SEATING ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE
A seating assembly comprises a calf rest coupled to a seat base and having a body that comprises a first trough that extends from a first exterior peak to an interior peak and a second trough that extends from a second exterior peak to the interior peak. The seating assembly also comprises a wire that extends across the first trough from the first exterior peak to the interior peak, the wire being operable between an at rest condition and a contracted condition, wherein movement of the wire from the at rest condition to the contracted condition moves a portion of the wire between the first exterior peak and the interior peak away from a bottom of the first trough. The seating assembly further comprises a controller that prompts electrical current to be supplied to the wire to move the wire from the at rest condition to the contracted condition.
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The present application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. Pat. Application No. 17/307,025, filed May 4, 2021, entitled “SEATING ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE”, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure is generally directed to a seating assembly for a vehicle and, more particularly, to a seating assembly that includes a calf rest and a wire coupled to the calf rest.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREVehicles have seats. Massaging features for vehicle seats may be desired.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREAccording to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a seating assembly includes a seat base, a seatback coupled to the seat base, and a calf rest coupled to the seat base and having a body that includes a first trough that extends from a first exterior peak to an interior peak, and a second trough that extends from a second exterior peak to the interior peak. The seating assembly also includes a wire that extends across the first trough from the first exterior peak to the interior peak. The wire is operable between an at rest condition and a contracted condition. Movement of the wire from the at rest condition to the contracted condition moves a portion of the wire between the first exterior peak and the interior peak away from a bottom of the first trough. Further, the seating assembly includes a controller that prompts electrical current to be supplied to the wire to move the wire from the at rest condition to the contracted condition.
Embodiments of the first aspect of the present disclosure can include any one or a combination of the following features:
- the wire further extends across the second trough from the interior peak to the second exterior peak;
- a height of the interior peak relative to the bottom of the first trough is greater than a height of the first exterior peak relative to the bottom of the first trough;
- the calf rest extends from a proximal end that is proximate to the seat base to a distal end that is distal from the seat base, and, relative to the interior peak, the bottom of the first trough is shallowest proximate to the distal end of the calf rest;
- the wire extends along the contour of the first trough between the first exterior peak and the interior peak in the at rest condition, and is suspended from the first exterior peak and the interior peak over the first trough in the contracted condition;
- the body is a foam body that is shaped to form the first and second troughs, the interior peak, and the first and second exterior peaks;
- the foam body is expanded polypropylene;
- the first trough of the foam body includes a contoured section having a curved surface that is between the first exterior peak and the interior peak and a sloped section having a generally planar surface that is between the contoured section and the interior peak; and
- the sloped section slopes foam body-laterally-inboard away from the contoured section and toward the interior peak.
According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a seating assembly for a vehicle includes a seat base, a seatback coupled to the seat base, and a calf rest coupled to the seat base and having a body that includes a first trough that extends from a first exterior peak to an interior peak and a second trough that extends from a second exterior peak to the interior peak. The calf rest is operable to move relative to the seat base between a retracted position and a deployed position. The seating assembly also includes a wire that extends across the first trough from the first exterior peak to the interior peak and across the second trough from the interior peak to the second exterior peak. The wire is operable between an at rest condition and a contracted condition. In the at rest condition. the wire extends along a contour of the first trough between the first exterior peak and the interior peak and along a contour of the second trough from the interior peak to the second exterior peak. In the contracted condition, the wire is suspended from the first exterior peak and the interior peak over the first trough and is suspended from the interior peak and the second exterior peak over the second trough. Further, the seating assembly includes a controller that prompts electrical current to be supplied to the wire to move the wire from the at rest condition to the contracted condition.
Embodiments of the second aspect of the present disclosure can include any one or a combination of the following features:
- a height of the interior peak relative to a bottom of the first trough is greater than a height of the first exterior peak relative to the bottom of the first trough;
- the calf rest extends from a proximal end that is proximate to the seat base in the deployed position of the calf rest to a distal end that is distal from the seat base in the deployed position of the calf rest, and, relative to the interior peak, the bottom of the first trough is shallowest proximate to the distal end of the calf rest;
- the body is a foam body that is shaped to form the first and second troughs, the interior peak, and the first and second exterior peaks;
- the foam body is expanded polypropylene;
- the first trough of the foam body includes a contoured section having a curved surface that is between the first exterior peak and the interior peak and a sloped section having a generally planar surface that is between the contoured section and the interior peak; and
- the sloped section slopes foam body-laterally-inboard away from the contoured section and toward the interior peak.
