Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a multi-port control valve assembly for inflating or deflating a bladder of a vehicle seat. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a lumbar support system for a vehicle seat controlled by a pump and multi-port control valve assembly.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Conventionally, vehicles include a lumbar support in the vehicle seat for a tireless riding experience. The seat includes a lumber bladder that can be inflated or deflated as per the requirement to make the traveling comfortable. However, typical lumbar supports are mechanical that do not allow control of the inflation or deflation of the bladder at a required location. The mechanical function is less effective with regard to pressure distribution in comparison to a pneumatic system, but they are costly as they include costly electrical equipment.
[0004] There is, therefore, a need for an improved pneumatic lumbar support system for vehicles, which is easy to operate and cost-effective.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0005] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy are as listed hereinbelow.
[0006] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a lumbar support system, which is cost-effective and easy to operate.
[0007] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a lumbar support system, which is efficient as it allows independent inflation or deflation of multiple bladders.
[0008] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a lumbar support system, which is simple and easy to use as the complete operation of the lumbar support system can be performed using a multi-port control valve assembly.
[0009] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a lumbar support system, which requires less maintenance as no complex electronic equipment is used.

SUMMARY
[0010] The present disclosure relates to a multi-port control valve assembly for inflating or deflating a bladder of a vehicle seat. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a lumbar support system for a vehicle seat controlled by a pump and multi-port control valve assembly.
[0011] An aspect of the present disclosure pertains to a multi-port control valve assembly to control inflation and deflation of a bladder. The multi-port control valve assembly includes a valve body including a first port fluidically coupled with a pump, a second port fluidically coupled with the bladder, and an exhaust port. The valve body is arranged on a carrier. In an aspect, the valve body includes a latching member at a first side of the valve body. In an alternate aspect, the carrier includes a latching member at a first side of the carrier. A member is arranged on the valve body and configured to move between a first position along a first direction towards the first side with respect to a neutral position of the member, and a second position along a second direction with respect to the neutral position. The member includes a locking member, projecting towards the latching member, configured to be locked against the latching member when the member is moved to the first position. Upon moving the member at the first position a portion of the valve body moves to open a fluid connection between the first port and the second port such that an airflow generated by actuating the pump is allowed to pass through the first port and the second port to inflate the bladder.
[0012] In an aspect, the pump may be actuated by manually pressing a piston vertically downward within a cylinder of the pump.
[0013] In an aspect, moving the member at the second position may facilitate any air present inside the bladder to be released controllably to an ambient, till a time the member is held at the second position, through the second port and the exhaust port.
[0014] In an aspect, the neutral position may correspond to a position wherein the fluid connection between the first port, the second port, and the exhaust port are closed and no inflation or deflation of the bladder is allowed.
[0015] In an aspect, any of the locking members of the member and latching member of the valve body or the carrier are flexible or pivotable such that when a force is applied towards the second direction the member moves back to the neutral position.
[0016] Another aspect of the present disclosure pertains to a lumbar support system for a vehicle seat. The lumbar support system includes one or more bladders configured at pre-defined positions in the vehicle seat. One or more multi-port control valve assembly configured with the one or more bladders to control inflation and deflation of the one or more of bladders. The control valve assembly includes a valve body including a first port fluidically coupled with a pump, a second port fluidically coupled with the one or more bladders, and an exhaust port. The valve body is arranged on a carrier. In an aspect, the valve body includes a latching member at a first side of the valve body. In an alternate aspect, the carrier includes a latching member at a first side of the carrier. A member, arranged on the valve body, configured to move between a first position along a first direction, towards the first side, with respect to a neutral position and a second position along a second direction with respect to the neutral position. The member includes a locking member, projecting towards the latching member, configured to be locked against the latching member when the member is moved to the first position. Upon moving the member at the first position a portion of the valve body moves to open a fluid connection between the first port and the second port such that an airflow generated by actuating the pump is allowed to pass through the first port and the second port to inflate the one or more bladders.
