IP Library Granted Patent US 8,226,166
Granted Patent B2
US 8,226,166 · App. 13/204,298 · Granted Jul 24, 2012

Seating element and seating system

Assignee: Schukra Geraetebau GmbH
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,226,166
App. No.
13/204,298
Granted
Jul 24, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A seating element has an archable element with a first side to face an occupant of a seat when the seating element is installed in a seat and a second side opposite of the first side. A pneumatic arching element is arranged at the second side of the archable element.

Claims (33)

1. A seating element comprising:

an archable element having a first side to face an occupant of a seat when the seating element is installed in a seat and a second side opposite of said first side;

a pneumatic arching element arranged at said second side of said archable element;

at least one guiding element to guide said pneumatic arching element in a longitudinal direction of said archable element;

a coupling element coupling said pneumatic arching element with said guiding element; and

a drive unit to drive said pneumatic arching element in said longitudinal direction of said archable element.

2. The seating element according to claim 1 , wherein said coupling element comprises a plate.

3. The seating element according to claim 1 , wherein said seating element further comprises a cover element arranged between said archable element and said pneumatic arching element and being moveable together with said pneumatic arching element in said longitudinal direction of said archable element.

4. The seating element according to claim 3 , wherein said cover element comprises a flexible plastic element.

5. The seating element according to claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is coupled with said coupling element via at least one wire.

6. The seating element according to claim 1 , wherein said archable element comprises a plate element.

7. The seating element according to claim 1 , wherein said archable element is configured to provide an extended pressure distribution to a seat occupant.

8. The seating element according to claim 1 , wherein said pneumatic arching element comprises an inflatable gas bag.

9. The seating element according to claim 8 , wherein said gas bag comprises at least two communicating chambers.

10. The seating element according to claim 9 , wherein said at least two communicating chambers comprise two pairs of stacked chambers.

11. The seating element according to claim 1 , further comprising a pump to inflate said pneumatic arching element.

12. The seating element according to claim 11 , wherein said pump is chosen from the group consisting of a manual pump and an electric pump.

13. The seating element according to claim 1 , further comprising a counter plate, wherein said pneumatic arching element is sandwiched between said archable element and said counter plate.

14. The seating element according to claim 1 , wherein that seating element comprises mounting elements to mount said seating element to a seat.

15. The seating element according to claim 1 , further comprising a vent to deflate said pneumatic arching element.

16. The seating element according to claim 1 , wherein said pneumatic arching element comprises an inflatable gas bag comprising a first pair of stacked chambers and a second pair of stacked chambers with a horizontal communication passage formed between said first pair of stacked chambers and second pair of stacked chambers.

17. The seating element according to claim 16 , further comprising a tube connected to said first pair of stacked chambers adapted to feed gas into said first pair of stacked chambers, the gas being distributed from said first pair of stacked chambers to said second pair of stacked chambers via said horizontal communication passage.

18. The seating element according to claim 17 , wherein all of the gas in said second pair of stacked chambers is received from said first pair of stacked chambers through said horizontal communication passage.

19. A seating element comprising:

an archable element having a first side to face an occupant of a seat when the seating element is installed in a seat and a second side opposite of said first side;

a pneumatic arching element arranged at said second side of said archable element;

at least one guiding element to guide said pneumatic arching element in a longitudinal direction of said archable element, wherein said at least one guiding element comprises at least two guide rails; and

a coupling element coupling said pneumatic arching element with said guiding element.

20. A seating element comprising:

an archable element having a first side to face an occupant of a seat when the seating element is installed in a seat and a second side opposite of said first side, wherein said archable element comprises longitudinal struts linked by transverse struts;

a pneumatic arching element arranged at said second side of said archable element;

at least one guiding element to guide said pneumatic arching element in a longitudinal direction of said archable element; and

a coupling element coupling said pneumatic arching element with said guiding element.

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Jun 18, 2012
From: SCHUKRA GERAETEBAU AG
To: SCHUKRA HOLDINGS GMBH
Reel/Frame 028392/0840 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2012
From: PETZEL, JAN; PREISS, THOMAS; STOESSEL, VEIT; SWAN, DAVID ANTHONY; COLJA, RENATO; OCH, ROLAND; WIEDER, KLAUS; STEGER, WERNER
To: SCHUKRA GERAETEBAU AG
Reel/Frame 028392/0844 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 18, 2012
From: SCHUKRA HOLDINGS GMBH
To: SCHUKRA GERAETEBAU GMBH
Reel/Frame 028393/0128 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2004 062 219 · Dec 23, 2004 · national
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 11722297 · May 6, 2010
Continuation 11934355 · Nov 2, 2007
Continuation In Part 11722297
Related Publication 20110285189A1 · Nov 24, 2011