Vehicle seating assembly with manual independent thigh supports

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016355114-A1
Application number	US-201615242032-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 19, 2016
Priority date	Apr 2, 2014
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. First and second independent thigh supports are pivotally coupled to the seat base. A support rod extends below the first and second independent thigh supports and is operably coupled to each of the first and second independent thigh supports by a gasket member and a bracket. A first spring member includes a body portion in abutting contact with an underside of the first independent thigh support and includes legs engaged with the support rod. The first spring member biases the first independent thigh support to a raised position. A second spring member includes a body portion in abutting contact with an underside of the second independent thigh support and includes legs engaged with the support rod. The second spring member biases the second independent thigh support to a raised position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
first and second independently movable thigh supports operably coupled to a vehicle seat; a support member extending transversely below the first and second independently movable thigh supports; a bracket assembly abutting an underside of each of the first and second independently movable thigh supports and defining an enlarged opening for receiving the support member; a first spring member having a first portion engaged with the first independently movable thigh support and a second portion engaged with the support member; and a second spring member having a first portion engaged with the second independently movable thigh support and a second portion engaged with the support member.

2 . The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein a body portion of the first and second spring members is securely engaged with the underside of the first and second independently movable thigh supports, respectively, by a fastenerless snap-fit connection.

3 . The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second spring members bias the first and second independently movable thigh supports, respectively, away from a support rod.

4 . The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein legs of the first and second spring members wrap around a top and front area of a support rod.

5 . The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4 , wherein the underside of each of the first independently movable thigh support and the second independently movable thigh support include recesses configured to receive the support rod.

6 . The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4 , wherein a gasket member includes a C-shaped construction configured to extend around a bottom of the support rod.

7 . The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second independently movable thigh supports are configured to rotate approximately 8 degrees between fully raised and lowered positions.

8 . The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second independently movable thigh supports include a downwardly extending pivot wall configured to receive a pivot pin about which each of the first and second independently movable thigh supports rotate.

9 . A seating assembly comprising:
first and second independent thigh supports abutting a seat base; a support rod extending transversely below each of the first and second independent thigh supports; a bracket assembly abutting the first and second independent thigh supports and defining an opening through which the support rod extends; first and second spring members engaged with the support rod and configured to bias the first independent thigh supports upward.

10 . The seating assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first and second spring members bias the first and second independent thigh supports, respectively, away from the support rod.

11 . The seating assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first and second independent thigh supports are configured to rotate approximately 8 degrees between fully raised and lowered positions.

12 . The seating assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first and second independent thigh supports include a downwardly extending pivot wall configured to receive a pivot pin about which each of the first and second independent thigh supports rotate.

13 . A seating assembly comprising:
independent thigh supports; a support rod extending transversely below each of the first and second independent thigh supports; a bracket assembly including a gasket and a securing bracket that define an opening through which the support rod extends; a spring member disposed between the support rod and the independent thigh supports.

14 . The seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first and second spring members bias the first and second independent thigh supports, respectively, away from the support rod.

15 . The seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first and second independent thigh supports are configured to rotate approximately 8 degrees between fully raised and lowered positions.

16 . The seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first and second independent thigh supports include a downwardly extending pivot wall configured to receive a pivot pin about which each of the first and second independent thigh supports rotate.

17 . The seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the spring member includes legs that wrap around a top and front area of the support rod.

18 . The seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein an underside of each of the independent thigh supports includes recesses configured to receive the support rod.

19 . The seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein each gasket member includes a C-shaped construction configured to extend around a bottom of the support rod.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Line Johnathan Andrew
• Hosbach Christian J
• Nichols Brandon W
• Sidhu Mandeep Singh
• Reddy Balakrishna

Classifications

• B60N2/62 Primary

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

• B60N2205/30

  Seat or seat parts characterised by comprising plural parts or pieces · CPC title

• B60N2/18

  the front or the rear portion of the seat being adjustable, e.g. independently of each other · CPC title