Vehicle seat assembly having movable bolsters
A vehicle seat assembly having a lower seat assembly with a lower sitting surface and a seatback with a seatback sitting surface. At least one of the lower seat assembly and the seatback is adapted for movement. The seat assembly also includes at least one bolster adapted for movement to thereby change curvature of at least one of the lower sitting surface and the seatback sitting surface. The bolster automatically moves due to movement of at least one of the lower seat assembly and the seatback.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally, to a vehicle seat assembly and, in particular, to a vehicle seat assembly having movable bolsters.
2. Description of the Related Art
A passenger occupying a seat of a vehicle may move in a lateral direction with respect to the seat during, for example, a collision or sharp turn of the vehicle. As a result of such movement, the passenger may impact another passenger or the interior of a wall of the vehicle, which is undesirable.
To reduce lateral movement of the passenger with respect to the vehicle seat, it is known to provide the seatback portion and/or the lower seat assembly of the vehicle seat assembly with one or more bolsters. Typically, the bolsters are disposed on lateral sides of the seat assembly, and the sitting surface curves upwardly at the bolsters to provide for a curved, or “bucket” type, seat. A sitting surface with increased curvature at the bolsters is more likely to reduce lateral movement of the passenger. As such, it is desirable that the bolsters extend sufficiently away from the sitting surface and about the passenger to reduce lateral movement of the passenger while providing for comfort of the passenger as well.
Although extending the bolsters further from the surround seating surface may be desirable for reducing lateral movement of the passenger and for increasing passenger comfort, such bolsters can increase the size of a stowed seat assembly. For example, if a seatback folds down over the lower seat assembly for storage of the seat, the bolsters of the seatback can abut against the lower seat assembly, and/or the bolsters of the lower seat assembly can abut against the seatback, thereby reducing movement of the seatback toward the lower seat assembly. Thus, the further that the bolsters extend away from the surrounding seating surface, the less compact the vehicle seat assembly becomes when the seatback is in the folded position. Thus, there is a need in the related art for a vehicle seat assembly with bolsters that can move such that the seat assembly can be stowed in a more compact configuration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention overcomes the disadvantages in the related art in a vehicle seat assembly having a lower seat assembly with a lower sitting surface and a seatback with a seatback sitting surface. At least one of the lower seat assembly and the seatback is adapted for movement. The seat assembly also includes at least one bolster adapted for movement to thereby change curvature of at least one of the lower sitting surface and the seatback sitting surface. The bolster automatically moves due to movement of at least one of the lower seat assembly and the seatback.
The seat assembly can be stowed in a more compact manner due to the movable bolsters. Furthermore, the bolsters move automatically during movement of the seatback and lower seat assembly for the convenience of the passenger and to ensure that the bolsters are in a proper position when a passenger occupies the seat assembly.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood while reading the subsequent description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now to the drawings, where like numerals are used to designate like structure throughout the figures, one embodiment of a vehicle seat assembly built according to the present invention is generally indicated at 10 in
The lower seat assembly 12 includes a frame 20a, a cushion 22a, and a trim cover 24b. The seatback 14 similarly includes a frame 20b, a cushion 22b, and a trim cover 24b. The frames 20a, 20b (shown partially in phantom in
The trim cover 24a of the lower seat assembly 12 defines a lower sitting surface 26 which is generally horizontal and that supports the pelvis and thigh area of the passenger. The lower sitting surface 26 includes lateral sides 27a and a middle portion 29a lying between the lateral sides 27a. The trim cover 24b of the seatback 14 defines a seatback sitting surface 28 which is generally vertical when the seatback 14 is in the upright position and supports the passenger's back. The seatback sitting surface includes lateral sides 27b and a middle portion 29b lying between the lateral sides 27b.
At least one of the lower seat assembly 12 and the seatback 14 includes at least one bolster 30a, 30b. For example, in the embodiment shown, the lower seat assembly 12 includes a plurality of bolsters 30a disposed on opposite lateral sides of the lower seat assembly 12. Also, the seatback 14 includes a plurality of bolsters 30b are disposed on opposite lateral sides of the seatback 14. It should be appreciated that the bolsters 30a, 30b of the embodiment shown include the lateral sides of the respective trim cover 24a, 24b, cushion 22a, 22b, and components that will be described in greater detail below that are generally disposed within the respective cushion 22a, 22b.
