Adjustable thigh support for automobile seat via adjustment plate
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A thigh support adjustment mechanism, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle seat having an adjustable thigh support, the vehicle seat comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification