Integrated independent thigh supports

• US 9,776,543 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2016
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Line, Johnathan Andrew, Kondrad, Marcos Silva, Lyons, David Frederick, Preuss, Kevin, Ferretti, Daniel, Hosbach, Christian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Allred, David E
• Application Number:
  US15/005,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20170210262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02253 characterised by the transmission between the electric motor and the seat or seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/502 attached to the base of the seat B60N2/504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/544 Compression or tension springs B60N2/542 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/62 Thigh-rests B60N2/914 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/686 Panel like structures
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/70 Upholstery springs ; Upholstery
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7094 Upholstery springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/821 with continuous positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/838 Tiltable

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly has a seat having a lower seat and a seatback extending upwardly from the lower seat. The lower seat comprises a cushion frame assembly connected to a vehicle floor and a cushion leg jounce bracket comprising a base and a paddle connected with the cushion frame assembly. The paddle extends upwardly and forwardly to form a vertical gap between a distal end of the paddle and a forward portion of the cushion frame assembly to provide independent and resilient support for an occupant'"'"'s thighs. A cushion foam assembly is disposed above and is attached to the cushion frame, a forward portion of the cushion foam assembly being supported by the paddle of the cushion leg jounce bracket.

Claims

1. A vehicle seating assembly for a motor vehicle having a lower seat and a seatback extending upwardly from the lower seat, the lower seat comprising:

a cushion frame assembly comprising suspension springs in a rear portion of the cushion frame assembly, the cushion frame assembly connected to a vehicle floor;

a cushion pan pivotally mounted on a front portion of the cushion frame assembly;

a cushion leg jounce bracket comprising a base and a paddle, the base attached to the cushion pan and thusly connected with the cushion frame assembly, the paddle extending upwardly and forwardly to form a vertical gap between a distal end of the paddle and a forward portion of the cushion pan to provide independent and resilient support for an occupant'"'"'s thighs; and

a cushion foam assembly disposed above and attached to the cushion frame, a forward portion of the cushion foam assembly being supported by the paddle of the cushion leg jounce bracket.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the cushion frame assembly is connected to the vehicle floor through a seat mounting rail assembly, the track assembly being adapted to allow the vehicle seating assembly to be adjusted in forward and rearward directions relative to the vehicle.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the cushion pan forms the forward portion of the cushion frame assembly.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 3, wherein the cushion leg jounce bracket is attached to the rear portion of the cushion pan about longitudinally midway on the cushion frame assembly.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 3, wherein the cushion pan is pivotably and adjustably mounted to the cushion frame assembly by a pair of pivots located on each side of the cushion frame assembly, whereby the cushion pan may be pivotally adjusted relative to the cushion frame assembly.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the cushion leg jounce bracket forms a pair of curved, cantilevered paddles comprising the paddle, the paddles symmetrically disposed along each side of a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle seating assembly, and a notch separates the paddles along the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle seating assembly.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6, wherein each of the paddles is about 150 mm wide transverse to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the cushion leg jounce bracket is formed as a single molded component.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the cushion leg jounce bracket is formed from two symmetrical paddles arranged on each side of the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle seating assembly.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the cushion leg jounce bracket is formed from glass-filled injection molded nylon having a thickness of about between 2.5 and 3.5 mm.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein an underside of the cushion foam assembly is fabricated with a wear resistant surface material in the areas where relative movement between the paddles of the cushion leg jounce bracket and the underside of the cushion foam assembly will occur.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, the cushion frame assembly further comprising a suspension system comprising the suspension springs and the disposed within the rear portion of the cushion frame assembly and beneath and juxtaposed with the cushion foam assembly disposed above the cushion frame assembly for support of an occupant, wherein the suspension system springs comprise variable tension springs mounted to the cushion frame assembly such that tension applied to the variable tension springs can be adjusted.

13. A seat assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:

a cushion frame assembly comprising suspension springs in a rear portion of the cushion frame assembly, the cushion frame assembly;

a cushion pan pivotally mounted on a front portion of the cushion frame assembly;

a cushion leg jounce bracket attached to the cushion pan, the cushion leg jounce bracket thusly connected with the cushion pan and extending upwardly and forwardly to form a vertical gap between a distal end of the cushion leg jounce bracket and a forward portion of the cushion frame assembly; and

a forward portion of a cushion foam assembly disposed above and being supported by the cushion leg jounce bracket.

14. The seat assembly of claim 13, wherein the cushion leg jounce bracket forms a pair of curved, cantilevered paddles symmetrically disposed along each side of a longitudinal centerline of the seat assembly, and a notch separates the paddles along the longitudinal centerline of the seat assembly.

15. The seat assembly of claim 13, wherein the cushion leg jounce bracket is attached to a rear portion of the cushion pan at about longitudinally midway on the cushion frame assembly.

16. The seat assembly of claim 15, wherein the cushion pan is pivotably mounted to the cushion frame assembly by a pair of pivots located on each side of the cushion frame assembly, whereby the cushion pan is pivotally adjusted relative the cushion frame assembly.

17. A vehicle seating assembly for a motor vehicle having a lower seat and a seatback extending upwardly from the lower seat, the lower seat comprising:

a cushion frame assembly comprising suspension springs in a rear portion of the cushion frame assembly, the cushion frame assembly connected to a vehicle floor;

a cushion pan pivotally mounted on a front portion of the cushion frame assembly;

a cushion leg jounce bracket connected with the cushion frame assembly, the cushion leg jounce bracket comprising a base attached to the cushion pan, a pair of curved, cantilevered paddles symmetrically disposed along each side of a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle seating assembly, and a notch separating each of the paddles along the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle seating assembly, the pair of paddles extending upwardly and forwardly to form a vertical gap between a distal end of each of the paddles and a forward portion of the cushion pan to provide independent and resilient support for an occupant'"'"'s thighs; and

a cushion foam assembly disposed above and attached to the cushion frame assembly, a forward portion of the cushion foam assembly being supported by the pair of paddles of the cushion leg jounce bracket.

18. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 17, wherein the base of the cushion leg jounce bracket is attached to a rear portion of the cushion pan.

19. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 18, wherein the cushion pan is pivotably mounted to the cushion frame assembly by a pair of pivots located on each side of the cushion frame assembly, whereby the cushion pan is pivotally adjusted relative the cushion frame assembly.