Vehicle seat having a massage function and contour adjustment

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat for a motor vehicle, in which the seat cushion ( 2 ) and the seat back ( 3 ) are each provided with a plurality of pressurizable elements ( 4 ) which can be activated by a controller ( 5 ) to obtain different massage effects, the pressurizable elements ( 4 ) being cushion-like elements which are small in relation to the surface of the seat contour and can each be activated separately via lines ( 6 ) in order to change the seat contour in an essentially punctiform manner.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
     
     
         9 . A vehicle seat comprising: 
 a seat cushion;    a seat back;    a plurality of pressurizable elements associated with the seat back and seat cushion, for adjusting a seat contour of said vehicle seat; and    a controller for pressurizing individual pressurizable elements; wherein,    the controller is adapted to obtain different massage effects;    the pressurizable elements are cushion-like elements which are small in relation to a surface of the seat contour, and can each be activated individually via lines in order to change the seat contour in a substantially localized manner;    the seat back and seat cushion each have an upholstery layer which is covered by a lining and a cover; and    the pressurizable elements are arranged between the upholstery and the cover of the vehicle seat.    
     
     
         10 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a desired static seat contour can be set by means of the pressurizable elements and the controller.  
     
     
         11 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the pressurizable elements are arranged and fixed on a sheet-like support insert arranged below the lining covered by the cover of the vehicle seat.  
     
     
         12 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the shape of the pressurizable elements is such that essentially punctiform pressure regions can be produced within the seat contour.  
     
     
         13 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the pressurizable elements are actuatable via respective separate lines;    the lines are fixed in the surface of a support insert and brought together in a manner such that they are bunched together in the direction of the controller.    
     
     
         14 . The vehicle seat as claimed  claim 9 , wherein the elements can be pressurized pneumatically or electropneumatically.  
     
     
         15 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the controller is adapted for carrying out a multiplicity of preset and individually settable massage functions.  
     
     
         16 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of preselected settings of a seat contour can be stored by means of the controller.  
     
     
         17 . A vehicle seating surface comprising: 
 an upholstery layer, comprising padding supported on a support structure;    a seat cover disposed on an exterior of said seating surface, over said upholstery layer;    a plurality of pressurizable elements distributed in a pattern between the seat cover and the upholstery layer; and    means for individually inflating said pressurizable elements.    
     
     
         18 . The vehicle seat surface according to  claim 17 , wherein each of said pressurizable elements generates a substantially localized pressure point in said seating surface.  
     
     
         19 . The vehicle seat surface according to  claim 18 , wherein said pressurizable elements are arranged at fixed locations on a sheet carrier which is inserted between said upholstery layer and said seat cover.