Seating assembly with load floor

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat including a side bracket, a seatback, a displaceable bracket extending between the seatback and the side bracket, a pivotable seatback coupling between the displaceable bracket and the seatback, and a movement assembly operably coupling the displaceable bracket to the side bracket. The movement assembly is positionable between a design position and a fully deployed position to move the displaceable bracket between a first position and a second position, respectively, and to move the pivotable seatback coupling between a primary positon and a secondary position, respectively, wherein, when the pivotable seatback coupling is in a secondary position, the seatback is movable between a forward inclined position and a substantially flat position.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle seating assembly. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a vehicle seating assembly that is positionable in various configurations.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Vehicle seating assemblies may be arranged in various configurations to enable a vehicle seating assembly to serve various functions in a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle seating assembly includes a seat including a side bracket. The vehicle seating assembly also includes a seatback, a displaceable bracket extending between the seatback and the side bracket, a pivotable seatback coupling between the displaceable bracket and the seatback, and a movement assembly operably coupling the displaceable bracket to the side bracket. The movement assembly is positionable between a design position and a fully deployed position to move the displaceable bracket between a first position and a second position, respectively, and to move the pivotable seatback coupling between a primary position and a secondary position, respectively. When the pivotable seatback coupling is in a secondary position, then the seatback is movable between a forward inclined position and a substantially flat position.

Embodiments of the first aspect of the disclosure can include any one or a combination of the following features:the movement assembly includes a drive member and a guide member;the drive member includes a rack gear disposed along the side bracket and a pinion gear extending from the displaceable bracket and movable along the rack gear;the guide member includes a channel in the side bracket;the displaceable bracket includes a pin protruding from the displaceable bracket and extending into the channel;the channel includes a cutaway portion extending through the side bracket;the rack gear is disposed on an oblong member positionable against a slot in the side bracket;the oblong member includes one or more mounting areas for mounting the oblong member to the slot;the channel includes a curvature having three segments, wherein the first segment is angled upward, the second segment extends from the first segment and is linear, and a third segment extends from the second segment and is angled upward;the curvature of the channel defines a path of the pivotable seatback coupling between the primary position and the secondary position;a lock mechanism including a first portion disposed on the displaceable bracket and a second portion disposed on the side bracket, wherein the lock mechanism is in an engaged position when the displaceable bracket is in the first position; and/orthe first portion of the lock mechanism includes a latch and the second portion of the lock mechanism includes a striker.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle seating assembly includes a seat frame including a side bracket, a seatback, and a displaceable bracket. The displaceable bracket is operably coupled to the seatback with a pivotable seatback coupling and operably coupled to the side bracket with a movement assembly for adjusting the position of the displaceable bracket between a first position and a second position, thereby adjusting the pivotable seatback coupling between a primary position and the secondary position, such that when the pivotable seatback coupling is in the secondary position, the seatback is movable between a forward inclined position and a substantially flat position.

Embodiments of the second aspect of the disclosure can include any one or a combination of the following features:the movement assembly includes a gear assembly that moves the displaceable bracket along a slot in the side bracket;the movement assembly includes a channel disposed in the side bracket and a pin extending from the displaceable bracket and movable along the channel;the shape of the channel determines the path of the pivotable seatback coupling between the primary position and the secondary position;a lock mechanism disposed on the displaceable bracket and engageable with a striker disposed on the side bracket when the displaceable bracket is in the first position;a pivotable base coupling defined by a mounting bracket operably coupled to the side bracket, wherein the side bracket is rotatable around the pivotable base coupling to move the seating assembly between a sitting position and a standing position; and/orthe seating assembly in the standing position is slidable long a track assembly disposed in a vehicle floor.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a seating assembly includes a seat, a seatback, and a displaceable bracket disposed between the seat and the seatback and configured to displace a seatback pivot between a primary position and a secondary position. The displaceable bracket includes an elongated slot including a toothed portion for receiving a pinion gear extending from a displaceable bracket. The displaceable bracket also includes an arcuate channel for receiving a guide pin extending from the displaceable bracket for determining a path of the seatback pivot between the primary position and the secondary position. In the secondary position, the seatback is rotatable about the seatback pivot to position the seatback in a substantially flat position above the seat.

