Adjustable thigh support for automobile seat via adjustment plate

• US 7,669,928 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Snyder, Melinda
• Primary Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US11/962,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20080157578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 297/284.11, 297/283.2
• US Class Current: 297/284.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• 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 having an adjustable thigh support, the vehicle seat comprising an adjustable thigh-support component, wherein the component is an adjustment plate that is moveable in the fore and aft directions of the vehicle; and wherein the adjustment plate is positioned generally toward the front edge of the seat; a motor-driven vertical power screw for rotatably moving the adjustment plate in the fore and aft direction of the vehicle, wherein tile seat length is increased when the screw rotatably causes the adjustment plate to move in the fore direction of the vehicle, and wherein the seat length is decreased when the screw rotatably causes the adjustment plate to move in the aft direction of the vehicle; and a seat cushion having an underside that contacts at least a portion of the front face of the adjustment plate, wherein the surface area of the seat-cushion underside that contacts the front face of the adjustment plate varies as a function of the adjust-plate position.

Claims

1. A thigh support adjustment mechanism, comprising:

a cushion pan having a top face, a bottom face, and a front edge, the top face being adapted to receive a seat cushion in a supporting relation and the front edge adapted to face in a forward direction when installed in a vehicle seat;

an adjustment plate having a front face and a back face, the front face being adapted to face in a forward direction when installed in a vehicle seat, and the adjustment plate being disposed forward of the front edge of the cushion pan and adapted to be movably adjustable in at least a forward direction and a backward direction relative to the cushion pan;

a vertical power screw drivingly engaging the back face of the adjustment plate, the vertical power screw being adapted to drive the adjustment plate in at least a forward direction relative to the cushion pan; and

a motor drivingly connected to the vertical power screw and adapted to drive the screw in forward and backward directions relative to the cushion pan;

wherein the adjustment plate movably adjusts in only a substantially linear direction and maintains rotational orientation with respect to the cushion pan during adjustment in the forward and backward directions;

wherein the seat cushion has an underside that contacts at least a portion of the front face of the adjustment plate, wherein a surface area of the seat-cushion underside that contacts the front face of the adjustment plate varies as a function of the adjustment plate position;

wherein the surface area of the seat cushion underside that contacts the front face of the adjustment plate decreases as the adjustment plate moves in the fore direction, and wherein the surface area of the seat cushion underside that contacts the front face of the adjustment plate increases as the adjustment plate moves in the aft direction.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising at least one trim cover spring having at least two ends including a forward end and a backward end, the forward end being connectable to at least one forward component of a vehicle seat and the trim cover spring being adapted to pull the at least one forward component toward the cushion pan when the vertical adjustment screw is adjusted in a backward direction.

3. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the at least one trim cover spring comprises a plurality of trim cover springs.

4. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the at least one forward component includes a trim cover of a vehicle seat.

5. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising at least one trim cover spring having at least two ends including a forward end and a backward end, the forward end being connectable to at least one forward component of a vehicle seat and the trim cover spring being adapted to apply a force to the at least one forward component, the force being directed way from the cushion pail.

6. The mechanism of claim 5, wherein driving the vertical power screw in a forward direction applies a compressive force to the at least one trim cover spring, and driving the vertical power screw in a backward direction removes the compressive force from the at least one trim cover spring.

7. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the vertical power screw is attached to the back face of the adjustment plate and the vertical power screw being adapted to drive the adjustment plate in forward direction and in a backward direction.

8. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a trim cover.

9. The trim cover of claim 8, wherein the trim cover defines a seat surface adapted to receive a human occupant.

10. The trim cover of claim 9, wherein the seat surface lengthens when the vertical power screw drives in a forward direction, and shortens when the vertical power screw drives in a backward direction.

11. The trim cover of claim 10, wherein the trim cover defines a continuous seat surface and does not form a gap in the seat surface when the vertical power screw is driven in a forward direction.

12. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the vertical power screw drives in only a substantially horizontal direction, and wherein the adjustment plate movably adjusts in only a substantially horizontal direction.

13. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the adjustment plate has an arc shape extending along a width of the seat cushion.

14. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of bolsters located on either side of the seat cushion, the pair of bolsters extending from a rear portion of the seat cushion to at least a mid-portion of the seat cushion, wherein the pair of bolsters remain stationary when the adjustment plate movably adjusts in at least the forward direction and the backward direction relative to the cushion pan.

15. A vehicle seat having an adjustable thigh support, the vehicle seat comprising:

an adjustable thigh-support component, wherein the component comprises an adjustment plate that is moveable in fore and aft directions of the vehicle; and

wherein the adjustment plate is positioned generally toward a front edge of the seat;

a motor-driven vertical power screw for rotatably moving the adjustment plate in the fore and aft direction of the vehicle, wherein a seat length is increased when the screw rotatably causes the adjustment plate to move in the fore direction of the vehicle, and wherein the seat length is decreased when the screw rotatably causes the adjustment plate to move in the aft direction of the vehicle; and

a seat cushion having an underside that contacts at least a portion of the front face of the adjustment plate, wherein a surface area of the seat-cushion underside that contacts the front face of the adjustment plate varies as a function of the adjustment plate position;

wherein the surface area of the seat cushion underside that contacts the front face of the adjustment plate decreases as the adjustment plate moves in the fore direction; and

wherein the surface area of the seat cushion underside that contacts the front face of the adjustment plate increases as the adjustment plate moves in the aft direction.

16. The vehicle seat of claim 15, further comprising a trim cover spring that is fixedly attached to the seat trim cover, wherein the spring maintains tension on the seat trim cover as a function of the position of the adjustment plate.

17. The vehicle seat of claim 15, wherein the vehicle seat comprises an automobile seat.

18. The vehicle seat of claim 15, wherein the adjustment plate has an arc shape extending along the width of the seat cushion.

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

a pair of bolsters located on either side of the seat cushion, the pair of bolsters extending from a rear portion of the seat cushion to at least a mid-portion of the seat cushion, wherein the pair of bolsters remains stationary when the seat length is increased and decreased.