Seat cushion extension mechanism

A vehicle seat including a seat base. An extension member is operably connected to the seat base. A seat cover partially extends over the extension member and seat base and partially stored on a roller below the seat pan. A bladder is disposed between the seat base and the extension member. Inflation of the bladder forces the extension member forward relative to the seat base and unroll a portion of the seat cover.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a seat cushion mechanism, and more particularly relates to a seat cushion extension that extends forward by way of a bladder.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is often desirable to provide a vehicle seat that is movable to a variety of positions to accommodate passengers of varying sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention includes a vehicle seat including a seat base. An extension member is operably connected to the seat base. A seat cover partially extends over the extension member and seat base and is partially stored on a roller below the seat pan. A bladder is disposed between the seat base and the extension member. Inflation of the bladder forces the extension member forward relative to the seat base and unrolls a portion of the seat cover.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a vehicle seat extension mechanism including an extension member operably connected to a seat base. A seat cover is fixedly connected to a portion of the seat base and slidable over the extension member. An inflatable bladder is disposed between the seat base and the extension member. Inflation of the bladder forces the extension member to move forward relative to the seat base and slide forward under the seat cover.

Yet another aspect of the present invention includes a method for making a method for extending a vehicle seat including operably connecting an extension member with a seat base. A seat cover is fixedly connected to the seat base. The extension member is slidably engaged below the seat cover. An inflatable bladder is positioned between the seat base and the extension member. The bladder is inflated to force the extension member to move forward relative to the seat base and slide forward under the seat cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1-3A, the reference numeral10generally designates a vehicle seat including a seat base12. An extension member14is operably connected to the seat base12. A seat cover16partially extends over the extension member14and the seat base12and is partially stored on a roller18below a seat pan20. A bladder22is disposed between the seat base12and the extension member14. Inflation of the bladder22forces the extension member14forward relative to the seat base12and unrolls a portion24of the seat cover16.

Referring again toFIG. 1, the vehicle seat10includes a back30that is pivotal relative to the seat base12. The seat base12includes side supports32, as well as at least one base support cushion34. The illustrated seat base12includes three base support cushions34. The entire vehicle seat10may be located in the driver's side, passenger side, or rear passenger positions of a vehicle. The extension member14is operable between an extended position35(FIG. 7) and a retracted position37(FIG. 3) to change the effective length of the vehicle seat10.

Referring now toFIGS. 2,3, and3A, the seat cover16extends over a cushion36disposed between the seat base12and the seat cover16. Unlike some prior art designs, the seat cover16does not include expansion seams that allow movement of a forward end of the vehicle seat10relative to a rearward end. Rather, the vehicle seat10includes an unrollable seat cover, as explained herein in further detail.

Referring again toFIGS. 2,3, and3A, a portion of the seat cover16wraps around the roller18positioned below the seat pan20. The seat pan20has first and second downwardly extending flanges40,42(FIG. 5). The roller18is connected to the first and second flanges40,42that include an aperture44for receiving a spring-biased pin46that extends through the roller18. The extension member14is slidably connected with the seat base12between the extended position35(FIG. 7) and the retracted position37(FIG. 3). To facilitate translation of the cushion36when the extension member14is in the extended position35, a first layer of low friction material48is disposed between the seat cover16and the cushion36. In addition, a second layer of low friction material50is positioned between the cushion36and a trim interior52. The trim interior52is disposed adjacent to the extension member14, as shown inFIG. 3A.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 4,4A, and5, the bladder22is positioned between a front wall60(FIG. 3) of the seat base12and a front wall62(FIG. 3) of the extension member14. The bladder22comprises a plurality of baffles64that define a plurality of cavities66in the inflatable bladder22. The inflatable bladder22is connected with an air hose line68that is in turn connected with a pump70disposed below the vehicle seat10. First and second spring cylinders72,74are positioned on either side of the bladder22and provide a spring bias that urges the extension member14rearward to the retracted position37relative to the seat base12. Accordingly, when the inflatable bladder22is empty, the extension member14is in the retracted position37as a result of the force applied by the spring-bias of the spring cylinders72,74(FIG. 4).

Referring now toFIG. 5, the seat pan20is fixedly connected to the seat base12and provides support to the underside of a user's legs. The first and second spring cylinders72,74are disposed below the seat base12on either side of the bladder22. The bladder22includes first and second brackets80,82(FIG. 4A) that secure the bladder22to the front wall60of the seat base12and the front wall62of the extension member14, respectively. Trim pieces84are disposed on either side of the extension member14so that the bladder22is not exposed when in use.

Referring now toFIGS. 6 and 7, when the pump70is activated, air is forced into the hose line68that is connected with the bladder22. The bladder22fills with air, which consequently pushes the extension member14to the extended position35. As the bladder22continues to fill with air, the extension member14is guided to the extended position35on guides90disposed on either side of the bladder22. At the same time, while the bladder22inflates with air and expands, thus pushing the extension member14forward to the extended position35, the cushion36rotates upwardly over the extension member14sliding against the low friction materials48,50that exist between the seat cover16and the cushion36, as well as between the trim interior52and the cushion36.

Referring now toFIGS. 8 and 8A, as the bladder22fills with air, the baffles64and air cavities66fill up, thus expanding the bladder22as a whole. As the bladder22expands, the bladder22applies force to both the extension member14and the seat base12, which causes the extension member14to move forward toward the extended position35. As the bladder22expands, the spring cylinders72,74are compressed.

Referring now toFIGS. 9 and 10, the bladder22may have a construction as explained above. However, in another embodiment shown inFIG. 10, a bladder90includes a construction, wherein the plurality of air cavities94are formed between baffles92. The baffles92are formed at a valley portion of the bladder90, and the cavities94extend between the baffles92. The construction forms a zigzag-type shape as the bladder90expands, with each cavity94having a V-shaped cross-section.