According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a body for a calf rest of a seating assembly includes first and second exterior peaks in a spaced relationship with each other, an interior peak between the first and second exterior peaks, a first trough that extends between the first exterior peak and the interior peak, and a second trough that extends between a second exterior peak and the interior peak. The first trough includes a contoured section having a curved surface that is disposed between the first exterior peak and the interior peak and a sloped section having a generally planar surface that is disposed between the contoured section and the interior peak. The second trough includes a contoured section having a curved surface that is disposed between the second exterior peak and the interior peak and a sloped section having a generally planar surface that is disposed between the contoured section of the second trough and the interior peak.
Embodiments of the third aspect of the present disclosure can include any one or a combination of the following features:
- a plane of the surface of the sloped section of the first trough is not parallel to a plane of the surface of the sloped section of the second trough;
- the plane of the surface of the sloped section of the first trough and the plane of the surface of the sloped section of the second trough intersect to form an angle that is between about 30 degrees and about 90 degrees; and
- the first and second exterior peaks are formed of expanded polypropylene.
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:
Additional features and advantages of the present disclosure will be set forth in the detailed description which follows and will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description, or recognized by practicing the invention as described in the following description, together with the claims and appended drawings.
As used herein, the term “and/or,” when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.
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.
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 or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and/or any additional intermediate members. Such joining may include members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another (i.e., integrally coupled) or may refer to joining of two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature, or may be removable or releasable in nature, unless otherwise stated.
The terms “substantial,” “substantially,” and variations thereof as used herein are intended to note that a described feature is equal or approximately equal to a value or description. For example, a “substantially planar” surface is intended to denote a surface that is planar or approximately planar. Moreover, “substantially” is intended to denote that two values are equal or approximately equal. In some embodiments, “substantially” may denote values within about 10% of each other, such as within about 5% of each other, or within about 2% of each other.
As used herein the terms “the,” “a,” or “an,” mean “at least one,” and should not be limited to “only one” unless explicitly indicated to the contrary. Thus, for example, reference to “a component” includes embodiments having two or more such components unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
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In some embodiments, the calf rest 22 may be operable between the retracted position and the deployed position. In the embodiment illustrated in
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The body 30 of the calf rest 22 may be made of at least one of a variety of types of materials, in various embodiments. In some embodiments, the body 30 of the calf rest 22 may be a foam body 30. In some implementations, the foam body 30 may be expanded polypropylene foam. In some embodiments, one or more portions of the body 30 may be comprised of foam. For example, the first and second exterior peaks 36, 40, the interior peak 38, and/or the first and second troughs 32, 34 may be formed of expanded polypropylene. Various types of foam are contemplated. The calf rest 22 may include a variety of components in addition to the body 30. For example, a trim cover 68 may generally encapsulate the body 30, as illustrated in
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The wire 60 illustrated in
Various types of wires 60 operable between at rest and contracted conditions are contemplated (e.g., nickel titanium alloy, shape memory polymer wires, etc.). The wire 60 of the calf rest 22 may be coupled to an electric current source 62, such as a battery, and a controller 64 that is configured to control the application of the current to the wire 60. It is contemplated that the controller 64 may prompt current to be provided to the wire 60 in response to one or more of a variety of inputs. For example, the controller 64 may receive an input signal from an input feature 66 (e.g., switch) of the seating assembly 14 that indicates the occupant’s desire for actuation of the massage system of the calf rest 22. In response to receiving the input signal, the controller 64 may prompt current to be intermittently applied to the wire 60 to move the wire 60 between the at rest and contracted conditions repeatedly.
Referring now to
In operation of an exemplary embodiment of the seating assembly 14, the calf rest 22 of the seating assembly 14 may initially be in the retracted position and a plurality of wires 60 extending laterally across the body 30 of the calf rest 22 may initially be in at rest conditions. The occupant of the seating assembly 14 may then move the calf rest 22 to the deployed position and actuate a calf rest massage system input feature 66 of the seating assembly 14. In response to actuation of the input feature 66, the controller 64 may prompt current to be selectively provided to each of the plurality of wires 60 of the calf rest 22. Each of the wires 60 is positioned between the expanded polypropylene foam body 30 of the calf rest 22 and the trim cover 68 of the calf rest 22 that generally encapsulates the body 30. Each of the wires 60 extends laterally across the first trough 32 of the body 30 from the first exterior peak 36 to the interior peak 38 and across the second trough 34 of the body 30 from the interior peak 38 to the second exterior peak 40. In the at rest conditions, the wires 60 extend along the contours of the first and second troughs 32, 34 between the interior peak 38 and the first and second exterior peaks 36, 40. When current is applied to the wires 60, the wires 60 shift to the contracted condition and shorten, which causes portions of the wires 60 that extend across the first and second troughs 32, 34 to be suspended between the interior peak 38 and the first and second exterior peaks 36, 40 of the body 30. As the wires 60 repeatedly move between the rest and contracted conditions, they intermittently press against the rear sides of the seated occupant’s legs L to create a massaging effect.
The present disclosure may provide a variety of advantages. First, the body 30 being formed of foam with a relatively high indentation load deflection value, such as expanded polypropylene, may allow the interior peak 38 and first and second exterior peaks 36, 40 to better withstand the forces applied by the wire 60 as the wire 60 enters the contracted condition compared to low indentation load deflection value foams that are typically associated with seating assembly cushions. Second, the sloped sections 44 of the first and second troughs 32, 34 of the body 30 being generally planar and extending at laterally-inboard angles from the contoured sections 42 to the interior peak 38 may (1) enable the first and second troughs 32, 34 to comfortably accommodate legs L of various girths, and (2) cause the wire 60 to press against the rear sides of a seated passenger’s legs L rather than pinching against the left and right sides of the seated occupant’s legs L when moving from the at rest condition to the contracted condition.
It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, 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 body for a calf rest of a seating assembly, comprising:
- first and second exterior peaks in a spaced relationship with each other;
- an interior peak between the first and second exterior peaks;
- a first trough that extends between the first exterior peak and the interior peak, wherein the first trough includes a contoured section having a curved surface that is disposed between the first exterior peak and the interior peak and a sloped section having a generally planar surface that is disposed between the contoured section and the interior peak; and
- a second trough that extends between the second exterior peak and the interior peak, wherein the second trough includes a contoured section having a curved surface that is disposed between the second exterior peak and the interior peak and a sloped section having a generally planar surface that is disposed between the contoured section of the second trough and the interior peak.
2. The body of claim 1, wherein a plane of the surface of the sloped section of the first trough is not parallel to a plane of the surface of the sloped section of the second trough.
3. The body of claim 2, wherein the plane of the surface of the sloped section of the first trough and the plane of the surface of the sloped section of the second trough intersect to form an angle that is between about 30 degrees and about 90 degrees.
4. The body of claim 3, wherein the plane of the surface of the sloped section of the first trough and the plane of the surface of the sloped section of the second trough intersect to form an angle that is between about 45 degrees and about 75 degrees.
5. The body of claim 4, wherein the plane of the surface of the sloped section of the first trough and the plane of the surface of the sloped section of the second trough intersect to form an angle of about 60 degrees.
6. The body of claim 1, wherein the first and second exterior peaks are formed of expanded polypropylene.
7. The body of claim 1, wherein a height of the interior peak relative to a bottom of the first trough is greater than a height of the first exterior peak relative to the bottom of the first trough.
8. The body of claim 7, wherein a height of the interior peak relative to a bottom of the second trough is greater than a height of the second exterior peak relative to the bottom of the second trough.
9. The body of claim 1, wherein, relative to the interior peak, a bottom of the first trough is shallowest proximate to an end of the calf rest that is distal from a seat base of the seating assembly.
10. The body of claim 9, wherein, relative to the interior peak, the bottom of the first trough is shallowest proximate to an end of the calf rest that is proximal to the seat base of the seating assembly, such that the deepest portion of the bottom of the first trough is nearer than the shallowest portion of the bottom of the first trough to the seat base.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 17, 2023
Publication Date: Jun 8, 2023
Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Dearborn, MI)
Inventors: Dylan Mandelbaum (Mountain View, CA), Michael Steven Medoro (Sunnyvale, CA), Andres Almeida Senatore (San Jose, CA), Siddharthan Selvasekar (Livermore, CA), Jimmy Moua (Canton, MI), Katherine Ann Arnold (Taylor, MI), Johnathan Andrew Line (Northville, MI)
Application Number: 18/155,157