Seatback lift mechanism for a supine motor vehicle seating assembly

• US 10,065,535 B1
• Filed: 03/02/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Line, Johnathan Andrew, Creighton, James Patrick, Hoernke, Spencer R., Johnston, Corbin S., Moua, Jimmy, Ewel, Adam D., Mozurkewich, Kevin R., Damerow, Robert Lloyd, Iacoban, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): White, Rodney B
• Application Number:
  US15/447,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20180251049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 29721612, 29735411, 29735413, 297408
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02 the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable adjustable arm-rests B60N2/75; adjustable head-rests B60N2/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2222 the back-rest having two or more parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3013 the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/34 into a bed
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/345 by adding parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/643 shape of the back-rests B60N2/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/667 having flexible support member bowed by applied forces
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/68 Seat frames
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7011 of substantially two-dimensional shape, e.g. hammock-like, plastic shells, fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/806 movable or adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/865 providing a fore-and-aft movement with respect to the occupant's head
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/948 the actuation of the positioning or locking mechanism for one seat part being dependent on the position of another seat part, e.g. the seats floor lock being unlocked when the back-rest is inclined or the backrest can be tilted only when the seat is in its rear position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/30 Seat or seat parts characterised by comprising plural parts or pieces

Abstract

A motor vehicle comprises an upper back support comprising a substantially U-shaped tubular member pivotally attached at a first end to one of a pair of opposed lateral seatback frame members and pivotally attached at a second end to the other of the pair of opposed lateral seatback frame members, a substantially rigid planar base attached to a central portion of the tubular member, a latch operably coupling the first end of the tubular member to the one of a pair of opposed lateral seatback members to restrain the tubular member in one of a plurality of positions between a stowed position and a fully raised position, and a cushion disposed above the upper back support to form a movable exposed surface.

Claims

1. A seatback comprising a pair of frame members, an upper back support comprising a tubular member pivotally attached to the pair of frame members, a support surface comprising a substantially rigid planar base attached to the tubular member, and a latch operably coupling a first end of the tubular member to a frame member to restrain the tubular member in one of a plurality of positions between a stowed position and a fully raised position.

2. The seatback of claim 1, wherein a central portion of the tubular member forms a substantially U-shaped and upwardly extending configuration within a plane of the seatback when in the stowed position and the substantially rigid planar base is attached to the central portion of the tubular member.

3. The seatback of claim 2, wherein the seatback further comprises a head restraint having an exposed surface and a cushion disposed above the upper back support to form a movable exposed surface, and the exposed surface of the head restraint and the movable exposed surface of the upper back support form a substantially continuous plane when the upper back support surface is in the raised position.

4. The seatback claim 3, wherein the upper back support further comprises a foam pad and the movable exposed surface of the upper back support further comprises a resilient trim material disposed about the foam pad to maintain a flat surface and eliminate wrinkling between the stowed position and the fully raised position.

5. The seatback of claim 2, wherein the substantially rigid planar base further comprises a raised support proximate an upper edge of the substantially rigid planar base and disposed beneath the cushion.

6. The seatback of claim 2, wherein the upper back support is disposed centrally between a first and second lateral edge of the seatback and below the head restraint.

7. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the stowed position is about 0°

relative a plane of the seatback and the raised position is about 15°

relative the plane of the seatback.

8. The seatback of claim 7, wherein the plurality of positions of the upper back support comprises intervals of 1.5°

between the stowed position and the fully raised position.

9. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the latch comprises a ratchet gear and ratchet pawl operably coupled with the ratchet gear and wherein displacement of the upper back support beyond the fully raised position actuates the ratchet pawl to an over travel condition to return the ratchet latch and the upper back support to the stowed position.

10. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the upper back support is controlled manually by pulling the upper back support forward relative the seatback.

11. The seatback of claim 10, wherein the upper back support is moved from the stowed position to one of the plurality of positions by manually pulling the upper back support.

12. The seatback of claim 11, wherein the upper back support further comprises a pull strap by which the upper back support is pulled forward relative the seatback.

13. The seatback of claim 12, wherein the upper back support is pulled forward in increments of 1.5°

between the stowed position and the fully raised position.

14. A seating assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:

a seatback pivotable between an upright position and a fully reclined position operably coupled with a lower seating structure, the seatback further comprising a frame having an upper transverse cross member, a lower transverse cross member, and a pair of opposed lateral seatback frame members extending between the upper and lower transverse members, wherein each of the pair of opposed lateral seatback frame members has a seatback pivot mount at a lower portion thereof that is operably coupled with the lower seat pivot mount; and

an upper back support comprising a tubular member pivotally attached at a first end to one of the pair of opposed lateral seatback frame members and pivotally attached at a second end to the other of the pair of opposed lateral seatback frame members, a substantially rigid planar base attached to a central portion of the tubular member, a latch operably coupling the first end of the tubular member to the one of a pair of opposed lateral seatback members to restrain the tubular member in one of a plurality of positions between a stowed position and a fully raised position, and a cushion disposed above the upper back support to form an exposed surface.

15. The seating assembly of claim 14, further comprising a lower back support disposed below the upper back support, the lower back support being operably coupled with the upper back support and raised relative an exposed surface of the seatback when the upper back support is raised from the stowed position.

16. The seating assembly of claim 14, wherein a central portion of the tubular member forms a substantially U-shaped configuration within the plane of the seatback when in the stowed position, the substantially rigid planar base is attached to the central portion of the tubular member, and the latch comprises a ratchet gear and ratchet pawl operably coupled with the ratchet gear.

17. The seating assembly of claim 16, wherein displacement of the upper back support beyond the fully raised position actuates the ratchet pawl to an over travel condition to return the ratchet latch and upper back support to the stowed position.

18. A seating assembly for a motor vehicle comprising an upper back support comprising a substantially U-shaped tubular member pivotally attached at a first end to one of a pair of opposed lateral seatback frame members and pivotally attached at a second end to the other of the pair of opposed lateral seatback frame members, a substantially rigid planar base attached to a central portion of the tubular member, a latch operably coupling the first end of the tubular member to the one of a pair of opposed lateral seatback members to restrain the tubular member in one of a plurality of positions between a stowed position and a fully raised position, and a cushion disposed above the upper back support to form a movable exposed surface.

19. The seating assembly of claim 18, wherein the seatback further comprises a head restraint having an exposed surface and the exposed surface of the head restraint and the movable exposed surface of the upper back support form a substantially continuous plane when the upper back support surface is in the fully raised position.