Adjustable bolster

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a bolster support system used inside a seat, specifically inside a vehicle seat.

<p> [0002] The seat bolster assembly includes a fixed frame and a housing connected to the fixed frame. The housing includes a track and brackets that are movable along at least a portion of the track between the first and second positions. The paddle is movably connected to the bracket and the drive shaft is configured to rotate about the drive shaft. The drive shaft rotates about the drive shaft to move the bracket between the first and second positions.</p><p> [0003] The bolster assembly includes a housing having a track portion and a bracket that is movable along the track portion of the housing between a first position and a second position. Further, the bolster assembly includes a paddle movably connected to the bracket.</p><p> [0004] The seat bolster assembly includes a fixed frame and paddles movably connected to the fixed frame. The paddle is movable with respect to a fixed frame in three orthogonal rotation planes.</p><p> [0005] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by considering the detailed description and the accompanying drawings.</p>

<figref num="1">[0006] It is a perspective view of a vehicle seat.</figref><figref num="2">[0007] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a vehicle seat of FIG. 1 with two bolster assemblies.</figref><figref num="3">[0008] It is a perspective view of the bolster assembly of FIG.</figref><figref num="4">[0009] It is an exploded view of the bolster assembly of FIG.</figref><figref num="5">[0010] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bolster assembly at the retracted position as viewed from line 5-5 of FIG.</figref><figref num="6">[0011] It is a cross-sectional view seen from line 5-5 of FIG. 3 of a bolster assembly in a stretched position.</figref><figref num="7">[0012] FIG. 7 is a front view of the bolster assembly of FIG. 3 with the paddle in the neutral position. [0013] FIG. 7a is a diagram of orientation criteria associated with FIGS. 7 and 8.</figref><figref num="8">It is a front view of the bolster assembly of FIG. 3 in which the paddle is rotated in the first plane to the rotation position shown by the solid line and another rotation position shown by the broken line.</figref><figref num="9">[0015] FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the bolster assembly with the paddle in the neutral position as viewed from line 5-5 of FIG. [0016] FIG. 9a is a diagram of orientation criteria associated with FIGS. 9 and 10.</figref><figref num="10">[0017] From line 5-5 of Figure 3 of the bolster assembly, with the paddle rotated in the second plane to the rotation position shown by the solid line and another rotation position shown by the broken line. It is an enlarged partial sectional view as seen.</figref><figref num="11">[0018] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the bolster assembly of FIG. 3 with the paddle in the neutral position. [0019] FIG. 11a is a diagram of orientation criteria associated with FIGS. 11 and 12.</figref><figref num="12">[0020] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bolster assembly of FIG. 3 with the paddle rotated in a third plane to the rotation position shown by the solid line and another rotation position shown by the broken line.</figref><figref num="13">[0021] Top-down cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat and bolster assembly of FIG. 2 with the 95th percentile male seated.</figref><figref num="14">[0022] Top-down sectional view of the vehicle seat and bolster assembly of FIG. 2 with a fifth percentage female seated.</figref>

[0023] Prior to elaborating any embodiment of the disclosure, this disclosure applies to structural details and component placement as described in the following description or exemplified in the drawings below. Please understand that it is not limited to. The present disclosure can be addressed in other embodiments and can be practiced or practiced in a variety of ways. Further, it should be understood that the wording and terminology used herein are for illustration purposes only and should not be considered restrictive. When used herein, "including," "comprising," or "having," and variants thereof, the items listed thereafter and their equivalents and additional Intended to include items. As used herein and in the appended claims, any term relating to the terms "top", "bottom", "top", "bottom", "front", "back", and other directions It is not intended to require a particular orientation, but rather is used only for explanatory purposes.

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a seat 10 which may be some vehicle seat in the vehicle interior of the vehicle for the following description, but the seat 10 is not necessarily limited to application to the vehicle. The seat 10 generally includes a seat bottom 14 and a seat backrest 18 with an upper cushion 26 for horizontal and vertical support of the occupant, respectively. Referring to FIG. 2, the frame 22 covered by the upper cushion 26 provides structural integrity with respect to the backrest 18 and includes a pair of vertical support members 30. The bolster assembly 100 is coupled to each of the vertical support members 30 to allow adjustable side bolster support for the seated occupant.

