Anthropomorphic pivotable upper seatback support

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9809131-B2
Application number	US-201514959060-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2015
Priority date	Dec 4, 2015
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly a lower seat and a seatback structure extending upwardly relative the lower seat, the lower seat and the seatback structure defining a seat H-point, and the seatback structure having an upper seatback support, a lower seatback support, and a split between the upper seatback support and the lower seatback support. The split is disposed between 270 and 300 mm, preferably about 285 mm, above the H-point along a line extending substantially parallel to the seatback structure. The upper seatback support pivots about a pivot between a rearward position and a forward position relative the lower seatback support. A motorized actuation assembly is disposed within the seatback structure and operably coupled to the upper seatback support, wherein the motorized actuation assembly pivots the upper seatback support about the pivot between the rearward position and the forward position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seating assembly, comprising:
a lower seat support and a seatback structure extending upwardly relative the lower seat support, the lower seat support and the seatback structure defining a seat H-point at a reclining axis of a connection between the seatback structure and the lower seat support and the seatback structure having an upper seatback support, a lower seatback support, and a split between the upper seatback support and the lower seatback support, wherein the split generally defining a laterally extending line that is disposed between 270 and 300 mm above the H-point;
a pivot rotatably supported on the seatback structure proximate and substantially parallel to the splint, the pivot rotatably coupled to the upper seatback support, whereby the upper seatback support pivots about the pivot between a rearward position and a forward position relative the lower seatback support; and
a motorized actuation assembly disposed within the seatback structure and operably coupled to the upper seatback support, wherein the motorized actuation assembly pivots the upper seatback support about the pivot between the rearward position and the forward position.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the split is disposed at substantially 285 mm above the H-point along a line extending parallel to the seatback structure.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pivot comprises a pivot bar rotatably coupled with the seatback structure and fixedly coupled with the upper seatback support.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 3 , wherein the motorized actuation assembly includes a lift bar operably coupled to a cam that is operably coupled to the pivot bar.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4 , further comprising:
a support bar fixedly coupled to the upper seatback support and the cam, the support bar configured to rotate about the pivot bar as the pivot bar pivots between the rearward position and the forward position.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 5 , wherein the lift bar includes a worm drive that interfaces with a worm gear operably coupled with a motor.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lower seatback support is operably coupled to the seatback structure and maintains alignment with the seatback structure as the seatback structure moves between an upright position and a reclined position.

8. A vehicle seating assembly, comprising:
a seat and a seatback structure defining an H-point at a reclining axis of a connection between the seatback structure and the seat;
an upper seatback support having a lower edge generally defining a laterally extending line disposed between 270 and 300 mm above the H-point, wherein the upper seatback support pivots about a pivot generally defining a pivot axis that is proximate and substantially parallel to the laterally extending line, wherein the upper seatback pivots between a rearward position and a forward position relative the seatback structure; and
a motorized actuation assembly coupled with and controlling the position of the upper seatback support.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8 , wherein the lower edge of the upper seatback support is disposed at substantially 285 mm above the H-point along the laterally extending line and extending generally parallel to the seatback structure.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a lower seatback support attached to the seatback structure and having an upper edge disposed below the lower edge of the upper seatback support.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 10 , wherein the lower edge of the upper seatback support and the upper edge of the lower seatback support define a split between the upper seatback support and the lower seatback support, wherein the split is disposed between 270 and 300 mm above the H-point along the line and extends substantially parallel to the seatback structure.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8 , wherein the seatback further comprises a pivot bar rotatably coupled with seatback and fixedly coupled with the upper seatback support.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12 , wherein the motorized actuation assembly includes a lift bar operably coupled to a cam that is operably coupled to the pivot bar.

14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the motorized actuation assembly includes a motor operably coupled with a lift bar that is operably coupled with the cam.

15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14 , wherein a support bar is fixedly coupled to the cam and a body of the upper seatback support, the support bar configured to rotate about the pivot bar as the pivot bar translates the upper seatback support to the forward position.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12 , wherein the pivot bar is disposed between 270 and 300 mm above the H-point along the line and extends substantially parallel to the seatback structure.

17. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12 , wherein the pivot bar is disposed at substantially 285 mm above the H-point along the line and extends substantially parallel to the seatback structure.

18. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8 , wherein an external peripheral gap is defined between the upper seatback support and the seatback structure with the upper seatback support in the forward position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Line Johnathan Andrew
• Kondrad Marcos Silva
• Ferretti Daniel
• Kolich Michael
• Jaranson John Wayne

Classifications

• B60N2/66 Primary

  Lumbar supports · CPC title

• B60N2/64

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

• B60N2/2222

  the back-rest having two or more parts · CPC title

• B60N2/986

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

• B60N2/2231

  Worm and worm gear articulations · CPC title