Ripple while you ride
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A pulsating seat-cushion device designed for lorry drivers has been flight tested by United States Air Force and Navy pilots.
According to the American haulage journal Fleet Owner, -a prominent expert in human engineering," Dr E. J. Glassford of Physical Dynamics Research, has studied the device and considers that it will reduce fatigue and improve alertness.
When the seat cushion inflates, it moves the thigh muscles, starting from under the knee and working its way back, the manufacturer says. The cushion's rippling effect pushes the blood upward and relieves pressure in the thigh.
The pulsating seat cushion can be installed on the outside or within the structure of any make of lorry seat.
Its airflow inflation and deflation pressure-control systems operate on a preset time cycle. After automatically inflating for two seconds, the cushion deflates for eight seconds. The rippling massage pattern continues for 10 minutes, then shuts off. The driver resets to the -on" position when he wants another massage.
The air supply comes from the vehicle's air system, drawing less than one amp from the lorry's battery.
The seat cushion is made by H. Koch & Sons, a division of Gulf + Western Mfg Co, Anaheim, California.