Vehicle seating assembly leg support with bladder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11097642-B2
Application number	US-201916704141-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2019
Priority date	Dec 5, 2019
Publication date	Aug 24, 2021
Grant date	Aug 24, 2021

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a leg support rotationally coupled to a seat and including a bladder assembly at least partially disposed on the leg support, and a lift mechanism disposed between the seat and the leg support, wherein the lift mechanism is configured to move the leg support between a stored position and a deployed position, and wherein the bladder assembly is inflatable between a deflated state and an inflated state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seating assembly, comprising:
a leg support rotationally coupled to a seat and including a bladder assembly at least partially disposed on the leg support; and
a lift mechanism disposed between the seat and the leg support, wherein the lift mechanism is configured to move the leg support between a stored position and a deployed position, wherein the bladder assembly is inflatable between a deflated state and an inflated state, wherein the leg support includes a first edge and a second edge, wherein the first edge is rotationally coupled to the seat, wherein the second edge extends away from the seat, wherein the seat includes a carrier and a seat pan, wherein the first edge of the leg support is rotatably coupled to the seat pan, and wherein the carrier includes a U-shaped member extending away from the seat.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lift mechanism comprises a telescoping member.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the leg support includes a recess for receiving a central portion of the U-shaped member when the leg support is in the stored position.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 3 , wherein the U-shaped member includes a first width, wherein the leg support includes a second width, and wherein the second width is greater than the first width.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4 , wherein the lift mechanism includes a first base portion coupled to an underside of the seat and a second base portion coupled to an underside of the leg support.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
a telescoping member disposed between the first base portion and the second base portion, wherein, in a retracted position, the telescoping member maintains the leg support in a stored position, and wherein, in an extended position, the telescoping member maintains the leg support in a deployed position.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6 , wherein the telescoping member comprises a pair of telescoping members.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6 , further comprising:
a bracket disposed in the lift mechanism, wherein the bracket is rotatable about a pivot point between a rest position and an activated position to rotate the telescoping member from a position beneath the carrier to a position extending away from the carrier.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bladder assembly includes a first bladder subassembly disposed on the seat and a second bladder subassembly disposed on the leg support, and wherein each of the first bladder subassembly and the second bladder subassembly includes at least one bladder having an interior cavity, and wherein the interior cavity is inflatable to inflate the bladder from a deflated position to an inflated position.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first bladder assembly includes a pair of bladders.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 10 , wherein the second bladder assembly includes a plurality of bladders configured in a shingled arrangement.

12. A vehicle seating assembly, comprising:
a deployable leg support positionable between a stored position, a deployed position, and intermittent positions therebetween and rotatably coupled to a seat;
a lift mechanism disposed between the seat and the deployable leg support; and
a bladder including a plurality of bladders in a shingled arrangement disposed on the deployable leg support and selectively inflatable between a deflated state and an inflated state, wherein the vehicle seating assembly is positionable between a sitting position and a standing position while the deployable leg support is in the stored position, wherein, in the stored position, the deployable leg support is angled inward under the seat and positionable against a carrier member of the seat, and wherein, in the deployed position, the leg support is angled outward and away from the seat.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12 , further comprising:
a bladder disposed in the seat proximate a coupling between the seat and the deployable leg support.

14. A vehicle seating assembly, comprising:
a lift mechanism including:
a first portion including a first platform securable to a seat frame;
a second portion including a second platform securable to a leg support; and
a pair of telescoping members extending between the first platform and the second platform and selectively positionable between a retracted position and an extended position corresponding to a respective stored position and a deployed position of the leg support, wherein the vehicle seating assembly is disposed on rails slidable within a track assembly, and wherein the vehicle seating assembly is rotatable about a pivot point disposed at the front of the vehicle seating assembly between a sitting position and a standing position.

15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14 , wherein the vehicle seating assembly, in the sitting position includes a latch assembly fastened to a striker coupled to a slidable rail.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
a bladder assembly disposed at least partially on the vehicle seating assembly.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Line Johnathan Andrew
• Hoernke Spencer Robert
• Aktas Macit
• Peterson Paul D
• Moua Jimmy
• Kish Joseph Michael
• West Sean Bayle
• Kudav Deeptej

Classifications

• B60R21/207

  in vehicle seats · CPC title

• B60N2/995 Primary

  Lower-leg-rests, e.g. calf-rests · CPC title

• B60N2/02 Primary

  the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable (adjustable arm-rests B60N2/75; adjustable head-rests B60N2/806) · CPC title

• B60N2/0292 Primary

  Multiple configuration seats, e.g. for spacious vehicles or mini-buses · CPC title

• B60N2/64

  Back-rests {or cushions (B60N2/2222 takes precedence)} · CPC title