Support assembly for seating assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11904745-B2
Application number	US-202117201071-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2021
Priority date	Mar 15, 2021
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly is provided that includes a seatback and a seat that includes a seat frame and a support assembly. The support assembly is coupled to the seat frame and movable between an elevated position and a flattened position in response to an actuation force applied on the support assembly. The support assembly includes an extension member having a first end fixedly coupled to the seat frame and a second end rotatably coupled to the seat frame, and a plate having a first side rotatably coupled to the seat frame and a second side slidably coupled to the seat frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seatback; and
a seat including:
a seat frame; and
a support assembly coupled to the seat frame and movable between an elevated position and a flattened position in response to an actuation force applied on the support assembly and including:
an extension member having a first end fixedly coupled to the seat frame and a second end rotatably coupled to the seat frame; and
a plate having a first side rotatably coupled to the seat frame and a second side slidably coupled to the seat frame.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support assembly further includes
an adjustment mechanism rotatably coupled to the seat frame, fixedly coupled to the extension member, and slidably coupled to the plate.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 2 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is rotatable about an adjustment mechanism axis of rotation extending through the seat frame and between an initial position and a final position as the support assembly moves from the elevated position to the flattened position.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 3 , wherein the actuation force includes a force exerted by the seatback in a folded position on the support assembly as the seatback moves from an upright position to the folded position.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4 , further comprising:
a seat leg disposed between the seat and a floor, wherein the seat leg moves from a first position to a second position as the seatback moves from the upright position to the folded position.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 5 , wherein the seat leg includes a first end rotatable about a first seat leg axis of rotation extending through the seat frame and a second end rotatable about a second seat leg axis of rotation proximate the floor.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a stop member disposed against the seat leg if the adjustment mechanism is in the initial position and the seat leg is in the first position and wherein the adjustment mechanism includes the stop member disposed against the seat leg if the adjustment mechanism is in the final position and the seat leg is in the second position.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein the adjustment mechanism rotates about the adjustment mechanism axis of rotation and between the initial position and the final position of the adjustment mechanism as the second end of the seat leg rotates about the second seat leg axis of rotation as the seat leg moves from the first position to the second position.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first seat leg axis of rotation and the adjustment mechanism axis of rotation are the same.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 9 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a bracket having a first link and a second link.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first link is fixedly coupled to the extension member and slidably coupled to the plate.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second link includes the stop member.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12 , wherein the extension member includes a pair of opposing extension members disposed on opposing sides of the seat frame, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a pair of opposing adjustment mechanisms disposed on opposing sides of the seat frame, and wherein the plate extends between each of the pair of opposing adjustment mechanisms.

14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the pair of opposing extension members include bolsters and wherein the plate includes a leg support.

15. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seat;
a seatback; and
a support assembly disposed on a seat frame and movable between an elevated position and a flattened position in response to an actuation force and including:
a plate having:
a first side rotatably coupled to the seat frame; and
a second side rotatably coupled to the seat frame, wherein the support assembly includes a pair of opposing extension members disposed along side brackets of a seating assembly frame, and wherein the plate extends between each of the pair of extension members and transverse to each of the pair of extension members.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 15 , wherein the support assembly includes one or more rotating members coupled to the seating assembly frame, the pair of opposing extension members, and the plate, and wherein the one or more rotating members are movable between an initial position and a final position as the support assembly moves between the elevated position and the flattened position.

17. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 16 , further comprising:
a stop member coupled to the seating assembly and configured to limit rotation of the one or more rotating members in the initial position and the final position.

18. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 17 , wherein the second side of the plate is coupled to the one or more rotating members with a slot and a pin.

19. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seat frame;
a front mount disposed between the seat frame and a floor and including:
a seat leg movable between an upward position and a downward position; and

a support assembly movable between an elevated position and a flattened position in response to an actuating force and including:
a stop member abutting the seat leg and configured to limit movement of the support assembly if the seat leg is in the upward position and if the seat leg is in the downward position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Line Johnathan Andrew
• West Sean Bayle
• Howlader Ratan
• Shipley Robert Charles
• Davis Patrick
• James Ian
• Billardello Nicholas Alphonse
• Lyons David Frederick

Classifications

• B60N2/682 Primary

  Joining means · CPC title

• B60N2/20

  the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access (B60N2/04, B60N2/22 {, B60N2/3002} take precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/995

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

• B60N2/3013 Primary

  the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame · CPC title

• B60N2/3065

  in a longitudinal-vertical plane · CPC title