FRONT SEAT SLEEPER SEAT AND FEATURES
A seating assembly for a vehicle includes a seat having an extendable leg support. A seatback is operably coupled with the seat. The seating assembly includes an occupant detection system. A rear seat lift device is disposed in the seat and operable between a lowered position and a heightened position. A rear portion of the seat is elevated relative to the seatback to minimize a height difference between the rear portion of the seat and a bottom portion of the seatback when the seatback is in a fully reclined position. A control module is in communication with the occupant detection system, the seat, and the seatback. The control module is configured to activate an actuation assembly of the seatback to rotate the seatback rearward, extend the extendable leg support forward, and raise the rear seat lift device to provide optimal rest conditions for the occupant.
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The present disclosure generally relates to a seating assembly, and more particularly, to a front seat sleeper seat for a seating assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURESeating assemblies and the flexible nature of their construction is becoming more important in today's world. The value of having an adjustable seating assembly provides increased worktime and increased comfort to an individual. Some seating assemblies include upper thoracic support that is adjustable between forward and rearward positions. Providing an aesthetically pleasing upper back support that is consistent with and generally seamless with the remainder of the seat provides value to the consumer.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREAccording to one aspect of the present disclosure, a seating assembly for a vehicle includes a seat having an extendable leg support. A seatback is operably coupled with the seat. The seating assembly includes an occupant detection system. A rear seat lift device is disposed in the seat and operable between a lowered position and a raised position. A rear portion of the seat is elevated relative to the seatback to minimize a height difference between the rear portion of the seat and a bottom portion of the seatback when the seatback is in a fully reclined position. A control module is in communication with the occupant detection system, the seat, and the seatback. When the vehicle is in park and an occupant has been detected by the occupant detection system, the control module is configured to activate an actuation assembly of the seatback to rotate the seatback rearward, extend the extendable leg support forward, and raise the rear seat lift device to provide optimal rest conditions for the occupant.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, in a seating assembly for a vehicle, a seat is operably coupled with a seatback. A method of operating a sleeper seat mode includes determining an occupancy status of the seating assembly. An actuation assembly of the seatback is activated, resulting in rotation of the seatback rearward. Extendable leg supports of the seat are extended in a forward direction. A rear seat lift device of the seat is raised to a raised position. A rear portion of the seat is elevated relative to the seatback to minimize a height difference between the rear portion of the seat and a bottom portion of the seatback to provide optimal rest conditions for the occupant.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of operating a sleeper seat mode for a seating assembly includes determining an occupancy status of the seating assembly. An actuation assembly of a seatback is activated to rotate the seatback rearward. Extendable leg supports of a seat are extended in a forward direction. A rear seat lift device of the seat is raised to minimize a height difference between a rear portion of the seat and a bottom portion of the seatback.
According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, a seating assembly includes an actuation assembly that allows the seatback to rotate rearward. The seating assembly includes a rear seat lift device of the seat that is raised to minimize a height difference between a rear portion of the seat and a bottom portion of the seatback. The rear seat lift increases the overall comfort of the seating assembly, particularly when the seatback of the seating assembly is rotated rearward to accommodate a better resting or sleeping posture of the occupant. Elevation of the rear seat lift better aligns the hips of the occupant with the lower back of the occupant, thereby minimizing or eliminating back pain to the occupant that might otherwise occur over an extended period of time.
Embodiments of the first aspect of the invention can include any one or a combination of the following features:
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- removing a removable head restraint;
- sliding said seating assembly from a forward position to a rearward position;
- moving an upper thoracic cushion at an upper portion of the seatback from a retracted position to a deployed position;
- automatically, simultaneously rotating the seatback rearward, extending the extendable leg support forward, and raising the rear seat lift device;
- rotating a rotatable base of the extendable leg support outward and extending an extension member from the rotatable base; and
- prohibiting movement of said seating assembly to the sleeper seat mode when said vehicle is in park.