The bolsters 30a, 30b are adapted for movement to thereby change the curvature of at least one of the lower sitting surface 26 and the seatback sitting surface 28. More specifically, each bolster 30a, 30b is adapted for movement between an extended position (
As will be described in greater detail below, the bolsters 30a, 30b automatically move due to movement of at least one of the lower seat assembly 12 and seatback 14. For instance, in the embodiment shown, the bolsters 30a, 30b automatically move away from the extended position and toward the retracted position as the seatback 14 moves away from the upright position and toward the folded position. Also, the bolsters 30a, 30b automatically move away from the retracted position and toward the extended position as the seatback 14 moves away from the folded position and toward the upright position. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the bolsters 30a, 30b could automatically move due to mechanical or electrical actuation without departing from the scope of the invention.
Referring still to
The seat assembly 10 also includes a plurality of rear brackets 46 shown in
The seat assembly 10 also includes a plurality of rails 52, which are operatively supported by the vehicle floor 16. Each of the rear brackets 46 is operatively attached to one of the rails 52. Also, each linkage 48 is pivotally attached to the rail 52 at pivot points 54. The rails 52 can be of any suitable construction and can allow for movement (such as forward/aft and raising/lowering movement) of the vehicle seat assembly 10 relative to the vehicle floor 16.
As such, when the seatback 14 moves from the upright position (
As shown in
Each flexible member 56 includes a first end 58 and second end 60. In the lower seat assembly 12, the first end 58 of each flexible member 56 is fixed to a respective rear bracket 46, and the second end 60 of each flexible member 56 is fixed to a respective side frame member 40. In the seatback 14, the first end 58 of each flexible member 56 is fixed to a respective rear bracket 46, and the second end 60 of each flexible member 56 is fixed to a respective side frame member 32.
The relative distance between the first end 58 and the second end 60 of each flexible member 56 changes due to movement of the seatback 14 between the folded and upright positions. More specifically, as the seatback 14 moves from the folded position (
Thus, when the seat assembly 10 is to be stowed, the seatback 14 can be folded, and the bolsters 30a, 30b move into the retracted position. As such, the lower sitting surface 26 and the seatback sitting surface 28 are significantly flattened, thereby allowing the seatback 14 to move closer to the lower seat assembly 16 for more compact stowage of the seat assembly 10. Also, when the seatback 14 is unfolded, the bolsters 30a, 30b move into the extended position to reduce lateral movement of the passenger. Furthermore, the bolsters 30a, 30b move automatically during movement of the seatback 14 and lower seat assembly 12 for the convenience of the passenger and to ensure that the bolsters 30a, 30b are in a proper position when a passenger occupies the seat assembly 10.
Referring now to
The seat assembly 110 also includes a biasing member 166 that biases the bolster 130a for movement toward either the retracted position or the extended position. In the embodiment shown, the biasing member 166 is a torsion spring that is wrapped at least partially around the first and second wires 162, 164. The biasing member 166 includes a first end 168 mounted to the rear crossbar 138 and a second end 170 that abuts against the second wire 164 so as to bias the bolster 130a toward the retracted position. It should be appreciated, however, that the biasing member 166 could be of any suitable type and could be disposed in any suitable position.
The seat assembly 110 also includes a cable 172 and a bell crank 174 that is fixed to the first wire 162 of the bolster 130a. Actuation of the bell crank 174 preferably rotates the first wire 162, and thus the bolster 130a, between the extended and retracted positions. The cable 172 is attached at one end to one of the linkages 148, and the cable 172 is attached at the opposite end to the bell crank 174. In the embodiment shown, the cable 172 extends through tabs 176 included in the frame 120a of the lower seat assembly 112.
As the seatback 114 moves from the folded position to the upright position, the linkages 148 rotate as described above in reference to
Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the bolster 130a shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
The lower seat assembly 112 further includes a plurality of lower levers 278, each associated with a respective bolster 230a. Each lower lever 278 is pivotally attached at a pivot point 280 to one of the side frame members 240. Each lower lever 278 includes a first end 282 with a bolster camming surface 284. When the first end 282 of the lower lever 278 rotates toward the respective bolster 230a (
Each rear bracket 246 includes a lever camming surface 286 that extends toward the respective lower lever 278. The lower seat assembly 212 moves forward and backward relative to the rear brackets 246 as the seatback 214 moves between the upright and folded positions similar to the embodiments described above in relation to
Accordingly, as the seatback 214 moves from the folded position (
The seatback 214 also includes bolsters 230b as shown in
As the seatback 214 moves from the folded position (
In the embodiment shown in
In summary, each embodiment of the seat assembly 10, 110, 210 of the present invention can be stowed in a more compact manner due to the movable bolsters 30a, 30b, 130a, 130b, 230a, 230b included therein. Furthermore, the bolsters 30a, 30b, 130a, 130b, 230a, 230b move automatically during movement of the seatback 14, 114, 214 and lower seat assembly 12, 112, 212 for the convenience of the passenger and to ensure that the bolsters 30a, 30b, 130a, 130b, 230a, 230b are in a proper position when a passenger occupies the seat assembly 10, 110, 210.
