Vehicle user support including flexible lighting features
A user support for motor vehicles includes a flexible cover having a flexible light comprising electroluminescent material that emits light when electrical power is supplied to the electroluminescent material. The user support may include a resilient porous lattice matrix formed by an additive process and may include electroluminescent material disposed on links of the lattice matrix.
1 . A user support for motor vehicles, the user support comprising:
a lower portion having an upwardly-facing cushioned user support surface;
a back portion having a forwardly-facing user support surface;
a flexible cover extending over at least a portion of a selected one of the lower portion and the back portion;
electrical conductors disposed on an inner side of the flexible cover;
the flexible cover including a flexible light extending along a portion of the flexible cover;
the flexible light including flexible electroluminescent material that is electrically connected to the electrical conductors, wherein the electroluminescent material is configured to emit light when electrical power is supplied to the electroluminescent material by the electrical conductors, wherein the flexible light includes a layer of flexible opaque material, and wherein at least a portion of the layer of flexible opaque material is disposed on an inner side of the flexible electroluminescent material.
2 . The user support of claim 1 , wherein:
the layer of flexible opaque material and the flexible electroluminescent material comprise elongated flexible strips, wherein the elongated flexible strip of opaque material is wider than the elongated flexible strip of electroluminescent material;
opposite edge portions of the elongated flexible strip of opaque material extend around opposite edges of the elongated flexible strip of electroluminescent material, whereby the opposite edge portions of the elongated flexible strip of opaque material are disposed on an outer side of the elongated flexible strip of electroluminescent material, and a central portion of the elongated flexible strip of opaque material is disposed on an inner side of the elongated flexible strip of electroluminescent material.
3 . The user support of claim 2 , including:
stitching extending through the opposite edge portions of the elongated flexible strip of opaque material and through the elongated flexible strip of electroluminescent material to thereby interconnect the elongated flexible strip of electroluminescent material to the opposite edge portions of the flexible strip of opaque material.
4 . The user support of claim 3 , wherein:
the flexible cover comprises flexible opaque material having an elongated opening therethrough with spaced apart edges extending along opposite sides of the elongated opening.
5 . The user support of claim 4 , wherein:
the elongated flexible strip of opaque material is connected to the elongated flexible strip of opaque material of the flexible cover by stitching extending through the elongated flexible strip of opaque material and through the elongated flexible opaque material of the flexible cover adjacent to the spaced apart edges of the flexible opaque material of the flexible cover.
6 . The user support of claim 1 , wherein:
the electrical conductors comprise metal printed on an inner side of the flexible cover.
7 . The user support of claim 1 , including:
a porous lattice matrix formed by an additive process, the porous lattice matrix having a plurality of links that are interconnected to form a one-piece polymer structure.
8 . The user support of claim 7 , wherein:
at least a selected one of the links includes an electroluminescent material that emits light when electrical power is supplied to the electroluminescent material.
9 . The user support of claim 8 , wherein:
at least one link of the porous lattice matrix comprises an elongated polymer core that is coated with an electroluminescent material.
10 . The user support of claim 9 , wherein:
the links of the resilient porous lattice matrix are coated with an electroluminescent material.
11 . The user support of claim 7 , including:
at least one light emitting diode (LED) secured to a link of the porous lattice matrix.
12 . The user support of claim 7 , wherein:
the porous lattice matrix has a resilient front surface that is configured to support a user, and a rear surface comprising a layer of material that is integrally formed with the porous lattice matrix, wherein the layer of material includes an opening therethrough; and including:
a light emitting diode (LED) aligned with the opening whereby light emitted by the LED passes through the opening and into the porous lattice matrix.
13 . A user support for motor vehicles, the user support comprising:
a frame;
a porous lattice matrix formed by an additive process, the porous lattice matrix having a plurality of links that are interconnected to form a one-piece polymer structure; and wherein:
at least a selected one of the links includes an electroluminescent material that emits light when electrical power is supplied to the electroluminescent material.
14 . The user support of claim 13 , wherein:
at least one link of the porous lattice matrix comprises an elongated polymer core that is coated with an electroluminescent material.
15 . The user support of claim 13 , wherein:
the links of the porous lattice matrix are coated with an electroluminescent material.
16 . The user support of claim 15 , wherein:
at least one light emitting diode (LED) secured to a link of the porous lattice matrix.
17 . A user support for motor vehicles, the user support comprising:
a frame;
a porous lattice matrix formed by an additive process, the porous lattice matrix having a plurality of links that are interconnected to form a one-piece polymer structure; and:
at least one light emitting diode (LED) secured to a link of the porous lattice matrix.
18 . The user support of claim 17 , including:
a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) secured to the porous lattice matrix.
19 . The user support of claim 17 , wherein:
at least a selected one of the links includes an electroluminescent material that emits light when electrical power is supplied to the electroluminescent material.