Self-adjusting rear seat cushion for comfort and storage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9963058-B2
Application number	US-201514725595-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2015
Priority date	May 29, 2015
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly having a seat including a support frame. A seatback is pivotally coupled with the seat and is adjustable between a passenger support position configured to support the weight of a passenger and a cargo position. The seatback is folded forward to a substantially horizontal position. A seat cushion includes a dynamic forward portion and a generally static rearward portion. An articulation feature is disposed below the forward portion of the seat cushion. The articulation feature is operable between a deployed and a non-deployed position. Movement to the deployed position results in the dynamic forward portion of the seat cushion being adjusted to a raised position. Movement to the non-deployed position results in the dynamic forward portion of the seat cushion being adjusted to a lowered position that allows the seatback to fold forward to the cargo position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seat supported on a support frame;
a seatback pivotally coupled with the seat and adjustable between a passenger support position configured to support the weight of a passenger and a cargo position, wherein the seatback is folded forward to a substantially horizontal position;
a seat cushion including a dynamic forward portion and a generally static rearward portion; and
an articulation feature disposed below the forward portion of the seat cushion, the articulation feature being operable between a deployed and a non-deployed position, wherein movement to the deployed position results in the dynamic forward portion of the seat cushion being adjusted to a raised position, and wherein movement to the non-deployed position results in the dynamic forward portion of the seat cushion being adjusted to a lowered position that allows the seatback to fold forward to the cargo position.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the articulation feature includes a spring that is elastically deformable to the non-deployed position under the weight of the seatback when the seatback is in the cargo position.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 2 , wherein the spring is a compression spring disposed between the seat frame and a rigid cushion support disposed below the seat cushion.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the articulation feature moves to the non-deployed position by activation of an activation device.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the articulation feature moves to the non-deployed position under the weight of the seatback.

6. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seatback;
a seat cushion including a forward portion and a generally non-pivotal rearward portion, wherein the forward portion is vertically adjustable between a raised position when the seatback is in a passenger support position and a lowered position when the seatback is in a cargo position; and
a compression spring disposed below the forward portion configured to compress to a non-deployed position under the weight of the seatback.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6 , wherein the compression spring compresses to the non-deployed position under the weight of the seatback when the seatback is in the cargo position.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6 , wherein the compression spring moves to the non-deployed position by activation of an activation device.

9. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seatback adjustable between passenger support and cargo positions; and
a seat cushion including a dynamic forward portion supported by a compression spring positioned in the seat cushion that moves to a non-deployed position under the weight of the seatback, the forward portion being adjustable between:
a raised position when the seatback is in the passenger support position; and
a lowered position when the seatback is in the cargo position.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 9 , wherein the seat cushion includes a generally static rearward portion.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Line Johnathan Andrew
• Ferretti Daniel

Classifications

• B60N2/7082

  with air or fluid cushions (B60N2/914 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/3011

  the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement" · CPC title

• B60N2/36

  into a loading platform {(B60N2/065 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N2/3065

  in a longitudinal-vertical plane · CPC title

• B60N2002/363

  characterised by provisions for enhancing the cargo floor surface, e.g. elements closing gaps or enlarging the back-rest surface · CPC title