Kinetic seat backs for vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021237630-A1
Application number	US-202016778710-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 31, 2020
Priority date	Jan 31, 2020
Publication date	Aug 5, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A kinetic seat back assembly that rotates based on a force applied on an occupant seated therein is provided. The kinetic seat back assembly includes a primary seat back frame, a secondary seat back frame, a seat back tilt mechanism coupling the secondary seat back frame to the primary seat back frame such that the secondary seat back frame is movable with respect to the primary seat back frame, and an upper pivot mechanism that pivotally couples an upper portion of the primary seat back frame to an upper portion of the secondary seat back frame.

First claim

1 . A kinetic seat back assembly comprising:
a primary seat back frame; a secondary seat back frame; a seat back tilt mechanism coupling the secondary seat back frame to the primary seat back frame such that the secondary seat back frame is movable with respect to the primary seat back frame; and an upper pivot mechanism that pivotally couples an upper portion of the primary seat back frame to an upper portion of the secondary seat back frame, the upper pivot mechanism including an adjustable damper configured to dampen movement between the primary seat back frame and the secondary seat back frame in a kinetic seat longitudinal direction.

2 . The kinetic seat back assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper pivot mechanism includes a ball joint pivotally coupling the primary seat back frame to the secondary seat back frame.

3 . (canceled)

4 . The kinetic seat back assembly of claim 2 , wherein the adjustable damper comprises:
a fixed arm coupled to the primary seat back frame; a pivotable arm coupled to the ball joint and pivotally coupled to the fixed arm; and a biasing member positioned between the fixed arm and the pivotable arm, the biasing member configured to provide a damping effect between the primary seat back frame and the secondary seat back frame.

5 . The kinetic seat back assembly of claim 4 , wherein the adjustable damper further comprises:
a threaded shaft having a first end and an opposite second end, a portion of the threaded shaft extending through the pivotable arm; an anti-rotation plate coupled to one of the pivotable arm or the fixed arm; a traversing plate threadably engaging the threaded shaft, the traversing plate having a contact surface that contacts the anti-rotation plate, the biasing member positioned between the pivotable arm and the traversing plate; and a rotatable member coupled to the second end of the threaded shaft.

6 . The kinetic seat back assembly of claim 5 , wherein upon rotation of the rotatable member in a first rotation direction the traversing plate is linearly displaced in a first linear direction to compress the biasing member which decreases the damping effect of the biasing member, and upon rotation of the rotatable member in a second rotation direction, opposite the first rotation direction, the traversing plate is linearly displaced in a second linear direction, opposite the first linear direction, which increases the damping effect of the biasing member.

7 . The kinetic seat back assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seat back tilt mechanism couples a lower portion of the secondary seat back frame to the primary seat back frame.

8 . The kinetic seat back assembly of claim 7 , wherein the seat back tilt mechanism includes a pair of seat back dampers, each seat back damper having a first end pivotally coupled to the primary seat back frame and a second end pivotally coupled to the secondary seat back frame.

9 . The kinetic seat back assembly of claim 8 , wherein each seat back damper is configured to permit the lower portion of the secondary seat back frame to tilt with respect to the primary seat back frame as a front portion of the secondary seat back frame pivots about the upper pivot mechanism with respect to the primary seat back frame.

10 . The kinetic seat back assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of supplemental dampers, each supplemental damper having a first end pivotally coupled to the primary seat back frame and a second end pivotally coupled to the secondary seat back frame, the pair of supplemental dampers configured to control an amount of movement of the secondary seat back frame with respect to the primary seat back frame.

11 . A vehicle comprising:
a passenger compartment; and a kinetic seat back assembly within the passenger compartment, the kinetic seat back assembly including:
a primary seat back frame;
a secondary seat back frame;
a seat back tilt mechanism coupling the secondary seat back frame to the primary seat back frame such that the secondary seat back frame is movable with respect to the primary seat back frame; and
an upper pivot mechanism that pivotally couples an upper portion of the primary seat back frame to an upper portion of the secondary seat back frame, the upper pivot mechanism including an adjustable damper configured to dampen movement between the primary seat back frame and the secondary seat back frame in a kinetic seat longitudinal direction.

12 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the upper pivot mechanism includes a ball joint pivotally coupling the primary seat back frame to the secondary seat back frame.

13 . (canceled)

14 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the adjustable damper comprises:
a fixed arm coupled to the primary seat back frame; a pivotable arm coupled to the ball joint and pivotally coupled to the fixed arm; and a biasing member positioned between the fixed arm and the pivotable arm, the biasing member configured to provide a damping effect between the primary seat back frame and the secondary seat back frame.

15 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the adjustable damper further comprises:
a threaded shaft having a first end and an opposite second end, a portion of the threaded shaft extending through the pivotable arm; an anti-rotation plate coupled to one of the pivotable arm or the fixed arm; a traversing plate threadably engaging the threaded shaft, the traversing plate having a contact surface that contacts the anti-rotation plate, the biasing member positioned between the pivotable arm and the traversing plate; and a rotatable member coupled to the second end of the threaded shaft.

16 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein upon rotation of the rotatable member in a first rotation direction the traversing plate is linearly displaced in a first linear direction to compress the biasing member which decreases the damping effect of the biasing member, and upon rotation of the rotatable member in a second rotation direction, opposite the first rotation direction, the traversing plate is linearly displaced in a second linear direction, opposite the first linear direction, which increases the damping effect of the biasing member.

17 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the seat back tilt mechanism couples a lower portion of the secondary seat back frame to the primary seat back frame.

18 . The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the seat back tilt mechanism includes a pair of seat back dampers, each seat back damper having a first end pivotally coupled to the primary seat back frame and a second end pivotally coupled to the secondary seat back frame.

19 . The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein each seat back damper is configured to permit the lower portion of the secondary seat back frame to tilt with respect to the primary seat back frame as a front portion of the secondary seat back frame pivots about the upper pivot mechanism with respect to the primary seat back frame.

20 . The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a pair of supplemental dampers, each supplemental damper having a first end pivotally coupled to the primary seat back frame and a second end pivotally coupled to the secondary seat back frame, the pair of supplemental dampers configured to control an amount of movement of the secondary seat back frame with respect to the primary seat back frame.

21 . The kinetic seat back assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper pivot mechanism couples a central portion of the upper portion of the primary seat back frame and a central portion of th

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Muck Todd Rupert
• Patterson Charles P
• Speck Matthew R
• Moegling Peter J

Classifications

• B60N2/68

  Seat frames · CPC title

• B60N2/503 Primary

  attached to the backrest (B60N2/504 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2002/0212

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

• B60N2/501

  actively controlled suspension, e.g. electronic control · CPC title

• B60N2/028

  Elastically mounted back-rests · CPC title