[0025] Continuing with reference to FIG. 2, the frame 22 is illustrated with the cushion 26 removed to indicate the mounting position of the bolster assembly 100. Each bolster assembly 100 includes a housing 104 fixedly connected to the frame 22 via a mounting tab 108. FIG. 2 only shows each bolster assembly 100 mounted at a specific position on the frame 22, with any number of mounting positions along the frame 22 within the seat 10. It is possible. For example, the bolster assembly 100 may be similarly utilized at the seat bottom 14 to support the occupant's thigh region and is not necessarily limited to application at the backrest side bolster.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bolster assembly 100 including a housing 104, a bracket 112, a paddle 116 movably connected to the bracket 112, and a drive assembly 120. Housing 104 includes a bow-shaped track 124. Alternative structures may include linear orbits. Correspondingly, the bracket 112 is movable along at least a portion of the track 124 between a first position (eg, retracted position (FIG. 5)) and a second position (eg, extended position (FIG. 6)). As such, the bracket 112 includes a bow-shaped portion 128. As described in more detail below, the bracket 112 travels along track 124, driven by a drive assembly 120 that can be controlled and activated by the occupant.

[0027] With reference to FIGS. 3-5, the drive assembly 120 or actuator is a motor 132, a motor shaft 136 with a pinion 140, a motor housing 144, a worm gear 148, a cap 152, a drive shaft 156, and a slide. Includes frame 160. The motor 132 fixed to the motor housing 144 is preferred as long as it is a DC reversible motor, but may be any type of reversible motor suitable for application, and may be sized and powered as needed. Can be changed. The worm gear 148 (FIG. 5), operably meshed with the pinion 140 of the motor shaft 136, changes the direction of the power applied to the drive shaft 156 orthogonally and increases the torque output from the motor 132. To enable. The worm gear 148 is contained within the motor housing 144, which further connects the motor 132 to the remaining drive assembly components. The drive shaft 156 is splined or threaded and is paired with a worm gear 148 for co-rotation around the drive shaft 164 and for power transfer during operation. A cap 152 attached to the motor housing 144 provides additional protection against the worm gear 148 and the drive shaft 156, and further secures the motor housing 144 to the housing 104 and the slide frame 160.

[0028] The moving member, or slider 168, is placed around the drive shaft 156 and includes a female threaded body for meshing with the drive shaft 156. Further, the slider 168 includes an opposing groove 172 facing the opposing guide rail 176 formed on the slide frame 160. The flexible cable 180 includes a first end 184 connected to the slider 168 and a second end 188 connected to the bracket 112 through the bracket hole 192. Alternatively, the slider 168 may be directly connected to the bracket 112 without any intermediate connecting member, i.e. the movement of the slider 168 is a direct drive facility that directly drives the bracket 112. Good.

[0029] Continuing with reference to FIG. 4, the bolster assembly 100 includes a ball joint 196 that movably connects the paddle 116 to the bracket 112. Bracket 112 includes bowl portion 200 and paddle 116 includes corresponding dome portion 204. The outer surface 208 of the dome portion 204 faces the bowl portion 200 (eg, nested) and the inner surface 212 of the dome portion 204 faces the royal joint 196. The ball joint 196 further includes a pin 216 that defines the longitudinal axis 220 and connects the paddle 116 to the bracket 112. The paddle 116 includes a hole 224 through which the pin 216 extends, the pin 216 meshing with the bracket 112, for example in a screw connection. In alternative structures, the pins may be meshed with the bracket by press-fitting or other similar coupling. The pin 216 has a small diameter 228 and the hole 224 formed in the paddle 116 has a second diameter 232 that is larger than the small diameter 228.

[0030] During assembly, the dome portion 204 of the paddle 116 is placed between the ball joint 196 and the bowl portion 200 of the bracket 112. The ball joint 196 further includes the shoulder portion 236 of the pin 216 and the bracket 112 includes the corresponding stop portion 240. The shoulder portion 236 and the stopper portion 240 mesh with each other to form a gap 244 between the ball joint 196 and the bracket 112. The dome portion 204 of the paddle 116 is in the gap 244 so that the paddle 116 can function to move relative to the ball joint 196 and thus to the bracket 112, as described in more detail below. Placed and movable in gap 244.

The gap 244 sets the maximum tightening force acting on the dome portion 204 of the paddle 116. Continuing with reference to FIGS. 3-5, the ball fitting 196 includes a hexagonal opening 248 for tightening the pin 216 into the bracket 112, and the shoulder 236 and stop 240 are overtightened with the pin 216. This prevents the paddle 116 from moving. As an option, the lubricant can be placed on both the inner surface 212 and the outer surface 208 of the dome portion 204 to minimize wear. In the illustrated embodiment, the gap 244 is set by the shoulder 236 and the stop 240 on the ball joint 196, but in other alternative structures the gap 244 is limited, even if set in another fashion. Or may be adjusted. For example, the gap 244 can be replaced with a stepped bolt by replacing the pin 216 with a stepped bolt so that the stepped bolt meshes with the bevel joint and limits the amount that the stepped bolt can be tightened to set the gap 244. Can be set.

