Ambient functional lighting of a seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9694741-B2
Application number	US-201414467073-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2014
Priority date	Aug 25, 2014
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat having a base including peripheral side ledges disposed on first and second sides of the seat. A seat cushion is disposed on the base and includes first and second independent thigh supports that extend forwardly over the base and define a forward ledge. A seatback is operably coupled to the seat and includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion includes a seatback cushion and a seatback support. A peripheral seatback cavity is located on first and second sides of the lower portion between the seatback cushion and the seatback support. At least one light source is disposed proximate the peripheral side ledges, the forward ledge, and the peripheral seatback cavity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seat including a base having peripheral side ledges disposed on first and second sides of the seat;
a seat cushion disposed on the base and including first and second independent thigh supports that extend forwardly over the base and define a forward ledge;
a seatback operably coupled to the seat and including an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion includes a seatback cushion and a seatback support, and wherein a peripheral seatback cavity is located on first and second sides of the lower portion between the seatback cushion and the seatback support; and
a plurality of zones defined on the seat and the seatback, each zone including at least one light source integrally formed in said vehicle seating assembly, wherein each zone is operationally independent and configured to relay information to a passenger.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source includes light emitting diodes.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the seatback includes a seatback cushion and a seatback support, and wherein a peripheral seatback cavity is disposed between the seatback cushion and the seatback support.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source is configured to warn a driver of a critical driving condition.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4 , wherein the at least one light source is configured to warn the driver of at least a vehicle hazard switch is engaged, a turn signal has been engaged for a prolonged period of time, a check engine light is engaged, a low fuel indicator is engaged, a door is ajar, a lock/unlock function is not performing, and a seat motor has stalled.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source is configured to emit different wavelengths of light.

7. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seat including a seat cushion and a base, wherein the seat cushion and the base define a peripheral seat ledge disposed on first and second sides of the seat and a front of the seat;
a seatback operably coupled to the seat and including a seatback cushion and a seatback support, wherein a peripheral seatback cavity is located on first and second sides of the seatback and defined between the seatback cushion and the seatback support; and
at least two operationally independent zones, each including at least one light source integrally formed within said vehicle seating assembly disposed proximate the peripheral seat ledge and the peripheral seatback cavity.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:
first and second independent thigh supports that extend forwardly over the base.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein the at least one light source includes light emitting diodes.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein the seatback includes a seatback cushion and a seatback support, and wherein a peripheral seatback cavity is disposed between the seatback cushion and the seatback support at a central portion thereof.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein the at least one light source is configured to warn a driver of a critical driving condition.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 11 , wherein the at least one light source is configured to warn the driver of at least a vehicle hazard switch is engaged, a turn signal has been engaged for a prolonged period of time, a check engine light is engaged, a low fuel indicator is engaged, a door is ajar, a lock/unlock function is not performing, and a seat motor has stalled.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein the at least one light source is configured to emit different wavelengths of light.

14. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seat defining a peripheral seat ledge disposed on first, second, and front sides of the seat;
a seatback operably coupled to the seat and including a seatback cushion and a seatback support and, a peripheral seatback cavity defined therebetween; and
a light source disposed in a foot well zone below the seat and in independent seating zones in the peripheral seat ledge and peripheral seatback cavity.

15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14 , further comprising:
first and second independent thigh supports that extend forwardly over the base.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14 , wherein the at least one light source includes light emitting diodes.

17. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14 , wherein the seatback includes a seatback cushion and a seatback support, and wherein a peripheral seatback cavity is disposed between the seatback cushion and the seatback support at a central portion thereof.

18. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14 , wherein the at least one light sources is configured to warn a driver of a critical driving condition.

19. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 18 , wherein the at least one light source is configured to warn the driver of at least a vehicle hazard switch is engaged, a turn signal has been engaged for a prolonged period of time, a check engine light is engaged, a low fuel indicator is engaged, a door is ajar, a lock/unlock function is not performing, and a seat motor has stalled.

20. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14 , wherein the at least one light source is configured to emit different wavelengths of light.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Gardner Cornel Lewis

Classifications

• B60N2/986

  Side-rests (B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/62 Primary

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

• B60Q3/233

  Seats; Arm rests; Head rests · CPC title

• B60N2/64

  Back-rests {or cushions (B60N2/2222 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60Q3/80

  Circuits; Control arrangements (for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47) · CPC title