Embodiments of the third aspect of the disclosure can include any one or a combination of the following features:the toothed portion is disposed on an oblong member, the pinion gear extends from a motor, the pinion gear extends into the slot, and a fastener retains the pinion gear against the toothed portion of the oblong member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-23, a vehicle seating assembly10includes a seat14including a side bracket22, a seatback18, and a displaceable bracket26extending between the seatback18and the side bracket22. A pivotable seatback coupling30is disposed between the displaceable bracket26and the seatback18. A movement assembly38operably couples the displaceable bracket26to the side bracket22. The movement assembly38is positionable between a design position E and a fully deployed position F to move the displaceable bracket26between a first position A and a second position B and to move the pivotable seatback coupling30between a primary position I and a secondary position J. When the pivotable seatback coupling30is in the secondary position J, the seatback18is movable between a forward inclined position O and a substantially flat position P. The movement assembly38may include a gear assembly42and a motor46arranged to move a pinion gear50fixedly coupled to the displaceable bracket26along a rack gear54fixedly coupled to the side bracket22. Movement of the pinion gear50along the rack gear54may move a pin58fixedly coupled to the displaceable bracket26along a channel62in the side bracket22.

Referring toFIG. 1, a perspective view of the seating assembly10in a vehicle70is shown. The seating assembly is shown in a substantially upright position M and a rearward reclined position N. The vehicle70may include a door74and a floor78. The seating assembly10may include a seat14and a seatback18. The seat14may include a seat frame82. The seatback18may include a seatback frame34. The seat frame82may include a side bracket22. The side bracket22may be referred to as a B-bracket. A displaceable bracket26may extend between the seat frame82and the seatback frame34. A pivotable seatback coupling30may operably couple the displaceable bracket26to the seatback frame34. The seatback18may be rotatable about the pivotable seatback coupling30. The pivotable seatback coupling30may be referred to as a seatback pivot. A motor86may be disposed proximate the displaceable bracket26. The motor86may be actuated to change the positions of the displaceable bracket26and the pivotable seatback coupling30. A pivotable base coupling90may be disposed at a front portion10A of the seating assembly10. The pivotable base coupling90at the front portion10A of the seating assembly10may extend through the side bracket22and a mounting bracket94. The mounting bracket94may be attached to rails98disposed on a vehicle floor78. In one example, the rails98may be slidable within a track assembly100disposed in the vehicle floor78.

Referring toFIGS. 2A-2C, the seating assembly10is shown with the seatback18in various positions. InFIG. 2A, the seating assembly10includes the seatback18disposed in a substantially upright position M, the displaceable bracket26disposed in a first position A, and the pivotable seatback coupling30disposed in a primary position I. A lock mechanism102is shown in the engaged position S. InFIG. 2B, the seating assembly10includes the seatback18disposed in a forward inclined position O, the displaceable bracket26disposed in a second position B, and the pivotable seatback coupling30disposed in a secondary position J. The lock mechanism102is shown in the disengaged position T. The lock mechanism102may include a first portion disposed on the displaceable bracket26and a second portion disposed on the side bracket22. In the example shown, the first portion includes a latch106coupled to the displaceable bracket26, and the second portion includes a striker110coupled to the side bracket22. InFIG. 2C, the seating assembly10includes the seatback18disposed in a substantially flat position P, the displaceable bracket26disposed in a second position B, and the pivotable seatback coupling30disposed in a secondary position J. As such, a passenger may reconfigure the seating assembly10from a sitting position W (FIG. 2A) to a seatback pitching position X (FIG. 2B) to a substantially fold flat position Y (FIG. 2C). Additionally, a passenger may configure the seating assembly10in at least the standing position Z (FIGS. 21 and 23).

With continued reference toFIGS. 2A-2C, adaptability of a seating assembly10to meet different passenger needs may contribute to a pleasant travel experience. Passengers may wish to reconfigure vehicle seating assemblies10to create additional space for cargo in a vehicle70. By moving the pivotable seatback coupling30between the seatback18and the displaceable bracket26from a primary position I to a secondary position J, the seatback18may be positioned in a substantially flat position P over the seat14to create a substantially flat load floor118. In this way, a passenger may reconfigure a seating assembly10to provide cargo storage space122atop the substantially flat load floor118. A box126or other cargo may be stored on the seatback18in the substantially flat position P.

