Reclinable seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9981569-B2
Application number	US-201514944557-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2015
Priority date	Dec 8, 2014
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

Example embodiments presented herein concern a reclinable seat comprising a base, a seat back and a seat pan. The seat pan comprises a seat bottom and a seat front, wherein the seat bottom is pivotably connected to the seat back by a first hinge member, and the seat bottom is further pivotably connected to the seat front by a second hinge member. The seat further comprises a seat bottom link arm attachable between the seat bottom and the base, and a seat front link arm attachable between the seat front and the base. The seat bottom link arm and the seat front link arm individually control a pivoting of the seat bottom and seat front, respectively, in response to a pivot of the seat back. Example embodiments presented herein further relate to a vehicle provided with a reclinable seat.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reclinable seat comprising:
a base;
a seat back;
a seat pan including a seat bottom and a seat front, wherein the seat bottom is pivotably connected to the seat back by a first hinge member and the seat bottom is further pivotably connected to the seat front by a second hinge member;
a seat bottom link arm attachable between the seat bottom and the base, wherein the seat bottom link arm is rigid and of a fixed length, and wherein the seat bottom link arm is attached to the seat bottom at an end of the seat bottom that is adjacent the second hinge member; and
a seat front link arm attachable between the seat front and the base, wherein the seat front link arm is rigid and of a fixed length, and wherein the seat front link arm is attached to the seat front at an end of the seat front that is adjacent the second hinge member;
wherein the seat bottom link arm and the seat front link arm are configured to individually control pivoting of the seat bottom and the seat front, respectively, in response to pivotal movement of the seat back.

2. The reclinable seat according to claim 1 wherein the seat back is pivotably mounted to the base at a primary pivot point provided at the base.

3. The reclinable seat according to claim 2 wherein the seat bottom link arm is pivotably connected to the seat bottom at a first pivot point and to the base at a second pivot point, and the seat front link arm is pivotably connected to the seat front at a third pivot point and to the base at a fourth pivot point.

4. The reclinable seat according to claim 3 wherein the fourth pivot point is located at the primary pivot point.

5. The reclinable seat of claim 3 , wherein the second pivot point is stationary.

6. The reclinable seat of claim 3 , wherein the fourth pivot point is stationary.

7. The reclinable seat according to claim 1 wherein the seat bottom has a length in the range of 15-25 centimeters.

8. The reclinable seat according to claim 1 wherein the seat front has a length in the range of 24-32 centimeters.

9. The reclinable seat according to claim 1 wherein a first angle between the seat back and the seat bottom increases as the seat back is reclined.

10. The reclinable seat according to claim 9 wherein a second angle between the seat bottom and the seat front increases as the seat back is reclined.

11. The reclinable seat according to claim 1 further comprising a control unit configured to mechanically or electrically control recline angle of the seat back.

12. The reclinable seat according to claim 1 wherein the first hinge member or the second hinge member is made of an elastic material.

13. The reclinable seat according to claim 12 wherein the elastic material comprises a structural elastic composite.

14. The reclinable seat according to claim 12 wherein the elastic material comprises a carbon fiber composite.

15. The reclinable seat according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the seat bottom link arm and the seat front link arm is provided within an arm rest.

16. The reclinable seat according to claim 1 further comprising at least one shoulder belt comprised within the seat back, wherein the at least one shoulder belt is configured to rotate along with the seat back to remain in position relative to an occupant at all recline angles of the seat back.

17. A vehicle comprising a reclinable seat according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Volvo Car Corp

Inventors

• Frasher Douglas Hall

Classifications

• B60N2/20

  the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access (B60N2/04, B60N2/22 {, B60N2/3002} take precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/22

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

• B64D11/0643

  Adjustable foot or leg rests · CPC title

• B60R22/26

  secured to the seat · CPC title

• B60N2/10 Primary

  tiltable (B60N2/12 {, B60N2/2875} take precedence) · CPC title