CUSHION LENGTH ADJUSTER AND VEHICLE SEAT WITH CUSHION LENGTH ADJUSTER

• US 20160339806A1
• Filed: 05/18/2016
• Published: 11/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S..R.L.
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: POPESCU, Horatiu M.
• Application Number:
  US15/157,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20160339806A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Abstract

A cushion has provisions for a support (3), to attach a gear box (5), and an other support (2) to attach a rail (11), on which a slider (12) travels back and forth. The slider (12) is pushed along the rail (11) by a lead screw (7) actuated by a worm gear/nut (6), rotated by a worm (10). The worm gear/gear nut (6) and the worm (10) are part of the gear box (5). The worm (10) has a kinematic couple (8) connecting to a motor (9), which is the original source of power in the system. The slider (12) is coated with a nylon skate (14), and is provided with a rotating joint B, which accommodates one end of the link (13). The other end of the link(13) is attached to a paddle (1) through an other rotation joint C. When the motor (9) rotates the worm (10), the worm gear/nut (6) rotates and pushes the lead screw (7) forward together with the slide (12), along the rails (11). The lower joint B of the link (13) is pushed forward and th upper joint C of the link will push the paddle (1) up, rotating it relative to joint A, and subsequently extending the cushion.

Claims

1. A cushion length adjuster comprising:

a cushion element with a cushion pivot joint;

a cushion extension part articulated to the cushion at the cushion pivot joint and pivotable between a cushion extension part extended position and a cushion extension part retracted position;

an adjuster rotational drive;

a slider guideway fixed to the cushion element;

a slider for movement along the slider guideway;

a transmission connecting the adjuster rotational drive with the slider for moving the slider along the slider guideway, the direction of motion of the slider adjuster rotational drive determining a direction of movement of the slider along the slider guideway; and

a link articulated to the cushion extension part at a cushion extension part pivot joint and articulated to the slider at a slider pivot joint, whereby rotation of the adjuster rotational drive moves the cushion extension part between the cushion extension part extended position and the cushion extension part retracted position.

2. A cushion length adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the adjuster rotational drive comprises a motor.

3. A cushion length adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the transmission comprises

a lead screw connected to the slider, the lead screw comprising external threading;

a worm gear/nut, the worm gear/nut having internal threading and being supported axially relative to the cushion element for moving the lead screw axially upon rotation of the worm gear/nut; and

a worm connected to the drive, whereby a rotation of the worm causes the worm gear/nut to rotate.

4. A cushion length adjuster according to claim 3, wherein the transmission further comprises a gear box fixed to the cushion element, the gear box supporting each of the worm gear/nut and the worm.

5. A cushion length adjuster according to claim 4, wherein a support element supports the gear box and connects the gear box to the cushion element.

6. A cushion length adjuster according to claim 5 wherein the adjuster rotational drive comprises a motor supported by the support element and a kinematic couple operatively connecting the motor to the worm of the transmission, the motor and the kinematic couple being supported by the support element.

7. A cushion length adjuster according to claim 6 wherein the support element comprises a rail defining the slider guideway.

8. A cushion length adjuster according to claim 7, wherein the support element comprises a first attachment point connecting the support element to the cushion element and a second attachment point connecting the support element to the cushion element.

9. A cushion length adjuster according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the slider guideway and the slider cooperate to form a reduced friction bearing arrangement.

10. A cushion length adjuster according to claim 9, wherein the reduced friction bearing arrangement comprises a nylon skate at one of the slider guideway and the slider engaging a surface of the other of the slider guideway and the slider.

11. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat base;

a seat backrest; and

a cushion length adjuster comprising;

a cushion element with a cushion pivot joint;

a cushion extension part articulated to the cushion at the cushion pivot joint and pivotable between a cushion extension part extended position and a cushion extension part retracted position;

an adjuster rotational drive;

a slider guideway fixed to the cushion element;

a slider for movement along the slider guideway;

a transmission connecting the adjuster rotational drive with the slider for moving the slider along the slider guideway, the direction of motion of the slider adjuster rotational drive determining a direction of movement of the slider along the slider guideway; and

a link articulated to the cushion extension part at a cushion extension part pivot joint and articulated to the slider at a slider pivot joint, whereby rotation of the adjuster rotational drive moves the cushion extension part between the cushion extension part extended position and the cushion extension part retracted position.

12. A vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the adjuster rotational drive comprises a motor.

13. A vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the transmission comprises

a lead screw connected to the slider, the lead screw comprising external threading;

a worm gear/nut, the worm gear/nut having internal threading and being supported axially relative to the cushion element for moving the lead screw axially upon rotation of the worm gear/nut; and

a worm connected to the drive, whereby a rotation of the worm causes the worm gear/nut to rotate.

14. A vehicle seat according to claim 13, wherein the transmission further comprises a gear box fixed to the cushion element, the gear box supporting each of the worm gear/nut and the worm.

15. A vehicle seat according to claim 14, wherein a support element supports the gear box and connects the gear box to the cushion element.

16. A vehicle seat according to claim 15 wherein the adjuster rotational drive comprises a motor supported by the support element and a kinematic couple operatively connecting the motor to the worm of the transmission, the motor and the kinematic couple being supported by the support element.

17. A vehicle seat according to claim 16 wherein the support element comprises a rail defining the slider guideway.

18. A vehicle seat according to claim 17, wherein the support element comprises a first attachment point connecting the support element to the cushion element and a second attachment point connecting the support element to the cushion element.

19. A vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the slider guideway and the slider cooperate to form a reduced friction bearing arrangement.

20. A vehicle seat according to claim 19, wherein the reduced friction bearing arrangement comprises a nylon skate at one of the slider guideway and the slider engaging a surface of the other of the slider guideway and the slider