Vehicle seat having extendable bolsters and thigh supports

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9566888-B2
Application number	US-201514676041-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2015
Priority date	Apr 1, 2015
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly for a vehicle has a lower seat with a center seat cushion and a forward thigh supporting portion having a first refracted position and a second extended position. A leading edge of the forward thigh supporting portion is longitudinally displaced forward of the lower seat in the second extended position relative the first retracted position. A seat bolster is coupled with the forward thigh supporting portion extending laterally from at least one side of the seat, wherein the seat bolster has a first retracted position and a second extended position. A user control is operational to move the forward thigh supporting portion between the first retracted position and the second extended position, which simultaneously moves the seat bolster relative to the center seat cushion, respectively, between the first retracted position and a second extended position of the seat bolster.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seating assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a lower seat and a raised seatback, the lower seat having a center seat cushion and a forward thigh supporting portion, the forward thigh supporting portion having a first retracted position and a second extended position, wherein a leading edge of the forward thigh supporting portion is longitudinally displaced forward of the lower seat in the second extended position of the forward thigh supporting portion relative the first retracted position of the forward thigh supporting portion;
a seat bolster coupled with the forward thigh supporting portion extending laterally from at least one side of the seat, wherein the seat bolster has a first retracted position and a second extended position; and
a user control operably coupled to the forward thigh supporting portion and operational to move the forward thigh supporting portion between the first retracted position of the forward thigh supporting portion and the second extended position of the forward thigh supporting portion, which simultaneously moves the seat bolster relative to the center seat cushion, respectively, between the first retracted position of the seat bolster and a second extended position of the seat bolster;
wherein the seat bolster is mounted on a slide track and the forward thigh supporting portion is coupled with the seat bolster by a coupling pin received within an opening provided in the slide track.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an extendable and retractable seat pan having a first retracted position and a second extended position operably coupled to a seat base fixedly mounted relative the seat pan, wherein the forward thigh supporting portion is mounted to the seat pan;
a base engagement member mounted on one of either the seat pan or the seat base;
a drive gear mounted on the other of either the seat pan or the seat base; and
a motor operatively coupled with the base engagement member to rotate the drive gear and longitudinally displace the seat pan between the first retracted position of the seat pan and the second extended position of the seat pan.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 2 , wherein the motor is operably coupled with the base engagement member by a rod extending across the seat base into elongated slots in the seat pan on which the base engagement member is mounted and a drive shaft is operably connected with the rod and adapted to rotate the rod, whereby rotation of the drive shaft causes longitudinal displacement of the base engagement member and the seat pan.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 3 , wherein the base engagement member comprises a linear rack having teeth disposed thereon and the rod is coupled to the base engagement member by a drive gear.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4 , wherein the vehicle seating assembly further comprises a linear rack tilt engagement member having teeth disposed thereon that may be selectively brought into and out of engagement with the drive gear and is operable between a first position out of contact with the drive gear and a second position in contact with the drive gear, wherein rotation of the drive shaft when the engagement member is in engagement with the drive gear causes rotation of the seat pan and elevation of the forward thigh supporting portion.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein displacement of the forward thigh supporting portion creates a gap between the forward thigh supporting portion and the center seat cushion of the lower seat, the vehicle seating assembly further comprising a flexible fabric that covers the gap.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of bolsters on each side which simultaneously move relative to the center seat cushion between the first retracted position of the seat bolsters and the second extended position of the seat bolsters simultaneously with movement of the forward thigh supporting portion.

8. A vehicle seating assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a seatback and a seat;
a thigh support moveable longitudinally forward and rearward between a fully extended position of the thigh support and a fully retracted position of the thigh support;
bolsters extending laterally from the seat and operatively coupled with the thigh support and moveable between a fully extended position of the bolster and a fully retracted position of the bolster;
a seat pan operably coupled with the thigh support and moveable longitudinally forward and rearward between a fully extended position of the seat pan and a fully retracted position of the seat pan; and
a seat base fixedly mounted relative the seat pan and supporting the seat pan;
wherein the bolsters are each mounted on a slide track and the thigh support is coupled with the bolsters by a coupling pin received within an opening provided in the slide track.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8 , wherein the seat pan is operably connected to the seat base and a base engagement member is mounted on the seat pan, wherein a motor is operatively coupled with the base engagement member and is operable by a user to move the seat pan between the fully extended position of the seat pan and the fully retracted position of the seat pan.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 9 , wherein the motor is operably coupled with the base engagement member by a rod extending across the seat base into elongated slots in the seat pan on which the base engagement member mounted motor is provided and a drive shaft is operably connected with the rod and adapted to rotate the rod, whereby rotation of the drive shaft with the base engagement member causes longitudinal displacement of the seat pan.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a tilt engagement member for pivotally moving the thigh support up and down between a fully lowered position and a fully raised position.

12. A vehicle seating assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a seat having a thigh support;
bolsters extending laterally from the seat and coupled with a side of the thigh support; and
a control operably coupled to a motor, wherein the thigh support and the bolster are adjustable between a forward position and a rearward position;
wherein the bolsters are each mounted on a slide track and the thigh support is coupled with the bolsters by a coupling pin received within an opening provided in the slide track.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12 , wherein an extendable and retractable seat pan is operably connected to a seat base fixedly mounted relative the seat pan and a base engagement member is mounted on the seat pan; and
a motor operatively coupled with the base engagement member to displace the thigh support between the forward position and the rearward position.

14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a base engagement member having a linear rack with teeth disposed thereon and a rod coupled to the base engagement member with a drive gear;
the vehicle seating assembly further comprising a motor operably coupled with the base engagement member by the rod extending across the seat base into elongated slots in the seat pan on which the base engagement member is mounted and a drive shaft operably connected with the rod and adapted to rotate the rod, whereby rotation of the drive shaft relative the base engagement member causes longitudinal displacement of the seat pan.

15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14 , wherein the seat base further comprises a tilt engagement member for pivotally moving the thigh support up a

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Kolich Michael
• Hall Amber Laverne
• Kondrad Marcos Silva
• Fannin Sean David
• Line Johnathan Andrew

Classifications

• B60N2/62 Primary

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

• B60N2/99

  adjustable · CPC title

• B60N2/0284 Primary

  Adjustable seat-cushion length (B60N2/0224 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/0296

  Central command actuator to selectively switch on or engage one of several special purpose circuits or mechanisms · CPC title

• B60N2/4492

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic