lower traction cable wire 427 to move it up or down. The linear movement of the upper traction cable wire 426 and the lower traction cable wire 427 moves to the slider, and the slider 408 slides either upward or downward along the slider guide 409 of the mounting bracket 405. The slider 408 transfers the force of movement of the wires 426, 427 through the fixed yoke wire 420 to the support element 402. This transferred force causes support element 402 to move upward or downward along guidewire member 403 '.

  The lumbar support device may be used to provide lumbar support in an automobile seat. However, the present invention is not limited to use with automobile seats and may be used with any type of seat.

  In view of the above, it will be seen that the several advantages of the invention are achieved.

  The embodiments have been selected and described to illustrate the principles of the invention and its practical application, and those skilled in the art will use, in various embodiments, various variations tailored to the particular application envisaged. be able to.

  While various modifications may be made in the structures and methods described and illustrated herein without departing from the scope of the invention, all that is illustrated or described in the accompanying drawings is for purposes of illustration and not limitation. Shall be interpreted. The breadth and scope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments described above, but is only defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

It is a rear view of the prior art four-way lumbar support. It is a rear view of 1st Embodiment of the four-way lumbar support of the two cables of this invention. It is a rear view of other embodiment of the four-way lumbar support of this invention. It is a side view of 2nd Embodiment of the lumbar support of the two cables of this invention. It is a perspective view of the lumbar support system of this invention. It is a rear view of the lumbar support system of this invention. It is a front view of the lumbar support system of this invention which has not attached the basket. It is a rear view of the lumbar support system of this invention which has not attached the basket. It is a perspective view of the slider of this invention. It is a section bottom view of the slider of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention without a basket attached, having a two-cable assembly for height adjustment of a flexible support element.

Claims (20)

A support assembly (104, 204, 304, 403) attachable to the seat frame and engaged with the support assembly to move in a first direction and a second direction substantially parallel and opposite to the support assembly; An adjustable ergonomic support device comprising combined pressure elements (102, 202, 302),
The support assembly and the pressure element such that a first traction force (110, 210, 317, 424) exerted by the first traction element moves the pressure element in the first direction. Engage with
The support assembly and the pressure element such that a second traction element (136, 236, 318, 425) acts by the second traction element to move the pressure element in the second direction. Engage with
At least one actuator (150, 250, 319, 428) engages the first traction element and the second traction element;
Adjustable ergonomic support device characterized in that. The first traction element is a first Bowden cable end;
The second traction element is a second Bowden cable end;
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 1. The first and second Bowden cable ends are ends of the same Bowden cable;
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 2. The first Bowden cable end and the second Bowden cable end are ends of separate Bowden cables;
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 2. The first traction element and the second traction element each engage a separate actuator;
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 1. The actuator is selected from the group consisting of manual and electric;
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 1. The first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular;
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 1. The pressure element is flexible;
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 1. A third traction cable (310) engages the flexible pressure element such that traction of the third traction cable causes the flexible pressure element to bend;
9. An adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 8. The pressure element is a lumbar support;
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 1. The support assembly is a guide rod adapted to be mounted on a seat frame;
The pressure element is mounted to slide on the guide rod and has at least one traction point of action (144, 224, 244);
At least one fixed mounting bracket (130, 230) having at least one traction anchor and attached to the guide rod;
The first traction cable and the second traction cable each have a wire that engages with the actuator and is arranged to slide axially through the sleeve, the first traction cable being the first traction cable. A wire end and a first sleeve end, and the second traction cable has a second wire end and a second sleeve end,
One of the first wire end or the first sleeve end of the first traction cable is attached to one of the traction anchor or the traction action point, and the first wire end or The other of the first sleeve ends is attached to the traction anchor or the other of the traction points;
One of the second wire or the second sleeve end of the second traction cable is attached to one of a second traction anchor or a second traction point, and the second wire or The other end of the second sleeve is attached to the other of the second traction anchor or the second traction point;
Pulling the pressure element in a first direction by a first traction force of the first traction cable, pulling the pressure element in a second direction by a second traction force of the second traction cable;
A third puller cable having a third wire end engaged with the second actuator and arranged to slide axially from the third sleeve end; And the third sleeve end engages with the pressure element;
By pulling the third traction cable, the pressure element is bent into a selectable degree of lumbar support arch, the selectable degree of lumbar support arch being in the first direction and the second direction. Maintained upon movement of the pressure element in a direction,
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 1. A fixed mounting bracket (305, 405) having a first sleeve support, a second sleeve support and a slider guide (309);
Sliders (308, 408) engaged with the slider guide and attached to the pressure element to move the support element by movement of the slider;
And further comprising a first traction cable and a second traction cable each having a wire arranged to engage the actuator and slide axially through the sleeve, wherein the first traction cable comprises the slider. A first wire end attached to the first sleeve support and a first sleeve end attached to the first sleeve support, wherein the second traction cable is attached to the slider. A wire end, and a second sleeve end attached to the second sleeve support,
Pulling the slider and the support element in a first direction by traction of the first traction cable and pulling the slider and the support element in a second direction by traction of the second traction cable;
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 1. The first wire end and the second wire end are ends of the same wire;
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 12. The traction cable is a Bowden cable,
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 12. The slider guide is a slot;
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 12. The pressure element slidably engages a guide wire;
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 12. The first traction cable and the second traction cable each engage a separate actuator;
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 12. The first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular and substantially opposite;
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 12. A first yoke end connected to the support element; and a second yoke end connected to the slider, the support element passing through the yoke during movement of the traction cable and the slider. Further comprising a yoke wire (320, 420) for moving the force to adjust the position of the support element.
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 12. The slider having a third sleeve support and attached to the pressure element to move the pressure element by movement of the slider;
A third traction cable (310) having a third wire end disposed to engage the second actuator (313) and slide axially from the third sleeve end; A third traction cable (310) having the third sleeve end attached to the third sleeve support of the slider and the third wire end attached to the pressure element; Prepared,
By pulling the third traction cable, the pressure element is bent into a selectable degree of lumbar support arch, the selectable degree of lumbar support arch being in the first direction and the second direction. Maintained upon movement of the pressure element in a direction,
The adjustable ergonomic support device according to claim 12.

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