JPH08224137A - Air mat for seat - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To present an air mat for the seat whereon the sitting person does not experience aches or fatigue on the loins, back, or buttocks after prolonged use. CONSTITUTION: A seat air mat 5 positioned on the sitting surface 2 of a seat 1 and a back rest air mat 6 to be attached to back rest 3 are provided. The back rest air mat 6 is divided into back rest air cell groups 1, 2 each consisting of air cells neighboring each other. Air is periodically supplied to or removed from the cell groups 1, 2, alternately. The back rest air mat 6 may be kept at the same pressure, or not when the cell groups 1, 2 are periodically and alternately inflated or deflated. Accordingly, the loins and back are supported by plural supporting surfaces and the supporting surfaces vary periodically. This design assures good blood circulation, and prevents or alleviates aches and fatigue.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seat air mat in which air cells for supplying and exhausting air are arranged on a seating surface and a back support portion of a seat and expands and contracts at a predetermined cycle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a person sits down for a long time to work, for example, when driving a car, he or she feels pain in the hips, waist, back, etc. when driving for a long time. I can hear my voice. It is considered that this is due to poor blood circulation caused by keeping the same posture for a long time, and a decrease in metabolism accompanying this. A structure in which an air mat is incorporated into an automobile seat for the purpose of eliminating such pain and reducing fatigue is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-198813. In this publication, the seat cushion shape is changed by incorporating a hip support air mat, a side support air mat, a lumbar support air mat, a cushion side support air mat, and a back side support air mat in the seat cushion, and inflating and contracting these at an appropriate cycle. It is intended to reduce fatigue.

[0003]

Since the air mat having the above structure changes the shape of the entire seat and forcibly changes the posture of the seated person (driver), a comfortable posture for the seated person is always obtained. Not necessarily. For example, the lumbar support air mat corresponding to the waist and back,
A single and small movement that expands and contracts with one type of air mat, which protects the waist and back while maintaining a comfortable condition, especially for the occupant (driver) who is likely to experience pain and fatigue. Has the problem of being insufficient. The same applies to back pain and fatigue.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and in particular, the waist and back of a seated person are supported by a plurality of surfaces, and the supporting surface is changed at a predetermined cycle. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a seated person with a comfortable feeling, at the same time, to minimize the inhibition of blood circulation, and to suppress or reduce pain and muscle fatigue.

In addition to the protection of the waist and back as described above, the present invention also aims to suppress or reduce the pain and muscle fatigue of the hips by adopting a similar structure to the hips. Is.

[0006]

A seat air mat according to the present invention comprises a seat surface air mat arranged on a seating surface, a back air mat arranged on a back rest attached to the rear end of the seating surface, and the seat described above. An air pump for supplying air to the front air mat and the rear air mat, and a control unit for controlling the air supply from the air pump to the seat air mat and the rear air mat, wherein the seat air mat is a single flexible hollow The rear air mat is constituted by a plurality of flexible hollow rear air cells, and the rear air cells are further divided into first and second rear air cell groups which are alternately arranged adjacent to each other. The control section supplies the seat surface air cell with a constant pressure of air, and the first and second rear surface air cell groups are alternately provided with a predetermined circumference. In is one that is allowed to supply air.

Further, according to the present invention, a seat surface air mat arranged on the seat surface, a back air mat arranged on a back rest portion attached to the rear end of the seat surface, and air are supplied to the seat surface air mat and the back air mat. An air pump and a control unit for controlling air supply from the air pump to the seat surface air mat and the back surface air mat are provided, and the seat surface air mat is composed of a plurality of flexible hollow seat surface air cells and the back surface. The air mat is composed of a plurality of flexible hollow rear air cells, and the seat air cells are divided into first and second seat air cell groups that are alternately adjacent to each other. The back air cells are alternately adjacent to each other. First, second
The air conditioner is divided into rear air cell groups, and the control unit alternately supplies air to the first and second seat air cell groups and alternately to the first and second rear air cell groups at a predetermined cycle. It is a thing.

[0008]

When the seat air mat is composed of a single seat air cell, the seat air cell is maintained at a constant pressure by the supply of air. As a result, the hips of the seated person are supported with a uniform pressure. Air is alternately supplied to the first and second rear air cell groups forming the rear air mat at a predetermined cycle. From this, the waist and back of the seated person,
First, the first back surface air cell group supports the plurality of surfaces, and after a predetermined time, the second back surface air cell group supports the plurality of surfaces at different positions.