[0017] In an aspect, the pump may be actuated by manually pressing a piston vertically downward within a cylinder of the pump.
[0018] In an aspect, moving the member at the second position may facilitate any air present inside the one or more bladders to be released controllably to an ambient, till a time the member is held at the second position, through the second port and the exhaust port.
[0019] In an aspect, the neutral position may correspond to a position wherein a fluid connection between the first port, the second port, and the exhaust port are closed and no inflation or deflation of the one or more bladders is allowed.
[0020] In an aspect, the pump may be fluidically coupled with the valve assembly through a non-return valve.
[0021] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0022] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. The diagrams are for illustration only, which thus is not a limitation of the present disclosure.
[0023] In the figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.
[0024] FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary representation of a block diagram of a lumber support system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of a lumber support system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary representation of a multi-port control valve assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 3A-B illustrates an exemplary representation of the multi-port control valve assembly at the first position, FIG. 3C illustrates an exemplary representation of the multi-port control valve assembly at the second position, FIG. 3D illustrates an exemplary representation of the multi-port control valve assembly at the neutral position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0029] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details.
[0030] The present disclosure relates to a multi-port control valve assembly for inflating or deflating a bladder of a vehicle seat. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a lumbar support system for a vehicle seat controlled by a pump and multi-port control valve assembly.
[0031] The present disclosure elaborates upon a multi-port control valve assembly to control inflation and deflation of a bladder. The multi-port control valve assembly includes a valve body including a first port fluidically coupled with a pump, a second port fluidically coupled with the bladder, and an exhaust port. The valve body is arranged on a carrier. Any of the valve body or the carrier includes a latching member at a first side of the valve body or the carrier. A member is arranged on the valve body and configured to move between a first position along a first direction towards the first side with respect to a neutral position of the member, and a second position along a second direction with respect to the neutral position. The member includes a locking member, projecting towards the latching member, configured to be locked against the latching member when the member is moved to the first position. Upon moving the member at the first position a portion of the valve body moves to open a fluid connection between the first port and the second port such that an airflow generated by actuating the pump is allowed to pass through the first port and the second port to inflate the bladder.
[0032] In an aspect, the pump may be actuated by manually pressing a piston vertically downward within a cylinder of the pump.
[0033] In an aspect, moving the member at the second position may facilitate any air present inside the bladder to be released controllably to an ambient, till a time the member is held at the second position, through the second port and the exhaust port.
[0034] In an aspect, the neutral position may correspond to a position wherein the fluid connection between the first port, the second port, and the exhaust port are closed and no inflation or deflation of the bladder is allowed.
[0035] In an aspect, any of the locking member of the member and/or latching member of the valve body or the carrier are flexible or pivotable such that when a force is applied towards a second direction the member moves back to the neutral position.
[0036] Another aspect of the present disclosure pertains to a lumbar support system for a vehicle seat. The lumbar support system includes one or more bladders configured at pre-defined positions in the vehicle seat. One or more multi-port control valve assembly configured with the one or more bladders to control inflation and deflation of the one or more of bladders. The control valve assembly includes a valve body including a first port fluidically coupled with a pump, a second port fluidically coupled with one or more bladders, and an exhaust port. The body is arranged on a carrier, the body or the carrier includes a latching member at a first side of the valve body or the carrier. A member, arranged on the valve body, configured to move between a first position along a first direction, towards the first side, with respect to a neutral position and a second position along a second direction with respect to the neutral position. The member includes a locking member, projecting towards the latching member, configured to be locked against the latching member when the member is moved to the first position. Upon moving the member at the first position a portion of the valve body moves to open a fluid connection between the first port and the second port such that an airflow generated by actuating the pump is allowed to pass through the first port and the second port to inflate the one or more bladders.
[0037] In an aspect, the pump may be actuated by manually pressing a piston vertically downward within a cylinder of the pump.
[0038] In an aspect, moving the member at the second position may facilitate any air present inside the one or more bladders to be released controllably to an ambient, till a time the member is held at the second position, through the second port and the exhaust port.
