Self-adjusting rear seat cushion for comfort and storage

• US 9,963,058 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2015
• 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, Ferretti, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Islam, Syed A
• Application Number:
  US14/725,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20160347206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 2973781, 29737812, 29737814, 297331, 297 15
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/126 stowable in floor or wall
• 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 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3013 the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3065 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/36 into a loading platform B60N2/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/62 Thigh-rests B60N2/914 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7064 helicoidal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/707 with rubber blocks
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/363 characterised by provisions for enhancing the cargo floor surface, e.g. elements closing gaps or enlarging the back-rest surface

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly having a seat including a support frame. A seatback is pivotally coupled with the seat and is adjustable between a passenger support position configured to support the weight of a passenger and a cargo position. The seatback is folded forward to a substantially horizontal position. A seat cushion includes a dynamic forward portion and a generally static rearward portion. An articulation feature is disposed below the forward portion of the seat cushion. The articulation feature is operable between a deployed and a non-deployed position. Movement to the deployed position results in the dynamic forward portion of the seat cushion being adjusted to a raised position. Movement to the non-deployed position results in the dynamic forward portion of the seat cushion being adjusted to a lowered position that allows the seatback to fold forward to the cargo position.

Claims

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a seat supported on a support frame;

a seatback pivotally coupled with the seat and adjustable between a passenger support position configured to support the weight of a passenger and a cargo position, wherein the seatback is folded forward to a substantially horizontal position;

a seat cushion including a dynamic forward portion and a generally static rearward portion; and

an articulation feature disposed below the forward portion of the seat cushion, the articulation feature being operable between a deployed and a non-deployed position, wherein movement to the deployed position results in the dynamic forward portion of the seat cushion being adjusted to a raised position, and wherein movement to the non-deployed position results in the dynamic forward portion of the seat cushion being adjusted to a lowered position that allows the seatback to fold forward to the cargo position.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the articulation feature includes a spring that is elastically deformable to the non-deployed position under the weight of the seatback when the seatback is in the cargo position.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 2, wherein the spring is a compression spring disposed between the seat frame and a rigid cushion support disposed below the seat cushion.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the articulation feature moves to the non-deployed position by activation of an activation device.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the articulation feature moves to the non-deployed position under the weight of the seatback.

6. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a seatback;

a seat cushion including a forward portion and a generally non-pivotal rearward portion, wherein the forward portion is vertically adjustable between a raised position when the seatback is in a passenger support position and a lowered position when the seatback is in a cargo position; and

a compression spring disposed below the forward portion configured to compress to a non-deployed position under the weight of the seatback.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the compression spring compresses to the non-deployed position under the weight of the seatback when the seatback is in the cargo position.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the compression spring moves to the non-deployed position by activation of an activation device.

9. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a seatback adjustable between passenger support and cargo positions; and

a seat cushion including a dynamic forward portion supported by a compression spring positioned in the seat cushion that moves to a non-deployed position under the weight of the seatback, the forward portion being adjustable between;

a raised position when the seatback is in the passenger support position; and

a lowered position when the seatback is in the cargo position.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 9, wherein the seat cushion includes a generally static rearward portion.