Automobile seat fitting spine curvature

By designing multiple support zones and adjustment components in the car seat, the problem of traditional seats being unable to accurately match the curvature of the spine has been solved, achieving precise support for the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae, thus improving riding comfort and safety.

CN121492790APending Publication Date: 2026-02-10HUNAN UNIV OF SCI & TECH
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202610035294.4
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2026-01-12
Publication Date
2026-02-10

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Traditional car seat backrest designs cannot accurately match the physiological curvature of the spine of drivers of different heights and body types, resulting in the cervical spine being unsupported or the lumbar spine lacking support, leading to muscle fatigue and compensatory spinal deformation.

Method used

The design incorporates multiple support zones, including cervical, thoracic, and lumbar support zones. The angle and curvature of the support segments can be adjusted using adjustment and tensioning components. Combined with an airbag lumbar support and a micro-motor drive, it achieves precise support for various parts of the spine.

Benefits of technology

Maintaining the natural physiological curves of the passenger's upper body avoids localized muscle fatigue and compensatory spinal deformation, thereby improving riding comfort and safety.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention discloses an automobile seat fitting the spine curvature, and relates to the automobile seat technology, the automobile seat comprises a seat body, the seat body is provided with a human body supporting structure, the human body supporting structure comprises a plurality of supporting areas, and the supporting areas are distributed at intervals along the axis of the seat body; the multiple supporting areas are used for supporting the cervical vertebra, the thoracic vertebra and the lumbar vertebra, the back of a passenger is supported through the multiple supporting areas, it can be guaranteed that the upper body of the passenger keeps a natural physiological curve, and the situation that due to the fact that all parts of the passenger cannot be supported, local muscle fatigue and spine compensatory deformation are caused is avoided.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive seat technology, and more particularly to an automotive seat that conforms to the curvature of the spine. Background Technology

[0002] Car seats are a crucial component of automotive passive safety, directly impacting the comfort and safety of drivers and passengers. With the development of the automotive industry and the improvement of people's living standards, consumers are placing higher demands on the comfort and health aspects of car seats.

[0003] Existing car seat designs often prioritize aesthetics and softness, neglecting the physiological characteristics of the human spine. In a natural standing position, the human spine exhibits an "S"-shaped physiological curvature, with cervical lordosis, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and sacral kyphosis. This specific physiological curvature plays a crucial role in maintaining spinal stability, cushioning shocks, and distributing the load across the upper body. Traditional seats often treat the backrest as a whole, making it difficult to provide effective independent support for the neck. This often results in the cervical spine being unsupported or subjected to improper force. At the same time, the support in the lumbosacral region is often insufficient or the support position is fixed. It is impossible to accurately match the lumbar lordosis according to the driver's height and body shape. This results in the lumbar spine being in an unsupported unsupported state or being passively stretched and straightened. As a result, the spine is unable to maintain its natural physiological curve during long periods of sitting, which in turn leads to local muscle fatigue and compensatory deformation of the spine.

[0004] To address the above shortcomings, further improvements are needed to the existing car seats, as the backrest of the car seat is a single piece, which results in insufficient support for various parts of the user's body. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome the problem that the backrest of a car seat is a single piece, which results in a lack of support for various parts of the user's body, and provides a car seat that conforms to the curvature of the spine.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a car seat that conforms to the curvature of the spine, comprising a seat body, wherein the seat body is provided with a human body support structure, the human body support structure comprising multiple support areas, the multiple support areas being distributed at intervals along the axis of the seat body, and the multiple support areas being used to support the cervical vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae and lumbar vertebrae.

[0007] As a further aspect of the present invention: the plurality of support areas respectively include a first support area, a second support area and a third support area, wherein the first support area is used to support the cervical spine, the second support area is used to support the thoracic spine and the third support area is used to support the lumbar spine.

[0008] As a further aspect of the present invention: the first support area includes a neck support section, and an adjustment support component for adjusting the tilt angle of the neck support section is provided on the side of the neck support section near the seat body.

[0009] As a further aspect of the present invention: the second support area includes a thoracic vertebral support segment, and a tensioning component for adjusting the curvature of the thoracic vertebral support segment is provided on the side of the thoracic vertebral support segment near the seat body.

[0010] As a further aspect of the present invention: the third support area includes a lumbar support segment, and the side of the lumbar support segment near the seat body is provided with an adjustment component for adjusting the curvature of the lumbar support segment.

[0011] As a further aspect of the present invention: the adjusting support assembly includes a support pad, and adjusting guide rods are provided on both sides of the support pad, and the support pad and the adjusting guide rods are rotatably connected.