[0032] In this way, the paddle 116 is secured in the gap 244 between the ball joint 196 and the bracket 112, but can be moved relative to the bracket 112. To allow the pin 216 to move relative to the hole 224, the second diameter 232 of the hole only needs to be larger than the first diameter 228 of the pin. In the illustrated embodiment, the second diameter is at least 70% larger than the first diameter, but in the alternative structure, the second diameter is 10% larger than the first diameter, depending on the desired paddle movement. It may be as small as it is, or it may be as small as 1% larger than the first diameter. In the illustrated embodiment, the pin 216 is shown to be integrally formed with the ball joint 196, but in the alternative structure the pin is configured differently from the rest of the ball joint. It may be an element.

[0033] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the bolster assembly 100 further includes a plurality of urging members 252 connected to the paddle 116. The first end 256 of each urging member 252 is connected to the housing 104 and the second end 260 of each urging member 252 is connected to the paddle 116. The urging member 252 urges the paddle 116 to a position neutral to the bracket 112 and provides resistance to prevent unconstrained movement of the paddle 116 with respect to the bracket 112. Further, as will be described later with respect to the operation, the urging member 252 assists the bracket 112 to return from the extended second position (FIG. 6) to the retracted first position (FIG. 5).

[0034] During operation, the seater may activate the drive assembly 120 to adjust the position of the bracket 112 with respect to the housing 104. Depending on the occupant's choice, the motor shaft 136 is activated and rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, and the rotation is transmitted via the pinion 140 and the worm gear 148 to rotate the drive shaft 156. With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, when the drive shaft 156 rotates in the first rotation direction, the slider 168 translates along the drive shaft 156 in the first translation direction, and the drive shaft 156 translates to the first. When rotated in the opposite direction of 2, the slider 168 translates along the drive shaft 156 in the second opposite translation direction. As the slider 168 moves along the drive shaft 156, the bracket 112 moves in the track 124 between the first retracted position (FIG. 5) and the second extension position (FIG. 6). The bracket 112 is connected to the slider 168 via a cable 180. As mentioned above, when the slider 168 returns to the end of the drive shaft 156 closest to the motor 132, the urging member 252 assists the bracket 112 to return to its first retracted position (FIG. 5). Further, when the slider 168 returns to the position shown in FIG. 5, the weight of the occupant presses the bracket 112 and returns it to the retracted position.

[0035] The paddle 116 is movably connected to the bracket 112, as described above. The term "movably connected" includes, but is not limited to, any relative movement of the paddle 116 with respect to the bracket 112, including, but not limited to, rotating, pivoting, turning, or bending. .. Specifically, the paddle 116 works with the seated position to move relative to the bracket 112 to minimize or otherwise perceive hard spots in the seat by the occupant. Improve the comfort level of the seated person. In other words, the paddle 116 automatically responds to the occupant's position to comfortably support a variety of occupants (eg, short, tall, lean, or wide occupants). It then provides additional degrees of freedom in addition to the movement of the bracket 112 between the first position (FIG. 5) and the second position (FIG. 6).

[0036] With respect to FIGS. 7 to 12, the movement of the paddle 116 with respect to the bracket 112 during operation will be described in detail below. Starting with FIGS. 7, 7a, and 8, the paddle 116 rotates in response to the seater's body placement around the longitudinal axis 220 of the pin 216 in the first plane of rotation 264 associated with the bracket 112. It is possible. FIG. 7 illustrates a paddle 116 in a neutral stationary position. FIG. 8 illustrates a paddle 116 rotated to a first rotation position (shown by a solid line) and a second rotation position (shown by a broken line) in a first plane 264. The first plane of rotation 264 is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 220 and is shaded in FIG. 7a to show the plane of rotation corresponding to FIG. In the illustrated embodiment, the first rotation position (shown by the solid line) and the second rotation position (shown by the broken line) in FIG. 8 are separated from each other by about 36 degree rotation, that is, the first rotation position. The rotation position and the second rotation position are each approximately 18 degrees from the neutral position. In other structures, the first and second rotation positions may each extend up to 30 degrees from the neutral position. The rotation of the paddle 116 in the first plane of rotation 264 is limited by a lip member 276 extending around the periphery of the paddle 116, part of which abuts on the nose portion 280 of the bracket 112.