Passengers may also desire convenient vehicle70ingress and egress. A seating assembly10may be disposed adjacent to a vehicle door74. (FIGS. 1, 21) The seating assembly10may be conveniently movable from a sitting position W to a standing position Z to allow a passenger space to access an adjacent row of seating. (FIGS. 20-23) The seating assembly10in the standing position Z may also be slidable along the track assembly100disposed in the vehicle floor78to increase the available entry or egress space between the adjacent row of seating and the vehicle door74. (FIG. 21) As such, a reconfigurable seating assembly10may contribute to a pleasant travel experience by providing additional cargo storage space122on a substantially flat load floor118and adaptability for vehicle entry and egress.

With reference to the vehicle seating assembly10described below and shown in the attached figures, the vehicle seating assembly10may be described from the vantage point of a passenger sitting in the seating assembly10. The side of a seating assembly10disposed on a right side of a seated passenger may be referred to as a right side of the seating assembly10. The side of the seating assembly10disposed on the left side of a seated passenger may be referred to as the left side of the seating assembly10.

Referring now toFIGS. 3-7, the seating assembly10in the sitting position W is shown. InFIGS. 3-7, the displaceable bracket26is in the first position A, and the pivotable seatback coupling30is in the primary position I. The lock mechanism102is in the engaged position S. The movement assembly38may include a driving member140and a guide member144. The driving member140may include a gear assembly42that may move along a slot152in the side bracket22to move the displaceable bracket26between a first position A and a second position B. The driving member140may include a rack gear54disposed along the side bracket22and a pinion gear50extending from the displaceable bracket26and moveable along the rack gear54. The guide member144may include a channel62in the side bracket22. In the example shown, the channel62may include a cutaway portion148that may extend through the side bracket22. It is contemplated that, in other examples, the channel62may include other configurations such as a depression in the side bracket22. A pin58may protrude from the displaceable bracket26and may extend into the channel62. A curvature156of the channel62may be designed to have a particular shape. The curvature156of the channel62may define the path of the pivotable seatback coupling30between the primary position I and the secondary position J. The curvature156of the channel62may include three segments160,164,168. Segment160may be angled upward. Segment164may extend from segment160and may be substantially linear. Segment168may extend from the segment164, and segment168may be curved upward.

With continuing reference toFIGS. 3-7, the movement assembly38is shown in a design position E of the movement assembly38. The slot152may include an end172and an end176. In the design position E of the movement assembly38, the pinion gear50may be disposed at an end of the slot152. In the design position E of the movement assembly38, the pin58may be disposed at an end192of the channel62. As the pinion gear50rotates along the rack gear54, the displaceable bracket26moves between the first position A and the second position B in the direction shown by arrow184. As the pinion gear50rotates in the direction shown by arrow180, the pinion gear50may travel along the rack gear54in the side bracket22in the direction shown by arrow184(FIG. 7). In response to the travel of the pinion gear50along the rack gear54in the side bracket22, the pin58may move along the channel62in the side bracket22in the direction shown by arrow188. The channel62may have an end192and an end196. In the design position E of the movement assembly38, the pin58may be disposed in end192of the channel62.

With continued reference toFIGS. 3-7, it is to be understood that the movement assembly38is shown disposed on the left side of the seating assembly10. In various examples, the movement assembly38may be disposed on the right side of the seating assembly10. When the movement assembly38is disposed on the side bracket22on one side (e.g., the right side or the left side) of the seating assembly10, then a slot152and a channel62may be disposed on a side bracket22on the opposing side of the seating assembly10to allow the displaceable bracket26disposed on the opposing side of the seating assembly10to move between the first position A and the second position B in response to the actuation of the gear assembly42. In some examples, a movement assembly38may be disposed on the right side and the left side of the seating assembly10.

With continued reference toFIGS. 3-7, the lock mechanism102in the engaged position S is shown. The lock mechanism102may include a first portion disposed on the displaceable bracket26and a second portion disposed on the side bracket22. The lock mechanism102may be in an engaged position S when the displaceable bracket26is in the first position A. The first portion of the lock mechanism102may include a latch106. The second portion of the lock mechanism102may include a striker110. The latch106may be engaged with the striker110to secure the displaceable bracket26to the seat frame82when the displaceable bracket26is in the first position A.

