Adjustable Lumbar Support for Vehicle Seat

Abstract

An adjustable lumbar support mechanism located in a seat back of a vehicle seat for supporting the lower back of a seat occupant. The lumbar support mechanism generally includes a lumbar support member supported on a frame within the seat back. The support member includes a sheet or panel formed of a resilient material. The panel including a plurality of openings located therein. A rib extending on the rear surface of the panel helps to control and provide rigidity to the support member. A seat occupant utilizes an actuator, coupled by an adjustment cable to the support member, to adjust the curvature and thereby vary support provided by the lumbar support mechanism.

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       24 . A support member for use with a seat comprising: 
 a flexible member having an upper end, a lower end, first and second sides, a front surface and a rear surface;    a rib located on and protruding outward from said rear surface, said rib positioned between and spaced from said first and second sides of said flexible member and located on a line extending between said upper and lower ends.    
   
   
       25 . A support member as set forth in  claim 24  wherein said rib has a predetermined configuration, said configuration varying along a length of said rib.  
   
   
       26 . A support member as set forth in  claim 24  wherein said rib has a plurality of indentations located on a portion of said rib.  
   
   
       27 . A support member as set forth in  claim 24  wherein said indentations have a sinusoidal pattern and are located near a midpoint of said rib.  
   
   
       28 . A support member as set forth in  claim 24  wherein said rib extends from said upper flange to said lower flange.  
   
   
       29 . A support member as set forth in  claim 24  wherein said flexible member includes a plurality of openings.  
   
   
       30 . A support member as set forth in  claim 29  wherein said openings are spaced apart from one another with said rib located on said flexible member between said openings.  
   
   
       31 . A support member as set forth in  claim 29  wherein said plurality of openings are arranged on said flexible member in a manner that provides a continuous, uninterrupted section of said flexible member extending between said upper flange and said lower flange.  
   
   
       32 . A support member as set forth in  claim 31  wherein said rib is located on said continuous uninterrupted section of said flexible member extending between said upper flange and said lower flange.  
   
   
       33 . A support member as set forth in  claim 32  wherein the distance said rib protrudes outward from said rear surface varies along the longitudinal length of said rib.  
   
   
       34 . A support member as set forth in  claim 33  including a mounting aperture located in each of said upper flange and said lower flange.  
   
   
       35 . A support member for use with a seat comprising: 
 a flexible member having an upper end, a lower end, first and second sides, a front surface and a rear surface;    a plurality of ribs located on said flexible member and extending outward from said rear surface, at least one of said ribs having a configuration that varies along the longitudinal length of said rib, said ribs spaced from said first and second sides; and    a plurality of openings in said flexible member, said openings extending between said front surface and said rear surface of said flexible member.    
   
   
       36 . A support member as set forth in  claim 35  including said openings having a variable configuration.  
   
   
       37 . A support member as set forth in  claim 35  wherein each of said ribs extend between and contact said upper flange and said lower flange.  
   
   
       38 . A support member as set forth in  claim 35  including a spring, and a spring bracket located on said rear surface of said flexible member wherein said spring is connected to said spring bracket and one of said upper flange and said lower flange.  
   
   
       39 . A support member as set forth in  claim 35  wherein each of said ribs extends outward from said rear surface at a distance that varies along the length of said rib.  
   
   
       40 . A support member for use with a seat comprising: 
 a flexible member having an upper end, a lower end, first and second sides, a front surface and a rear surface; and    means for controlling the flexibility of said flexible member, said means including at least one rib extending outward from said rear surface and spaced from said first and second sides.    
   
   
       41 . A support member as set forth in  claim 40  wherein said means for controlling the flexibility of said flexible member includes a plurality of openings in said flexible member, said openings having a variable size and shape.  
   
   
       42 . A support member as set forth in  claim 40  wherein said rib extends outward from said rear surfaces at a distance, said distance varying at different points along said rib.