Adjustable seat bolster for easy access

• US 8,126,615 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leggett & Platt Canada Co. (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Schukra North America Limited (Schukra)
• Inventors: McMillen, Robert J., Rosli, Isa
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Luke
• Application Number:
  US11/572,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20080255733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,419 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49, 296/65.01, 318/466
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0252 with relations between different adjustments, e.g. height of headrest following longitudinal position of seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/986 Side-rests B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/99 adjustable

Abstract

An ergonomic device (10, 110) for a vehicle seat includes a pressure surface (106, 206) oriented toward a seat cushion so that the pressure surface deploys to support a seat occupant. A mount bracket (102,202) fixes the device to a frame of the automobile seat. A linkage (112, 144, 166) between the pressure surface and said mount bracket allows the pressure surface to be selectively positionable between a first position disposed to extend for support of a seat occupant and a second position that is retracted. A power actuator (20, 130) is in operative communication with the linkage such that the power actuator mediates travel of the pressure surface between the first and second positions. The power actuator (20, 130) is in communication with a use anticipation indicator (40) such that the power actuator is engaged to place the pressure surface in the second, retracted position upon a signal from the use anticipation indicator.

Claims

1. An ergonomic device for a vehicle seat comprising:

a pressure surface oriented toward a seat cushion such that said pressure surface deploys to support a seat occupant;

a mounting bracket adapted to be connected to a frame of the vehicle seat;

a linkage between said pressure surface and said mounting bracket such that said pressure surface is selectively positionable between a first position disposed to extend for support of a seat occupant and a second position that is retracted;

a power actuator in operative communication with said linkage such that said power actuator mediates travel of said pressure surface between said first and second position;

said power actuator being in operative communication with a use anticipation indicator such that said power actuator is engaged to place said pressure surface in said second, retracted position upon a signal from said use anticipation indicator; and

characterized in that said linkage includes a bolster wire and slider mechanism.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said use anticipation indicator is a position of a key relative to an ignition.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said use anticipation indicator is a door sensor.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said use anticipation indicator is a parking brake sensor.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said use anticipation indicator is a transmission position sensor.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said use anticipation indicator is a user operated switch.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said linkage is comprised of

a hinge bar pivotably attached to the mounting bracket;

and

a bolster wire pivotably attached to a slider and pivotably attached to said hinge bar,

said slider being slidingly engaged with said bracket.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising said power actuator being in operative communication with the use anticipation indicator such that said actuator is engaged to place said pressure surface in said first, extended position upon receiving a second signal from said use anticipation indicator.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein said pressure surface is biased towards an extended position.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein said ergonomic device is a bolster.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein said bolster is a seat back bolster.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein said bolster is a seat bottom bolster.

8. An ergonomic device for a vehicle seat comprising:

a pressure surface oriented toward a seat cushion such that said pressure surface deploys to support a seat occupant;

a mounting bracket adapted to be connected to a frame of the vehicle seat;

a linkage between said pressure surface and said mounting bracket such that said pressure surface is selectively positionable between a first position disposed to extend for support of a seat occupant and a second position that is retracted;

a power actuator in operative communication with said linkage such that said power actuator mediates travel of said pressure surface between said first and second position;

said power actuator being in operative communication with a use anticipation indicator such that said power actuator is engaged to place said pressure surface in said second, retracted position upon a signal from said use anticipation indicator; and

characterized in that said power actuator includes;

a motor;

a gear and spindle, being in driveable operative engagement with said motor; and

a traction cable having a first end and a second end, said first end being in operative communication with said gear and spindle and said second end being disposed to apply a tractive force to said linkage.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said traction cable is oriented at said second end to be generally aligned with a slide on a bracket.

11. An ergonomic device for a vehicle seat comprising:

a pressure surface oriented toward a seat cushion such that said pressure surface deploys to support a seat occupant;

a mounting bracket adapted to be connected to a frame of the vehicle seat;

a linkage between said pressure surface and said mounting bracket such that said pressure surface is selectively positionable between a first position disposed to extend for support of a seat occupant and a second position that is retracted;

a power actuator in operative communication with said linkage such that said power actuator mediates travel of said pressure surface between said first and second position;

said power actuator being in operative communication with a use anticipation indicator such that said power actuator is engaged to place said pressure surface in said second, retracted position upon a signal from said use anticipation indicator; and

characterized in that a spring is in operative communication with said linkage in order to bias said pressure surface.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said spring is a compression spring.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein said spring is a tension spring.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein said spring is a torsion spring.

15. The device of claim 11 wherein said spring is generally aligned with a slot on a bracket.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein said spring is operatively engaged at a first end to a medial aspect of a bolster wire and operatively engaged at a second end of said spring to a hinge bar.

21. A method of controlling extension and retraction of an ergonomic bolster device for a vehicle seat comprising:

orienting a pressure surface proximate to a seat cushion such that the pressure surface may deploy to support a seat occupant;

mounting by a bracket the pressure surface onto a frame of the vehicle seat;

linking the pressure surface to the mounting bracket such that the pressure surface is selectively positionable between a first position deployed to extend for support of a seat occupant and a second position that is retracted;

engaging a power actuator in operative communication with the linkage such that the power actuator mediates travel of the pressure surface between the first position and the second position;

connecting the power actuator to a communicator with a use anticipation indicator such that the power actuator is engaged to place the pressure surface in the second, retracted position upon a first signal from the use anticipation indicator; and

characterized by using a linkage including a bolster wire and slider mechanism.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising connecting said power actuator with a use anticipation indicator such that said actuator is engaged to place said pressure surface in said first, extended position upon a second signal from said use anticipation indicator.