US 5,975,629 A · Vehicle seat with inflatable bladder

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 buttocks and can have a chamber for providing lumbar support. A bladder of this invention can be assembled as part of a motorcycle seat having a bladder for the driver and a bladder for the passenger. The bladder also can be used in automotive and off road vehicle seating applications.

Claims50

Dependent claims

A gas bladder seat cushion comprising:

a. a bladder having at least one inflatable chamber for holding gas integrally formed in said bladder, wherein said bladder is comprised of a first wall joined to a second wall;
b. an inlet passageway integrally formed in said bladder for communicating gas to said inflatable chamber;
c. a valve in gas flow communication with a tubular conduit;
d. wherein one of said walls is separated from the other of said walls, defining a split line therebetween that forms an opening in said inlet passageway;
and
e. wherein said tubular conduit is received in said opening in said inlet passageway.

3 more elements

A motorcycle seat comprising:

a. a first occupant support surface;
b. a second occupant support surface;
c. a first gas bladder having a plurality of integral and independently inflatable chambers, said first gas bladder carried by said first occupant support surface;
d. a second gas bladder having a plurality of integral and independently inflatable chambers, said second gas bladder carried by said second occupant support surface;
e. a first control flap integrally formed in said first bladder and having an integral first gas passage that extends from one of said inflatable chambers to said first control flap;
f. a second control flap integrally formed in said second bladder and having an integral second gas passage that extends from one of said inflatable chambers to said second control flap;
g. a first valve operably associated with said first control flap for controlling gas flow through said first gas passage into one of said inflatable chambers in said first bladder;
h. a second valve operably associated with said second control flap for controlling gas flow through said second gas passage into one of said inflatable chambers in said second bladder;
and
i. a gas pump capable of supplying gas to at least one of said inflatable chambers of one of said bladders.

7 more elements

A motorcycle seat comprising:

a. a motorcycle seat base having a first occupant support surface for a driver, a second seat occupant support surface for a passenger, and an outer seat covering;
b. a plurality of independently inflatable chambers disposed interjacent said first occupant support surface and said seat covering with a first air passage in gas flow communication with one of said inflatable chambers of said first air bladder and a second air passage in gas flow communication with another of said inflatable chambers of said first air bladder;
c. a second air bladder having a plurality of independently inflatable chambers disposed interjacent said second occupant support surface and said seat covering with a first air passage in gas flow communication with one of said inflatable chambers of said second air bladder and a second air passage in gas flow communication with another of said inflatable chambers of said second air bladder, said second air bladder disposed above said second occupant support surface;
d. a pump for supplying air to inflate at least one of said inflatable chambers of at least one of said air bladders;
and
e. wherein said motorcycle seat base has a pair of spaced apart sidewalls that extend longitudinally relative to a motorcycle to which the motorcycle seat is mounted and one of said passenger and said driver have a pair of legs with a part of one of said legs disposed alongside one of said sidewalls of said motorcycle seat base when sitting on the motorcycle seat and a part of the other of said legs disposed alongside the other one of said sidewalls of said motorcycle seat base when sitting on the motorcycle seat.

3 more elements

A motorcycle seat comprising:

a. a motorcycle seat base having a pair of sidewalls and an outer seat covering;
b. a first sheet joined by a seal to a second sheet to form a flexible air bladder having body with a plurality of pairs of integral and independently inflatable chambers disposed interjacent said base and said outer seat covering, a first integral connecting air passage interconnecting said inflatable chambers of one of said pairs of inflatable chambers, a second integral connecting air passage interconnecting said inflatable chambers of another of said pairs of inflatable chambers, and a control flap extending outwardly from said body having a first supply passage in gas flow communication with one of said pairs of inflatable chambers and a second gas supply passage in gas flow communication with another of said pairs of inflatable chambers;
c. a first valve that is disposed adjacent one of said sidewalls of said motorcycle seat base and which is operably associated with one of said pairs of inflatable chambers and which can be manipulated by a seat occupant;
d. a second valve that is disposed adjacent one of said sidewalls of said motorcycle seat base and which is operably associated with another of said pairs of inflatable chambers and which can be manipulated by a seat occupant;
e. a flexible air storage reservoir in gas flow communication with said first valve and said second valve;
f. an electric air compressor in gas flow communication with said air storage reservoir;
and
g. wherein said control flap is disposed adjacent one of said sidewalls of said motorcycle seat base and said first valve and said second valve is carried by said control flap.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vehicle seat with inflatable bladder

Life of this patent

Vehicle seat with inflatable bladder

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims50