Patent Application
20070132296
The present invention relates to seating in automotive vehicles and, more particularly, to an automobile folding seat system having an automatic lumbar support system.
In vehicles, such as vans, mini-vans and sport utility vehicles, folding passenger seating arrangements are constantly being sought for providing large, unimpeded areas for carrying cargo. It is a constant goal to provide folding passenger seating arrangements including comfortable seats. It is also a constant goal to provide cargo areas having increased volume when the seating is stowed for facilitating loading and carrying large sized cargo.
A number of approaches have been taken to provide this additional cargo room through including folding seating designs. For example, one current solution includes seats detachable from the vehicle. A further example includes seats movable or foldable in a forward direction for creating additional cargo space.
Currently, however, folding seats are generally flat to allow thin folded thickness. Folding seats are generally required to be as flat as possible, when folded, to maximize storage space within the vehicle. This flatness requirement means the seat, when in the upright position, gives little or no support to the lumbar region of the occupant and may therefore be uncomfortable. Further, those current folding seats having substantial lumbar support also generally have a folded thickness not allowing maximum storage space.
It is a known objective of all vehicle manufacturers to maximize the available storage area within the vehicle without significantly increasing its size. Increasing the size of the vehicle can be disadvantageous in that it can increase its cost as well as its weight and thereby decrease its fuel efficiency. It is also a known objective of these manufacturers to provide vehicles having increased seating capacity. A delicate balance must therefore be struck between increasing the storage capability of a vehicle and increasing the seating capacity of the vehicle. Further, while increasing seating capacity, it is a constant goal to improve comfort of vehicle seats. The present invention is directed to these ends.
The present invention overcomes the above-stated disadvantages. In one embodiment of the present invention, a folding seat system includes a lower seat portion and a seat back pivotally coupled thereto such that the seat back is collapsible towards the lower seat portion. Coupled to the seat back is a lumbar support basket including an upper rod pivotally coupled widthwise across the seat back and a lower rod generally parallel to the upper rod. The lumbar support basket extends outwardly when the lower rod moves upwardly in response to engaging a section of the lower seat portion and flattens when the lower rod moves downwardly in response to disengaging the section of the lower seat portion.
This embodiment of the present invention provides several advantages. One such advantage is that it maximizes vehicle space usage. A further such advantage is that it maximizes user comfort by providing a folding seat with lumbar support.
The present invention itself, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should now be made to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying figures and described below by way of examples of the invention wherein.
While the present invention is described primarily with respect to a folding seat for an automotive vehicle, the present invention may be adapted to various application requiring folding seating, as will be understood by one skilled in the art. For example, the present invention may be applied to stadium seating, airplane seating, seating for aerospace or aeronautical vehicles, or any other vehicle or structure requiring folding seating.
In the following description, various operating parameters and components are described for a number of constructed embodiments.
The specific parameters and components are included as examples and are not meant to be limiting.
Referring to
Referring to
The folding seat system 10 includes a seat frame 19 having a seat back 26 pivotally coupled to a lower seat portion 28 through a pivot 30 or pair of pivots. The folding seat system 10 includes a lumbar support system 33 coupled to the seat back 26, which will be discussed in detail herein. The seat back 26 and lower seat portion 28 are designed such that the seat back 26 folds towards the lower seat portion 28 for stowing the seat system 10.
One embodiment of the seat system 10 includes a spring mechanism or reactive member (seat actuator system) for springing the seat back 26 into its upright position when the seat frame 19 is opened. However, any known mechanism may be used for unfolding the seat.
The seat back 26 includes an upper portion 41; a middle portion 44; a lower portion 46; a lumbar region 45 between the upper portion 41 and the lower portion 46; an inner edge 47, such that said upper portion 41, the middle portion 44, and the lower portion 46 have the inner edge 47 in common; and a base portion 48 extending outwardly and at an angle relative to said lower portion 46.
Coupled or welded to the lower portion 41 is a push rod tube 51 through which the push rod 52 of the lumbar support system 33 translates, which will be discussed later. Important to note is that, although embodied as having a tube on one side of the seat back, the present invention includes alternate embodiments having tubes on both sides such that the ends of the push rod 52 translate through both tubes.
The seat back 26 is foldable in an upright position 49, illustrated in
The lumbar support system 33 includes a collapsible lumbar basket 42 including an upper pivot rod 50 (first rod or upper rod) pivotally attaching to the middle portion 44 of the seat back 26, a lower push rod 52 (second rod or lower rod), which is substantially parallel to the upper pivot rod 50, having perpendicular ends 55, received within the push rod tubes 51. Between the upper pivot rod 50 and the lower push rod 52 are, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of substantially parallel rods 56 having ends 58 linked together by a plurality of fasteners 59 (e.g. clamps or crimped fasteners). The ends 58 may be bent such that an end of one of the parallel rods 56 and the end of a lower or upper rod are pivotally coupled within a fastener 59.
Alternately, the parallel rods 56 may extend within the fasteners 59, and joining sections 61 may likewise pivotally couple within the fasteners 59 for joining the parallel rods 56 of the basket 42 together. Numerous other embodiments of the interconnected or mesh configuration of the parallel rods of the basket 42 are also embodied herein.
The lower seat portion 28 includes a top 70, a bottom 72, a top rear 71, a top front 73, and a common side 74. The top 70 is designed such that a passenger may sit thereon. The side 74 is designed with a thickness such that it may fit compactly within a stowage cavity or may occupy a minimal amount of room in a passenger compartment.
Coupled to the top rear 71 are pivot holders 76 to which the pivot 30 attaches for pivoting the seat back 26 relative to the lower seat portion 28. Coupled to the pivot holders are platforms 62 (sections of the lower seat portion 28), which lumbar basket push rod 52 presses against when the seat 19 is in the upright position 49. The sections of the lower seat portion 28 are embodied herein as platforms 62, however, they may further be embodied as latches, hooks, or other means for providing a counter resistance to movement of the lower push rod 52 in one direction as the seat is in the upright position.
Referring to
When the seat 19 is placed in the upright position, the lumbar basket push rod 52 presses against the platform 62 and resultantly translates upwards through the push rod tube 51. Because the lumbar basket 42 is attached to the seat back 26 at the upper pivot rod 50, the parallel rods 56 of the lumbar basket 42 are forced outwardly relative to the seat back 26 responsive to the translation of the push rod 52.
Referring to
The adjuster 100 includes a ratcheting handle 102 rotating a lever system 104, which raises or lowers the platform 62 on which the lumbar basket push rod 52 sits. This does not interfere with the folding of the seat frame 19, and the lumbar comfort adjuster 100 adjustment will be retained when the seat frame 19 is brought back to the upright position. Further, the lever system 104 may include a plurality of predetermined positions such that the comfort adjustment of the system 10 may be tailored closely to an individual passenger or a variety of passengers.
Referring to
While the invention has been described in connection with one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that the specific mechanisms and techniques which have been described are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, numerous modifications may be made to the methods and apparatus described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