These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present disclosure will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
In the drawings:
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in
In this document, relational terms, such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like, are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
Referring to the embodiment generally illustrated in
With reference to
Referring again to
With reference again to
The seating assembly 10 also includes the rear seat lift device 22, as illustrated in
With reference now to
With reference now to
With reference now to
If the occupant is below the 85th percentile (step 118), then upon selection of the sleeper seat mode, the seating assembly 10 will move the seatback 18 to contact the rear seat cushion (step 120). If the head restraint 64 is removed by the occupant or otherwise ejected automatically or manually by the seatback 18, the seating assembly 10 will move forward on the rail slide assembly 45 to a fully forward position (step 122). At the same time, the seatback 18 may recline to a fully reclined position. The predefined hip point will move from a position of between 65 to 80 mm to the raised position where the rear portion 24 of the seat 14 and the bottom edge 84 of the seatback 18 are laterally aligned (step 124). In addition, the independent thigh supports 52 are fully raised (step 126) and the extendable leg support 16 is extended (step 128). As with occupants that meet or exceed the 85th percentile, once the seating assembly 10 is placed in the sleeper seat mode, it is generally contemplated that the vehicle 12 will not leave the park mode. However, once the seating assembly 10 returns to the design position, the vehicle 12 can then be shifted from park mode to drive, reverse, etc.
It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.
It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.
It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
Claims
1. A seating assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a seat including an extendable leg support;
- a seatback operably coupled with the seat;
- an occupant detection system;
- a rear seat lift device disposed in the seat and operable between a lowered position and a raised position, wherein a rear portion of the seat is elevated relative to the seatback to minimize a height difference between the rear portion of the seat and a bottom portion of the seatback when the seatback is in a fully reclined position; and
- a control module in communication with the occupant detection system, the seat, and the seatback, wherein when said vehicle is in park and an occupant has been detected by the occupant detection system, the control module is configured to activate an actuation assembly of the seatback to rotate the seatback rearward, extend the extendable leg support forward, and raise the rear seat lift device to provide optimal rest conditions for the occupant.
2. The seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
- a removable head restraint.
3. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein said seating assembly is slidable between forward and rearward positions.
4. The seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
- an upper thoracic cushion disposed at an upper portion of the seatback and operable between retracted and deployed positions.
5. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to automatically, simultaneously rotate the seatback rearward, extend the extendable leg support forward, and raise the rear seat lift device.
6. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the extendable leg support includes a rotatable base and an extension member configured to extend from the rotatable base.
7. In a seating assembly for a vehicle a seat operably coupled with a seatback, a method of operating a sleeper seat mode comprising:
- determining an occupancy status of said seating assembly;
- activating an actuation assembly of said seatback resulting in rotation of said seatback rearward;
- extending extendable leg supports of said seat in a forward direction; and
- raising a rear seat lift device of said seat to a heightened position, wherein a rear portion of the seat is elevated relative to the seatback to minimize a height difference between the rear portion of the seat and a bottom portion of the seatback to provide optimal rest conditions for the occupant.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
- removing a removable head restraint.
9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
- sliding said seating assembly from a forward position to a rearward position.
10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
- moving an upper thoracic cushion at an upper portion of the seatback from a retracted position to a deployed position.
11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
- automatically, simultaneously rotating the seatback rearward, extending the extendable leg support forward, and raising the rear seat lift device.
12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
- rotating a rotatable base of the extendable leg support outward and extending an extension member from the rotatable base.
13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
- prohibiting movement of said seating assembly to the sleeper seat mode when said vehicle is not in park.
14. A method of operating a sleeper seat mode for a seating assembly comprising:
- determining an occupancy status of said seating assembly;
- activating an actuation assembly of a seatback to rotate said seatback rearward;
- extending extendable leg supports of a seat in a forward direction; and
- raising a rear seat lift device of said seat to minimize a height difference between a rear portion of the seat and a bottom portion of the seatback.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
- removing a removable head restraint.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
- sliding said seating assembly from a forward position to a rearward position.
17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
- moving an upper thoracic cushion at an upper portion of the seatback from a retracted position to a deployed position.
18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
- automatically, simultaneously rotating the seatback rearward, extending the extendable leg support forward, and raising the rear seat lift device.
19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
- rotating a rotatable base of the extendable leg support outward and extending an extension member from the rotatable base.
20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
- prohibiting movement of said seating assembly to the sleeper seat mode when said vehicle is not in park.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 3, 2017
Publication Date: Sep 6, 2018
Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Dearborn, MI)
Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line (Northville, MI), Marcos Silva Kondrad (Macomb, MI), Kevin Wayne Preuss (Berkley, MI), Daniel Ferretti (Commerce Township, MI), Keith Allen Godin (Dearborn, MI)
Application Number: 15/449,094