Vehicle seating assembly with lower leg support

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12090905-B2
Application number	US-202217876815-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2022
Priority date	Jul 29, 2022
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat, a front leg, a seatback, and a lower leg support. The seat includes a forward end and a rearward end. The seat is configured to be coupled to a support surface. The front leg engages with the support surface. The seatback is rotatably coupled to the seat proximate the rearward end. The lower leg support is directly and rotatably coupled to the seat proximate the forward end. The lower leg support is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The vehicle seating assembly is movable between a seated position and a reclined-and-raised position. Moving from the seated position toward the reclined-and-raised position includes increasing a first distance between the front leg and the support surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seating assembly, comprising:
a seat having a forward end and a rearward end, wherein the seat is configured to be coupled to a support surface;
a front leg that engages with the support surface;
a seatback rotatably coupled to the seat proximate the rearward end; and
a lower leg support directly and rotatably coupled to the seat proximate the forward end, wherein the lower leg support is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the vehicle seating assembly is movable between a seated position and a reclined-and-raised position, and wherein moving from the seated position toward the reclined-and-raised position includes increasing a first distance between the front leg and the support surface.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an actuator assembly that adjusts the vehicle seating assembly between the seated position and the reclined-and-raised position.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 2 , wherein the actuator assembly is directly coupled to the support surface.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 2 , wherein the actuator assembly comprises:
a mounting bracket;
a motor assembly, wherein the motor assembly comprises a motor, a drive gear, and a driveshaft that is coupled to the motor and the drive gear; and
a sector gear that engages with the drive gear, wherein movement of the drive gear by the motor induces movement of the sector gear, and wherein movement of the sector gear adjusts the vehicle seating assembly between the seated position and the reclined-and-raised position.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4 , wherein the sector gear defines an aperture therein, wherein the aperture receives a protrusion, and wherein the aperture and the protrusion cooperate to limit motion of the sector gear.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an anchor assembly that selectively retains the front leg to the support surface, wherein the anchor assembly is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6 , wherein the reclined-and-raised position includes placing the anchor assembly in the disengaged position.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein moving from the seated position toward the reclined-and-raised position includes decreasing a second distance between an underside of the rearward end of the seat and the support surface.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8 , wherein moving from the seated position toward the reclined-and-raised position includes moving the lower leg support toward the extended position.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 9 , wherein moving from the seated position toward the reclined-and-raised position includes reclining the seatback such that an angle between the seat and the seatback is increased.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a rear leg, wherein the rear leg comprises a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion that extends between the first portion and the second portion, and wherein the first portion is movable relative to the second portion.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 11 , wherein the intermediate portion is rotatably coupled to the first portion.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12 , wherein moving from the seated position toward the reclined-and-raised position includes adjusting an angle between the first portion and the second portion.

14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the second portion of the rear leg is coupled to the support surface.

15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lower leg support comprises:
a first member that is coupled to the seat;
a second member that is movably coupled to the first member; and
an actuator assembly that adjusts a position of the second member of the lower leg support relative to the first member of lower leg support, wherein the actuator assembly is positioned proximate the forward end of the seat.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 15 , wherein the actuator assembly comprises:
a mounting bracket that couples the actuator assembly to the seat;
a motor assembly, wherein the motor assembly comprises a motor, a drive gear, and a driveshaft that is coupled to the motor and the drive gear; and
a sector gear that is defined by the second member of the lower leg support, wherein the sector gear engages with the drive gear, wherein movement of the drive gear by the motor induces movement of the second member of the lower leg support, and wherein movement of the second member adjusts the lower leg support between the retracted position and the extended position.

17. A vehicle seating assembly, comprising:
a seat having a forward end and a rearward end, wherein the seat is configured to be coupled to a support surface;
a front leg that engages with the support surface;
an anchor assembly that selectively retains the front leg to the support surface, wherein the anchor assembly is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position;
a seatback rotatably coupled to the seat proximate the rearward end; and
a lower leg support directly and rotatably coupled to the seat proximate the forward end, wherein the lower leg support is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the vehicle seating assembly is movable between a seated position and a reclined-and-raised position, wherein the reclined-and-raised position includes placing the anchor assembly in the disengaged position, wherein moving from the seated position toward the reclined-and-raised position includes increasing a first distance between the front leg and the support surface, wherein moving from the seated position toward the reclined-and-raised position includes decreasing a second distance between an underside of the rearward end of the seat and the support surface, wherein moving from the seated position toward the reclined-and-raised position includes moving the lower leg support toward the extended position, wherein moving from the seated position toward the reclined-and-raised position includes reclining the seatback such that an angle between the seat and the seatback is increased.

18. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 17 , further comprising:
an actuator assembly that adjusts the vehicle seating assembly between the seated position and the reclined-and-raised position, wherein the actuator assembly is directly coupled to the support surface, wherein the actuator assembly comprises:
a mounting bracket;
a motor assembly, wherein the motor assembly comprises a motor, a drive gear, and a driveshaft that is coupled to the motor and the drive gear; and
a sector gear that engages with the drive gear, wherein movement of the drive gear by the motor induces movement of the sector gear, wherein movement of the sector gear adjusts the vehicle seating assembly between the seated position and the reclined-and-raised position, wherein the sector gear defines a aperture therein, wherein the aperture receives a protrusion, and wherein the aperture and the first protrusion cooperate to limit motion of the sector gear.

19. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 17 , further comprising:
a rear leg, wherein the rear leg comprises a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion that extends between the first portion and the second portion, wherein first portion is movable relative to the second portion, wherein

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Maloney Patrick
• Kondrad Marcos Silva
• Vannieulande Kevin
• Preuss Kevin Wayne
• Kish Joseph Michael

Classifications

• B60N2/02253

  characterised by the transmission between the electric motor and the seat or seat parts · CPC title

• B60N2/02246

  Electric motors therefor · CPC title

• B60N2/10

  tiltable (B60N2/12 {, B60N2/2875} take precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/22

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

• B60N2/995 Primary

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