发明人：
DEEVERS, NICKOLAUS WILLIAM CHARLES | FORSLUND, CARL, V. | HAMILTON, JOHN RICHARD | HEIDMANN, KURT R. | LUDWIG, JAMES | SMITH, BRUCE | PORTERFIELD, AARON MICHAEL
技术功效语段：
The present invention is a body support structure that includes a plurality of support members arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, with each support member having a unique structure that allows for flexibility and comfort while supporting the user's body. The support members are connected at their edges, creating a space between them, and a perimeter array is added to complete the structure. The technical effects of this invention include improved flexibility, comfort, and ergonomic responsiveness of the body support structure, as well as a simplified manufacturing and assembly process.
权利要求：
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A body support structure comprising: a plurality of spaced apart support members defining opposite first and second surfaces, wherein adjacent support members define openings between sides of the adjacent support members; a plurality of spaced apart base members defining opposite first and second surfaces, wherein the first surfaces of the base members face toward and are spaced apart from the second surfaces of the support members such that the plurality of support members and the plurality of base members define a space therebetween, wherein each of the base members underlies at least portions of the openings defined by at least two adjacent support members, and wherein adjacent base members define openings between sides of the adjacent base members; and a plurality of connectors extending across the space and connecting each base member with the at least two adjacent support members, wherein each connector defines a first acute angle relative to the second surface of the respective support member and a second acute angle relative to the first surface of the base member.
2. The body support structure of claim 1 wherein at least some of the base members underlie at least portions of the openings defined by at least four adjacent support members.
3. The body support structure of claim 2 wherein the at least portions of the openings have a cross shape.
4. The body support structure of claim 2 wherein at least some of the plurality of support members are rectangular.
5. The body support structure of claim 4 wherein at least some of the plurality of base members are rectangular.
6. The body support structure of claim 1 wherein at least some of the base members have through openings underlying at least portions of the openings defined by at least two adjacent support members.
7. The body support structure of claim 1 wherein the first surfaces of the support members and second surfaces of the base members face away from each other.
8. The body support structure of claim 1 wherein at least some of the connectors comprise linear legs.
9. The body support structure of claim 1 wherein at least portions of the first and second surfaces are planar.
10. The body support structure of claim 1 wherein the first and second surfaces are curved.
11. A seat comprising the body support structure of claim 1.
12. A backrest comprising the body support structure of claim 1.
13. A body support structure comprising: a field array comprising a plurality of spaced apart support members arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein each of the rows has the same number (nl) of support members, and wherein each of the columns has the same number (n2) of support members, wherein at least one of the rows has a first width and at least another one of the rows has a second width, wherein the first and second widths are different, wherein at least one of the columns has a first length and at least another one of the columns has a second length, wherein the first and second lengths are different;
a perimeter array defining a closed ring surrounding the field array, wherein the perimeter array comprises first and second rows of spaced apart support members connected to opposite outermost end rows of the field array, and first and second columns connected to opposite outermost end columns of the field array, wherein the first and second rows and the first and second columns of the perimeter array are connected, and wherein the first and second rows of the perimeter array comprise nl support members and wherein the first and second columns of the perimeter array comprise n2 support members; and wherein the support members in the field array and perimeter array are connected.
14. The body support structure of claim 13 wherein the perimeter array comprises at least a pair of each of the first and second rows of the perimeter array and a pair of each of the first and second columns of the perimeter array, wherein each of the first and second rows of the perimeter array comprise nl support members and wherein each of the first and second columns of the perimeter array comprise n2 support members.
15. The body support structure of claim 13 wherein the field array is non- planar.
16. The body support structure of claim 13 wherein at least some of the rows and at least some of the columns are non-linear.
17. A body support structure comprising: a field array comprising a plurality of spaced apart support members arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein each of the rows has nl support members, and wherein each of the columns has n2 support members, wherein the outermost periphery of the field array comprises n3 support members, wherein n3=2*nl + (2*(n2-2)), wherein at least one of the rows has a first width and at least another one of the rows has a second width, wherein the
first and second widths are different, wherein at least one of the columns has a first length and at least another one of the columns has a second length, wherein the first and second lengths are different; a perimeter array defining a closed ring surrounding and connected to the field array, wherein the perimeter array comprises first and second rows of spaced apart support members connected to opposite outermost end rows of the field array, and first and second columns connected to opposite outermost end columns of the field array, wherein the first and second rows and first and second columns of the perimeter array have n4 support members, wherein n4=(2*n2) + (2*nl); and wherein the support members in the field array and perimeter array are connected.