When the seat surface air mat is composed of a plurality of seat surface air cells, the first and second seat surface air cell groups are alternately supplied with air at a predetermined cycle. Similarly, the first and second rear air cell groups of the rear air mat are also alternately supplied with a predetermined cycle. From this, the buttock, waist, and back of the seated person should first be seated first and the back support part air mat first.
The seat surface and the rear air cell group support the plurality of surfaces, and after a predetermined time, the second seat surface and the rear air cell group support the plurality of surfaces at different positions.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A case where the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a vehicle seat and is removable from the seat will be described below. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a seat, which includes a seating surface 2 and a back support portion 3 located at the rear end thereof. Reference numeral 4 is a headrest provided on the upper end of the back support 3. The seating surface 2 and the back support portion 3 can be made of a cushion material. 5
Is a seating surface air mat fixed on the seating surface 2, 6
Is a rear air mat supported and fixed to the back support part 3. Reference numeral 7 denotes a pump unit that houses an air pump and a control unit that controls driving of the air pump. 8 is
An air hose 9 for introducing air sent from the air pump unit 7 to the seat air mat 5 and the back air mat 6,
Is a cigarette lighter jack for supplying power to the pump unit 7.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the seat surface air mat 5 comprises a single flexible hollow seat surface air cell 10. The seat surface air cell 10 includes a plurality of elongated cylindrical air cells 10a, 10b, 10 arranged adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction.
c, .. and the air cells 10a, 10b, 10c, ..
The b, 10c, ... Are connected to the air hose 8 through the holes 12, 12 ,. Air cells 10a, 10b, 1
0c, ... Have a diameter of about 3 cm and a length of about 35 cm when air is supplied. Air is supplied to the seat air cell 5 from an air hose 8. In addition, only the air cells at both ends can be designed to have a large diameter of about 5 cm.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear air mat 6 comprises a plurality of flexible hollow rear air cells 13. The rear air cell 13 is composed of elongated cylindrical air cells arranged substantially horizontally adjacent to each other in the left-right direction, and has two groups, which are alternately adjacent to each other, a first rear air cell group 14a, 14b, 14c ,. It is divided into rear air cell groups 15a, 15b, 15c ,. That is, the first rear surface air cells 14a, 14b, ... Are connected to the air hose 8 through the holes 16, 16, and communicate with each other. Similarly, the second rear surface air cell groups 15a, 15b ,. Hole 1
The air hoses 8 are connected to each other through 7, 17. First and second rear air cell groups 14a, 1
4b, ..., 15a, 15b, .. are arranged alternately with each other, that is, like air cells 14a, 15a, 14b, 15b ,.
The rear air cells 14a, 14b, .., 15a, 15b, .. are fixed to the base cloth 18. Rear air cells 14a, 14b, ..
The diameter of each of 15a, 15b, ..
The length of the back air mat 6 may be about 48 cm in the height direction and about 30 cm in the left-right direction. Rear air cells 14a, 14b, .., 15a, 15b, ..
Of the five, which are located in the lower part of the
9 ... are formed. This is because the spine is not pressed. It should be noted that only the fifth-stage air cell from the bottom can be designed to have a slightly larger diameter of about 5 cm.

Seat air mat 5 and back air mat 6
Is formed by laminating polyvinyl chloride or polyurethane resin on one or both sides of a woven fabric such as nylon, forming a base fabric that blocks air flow into a cylindrical shape, and joining the connection parts by high frequency welding etc. To be done. The seating surface air mat 5 and the back surface air mat 6 are fixed to the seating surface 2 and the back support portion 3 with a surface fastener, a button, or the like. It is also possible to attach side supports to both sides of the seating surface 2 and the backrest portion 3 and front supports to the front end of the seating surface 2 and to fill them with air at a constant pressure as in the seating surface air mat 5.