[0037] With reference to FIGS. 9, 9a, and 10, paddle 116 is seated on bracket 112 in a second plane of rotation 268 that is non-parallel and more orthogonal to the first plane of rotation 264. It is more rotatable in response to the placement of the person's body. FIG. 9 illustrates the paddle 116 in the neutral position of FIG. 7, and FIG. 10 shows the third rotation position (shown by the solid line) and the fourth rotation position (in the dashed line) in the second plane 268. The paddle 116 rotated to (shown) is illustrated. Further, the second plane of rotation 268 is shaded in FIG. 9a to show the plane of rotation corresponding to FIG. In the illustrated embodiment, the third rotation position (shown by the solid line) and the fourth rotation position (shown by the broken line) in FIG. 10 are separated by an angle of rotation of about 16 degrees of 288. In other structures, the third and fourth rotation positions may each range from the neutral position to 10 degrees. In yet another embodiment, the third and fourth rotation positions may each be in the range from the neutral position to 30 degrees.

[0038] Further, with reference to FIGS. 11, 11a, and 12, the paddle 116 is oriented in a third direction that is non-parallel and more orthogonal to the first plane of rotation 264 and the second plane of rotation 268. It is further rotatable in response to the seater's body placement with respect to the bracket 112 on the plane of rotation 272. FIG. 11 illustrates the paddle 116 in the neutral position of FIGS. 7 and 9. FIG. 12 illustrates a paddle 116 rotated to a fifth rotation position (shown by a solid line) and a sixth rotation position (shown by a broken line) in a third plane 272. The third plane of rotation 272 is shown shaded in FIG. 11 to show the plane of rotation corresponding to FIG. In the illustrated embodiment, the fifth rotation position (shown by the solid line) and the sixth rotation position (shown by the dashed line) in FIG. 12 are separated by an angle of rotation 292 of about 16 degrees. In other structures, the fifth and sixth rotation positions may each range from the neutral position to 10 degrees. In yet another embodiment, the fifth and sixth rotation positions may each be in the range from the neutral position to 30 degrees.

[0039] In other words, the paddle 116 is freely movable in any number of directions with respect to the bracket 112. Ball fittings 196, pins 216, and holes 224 allow the paddle 116 to move in multiple directions with respect to the bracket 112. Thus, the paddle 116 is movable with respect to the bracket 112 at the three orthogonal planes 264, 268, 272 representing the Cartesian frame of reference (ie, x, y, and z). Although the planes of rotation 264, 268, and 272 are described as being orthogonal to each other, the plane on which the paddle rotates can also be simply described as a non-parallel plane. During movement, as the paddle 116 moves relative to the bracket 112 according to the size and shape of the occupant, the movement of the paddle 116 is usually simultaneous in two or more of the three planes of rotation 264, 268, 272. It is a combination of rotations. Alternatively, the movement of the paddle 116 may be described as omnidirectionally rotatable / pivotable around the center point 284 of the ball joint 196 (FIGS. 7-12).

[0040] The bolster assembly 100 is tuned to best fit the particular size and shape of the occupant. FIG. 13 illustrates a top-down cross-section of the 95th percentage-ranked male (ie, large and tall) occupant, in contrast, FIG. 14 shows the fifth-ranked female (ie short). The top-down cross-sectional view of the occupant (thin) is illustrated. In FIGS. 13 and 14, the upper seat cushion is not shown for clarity and the seater is seated below the bolster assembly 100 with a first curve 300 representing the seater position in contact with the paddle 116. It is represented by a second curve 304, which represents the person's position. In FIGS. 13 and 14, the seated person is shown to be in direct contact with the bolster assembly 100, but this is only an explanatory display and the upper cushion is between the seated person and the bolster assembly. Please understand that it will be placed in. In FIG. 13, the bracket 112 is in the first retracted position and in FIG. 14, the bracket 112 is in the second extended position, both positions to bring the paddle 116 into contact with a particular occupant. It has been adjusted. The paddle 116 comfortably supports each occupant by rotating and pivoting as described above under the influence of the seater's movement and weight distribution.

[0041] In addition to the motion as described above, the paddle 116 is constructed of a flexible material so that the paddle 116 is elastically deformable. In other words, some part of the paddle 116, eg, the lip member 276, can be elastically deformed to move with respect to the rest of the paddle 116 without damaging the material. Paddle 116 may be made of nylon or another similar elastic material that is suitable for both high and low temperatures. Specifically, the paddle portion can bend at least 5 millimeters. For example, the lip member 276 can bend up to approximately 10 millimeters. In this way, the paddle 116 itself can flex under the influence of the occupant in addition to the rotation and / or pivot described above.

[0042] Various features and effects of the present disclosure are described in the following claims.