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:
Mar. 30, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 29, 1997
Carter Cannon, Southfield, MI (US);
John P. Slaven, Harper Woods, MI (US);
Lear Corporation, Southfield, MI (US);
Abstract
A method of imaging a vehicle occupant's body position at the interface between the vehicle occupant and a vehicle seating surface includes positioning a pressure-actuated, controlled-rigidity support bag at the interface between the vehicle occupant and the vehicle seating surface. A vacuum pressure is then created within the pressure-actuated, controlled-rigidity support bag to conform the bag to the contour of the interface between the vehicle occupant and the vehicle seating surface. The conformed bag is then imaged to determine the contour of the interface, thereby determining the vehicle occupant's body position on the vehicle seating surface. With this method, comfort studies may be more efficiently performed, and vehicle seat shells for race car drivers more efficiently manufactured.