The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 23, 2020
Filed:
Oct. 09, 2017
GM Global Technology Operations Llc, Detroit, MI (US);
Wonhee M. Kim, Royal Oak, MA (US);
Amberlee S. Haselhuhn, Troy, MI (US);
Richard J. Skurkis, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Michael J. Walker, Shelby Township, MI (US);
Ian J. Sutherland, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Nilesh D. Mankame, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An occupant support structure and a method of customizing an occupant support structure. The occupant support structure may comprise a base and a reconfigurable cushion carried by the base. The reconfigurable cushion may include an occupant support surface and a bladder. The bladder may include an outer wall that defines an inner cavity underlying the occupant support surface and two or more overlapping material layers disposed within the cavity. The overlapping material layers may be adapted to selectively transition from a compliant state to a rigid state and vice versa by selective control of a pressure condition across the outer wall of the bladder to reconfigure or conform the occupant support surface of the cushion to a contour of a portion of an occupant supported by the cushion.