Seat having ambient lighting

• US 9,802,535 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2015
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2015
• 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, Godin, Keith Allen, Fannin, Sean David
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abraham, Tania
• Application Number:
  US14/697,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20160311367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6009 covering more than only the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/70 Upholstery springs ; Upholstery
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/233 Seats; Arm rests; Head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback. A support frame is partially enclosed by a seatback panel assembly. A seatback cushion assembly is supported on a seatback carrier and is proximate the seatback panel assembly. An external peripheral gap is defined between the seatback panel assembly and the seatback cushion assembly. A light source is defined in the seatback carrier and is configured to emit light into the external peripheral gap. A seat includes a support frame partially enclosed by a panel assembly. A seat cushion assembly is proximate the panel assembly. An external peripheral gap is defined between the panel assembly and the seat cushion assembly. A light source is defined in a seat carrier and is configured to emit light into the external peripheral gap.

Claims

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a seatback including;

a support frame partially enclosed by a seatback panel assembly;

a seatback cushion assembly supported on a seatback carrier and proximate the seatback panel assembly, wherein an external peripheral gap is defined between the seatback panel assembly and the seatback cushion assembly; and

a light source defined in the seatback carrier and configured to emit light from the external peripheral gap in a direction away from a seated occupant; and

a seat including;

a support frame partially enclosed by a panel assembly;

a seat cushion assembly proximate the panel assembly, wherein an external peripheral gap is defined between the panel assembly and the seat cushion assembly; and

a light source defined in a seat carrier and configured to emit light into the external peripheral gap.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the seatback carrier and the seat carrier include apertures configured to emit light therethrough.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source defined in the seatback carrier and the light source defined in the seat carrier each include a light pipe.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein a predefined image is depicted on one of the seatback carrier and the seatback cushion assembly by the light source.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the seatback panel assembly includes a hard back panel having a plurality of recessed walls generally defining a storage pocket, and wherein at least one of the walls includes a light source proximate thereto.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the external peripheral gap extends across a first side, a second side, and a top side of the seatback.

7. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a seatback panel assembly;

a seatback cushion assembly supported on a seatback carrier proximate the seatback panel assembly, wherein an external peripheral gap is defined between the seatback panel assembly and the seatback cushion assembly; and

a light source defined in the seatback carrier and configured to emit light in a direction away from an occupant seated on said vehicle seating assembly and into the external peripheral gap.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the seatback carrier includes apertures configured to emit light therethrough.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the light source defined in the seatback carrier includes a light pipe.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein a predefined image is depicted on one of the seatback carrier and the seatback cushion assembly by the light source.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the seatback panel assembly includes a hard back panel having a plurality of recessed walls generally defining a storage pocket, and wherein at least one of the walls includes a light source proximate thereto.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the external peripheral gap extends across a first side, a second side, and a top side of the seatback panel assembly.

13. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a support frame partially enclosed by a panel assembly;

a seat cushion assembly proximate the panel assembly and having independent thigh extensions, wherein an external peripheral gap is defined between the panel assembly and the seat cushion assembly; and

a light source disposed in a seat carrier and configured to emit light into the external peripheral gap.

14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13, wherein the seat carrier includes apertures configured to emit light therethrough.

15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13, wherein the light source defined in the seat carrier includes a light pipe.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13, wherein a predefined image is depicted on one of the seat carrier and the seat cushion assembly by the light source.

17. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13, wherein the external peripheral gap extends across a first side, a second side, and a front side of the seat cushion assembly.