Mechanical manual leg tilt

• US 10,093,214 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2016
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hosbach, Christian J., Kondrad, Marcos Silva, Roorda, Brian John, Line, Johnathan Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US14/996,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20170203674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 29734416, 29728411
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0284 Adjustable seat-cushion length B60N2/0224 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/181 Rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1853 Linear actuator, e.g. screw mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/62 Thigh-rests B60N2/914 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/929 linear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/933 rotatable

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat frame. A support bracket is rotatably coupled with the seat frame, and is coupled with a front seat cushion tube supporting a forward portion of a seat. A spindle bracket is operably coupled with the frame. A position clamp includes a spring-biased piston rotatably coupled with the spindle bracket. A housing is slidably coupled with the piston, operable between fore and aft positions, and is rotatably coupled with a clamp mounting bracket, which is fixedly coupled with the support bracket. A release bar is operably coupled with the position clamp, is operable between lock and release positions, and is spring-biased to the lock position. A release handle is operably coupled to the release bar and configured to disengage the release bar from the lock position, thereby allowing sliding movement of the housing fore and aft relative to the piston.

Claims

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a seat frame;

a support bracket rotatably coupled with the seat frame, the support bracket also being coupled with a front seat cushion tube supporting a forward portion of a vehicle seat;

a spindle bracket operably coupled with the frame;

a position clamp including;

a spring-biased piston rotatably coupled with the spindle bracket; and

a housing slidably coupled with the piston and operable between fore and aft positions, the housing being rotatably coupled with a clamp mounting bracket, wherein the clamp mounting bracket is fixedly coupled with the support bracket;

a release bar operably coupled with the position clamp and operable between a lock position and a release position, the release bar being spring-biased to the lock position; and

a release handle operably coupled to the release bar and configured to disengage the release bar from the lock position, thereby allowing sliding movement of the housing fore and aft relative to the piston;

wherein the movement of the housing between the fore and aft positions rotates the support bracket between raised and lowered positions, respectively, which results in vertical movement of the support bracket, front seat cushion tube, and the forward portion of the vehicle seat.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a fastener disposed on an end of the spring-biased piston; and

a spring disposed between the fastener and the housing.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a release cable operably coupling the release bar with the release handle.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the release bar is disposed on a top portion of the housing.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein a forward portion of the spring-biased piston protrudes from the housing.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the position clamp is disposed below the seat frame.

7. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a support bracket supporting a seat and rotatably coupled with a seat frame;

a position clamp including;

a piston rotatably coupled with the frame;

a housing slidably coupled with the piston and rotatably coupled with the support bracket; and

a release bar on a top of the housing and configured to release the position clamp allowing movement of the housing and vertical movement of the support bracket and the seat.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the housing is rotatably coupled with a clamp mounting bracket, and wherein the clamp mounting bracket is fixedly coupled with the support bracket.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a release handle operably coupled to the release bar and configured to disengage the release bar from a lock position, thereby allowing sliding movement of the housing fore and aft relative to the piston.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a fastener disposed on an end of the piston; and

a spring disposed between the fastener and the housing.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a release cable operably coupling the release bar with a release handle.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the position clamp is disposed below the seat frame.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein a forward portion of the piston protrudes from the housing.

14. A vehicle seat thigh support assembly comprising:

a support bracket rotatably coupled with a seat frame;

a position clamp including;

a piston rotatably coupled with the support bracket; and

a housing slidably coupled with the piston and rotatably coupled with the support bracket;

a release assembly operable between lock and release positions, wherein sliding movement of the housing relative to the piston rotates the support bracket upward, resulting in upward movement of a seat; and

wherein the release assembly includes a release cable operably coupling a release bar with a release handle.

15. The vehicle seat thigh support assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

a fastener disposed on an end of the piston; and

a spring disposed between the fastener and the housing.

16. The vehicle seat thigh support assembly of claim 14, wherein the housing is rotatably coupled with a clamp mounting bracket, and wherein the clamp mounting bracket is fixedly coupled with the support bracket.

17. The vehicle seat thigh support assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

the release handle being configured to disengage the release bar from a lock position, thereby allowing sliding movement of the housing fore and aft relative to the piston.