Anthropomorphic pivotable upper seatback support

• US 9,809,131 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2015
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2015
• 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, Kondrad, Marcos Silva, Ferretti, Daniel, Kolich, Michael, Jaranson, John Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Allred, David E
• Application Number:
  US14/959,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20170158084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 29735411
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02253 characterised by the transmission between the electric motor and the seat or seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/20 the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/04, B60N2/22 , B60N2/3002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2222 the back-rest having two or more parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2231 Worm and worm gear articulations
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2236 with a transversal pin displaced by a slot or a cam along a predetermined path

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly a lower seat and a seatback structure extending upwardly relative the lower seat, the lower seat and the seatback structure defining a seat H-point, and the seatback structure having an upper seatback support, a lower seatback support, and a split between the upper seatback support and the lower seatback support. The split is disposed between 270 and 300 mm, preferably about 285 mm, above the H-point along a line extending substantially parallel to the seatback structure. The upper seatback support pivots about a pivot between a rearward position and a forward position relative the lower seatback support. A motorized actuation assembly is disposed within the seatback structure and operably coupled to the upper seatback support, wherein the motorized actuation assembly pivots the upper seatback support about the pivot between the rearward position and the forward position.

Claims

1. A vehicle seating assembly, comprising:

a lower seat support and a seatback structure extending upwardly relative the lower seat support, the lower seat support and the seatback structure defining a seat H-point at a reclining axis of a connection between the seatback structure and the lower seat support and the seatback structure having an upper seatback support, a lower seatback support, and a split between the upper seatback support and the lower seatback support, wherein the split generally defining a laterally extending line that is disposed between 270 and 300 mm above the H-point;

a pivot rotatably supported on the seatback structure proximate and substantially parallel to the splint, the pivot rotatably coupled to the upper seatback support, whereby the upper seatback support pivots about the pivot between a rearward position and a forward position relative the lower seatback support; and

a motorized actuation assembly disposed within the seatback structure and operably coupled to the upper seatback support, wherein the motorized actuation assembly pivots the upper seatback support about the pivot between the rearward position and the forward position.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the split is disposed at substantially 285 mm above the H-point along a line extending parallel to the seatback structure.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivot comprises a pivot bar rotatably coupled with the seatback structure and fixedly coupled with the upper seatback support.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 3, wherein the motorized actuation assembly includes a lift bar operably coupled to a cam that is operably coupled to the pivot bar.

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

a support bar fixedly coupled to the upper seatback support and the cam, the support bar configured to rotate about the pivot bar as the pivot bar pivots between the rearward position and the forward position.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 5, wherein the lift bar includes a worm drive that interfaces with a worm gear operably coupled with a motor.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower seatback support is operably coupled to the seatback structure and maintains alignment with the seatback structure as the seatback structure moves between an upright position and a reclined position.

8. A vehicle seating assembly, comprising:

a seat and a seatback structure defining an H-point at a reclining axis of a connection between the seatback structure and the seat;

an upper seatback support having a lower edge generally defining a laterally extending line disposed between 270 and 300 mm above the H-point, wherein the upper seatback support pivots about a pivot generally defining a pivot axis that is proximate and substantially parallel to the laterally extending line, wherein the upper seatback pivots between a rearward position and a forward position relative the seatback structure; and

a motorized actuation assembly coupled with and controlling the position of the upper seatback support.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the lower edge of the upper seatback support is disposed at substantially 285 mm above the H-point along the laterally extending line and extending generally parallel to the seatback structure.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, further comprising a lower seatback support attached to the seatback structure and having an upper edge disposed below the lower edge of the upper seatback support.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 10, wherein the lower edge of the upper seatback support and the upper edge of the lower seatback support define a split between the upper seatback support and the lower seatback support, wherein the split is disposed between 270 and 300 mm above the H-point along the line and extends substantially parallel to the seatback structure.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the seatback further comprises a pivot bar rotatably coupled with seatback and fixedly coupled with the upper seatback support.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12, wherein the motorized actuation assembly includes a lift bar operably coupled to a cam that is operably coupled to the pivot bar.

14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13, wherein the motorized actuation assembly includes a motor operably coupled with a lift bar that is operably coupled with the cam.

15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14, wherein a support bar is fixedly coupled to the cam and a body of the upper seatback support, the support bar configured to rotate about the pivot bar as the pivot bar translates the upper seatback support to the forward position.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12, wherein the pivot bar is disposed between 270 and 300 mm above the H-point along the line and extends substantially parallel to the seatback structure.

17. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12, wherein the pivot bar is disposed at substantially 285 mm above the H-point along the line and extends substantially parallel to the seatback structure.

18. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, wherein an external peripheral gap is defined between the upper seatback support and the seatback structure with the upper seatback support in the forward position.