Air bladder reclining system for a vehicle seatback

• US 9,682,640 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2015
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dry, Alan George
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARLOW, ADAM G
• Application Number:
  US14/861,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20170080833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 2972843, 2972846, 29745227, 29745237, 297DIG 1, 297DIG 3, 297DIG 8
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/20 the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/04, B60N2/22 , B60N2/3002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/643 shape of the back-rests B60N2/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/68 Seat frames
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7082 with air or fluid cushions B60N2/914 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a frame. A seat and seatback are disposed on the frame. A seating cushion assembly includes a plurality of closed base cells disposed on the frame. Each base cell includes a fixed volume of fluid disposed therein. A plurality of trim cells are disposed on the base cells and include a variable volume of fluid disposed therein. The trim cells are in communication with a fluid pump. An adjustable seatback support panel is disposed behind the base cells and is pivotally coupled to the frame. A static base is disposed behind the support panel. An adjustable reclination cell is disposed between the support panel and the static base. The reclination cell is adjustable between an inflated condition that pivots the support panel forward and a deflated condition that pivots the support panel rearward, thereby altering the reclination angle of the seatback relative to the seat.

Claims

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a frame;

a seat and a seatback disposed on the frame;

a seating cushion assembly comprising;

a plurality of closed base cells disposed on the frame, each base cell having a fixed volume of fluid disposed therein;

a plurality of trim cells disposed on the base cells and having a variable volume of fluid disposed therein, the trim cells being in communication with a fluid pump; and

an adjustable seatback support panel disposed behind the base cells and pivotally coupled to the frame;

a static base disposed behind the support panel; and

an adjustable reclination cell disposed between the support panel and the static base, the reclination cell being adjustable between an inflated condition that pivots the support panel forward and a deflated condition that pivots the support panel rearward, thereby altering the reclination angle of the seatback relative to the seat.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the reclination cell includes a frustum-shaped cross-section.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the reclination cell is disposed between an upper portion of the support panel and a lower portion of the support panel.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

side pivot cells disposed between the seatback support panel and the plurality of closed base cells.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

apertures in communication with elongate channels that extend through the plurality of trim cells.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 5, further comprising:

surface grooves disposed on a top surface of the plurality of trim cells, the surface grooves being in communication with the apertures.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of trim cells are also in communication with one another.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of closed base cells include central support members disposed therein.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of closed base cells include forward base cells and rearward base cells, and wherein the rearward base cells have a greater depth than the forward base cells.

10. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a cushion assembly comprising;

a plurality of closed base cells disposed on a seat frame;

a plurality of trim cells disposed on the base cells;

a pivotally adjustable seatback support panel disposed behind the base cells;

a static base disposed behind the support panel; and

an adjustable reclination cell disposed between the support panel and the base, and inflatable to alter a reclination angle of the cushion assembly.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 10, wherein the reclination cell includes a frustum-shaped cross-section.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 10, further comprising:

apertures that are in communication with elongate channels that extend through the plurality of trim cells.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12, further comprising:

surface grooves disposed on a top surface of the plurality of trim cells, the surface grooves being in communication with the apertures.

14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of trim cells are also in communication with one another.

15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of closed base cells include intermediate support members disposed therein.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 10, further comprising:

side pivot cells disposed between the seatback support panel and the plurality of closed base cells.

17. A seatback cushion assembly comprising:

a plurality of closed base cells;

a plurality of trim cells disposed on the base cells; and

a coverstock extending over the trim cells;

a pivotally adjustable seatback support panel disposed behind the base cells;

a static base proximate the support panel; and

an adjustable reclination cell disposed between a top portion of the support panel and the base, and inflatable to alter a reclination angle of the cushion assembly.

18. The seatback cushion assembly of claim 17, further comprising:

an anti-jounce cell disposed in a seat portion of the seatback cushion assembly proximate a rear portion of the seat portion.

19. The seatback cushion assembly of claim 17, further comprising:

apertures in communication with elongate channels that extend through the plurality of trim cells.

20. The seatback cushion assembly of claim 19, further comprising:

surface grooves disposed on a top surface of the plurality of trim cells, the surface grooves being in communication with the apertures.

21. The seatback cushion assembly of claim 17, further comprising:

side pivot cells disposed between the seatback support panel and the plurality of closed base cells.