Seat, particularly for motor vehicles

Claim 2

In a seat comprising at least one support surface having a surface facing a user of said seat, the improvement comprising means for producing a forward curvature of said support surface as a function of time in a defined area of said support surface and at a level of a specific portion of the user''s spinal column abutting on said support surface to physically flex said spinal column adjacent said support surface and at least one shoulder strap for holding the shoulders of said user in engagement with said support sUrface.

Claim 3

An improved seat according to claim 1, including control means for subjecting said shoulder strap to tension and releasing said tension in order to hold the body of said user adjacent said shoulders and to pull said user''s shoulders backward against said support surface of said seat.

Claim 4

An improved seat according to claim 2, wherein said means for producing said forward curvature in said support surface of said seat is arranged at a level of the lumbar spinal column of said user and wherein said backward pulling of said shoulder strap and the production of the forward curvature are coordinated in a predetermined manner by said control means.

Claim 5

A seat according to claim 3, wherein said control means effects a simultaneous backward pulling of said shoulder strap and said forward curvature of said support surface.

Claim 6

An improved seat according to claim 2, wherein said control means urges said support surface between the shoulder strap and at the height of the shoulders forward at predetermined time intervals to flex the thoracic spinal column.

Claim 7

An improved seat according to claim 2, including a deformable seat pad, the deformations of which are caused by said control means which coordinate the movements thereof with the movements of the support surface.

Claim 8

An improved seat according to claim 1, wherein said strap can function as a safety belt.

Claim 9

An improved seat according to claim 1, wherein said surface is defined by resiliently expandable hollow bodies connected to a hydraulic or pneumatic pressure medium source.

Claim 10

An improved seat according to claim 8, including a deformable seat pad, the deformations of which are caused by said control means which coordinate the movements thereof with the movements of the support surface; and wherein the cycle of deformations of the seat pad and of the support surface cooperating with said strap is adjustable with respect to its frequency, amplitude and sequence by means of said control means.

Claim 11

An improved seat according to claim 9, wherein said control means is a programmable control device.

Claim 12

An improved seat according to claim 10, wherein said control device cooperating with said pressure source comprises a valve assembly for distributing the pressure medium to the hollow body devices and including a further valve assembly formed by relief valves for the hollow body devices, and wherein said programmable control device is a pulse generator and wherein both valve assemblies are adapted to be electrically controlled by said pulse generator with respect to the frequency, amplitude and sequence of the deformation movements.

Claim 13

An improved seat according to claim 10, wherein said pulse generator is provided with at least two exteriorly accessible adjusting means for manual adjustment or readjustment of the frequency and amplitude of the deformation movements.

Claim 14

An improved seat according to claim 10, wherein said pressure source is a hydraulic pressure medium source, the outlet side of said relief valve assembly being connected through tubing or piping to an inlet side of said pressure medium source.

Claim 15

An improved seat according to claim 10, wherein said programmable control device effects a control of the pressure of said pressure medium source to cause the deformation movements of said hollow body devices and is adapted to be varied by means of a programmed timing switch assembly therein.

Claim 16

An improved seat according to claim 10, wherein said control device is so designed that the deformation movements of the seat pad and of the back rest are separately adjustable.

Claim 17

An improved seat according to claim 10, including two shoulder straps and a lap strap, said lap strap being stiffened or formed as a substantially rigid cross-member between said shoulder straps so as to maintain the spacing therebetween, and being optionally provided with a strap buckle.

Claim 18

An improved seat according to claim 16, wherein said suspenderlike shoulder straps or lap strap are comprised of upholstered loops.

Claim 19

An improved seat according to claim 2, wherein said support surfaces include sensors operatively connected to said control device for limiting the magnitude of deformation.