Adjustable seat

• US 9,067,512 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2012
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Seats Co.
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Seats France (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Cailleteau, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US13/440,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20120256457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 297/308, 297/307, 248/564, 248/424, 248/188.8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/045 Longitudinal adjustment by means of articulated rods supporting the seat, e.g. parallelogram mechanisms B60N2/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/062 transversally slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1615 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/164 Linear actuator, e.g. screw mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/24 for particular purposes or particular vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/68 Seat frames
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06395 characterised by the arrangement of electric motors for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0689 specially adapted for pilots

Abstract

Described are adjustable seats including an upper frame with a pair of support arms, a lower frame with a pair of support legs, and a coupling system with an upper rod and a lower rod. As examples, the upper rod and the lower rod are pivotally coupled to each of the pair of support arms and the pair of support legs. A linear actuator is coupled to the upper frame, and a track is coupled to the lower frame, wherein the linear actuator is configured to travel along the track. The linear actuator may comprise a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to a coupling location on the lower frame and the second end is coupled to a coupling location on the coupling system.

Claims

1. An adjustable seat comprising:

a lower frame comprising a pair of non-parallel support legs, wherein each support leg comprises an upper portion, a lower forward portion, and a lower aft end, wherein each support leg is vertically and longitudinally angled toward a central location so that the distance between the upper portions is less than the distance between the lower forward portions and the distance between the lower forward portions is less than the distance between the lower aft ends;

an upper frame comprising a pair of support arms;

a coupling system comprising an upper rod and a lower rod, wherein the upper rod and the lower rod are pivotally coupled to each of the pair of support arms and the pair of support legs; and

a linear actuator comprising a first end and a second end wherein the first end is coupled to a coupling location on the lower frame and the second end is coupled to a coupling location on the coupling system, wherein the coupling location on the coupling system comprises a cross bar positioned on the upper rod or the lower rod.

2. The adjustable seat of claim 1, wherein the pivotal coupling allows the upper frame to vertically adjust between a broad range of positions relative to the lower frame.

3. The adjustable seat of claim 2, further comprising a track coupled to the lower frame, wherein the linear actuator is configured to travel along the track to vertically adjust the upper frame between the broad range of positions relative to the lower frame.

4. The adjustable seat of claim 3, wherein the upper frame is in a high position when the linear actuator is positioned proximate an upper end of the track and the upper rod and the lower rod are angled upward in a forward direction, and the upper frame is in a low position when the linear actuator is positioned proximate a lower end of the track and the upper rod and the lower rod are angled downward in a forward direction.

5. The adjustable seat of claim 1, wherein the distance between the lower aft ends is configured to provide sufficient support for the adjustable seat.

6. The adjustable seat of claim 1, wherein the distance between the lower forward portions is less than the distance between the lower aft ends so as to limit an effect of floor deformation.

7. The adjustable seat of claim 1, wherein the support legs are slidingly coupled to a forward cross bar and an aft cross bar.

8. The adjustable seat of claim 1, further comprising a seat pan pivotally coupled to the upper frame, and a back rest pivotally coupled to the upper frame.

9. An adjustable seat comprising:

(a) an upper frame comprising a pair of support arms, wherein each support arm comprises an upper portion and an aft end;

(b) a lower frame comprising a pair of non-parallel support legs, wherein each support leg comprises an upper portion, a lower forward portion, and a lower aft end, wherein each support leg is vertically and longitudinally angled toward a central location so that the distance between the upper portions is less than the distance between the lower forward portions and the distance between the lower forward portions is less than the distance between the lower aft ends;

(c) an upper rod comprising a pair of extensions and a cross beam, wherein each extension is pivotally coupled to the upper portion of each support arm and the cross beam is pivotally coupled to the upper portion of each support leg; and

(d) a lower rod comprising a pair of extensions and a cross beam, wherein each extension is pivotally coupled to the aft end of each support arm and the cross beam is pivotally coupled to the aft end of each support leg.

10. The adjustable seat of claim 9, wherein the pivotal coupling allows the upper frame to vertically adjust between a broad range of positions relative to the lower frame.

11. The adjustable seat of claim 9, wherein the distance between the lower aft ends is configured to provide sufficient support for the adjustable seat.

12. The adjustable seat of claim 10, further comprising a linear actuator coupled to the upper frame, and a track coupled to the lower frame, wherein the linear actuator is configured to travel along the track to vertically adjust the upper frame between the broad range of positions relative to the lower frame.

13. The adjustable seat of claim 12, wherein the upper frame is in a high position when the linear actuator is positioned proximate an upper end of the track and the upper rod and the lower rod are angled upward in a forward direction, and the upper frame is in a low position when the linear actuator is positioned proximate a lower end of the track and the upper rod and the lower rod are angled downward in a forward direction.