[0012] As a further aspect of the present invention: the tensioning assembly includes a deformable steel frame, and a pull rope is provided on the side of the deformable steel frame away from the thoracic vertebral support segment, the top end of the pull rope being connected to the top end of the deformable steel frame.

[0013] As a further aspect of the present invention: the adjustment component includes a threaded screw, the top end of which is connected to the top end of the lumbar support section, a micro motor is provided in the seat body, and the two ends of the threaded screw are respectively threadedly engaged with the top and bottom of the lumbar support section.

[0014] As a further aspect of the present invention: an airbag lumbar support is provided on the side of the lumbar support segment near the seat body, and an air pump is provided on the side of the lumbar support segment away from the seat body. The air pump and the airbag lumbar support are connected by a hose.

[0015] As a further aspect of the present invention: the bottom of the seat body is provided with a seat cushion, the seat cushion including a front pressure relief area and a middle weight-bearing area, the front pressure relief area being a leg rest located on the side of the seat cushion away from the seat body, and the middle weight-bearing area being a honeycomb elastomer array located at the center of the seat cushion.

[0016] Compared with existing technologies, the beneficial effects of this technical solution are: by supporting the passenger's back through multiple support zones, it can ensure that the passenger's upper body maintains a natural physiological curve, and avoid the lack of support for various parts of the passenger, which could lead to local muscle fatigue and compensatory spinal deformation.

[0017] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Enlarged schematic diagram of a local structure at point A; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the neck support segment structure of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the thoracic vertebral support segment of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the thoracic vertebral support segment of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the lumbar support segment of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the lumbar support segment of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the lumbar support segment of the present invention in its usable state; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the effect of the lumbar support segment of the present invention in use; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the natural physiological curvature curve of the human spine. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0021] Please see Figure 1-10A car seat conforming to the curvature of the spine includes a seat body 1 and a human support structure 2. The seat body 1 has a support surface for accommodating the back of the human body. The human support structure 2 is located at the back of the seat body 1 and includes multiple support areas 21. The multiple support areas 21 are distributed at intervals along the axis of the seat body 1. The multiple support areas 21 are used to support the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae. Traditional car seat backs often use a single curved or linear arc structure, which cannot accurately conform to the physiological curvature of the spine of users of different heights and body types. The force distribution of the seat cushion support area is also often uneven, with excessive pressure in the ischial region and insufficient support in the lumbar and sacral regions. This leads to problems such as lumbar muscle tension, increased intervertebral disc pressure, and loss of lumbar lordosis in drivers after sitting for a long time. In the long term, this may cause or aggravate diseases such as lumbar disc herniation. This invention supports the back of passengers through multiple support areas, which can ensure that the upper body of passengers maintains a natural physiological curve and avoid the lack of support for various parts of the passenger, which can cause local muscle fatigue and compensatory deformation of the spine.

[0022] Please see Figure 11 The red curve represents the normal physiological curvature of the human spine. CL represents the cervical lordosis angle, which is the angle between the 2nd and 7th cervical vertebrae, ranging from 20° to 40°. TK represents the thoracic kyphosis angle, which is the angle between the 5th and 12th thoracic vertebrae, ranging from 20° to 50°. LL represents the lumbar lordosis angle, which is the angle between the 1st lumbar vertebra and the 1st sacral vertebra, ranging from 30° to 60°.

[0023] As a further aspect of the present invention: the plurality of support areas 21 respectively include a first support area 22, a second support area 23 and a third support area 24. The first support area 22 is located in the upper part of the backrest, the second support area 23 is located in the middle part of the backrest, and the third support area 24 is located in the lower part of the backrest. The plurality of support areas are smoothly transitioned. The first support area 22 is used to support the cervical spine, the second support area 23 is used to support the thoracic spine, and the third support area 24 is used to support the lumbar spine. When the passenger sits down, the plurality of support areas can respectively correspond to the cervical lordosis, thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis of the passenger, thereby forming a continuous support that conforms to the S-shaped physiological curve.

[0024] As a further aspect of the present invention: the first support area 22 includes a neck support segment 221 and an adjustable support component 222 that cooperates with the neck support segment 221. The adjustable support component 222 is disposed inside the neck support segment 221. The neck support segment 221 has an initial state and an adjustable state. When the adjustable support component 222 drives the neck support segment 221 to protrude forward, the neck support segment 221 is in the adjustable state. When the adjustable support component 222 drives the neck support segment 221 to reset, the neck support segment 221 is in the initial state. When the neck needs to be fully supported, the adjustable support component can drive the neck support segment to move closer to the passenger's neck or change its angle so that the neck support segment conforms to the curvature of the cervical spine, thereby changing the neck support segment to the adjustable state. When the adjustable support component drives the neck support segment to reset, the neck support segment will change from the adjustable state to the initial state.

