Articulating mechanical thigh extension composite trim payout linkage system

• US 10,625,646 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2017
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kondrad, Marcos Silva, Line, Johnathan Andrew, Preuss, Kevin Wayne, Berry, S. M. Akbar
• Primary Examiner(s): Barfield, Anthony D
• Application Number:
  US15/834,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20180099595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 29728411
• 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 2/686 Panel like structures
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/929 linear

Abstract

A motor vehicle seating assembly comprises a seat frame, a cushion fixedly attached at a first end thereof to the seat frame, and a motor disposed on the seat frame and operably coupled with a displaceable second end of the cushion, wherein actuation of the motor operates the cushion between an extended position and a retracted position.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a seat frame comprising a seat base and a seat cushion base, wherein the seat base comprises an enclosure having a back wall and a pair of lateral walls extending forward of and orthogonally to the back wall, and the seat base further comprises a pair of laterally displaced mounting ears disposed on an interior surface of each of the pair of lateral walls and projecting into an interior of the enclosure of the seat base;

a flexible cushion fixedly attached at a first end thereof to the seat frame, wherein the first end of the cushion is fixedly attached to a forward portion of the seat cushion base, the seat cushion base further comprises a pair of laterally displaced attachment surfaces disposed on a bottom surface of the seat cushion base, and the seat cushion base is supported by the laterally displaced attachment surfaces, each of which is attached to one of the pair of laterally displaced mounting ears; and

a motor disposed on the seat frame and operably coupled with a displaceable second end of the cushion, wherein actuation of the motor operates the cushion between an extended position and a retracted position.

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

a rail operably coupled with the second end of the cushion and the seat frame; and

a drive mechanism comprising a threaded spindle extending from and driven by the motor operably disposed on the seat frame, and a spindle nut threadingly receiving the threaded spindle and operably coupled with the second end of the cushion, whereby actuation of the motor rotates the threaded spindle to displace the spindle nut and the second end of the cushion between a first position corresponding with the extended position of the cushion and a second position corresponding with the retracted position of the cushion.

3. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of laterally displaced mounting ears and the laterally displaced attachment surfaces comprise aligned attachment holes for attachment of the seat cushion base to the seat base.

4. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the seat base further comprises a lower wall by which the motor vehicle seating assembly is mounted to a motor vehicle structure.

5. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein a forward projecting edge of the cushion is substantially U-shaped in each of the extended and the retracted positions and all position there between.

6. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the cushion further is comprised of a flexible material and has an outer surface comprised of trim cover stock.

7. A motor vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a seat frame comprising a seat base and a seat cushion base, wherein the seat base comprises an enclosure having a back wall and a pair of lateral walls extending forward of and orthogonally to the back wall, and the seat base further comprises a pair of laterally displaced mounting ears disposed on an interior surface of each of the pair of lateral walls and projecting into an interior of the enclosure of the seat base;

a displaceable cushion having a first end operably coupled with a forward portion of the seat frame and a second end operably coupled with the seat frame, wherein the first end of the cushion is fixedly attached to a forward portion of the seat cushion base, the seat cushion base further comprises a pair of laterally displaced attachment surfaces disposed on a bottom surface of the seat cushion base, and the seat cushion base is supported by the laterally displaced attachment surfaces, each of which is attached to one of the pair of laterally displaced mounting ears, and wherein the displaceable cushion is operable between an extended position and a retracted position;

a first slidable member operably coupled with the second end of the displaceable cushion;

a second slidable member operably coupled to the first slidable member and operably coupled to a bottom surface of the seat frame, wherein the first slidable member is slidably disposed relative the second slidable member;

a motor operably coupled with the second end of the displaceable cushion and the seat frame; and

a drive mechanism operatively coupling the motor with the second end of the displaceable cushion, wherein actuation of the motor operates the displaceable cushion between the extended and retracted positions.

8. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a threaded spindle extending from and driven by the motor operably coupled with the seat frame and a spindle nut threadingly receiving the threaded spindle and operably coupled with the second end of the displaceable cushion, whereby actuation of the motor rotates the threaded spindle to displace the spindle nut and the second end of the displaceable cushion to operate the cushion between the extended and retracted positions.

9. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the motor, threaded spindle, and spindle nut are disposed beneath the seat frame and hidden from view from a position at the same level or above the motor vehicle seating assembly.

10. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the seat frame comprises a seat base and a seat cushion base and the seat cushion base has an upper surface upon which a stationary padded seat is supported and the seat cushion base further comprises the bottom surface to which the second slidable member is operably coupled.

11. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the first slidable member is fixedly attached to the second end of the cushion.

12. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the second slidable member is fixedly attached to the bottom surface of the seat frame.

13. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the first and second slidable members comprise a pair of telescoping rails.

14. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the motor is fixedly attached to the seat frame.

15. A motor vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a seat frame comprising a seat base and a seat cushion base, wherein the seat base comprises an enclosure having a back wall and a pair of lateral walls extending forward of and orthogonally to the back wall, and the seat base further comprises a pair of laterally displaced mounting ears disposed on an interior surface of each of the pair of lateral walls and projecting into an interior of the enclosure of the seat base, and wherein the seat cushion base has an upper surface upon which a stationary padded seat is supported and the seat cushion base further comprises a bottom surface;

a cushion attached at a first end to the seat frame, wherein the first end of the cushion is fixedly attached to a forward portion of the seat cushion base, the seat cushion base further comprises a pair of laterally displaced attachment surfaces disposed on the bottom surface of the seat cushion base, and the seat cushion base is supported by the laterally displaced attachment surfaces, each of which is attached to one of the pair of laterally displaced mounting ears;

a telescoping rail assembly operably coupled with a second end of the cushion and the seat frame; and

a motor disposed on a the seat frame and operably coupled with the second end of the cushion, wherein actuation of the motor operates the cushion between an extended position and a retracted position.

16. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 15, wherein the first end of the cushion and a first end of the stationary padded seat are in juxtaposed and abutting relation as the cushion is operated between the extended and retracted positions.