Vehicular seat with adjustable thigh support

• US 20080157577A1
• Filed: 12/31/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda R & D Americas Incorporated (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lindsay, Derek
• Granted Patent: US 7,597,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/284.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0284 Adjustable seat-cushion length B60N2/0224 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/62 Thigh-rests B60N2/914 takes precedence

Abstract

A seat for installation in a vehicle that is adjustable to support an occupant'"'"'s thighs. The seat includes a generally-horizontal seat frame supporting a seat cushion including a front edge that at least partially extends outwardly beyond the seat frame, a seatback coupled to the seat frame for providing back support to the occupant while seated, and a seat bracket coupled to the seat frame and compatible with a floor bracket supported above a floor of a vehicle cabin for coupling the seat to the vehicle. The seat further includes an adjustable thigh support adjacent to a front portion of the seat cushion. The thigh support includes a spool coupled to the seat frame that can be adjusted relative to the seat frame between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the front edge of the seat cushion is at least partially wrapped around the spool while the spool is in the retracted position, and the front edge of the seat cushion is at least partially unwrapped from around the spool while the spool is in the extended position.

Claims

1. A seat for installation in a vehicle that is adjustable to support an occupant'"'"'s thighs comprising:

a generally-horizontal seat frame supporting a seat cushion including a front edge that at least partially extends outwardly beyond the seat frame;

a seatback coupled to the seat frame for providing back support to the occupant while seated;

a seat bracket coupled to the seat frame and compatible with a floor bracket supported above a floor of a vehicle cabin for selectable adjustment of the seat generally towards a front of the vehicle and generally towards a rear of the vehicle relative to the floor of the cabin; and

an adjustable thigh support adjacent to a front portion of the seat cushion, the thigh support comprising;

a spool coupled to the seat frame that can be adjusted relative to the seat frame between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein

the front edge of the seat cushion is at least partially wrapped around the spool while the spool is in the retracted position, and the front edge of the seat cushion is at least partially unwrapped from around the spool while the spool is in the extended position.

2. The seat according to claim 1 further comprising an adjustment member operable to release the spool so the spool can be slidably adjusted between the retracted and extended positions.

3. The seat according to claim 1 further comprising a cushion-biasing device for biasing the front edge of the seat cushion to at least partially wrap around the spool.

4. The seat according to claim 1, further comprising a track including a first rail coupled to the spool and a second rail coupled to the seat, wherein translation of the first rail relative to the second rail slidably adjusts the spool between the retracted and extended positions.

5. The seat according to claim 4 further comprising a locking member for maintaining the spool in at least one of the retracted position, the extended position, and any position in between the retracted position and the extended position.

6. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the spool is a generally-cylindrical member rotatably supported to a frame comprising a transverse axle that is translationally adjustable relative to the seat frame.

7. A vehicle for transporting one or more occupants, the vehicle comprising:

a plurality of wheels for transporting the vehicle over a ground surface;

an engine for providing a driving force for rotating at least one of the wheels;

a passenger cabin defined by a plurality of doors and windows; and

a seat that is adjustable to support an occupant'"'"'s thighs, the seat comprising;

a generally-horizontal seat frame supporting a seat cushion including a front edge that at least partially extends outwardly beyond the seat frame;

a seatback coupled to the seat frame for providing back support to the occupant while seated; and

an adjustable thigh support adjacent to a front portion of the seat cushion, the thigh support comprising;

a spool coupled to the seat frame that can be adjusted relative to the seat frame between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein

the front edge of the seat cushion is at least partially wrapped around the spool while the spool is in the retracted position, and the front edge of the seat cushion is at least partially unwrapped from around the spool while the spool is in the extended position.