Vehicle seating assembly

• US 10,059,238 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2017
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Huebner, Annette Lynn, Surman, James J., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Greiner, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US15/607,761
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 362487-488
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/91 Panels between front seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/12 lighting onto the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/20 for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/16 Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2106/00 Interior vehicle lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/10 Projectors with built-in or built-on screen
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/14 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/56 Projection screens
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03

Abstract

A seating assembly is provided herein. The seating assembly includes a partition disposed between first and second seats. The partition includes a panel movable between a stowed position and a deployed position along a track assembly. A first lamp is configured to project a first image onto the panel.

Claims

1. A seating assembly comprising:

a partition disposed between first and second seats arranged in a vehicle side-to-side orientation, the partition positioned in a fore-aft direction and including a panel movable between a vehicle rearward stowed position and a vehicle forward deployed position along a track assembly; and

a first lamp configured to project a first image onto the panel, wherein the first lamp is disposed between the panel and a vehicle side door.

2. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the first lamp is a projector lamp that is configured to produce images on the panel when the panel is in the deployed position.

3. The seating assembly of claim 2, wherein the first lamp comprises:

a projector light source;

an optical member optically coupled with the projector light source;

a connector casing; and

an enclosure.

4. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the first lamp creates a first set of images on the panel when the panel is in the deployed position and creates a second set of images on the seating assembly when the panel is in the stowed position.

5. The seating assembly of claim 4, wherein the images include notifications for an occupant of a vehicle.

6. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the first lamp is disposed within the track assembly.

7. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the first lamp is disposed within a trim component of a vehicle.

8. The seating assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a second lamp configured to project a second image onto the panel.

9. The seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the first and second images are projected on opposing surfaces of the panel.

10. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the first image is illuminated by a light source based on a door sensor signal and the light source is activated when an occupant enters a vehicle.

11. The seating assembly of claim 10, wherein the track assembly includes a position sensor and the first lamp is activated when the position sensor detects the panel is in the deployed position.

12. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the first lamp includes a plurality of light sources that form a display on the panel, the display configured to provide information for an occupant of the vehicle.

13. A seating assembly comprising:

a movable partition disposed between first and second seats, the movable partition including a panel;

a track system, including a first and second rail, wherein the panel is configured to move along the track system; and

a projector lamp operably coupled with the panel, wherein the projector lamp creates a first image as an occupant enters a vehicle and a second image as the occupant exits the vehicle.

14. The seating assembly of claim 13, further comprising:

a housing, wherein the panel is disposed within a cavity defined by the housing when the panel is in a stowed position.

15. The seating assembly of claim 13, wherein the track system is oriented in a fore-aft direction.

16. A seating assembly comprising:

a partition disposed between first and second seats, the partition including a panel;

a track system operably coupled with the panel, the panel configured to move along the track system between a stowed position and a deployed position;

first and second bins respectively disposed proximate the first and second seats, wherein a housing separates the first and second bins; and

a lamp configured to create an image on the panel, wherein the lamp is disposed between the panel and a vehicle side door.

17. The seating assembly of claim 16, wherein the image is projected onto the panel.

18. The seating assembly of claim 16, wherein the image is provided by a display.

19. The seating assembly of claim 18, wherein the image provides a plurality of indicia for an occupant of the vehicle.

20. The seating assembly of claim 18, wherein two opposing sides of the panel have two different images simultaneously projected thereon.