[0039] In an aspect, the neutral position may correspond to a position wherein a fluid connection between the first port, the second port, and the exhaust port are closed and no inflation or deflation of the one or more bladders is allowed.
[0040] In an aspect, the pump may be fluidically coupled with the valve assembly through a non-return valve.
[0041] As illustrated in FIGs. 1A to 2, a lumbar support system 100 for a vehicle seat can include one or more bladders 102-1, 102-2to ..102-N (collectively referred to as bladders 102 and individually referred to as bladder 102) configured at pre-defined positions in the vehicle seat. A plurality of multi-port control valve assemblies 104-1, 104-2..104-N (collectively referred to as multi-port control valve assemblies 104 and individually referred to as multi-port control valve assembly 104) configured with the bladder 102 to control inflation and deflation of the bladder 102.
[0042] In an embodiment, each of the plurality of multi-port control valve assembly 104 can include a valve body 106 (as shown in FIG. 2) having a first port 106-1, a second port 106-2, and an exhaust port 106-3. The first port 106-2 can be fluidically coupled with a pump 112, the second port 106-2 can be fluidically coupled with a bladder 102. The valve body 106 can be arranged on a carrier (107) associated with the vehicle seat. In an embodiment (as shown), the carrier 107 can include a latching member 108 at a first side of the valve body 106. In an alternate embodiment (not shown), the valve body 106 may include a latching member at a first side of the valve body. The valve body 106 can further include a member 110 that can be arranged on the body 106. The member 110 can be configured to move between a first position along a first direction, towards the first side, with respect to a neutral position of the member 110, and a second position along a second direction with respect to the neutral position. The second direction can be opposite to the first direction.
[0043] In an embodiment, the member 110 can include a locking member 110-1 that can be projected towards the latching member 108. When the member 110 is moved to the first position as shown in FIGs. 3A and 3B, a portion 109 of the valve body 106 moves to facilitate the opening of the first port 106-1 and the second port 106-2 such that an air flow, generated by actuating the pump 112, can be allowed to pass through the first port 106-1 and the second port 106-2 to inflate the bladder 102. The pump 112 can be actuated by manually pressing a piston 112-1 vertically downwards within a cylinder 112-2 of the pump 112.
[0044] In an embodiment, moving member 110 to the second position as shown in FIG. 3C can facilitate any air present inside the bladder 102 to be controllably released to the ambient, till the time member 110 is held at the second position. The airflow direction in this can be from the second port 102-2 to the exhaust port 106-3, and from the exhaust port to the ambient. As shown in FIG. 3D, the neutral position of the member 110 can correspond to a position when the fluidic connection between the first port 106-1, the second port 106-2, and the exhaust port 106-3 are closed, and no inflation or deflation of the bladder 102 is allowed. The pump 112 can be fluidically coupled with the multi-port control valve assembly 104 through a non-return valve 114 or a like.
[0045] In an embodiment, any of the locking member 110-1 of the member 110 and/or latching member 108 of the valve body 106 or the carrier 107 can be flexible or pivotable such that when a force is applied towards a second direction the member 110 moves back to the neutral position. the pump 112 is actuated by manually pressing a piston 112-1 vertically downward within a cylinder 112-2 of the pump 112.
[0046] Thus, the present invention overcomes the limitations, shortcomings, and drawbacks associated with the existing lumbar system by providing an improved pneumatic lumbar support system for vehicles, which is easy to operate and cost-effective
[0047] Moreover, in interpreting the specification, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refer to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C ….and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
[0048] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions, or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0049] The proposed invention provides a lumbar support system, which is cost-effective and easy to operate.
[0050] The proposed invention provides a lumbar support system, which is efficient as it allows independent inflation or deflation of multiple bladders.
[0051] The proposed invention provides a lumbar support system, which is simple and easy to use as the complete operation of the lumbar support system can be performed using a multi-port control valve assembly.
[0052] The proposed invention provides a lumbar support system, which requires less maintenance as no complex electronic equipment are used.
