IP Library Granted Patent US 10,857,915
Granted Patent B2
US 10,857,915 · App. 16/505,702 · Granted Dec 8, 2020

Fixed structure seat

Inventors: Colin J. Stevens (San Jose, CA); Teh Feng Fang (San Jose, CA); Bruno M. Barthelemy (Los Gatos, CA)
Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
B60N2/2209B60N2/06B60N2/1615
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,857,915
App. No.
16/505,702
Granted
Dec 8, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle seat includes a moveable structure supported by a fixed frame. The moveable structure includes a bottom portion configured to slide forward and rearward relative to the fixed frame, a back portion connected to the bottom portion and configured to both pivot and slide relative to the fixed frame, and an upper portion that, in some embodiments, is configured to rotate relative to the back portion.

Claims (37)

1. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a back frame member;

a pair of side frame elements fixedly secured to the back frame member and supporting an intermediate frame;

an upper seat frame slidably connected to the intermediate frame;

a pair of sliding links fixedly secured to a pivot bar, the pivot bar slidably and pivotably connected to the back frame member;

a pair of adjustable back members pivotably connected to the upper seat frame, each of the pair of adjustable back members slidably engaged with one of the pair of sliding links; and

an upper back member pivotably connected to each of the pair of adjustable back members.

2. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate frame is vertically adjustable relative to the pair of side frame elements.

3. The vehicle seat of claim 2 , wherein each of the pair of side frame elements comprises a vertical guide track, and the intermediate frame comprises a pair of guide pins that slidably engage the vertical guide track.

4. The vehicle seat of claim 2 , wherein the pair of side frame elements support the intermediate frame via at least one vertical lift bar that is rotatably secured to the pair of side frame elements, the at least one vertical lift bar comprising at least one lift arm that slidably engages a slot in the intermediate frame.

5. The vehicle seat of claim 2 , further comprising a connecting member extending between the intermediate frame and the pivot bar, the connecting member configured to maintain a predetermined vertical distance between the intermediate frame and the pivot bar as the intermediate frame is vertically adjusted.

6. A slouching vehicle seat, comprising:

a fixed frame; and

a movable structure comprising:

a pair of adjustable back members slidably and pivotably connected to the fixed frame;

an intermediate frame supported by the fixed frame;

a lifting mechanism secured to the fixed frame and configured to selectively raise and lower the intermediate frame; and

an upper seat frame slidably connected to the intermediate frame, the upper seat frame pivotably connected to each of the pair of adjustable back members.

7. The slouching vehicle seat of claim 6 , further comprising an upper back member pivotably connected to each of the pair of adjustable back members.

8. The slouching vehicle seat of claim 7 , wherein the upper back member is configured to automatically rotate when the upper seat frame slides relative to the intermediate frame.

9. The slouching vehicle seat of claim 6 , wherein a connector is slidably attached to each of the pair of adjustable back members, the connector comprising two sliding links rotatably secured to a pivot bar.

10. The slouching vehicle seat of claim 9 , wherein the fixed frame comprises a back cross member, and wherein the pivot bar is pivotably and slidably contained within a vertical slot in the back cross member.

11. The slouching vehicle seat of claim 6 , further comprising a motor configured to automatically and selectively slide the upper seat frame relative to the intermediate frame.

12. The slouching vehicle seat of claim 6 , further comprising a cushion pan rotatably secured to the upper seat frame.

13. The slouching vehicle seat of claim 6 , further comprising an airbag module secured to the fixed frame.

14. The slouching vehicle seat of claim 6 , wherein the fixed frame is fixedly secured to a structural member of a vehicle.

15. The slouching vehicle seat of claim 6 , wherein the intermediate frame is fixedly secured to at least one first rail, the upper seat frame is fixedly secured to at least one second rail, and the at least one first rail slidably engages the at least one second rail.

16. The slouching vehicle seat of claim 6 , wherein one of the intermediate frame and the upper seat frame comprises a track, and another of the intermediate frame and the upper seat frame comprises at least one wheel or bearing that engages the track.

17. The slouching vehicle seat of claim 6 , wherein the pair of adjustable back members are in an upright position when the upper seat frame is in a first position, and further wherein the pair of adjustable back members are in a slouched position when the upper seat frame is in a second position forward of the first position.

18. An adjustable seat comprising:

an upper back member;

a pair of adjustable back members, each of the pair of adjustable back members connected to the upper back member;

an upper seat frame pivotably connected to each of the pair of adjustable back members; and

a fixed frame,

wherein the upper seat frame is slidably connected to the fixed frame via an intermediate frame and each of the pair of adjustable back members is slidably and pivotably connected to the fixed frame.

19. The adjustable seat of claim 18 , wherein the intermediate frame is adjustably secured to the fixed frame.

20. The adjustable seat of claim 18 , wherein sliding movement of the upper seat frame in a first direction causes the pair of adjustable back members to move into an upright position, and sliding movement of the upper seat frame in a second direction opposite the first direction causes the pair of adjustable back members to move into a slouched position.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2022
From: NIO USA, INC.
To: NIO TECHNOLOGY (ANHUI) CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 060171/0724 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2020
From: STEVENS, COLIN J.; FANG, TEH FENG; BARTHELEMY, BRUNO M.
To: NIO USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 051773/0598 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15788375 · Oct 19, 2017
Related Publication 20190329675A1 · Oct 31, 2019