Seat cushion adjusting apparatus

• US 8,016,355 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Ito, Sadao, Yamada, Yukifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): CRANMER, LAURIE K
• Application Number:
  US12/351,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20090195041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 297/337, 297/311, 297/284.11
• US Class Current: 297/337
• 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 seat cushion adjusting apparatus includes: a supporting member, forming a frame of a seat cushion; a seat member and forming an outer shape of the seat cushion; an adjusting member, engaging with an end portion of the seat member; a moving mechanism, rotatably connected to the adjusting member and moving the adjusting member in the front-rear direction of the seat relative to the supporting member; and an adjusting lever, one end thereof rotatably connected to the supporting member and the other end thereof rotatably connected to the adjusting member. The adjusting lever moves the end portion of the seat member by rotating the adjusting member around an axis to adjust the outer shape of the seat cushion in accordance with, a movement of the adjusting member in the front-rear direction of the seat relative to the supporting member by a means of the moving mechanism.

Claims

1. A seat cushion adjusting apparatus comprising:

a supporting member forming a frame of a seat cushion;

a seat member supported by the supporting member and forming an outer shape of the seat cushion;

an adjusting member engaging with an end portion of the seat member provided at a front side thereof in a front-rear direction of a seat;

a moving mechanism rotatably connected to the adjusting member and moving the adjusting member in the front-rear direction of the seat relative to the supporting member; and

an adjusting lever, one end thereof rotatably connected to the supporting member and the other end thereof rotatably connected to the adjusting member wherein

the adjusting lever moves the end portion of the seat member by rotating the adjusting member around an axis, extending in a width direction of the seat, to adjust the outer shape of the seat cushion in accordance with a movement of the adjusting member in the front-rear direction of the seat relative to the supporting member by means of the moving mechanism,

wherein the seat member includes a seat portion, the end portion, and a deformed portion integrally provided between the seat portion and the end portion and deformed in accordance with a rotation of the adjusting member and thereby moving the end portion for an adjustment of the outer shape of the seat cushion, and

wherein the adjusting member engages with the end portion so that a length of a front surface of the deformed portion or of an intermediate surface between an end close to the seat portion and an end close to the end portion is unchanged regardless of a rotational state of the adjusting member, the intermediate surface provided between the front surface of the deformed portion and a back surface thereof.

2. The seat cushion adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the moving mechanism includes:

a first lever rotatably connected to the adjusting member; and

a second lever and a third lever, one end of each of the second lever and the third lever being rotatably connected to the supporting member and the other end of each of the second lever and the third lever being rotatably connected to the first lever and wherein

the second lever and the third lever restrict a movement of the first lever so as to move the adjusting member in the front-rear direction of the seat relative to the supporting member.

3. The seat cushion adjusting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the moving mechanism includes:

a group of the first lever, the second lever and the third lever provided at each side of the seat in the width direction thereof;

a connecting member extending in the width direction of the seat and integrally connecting the first levers each of which is provided at each side of the seat in the width direction thereof; and

a driving member connected to the connecting member at an intermediate portion in a longitudinal direction thereof and generating a driving force for moving the connecting member in the front-rear direction of the seat; and

wherein

a connecting position of the first lever to/with the connecting member is arranged at a front side of a connecting position of the first lever to/with each of the second lever and the third lever in the front-rear direction of the seat so that the driving member and the first lever, the second lever and the third lever are arranged to at least partially overlap in the front-rear direction of the seat.

4. The seat cushion adjusting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the first lever, the second lever and the third lever are configured as a four bar linkage, in which one end of the second lever and one end of the third lever each of which is connected to the supporting member form grounded ends.

5. The seat cushion adjusting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

a front end portion of the first lever, extending toward a front side of the seat, is bent upward and the connecting member is fixed at a bent portion of the first lever.

6. The seat cushion adjusting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

a connecting position of the first lever to/with the connecting member is arranged at a front side of a connecting position of the first lever to/with each of the second lever and the third lever.

7. The seat cushion adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the moving mechanism includes:

a slider rotatably connected to the adjusting member; and

a guiding member provided at the supporting member and guiding the slider to move the adjusting member in the front-rear direction of the seat relative to the supporting member.

8. The seat cushion adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the intermediate surface is provided closer to the front surface of the deformed portion than a center surface of the front surface and the back surface thereof is.

9. The seat cushion adjusting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the seat member includes a slit allowing extension and contraction of the back surface of the deformed portion.

10. The seat cushion adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the seat member includes a slit facilitating extension and contraction of the back surface of the deformed portion.