The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology that has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.
Claims
1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:
- a lower seat assembly with a lower sitting surface;
- a seatback with a seatback sitting surface, wherein at least one of said lower seat assembly and said seatback is adapted for movement; and
- at least one bolster adapted for movement to thereby change curvature of at least one of said lower sitting surface and said seatback sitting surface; and
- wherein said bolster automatically moves due to movement of at least one of said lower seat assembly and said seatback.
2. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said seatback is adapted to move relative to said lower seat assembly between an upright position and a folded position, and wherein said bolster automatically moves between an extended position and a retracted position as said seatback moves between the upright position and the folded position.
3. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bolster includes at least one flexible member with a first end and a second end, and wherein the relative distance between said first end and said second end changes due to movement of at least one of said lower seat assembly and said seatback.
4. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one bolster camming surface that cams said bolster due to movement of at least one of said lower seat assembly and said seatback.
5. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 4 further comprising a lever that includes said bolster camming surface and still further comprising a lever camming surface, wherein said lever moves toward and away from said lever camming surface such that lever camming surface cams said lever and bolster camming surface cams said bolster as said lever moves toward said lever.
6. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 4 further comprising a lever that includes said bolster camming surface and that includes an interference member that limits rotation of said lever such that said bolster camming surface of said lever cams said bolster.
7. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a biasing member that biases said bolster for movement.
8. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said biasing member is a torsion spring.
9. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said lower seat assembly and said seatback include at least one bolster, and wherein said contact between said bolster of said seatback and said bolster of said lower seat assembly causes movement of said bolster of said seatback and said bolster of said lower seat assembly.
10. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a cable operable to pull and rotate said bolster due to movement of at least one of said seatback and said lower seat assembly.
11. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:
- a lower seat assembly with a lower sitting surface;
- a seatback with a seatback sitting surface, said seatback adapted to move relative to said lower seat assembly between an upright position and a folded position;
- wherein at least one of said lower seat assembly and said seatback include at least one bolster adapted for movement between an extended position, wherein curvature of said corresponding one of said lower sitting surface and said seatback sitting surface is increased, and a retracted position, wherein curvature of said corresponding one of said lower sitting surface and said seatback sitting surface is reduced;
- wherein said bolster automatically moves away from the extended position and toward the retracted position as said seatback moves away from the upright position and toward the folded position, and wherein said bolster automatically moves away from the retracted position and toward the extended position as said seatback moves away from the folded position and toward the upright position.
12. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said bolster includes at least one flexible member that moves so as to move said bolster between the extended position and the retracted position.
13. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said bolster includes at least one flexible member with a first end and a second end, and wherein the relative distance between said first end and said second end changes as said seatback moves between the upright position and the folded position to thereby move said bolster between the extended position and the retracted position.
14. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 11 further comprising at least one bolster camming surface that cams said bolster as said seatback moves.
15. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 14 further comprising a lever that includes said bolster camming surface and still further comprising a lever camming surface, wherein said lever moves toward said lever camming surface when said seatback moves away from the folded position and toward the upright position, thereby causing the lever camming surface to cam said lever such that said bolster camming surface cams said bolster away from the retracted position and toward the extended position.
16. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 14 further comprising a lever that includes said bolster camming surface and that includes an interference member that limits rotation of said lever as said seatback moves away from the folded position and toward the upright position such that said bolster camming surface of said lever cams said bolster away from the retracted position and toward the extended position.
17. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 11 further including a biasing member that biases said bolster toward one of the retracted position and the extended position.
18. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 17, wherein said biasing member is a torsion spring.
19. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein contact between said seatback and said lower seat assembly as said seatback moves away from the upright position and toward the folded position causes said bolster to move away from the extended position and toward the retracted position.
20. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a cable operable to pull and rotate said bolster toward one of the retracted position and the extended position upon actuation by said cable.
Type: Application
Filed: May 18, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 7, 2006
Inventors: Alan Sturt (West Bloomfield, MI), James Mulvihill (Berkley, MI), Jeffrey Kempf (Romeo, MI), Jason Gamache (Romeo, MI), Kevin Gasparotto (New Hudson, MI)
Application Number: 11/131,997
International Classification: A47C 7/14 (20060101);