, Claims:1. A multi-port control valve assembly (104) to control inflation and deflation of a bladder (102); the multi-port control valve assembly (104) comprising:
a valve body (106) including a first port (106-1) fluidically coupled with a pump (112), a second port (106-2) fluidically coupled with the bladder (102), and an exhaust port (106-3), wherein the valve body (106) is arranged on a carrier (107) and any of the valve body (106) or the carrier (107) comprises a latching member (108) at a first side of the valve body (106) or the carrier (107); and
a member (110), arranged on the valve body (106), and configured to move between a first position along a first direction, towards the first side, with respect to a neutral position of the member (110) and a second position along a second direction with respect to the neutral position, wherein the member (110) comprises a locking member (110-1), projecting towards the latching member (108), configured to be locked against the latching member (108) when the member (110) is moved to the first position;
wherein upon moving the member (110) at the first position a portion (109) of the valve body (106) moves to open a fluid connection between the first port (106-1) and the second port (106-2) such that an airflow generated by actuating the pump (112) is allowed to pass through the first port (106-1) and the second port (106-2) to inflate the bladder (102).
2. The multi-port control valve assembly (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump (112) is actuated by manually pressing a piston (112-1) vertically downward within a cylinder (112-2) of the pump (112).
3. The multi-port control valve assembly (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein moving the member (110) at the second position facilitates any air present inside the bladder (102) to be released controllably to an ambient, till a time the member (110) is held at the second position, through the second port (106-2) and the exhaust port (106-3).
4. The multi-port control valve assembly (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the neutral position corresponds to a position wherein the fluid connection between the first port (106-1), the second port (106-2), and the exhaust port (106-2) are closed and no inflation or deflation of the bladder (102) is allowed.
5. The multi-port control valve assembly (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein any or combination of the locking member 110-1 and the latching member (108) are flexible or pivotable such that when a force is applied towards the second direction, the member (110) moves back to the neutral position.
6. A lumbar support system for a vehicle seat, wherein the lumbar support system comprising:
one or more bladders (102) configured at pre-defined positions in the vehicle seat; and
one or more multi-port control valve assembly (104) configured with the one or more bladders (102) to control inflation and deflation of the one or more of bladders (102), wherein the control valve assembly (104) comprises:
a valve body (106) including a first port (106-1) fluidically coupled with a pump (112), a second port (106-2) fluidically coupled with the one or more bladders (102), and an exhaust port (106-3), wherein the valve body (106) is arranged on a carrier (107) and any of the valve body (106) or the carrier (107) comprises a latching member (108) at a first side of the valve body (106) or the carrier (107), and
a member (110), arranged on the valve body (106), configured to move between a first position along a first direction, towards the first side, with respect to a neutral position and a second position along a second direction with respect to the neutral position, wherein the member (110) comprises a locking member (110-1), projecting towards the latching member (108), configured to be locked against the latching member (108) when the member (110) is moved to the first position,
wherein upon moving the member (110) at the first position a portion (109) of the valve body (106) moves to open a fluid connection between the first port (106-1) and the second port (106-2) such that an airflow generated by actuating the pump (112) is allowed to pass through the first port (106-1) and the second port (106-2) to inflate the one or more bladder (102).
7. The lumbar support system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pump (112) is actuated by manually pressing a piston (112-1) vertically downward within a cylinder (112-2) of the pump (112).
8. The lumbar support system as claimed in claim 6, wherein upon moving the member (110) at the second position facilitates any air present inside the one or more bladders (102) to be released controllably to an ambient, till a time the member (110) is held at the second position, through the second port (106-2) and the exhaust port (106-3).
9. The lumbar support system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the neutral position corresponds to a position wherein a fluid connection between the first port (106-1), the second port (106-2), and the exhaust port (106-2) are closed and no inflation or deflation of the one or more bladders (102) is allowed.
10. The lumbar support system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pump (112) is fluidically coupled with the valve assembly (104) through a non-return valve (114).