Adjustable seat assembly

• US 8,162,397 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2008
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Booth, Daniel W., Demick, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gabler, Philip
• Application Number:
  US12/262,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20100109401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 297/284.3, 297/284.11, 297/312, 297/452.18, 297/452.55, 297/452.56
• US Class Current: 297/284.11
• 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

An adjustable seat assembly for a vehicle includes a frame and a covering. The covering has a first portion and a second portion. A flexure region, having an arched shape, is disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The covering at least partially extends over the frame to the first portion. An adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the covering, at the first portion. The first portion and the second portion define a linear distance therebetween. The adjustment mechanism is configured to move the first portion relative to the second portion such that the flexure region moves to change the linear distance between the first portion and the second portion.

Claims

1. An adjustable seat assembly for attachment to a floor of a vehicle to support thighs of a user of the vehicle, said adjustable seat assembly comprising:

a frame presenting a support surface that extends generally horizontally;

a covering that includes a first portion and a second portion in spaced relationship to said first portion;

wherein said second portion extends over said support surface and said first portion is horizontally spaced from said second portion and said frame;

wherein a front edge is defined at a tangent to said covering, between said first portion and said second portion, at a maximum horizontal distance from said frame such that at least a portion of said covering between said front edge and said second portion is for supporting the thighs of the user of the vehicle;

wherein said covering includes a flexure region between said first portion and said second portion such that as said first portion is moved relative to said frame, said flexure region moves between a relaxed position and at least one of a plurality of tensioned positions to change said maximum horizontal distance between said frame and said front edge;

an adjustment mechanism operatively connected to said covering and said frame such that said adjustment mechanism is configured to selectively retain said first portion relative to said second portion; and

a thigh portion having a first part and a second part spaced from said first part;

wherein said thigh portion includes a flexure portion, having an arched shape, disposed between said first part and said second part;

wherein said flexure portion of said thigh portion is formed from a material that is resilient; and

wherein said first part is operatively connected to said first portion of said cover and said second part is operatively connected to said frame such that said thigh portion changes shape between being generally C-shaped as said first portion is moved toward said frame and being generally straightened as said first portion is moved away from said frame.

2. An adjustable seat assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said covering includes a cushion disposed over at least a portion of said frame.

3. An adjustable seat assembly, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said cushion defines a relief at said flexure region to prevent said cushion from gathering at said flexure region when said first end is moved relative to said frame to change said maximum horizontal distance between said first end and said frame.

4. An adjustable seat assembly, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said cushion is formed from foam.

5. An adjustable seat assembly, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said cushion is resilient.

6. An adjustable seat assembly, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a flange extending from said frame such that said adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to said covering and said flange such that said adjustment mechanism is configured to selectively maintain said flexure region in one of said relaxed position and said at least one of said plurality of tensioned positions to set said maximum horizontal distance of said front edge relative to said frame.

7. An adjustable seat assembly, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said flange defines an engagement slot and said adjustment mechanism adjustably extends through said engagement slot for selectively engaging said flange to adjustably interconnect said covering and said flange, to establish said maximum horizontal distance.

8. An adjustable seat assembly, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said adjustment mechanism is a latch bar and said latch bar defines a plurality of teeth for selectively engaging said flange to interconnect said covering and said flange to establish said maximum horizontal distance.

9. An adjustable seat assembly, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said latch bar extends from said first portion of said covering.

10. An adjustable seat assembly, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said latch bar pivotally extends from said first portion of said covering.

11. An adjustable seat assembly, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said adjustment mechanism further includes a handle extending from said latch bar for grasping said latch bar to move said first portion relative to said flexure region between said relaxed position and said tensioned position to change said maximum horizontal distance between said frame and said front edge.

12. An adjustable seat assembly, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said adjustment mechanism includes:

a rod extending between a first end and a second end;

a sheath defining a cavity and a wall surrounding said cavity;

wherein said rod extends into said cavity such that said wall surrounds said rod and said rod is operatively connected to said sheath proximate said second end;

wherein said sheath and said rod extend through said engagement slot of said flange;

wherein said sheath is operatively connected to said first portion of said covering such that said rod slides within said cavity, relative to said sheath and said covering between a corrugated position to engage said flange and an uncorrugated position to disengage said sheath from said flange to move said first portion of said covering relative to said frame to set said maximum horizontal distance of said front edge relative to said frame.

13. An adjustable seat assembly, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said wall of said sheath defines a plurality of corrugations for engaging said flange when said sheath is in said corrugated position and said wall of said sheath is generally straight when said sheath is in said uncorrugated position for disengagement from said flange to move said first portion of said covering relative to said frame to set said maximum horizontal distance of said front edge relative to said frame.

14. An adjustable seat assembly, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said adjustment mechanism further includes a knob at said first end of said rod, wherein said first portion of said covering is disposed between said knob and said flange such that said knob and said rod are movable relative to said covering to selectively corrugate and straighten said wall of said sheath for respectively engaging and disengaging said engagement slot of said flange.

15. An adjustable seat assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexure region of said covering is generally U-shaped when said flexure region is in said relaxed position.

16. An adjustable seat assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexure region is resilient.

17. An adjustable seat assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexure region of said covering includes a concave surface and said flexure portion of said thigh portion includes a convex surface and said convex surface faces said convex surface of said covering to define said relief therebetween.

18. An adjustable seat assembly for attachment to a floor of a vehicle to support thighs of a user of the vehicle, said adjustable seat assembly comprising:

a frame presenting a support surface that extends generally horizontally;

a covering that includes a first portion and a second portion in spaced relationship to said first portion;

wherein said second portion extends over said support surface and said first portion is horizontally spaced from said second portion and said frame;

wherein a front edge is defined at a tangent to said covering, between said first portion and said second portion, at a maximum horizontal distance from said frame such that at least a portion of said covering between said front edge and said second portion is for supporting the thighs of the user of the vehicle;

wherein said covering includes a flexure region between said first portion and said second portion such that as said first portion is moved relative to said frame, said flexure region moves between a relaxed position and at least one of a plurality of tensioned positions to change said maximum horizontal distance between said frame and said front edge;

a flange extending from said frame;

an adjustment mechanism operatively connected to said covering, proximate said first portion, wherein said adjustment mechanism is configured to selectively engage said flange and retain said first portion relative to said second portion; and

a thigh portion having a first part and a second part spaced from said first part;

wherein said thigh portion includes a flexure portion, having an arched shape, disposed between said first part and said second part;

wherein said flexure portion of said thigh portion is formed from a material that is resilient; and

wherein said first part is operatively connected to said first portion of said cover and said second part is operatively connected to said frame such that said thigh portion changes shape between being generally C-shaped as said first portion is moved toward said frame and being generally straightened as said first portion is moved away from said frame.