Seat having ambient lighting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9802535-B2
Application number	US-201514697291-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2015
Priority date	Apr 27, 2015
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback. A support frame is partially enclosed by a seatback panel assembly. A seatback cushion assembly is supported on a seatback carrier and is proximate the seatback panel assembly. An external peripheral gap is defined between the seatback panel assembly and the seatback cushion assembly. A light source is defined in the seatback carrier and is configured to emit light into the external peripheral gap. A seat includes a support frame partially enclosed by a panel assembly. A seat cushion assembly is proximate the panel assembly. An external peripheral gap is defined between the panel assembly and the seat cushion assembly. A light source is defined in a seat carrier and is configured to emit light into the external peripheral gap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seatback including:
a support frame partially enclosed by a seatback panel assembly;
a seatback cushion assembly supported on a seatback carrier and proximate the seatback panel assembly, wherein an external peripheral gap is defined between the seatback panel assembly and the seatback cushion assembly; and
a light source defined in the seatback carrier and configured to emit light from the external peripheral gap in a direction away from a seated occupant; and

a seat including:
a support frame partially enclosed by a panel assembly;
a seat cushion assembly proximate the panel assembly, wherein an external peripheral gap is defined between the panel assembly and the seat cushion assembly; and
a light source defined in a seat carrier and configured to emit light into the external peripheral gap.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the seatback carrier and the seat carrier include apertures configured to emit light therethrough.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light source defined in the seatback carrier and the light source defined in the seat carrier each include a light pipe.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein a predefined image is depicted on one of the seatback carrier and the seatback cushion assembly by the light source.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seatback panel assembly includes a hard back panel having a plurality of recessed walls generally defining a storage pocket, and wherein at least one of the walls includes a light source proximate thereto.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the external peripheral gap extends across a first side, a second side, and a top side of the seatback.

7. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seatback panel assembly;
a seatback cushion assembly supported on a seatback carrier proximate the seatback panel assembly, wherein an external peripheral gap is defined between the seatback panel assembly and the seatback cushion assembly; and
a light source defined in the seatback carrier and configured to emit light in a direction away from an occupant seated on said vehicle seating assembly and into the external peripheral gap.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein the seatback carrier includes apertures configured to emit light therethrough.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein the light source defined in the seatback carrier includes a light pipe.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein a predefined image is depicted on one of the seatback carrier and the seatback cushion assembly by the light source.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein the seatback panel assembly includes a hard back panel having a plurality of recessed walls generally defining a storage pocket, and wherein at least one of the walls includes a light source proximate thereto.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein the external peripheral gap extends across a first side, a second side, and a top side of the seatback panel assembly.

13. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a support frame partially enclosed by a panel assembly;
a seat cushion assembly proximate the panel assembly and having independent thigh extensions, wherein an external peripheral gap is defined between the panel assembly and the seat cushion assembly; and
a light source disposed in a seat carrier and configured to emit light into the external peripheral gap.

14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the seat carrier includes apertures configured to emit light therethrough.

15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the light source defined in the seat carrier includes a light pipe.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein a predefined image is depicted on one of the seat carrier and the seat cushion assembly by the light source.

17. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the external peripheral gap extends across a first side, a second side, and a front side of the seat cushion assembly.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Line Johnathan Andrew
• Godin Keith Allen
• Fannin Sean David

Classifications

• B60Q3/80

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

• B60Q3/233 Primary

  Seats; Arm rests; Head rests · CPC title

• B60N2/70

  Upholstery springs {; Upholstery} · CPC title

• B60N2/90 Primary

  Details or parts not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60N2/6009

  covering more than only the seat · CPC title