Folding automotive seat
A configurable seat system with a collapsible seat cushion frame is described. The seat system can incorporate a kinematic structure at the seat cushion frame, such that the kinematic structure can be adjusted to cause the seat cushion to have a variable thickness/height. The adjustable seat enables convenient egress/ingress of a region of a passenger compartment and also convenient extension of a cargo bay area. One or more motors can be utilized to adjust respective position of respective components included in the seat system. Operation of the motors can be enabled in response to selection of a button, e.g., flat fold configuration, entry/exit configuration, and such. Hence, an occupant of the vehicle only has to press a button to adjust the seat position with the one or more motors in conjunction with respective linkages/seat structure regardless of the mass of the seat system.
1 . An adjustable seat onboard a vehicle, comprising:
a first set of components arranged in a first plane located in a seat frame;
a second set of components arranged in a second plane located in the seat frame, wherein the second plane is parallel, or substantially parallel, to the first plane, and the second plane is separated from the first plane by a first separation distance;
a tilt beam connecting the first set of components to the second set of components; and
a tilt motor connected to the tilt beam, wherein operation of the tilt motor causes the tilt beam to change position in a first direction, wherein the change in position in the first direction of the tilt beam results in the second plane being separated from the first plane by a second separation distance that is less than the first separation distance, wherein the operation of the tilt motor to change the position in the first direction of the tilt beam is initiated in response to selection of a button located onboard the vehicle, and wherein re-selection of the button causes the tilt motor to reverse direction, returning the first set of components located to an initial position relative to a position of the second set of components located prior to the change in position in the first direction of the tilt beam.
2 . The adjustable seat of claim 1 , further comprising:
a positioning rod having a grooved surface, wherein the positioning rod is included in the first set of components;
a positioning gear configured to mesh with the grooved surface;
a movable slider configured to house the positioning gear; and
a drive shaft connecting the tilt motor to the positioning gear.
3 . The adjustable seat of claim 2 , wherein:
a first end of the tilt beam connects with the first set of components, connection is via a first joint; and
a second end of the tilt beam connects with the second set of components, connection is via a second joint.
4 . The adjustable seat of claim 3 , wherein movement of the tilt beam in the first direction along the positioning rod causes a reduction in a separation distance between the first plane and the second plane, and movement of the tilt beam in a second direction along the positioning rod causes an increase in the separation distance between the first plane and the second plane.
5 . The adjustable seat of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of front linkages connecting the first set of components to the second set of components, and a pair of rear linkages connecting the first set of components to the second set of components, wherein the pair of front linkages and pair of rear linkages constrain movement of the first plane relative to the second plane in x and y axes.
6 . The adjustable seat of claim 5 , wherein the tilt beam is located between a first front linkage in the pair of front linkages and a first rear linkage in the pair of rear linkages.
7 . The adjustable seat of claim 1 , wherein:
the first set of components comprise a front beam, a rear beam, a pair of positioning rods; and
the second set of components comprise a first frame bar, a second frame bar, and a pair of cushion subframes.
8 . The adjustable seat of claim 1 , wherein the seat frame is connected to a reclinable back rest.
9 . The adjustable seat of claim 8 , wherein the adjustable seat is attached to a floor of the vehicle, and with the adjustable seat having the second separation distance, the reclinable back rest is reclined to a position such that the reclinable back rest is substantially parallel to the floor.
10 . A method, comprising:
operating a tilt motor to move a geared slider in a first direction along a grooved rod, wherein the geared slider is connected to a first end of a tilt beam, and second end of the tilt beam is connected to a subframe, wherein the grooved rod is included in a first set of components located in a seat structure defined by a first basal plane, and the subframe is included in a second set of components located in the seat structure defined by a second basal plane, wherein the first basal plane and the second basal plane are parallel, or substantially parallel, wherein motion of the geared slider in the first direction along the grooved rod causes a separation distance between the first basal plane and the second basal plane to decrease, wherein the seat structure is located onboard a vehicle, wherein the operation of the tilt motor to move the geared slider in the first direction is initiated in response to selection of a button located onboard the vehicle, and wherein re-selection of the button causes the tilt motor to reverse direction, returning the first set of components located to an initial position relative to a position of the second set of components located in the seat structure prior to the movement of the geared slider in the first direction.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the geared slider, the first set of components, and the second set of components form a kinematic lattice, wherein motion of the kinematic lattice is confined to lateral and vertical directions.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein a back rest is attached to the kinematic lattice, with the geared slider moving in the first direction, the back rest is tilted by a recline motor, such that the back rest is rotated to a flat fold position.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the back rest includes a back surface, and when the back rest is in the flat fold position, the back surface is aligned with a surface of a cargo back located onboard the vehicle.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein a head rest is attached to the back rest, and when the back rest is in the flat fold position, the head rest is aligned vertically with respect to a horizontal alignment of the back rest.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein causing the tilt motor to reverse direction, causes the recline motor to rotate the back rest to an unfolded position.
16 . A seat system onboard a vehicle, comprising:
a seat cushion frame comprising:
a kinematic structure, wherein the kinematic structure is located between and connects a seat base to a seat back, the seat cushion frame comprises a first set of components forming a lower basal plane and a second set of components forming an upper basal plane, wherein the lower basal plane and the upper basal plane are parallel, or substantially parallel;
a first tilt beam configured to connect the lower basal plane with the upper basal plane; and
a tilt motor configured to adjust position of the first tilt beam from a first position to a second position, wherein the first position of the first tilt beam creates a first separation distance between the upper basal plane and the lower basal plane, and the second position of the first tilt beam creates a second separation distance between the upper basal plane and the lower basal plane, wherein the first separation distance is greater than the second separation distance, wherein operation of the tilt motor to adjust the first tilt beam from the first position to the second position is initiated in response to selection of a button located onboard the vehicle, and wherein re-selection of the button causes the tilt motor to reverse direction, returning the first tilt beam from the second position to the first position and returning the upper basal plane and the lower basal plane to the first separation distance.
17 . The seat system of claim 16 , further comprising:
a second tilt beam paired with the first tilt beam, wherein the second tilt beam is configured to connect the lower basal plane with the upper basal plane and operate in parallel with the first tilt beam; and
the tilt motor is configured to adjust position of the second tilt beam from a third position to a fourth position, wherein the third position of the second tilt beam is aligned parallel to an alignment of the first tilt beam when in the first position, and the fourth position of the second tilt beam is aligned parallel to an alignment of the first tilt beam when in the second position.
18 . The seat system of claim 16 , wherein the seat back is foldable.
19 . The seat system of claim 16 , wherein in response to the first position of the first tilt beam creating the first separation distance between the upper basal plane and the lower basal plane causes the seat back to fold to a position such that the seat back is substantially parallel to a floor of the vehicle.
20 . The seat system of claim 19 , wherein in response to the second position of the first tilt beam creating the second separation distance between the upper basal plane and the lower basal plane causes the seat back to unfold to an initial position prior to the seat back being substantially parallel to the floor of the vehicle.