[0025] As a further aspect of the present invention: the adjustable support assembly 222 includes a support pad 223, and adjustable guide rods 224 are provided on both sides of the support pad 223. The support pad 223 and the adjustable guide rods 224 are rotatably connected. The support pad 223 is a variable stiffness silicone support pad. The adjustable guide rods are connected to the silicone support pad. A micro motor is provided inside the seat body. The drive end of the micro motor is connected to the adjustable guide rod. After the micro motor is started, it will drive the adjustable guide rod to rotate and move. When the adjustable guide rod rotates, it will cause the angle of the support pad to deflect. When the angle of the support pad deflects, it will contact the neck support segment to change the angle of the neck support segment, so that the neck support segment can change within the range of cervical lordosis angle from 20° to 40°, thereby achieving the effect of adapting to different cervical spine shapes.

[0026] In other embodiments: the adjustable support assembly 222 includes a knob on the side of the headrest and a ratchet and pawl mechanism inside. When the user rotates the knob, the adjustment guide rod moves through gear transmission, thereby changing the tilt angle of the neck support section 221. The ratchet mechanism can ensure that the adjusted angle is locked and will not retract when the head is leaning against it.

[0027] As a further aspect of the present invention: the second support area 23 includes a thoracic spine support segment 231. A tensioning assembly 232 for adjusting the curvature of the thoracic spine support segment 231 is provided on the side of the thoracic spine support segment 231 closest to the seat body 1. The tensioning assembly 232 includes a deformable steel frame 233. A plurality of separate flexible support units are provided on the surface of the deformable steel frame 233. A pull rope 234 is provided on the side of the deformable steel frame 233 away from the thoracic spine support segment 231, and the top end of the pull rope 234 is connected to the top end of the deformable steel frame 233. Next, the micro motor applies tension through the winding pull rope 234. When the pull rope 234 is tightened, the top of the deformable steel frame 233 will undergo elastic deformation due to the tension, thereby increasing the curvature of the thoracic spine support section 231. When the pull rope is relaxed, the deformable steel frame 233 will rebound, causing the curvature of the thoracic spine support section 231 to decrease. This allows the thoracic spine support section 231 to be adjusted within the kyphosis angle of the thoracic spine from 20° to 50°, ensuring that the thoracic spine support section 231 can support the passenger's chest.

[0028] In other embodiments: the pull rope 234 in the tensioning assembly 232 is connected to a manual crank handle on the side of the seat. The crank handle is connected to a reel, and by turning the crank handle to wind or release the pull rope 234, the deformable steel frame 233 is pulled to deform. To save effort, a reduction gear set is provided at the crank handle shaft.

[0029] As a further aspect of the present invention: the third support area 24 includes a lumbar support segment 241. An adjustment component 242 for adjusting the curvature of the lumbar support segment 241 is provided on the side of the lumbar support segment 241 near the seat body 1. The adjustment component 242 includes a threaded screw 243, the top end of which is connected to the top end of the lumbar support segment 241. A micro motor 244 is provided in the seat body 1. The two ends of the threaded screw 243 are threadedly engaged with the top and bottom of the lumbar support segment 241, respectively. After the motor is started, it drives the threaded screw to rotate. After the threaded screw rotates, the connection points at both ends can move closer or further apart through the threaded engagement. When the connection points move closer, the lumbar support segment 241 arches under force, increasing the lumbar lordosis angle. When the connection points move further apart, the lumbar support segment 241 becomes flatter, decreasing the lumbar lordosis angle. This achieves the effect of adjusting the lumbar support force within the range of 30° to 60°.

[0030] In other embodiments, the adjustment component can be an electric push rod, and the connector can be a push plate connected to the drive end of the electric push rod. When the length of the electric push rod increases, the push plate will push the lumbar support segment to move towards the waist of the human body, and when the length of the electric push rod decreases, the push plate will drive the lumbar support segment to retract into the seat.

[0031] As a further aspect of the present invention: the lumbar support segment 241 is also provided with a double-layer dynamic support system. The side of the lumbar support segment 241 closest to the human body is provided with an airbag lumbar support 245, and the side of the lumbar support segment 241 away from the human body is provided with an air pump 246. The air pump 246 and the airbag lumbar support 245 are connected by a flexible tube. After the airbag lumbar support is installed, it can ensure the softness of the lumbar support segment in contact with the human back. The cooperation between the air pump and the airbag can achieve stepless adjustment. When it is necessary to enhance the fit of the support, the air pump is started to inflate, and the airbag expands to fill the gap in the waist. When it is necessary to reduce the hardness, the airbag is deflated to provide flexible cushioning.

