SEAT CUSHION EXTENSION MECHANISM

• US 20110163583A1
• Filed: 01/05/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Zhong, Harry, Nae, Dumitru Dan
• Granted Patent: US 8,128,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/337
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle seat including a seat base. An extension member is operably connected to the seat base. A seat cover partially extends over the extension member and seat base and partially stored on a roller below the seat pan. A bladder is disposed between the seat base and the extension member. Inflation of the bladder forces the extension member forward relative to the seat base and unroll a portion of the seat cover.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat base;

an extension member operably connected to the seat base;

a seat cover partially extending over the extension member and seat base and partially stored on a roller below a seat pan; and

a bladder disposed between the seat base and the extension member, wherein inflation of the bladder forces the extension member forward relative to the seat base which unrolls a portion of the seat cover.

2. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the seat cover does not include any expansion seams.

3. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the bladder includes a V-shaped cross-section formed by upwardly-extending first and second cavities.

4. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the bladder includes a plurality of baffles that define a plurality of cavities.

5. The vehicle seat of claim 1, further comprising:

plastic covers disposed on first and second sides of the extension member.

6. The vehicle seat of claim 1, further comprising:

a seat pan extending over a portion of the seat base.

8. The vehicle seat of claim 6, wherein the extension member is biased to a retracted position.

9. The vehicle seat of claim 8, wherein the extension member is biased by at least one spring-loaded cylinder operably connected to the seat base and the extension member.

10. The vehicle seat of claim 6, wherein the bladder includes a plurality of baffles that define a plurality of cavities.

11. The vehicle seat of claim 6, further comprising:

a spring-biased roller upon which a portion of the seat cover wraps when the extension member moves to a retracted position.

12. The vehicle seat of claim 6, further comprising:

plastic covers disposed on first and second sides of the extension member.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 6, further comprising:

a seat pan extending over a portion of the seat base.

14. The vehicle seat of claim 13, further comprising:

a seat cushion extending over a portion of the seat pan.

15. The vehicle seat of claim 14, further comprising:

a low friction material disposed between the seat cover and the seat cushion.

7. A vehicle seat extension mechanism comprising:

an extension member operably connected to a seat base;

a seat cover fixedly connected to a portion of the seat base and slidable over the extension member; and

an inflatable bladder disposed between the seat base and the extension member, wherein inflation of the bladder forces the extension member to move forward relative to the seat base and slide forward under the seat cover.

16. A method for extending a vehicle seat comprising:

operably connecting an extension member with a seat base;

fixedly connecting a seat cover to the seat base;

slidably engaging the extension member below the seat cover;

positioning an inflatable bladder between the seat base and the extension member; and

inflating the bladder to force the extension member to move forward relative to the seat base and slide forward under the seat cover.

17. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising:

rotatably connecting a spring-biased roller below the extension member upon which a portion of the seat cover wraps when the extension member moves to a retracted position.

18. The vehicle seat of claim 16, the method further comprising:

inserting a low friction material disposed between the seat cover and a seat cushion disposed on the seat pan.

19. The vehicle seat of claim 16, wherein the step of positioning the inflatable bladder between the seat base and the extension member further comprises:

providing a plurality of baffles that define a plurality of cavities in the inflatable bladder.

20. The vehicle seat of claim 16, the method further comprising:

biasing the extension member to a retracted position.