Active material based conformable and reconfigurable seats

• US 7,758,121 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Perelli, Carol Ann, Cafeo, John A., Gao, Xiujie, Ulicny, John C., Rodgers, William R., Browne, Alan L., Johnson, Nancy L., Jones, Gary L., Ukpai, Ukpai I., Khoury, James Y., Glaser, Rainer A., Zavattieri, Pablo D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEX, JAMES S
• Application Number:
  US11/734,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20070246285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.41, 297/284.9, 297/284.11, 297/216.1
• US Class Current: 297/284.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0226 User interfaces specially adapted for seat adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/026 varying hardness or support of upholstery, e.g. for tuning seat comfort when driving curved roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0273 taking into account user data, e.g. knee height or physical state
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4263 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42709 involving residual deformation or fracture of the structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42718 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42763 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/646 shape of the cushion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/885 provided with side-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/976 massaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/99 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/20 using a deterministic algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/043 mounted on or under a seat

Abstract

A seat assembly includes an active material in operative communication with a seat surface configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to change at least one feature of the seat surface.

Claims

1. A seat assembly, comprising:

a horizontal seat surface comprising a reversible curb; and

an active material in operative communication with the seat surface configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to transition the reversible curb from a stowed position to a deployed position, where in the stowed position the surface presents a first profile, and in the deployed position the reversible curb causes the surface to present a second profile defining a raised portion configured to laterally secure an item placed on the surface

wherein the reversible curb is pivotally coupled to a hinge portion comprised of the active material, the change in at least one property is effective to rotatably translate the reversible curb from the stowed position to the deployed position, the support structure includes a seat base, the reversible curb and hinge portion are linearly translatable relative to the base, the curb is prevented by the base from rotating relative to the hinge in the stowed position, and the change in at least one property causes the curb and portion to linearly translate to the deployed position where the curb is free to rotate relative to the portion.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the active material actuator comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological elastomer, an electroactive polymer, a piezoelectric material, a magnetorheological fluid, an electrorheological fluid, a shear thickening fluid, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials.

3. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the activation signal comprises a thermal activation signal, an electric activation signal, a magnetic activation signal, a chemical activation signal, a mechanical load, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing activation signals.

4. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the active material is a shape memory alloy spring in operative communication with a member configured to engage the seat surface, wherein the shape memory alloy spring is configured to undergo a change in a length dimension upon receipt of the activation signal, wherein the change in a length dimension is effective to engage the member with the seat surface thereby transitioning the reversible curb from the stowed position to the deployed position.

5. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the reversible curb further comprises a bladder in operative communication with the seat surface, wherein the active material is disposed within the bladder, and the change in at least one property of the active material is effective to inflate the bladder and transition the reversible curb from the stowed position to the deployed position.