Anthropomorphic pivotable upper seatback support

• US 10,239,419 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2017
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2015
• 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, Kondrad, Marcos Silva, Ferretti, Daniel, Kolich, Michael, Jaranson, John Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Allred, David E
• Application Number:
  US15/715,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20180015844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 29735411
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02253 characterised by the transmission between the electric motor and the seat or seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/20 the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/04, B60N2/22 , B60N2/3002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2222 the back-rest having two or more parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2231 Worm and worm gear articulations
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2236 with a transversal pin displaced by a slot or a cam along a predetermined path

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a lower seat and a seatback structure extending upwardly relative the lower seat, the lower seat and the seatback structure defining a seat H-point, and the seatback structure having an upper seatback support, a lower seatback support, and a split between the upper seatback support and the lower seatback support. The split is disposed between 270 and 300 mm, preferably about 285 mm, above the H-point along a line extending substantially parallel to the seatback structure. The upper seatback support pivots about a pivot between a rearward position and a forward position relative the lower seatback support. A motorized actuation assembly is disposed within the seatback structure and operably coupled to the upper seatback support, wherein the motorized actuation assembly pivots the upper seatback support about the pivot between the rearward position and the forward position.

Claims

1. A vehicle seatback assembly, comprising:

a static lower suspension assembly coupled to a seatback structure integral with the vehicle seatback assembly;

a dynamic upper suspension assembly operably coupled to an actuation assembly to rotate relative the static lower suspension assembly between a forward position and a rearward position; and

a split between the static lower seatback suspension assembly and the dynamic upper suspension assembly, wherein the split generally defines a laterally extending line that is disposed between 270 and 300 mm above an H-point at a reclining axis of the vehicle seatback assembly measured along a line extending substantially parallel to the seatback structure when the seatback structure is in an upright position, the laterally extending line extending substantially parallel to the reclining axis.

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

a pivot bar extending between and rotatably coupled with the static lower suspension assembly and fixedly coupled to the dynamic upper suspension assembly, the pivot bar being configured to rotate the dynamic upper suspension assembly forward upon activation of the actuation assembly, and wherein the actuation assembly includes a motor contained within the seatback structure, the motor being configured to rotate the dynamic upper suspension assembly between the forward position and the rearward position.

3. The vehicle seatback assembly of claim 1, wherein the split is disposed at substantially 285 mm above the H-point.

4. The vehicle seatback assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivot comprises a pivot bar rotatably coupled with the seatback structure and fixedly coupled with the dynamic upper suspension assembly.

5. The vehicle seatback assembly of claim 4, further comprising a motorized actuation assembly including a lift bar operably coupled to a cam that is operably coupled to the pivot bar.

6. The vehicle seatback assembly of claim 5, further comprising:

a support bar fixedly coupled to the dynamic upper suspension assembly and the cam, the support bar configured to rotate about the pivot bar as the pivot bar pivots between the forward position and the rearward position.

7. The vehicle seatback assembly of claim 6, wherein the lift bar includes a worm drive that interfaces with a worm gear operably coupled with a motor.

8. The vehicle seatback assembly of claim 1, wherein the static lower suspension assembly is operably coupled to the seatback structure and maintains alignment with the seatback structure as the seatback structure moves between an upright position and a reclined position.

9. A vehicle seatback assembly, comprising:

a seatback structure defining an H-point at a reclining axis of the vehicle seatback assembly;

a dynamic upper suspension assembly having a lower edge generally defining a laterally extending line disposed between 270 and 300 mm above the H-point measured along a line extending substantially parallel to the seatback structure, the laterally extending line extending along a line extending substantially parallel to the reclining axis, wherein the dynamic upper suspension assembly pivots about a pivot generally defining a pivot axis that is proximate and substantially parallel to the laterally extending line when the seatback structure is in an upright position, wherein the dynamic upper suspension assembly pivots between a forward position and a rearward position relative the seatback structure; and

a motorized actuation assembly coupled with and controlling the position of the dynamic upper suspension assembly.

10. The vehicle seatback assembly of claim 9, wherein the lower edge of the dynamic upper suspension assembly is disposed at substantially 285 mm above the H-point along the laterally extending line and extending generally parallel to the reclining axis.

11. The vehicle seatback assembly of claim 9, further comprising a lower seatback support attached to the seatback structure and having an upper edge disposed parallel to and below the lower edge of the dynamic upper suspension assembly.

12. The vehicle seatback assembly of claim 11, wherein the lower edge of the dynamic upper suspension assembly and the upper edge of the lower seatback support define a split between the dynamic upper suspension assembly and the lower seatback support, wherein the split is disposed between 270 and 300 mm above the H-point along the laterally extending line and extends substantially parallel to the reclining axis.

13. The vehicle seatback assembly of claim 9, wherein the seatback further comprises a pivot bar rotatably coupled with the seatback structure and fixedly coupled with the dynamic upper suspension assembly.

14. The vehicle seatback assembly of claim 13, wherein the motorized actuation assembly includes a lift bar operably coupled to a cam that is operably coupled to the pivot bar.

15. The vehicle seatback assembly of claim 14, wherein the motorized actuation assembly includes a motor operably coupled with a lift bar that is operably coupled with the cam.

16. The vehicle seatback assembly of claim 15, wherein a support bar is fixedly coupled to the cam and a body of the dynamic upper suspension assembly, the support bar configured to rotate about the pivot bar as the pivot bar pivots the dynamic upper suspension assembly to the forward position.

17. The vehicle seatback assembly of claim 13, wherein the pivot bar is disposed between 270 and 300 mm above the H-point along the laterally extending line and extends substantially parallel to the reclining axis.

18. The vehicle seatback assembly of claim 13, wherein the pivot bar is disposed at substantially 285 mm above the H-point along the laterally extending line and extends substantially parallel to the reclining axis.

19. The vehicle seatback assembly of claim 9, wherein an external peripheral gap is defined between the dynamic upper suspension assembly and the seatback structure with the dynamic upper suspension assembly in the forward position.