[0032] As a further aspect of the present invention: a seat cushion 3 is provided at the bottom of the seat body 1. The seat cushion 3 includes a front pressure relief area 31 and a middle load-bearing area 32. The front pressure relief area 31 is provided with a retractable leg rest 311. The front edge of the leg rest 311 has a rounded downward sloping profile. The middle load-bearing area 32 is provided with a honeycomb elastomer array 321. The honeycomb elastomer array 321 has nonlinear compression characteristics. The honeycomb elastomer array is placed under the ischium. It is soft under light load to ensure riding comfort and provides high rigidity support under heavy load to prevent excessive sinking of the buttocks.

[0033] Furthermore, the seat cushion 3 also includes a rear stabilizing area 33, which is used to stabilize the pelvic position, support the sacrum, and form a continuous mechanical chain with the bottom of the seat body to prevent posterior pelvic tilt and thus protect the lumbar lordosis. The rear height is slightly convex to the front relative to the horizontal plane, higher than the middle load-bearing area 32. A gel pad is designed in the central coccyx area at the rear for coccyx decompression. The front pressure relief area 31 is designed as a retractable leg rest, and the support edge adopts a rounded downward contour. This can better support the legs according to the length of the human leg and relieve leg muscle fatigue caused by insufficient leg support for a long time. The middle load-bearing area 32 is designed with a honeycomb elastomer array 321 at the ischium position, which can play a better supporting role according to the weight of the human body and prevent uneven contact between the seat cushion and the human buttocks, which can easily lead to uneven pressure on the buttocks and cause buttock muscle fatigue. The rear stabilizing zone 3 is higher than the middle load-bearing zone 32, which can prevent the pelvis from tilting backward and thus protect the lumbar lordosis. The center of the rear stabilizing zone is designed with a gel pad to protect the coccyx and prevent the coccyx from touching the bottom. The seat cushion 3 is filled with an elastic material with gradually varying hardness so that the body pressure is evenly distributed along the longitudinal direction of the seat cushion.

[0034] As a further aspect of the present invention: a headrest 4 is also provided on the top of the seat body 1. The headrest 4 can support the passenger's head. A slide rail 41 and a slider 42 are provided between the headrest 4 and the support pad 223. The slide rail 41 is installed at the top of the support pad 223, and the slider 42 is installed at the bottom of the headrest 4. A locking structure is provided between the slide rail 41 and the slider 42. The slider 42 and the slide rail 41 form a sliding connection, so that the headrest 4 can move relative to the support pad 223 through the slider 42. The locking structure can lock the slider 42 in the current position after the headrest 4 has moved, ensuring that the headrest 4 will not shift after the height adjustment is completed.

[0035] Furthermore, the neck support section 221 supports the upper part of the cervical spine and works with the headrest 4 to maintain the natural forward curvature of the cervical spine, reducing neck and shoulder strain. It adopts a double-layer composite structure, with an inner layer of variable stiffness silicone support pad and an outer layer of breathable memory foam covering. The support pad integrates a curvature adjustment rod driven by a micro motor, which can achieve precise adjustment of the forward curvature angle within the range of 20°-40°, thereby conforming to the physiological curvature of the cervical spine of different passengers, reducing cervical flexion and extension stress, and ensuring that the passenger's neck will not be unsupported.

[0036] Furthermore, the thoracic vertebral support segment 231 supports the rib cage, maintaining the slight kyphosis of the thoracic spine to stabilize the upper body and scapular position. A split-type flexible support unit is employed, with each unit consisting of an elastic sheet and supporting ribs. Each unit is fixed to an elastic deformable steel frame. A micro-motor pulls a steel cable lock to change the curvature of the elastic steel frame, thereby fine-tuning the thoracic and back curvature. This design maintains continuous support for the thoracic kyphosis area during vehicle vibrations or changes in occupant posture, avoiding localized suspension or compression, and ensuring that the passenger's thoracic spine is always supported.