18. The body support structure of claim 17 wherein the closed ring comprises a first ring, and wherein the perimeter array comprises at least a second ring surrounding and connected to the first ring, wherein the second ring has n5 support members, wherein n5=n4.
19. The body support structure of claim ly wherein the perimeter array comprises a plurality of concentric closed rings.
20. The body support structure of claim 17 wherein adjacent support members define openings between sides of the adjacent support members, and further comprising: a plurality of spaced apart base members spaced apart from the support members such that the plurality of support members and the plurality of base members define a space therebetween, wherein each of the base members underlies at least portions of the openings defined by at least two adjacent support members, and wherein adjacent base members define openings between sides of the adjacent base portions; and a plurality of connectors extending between and connecting each base member with the at least two adjacent support members.
21. The body support structure of claim 20 wherein each connector defines a first acute angle relative to the respective support member and a second acute angle relative to the base member.
22. The body support structure of claim 20 wherein at least some of the base members underlie at least portions of the openings defined by at least four adjacent support members.
23. The body support structure of claim 20 wherein at least some of the base members have through openings underlying at least portions of the openings defined by at least two adjacent support members.
24. A body support structure comprising: a structural lattice structure having a first stiffness; a compressive lattice structure supported by the structural lattice structure, wherein the compressive lattice structure has a second stiffness less than the first stiffness, wherein the compressive lattice structure is compressible in response to a first normal force applied thereto; and a skin lattice structure supported by the compressive lattice structure, wherein the skin lattice structure is resistant to shear deformation in response to a second normal force applied thereto, and wherein the skin lattice structure is expandable in a direction transverse to the second normal force applied thereto in response to the second normal force being applied thereto.
25. The body support structure of claim 24 wherein the compressive lattice structure comprises a pair of spaced apart beams defining an opening therebetween, wherein the skin lattice structure is coupled to the compressive lattice structure and spans across the opening.
26. The body support structure of claim 25 wherein at least a portion of the skin lattice structure overlying the opening is not supported by any other structure.
27. The body support structure of claim 24 wherein the compressive lattice structure comprises a cellular matrix comprising a first portion having at least one layer of unit cells and a second portion having a plurality of layers of unit cells, wherein the second portion has more layers of unit cells than the first layer, and comprising a transition between the first and second portions.
28. The body support structure of claim 25 wherein the compressive lattice structure comprises a cross member connecting the beams and positioned proximate a front of a seat portion.
29. The body support structure of claim 24 wherein the compressive lattice structure comprises an interior core lattice and a face lattice connected to the core lattice and defining an outermost surface of the compressive lattice structure.
30. The body support structure of claim 24 further comprising a non-lattice structure positioned between portions of the structural lattice structure such that the structural lattice structure is discontinuous.
31. The body support structure of claim 24 wherein the non-lattice structure comprises a solid or tubular structure.
32. The body support structure of claim 24 wherein the structural lattice structure defines at least a portion of a base, a seat support connected to the base and a back frame connected to one of the base or seat support.
33. The body support structure of claim 32 wherein the base comprises a pedestal having a floor-engaging portion.
34. The body support structure of claim 33 further comprising a strut disposed between the base and one of the seat support or back frame.
35. The body support structure of claim 34 wherein the strut comprises: spaced apart first and second end portions coupled to the base and the one of the seat support or back frame respectively; and an intermediate compressive lattice structure connected to the first and second end portions; wherein the first and second end portions are moveable between a nominal position and a compressed position, wherein the intermediate compressive lattice structure is compressible between a nominal configuration and a compressed configuration corresponding to the nominal and compressed positions, wherein the intermediate compressive lattice structure applies a biasing force to the first and second end portions when in the compressed configuration.
36. The body support structure of claim 32 wherein a front portion of the seat support is pivotally coupled to the base at a flex region, wherein the seat support is cantilevered rearwardly from the flex region, and wherein the back frame extends upwardly from the seat support.
37. The body support structure of claim 24 wherein the skin lattice structure comprises: a plurality of spaced apart support members defining opposite first and second surfaces, wherein adjacent support members define openings between sides of the adjacent support members; a plurality of spaced apart base members defining opposite first and second surfaces, wherein the first surfaces of the base members face toward and are spaced apart from the second surfaces of the support members such that the plurality of support members and the plurality of base members define a space therebetween, wherein each of the base members underlies at least portions of the openings defined by at least two adjacent support members, and wherein adjacent
base members define openings between sides of the adjacent base members, wherein at least some of the base members are connected to the compressive lattice structure; and a plurality of connectors extending across the space and connecting each base portion with the at least two adjacent support members.
