Adjustable seat cushion assembly

An adjustable seat cushion assembly is disclosed which exhibits a first seat element and a second seat element moveable relative to the first seat element. A cover piece straddles a variable gap between cushion parts of the first and second seat elements. The adjustable seat cushion assembly is configured to draw the cover piece into the gap when the seat cushion assembly is moved from an extended position into a retracted position. A hem is formed with the cover piece in an area between the two cushion parts, and is joined with the second seat element. A link rod extends in the seat width direction of the cover piece and engages into slots at opposite ends.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102013019823.2 filed Nov. 23, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an adjustable seat cushion assembly, in particular for use in a motor vehicle seat.

BACKGROUND

Multiple adjustment options on a vehicle seat are known for enhancing the comfort of vehicle seats. One adjustment option here involves adjusting the seat depth with a seat depth adjusting device, which makes it possible to adjust the seat depth to the size of the person using the seat.

Adjustable seat cushion assemblies are here used that exhibit a first seat element and a second seat element that can be moved relative to the first seat element, with a cushion part being allocated to the respective seat element. The seat cushion assembly further exhibits a cover piece of a cushion cover that straddles a variable gap between the cushion parts. Finally, the seat cushion assembly can draw the cover piece into the gap. This takes place while switching the seat cushion assembly from an extended position of the cushion parts into a retracted position of the cushion parts. As a result, the gap between the two cushion seat elements that arises during adjustment into the extended position can be covered by the cover piece. If the second seat element has been completely retracted, i.e., the cushion parts are in their collapsed position, the cover piece has been drawn into the gap.

An adjustable seat cushion assembly designed in such a way is disclosed in DE 10 2010 007 829 A1. The retraction device of the latter has an elastic design, and includes an elastic band. The retraction device draws the cover piece along the gap and into it in the direction of a floor area of the gap.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present disclosure an adjustable seat cushion assembly is provided that exhibits two seat elements movable relative to each other and a cover piece of a cushion cover that spans a variable gap between the cushion parts of the seat elements in such a way as to ensure that the gap is precisely covered by the cover piece given a structurally simple design. In the adjustable seat cushion assembly, a pulling mechanism includes a traction link coupled with cover piece in an area between the two cushion parts, and also with the second seat element, i.e., the seat element that can move relative to the first seat element. In the area of its end facing the cover piece, this pulling mechanism exhibits a link rod that extends in the seat width direction of the cover piece and engages into slots in the area of its opposite ends.

Therefore, the seat cushion assembly according to the present disclosure ensures a forced guidance of the pulling mechanism, and hence the cover piece, so that the cover piece folds together in a defined manner as the cushion parts are retracted. Thus, the cover piece is drawn into the gap, and the defined folded state arises for each intermediate position of the seat cushion assembly between the extended cushion elements and the retracted cushion parts. This applies correspondingly to the movement of cushion parts out of their retracted position into their extended position, thus giving an enlargement of the gap and the resultant controlled release of the cover piece based on the link motion.

The traction link is preferably designed as a hem and includes of two cover piece parts of the cover piece. The hem is formed by the one cover piece part allocated to the one cushion part, and the other cover piece part allocated to the other cushion part, which are sewn together. Excess segments of the two cover piece parts, regardless of what position the cushion parts assume in relation to each other, protrude into the area of the gap between the cushion parts. An actuator preferably engages the downwardly directed free end of the hem, and is rigidly secured to the second seat element. As a consequence, while adjusting the second seat element, and hence the cushion part allocated thereto, the actuator is concurrently moved accordingly, and the actuator acts on the hem or traction link, so that the cover piece is drawn into the gap to more or less of an extent depending on the position of the pulling mechanism. When the cushion parts are in the extended position, the cover piece directly bridges the gap between the cushion parts.

The respective slots preferably exhibits a first section arranged adjacent to a seat surface of the seat cushion assembly, and a second section adjoining the latter and inclined relative to the seat surface. The slot sections prescribes the travel path of the cover piece when drawing the cover piece into the gap. If the link rod is located in the area of the first slot section, the cushion parts are extended. When the cover piece is drawn into the gap, the link rod in the respective slots moves from the area of the first slot section into the adjacent second slot section adjoining the latter and inclined relative to the seat surface. The inclination prescribes the extent to which the cover piece is drawn into the gap. The steeper the slot is inclined, the greater the drawing-in movement of the cover piece in relation to the traveling movement of the cushion parts toward each other. It makes sense especially for the second slot section to be adjoined by a third slot section, which is arranged parallel to the seat surface. As the third slot section runs through, the cover piece drawn into the gap is slightly tightened a bit more. If such a third slot section is provided, then once the link rod has reached the end area of the third slot section, the two cushion parts abut against each other, i.e., are in their retracted position.

In particular, the slot sections are designed in such a way that the pulling mechanism supports the cover piece in the respective position of the second seat element while retracting and/or extending the cushion parts. It is regarded as especially advantageous from a structural standpoint for spacers exhibiting the slots to be situated on both sides of the seat cushion assembly. This permits a simpler configuration of the link motion, and hence an interaction between the link rod and slots.