FIG. 6 shows an electric circuit diagram in the pump unit 7, wherein 20 and 21 are two air pumps provided corresponding to the seat surface and the rear air cells 10 and 13, and 22 and 23 are
A power device 24 for turning on and off the driving of these air pumps 20, 21 is a power device 22, 23.
A microprocessor can be used in the control unit that controls the. Reference numeral 25 is a volume switch for adjusting the hardness of the seat surface and the back air cells 10, 13, 26 is a volume switch for adjusting the air supply cycle of the back air cell groups 14, 15, and 27 is a power switch. Reference numerals 28 and 29 denote resonators for temporarily retaining the air sent from the air pumps 20 and 21 to eliminate noise, and reference numerals 30 and 31 denote orifices arranged on the output sides of the resonators 28 and 29, respectively. Orifices 30 and 31 are seat surface and rear air cell 1
It works to gradually exhaust the air supplied to 0 and 13. The air delivered from the air pump 20 is supplied to the seat surface air cells 10 via the first rear surface air cell groups 14a, 14b, ... And the check valve 32, respectively. The air delivered from the air pump 21 is supplied to the second rear air cell groups 15a, 15b ,. The power switch 27 can be linked to the ignition switch so that the air pump unit 7 can be driven only during traveling. In the above example, the case where two air pumps are used has been described. However, one air pump and one switching valve can be used to drive the first and second rear air cell groups.

In FIG. 7, waveforms A and D represent ON / OFF signals of the air pumps 20 and 21, waveform B represents the air supply state of the seat surface air cell 10, and waveforms C and E represent the rear air cell 13.
The first and second rear air cell groups 14a, 14 constituting the
The air supply / exhaust states of b, ..., 15a, 15b ,.
The waveforms A and D are set so that their on and off periods alternate, and the cycle can be changed every time as shown in the figure. However, this cycle may be constant. These cycles are appropriately set in the range of 10's of seconds to 10's of minutes.

The control unit 24 can give the above-mentioned period a "1 / f fluctuation" characteristic (f is a frequency).
"1 / f fluctuation" means a state in which the relationship between the frequency f constituting the signal and the energy E belonging to the signal is E∝1 / f in a certain time-series signal. Repeated signal of 1 / f in the signal transfer characteristics
Due to its fluctuation characteristics, it is said that external stimulation is comfortable. For example, heartbeat fluctuations and music have a sound pressure stimulus that gives people a pleasant sensation, but the fluctuation of the sound power is 1
/ F spectrum. Human beings tend to feel the 1 / f fluctuation stimulus given from the outside as a pleasant sensation.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which seat surface air cells 33 forming the seat surface air mat 5 are alternately adjacent to the first and second seat surface air cell groups 34a, 34b ,.
It is divided into 35a, 35b ,. The first and second seat surface air cell groups 34a, 34b, ..., 35a, 35b ,.
Are fixed to the base cloth 36. The first seat surface air cell groups 34a, 34b, ... Are connected to the air hose 8 through the holes 37, 37 ..
b, .. are likewise connected to the air hose 8 via holes 38, 38 ,. These seat surface air cells are alternately arranged adjacent to each other like air cells 34a, 35a, 34b, 35b ,. Thus, the first and second seat surface air cell groups 34
The a, 34b, ..., 35a, 35b, .. are alternately supplied in a constant cycle or a changing cycle as described above. With such a configuration, in the circuit shown in FIG. 6, the check valve 32
Is removed, the air hose 8 connected to the first rear surface air cell groups 14a, 14b, .. is branched and connected to the first seat surface air cell groups 34a, 34b, .., and the second rear surface air cell groups 15a, 15b. The air hoses 8 connected to the second seat surface air cell groups 35a, 35 are branched.
connected to b, ..

In the above embodiment, only the air supply is controlled and the exhaust is always performed by the orifices 30 and 31. Instead of this, an on-off valve is used and the control unit 24 controls this to control the exhaust time and The cycle can be variable.

In the above embodiment, the seat air mat and the back air mat are formed separately from the seat. However, the seat air mat and the back air mat are formed integrally with the seating surface and the back rest of the seat. May be. In addition, although the case where the invention is applied to the automobile seat has been described in the embodiment, the invention is not limited to this and can also be applied to an office chair, a sofa for home use, and the like.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, the seat surface air mat and the back air mat are arranged on the seating surface and the back rest of the seat, and the back air mat is divided into two air cell groups, which are alternately arranged in a predetermined cycle. By supplying and exhausting with
The waist and the back can be supported by a plurality of supporting surfaces, and the supporting surfaces can be changed in a predetermined cycle. Therefore, it is possible to minimize fatigue by suppressing blood circulation in the lower back and back and a decrease in metabolism when seated for a long period of time, where pain or fatigue is particularly likely to occur.

