Vehicle seating assembly having lower leg support and suspension assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11370341-B2
Application number	US-202016838482-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 2, 2020
Priority date	Apr 2, 2020
Publication date	Jun 28, 2022
Grant date	Jun 28, 2022

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat and a lower leg support. The seat includes a first end and a second end. The first and second ends are opposite to one another. The lower leg support is coupled to the seat at the second end and is movable relative to the seat between a retracted position and an extended position. A suspension assembly is coupled to the lower leg support. The suspension assembly includes a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion. The first end of the suspension assembly is coupled to a portion of the seat. The second end of the suspension assembly is coupled proximate to a distal end of the lower leg support. A distance between an interior surface of the intermediate portion and an adjacent surface of each of the seat and the lower leg support may vary based on lower leg support position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seating assembly, comprising:
a seat having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends being opposite to one another;
a lower leg support coupled to the seat at the second end, the lower leg support being movable relative to the seat between a retracted position and an extended position; and
a suspension assembly coupled to the lower leg support, the suspension assembly comprising a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion positioned between the first and second ends, wherein the first end of the suspension assembly is coupled to a portion of the seat that is rearward of the second end of the seat, wherein the second end of the suspension assembly is coupled proximate to a distal end of the lower leg support, wherein the suspension assembly is arcuate in shape, and wherein a distance between an interior surface of the intermediate portion and an adjacent surface of each of the seat and the lower leg support varies as a function of a position of the lower leg support.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retracted position of the lower leg support positions the lower leg support in a region below the seat.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 2 , wherein the retracted position of the lower leg support results in the lower leg support and the seat forming an acute angle.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the suspension assembly comprises a first thickness and a second thickness, with the first thickness and the second thickness being arranged in an alternating pattern.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4 , wherein adjacent regions of the first thickness are separated by one or more of the regions of the second thickness.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second thickness acts as a living hinge for the suspension assembly.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4 , wherein a spacing between regions of the first thickness and regions of the second thickness vary based on a position along a length of the suspension assembly.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the suspension assembly is fixedly coupled to the seat, and wherein the second end of the suspension assembly is fixedly coupled to the lower leg support.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 9 , wherein actuation of the lower leg support toward the extended position provides a compression force that results in an increase in the distance between the interior surface of the intermediate portion and the adjacent surface of the lower leg support.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the suspension assembly assumes the arcuate shape in each position of the lower leg support as the lower leg support transitions between the retracted position and the extended position.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a trim cover that extends over an exterior surface of the suspension assembly.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a seatback coupled to the seat at the first end, the seatback being movable relative to the seat.

14. A vehicle seating assembly, comprising:
a seat having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends being opposite to one another;
a seatback coupled to the seat at the first end, the seatback being movable relative to the seat;
a lower leg support coupled to the seat at the second end, the lower leg support being movable relative to the seat between a retracted position and an extended position;
a suspension assembly coupled to the lower leg support, the suspension assembly comprising a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion positioned between the first and second ends, wherein the first end of the suspension assembly is fixedly coupled to the seat at a location that is rearward of the second end of the seat, wherein the second end of the suspension assembly is fixedly coupled to the lower leg support, wherein a distance between an interior surface of the intermediate portion and an adjacent surface of each of the seat and the lower leg support varies as a function of a position of the lower leg support, wherein actuation of the lower leg support toward the extended position provides a compression force that results in an increase in the distance between the interior surface of the intermediate portion and the adjacent surface of the lower leg support, wherein the suspension assembly assumes an arcuate shape in each position of the lower leg support as the lower leg support transitions between the retracted position and the extended position; and
a trim cover that extends over an exterior surface of the suspension assembly.

15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14 , wherein the retracted position of the lower leg support positions the lower leg support in a region below the seat.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 15 , wherein the retracted position of the lower leg support results in the lower leg support and the seat forming an acute angle.

17. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14 , wherein the suspension assembly comprises a first thickness and a second thickness, with the first thickness and the second thickness being arranged in an alternating pattern.

18. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 17 , wherein adjacent regions of the first thickness are separated by one or more of the regions of the second thickness.

19. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 17 , wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness, and wherein the second thickness acts as a living hinge for the suspension assembly.

20. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 17 , wherein a spacing between regions of the first thickness and regions of the second thickness vary based on a position along a length of the suspension assembly.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Line Johnathan Andrew
• Moua Jimmy
• Kudav Deeptej
• Berry S M Akbar
• Hoernke Spencer Robert
• Aktas Macit
• Hoin Spencer

Classifications

• B60N2/22 Primary

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

• B60N2/0224

  Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation · CPC title

• B60N2/995 Primary

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

• B60N2/62 Primary

  Thigh-rests {(B60N2/914 takes precedence)} · CPC title