Automotive seat with active back

• US 20050179290A1
• Filed: 02/11/2003
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S..R.L.
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Hancock, Robert L., McElroy, Joseph W., Cussen, Terrence M., Larsen, Lance E., Jones, William H., Benzing, Michael R., Hensel, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,237,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/284.400
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0228 Hand-activated mechanical switches B60N2/0229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6671 with cable actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6673 with motor driven adjustments

Abstract

A vehicle seat for use by an occupant in a vehicle, for example an automobile. The vehicle seat comprises a seat base (12) coupled to a support structure (6) of the vehicle. A back frame (40) including side members (41, 43), the back frame further includes a second transverse member (46) coupled to the first and second side members, wherein the side members each have a lower end pivotably coupled to the seat base. A compliant back (60) is operably connected at an upper end to the second transverse member (46) and operably connected at a lower portion proximate the lower ends of the side members, and may include a biasing mechanism. The seat may also include a tuberosity pivot (54) coupled to the back frame (40) and the seat base (12), which pivot may be motorized.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat for use by an occupant in a vehicle, the vehicle seat comprising:

a seat base coupled to a support structure of the vehicle;

a back frame including an upper transverse member, a first side member and a second side member, wherein the upper transverse member interconnects each of the side members at an upper end of the back frame, the back frame further includes a second transverse member coupled to the first and second side members a spaced distance from the first transverse member, wherein the first and second side members each have a lower end pivotally coupled to the seat base; and

a compliant back operably connected at an upper portion to the second transverse member and operably connected at a lower portion proximate the lower ends of the first and second side members.

2. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the compliant back is coupled to the second transverse member by at least one pivot member such that the upper portion of the compliant back extends in a cantilevered fashion over the upper end of the back frame and a spaced distance from the back frame, wherein when the occupant in the seat leans into the upper portion of the compliant back, the upper portion can flex about the pivot until contacting the upper end of the back frame.

3. The vehicle seat of claim 2, including at least one additional pivot member located a spaced distance from the other pivot member and coupled to the compliant back and the second transverse member.

4. The vehicle seat of claim 2, wherein the lower portion of the compliant back is coupled to a connecting member which couples to the two side members proximate the lower ends of the side members.

5. The vehicle seat of claim 1, including a side bolster, with one side bolster coupled to each of the first and second side members of the back frame and extended from the side members.

6. The vehicle seat of claim 5, wherein the side bolsters are aligned with the compliant back such that the compliant back can be moved clear of the side bolsters.

7. The vehicle seat of claim 6, wherein the compliant back includes a slotted, flexible portion and expanded side portions configured to extend above the side bolsters to support the upper back and extremities of the occupant of the seat.

8. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the first and second side members are each coupled to the seat base with a tuberosity pivot at a point aligned with the natural pivot of the seated occupant.

9. The vehicle seat of claim 8, including one of a manually actuated mechanism and a drive motor coupled to the tuberosity pivot to articulate the movement of the back frame in relation to the seat base.

10. The vehicle seat of claim 9, further comprising:

a sector plate, having a first end and a second end, configured to pivot about the tuberosity point, with the first end of the sector plate coupled to the back frame and the second end configured with sector teeth, and

a planetary gear set coupled to the drive motor and having a drive gear configured to engage the sector teeth of the sector plate.

11. The vehicle seat of claim 1, including a biasing apparatus coupled to the back frame and the compliant back.

12. The vehicle seat of claim 11, wherein the biasing apparatus is coupled to at least one of the side members and the lower portion of the compliant back.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 11, wherein the biasing apparatus includes an adjuster to vary the tension in the biasing member to effect tension in the compliant back.

14. The vehicle seat of claim 11, wherein the biasing apparatus includes at least one biasing member.

15. The vehicle seat of claim 14, wherein the biasing member is a spring.

16. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the vehicle seat is an automobile seat.

17. The vehicle seat of claim 1, including a change of position mechanism coupled to the back frame and seat base, herein the back frame is moved in proportional relation to the seat base at a predetermined ratio.

18. The vehicle seat of claim 17, wherein the change of position mechanism includes at least one electric motor.

19. An automotive seat comprising:

a base coupled to a support structure of an automobile;

a seat supported by the base;

a back frame including an upper transverse member, a first side member and a second side member, wherein the upper transverse member interconnects each of the side members at an upper end of the back frame, the back frame further includes a second transverse member coupled to the first and second side members a spaced distance from the first transverse member, wherein the first and second side members each have a lower end pivotally coupled to the seat; and

a compliant back operably connected at an upper portion to the second transverse member and operably connected at a lower portion proximate the lower ends of the first and second side members.

20. The automotive seat of claim 19, wherein the compliant back is coupled to the second transverse member by at least one pivot member such that the upper portion of the compliant back extends in a cantilevered fashion over the upper end of the back frame and a spaced distance from the back frame, wherein when an occupant in the automotive seat leans into the upper portion of the compliant back, the upper portion can flex about the pivot until contacting the upper end of the back frame.

21. The automotive seat of claim 20, including at least one additional pivot member located a spaced distance from the other pivot member and coupled to the compliant back and the second transverse member.

