Adaptive pneumatic sitting and reclining cushion for vehicles and aircraft

Abstract

The inventive sitting and reclining cushion is divided into a seat cushion and a back cushion, which are configured in an essentially identical manner. A sleeve ( 4 ) consisting of a textile material with low elasticity contains a plurality of tubular pockets ( 5 ) consisting of an identical material and joined longitudinally to said sleeve by means of seams ( 6 ). Each pocket ( 5 ) is likewise connected to its neighbour or neighbours by means of seams ( 6 ). Each pocket ( 5 ) contains a pouch ( 7 ), which consists of an elastic plastic and comprises a valve ( 8 ), and can be filled with compressed air. As a result, the pockets ( 5 ) modify their shape, thus tensioning the sleeve ( 4 ) 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 ( 7 ).

1 . An adaptive pneumatic seat cushion ( 1 ) and backrest cushion ( 2 ) for vehicles and aeroplanes, characterised in that 
 it comprises a seat cushion ( 1 ) and a backrest cushion ( 2 ) which can be connected;    both the seat cushion ( 1 ) and the backrest cushion ( 2 ) comprise the following characteristics:    a plurality of tubular pockets ( 5 ), arranged side by side, consisting of a textile material of low elasticity, of which pockets ( 5 ) each is connected to the adjacent pockets by means of seams ( 6 );    each pocket ( 5 ) comprises a pouch ( 7 ) which consists of an elastic plastic material with a valve ( 8 ), which pocket can be filled with compressed air;    the totality of the pockets ( 5 ) are enclosed by a shell ( 4 ) made of a textile material of low elasticity, wherein said pockets ( 5 ) are sewn to the shell ( 4 ) along further seams ( 6 ), such that the shell ( 4 ) when the pouches ( 7 ) are filled with compressed air is tensioned and thus forms the actual seat or backrest surface.    
   
   
       2 . The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the pockets ( 5 ) in the seat cushion ( 1 ) are arranged parallel to the direction of the seat, while in the backrest cushion ( 2 ) said pockets ( 5 ) are arranged in the top-to-bottom direction.  
   
   
       3 . The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the pockets ( 5 ) both in the seat cushion ( 1 ) and in the backrest cushion ( 2 ) are arranged across the seat.  
   
   
       4 . The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to  claim 2  or  3 , characterised in that all the pockets ( 5 ) in the seat cushion ( 1 ) on the one hand, and in the backrest cushion ( 2 ) on the other hand, are of the same size.  
   
   
       5 . The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to  claim 2  or  3 , characterised in that the cross dimensions of the pockets ( 5 ) are differently selected such that optimum seating comfort can be achieved.  
   
   
       6 . The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to  claim 5 , characterised in that each pocket ( 5 ) can individually be filled with compressed air.  
   
   
       7 . The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to  claim 2  or  3 , characterised in that the cross dimensions of the pockets ( 5 ) vary with their longitudinal dimensions.