An extensively reconfigurable seat design can include a vehicle seat system including: a vehicle seat defining a vehicle occupant accommodating space, the vehicle seat including a seat cushion portion including multiple individually adjustable bladders, where each of the multiple individually adjustable bladders has a connected valve that controls fluid communication with an internal space of the individually adjustable bladder to adjust a pressure level within the internal space of the individually adjustable bladder, and an associated sensor configured to detect the pressure level within the internal space of the individually adjustable bladder. A computer can actively sense and control the pressure levels within the bladders, using the sensors and valves, to provide customization, adaptive, ride-active and intelligent control over a reconfigurable cushion for a vehicle.

A chair, comprising, a backrest, a seat coupled with the backrest, a column coupled with the seat, a linkage statically attached to the backrest and rotatably attached below the seat, a leaf spring statically attached at one end and in direct contact with the linkage to provide a resistance to tilting of the backrest relative to the column. A first structure fixed to the column, where a portion of the first structure has an arc shape that includes one or more teeth, and a second structure in contact with the first structure, wherein a portion of the second structure includes one or more teeth. The chair is configured such that, when a weight is applied to the seat, the one or more teeth of the second structure, a pivot point at which the backrest is configured to tilt relative to the column, and the linkage are configured to move together.

A chair, comprising, a backrest, a seat coupled with the backrest, a column coupled with the seat, a linkage statically attached to the backrest and rotatably attached below the seat, a leaf spring statically attached at one end and in contact with the linkage to provide a resistance to tilting of the backrest relative to the column, a first structure. A portion of the first structure has an arc shape that includes one or more teeth, and a second structure in contact with the first structure. The chair is configured such that, when a weight is applied to the seat, one or more teeth of the second structure move along the one or more teeth of the first structure to provide an increased resistance to tilting of the backrest relative to the column.

A chair comprises a seat pan member, a seat back member having a lumbar support member, a lumbar support assembly operatively connected to the lumbar support member and configured for moving the lumbar support member, with respect to the seat pan member and the seat back member, between at least a first position and a second position, and an actuator configured to operate the lumbar support assembly for movement of the lumbar support member between at least the first position and the second position. When the lumbar support member is in the second position, the lumbar support member is positioned forwardly, in a direction toward the seated user's lower back, relative to the seat back member so as to enable the user to be seated forwardly on the seat pan member while being engaged with the lumbar support member.

Disclosed herein is a chair that includes a backrest portion, a seat portion coupled with the backrest portion, a column portion coupled with the seat portion, a linkage coupled with the backrest portion, a leaf spring in direct contact with the linkage, an arc-shaped toothed structure fixed translationally relative to the column portion, and a different toothed structure in contact with the arc-shaped toothed structure. The chair is also configured such that when a weight is applied to the seat portion, a fulcrum point of the leaf spring moves as the different toothed structure moves along the arc-shaped toothed structure to thereby shorten a working length of the leaf spring and provide an increased resistance to tilting of the backrest portion relative to the column portion. A process for assembling the chair and a weight-based tilt-resistance assembly for use with the chair are also described herein.

A method for manufacturing a seat cushion receives data of a specific occupant. A seat cushion is designed from the occupant data. The seat cushion is provided with a cellular structure from the occupant data. Another method for manufacturing a seat cushion receives boundary conditions for a seat cushion. Applicable mechanical properties are determined for the boundary conditions of the seat cushion. Applicable thermal properties are determined for the boundary conditions of the seat cushion. A seat cushion is designed with a varying cellular structure to satisfy the applicable mechanical properties and the applicable thermal properties.

A chair device, a mattress device, and a propping device are provided. The chair device includes a support stand, a seat module disposed above the support stand, a connection module disposed at one side of the seat module, a back support module connected to the connection module and disposed at one side of the seat module, a first pressure adjustment module disposed in the seat module, a second pressure adjustment module disposed in the back support module, a first pressure sensing module disposed in the seat module, a second pressure sensing module disposed in the back support module, and a control module. The control module adjusts the first pressure adjustment module according to first sensed pressure signals from the first pressure sensing module, and adjusts the second pressure adjustment module according to second sensed pressure signals from the second pressure sensing module.

An apparatus for managing posture may comprise a back support, a sensor unit coupled to the back support, a posture manipulator coupled to the back support, and a controller coupled to the sensor unit and to the posture manipulator. The controller may be configured to receive a feedback signal from the sensor unit indicative of posture, and to operate the posture manipulator based on the feedback signal. Some embodiments of the apparatus may be configured to compare the feedback signal to a posture model and operate the posture model based on a difference between the feedback signal and the posture model. The sensor unit may comprise one or more sensors for determining various biometric and biomechanical parameters.

An extensively reconfigurable seat design can include a vehicle seat system including: a vehicle seat defining a vehicle occupant accommodating space, the vehicle seat including a seat cushion portion including multiple individually adjustable bladders, where each of the multiple individually adjustable bladders has a connected valve that controls fluid communication with an internal space of the individually adjustable bladder to adjust a pressure level within the internal space of the individually adjustable bladder, and an associated sensor configured to detect the pressure level within the internal space of the individually adjustable bladder. A computer can actively sense and control the pressure levels within the bladders, using the sensors and valves, to provide customization, adaptive, ride-active and intelligent control over a reconfigurable cushion for a vehicle.

The disclosure refers to a headrest for a seat. The headrest has at least a headrest cushion which is mountable to the seat. The headrest cushion may have an adjustment device configured to at least partially deform a front surface of the headrest cushion along at least one extending direction of the headrest cushion. Further, the disclosure relates to a seat with such a headrest.