Anthropomorphic upper seatback

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9889773-B2
Application number	US-201615089676-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2016
Priority date	Apr 4, 2016
Publication date	Feb 13, 2018
Grant date	Feb 13, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback frame. An articulating upper thoracic region is operably coupled with the seatback frame and includes a cross-vehicle support, a torso vertical support, and a suspension support. The articulating upper thoracic region is pivotally coupled with a mid-portion of the seatback frame between stowed and deployed positions. A back panel is operably coupled to a rear side of the seatback frame. A front close-out panel is disposed between a rear portion of the articulating upper thoracic region and the back panel. A peripheral gap is disposed between the front close-out panel and the articulating upper thoracic region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seatback frame;
an articulating upper thoracic region operably coupled with the seatback frame and comprising:
a cross-vehicle support;
a torso vertical support; and
a suspension support;
wherein the articulating upper thoracic region is pivotally coupled with a mid-portion of the seatback frame between stowed and deployed positions;
a back panel operably coupled to a rear side of the seatback frame;
a front close-out panel disposed between a rear portion of the articulating upper thoracic region and the back panel; and
a peripheral gap disposed between the front close-out panel and the articulating upper thoracic region when the articulating upper thoracic region is in the stowed and the deployed positions.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein a lateral distance from a first side to a second side of the cross-vehicle support is approximately 400 mm to 430 mm.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 2 , wherein the lateral distance from a first side to a second side of the cross-vehicle support is approximately 417 mm.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the torso vertical support extends upwardly from a mid-portion of the seatback frame approximately 260 mm to 300 mm.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4 , wherein the torso vertical support extends upwardly from a mid-portion of the seatback frame approximately 288 mm.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the articulating upper thoracic region is rotatable to a position that translates a top edge of the articulating upper thoracic region forward approximately 40 mm to 70 mm, increasing the width of the peripheral gap at the top of the seatback frame.

7. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seatback frame;
an articulating upper thoracic region operably coupled with the seatback frame and comprising:
a cross-vehicle support;
a torso vertical support; and a suspension support; and
wherein the articulating upper thoracic region is pivotally coupled with the seatback frame between stowed and deployed positions, and defines a peripheral gap in the stowed and the deployed positions.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein a lateral distance from a first side to a second side of the cross-vehicle support is approximately 400 mm to 430 mm.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8 , wherein the lateral distance from a first side to a second side of the cross-vehicle support is approximately 417 mm.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein the torso vertical support extends upwardly from a mid-portion of the seatback frame approximately 260 mm to 300 mm.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 10 , wherein the torso vertical support extends upwardly from a mid-portion of the seatback frame approximately 288 mm.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein the articulating upper thoracic region is rotatable to a position that translates a top edge of the articulating upper thoracic region forward approximately 40 mm to 70 mm, increasing a width of the peripheral gap at the top of the seatback frame.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12 , wherein the articulating upper thoracic region is configured to flex rearward in a cantilevered manner approximately 14 percent to 86 percent rearward.

14. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seatback frame;
an articulating upper thoracic region pivotally coupled with a mid-portion of the seatback frame and operable between stowed and deployed positions, wherein a rear portion of the articulating upper thoracic region defines a peripheral gap, the articulating upper thoracic region including:
a laterally-flexible cross-vehicle support; a torso vertical support; and
an adjustable suspension support that is dependent on a relative position of the articulating upper thoracic region.

15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14 , wherein a lateral distance from a first side to a second side of the laterally-flexible cross-vehicle support is approximately 400 mm to 430 mm.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 15 , wherein the lateral distance from a first side to a second side of the laterally-flexible cross-vehicle support is approximately 417 mm.

17. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14 , wherein the torso vertical support extends upwardly from a mid-portion of the seatback frame approximately 260 mm to 300 mm.

18. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 17 , wherein the torso vertical support extends upwardly from a mid-portion of the seatback frame approximately 288 mm.

19. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14 , wherein the articulating upper thoracic region is rotatable to a position that translates a top edge of the articulating upper thoracic region forward approximately 40 mm to 70 mm, increasing a width of the peripheral gap at the top of the seatback frame.

20. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 19 , wherein the articulating upper thoracic region is configured to flex rearward in a cantilevered manner approximately 14 percent to 86 percent rearward.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B60N2/68

  Seat frames · CPC title

• B60N2/643

  shape of the back-rests (B60N2/66 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/2222 Primary

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

• B60N2/64

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

• B60N2/22 Primary

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