Car Seat Adjustments

For reasons explained in the Design Philosophy many aspects of the Gorman Pelvic Support seat have been rethought from first principles so many of the conventional adjustments are not in the conventional place:

Back Rake Adjustment

This is on the front of the seat underneath the right knee. It is adjusted with the right hand and is easy to reach by leaning slightly forward - far less contortion with the arm is necessary than with the conventional adjustment. In order to remember which way it must be adjusted try to think in terms of the right hand side of the adjusting knob. Raising the right hand side of the knob raises the seat back i.e. brings it forward. Pushing the right hand side of the knob downwards levers the seat back i.e. leans it backwards.

Seat Height Adjustment

This is a knob with a folding handle in the middle of the front of the seat. Because of the need to lift the whole weight of the body it s very low geared.

That is, it must be turned through many turns to raise the seat significantly. The height adjustment is about 50 mm which is far greater than in most cars. The adjustment direction is (unfortunately) the opposite to the back rake. You must think in terms of the left side of the handle coming upwards to raise the seat. It is a fold away handle for safety. Because of the low gear and the relatively large force of lifting a fully body weight this adjuster is best used when you are not sitting in the car.

Seat Slide Adjustment

Is generally conventional in operation but is only to be found underneath the left side of the front of the seat. Not the whole way across as is frequently the case. Squeeze the lever forwards with your fingertips underneath the seat, the palm of the hand being against the front upholstery.

Pelvic Support Adjustment

This is to be found on both sides of the back of the seat low down near the hinge points. In order to provide the level of choice of height of pelvic support the adjuster on the left side operates a mechanism higher up on the pelvis than that on the right side. Any combination of the two can be used for individual comfort. Both adjusters have a very large range of adjustment and require approximately sixty turns for full adjustment. This allows the seat to be suitable both for the person who does not want much pelvic support and for someone with an acute back problem at that time who will want the absolute maximum of pelvic support. Most people will find a point in the range about which they only need to make one or two turns of adjustment even in the course of a long journey.