Further, according to the present invention, a seating surface air mat and a back surface air mat are arranged on the seating surface and the back support of the seat,
Each of the seat surface and the back air mat is divided into two air cell groups, and by alternately supplying and exhausting the air cell groups at a predetermined cycle, the lower back, the back, and the hips are supported by a plurality of support surfaces, and the support surfaces are also provided at a predetermined cycle. Can be changed.
Therefore, it is possible to reduce fatigue by suppressing blood circulation in the lower back, back, and hips and a decrease in metabolism when seated for a long period of time, where pain or fatigue is particularly likely to occur.

Further, according to the present invention, in the first and second rear surface air cell groups, and also in the first and second seat surface air cell groups and the first and second rear surface air cell groups, air is alternately supplied at a predetermined cycle. In addition, by giving the "1 / f fluctuation" characteristic to this cycle, it is possible to make the seated person feel comfortable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a seat air mat according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an exhaust state of a seat air mat.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an exhaust state of a seat air mat.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing an exhaust state of a rear air mat.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing an exhaust state of a rear air mat.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a pump unit.

FIG. 7 is a waveform diagram for explaining operations of a seat surface, a rear air mat, and a pump unit.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a seat air mat according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ………… Seat 2 ………… Seating surface 3 ………… Backrest part 4 ………… Headrest 5 ………… Seat surface air mat 6 ………… Rear air mat 7 ………… Air pump unit 8 ………… Air hose 9 …… … Cigar lighter jack 10,33 ……… Seat air cell 13 ……… Rear air cell 14a, 14b, ..... …… First rear air cell group 15a, 15b, ..... Second rear air cell group 20,21 … Air pumps 22 and 23 Power devices 24 Control units 28 and 29 Resonators 30 and 31 Orifices 34a, 34b, ..... First seat surface air cell groups 35a and 35b , ..... …… 2nd seat air cell group

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A seat surface air mat disposed on the seat surface,
A rear air mat arranged at a back rest attached to the rear end of the seating surface, an air pump for supplying air to the seat air mat and the rear air mat, and control of air supply from the air pump to the seat air mat and the rear air mat The seat surface air mat is constituted by a single flexible hollow seat surface air cell, and the rear air mat is constituted by a plurality of flexible hollow rear air cells, The rear air cell is further divided into first and second rear air cell groups that are alternately arranged adjacent to each other, and the control unit supplies air of a constant pressure to the seat air cell, and the first and second rear air cells are provided. 2 Air mats for seats, characterized in that air can be supplied alternately to the rear air cell groups at a predetermined cycle. 2. The control unit supplies air to the first and second rear air cell groups of the rear air cell alternately at a predetermined cycle, and imparts a "1 / f fluctuation" characteristic to the cycle. The seat air mat according to claim 1, 3. The seat air mat according to claim 1, wherein the rear air cell comprises an elongated cylindrical air cell which is arranged substantially horizontally adjacent to each other in the left-right direction. 4. A seat surface air mat disposed on the seat surface,
A rear air mat arranged at a back rest attached to the rear end of the seating surface, an air pump for supplying air to the seat air mat and the rear air mat, and control of air supply from the air pump to the seat air mat and the rear air mat The seat surface air mat is composed of a plurality of flexible hollow seat surface air cells, and the back air mat is composed of a plurality of flexible hollow back surface air cells. The surface air cells are divided into first and second seat surface air cell groups that are alternately adjacent to each other, and the rear surface air cells are divided into first and second rear surface air cell groups that are alternately adjacent to each other, and are connected to the control unit. The air is supplied to the first and second seat surface air cell groups alternately and alternately to the first and second rear surface air cell groups at a predetermined cycle. Seat air mattress to 5. The control section supplies air to the first and second seat surface air cell groups alternately at a predetermined cycle, and supplies air to the first and second rear surface air cell groups alternately at a predetermined cycle. 5. The air mat for a seat according to claim 4, wherein the air mat is provided with care and has a "1 / f fluctuation" characteristic in the cycle. 6. The flexible hollow air cell that constitutes the seating surface air cell comprises elongated cylindrical air cells that are arranged adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction. 6. An air mat for a seat according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the air mat comprises elongated cylindrical air cells arranged substantially horizontally adjacent to each other. 7. The seat air mat according to claim 1, wherein the seat surface air mat and the back surface air mat are detachably attached to a seating surface and a back support portion of a seat. 8. The seating surface air mat and the back surface air mat are embedded in a seating surface and a back support portion of a seat, respectively.
7. An air mat for a seat according to claim 1, wherein the air mat is integrated with a seat. 9. The seat air mat according to claim 1, wherein the seat is an automobile seat.