[0037] Furthermore, the lumbar support segment 241 directly supports the lumbar lordosis, maintains the physiological curvature of the lumbar spine, and shares the load of the upper body. It is the core area for reducing lumbar pressure. It adopts a double-layer dynamic support system. The outer layer is a highly elastic support thin plate structure, and the inner layer is a pneumatic adjustable lumbar support component. The lumbar support component is composed of a flexible airbag and a deformable metal frame. The height and curvature of the lumbar support can be adjusted by a micro motor controlled by an adjustment button to ensure that the lumbar lordosis angle is maintained within a healthy range of 30°-60°.

[0038] Furthermore, the bottom of the seat body 1 is the sacral support segment 25. The sacral support segment 25 supports the posterior superior pelvic spine region through a rigid-flexible composite structural design. The internal U-shaped steel frame serves as the main load-bearing skeleton, and the outer layer is covered with a high-density EVA foam layer to absorb vibration and disperse pressure. This structure forms a closed-loop support system with the rear stable area of ​​the seat cushion to prevent spinal collapse caused by posterior rotation of the pelvis.

[0039] During implementation, after passengers are seated, the position of the leg rest in the front pressure relief area is first adjusted according to the thigh length to avoid pressure on the thigh blood vessels. Then, the adjustment control switch is activated, and the various micro motors in the backrest assembly work together: the neck adjustment support component drives the silicone pad to extend forward to fill the gap behind the neck; the thoracic spine tensioning component adjusts the curvature of the steel frame to conform to the back curve; the lumbar spine threaded screw rotates to arch the lumbar spine support plate to a suitable angle, while the air pump inflates the airbag for fine adjustment. At this time, the cervical spine, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine areas receive targeted support, and the spine maintains a natural S-shaped physiological curvature, effectively distributing the weight load of the upper body, thereby reducing fatigue during long-distance driving and protecting spinal health.

[0040] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A car seat that conforms to the curvature of the spine, characterized in that, The seat body (1) is provided with a human body support structure (2). The human body support structure (2) includes multiple support areas (21). The multiple support areas (21) are distributed at intervals along the axis of the seat body (1). The multiple support areas (21) are used to support the cervical spine, thoracic spine and lumbar spine.

2. The car seat conforming to the curvature of the spine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of support areas (21) include a first support area (22), a second support area (23) and a third support area (24), wherein the first support area (22) is used to support the cervical spine, the second support area (23) is used to support the thoracic spine and the third support area (24) is used to support the lumbar spine.

3. The car seat conforming to the curvature of the spine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first support area (22) includes a neck support section (221), and an adjustment support component (222) for adjusting the tilt angle of the neck support section (221) is provided on the side of the neck support section (221) near the seat body (1).

4. The car seat conforming to the curvature of the spine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second support area (23) includes a thoracic support segment (231), and a tensioning component (232) for adjusting the curvature of the thoracic support segment (231) is provided on the side of the thoracic support segment (231) near the seat body (1).

5. The car seat conforming to the curvature of the spine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The third support area (24) includes a lumbar support segment (241), and the lumbar support segment (241) is provided with an adjustment component (242) for adjusting the curvature of the lumbar support segment (241) on the side near the seat body (1).

6. The car seat conforming to the curvature of the spine according to claim 3, characterized in that, The adjustable support assembly (222) includes a support pad (223), and adjustable guide rods (224) are provided on both sides of the support pad (223). The support pad (223) and the adjustable guide rods (224) are rotatably connected.

7. The car seat conforming to the curvature of the spine according to claim 4, characterized in that, The tensioning assembly (232) includes a deformable steel frame (233), on which a pull rope (234) is provided on the side away from the thoracic vertebral support segment (231), and the top end of the pull rope (234) is connected to the top end of the deformable steel frame (233).

8. The car seat conforming to the curvature of the spine according to claim 5, characterized in that, The adjustment component (242) includes a threaded screw (243), the top end of which is connected to the top end of the lumbar support section (243). The seat body (1) is provided with a micro motor (244). The two ends of the threaded screw (243) are respectively threadedly engaged with the top and bottom of the lumbar support section (243).

9. The car seat conforming to the curvature of the spine according to claim 5, characterized in that, The lumbar support section (243) is provided with an airbag lumbar support (245) on the side close to the seat body (1), and an air pump (246) is provided on the side of the lumbar support section (243) away from the seat body (1). The air pump (246) and the airbag lumbar support (245) are connected by a hose.

10. The car seat conforming to the curvature of the spine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the seat body (1) is provided with a seat cushion (3). The seat cushion (3) includes a front pressure relief area (31) and a middle load-bearing area (32). The front pressure relief area (31) is a leg rest (311) located on the side of the seat cushion (3) away from the seat body (1). The middle load-bearing area (32) is a honeycomb elastomer array (321) located at the center of the seat cushion (3).