Method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly

• US 10,479,225 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2016
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dry, Alan George
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Application Number:
  US15/296,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20180105070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 296 6501, 296 6519, 296 6517
• 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 2/1635 characterised by the drive mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3075 stowed in recess B60N2/3079 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/806 movable or adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/859 specially adapted for rear seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/995 Lower-leg-rests, e.g. calf-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/001 of tables or trays
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/002 of trays
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/004 of foldable trays mounted on the back-rest

Abstract

A method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly includes the step of providing a vehicle seating assembly that has a seat rotational member that rotatably couples a lower leg support to a seat and a seatback rotational member that rotatably couples the seat to a seatback. The method further includes the step of receiving input of a user'"'"'s desired configuration of the vehicle seating assembly. The method still further includes the step of actuating at least one of the seat rotational member and the seatback rotational member responsive to the input received.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly, comprising:

providing said vehicle seating assembly having a headrest rotational member that rotatably couples a headrest to a seatback and a seatback rotational member that rotatably couples a seat to the seatback;

receiving input of a user'"'"'s desired configuration of said vehicle seating assembly;

actuating at least one of the headrest rotational member and the seatback rotational member responsive to the input;

adjusting the pressure of a plurality of fluid cells that are provided in an inflatable member of said vehicle seating assembly; and

actuating the headrest rotational member such that the headrest nests within a recess of the seatback.

2. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein said vehicle seating assembly includes a seat rotational member that rotatably couples a lower leg support to a seat.

3. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

actuating the seat rotational member such that the lower leg support nests within a recess of the seat.

4. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the desired configuration is a desk configuration.

5. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 4, wherein the lower leg support provides a working surface of the desk configuration.

6. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the desired configuration is a projection surface configuration.

7. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the lower leg support provides a projection surface for displaying media images in the projection surface configuration.

8. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the desired configuration is a footrest configuration.

9. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the desired configuration is a stowed configuration.

10. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

disposing a cover over said vehicle seating assembly in the stowed configuration.

11. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

adjusting a lift mechanism to execute at least one of raising said vehicle seating assembly, lowering said vehicle seating assembly, and tilting said vehicle seating assembly.

12. A method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly, comprising the steps of:

providing the vehicle seating assembly having a seat rotational member that rotatably couples a lower leg support to a seat and a seatback rotational member that rotatably couples the seat to a seatback;

receiving input of a user'"'"'s desired configuration of the vehicle seating assembly;

actuating at least one of the seat rotational member and the seatback rotational member responsive to the input to configure the vehicle seat assembly in the desired configuration;

adjusting the pressure of a plurality of fluid cells that are provided in an inflatable member of said vehicle seating assembly; and

actuating the seat rotational member such that the lower leg support nests within a recess of the seat.

13. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

adjusting a lift mechanism to execute at least one of raising said vehicle seating assembly, lowering said vehicle seating assembly, and tilting said vehicle seating assembly.

14. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

disengaging a front latch from said vehicle seating assembly.

15. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 12, wherein a stowed configuration is achieved by the steps of:

actuating said vehicle seating assembly to a closed configuration; and

lowering said vehicle seating assembly into a compartment.

16. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

disposing a cover over said vehicle seating assembly.

17. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 12, wherein said vehicle seating assembly includes a headrest rotational member that rotatably couples a headrest to the seatback.

18. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

actuating the headrest rotational member such that the headrest nests within a recess of the seatback.

19. A method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly, comprising the steps of:

providing said vehicle seating assembly having a seat rotational member that rotatably couples a lower leg support to a seat, a seatback rotational member that rotatably couples the seat to a seatback, and a headrest rotational member that rotatably couples the seatback to a headrest;

receiving input of a user'"'"'s desired configuration of said vehicle seating assembly;

adjusting the pressure within a plurality of fluid cells that are provided in an inflatable member of said vehicle seating assembly; and

configuring said vehicle seating assembly in the desired configuration by executing at least two of;

actuating the seat rotational member;

nesting the lower leg support within a recess in the seat;

actuating the seatback rotational member;

actuating the headrest rotational member; and

nesting the headrest within a recess in the seatback.

20. The method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

actuating said vehicle seating assembly to a closed configuration; and

lowering said vehicle seating assembly into a compartment such that said vehicle seating assembly assumes a stowed configuration.