Adaptive pneumatic sitting and reclining cushion for vehicles and aircraft

Abstract

A sitting and reclining cushion is divided into a seat cushion and a back cushion, which are configured in an essentially identical manner. A sleeve consisting of a textile material with low elasticity contains a plurality of tubular pockets consisting of an identical material and joined longitudinally to said sleeve by means of seams. Each pocket is likewise connected to its neighbour or neighbours by means of seams. Each pocket contains a pouch, which consists of an elastic plastic and comprises a valve, and can be filled with compressed air. As a result, the pockets modify their shape, thus tensioning the sleeve and forming the actual sitting or reclining surface. The optimised shape of the cushion structure can be adapted to individual requirements for comfort by means of different air pressures in the pouches.

1 . An adaptive pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion for vehicles and aeroplanes, each of the seat cushion and the backrest cushion comprising:
 a plurality of low-elasticity textile tubular pockets arranged side by side such that adjacent sides of each tubular pocket are in direct contact along areas therebetween and are directly interconnected via seams;   wherein each of the plurality of tubular pockets comprises a pouch comprising an elastic plastic material with a valve;   wherein the plurality of tubular pockets are enclosed by a shell made of a textile material of low elasticity;   wherein dimensions of the shell in relation to each one of the plurality of pouches is such that when the plurality of pouches are filled with compressed air, each one of the plurality of pouches is pressurized resulting in each one of the plurality of pouches being compressed relative to adjacent pouches and wherein outermost pouches are operable to be compressed against the shell causing the shell to be tensioned; and   wherein a top surface of the tensioned shell and not the plurality of tubular pockets forms an actual seat or backrest surface resulting in a better comfort and feel of the seat and backrest cushion.   
   
   
       2 . The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of tubular pockets in the seat cushion are arranged parallel to a direction of the seat and in the backrest cushion a plurality of tubular pockets are arranged in a top-to-bottom direction. 
   
   
       3 . The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tubular pockets, both in the seat cushion and in the backrest cushion, are arranged across the seat. 
   
   
       4 . The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to  claim 2  wherein all of the plurality of tubular pockets in the seat cushion and in the backrest cushion are of the same size. 
   
   
       5 . The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to  claim 2 , wherein the cross dimensions of the plurality of tubular pockets are selected such that optimum seating comfort can be achieved. 
   
   
       6 . The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of tubular pockets can individually be filled with compressed air. 
   
   
       7 . The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to  claim 2 , wherein the cross dimensions of the plurality of tubular pockets vary with their longitudinal dimensions. 
   
   
       8 . The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of tubular pockets is sewn to the shell along further seams. 
   
   
       9 . An adaptive pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion for vehicles and aeroplanes, each of the seat cushion and the backrest cushion comprising:
 a plurality of low-elasticity textile tubular pockets, each tubular pocket having an elongated axis defined by a length of the tubular pocket, the tubular pockets arranged side by side such that adjacent sides of each tubular pocket are in direct contact along areas therebetween and are directly interconnected via seams;   wherein a height of each tubular pocket varies along the length of the axis such that a minimum height is located near an approximate midpoint of the axis;   wherein each of the plurality of tubular pockets comprises a pouch comprising an elastic plastic material with a valve;   wherein the plurality of tubular pockets are enclosed by a shell made of a textile material of low elasticity;   wherein, when the plurality of pouches are filled with compressed air, each one of the plurality of pouches is pressurized resulting in the shell being tensioned; and   wherein a top surface of the tensioned shell and not the plurality of tubular pockets forms an actual seat or backrest surface resulting in a better comfort and feel of the seat and backrest cushion.   
   
   
       10 . An adaptive pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion for vehicles and aeroplanes, each of the seat cushion and the backrest cushion comprising:
 a plurality of low-elasticity textile tubular pockets arranged side by side such that adjacent sides of each tubular pocket are in direct contact along areas therebetween and are directly interconnected via seams;   wherein each of the plurality of tubular pockets comprises a pouch comprising an elastic plastic material with a valve;   wherein the plurality of tubular pockets are enclosed by a shell made of a textile material of low elasticity;   wherein a width of the shell is smaller than a width of the plurality of tubular pockets when the plurality of pouches are pressurized; and   wherein, when the plurality of pouches are pressurized, each one of the plurality of pouches is compressed relative to other pouches causing the shell to be tensioned.