Reversible v sleeping seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11529893-B2
Application number	US-201916514267-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2019
Priority date	Jul 17, 2019
Publication date	Dec 20, 2022
Grant date	Dec 20, 2022

Abstract

An adjustable seat for a vehicle including a first seat section configured to support a lower leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and a second seat section configured to support an upper leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and a torso and head portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction. The adjustable seat also comprising a third seat section configured to support the torso and head portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and the upper leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction. The adjustable seat also comprising a fourth seat section configured to support the lower leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable seat for a vehicle configured to allow a passenger to sit facing a first direction and facing a second direction, the adjustable seat comprising:
a first seat section configured to support a lower leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction;
a second seat section configured to support an upper leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and a torso and head portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction;
a third seat section configured to support the torso and head portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and the upper leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction; and
a fourth seat section configured to support the lower leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction.

2. The adjustable seat of claim 1 , wherein the second seat section further comprises:
an outer surface; and
one or more bladders configured to inflate and adjust the outer surface to conform to the upper leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction or to the torso and head portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction.

3. The adjustable seat of claim 1 , wherein the third seat section further comprises:
an outer surface; and
one or more bladders configured to inflate and adjust the outer surface to conform to the torso and head portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction or to the upper leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction.

4. The adjustable seat of claim 1 , wherein the fourth seat section does not support the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction.

5. The adjustable seat of claim 1 , wherein the first seat section does not support the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction.

6. The adjustable seat of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge operably connected to the first seat section, wherein the first seat section may be rotated relative to the second seat section through an angle as measured between the first seat section and the second seat section.

7. The adjustable seat of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge operably connected to the fourth seat section, wherein the fourth seat section may be rotated relative to the third seat section through an angle as measured between the fourth seat section and the third seat section.

8. The adjustable seat of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lower base plate;
a first support structure operably connected to the second seat section and the lower base plate, the first support structure being configured to adjust a position of the second seat section; and
a second support structure operably connected to the third seat section and the lower base plate, the second support structure being configured to adjust a position of the third seat section.

9. The adjustable seat of claim 8 , wherein the first support structure comprises at least one of a first support arm and a first structural support, and wherein the at least one of the first support arm and the first structural support is configured to extend and retract to adjust the position of the second seat section.

10. The adjustable seat of claim 8 , wherein the second support structure comprises at least one of a second support arm and a second structural support, wherein the at least one of the second support arm and the second structural support is configured to extend and retract to adjust the position of the third seat section.

11. The adjustable seat of claim 8 , wherein the first support structure and the second support structure are configured to adjust an angle between the second seat section and the third seat section.

12. The adjustable seat of claim 8 , wherein the lower base plate is free to move towards at least one of the first direction and the second direction, and wherein the adjustable seat further comprises at least one biasing mechanism operably connected to the lower base plate, the at least one biasing mechanism being configured to reduce acceleration of the lower base plate towards at least one of the first direction and the second direction.

13. The adjustable seat of claim 8 , further comprising:
a seat track assembly comprising a translation portion securely attached to the second seat section and a base portion operably connected to the translation portion, such that the translation portion is configured to linearly translate relative to the base portion; and
a hinge operably connected to the base portion, such that the base portion may rotate relative to the hinge but not linearly translate relative to the hinge.

14. The adjustable seat of claim 8 , further comprising:
a seat track assembly comprising a translation portion securely attached to the third seat section and a base portion operably connected to the translation portion, such that the translation portion is configured to linearly translate relative to the base portion; and
a hinge operably connected to the base portion such that the base portion may rotate relative to the hinge but not linearly translate relative to the hinge.

15. The adjustable seat of claim 8 , wherein the first support structure comprises a first support arm and the adjustable seat further comprises:
a hinge operably connecting the first support arm to the lower base plate, such that the first support arm may rotate relative to the lower base plate around the hinge but the hinge does not linearly translate relative to the lower base plate.

16. The adjustable seat of claim 8 , wherein the second support structure comprises a second support arm and the adjustable seat further comprises:
a hinge operably connecting the second support arm to the lower base plate, such that the second support arm may rotate relative to the lower base plate around the hinge but the hinge does not linearly translate relative to the lower base plate.

17. The adjustable seat of claim 1 , further comprising:
a reversible restraint system configured to secure the passenger in the adjustable seat when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and secure the passenger in the adjustable seat when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction, the reversible restraint system comprising:
a seat belt;
a first D-ring anchor zone;
a second D-ring anchor zone located opposite the first D-ring anchor zone; and
an upper D-ring configured to secure to at least one of the first D-ring anchor zone and the second D-ring anchor zone, the seat belt being operably connected to the upper D-ring.

18. The adjustable seat of claim 17 , further comprising:
a D-ring track connecting the first D-ring anchor zone and the second D-ring anchor zone, wherein the upper D-ring is configured to move along the D-ring track between the first D-ring anchor zone and the second D-ring anchor zone.

19. The adjustable seat of claim 17 , wherein the upper D-ring is configured to secure within the second D-ring anchor zone when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction, and wherein the upper D-ring is configured to secure within the first D-ring anchor zone when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Neal Mark O
• Thole Louis D
• Acosta David
• Lin Chin-Hsu
• Cheng Yi-Pen
• Thomas Scott D

Classifications

• B60N2/4221

  due to impact coming from the front · CPC title

• B60N2/143 Primary

  taking a position opposite to the original one · CPC title

• B60N2/34

  into a bed · CPC title

• B60N2/914

  Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape · CPC title

• B60N2002/0212

  the seat or seat part turning about or moving along a longitudinal axis · CPC title