VEHICLE SEATING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20080091322A1
• Filed: 12/10/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Biomechanical Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative Biomechanical Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Epply, Tom, Phipps, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,126,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/48
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/976 massaging systems

Abstract

A system comprises a vehicle seating system including a seat and at least one powered seat adjustment actuator for altering the seating position formed by the seat. Additionally, the system includes a vehicle braking system including vehicle brakes and a brake pedal. The system further includes a signal sent in response to application of the vehicle brakes which leads to suspension of movement of the actuator during application of the vehicle brakes.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a vehicle seating system including a seat and at least one powered seat adjustment actuator for altering the seating position formed by said seat;

a vehicle braking system including vehicle brakes and a brake pedal; and

a signal sent in response to application of said vehicle brakes which leads to suspension of movement of said actuator during application of said vehicle brakes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal suspends movement of said actuator for at least 10 seconds following the end of application of said vehicle brakes.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein suspension of movement of said actuator is for a hibernation period, wherein the length of time of said hibernation period is equal to the length of time of application of said vehicle brakes plus a delay period.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one powered seat adjustment actuator includes a first actuator to control horizontal movement of said seat, a second actuator to control inclining of a back portion of said seat, a third actuator to control lumbar movement of a back portion of said seat, a fourth actuator to control vertical movement of said seat, and a fifth actuator to control tilt of a bottom portion of said seat.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor associated with said vehicle braking system, wherein said sensor is operable to detect application of said vehicle brakes and operable to produce said signal in response to application of said vehicle brakes.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said sensor is positioned on said brake pedal and is operable to detect a user depressing said brake pedal.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electrical controller for automatically activating movement of said at least one actuator in a predetermined profile and for suspending movement of said at least one actuator in response to said signal, said electrical controller having a control period.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said electrical controller automatically activates movement of said at least one powered actuator at a speed of less than 15 centimeters per second.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a vehicle electrical system having a central electrical unit.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said electrical controller is said central electrical unit and said signal travels to said electrical controller.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said actuator is moveable between a respective first position and a respective second position to reposition said seat to different seating positions between said first position and said second position, wherein said control period has at least one movement period and at least one stationary period, wherein said control period alternates between said movement periods and said stationary periods, said movement periods including movement between at least two different seating positions formed by said seat.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein said actuator is moveable between a respective first position and a respective second position to reposition said seat to different seating positions between said first position and said second position, said control period includes at least two hold periods, wherein after a first of said hold periods, said at least one powered actuator alters said seat to different seating positions formed by said seat, with one of said hold periods occurring after reaching each of said different seating positions.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein said electrical controller is operable to reactivate movement of said actuator after the end of application of said vehicle brakes.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said seat occupies a temporary position when suspension of movement of said actuator occurs, and wherein said electrical controller is operable to reactivate movement beginning from said temporary position.

15. A system, comprising:

vehicle seating means;

seat adjustment means for altering the seating position formed by said vehicle seating means;

vehicle braking means for decelerating the vehicle;

sensing means for detecting activation of said vehicle braking means; and

means for suspending movement of said seat adjustment means during application of said vehicle braking means.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for suspending movement suspends movement of said seat adjustment means for at least 10 seconds following the end of application of said vehicle braking means.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for reactivating movement of said adjustment means subsequent to the end of application of said vehicle braking means.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein vehicle seating means occupies a suspended seating position when suspension of movement of said seat adjustment means occurs, and wherein said means for reactivating movement is operable to reactivate movement beginning from said suspended seating position.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said seat adjustment means includes at least one powered seat adjustment actuator, wherein said at least one powered seat adjustment actuator includes a lumbar actuator to control lumbar movement of said vehicle seating means.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said at least one powered seat adjustment actuator further includes a horizontal actuator to control horizontal movement of said vehicle seating means, an inclining actuator to control inclining of a back portion of said vehicle seating means, a vertical actuator to control vertical movement of said vehicle seating means, and a tilt actuator to control tilt of a bottom portion of said vehicle seating means.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising electrical control means for automatically activating said seat adjustment means.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said electrical control means includes a control period, wherein said control period has at least one movement period and at least one stationary period, wherein said control period alternates between said movement periods and said stationary periods, said movement periods including automatic activation of said seat adjustment means.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said electrical control means automatically activates movement of said seat adjustment means at a speed of less than 15 centimeters per second.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said sensing means includes a sensor operable to detect application of said vehicle braking means and operable to produce a signal in response to detecting application of said vehicle braking means.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said means for suspending movement includes said signal sent from said sensing means upon detection of application of said vehicle braking means and, in response, said electrical control means suspending movement of said seat adjustment means.

26. A method, comprising:

providing a seat mountable in a vehicle;

providing at least one powered seat adjustment actuator movable between a respective first position and a respective second position for altering the seating position formed by said seat;

activating movement of said powered seat adjustment actuator with an electrical controller;

sensing braking of the vehicle;

sending a signal in response to sensing braking of the vehicle; and

suspending movement of said powered seat adjustment actuator in response to said sending a signal.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said electrical controller includes a control period alternating between at least one movement period and at least one hold period, wherein said activating movement includes activating said at least one powered seat adjustment actuator to reposition said seat to different seating positions during said at least one movement period.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein movement of said powered seat adjustment actuators includes a slow movement average of less than about 15 centimeters per second.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one of said different seating positions is predetermined.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein said suspending movement includes suspending movement during braking of the vehicle plus a delay period after braking of the vehicle.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein said at least one powered seat adjustment actuator includes a first actuator to control horizontal movement of said seat, a second actuator to control inclining of a back portion of said seat, a third actuator to control lumbar movement of a back portion of said seat, a fourth actuator to control vertical movement of said seat, and a fifth actuator to control tilt of a bottom portion of said seat.

32. The method of claim 26, further comprising reactivating movement of said powered seat adjustment actuator following said suspending movement.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said reactivating movement occurs at least 10 seconds after braking of the vehicle ceases.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein said reactivating movement occurs at least 1 minute after braking of the vehicle ceases.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein said powered seat adjustment actuator occupies a suspended position when said suspending movement occurs, wherein said reactivating movement begins from said suspended position.