Reconfigurable seating assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10093200-B2
Application number	US-201615296239-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2016
Priority date	Oct 18, 2016
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a lower leg support, a seat, and a seatback. A seat rotational member rotatably couples the lower leg support to the seat. A seatback rotational member rotatably couples the seat to the seatback.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a lower leg support;
a seat;
a seatback;
a headrest;
a seat rotational member that rotatably couples the lower leg support to the seat;
a seatback rotational member that rotatably couples the seat to the seatback;
a headrest rotational member that rotatably couples the seatback to the headrest;
a front latch coupled to a carrier plate, wherein the front latch is positioned between the carrier plate and the seat, and wherein the front latch releasably engages the seat;
an anchor member coupling the seatback rotational member to the carrier plate;
an elevating platform positioned below the carrier plate; and
a lift mechanism positioned between the carrier plate and the elevating platform, wherein the lift mechanism is coupled to both the carrier plate and the elevating platform, and wherein the lift mechanism is configured to manipulate the seat by performing at least one of raising, lowering, and tilting the seat.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lift mechanism further comprises a first and second lift jack operably coupled to a first and second motor, respectively.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first lift jack is coupled to the carrier plate by a first pivotable member, and wherein the second lift jack is coupled to the carrier plate by a second pivotable member.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first and second motors are screw-drive motors.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first and second motors are dual-ended drive motors.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first and second lift jacks are scissor jacks.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a skirt coupled to, and extending downward from, the carrier plate.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an elevating system positioned below and coupled to the elevating platform.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first plurality of locks located at an upper portion of a compartment in a floor of a vehicle.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:
a second plurality of locks located at a lower portion of the compartment in the floor of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:
a cover retractably coupled to the floor of the vehicle and configured to conceal and protect said vehicle seating assembly when in a stowed configuration.

12. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a lower leg support;
a seat;
a seatback;
a seat rotational member that rotatably couples the lower leg support to the seat;
a seatback rotational member that rotatably couples the seat to the seatback; and
a front latch coupled to a carrier plate, wherein the front latch is positioned between the carrier plate and the seat, and wherein the front latch releasably engages the seat.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12 , further comprising:
an anchor member coupling the seatback rotational member to the carrier plate.

14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12 , further comprising:
an elevating platform positioned below the carrier plate.

15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14 , further comprising:
a lift mechanism positioned between the carrier plate and the elevating platform.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 15 , wherein the lift mechanism is coupled to both the carrier plate and the elevating platform, and wherein the lift mechanism is concealed by the lower leg support.

17. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a lower leg support;
a seat;
a seatback;
a seat rotational member that rotatably couples the lower leg support to the seat; and
a seatback rotational member that rotatably couples the seat to the seatback.

18. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the seat rotational member and the seatback rotational member articulate to adjust said vehicle seating assembly between a first configuration and a second configuration.

19. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 18 , wherein the first configuration and the second configuration are selected from the group consisting of open, closed, a desk, a table, a projection surface, stowed, and reclined.

20. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 17 , further comprising:
a lift mechanism positioned between, and operably coupled to, a carrier plate and an elevating platform.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dry Alan George

Classifications

• B60N2/22

  the back-rest being adjustable {(B60N2/2878 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N2/30

  Non-dismountable {or dismountable} seats storable in a non-use position, e.g. foldable spare seats · CPC title

• B60N2/914

  Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape · CPC title

• B60N2/225

  by cycloidal or planetary mechanisms · CPC title

• B60N2/1665 Primary

  Hydraulic or pneumatic actuation · CPC title