Arrangement for the distribution of pressurised fluid to a seat unit having a backrest

Claim 2

Arrangement for the distribution of pressurised fluid to a seat unit (2) having a backrest, characterised by having a first fluid-containing chamber (3) adaptable to the seat area (4) of the seat unit (2) so as to be adapted to receive, at least in part, the user's weight; at least one inflatable chamber (6,7) adaptable to the seat unit backrest (5), and lines (8,9) communicating between said first chamber (3) and each said backrest chamber (6,7), each of said lines (8,9) having inserted therein a normally closed valve means (50) provided with opening means having opening controls (81,95) adapted for being positioned in the seat unit (2) such as to be easily accessible to the user thereof.

Claim 3

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein there are two inflatable chambers in the backrest area (4), one of them (6) for supporting the user's back and the other (7) for supporting the user's cervical region.

Claim 4

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said first chamber (3) is resilient and tends to recover and maintain the volume it occupied when not subject to the user's weight.

Claim 5

The arrangement of claim 1, being provided further with means allowing it to be releasably mounted to a seat means having a backrest.

Claim 6

The arrangement of claim 1, in which the valve means (50) has a valve body (51) with two access ports (62,63) to the interior thereof, at least one valve seat and a stopper (61) for bearing against each said valve seat, wherein the or each valve seat comprises a resilient washer (56,59) positioned between the stopper (61) and one of the access ports (62,63), while said stopper (61) is made from lightweight material, there being also an opening means (66,84) associated with each washer (56,59) forming each valve seat and capable of penetrating from the space opposite that occupied by the stopper (61) in the washer orifice (57,60), preventing the stopper (61) from seating against the valve seat, said opening means (66,84) being partially housed in a sealed tubular member (67,85) fixedly attached to the valve body (51), each opening means (66,84) comprising a filiform member (78,91) moveable in a longitudinal direction, a spring member (71,82) urging it away from the washer orifice (57,60) and an opening control (81,95) for causing such longitudinal movement.

Claim 7

The arrangement of claim 5, wherein the internal end portion of each opening means (66,84) housed in the corresponding tubular member (67,85) is covered with an elongate flexible hood memoer (71), the open end (70) flange (69) of which is inserted in a sealed fashion in the tubular member (67,35).

Claim 8

The arrangement of claim 6, having first and second valve seats (56,59) formed by respective resilient washe: generally opposed to one another and comprised between said access ports (62,63), there being also first and second opening means (66,84) associated respectively with the washers forming said first and second valve seats.

Claim 9

The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the first openi: means (56) is formed by a cable (78) positioned with possibility of limited relative movement in a sheath (80 which leaves the end portions (78) of the cable free, said cable having at the outer end thereof a control pusl button (81) urged by a spring (82) forming said spring member and said sheath (80) is held in place by a perforated plug (73) screwed into the free end of the tubular member (67) and having a fixed axial clamp-like projection (75) to which there is adjustaoly mounted a second clamp member (76).

Claim 10

The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the second open means (84) is formed by a rod (91) having successively a end (92) covered by said resilient hood member (71), a disc (93) speared in the centre thereof by said rod (91) pair of opposed radial arms (94) and a control knob (95) the rod (91) being capable of rotation relative to the corresponding tubular member (35), the latter having a threaded plug (37) provided in the free end thereof whith slot (90) allowing the passage of said radial arms (94), while said disc (93) is housed within (88) the said plug (87).

Claim 11

The arrangement of claim 6, having a single valve seat formed by a resilient washer (56) and wherein the opening means (66) comprises a cable (78) positioned with possibility of limited relative movement in a sheath (80) which leaves the end portions (78) of the cable free, said cable having at the outer end thereof a control push button (81) urged by a spring (82) forming said spring member and said sheath (80) is held in place by a perforated plug (73) screwed into the free end of the tubular member (67) and having a fixed axial clamp-like projection (75) to which there is adjustably mounted a second clamp member (76).