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DE-102025144050-A1 - ADAPTABLE BLISTER SITE

DE102025144050A1DE 102025144050 A1DE102025144050 A1DE 102025144050A1DE-102025144050-A1

Abstract

A seating system comprises a bladder assembly consisting of a support substrate and inflatable bladders attached to the support substrate. Each inflatable bladder is fluidically connected to an associated feed channel. The support substrate has at least one group of configurable bladder locations. At least one of the inflatable bladders is a foldable bladder that can be folded from an unfolded position into a folded position selected from the group of configurable bladder locations, and in which the foldable bladder is attached to the support substrate.

Inventors

  • Samuel Blair
  • David ABDELLA

Assignees

  • LEAR CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251028
Priority Date
20250130

Claims (20)

  1. Seating system comprising: a bladder arrangement comprising a support substrate and inflatable bladders attached to the support substrate, wherein each of the inflatable bladders is fluidically connected to an associated feed channel, the support substrate comprising at least one group of configurable bladder locations, at least one of the inflatable bladders being a foldable bladder that is foldable from an unfolded position to a folded position selected from the group of configurable bladder locations, and in which the foldable bladder is attached to the support substrate.
  2. Seating system according to Claim 1 , with the foldable bladder located on a flap.
  3. Seating system according to Claim 2 , wherein the side edges of the tab are separated from the support substrate.
  4. Seating system according to Claim 1 , wherein the foldable bladder includes a fastening element that secures the foldable bladder to the support substrate in the folded position.
  5. Seating system according to Claim 4 , wherein the fastening element has a snap closure.
  6. Seating system according to Claim 1 , wherein the foldable bladder is foldable along a fold line and the associated feed channel crosses the fold line.
  7. Seating system according to Claim 6 , where the fold line does not intersect the foldable bubble.
  8. Seating system according to Claim 6 , wherein the feed channel has internal protrusions.
  9. Seating system according to Claim 8 , wherein the inner projections are selected from the group consisting of raised points, raised rings, elongated ribs and combinations thereof.
  10. Seating system according to Claim 9 , wherein the inner projections have an aspect ratio of more than 1.
  11. Seating system according to Claim 9 , where the inner protrusions are the raised points.
  12. Seating system according to Claim 9 , where the inner projections are the raised rings.
  13. Seating system according to Claim 9 , where the inner projections are the elongated ribs.
  14. Seating system according to Claim 1 , wherein the feed channels are embedded in the carrier substrate.
  15. Seating system according to Claim 1 , wherein the bubble assembly is located in a seat and the feed channel is connected to a pump.
  16. Seating system according to Claim 1 , wherein the foldable bladder is located on a flap, the side edges of the flap are separated from the support substrate, the foldable bladder is foldable along a fold line, and the associated feed channel crosses the fold line.
  17. Seating system according to Claim 16 , wherein the foldable bladder has a fastening element that secures the foldable bladder to the support substrate in the folded position, and wherein the fastening element includes a snap closure.
  18. Seating system according to Claim 17 , wherein the feed channel has internal projections selected from the group consisting of raised points, raised rings, elongated ribs and combinations thereof.
  19. A method comprising: on a bubble arrangement comprising a support substrate and inflatable bubbles attached to the support substrate, wherein each of the inflatable bubbles is fluidically connected to an associated feed channel, the support substrate comprising at least one group of configurable bubble locations, and at least one of the inflatable bubbles being a foldable bubble; folding the foldable bubble from an unfolded position into a folded position selected from the group of configurable bubble locations; and attaching the foldable bubble in the folded position to the support substrate.
  20. Procedure according to Claim 19 , wherein the folding is carried out along a fold line and the feed channel crosses the fold line.

Description

BACKGROUND Car seats can feature a massage system with inflatable cells or bladders. The bladders are connected to a valve assembly via fluid lines. A pump supplies air to the valve assembly, which then directs it to the bladders to be inflated. The bladders can be inflated and deflated sequentially to provide the desired massage effect for the seat occupant. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The various features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to the person skilled in the art from the following detailed description. In this disclosure, identical reference numerals may denote identical elements, and reference numerals with the addition of one hundred or a multiple thereof denote modified elements which are to be understood as incorporating the same features and advantages as the corresponding elements. The drawings accompanying the detailed description may be briefly described as follows. 1 illustrates a seating system. 2 illustrates an inflatable bubble arrangement. 3 illustrates an inflatable bubble arrangement with foldable bubbles in unfolded positions. 4 illustrates the inflatable bladder arrangement with foldable bladders in folded positions. 5 illustrates a feed pipe reinforced with internal protrusions. 6 This illustrates another exemplary feed pipe that is reinforced with internal projections. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Extensive reference will now be made to embodiments, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. The following detailed description presents numerous specific details to enable a comprehensive understanding of the various described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the various described embodiments can be implemented without these detailed descriptions. In other cases, known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. “One or more” includes a function performed by one element, a function performed by more than one element, e.g. in a distributed form, multiple functions performed by one element, multiple functions performed by multiple elements, or any combination of the foregoing. It should also be understood that, although the terms "first/first/first", "second/second/second", etc., are used herein in some instances to describe different elements, these elements should not be restricted by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be referred to as a second contact, and similarly, a second contact could be referred to as a first contact, without altering the scope of the various embodiments described. The first and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact. The terminology used in the description of the various embodiments described herein serves only to describe specific embodiments and is not to be understood as limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms "a" and "the" also include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It is also understood that the term "and/or" used herein refers to and includes any and all possible combinations of one or more of the listed elements. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the terms "have," "having," "including," "comprises," and/or "comprising," when used in this patent specification, specify the presence of certain features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used here, the term "if" can be understood, depending on the context, as "when" or "at" or "in response to a determination" or "in response to a recognition". Likewise, The phrase "when determined" or "when [a certain condition or event] is recognized" can be interpreted, depending on the context, as meaning "upon determination" or "in response to determination" or "upon recognition [of the certain condition or event]" or "in response to recognition [of the certain condition or event]". 1 Figure 20 illustrates an exemplary seating system 20 for an automobile. In this example, the seating system 20 comprises a seat back 22 and a seat base 24. A seat frame 26 supports a cushion 28 in the seat back 22, which is covered by the cover 30a. In the seat base 24, the frame 26 supports a lower seat cushion 34, which is covered by a seat cover 30b. Although the exemplary seating system 20 is for an automobile, it is understood that the examples are applicable to other types of vehicles, such as, but not limited to, a motorcycle, a watercraft, an aircraft, or a locomotive. 2 Figure 3 illustrates selected sections of an inflatable bladder assembly 36 for installation in the seating system 20. The inflatable bladder assembly 36 comprises a p