Active suspension seat skirt

• US 8,356,861 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2010
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ClearMotion Acquisition I LLC
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Kniffin, Mark, Weeks, Robin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US12/693,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20110181087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 297/344.1, 297/344.12, 297/344.15, 297/DIG.8, 297/DIG.10, 248/491, 248/396, 248/345
• US Class Current: 297/344.15
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/507 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/58 Seat coverings
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6009 covering more than only the seat

Abstract

An skirt having an upper portion and a lower portion covers at least components of a suspension of an active suspension seat, wherein the upper portion is coupled to an upper frame of the suspension and includes at least an upper front portion having a curved cross-section, and wherein the lower portion is coupled to a lower frame of the suspension and includes a lower front portion that has an upper edge and that has either a curved or L-shape cross-section. The suspension causes the upper frame to move in a curvilinear manner relative to the lower frame as a result of providing active suspension, and a concave face of the upper front portion is positioned inwardly towards the suspension relative to the upper edge of the lower front portion and is positioned such that the predetermined size of a gap between the upper edge of the lower front portion and the concave face of the upper front is maintained as the upper front portion is caused to move with the upper frame in a curvilinear motion relative to the lower front portion.

Claims

1. A skirt protecting a suspension of an active suspension seat comprising:

a lower portion covering portions of a lower frame of the suspension that is structured to be coupled to a floor of a vehicle, the lower portion comprising a lower front portion positioned in the vicinity of the floor to protect the suspension from an impact of a foot of a person sitting in the active suspension seat;

an upper portion covering portions of an upper frame of the suspension that is structured to support a seat cushion on which the person sits and that is structured to be actively suspended by suspension components of the suspension in relation to the lower frame in a manner that causes the upper frame to move with a curvilinear motion relative to the lower frame, the upper portion comprising an upper front portion having a curved cross-section; and

wherein;

the lower portion and the upper portion of the skirt are arranged such that the upper portion telescopes into the lower portion as the upper frame is caused to move relative to the lower frame;

the upper front portion is positioned closer to the seat cushion than the lower front portion, and such that the upper front portion is positioned inward toward the suspension relative to an upper edge of the lower front portion, defining a first gap of a first predetermined size between a concave face of the upper front portion and the upper edge of the lower front portion; and

the concave face of the upper front portion cooperates with the curvilinear motion of the upper frame relative to the lower frame to maintain the first predetermined size of the first gap.

2. The skirt of claim 1, wherein:

the lower front portion has a curved cross-section;

the curve of the cross-section of the lower front portion is similar to the curve of the cross-section of the upper front portion; and

a portion of the concave face of the upper front portion faces a portion of a concave face of the lower front portion.

3. The skirt of claim 1, wherein:

the lower front portion has a cross-section defining a horizontally extending lip providing the upper edge of the lower front portion; and

the horizontally extending lip sets a vertical portion of the lower front portion further outward from the suspension relative to the upper edge.

4. The skirt of claim 1, wherein:

the lower portion comprises a lower back portion positioned in the vicinity of the floor to protect the suspension;

the upper portion comprises an upper back portion having a curved cross-section; and

wherein;

the upper back portion is positioned closer to the seat cushion than the lower back portion, and such that the upper back portion is positioned inward toward the suspension relative to an upper edge of the lower back portion, defining a second gap of a second predetermined size between a convex face of the upper back portion and the upper edge of the lower back portion; and

the convex face of the upper back portion cooperates with the curvilinear motion of the upper frame relative to the lower frame to maintain the second predetermined size of the second gap.

5. The skirt of claim 1, wherein the lower portion and the upper portion are comprised of stiff material.

6. The skirt of claim 5, wherein surfaces of the lower portion and the upper portion facing the suspension provide electromagnetic shielding.

7. The skirt of claim 1, wherein a component of the suspension is mounted to a surface of one of the lower portion and the upper portion that faces inward toward the suspension.

8. The skirt of claim 1, wherein the lower portion is structured to be coupled to a floor plate that couples the lower frame to the floor, and wherein the upper portion is structured to be coupled to the upper frame.

9. An active suspension seat, comprising:

a seat cushion on which a person may sit;

a suspension coupled to the seat cushion and structured to be coupled to a floor of a vehicle to actively suspend the seat cushion relative to the floor in a manner that causes the seat cushion to move with a curvilinear motion relative to the floor; and

a skirt comprising;

a lower portion comprising a lower front portion positioned in the vicinity of the floor to protect the suspension from an impact of a foot of a person sitting in the active suspension seat;

an upper portion comprising an upper front portion having a curved cross-section; and

wherein;

the upper front portion is positioned closer to the seat cushion than the lower front portion, and such that the upper front portion is positioned inward toward the suspension relative to an upper edge of the lower front portion, defining a gap of a predetermined size between a concave face of the upper front portion and the upper edge; and

the concave curve of the face of the front portion of the upper portion cooperates with the curvilinear motion of the seat cushion relative to the floor to maintain the predetermined size of the gap.

10. The active suspension seat of claim 9, wherein:

the lower front portion has a curved cross-section;

the curve of the cross-section of the lower front portion is similar to the curve of the cross-section of the upper front portion; and

a portion of the concave face of the upper front portion faces a portion of a concave face of the lower front portion.

11. The active suspension seat of claim 9, wherein:

the lower front portion has a cross-section defining a horizontally extending lip providing the upper edge of the lower front portion; and

the horizontally extending lip sets a vertical portion of the lower front portion further outward from the suspension relative to the upper edge.

12. The active suspension seat of claim 9, further comprising a controller that is covered by the skirt and that is actively suspended.