22. The automotive seat of claim 20, wherein the lower portion of the compliant back is coupled to a connecting member which couples to the two side members proximate the lower ends of the side members.

23. The automotive seat of claim 19, including a side bolster, with one side bolster coupled to each of the first and second side members of the back frame and extended from the side members.

24. The automotive seat of claim 23, wherein the side bolsters are aligned with the compliant back such that the compliant back can be moved clear of the side bolsters.

25. The automotive seat of claim 23, wherein the compliant back includes a slotted, flexible portion and expanded side portions configured to extend above the side bolsters to support the upper back and extremities of an occupant of the automotive seat.

26. The automotive seat of claim 19, wherein the first and second side members are each coupled to the seat base with a tuberosity pivot at a point aligned with the natural pivot of the seated occupant.

27. The automobile seat of claim 26, including one of a manually actuated mechanism and a drive motor coupled to the tuberosity pivot to articulate the movement of the back frame in relation to the seat base.

28. The automobile seat of claim 27, further comprising:

a sector plate, having a first end and a second end, configured to pivot about the tuberosity point, with the first end of the sector plate coupled to the back frame and the second end configured with sector teeth, and

a planetary gear set coupled to the drive motor and having a drive gear configured to engage the sector teeth of the sector plate.

29. The automotive seat of claim 19, including a biasing apparatus coupled to the back frame and the compliant back.

30. The automotive seat of claim 29, wherein the biasing apparatus is coupled to at least one of the side members and the lower portion of the compliant back.

31. The automotive seat of claim 29, wherein the biasing apparatus includes an adjuster to vary the tension in the biasing member to effect tension in the compliant back.

32. The automotive seat of claim 29, wherein the biasing apparatus includes at least one biasing member.

33. The automotive seat of claim 32, wherein the biasing member is a spring.

34. The automotive seat of claim 19, including a change of position mechanism coupled to the back frame, seat, and base, wherein the back frame is moved in proportional relation to the seat at a predetermined rate.

35. The automotive seat of claim 34, wherein the change of position mechanism includes at least one electric motor.

36. An automotive seat comprising:

a base coupled to a support structure of an automobile;

a seat supported by the base;

a back frame including an upper transverse member, a first side member and a second side member, wherein the upper transverse member interconnects each of the side members at an upper end of the back frame, the back frame further includes a second transverse member coupled to the first and second side members a spaced distance from the first transverse member, wherein the first and second side members each have a lower end pivotally coupled to the seat; and

a compliant back operably connected at an upper portion to the second transverse member by at least one pivot member such that the upper portion of the compliant back extends in a cantilevered fashion over the upper end of the back frame and a spaced distance from the back frame and operably connected at a lower portion proximate the lower ends of the first and second side members, wherein when an occupant in the automotive seat leans into the upper portion of the compliant back, the upper portion can flex about the pivot until contacting the upper end of the back frame and upon flexure of the occupant'"'"'s spine and lower back, the compliant back is configured to flex sympathetically and follow flexure of the seated occupant'"'"'s back and spine.

37. The automotive seat of claim 36, including at least one additional pivot member located a spaced distance from the other pivot member and coupled to the compliant back and the second transverse member.

38. The automotive seat of claim 36, wherein the lower portion of the compliant back is coupled to a connecting member which couples to the two side members proximate the lower ends of the side members.

39. The automotive seat of claim 36, including a side bolster, with one side bolster coupled to each of the first and second side members of the back frame and extended from the side members.

40. The automotive seat of claim 39, wherein the side bolsters are aligned with the compliant back such that the compliant back can be moved clear of the side bolsters.

41. The automotive seat of claim 40, wherein the compliant back includes a slotted, flexible portion and expanded side portions configured to extend above the side bolsters to support the upper back and extremities of an occupant of the automotive seat.

42. The automotive seat of claim 36, wherein the first and second side members are each coupled to the seat base with a tuberosity pivot at a point aligned with the natural pivot of the seated occupant.

43. The automobile seat of claim 42, including one of a manually actuated mechanism and a drive motor coupled to the tuberosity pivot to articulate the movement of the back frame in relation to the seat base.

44. The automobile seat of claim 43, further comprising:

a sector plate, having a first end and a second end, configured to pivot about the tuberosity point, with the first end of the sector plate coupled to the back frame and the second end configured with sector teeth, and

a planetary gear set coupled to the drive motor and having a drive gear configured to engage the sector teeth of the sector plate.

45. The automotive seat of claim 36, including a biasing apparatus coupled to the back frame and the compliant back.

46. The automotive seat of claim 45, wherein the biasing apparatus is coupled to at least one of the side members and the lower portion of the compliant back.

47. The automotive seat of claim 45, wherein the biasing apparatus includes an adjuster to vary the tension in the biasing member to effect tension in the compliant back.

48. The automotive seat of claim 45, wherein the biasing apparatus includes at least one biasing member.

49. The automotive seat of claim 48, wherein the biasing member is a spring.

50. The automotive seat of claim 36, including a change of position mechanism coupled to the back frame, seat, and base, wherein the back frame is moved in proportional relation to the seat at a predetermined rate.

51. The automotive seat of claim 50, wherein the change position mechanism includes at least one electric motor.