Vehicle seating assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12344131-B2
Application number	US-202117556272-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2021
Priority date	Mar 13, 2019
Publication date	Jul 1, 2025
Grant date	Jul 1, 2025

Abstract

A seating assembly includes a seatback pivotally coupled to a seat base. A floor panel defines a cutout that has a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The first and second sidewalls frame a void. A track assembly has first and second C-channels coupled to the first and second sidewalls. First and second tracks are received by the first and second C-channels, respectively, and are coupled with an electrical assembly. A platform is positioned beneath the seating assembly and is at least partially received by the void. The platform includes a frame with an attachment feature that extends away from the floor panel and an extendable cross-member that is at least partially supported by the frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seating assembly comprising:
a seatback pivotally coupled to a seat base;
a floor panel defining a cutout having a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first and second sidewalls framing a void;
a track assembly having first and second C-channels coupled to the first and second sidewalls, wherein first and second tracks are received by the first and second C-channels, respectively, and coupled with an electrical assembly; and
a platform positioned beneath the seating assembly and at least partially received by the void, wherein the platform includes:
a frame having an attachment feature extending away from the floor panel; and
an extendable cross-member at least partially supported by the frame, wherein an inner portion of the extendable cross-member is slidably engaged with an outer portion of the extendable cross-member, and wherein the extendable cross-member includes a plurality of snap-engageable stops that engage a plurality of receiving wells to detachably secure the inner portion to the outer portion so that the extendable cross-member can accommodate multiple widths of the track assembly.

2. The seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second C-channels include connection members extending from the first and second C-channels, and further wherein the connection members are operably coupled with the first and second sidewalls to align the first and second C-channels with the first and second sidewalls, respectively.

3. The seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the extendable cross-member is positioned beneath said seating assembly such that the extendable cross-member receives loading forces during a collision event.

4. The seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second tracks are fixedly coupled with the first and second C-channels.

5. The seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein said seating assembly is rotatable between a forward position and a rearward position.

6. A seating assembly, comprising:
a seatback pivotally coupled with a seat base;
a frame positioned beneath the seat base, wherein the frame includes an attachment feature extending away from the frame, and further wherein the seat base is coupled with the frame through the attachment feature;
a cross-member coupled to the frame; and
a track assembly, wherein the track assembly includes:
a pair of guides positioned on first and second sides of said seating assembly, wherein a first plurality of rollers are positioned flush with an outer wall of each guide and a second plurality of rollers are positioned on the cross-member;
a plurality of tracks disposed within the pair of guides and coupled to the frame, wherein each of the guides forms an elongated channel to receive the respective track; and
an electrical assembly positioned within the channel.

7. The seating assembly of claim 6 , wherein the pair of guides is positioned within a floor panel of a vehicle.

8. The seating assembly of claim 6 , wherein the cross-member includes a first portion and a second portion, and further wherein the second portion is extendable from the first portion.

9. The seating assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first portion includes a plurality of receiving wells and the second portion includes a plurality of stops, and further wherein the plurality of stops is positioned within the plurality of receiving wells when the second portion is in an extended position.

10. The seating assembly of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of tracks is coupled with the frame such that the frame is positioned between the pair of guides.

11. A seating assembly, comprising:
a seatback pivotally coupled with a seat base;
a frame positioned beneath the seat base, wherein the frame includes an attachment feature extending away from the frame, and further wherein the seat base is coupled with the frame through the attachment feature;
an extendable cross-member coupled to the frame, wherein an inner portion of the extendable cross-member is slidably engaged with an outer portion of the extendable cross-member;
a plurality of snap-engageable stops spaced circumferentially about the inner portion and arranged to engage a plurality of receiving wells of the outer portion;
a track assembly having a pair of guides and a plurality of tracks disposed within the pair of guides and coupled to the frame, wherein the extendable cross-member allows for multiple widths of the track assembly;
an electrical assembly positioned within each of the pair of guides;
a first plurality of rollers positioned on an outer edge of the track assembly; and
a second plurality of rollers positioned on the extendable cross-member.

12. The seating assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second plurality of rollers is positioned flush with an inner wall of each of the pair of guides.

13. The seating assembly of claim 11 , wherein one or more of the first and second plurality of rollers are passive rollers.

14. The seating assembly of claim 11 , wherein the electrical assembly includes a plurality of electrical leads enclosed within the pair of guides when the plurality of tracks is received by a channel.

15. The seating assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:
support bars that extend upward from the extendable cross-member.

16. The seating assembly of claim 15 , wherein the attachment feature is coupled with the support bars, and wherein the attachment feature is generally L-shaped with a first wing and a second wing.

17. The seating assembly of claim 11 , wherein the pair of guides is positioned within a floor panel of a vehicle.

18. The seating assembly of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of tracks is coupled with the frame such that the frame is positioned between the pair of guides.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Line Johnathan Andrew
• Kish Joseph Michael
• Ferretti Daniel
• Hoernke Spencer Robert
• Kondrad Marcos Silva

Classifications

• B60N2/0722

  Constructive details · CPC title

• B60N2/0715 Primary

  C or U-shaped · CPC title

• B60N2/0264

  characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB · 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

• B60N2/06

  slidable (B60N2/12 {, B60N2/2209} take precedence) · CPC title