Seat back interlocking ottoman device and vehicle seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9873356-B2
Application number	US-201414305261-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 16, 2014
Priority date	Jun 21, 2013
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

There is provided a seat back interlocking ottoman device for a vehicle seat configured such that an angle of a seat back relative to a seat cushion can be adjusted and an ottoman is provided to the seat cushion. The ottoman device includes an interlocking mechanism configured to retract the ottoman to a retracted position below the front side of the seat cushion when the seat back is located at a regular usage position and to move the ottoman from the retracted position to an extended position at the front side of the seat cushion to thus support a leg part of a passenger when the seat back is tilted rearwards from the regular usage position. A part of the interlocking mechanism is configured to be operable by an arbitrary operation such that the ottoman can be moved between the retracted position and the extended position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat back interlocking ottoman device for a vehicle seat configured such that an angle of a seat back relative to a seat cushion can be adjusted and an ottoman is provided at a front side of the seat cushion, the seat back interlocking ottoman device comprising:
an interlocking mechanism configured to interlock the seat back and the ottoman so as to retract the ottoman to a retracted position below the front side of the seat cushion when the seat back is located at a regular usage position suitable for sitting and to move the ottoman from the retracted position to an extended position at the front side of the seat cushion to thus support a leg part of a passenger from below when the seat back is tilted rearwards from the regular usage position;
a support member configured to support a part of the interlocking mechanism at a predetermined position when the ottoman is moved while the ottoman is interlocked with the seat back, and
an operating lever which is connected to the support member to move the support member, thereby moving the ottoman between the retracted position and the extended position independently from the interlocking operation between the seat back and the ottoman;
wherein the part of the interlocking mechanism is configured to be operable by an operation independent of a movement of the seat back, such that the ottoman can be moved to a desired position between the retracted position and the extended position independent of the movement of the seat back,
wherein a position of the support member is configured to be moved by a force larger than a force applied at the interlocking mechanism, and
wherein the ottoman is configured to be moved between the retracted position and the extended position by a movement of the support member.

2. A vehicle seat comprising:
a seat cushion;
a seat back configured such that an angle relative to the seat cushion can be adjusted;
an ottoman provided at a front side of the seat cushion to be rotatable;
an interlocking mechanism configured to interlock the seat back and the ottoman so as to retract the ottoman to a retracted position below the front side of the seat cushion when the seat back is located at a regular usage position suitable for sitting and to move the ottoman from the retracted position to an extended position at the front side of the seat cushion to thus support a leg part of a passenger from below when the seat back is tilted rearwards from the regular usage position;
a support member configured to support a part of the interlocking mechanism at a predetermined position when the ottoman is moved while the ottoman is interlocked with the seat back, and
an operating lever which is connected to the support member to move the support member, thereby moving the ottoman between the retracted position and the extended position independently from the interlocking operation between the seat back and the ottoman;
wherein the part of the interlocking mechanism is configured to be movable independently from a movement of the seat back such that the ottoman can be moved between the retracted position and the extended position independently from the interlocking between the seat back and the ottoman,
wherein a position of the support member is configured to be moved by a force larger than a force applied at the interlocking mechanism, and
wherein the ottoman is configured to be moved between the retracted position and the extended position by a movement of the support member.

3. A seat back interlocking ottoman device for a vehicle seat configured such that an angle of a seat back relative to a seat cushion can be adjusted and an ottoman is provided at a front side of the seat cushion, the seat back interlocking ottoman device comprising:
an interlocking mechanism configured to interlock the seat back and the ottoman so as to retract the ottoman to a retracted position below the front side of the seat cushion when the seat back is located at a regular usage position suitable for sitting and to move the ottoman from the retracted position to an extended position at the front side of the seat cushion to thus support a leg part of a passenger from below when the seat back is tilted rearwards from the regular usage position; and
an operating lever configured to operate the ottoman independent of the movement of the seat back,
wherein a part of the interlocking mechanism is configured to be operable by an operation independent of a movement of the seat back, such that the ottoman can be moved to a desired position between the retracted position and the extended position independent of the movement of the seat back,
wherein the operating lever overtakes control of the ottoman from the interlocking mechanism by applying a first force on the part of the interlocking mechanism, and
wherein the first force is larger than a second force applied on the part of the interlocking mechanism by the seat back.

4. A vehicle seat comprising:
a seat cushion;
a seat back configured such that an angle relative to the seat cushion can be adjusted;
an ottoman provided at a front side of the seat cushion to be rotatable;
an interlocking mechanism configured to interlock the seat back and the ottoman so as to retract the ottoman to a retracted position below the front side of the seat cushion when the seat back is located at a regular usage position suitable for sitting and to move the ottoman from the retracted position to an extended position at the front side of the seat cushion to thus support a leg part of a passenger from below when the seat back is tilted rearwards from the regular usage position; and
an operating lever configured to operate the ottoman independent of the movement of the seat back,
wherein a part of the interlocking mechanism is configured to be movable independently from a movement of the seat back such that the ottoman can be moved between the retracted position and the extended position independently from the interlocking between the seat back and the ottoman,
wherein the operating lever overtakes control of the ottoman from the interlocking mechanism by applying a first force on the part of the interlocking mechanism, and
wherein the first force is larger than a second force applied on the part of the interlocking mechanism by the seat back.

Assignees

• Toyota Boshoku Kk

Inventors

• Kuno Satoru
• Nagayasu Hidetaka

Classifications

• B64D11/0639

  with features for adjustment or converting of seats · CPC title

• A47C1/0355

  actuated by linkages, e.g. lazy-tongs mechanisms · CPC title

• B64D11/064

  Adjustable inclination or position of seats · CPC title

• B60N2/22 Primary

  the back-rest being adjustable {(B60N2/2878 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B61D33/0021

  for adjustable or reclining seats · CPC title