38. The body support structure of claim 37 wherein at least some of the base members have through openings underlying at least portions of the openings defined by at least two adjacent support members.
39. The body support structure of claim 24 wherein at least portions of one of the structural lattice structure or compressive lattice structure are discontinuous.
40. The body support structure of claim 24 wherein the structural lattice structure, compressive lattice structure and skin lattice structure are free of any mechanical interconnections therebetween.
41. The body support structure of claim 24 wherein at least one of the structural lattice structure, compressive lattice structure and skin lattice structure comprises an integrated kinematic feature.
42. The body support structure of claim 41 wherein the integrated kinematic feature comprises a movement limiter.
43. The body support structure of claim 41 wherein the integrated kinematic feature comprises a biasing member.
44. The body support structure of claim 24 wherein the compressive lattice structure comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane.
45. The body support structure of claim 24 wherein the structural lattice structure comprises a polypropylene.
46. A method of manufacturing the body support structure of claim 24 comprising forming the structural lattice structure, the compressive lattice structure and the skin lattice structure by additive manufacturing.
47. The method of claim 46 wherein the additive manufacturing comprises 3-D printing.
48. The method of claim 47 wherein the 3-D printing comprises integrally forming the structural lattice structure, compressive lattice structure and skin lattice structure during a single 3-D printing operation.
49. The method of claim 47 comprising defining one or more of the structural lattice structure, compressive lattice structure and skin lattice structure by creating a two dimensional surface map and voxalizing the map to configure a three- dimensional model operative for programming a 3-D printer to perform the 3-D printing.
50. A body support structure comprising: a base structure; a body support member; and a strut comprising: spaced apart first and second end portions coupled to the body support member and base structure respectively; and an intermediate compressive lattice structure connected to the first and second end portions; wherein the first and second end portions are moveable between a nominal position and a compressed position, wherein the compressive lattice structure is compressible between a nominal configuration and a compressed
configuration corresponding to the nominal and compressed positions, wherein the compressive lattice structure applies a biasing force to the first and second end portions when in the compressed configuration.
51. The strut of claim 50 wherein the first and second end portions comprise first and second lattice structures respectively.
52. The strut of claim 50 further comprising a guide coupled to the first end portion and a track coupled to the second end portion, wherein the guide and track are moveably connected.
53. The strut of claim 50 wherein the track and guide are disposed interiorly of the compressive lattice structure.
54. The strut of claim 50 wherein the body support member comprises at least one of a seat and/or backrest.
55. A body support structure comprising: a base structure; and a body support member coupled to the base structure; wherein at least one of the base structure and body support structure comprises a lattice structure having an integrated kinematic feature.
56. The body support structure of claim 55 wherein the integrated kinematic feature comprises a movement limiter.
57. The body support structure of claim 55 wherein the integrated kinematic feature comprises a biasing member.
58. A body support structure comprising:
a plurality of spaced apart support members defining opposite first and second surfaces, wherein adjacent support members define openings between sides of the adjacent support members; a plurality of spaced apart base members defining opposite first and second surfaces, wherein the first surfaces of the base members face toward and are spaced apart from the second surfaces of the support members such that the plurality of support members and the plurality of base members define a space therebetween, wherein each of the base members underlies at least portions of the openings defined by at least two adjacent support members, and wherein adjacent base members define openings between sides of the adjacent base members; and a plurality of connector legs extending across the space, connecting each base member with the at least four adjacent support members, and connecting each support member with at least four adjacent base members, at least some of the connector legs have a different length than other connectors legs, wherein the spaces between at least some of the connected support members and base members are different than the spaces between other connected support members and base members.
59. The body support structure of claim 58 further comprising a first region having longer connector legs connecting the base members and support members, and a second region having shorter connector legs connecting the base members and support members.
60. The body support structure of claim 59 wherein the second region is stiffer than the first region.
61. The body support structure of claim 58 further comprising an edge portion connected and surrounding the base members and support members.
62. The body support structure of claim 61 wherein the edge portion is tapered outwardly.
63. A seat comprising the body support structure of claim 59.
64. A backrest comprising the body support structure of claim 59.
65. The backrest of claim 64 wherein the second region defines a lumbar region of the backrest.
66. The backrest of claim 59 wherein the one of the plurality of spaced apart support members or plurality of spaced apart base members includes a visual display.