In an another embodiment, it is possible to provide only one traction link, in particular an elastic traction mechanism, which is stationary in the area of one end, and joined with the cover piece in an area between the two cushion parts in the area of the end facing away from this end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A vehicle seat1, in particular for a seat of a passenger car, exhibits a frame structure2and a seat cushion3accommodated by the frame structure2. Hinged to the frame structure2in the area of its rear end in relation to the forward traveling direction of the motor vehicle is another frame structure (not shown) allocated to a backrest (also not shown) of the vehicle seat1.

The vehicle seat1exhibits an adjustable seat cushion assembly in the area of the seat cushion3. The latter exhibits a first seat element4, which is immovable relative to the frame structure2, and a second seat element5, which can be moved relative to the frame structure2and first seat element4. The seat element4exhibits a cushion part6, and the seat element5exhibits a cushion part7. The seat cushion assembly further exhibits a cover piece8of a cushion cover9. The cushion cover9covers the cushion parts6and7in the area of the seat cushion3facing the vehicle passengers. The cover piece8of the cushion cover9spans a variable gap10between the cushion parts6and7. A pulling mechanism11which serves to draw the cover piece8into the gap10when the seat cushion assembly is moved from an extended position of the cushion parts6,7(FIG. 1) through an intermediate position of the cushion parts6,7(FIG. 2) and into a collapsed position of the cushion parts6,7(FIG. 3).

In an area between the two cushion parts6and7, the cover piece8is provided with a traction link12, which is formed as a hem of two portions13,14of the cover piece8. In the area of its end facing the cover piece8, the traction link12exhibits a link rod15extending in the seat width direction of the cover piece8. In the area of its opposite ends, the link rod15engages into a slot16formed in seat cushion spacers17which are arranged on each sides of the seat cushion assembly.

In the area of the end facing away from the cover piece8, the traction link12, i.e., the hem, is coupled to an actuator18which is rigidly secured with the seat element5. When the seat element5is moved relative to the seat element4, the actuator18thus moves accordingly, and acts on the traction link12.

The seat surface of the vehicle seat1is thus formed by the surface of the cushion cover9. The slot16exhibits a first section19situated adjacent to the seat surface of the seat, and hence the seat cushion assembly, a second section20adjoining the first slot section and inclined relative to the seat surface, and a third section21adjoining the second slot section and parallel to the seat surface. As a consequence, the traction link12engages the cushion cover9in the area of the cover piece8and the actuator18and is guided adjacent to where the traction link12is joined with the cushion cover9into the wings16via the link rod15. When the two cushion parts6,7of the cover piece8are extended or retracted, the cover piece8is forced to move as a function of the displacement of the link rod15in the slot16.

This is illustrated onFIGS. 1 to 3.FIG. 1shows that the cover piece8is tightened with the cushion parts6and7in an extended position, and thereby joins the two cushion parts6and7as a flat surface in the area of their cushion cover9. In this extended position of the cushion parts6and7, the link rod15is located in the end area of the wings16that faces the seat surface of the vehicle seat1. When retracting the cushion parts6and7, i.e., moving the seat element5toward the seat element4, the free end of the actuator18is also displaced in the direction of the seat element4, and acts on the traction link12or hem. The link rod15is moved along the slot16downwardly at an inclination, so that the cover piece8is to some extent drawn into the gap10formed between the cushion parts6and7. With the continued retraction of the cushion parts6and7, the actuator18is displaced further, and thereby draws the cover piece5further into the gap by way of the traction link12, until the end state illustrated onFIG. 3, wherein the retracted cushion parts6and7has been reached. In this end state, the link rod15is either still located in the second slot section20inclined relative to the seat surface, or has been moved into the third slot section21. The cover piece8shown here has been collapsed and drawn completely into the gap10. This movement of the actuator18and traction link12into the end position in the retracted position of the cushion parts6and7is possible because a cushion foam22of the seat element5has been provided with a clearance23, so that space is there available for the actuator18and traction link12.

When the cushion parts6and7are extended out of the retracted position of the cushion parts6,7, the actuator18is displaced in the opposite direction, and the cushion part7draws the cover piece8out of the gap10, during the subsequent movement by the traction link12and link rod15into the slot16. The geometric conditions are selected so as to adjust the link motion, and hence the movement of the link rod15, to the required movement of the cover piece8, so as to hold the latter slightly tensioned between the cushion parts6,7.

Since the movement of the cover piece8is controlled by the movement of the seat element5, this can be done manually. As a consequence, it does not require an electric drive. This enables a very cost-effective configuration. The cushion cover8can be held tightly between the cushion parts6and7for all latched positions of the seat element5. The link motion ensures that the cover piece8is under a tension when moved and folded together. When retracting the seat depth adjuster, the cover piece8is drawn into the gap10in a defined manner, and the cover piece8is folded in the clearance between the cushion foam22and seat shell.

The right side of a side cushion of the vehicle seat1is illustrated with reference number24. The vehicle seat1exhibits a corresponding side cushion on the left side which is not shown. While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment is only an example, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.