Vehicle seat comprising lateral cheeks

Abstract

In the case of a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, comprising at least one pair of lateral cheeks provided on a seat cushion and/or a backrest, the lateral cheeks contain at least one chamber unit ( 15 ) with an inflatable chamber which is enclosed by flexible walls ( 19 ), at least one firm plate ( 27 ) is arranged within the chamber.

1 . A vehicle seat, comprising: 
 a seat cushion;    a backrest; and    at least one pair of adjustable lateral cheeks operatively connected to at least one of the seat cushion and the backrest, so that the lateral cheeks are capable of being adjusted with respect to at least one of the seat cushion and the backrest, wherein at least one lateral cheek of the lateral cheeks contains at least one chamber unit, and wherein the chamber unit includes an inflatable chamber that is enclosed by flexible walls, and at least one firm plate positioned within the chamber.    
   
   
       2 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the walls include 
 (a) a first wall having an edge, and  
 (b) a second wall having an edge; and  
   the chamber is formed by the first wall and the second wall being connected to one another, whereby the chamber unit comprises a connection between the first wall and the second wall;    the connection extends along the edge of the first wall; and    the connection extends along the edge of the second wall.    
   
   
       3 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the chamber unit comprises two wings, and    the wings are configured for being folded with respect to one another about a common central axis.    
   
   
       4 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the chamber unit further includes a connecting tab;    the two wings includes a first wing and a second wing;    the first wing includes an edge that is spaced apart from the central axis;    the second wing includes an edge that is spaced apart from the central axis; and    the connecting tab is between the edge of the first wing and the edge of the second wing.    
   
   
       5 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the two wings includes a first wing and a second wing;    the plate is a first plate;    the first plate is positioned in the first wing;    the chamber unit further includes a second plate positioned within the chamber; and    the second plate is positioned in the second wing.    
   
   
       6 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the chamber extends continuously into both wings.  
   
   
       7 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the wings are in a folded together configuration with respect to one another during an uninflated state of the chamber unit, and    the wings are in an at least partially unfolded configuration with respect to one another in an inflated state of the chamber unit.    
   
   
       8 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the walls include 
 (a) a first wall having an edge, and  
 (b) a second wall having an edge;  
   the chamber is formed by the first wall and the second wall being connected to one another, whereby the chamber unit comprises a connection between the first wall and the second wall;    the connection extends along the edge of the first wall;    the connection extends along the edge of the second wall;    the first wall is positioned inwardly from the second wall during the uninflated state of the chamber unit; and    the first wall is configured for bulging within the chamber unit during inflation of the chamber, so that the bulging first wall pushes the wings apart..    
   
   
       9 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the two wings includes a first wing and a second wing;    the first wing includes an edge that is spaced apart from the central axis;    the second wing includes an edge that is spaced apart from the central axis; and    the chamber unit further includes a tab operatively connected between the edge of the first wing and the edge of the second wing for restricting more than a predetermined amount of unfolding of the wings with respect to one another about the common central axis.    
   
   
       10 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein a tube for inflating the chamber communicates with the chamber at a position that is proximate the central axis.  
   
   
       11 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the chamber unit comprises two wings, and the wings are configured for being folded with respect to one another about a common central axis.    
   
   
       12 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the wings are operatively connected to one another in a manner that restricts more than a predetermined amount of unfolding of the wings with respect to one another about the common central axis.  
   
   
       13 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the connecting tab is adapted for restricting more than a predetermined amount of unfolding of the wings with respect to one another about the common central axis.  
   
   
       14 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the plate is a first plate;    the first plate is positioned in the first wing;    the chamber unit further includes a second plate positioned within the chamber; and    the second plate is positioned in the second wing.    
   
   
       15 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the chamber extends continuously into both wings.  
   
   
       16 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the chamber extends continuously into both wings.  
   
   
       17 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the wings are in a folded together configuration with respect to one another during an uninflated state of the chamber unit, and    the wings are in an at least partially unfolded configuration with respect to one another in an inflated state of the chamber unit.    
   
   
       18 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the wings are in a folded together configuration with respect to one another during an uninflated state of the chamber unit, and    the wings are in an at least partially unfolded configuration with respect to one another in an inflated state of the chamber unit.    
   
   
       19 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the wings are in a folded together configuration with respect to one another during an uninflated state of the chamber unit, and    the wings are in an at least partially unfolded configuration with respect to one another in an inflated state of the chamber unit.    
   
   
       20 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein a tube for inflating the chamber communicates with the chamber at a position that is proximate the central axis.