A multi-position airflow control assembly includes a valve housing, a valve body received by the valve housing, a plurality of connectors coupled to the valve body, each connector configured to fluidly connect to an inflation zone of a cellular cushion, and a control assembly partially received by the valve body. The control assembly includes a seal member, and an actuation assembly operably connected to the seal member and configured to rotate the seal member relative to the valve body. The seal member is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position.

To realize a noble, useful seat with a simple structure designed to follow a natural movement of a seated person in front-rear and left-right directions and to support appropriately a movement of the person continuously changing its posture while the person balances a load. The seat includes the elastic support layer 3 and upper and lower base units 4 and 5 arranged to sandwich the elastic support layer 3. The upper base unit 4 includes the rolling surface 42e bulging toward the lower base unit 5 thereabove via the elastic support layer 3, is rollable in a 360° direction from the tilt reference position IRP in receiving a load of the seated person, and has a moving distal end side tilting more downward as a distance from the position IRP increases, and is configured to move while compressing the elastic support layer 3 by the rolling surface.

An automatically adjusting comfort method includes measuring pressure applied by a user via a pressure-sensor array, determining a pressure profile based on measurements from the pressure-sensor array, comparing the pressure profile to a first limit, determining a cumulative pressure profile over a predetermined duration, comparing the cumulative pressure profile to a second limit, and adjusting one or more of a plurality of adjusting mechanisms configured to alter the pressure profile for increased comfort of the user when the pressure profile exceeds the first limit or the second limit. An automatically adjusting comfort system includes a pressure-sensor array communicatively coupled to a controller for determining a cumulative pressure profile over time, and a plurality of adjusting mechanisms configured to alter the pressure profile to increase a user's comfort, wherein the controller automatically adjusts one or more of the plurality of adjusting mechanisms based on the cumulative pressure profile.

A hardness adjustment unit includes an elastic frame, a barrier, and a field generator. An enclosed space is provided inside the elastic frame and filled with a fluid filling. The barrier is arranged in the enclosed space and divides the enclosed space into an upper space and a lower space. The upper space communicates with the lower space. The field generator is arranged outside the elastic frame and used to apply a field to the fluid filling to adjust a viscosity of the fluid filling, thereby adjusting a flow damping of the fluid filling in the upper space and the lower space to control a deformation of the elastic frame.

A balancing pressure bearing apparatus including a connecting base and bearing components is provided. Inside the connecting base is any material selected from a volume-incompressibe fluid, semifluid and elastic element, and arranged thereabove is each bearing component. The bearing components have bearing surfaces for supporting any pressing-down human body part and pressure reduction. When the connecting base is pressed down, a Pascal phenomenon is generated for a pressure applied to the fluid, semifluid or elastic element inside the connecting base to be transmitted equally in all directions. Each portion thereof has the same pressure for balancing pressure of the supportive bearing surfaces pressed by any two human body parts, thereby reducing and balancing pressures thereon to achieve a more comfortable contact sensation of pressure release and a correct posture effect. Hence, the invention can serve as a cushion, seat, backrest, mattress or pillow product.

A seating apparatus cushioned for providing comfortable seating of a body for living room, office and other seating environments. The seating apparatus includes a frame for a seat, a back component, arms and legs and includes one or more supports fixed with respect to the frame and extending from the seating apparatus to provide stationary anchors for use by the body in exercising and for ingress and egress from the seating apparatus.

A method of manufacturing suspension seating includes providing a blank to be used in a suspension member. The blank has a non-visible marker. The method also includes illuminating the non-visible marker with an excitation source. The non-visible marker becomes detectable when illuminated by the excitation source. The method further includes sensing the non-visible marker with a sensor. The sensor is configured to detect the non-visible marker when illuminated by the excitation source. The method also includes determining, by a controller, a characteristic of the blank using the non-visible marker. The controller is in communication with the sensor and configured to receive information related to the non-visible marker from the sensor. The method further includes adjusting the blank to achieve the desired characteristic.

Pressure modulating soft actuator array devices and related systems and methods. One example of the present systems comprises: a device having a body that defines a plurality of cavities; a pressure source configured to be in fluid communication with the plurality of cavities; a plurality of sensors configured to capture data indicative of pressure within the plurality of cavities; and one or more controllers configured to actuate the pressure source to move fluid toward and/or away from one or more of the plurality of cavities in response to data captured by the plurality of sensors; wherein the device is configured to be disposed between a user and a surface on which the user is seated upon.

A pneumatically adjustable bladder system (90) for use in a cushioned seat bottom (24) has one or two rear foam filled bladders (62, 64) for location under the ischial tuberosities of a seated occupant of the seat bottom, and one or more expansion chambers (14, 16) or front foam filled bladders (66, 68) for location under the thighs of the seated occupant. There are air passageways (70, 72, 74, 92) interconnecting the bladders with each other or with an expansion chamber. The system is air tight and the bladders are compressible under the weight of the seated occupant and are expandable when the weight is removed. The compression of a bladder causes air therewith in to be displaced through the air passageways to the expansion chambers or to the other bladders, which then expand. The compression of a bladder under the ischial tuberosities of the seated occupant and the expansion of the expansion chambers or of the other bladders under the thighs of the seated occupant cause the seated occupant to experience a correct level of immersion into the cushioned seat bottom which is desired for effective postural support and prevention of lower back pain.

Office, work and leisure chair and retrofit kit for causing subliminal movements of the person sitting thereon. The chair has a cruciform base (1), freely articulated rollers (4), a gas-spring support (2) and an interface panel (5) resting thereon as a support panel. Mounted on the support panel is a base panel (28) bearing a seat cover (19) with a seat surface and back rest (22). The seat cover is provided and allowed to wobble, resting via a cover panel (27) on a plurality of spring elements (7), which are displaceable radially, or obliquely in relation to the radial direction, or helically from the centre of the base panel to the periphery of the base panel. The spring elements are mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically displaceable, so that the wobble distance of the seat cover and the attenuation of the wobble movement are variable.