Linkage extension system with damped motion

• US 10,589,649 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2018
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Oleson, Michael L., Iossifidis, John
• Primary Examiner(s): White, Rodney B
• Application Number:
  US16/128,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20200079262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 29728411, 29742319, 2974232, 297353, 297410
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/14 of adjustable shape; elastically mounted ; adaptable to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions movably-coupled seat and backrests with elastic adjustment means A47C1/03261; elastically-mounted back-rests or backrest-seat units in the base frame A47C7/44
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/38 for the head adjustable coupled to reclining or easy chairs A47C1/036
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/5062 rectilinearly
• 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 2/02246 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 2/0284 Adjustable seat-cushion length B60N2/0224 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/62 Thigh-rests B60N2/914 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/666 vertically adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/806 movable or adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/821 with continuous positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/865 providing a fore-and-aft movement with respect to the occupant's head
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/99 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/995 Lower-leg-rests, e.g. calf-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/0288 Adjustable seat width
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2222/126 using gases
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2232/02 Rotary

Abstract

A linkage extension system and method for holding an extendable portion of a seat in a desired position while the extendable portion translates from a retracted to an extended position and any intermediate position. A coupled damper produces a holding force to counter gravity or other forces which cause the translation of the seat extension away from a desired position. The linkage extension system is self-powered and operates within the enclosed portion of the seat.

Claims

1. A linkage extension system, comprising:

a movable cross member of a seat, the movable cross member movably coupled to a stationary member of the seat, the stationary member rigidly coupled to the seat, the movable cross member configured to translate along a movement plane to at least one of an extended position, a retracted position, and at least one intermediate position, the retracted position proximal to the seat and the extended position and at least one intermediate position distant from the seat;

a pair of lower links rotationally coupled at a lower pivot joint with the stationary member, the pair of lower links configured to rotate within the movement plane;

a pair of upper links rotationally coupled at an upper pivot joint with the movable cross member, the pair of upper links configured to rotate within the movement plane, the upper links and the lower links coupled to each other via a link pivot joint; and

at least one damper operably coupled to at least one of;

     1) the movable cross member,

     2) at least one lower link,

     3) at least one upper link,

     4) at least one link pivot joint and

     5) the stationary member;

the at least one damper configured to provide a holding force, the holding force restricting translation of the movable cross member as the movable cross member is in one of;

the extended position, the retracted position and the at least one intermediate position.

2. The linkage extension system of claim 1, wherein the at least one damper further comprises a helix shaft, the helix shaft rotationally secured to the stationary member via a helix fixed nut, the helix shaft operatively coupled with the movable cross member via a rotary damper, the helix shaft providing the holding force directly to the movable cross member.

3. The linkage extension system of claim 1, wherein the at least one damper further comprises at least one rotary damper rigidly coupled to the stationary member and operably coupled with at least one lower link, the at least one rotary damper providing the holding force directly upon the at least one lower link.

4. The linkage extension system of claim 1, wherein the at least one damper further comprises at least one rotary damper rigidly coupled to the movable cross member and operably coupled to at least one upper link, the at least one rotary damper providing the holding force directly upon the at least one upper link.

5. The linkage extension system of claim 1, wherein the at least one damper further comprises at least one gas spring damper rotationally coupled with the stationary member and operably coupled with at least one opposite link pivot joint, the at least one gas spring damper providing the holding force directly upon the at least one opposite link pivot joint.

6. The linkage extension system of claim 1, wherein the holding force is less than ten pounds.

7. The linkage extension system of claim 1, wherein the holding force acts opposite from an extension force or a retraction force applied by a user, each force acts parallel to the movement plane.

8. The linkage extension system of claim 1, wherein the holding force remains one of:

constant, increasing or decreasing throughout the translation from the retracted position to the extended position.

9. The linkage extension system of claim 1, wherein the holding force is sized to overcome at least one of:

a gravitational force proximate with the movement plane, a lateral force approximately perpendicular to the movement plane, and a friction force within the movement plane.

10. The linkage extension system of claim 1, wherein the movable cross member is further coupled with at least one of a head rest, a foot rest, a leg support and a seat pan extension.

11. A method for extension and retraction of an extendable portion of a seat, comprising:

translationally coupling a movable cross member to a seat, the movable cross member translationally coupled to a stationary member of the seat, the stationary member rigidly coupled to the seat, the movable cross member configured to translate along a movement plane to at least one of an extended position, a retracted position, and at least one intermediate position, the retracted position proximal to the seat and the extended position and at least one intermediate position distant from the seat;

rotationally coupling a pair of lower links via a lower pivot joint with the stationary member, the pair of lower links configured to rotate within the movement plane;

rotationally coupling a pair of upper links via an upper pivot joint with the movable cross member, the pair of upper links configured to rotate within the movement plane, the upper links and the lower links coupled to each other via a link pivot joint; and

operably coupling at least one damper to at least one of;

     1) the movable cross member,

     2) at least one lower link,

     3) at least one upper link,

     4) at least one link pivot joint and

     5) the stationary member;

wherein the at least one damper is configured to provide a holding force, the holding force restricting translation of the movable cross member as the movable cross member is in one of;

the extended position, the retracted position and the at least one intermediate position.

12. The method for extension and retraction of an extendable portion of a seat of claim 11, wherein the at least one damper further comprises a helix shaft, the helix shaft rotationally secured to the stationary member via a helix fixed nut, the helix shaft operatively coupled with the movable cross member via a rotary damper, the helix shaft providing the holding force directly to the movable cross member.

13. The method for extension and retraction of an extendable portion of a seat of claim 11, wherein the at least one damper further comprises at least one rotary damper rigidly coupled to the stationary member and operably coupled with at least one lower link, the at least one rotary damper providing the holding force directly upon the at least one lower link.

14. The method for extension and retraction of an extendable portion of a seat of claim 11, wherein the at least one damper further comprises at least one rotary damper rigidly coupled to the movable cross member and operably coupled to at least one upper link, the at least one rotary damper providing the holding force directly upon the at least one upper link.

15. The method for extension and retraction of an extendable portion of a seat of claim 11, wherein the at least one damper further comprises at least one gas spring damper rotationally coupled with the stationary member and operably coupled with at least one opposite link pivot joint, the at least one gas spring damper providing the holding force directly upon the at least one opposite link pivot joint.

16. The method for extension and retraction of an extendable portion of a seat of claim 11, wherein the holding force is less than ten pounds.

17. The method for extension and retraction of an extendable portion of a seat of claim 11, wherein the holding force acts opposite from an extension force or a retraction force applied by a user, each force acts parallel to the movement plane.

18. The method for extension and retraction of an extendable portion of a seat of claim 11, wherein the holding force remains one of:

constant, increasing and decreasing throughout the translation from the retracted position to the extended position.

19. The method for extension and retraction of an extendable portion of a seat of claim 11, wherein the holding force is sized to overcome at least one of:

a gravitational force proximate with the movement plane, a lateral force approximately perpendicular to the movement plane, and a friction force within the movement plane.

20. The method for extension and retraction of an extendable portion of a seat of claim 11, wherein the movable cross member is further coupled with at least one of a head rest, a foot rest, a leg support and a seat pan extension.