SEAT BACK INTERLOCKING OTTOMAN DEVICE AND VEHICLE SEAT

• US 20140375087A1
• Filed: 06/16/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: KUNO, Satoru, NAGAYASU, Hidetaka
• Granted Patent: US 9,873,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/69
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0355 actuated by linkages, e.g. lazy-tongs mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/995 Lower-leg-rests, e.g. calf-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 33/0021 for adjustable or reclining seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0639 with features for adjustment or converting of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0643 Adjustable foot or leg rests

Abstract

There is provided a seat back interlocking ottoman device for a vehicle seat configured such that an angle of a seat back relative to a seat cushion can be adjusted and an ottoman is provided to the seat cushion. The ottoman device includes an interlocking mechanism configured to retract the ottoman to a retracted position below the front side of the seat cushion when the seat back is located at a regular usage position and to move the ottoman from the retracted position to an extended position at the front side of the seat cushion to thus support a leg part of a passenger when the seat back is tilted rearwards from the regular usage position. A part of the interlocking mechanism is configured to be operable by an arbitrary operation such that the ottoman can be moved between the retracted position and the extended position.

Claims

1. A seat back interlocking ottoman device for a vehicle seat configured such that an angle of a seat back relative to a seat cushion can be adjusted and an ottoman is provided at a front side of the seat cushion, the seat back interlocking ottoman device comprising:

an interlocking mechanism configured to interlock the seat back and the ottoman so as to retract the ottoman to a retracted position below the front side of the seat cushion when the seat back is located at a regular usage position suitable for sitting and to move the ottoman from the retracted position to an extended position at the front side of the seat cushion to thus support a leg part of a passenger from below when the seat back is tilted rearwards from the regular usage position,

wherein a part of the interlocking mechanism is configured to be operable by an arbitrary operation such that the ottoman can be moved between the retracted position and the extended position.

2. The seat back interlocking ottoman device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a support member configured to support a part of the interlocking mechanism at a predetermined position when the ottoman is moved while interlocking with the seat back,

wherein a position of the support member is configured to be moved by an operating force larger than a force applied at the interlocking operation, and

wherein the ottoman can be moved between the retracted position and the extended position by a movement of the support member.

3. The seat back interlocking ottoman device according to claim 2, further comprising:

an operating lever which is connected to the support member to move the support member, thereby moving the ottoman between the retracted position and the extended position independently from the interlocking operation between the seat back and the ottoman.

4. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat cushion;

a seat back configured such that an angle relative to the seat cushion can be adjusted;

an ottoman provided at a front side of the seat cushion to be rotatable; and

an interlocking mechanism configured to interlock the seat back and the ottoman so as to retract the ottoman to a retracted position below the front side of the seat cushion when the seat back is located at a regular usage position suitable for sitting and to move the ottoman from the retracted position to an extended position at the front side of the seat cushion to thus support a leg part of a passenger from below when the seat back is tilted rearwards from the regular usage position,

wherein a part of the interlocking mechanism is configured to be movable independently from a movement of the seat back such that the ottoman can be moved between the retracted position and the extended position independently from the interlocking between the seat back and the ottoman.