Referring toFIGS. 8-11, views of the movement assembly38and the lock mechanism102are shown. The pinion gear50is shown in the design position E in the slot152. The pinion gear50may extend from a motor46or actuator that may be mounted to the displaceable bracket26. The pinion gear50may extend through the slot152in the side bracket22. An oblong member200may include a rack gear54. An oblong member200including a rack gear54may be disposed over the slot152in the side bracket22. The oblong member200may include a frame204and an aperture208. The pinion gear50may extend through the oblong member200so that the teeth212of the pinion gear50may mesh with the teeth212of the oblong member200to form a toothed interface216. A fastener220and a washer224may secure an end of the pinion gear50to the oblong member200, the side bracket22, and the displaceable bracket26. The oblong member200may include one or more flanges228. In the example shown, opposing flanges228are shown disposed on the oblong member200. A portion of the oblong member200may be disposed in the slot152of the side bracket22. The oblong member200and the slot152may form an interference fit. The fastener220attached to the pinon gear50may secure the oblong member200to the side bracket22. As such, it is contemplated that various gear assemblies could be disposed in the slot152of the side bracket22. For example, gear assemblies, including a rack gear54and a pinion gear50, of different tooth sizes may be conveniently attached to the side bracket22and the displaceable bracket26using an oblong member200or other design and a pinion gear50extending from a motor attached to a displaceable bracket26or other design. Thus, design of the movement assembly38, including the driving member140, (for example, gear assembly42disposed in the slot152) and the guide member144(for example, channel62and pin58) may be customized. The design of the movement assembly38may dictate the path of the pivotable seatback coupling30between the primary position I and the secondary position J.

With continued reference toFIGS. 8-11, the lock mechanism102is shown. The lock mechanism102may include the latch106and the striker110. The latch106may be mounted to the displaceable bracket26. The striker110may be mounted to the side bracket22. The striker110may extend between a pair of supports232that may be disposed on opposing sides of the side bracket22. Each support232of the pair of supports232may have a stepped shape that may extend away from the side bracket22.

Referring toFIGS. 12-16, the seating assembly10is shown in the seatback pitching position X. In the seatback pitching position X, the movement assembly38is in the fully deployed position F. The pivotable seatback coupling30is shown in the secondary position J. The displaceable bracket26is shown in the second position B. The seatback frame34is shown in a forward inclined position O. The lock mechanism102is shown in a disengaged position T. With reference toFIG. 16, the pinion gear50is shown at the end of the aperture208in the oblong member200when the movement assembly38is in the fully deployed position F. The pin58is shown at the end of the channel62when the movement assembly38is in the fully deployed position F. As such, the movement assembly38may allow a passenger to actuate a motor46to adjust the position of the pivotable seatback coupling30so that the seatback18may be disposed over the seat14to create a substantially flat load floor118.

Referring now toFIGS. 17-19, the seating assembly10is shown with the seatback frame34in the substantially fold flat position Y. The seatback18has been rotated about the pivotable seatback coupling30from the forward inclined position O to the substantially flat position P. In the substantially flat position P, the seatback18may include a substantially flat load floor118disposed on the seatback18. As shown inFIG. 2C, the substantially flat load floor118may provide a cargo storage space122for large items such as box126.

Referring now toFIGS. 20-23, the seating assembly10is shown in the sitting position W and the standing position Z. Referring toFIG. 20, the seating assembly10is shown in the sitting position W and disposed on the track assembly100. Each of the side brackets22may include a pivotable base coupling90for rotatably coupling each of the side brackets22to mounting brackets94fixedly coupled to the rails98. The latches240may secure the seating assembly10to a striker244coupled to the rails98. As such, it is contemplated that the latches240may be released to rotate the seating assembly10from a sitting position W (FIG. 20) to a standing position Z (FIG. 21) about the pivotable base coupling90and in the direction shown by arrow250. Arrow250shows the rotation of the seating assembly10around the pivotable base coupling90as the seating assembly10moves from the sitting position W to the standing position Z. Arrow258shows the direction of travel of the seating assembly10along the track assembly100as the seating assembly10moves fore and aft within the vehicle70to create a larger space for passenger ingress and egress into a space behind the seating assembly10. As such, the seating assembly10may be moved from the sitting position W to the standing position Z to allow convenient passenger or cargo ingress and egress into a space behind the seating assembly10.

With continued reference toFIG. 21, the pivotable seatback coupling30may move in the direction shown by arrow254as the seating assembly10moves from the sitting position W to the standing position Z. The latches240may tuck under the side bracket22of the seating assembly10as the seating assembly10moves from the sitting position W to the standing position Z.

Referring now toFIG. 22, the seating assembly10is shown in the sitting position W. Referring now toFIG. 23, the seating assembly10is shown in the standing position Z.

A variety of advantages may be obtained by use of the present disclosure. A passenger may reconfigure the seating assembly10to meet various passenger needs. The pivotable seatback coupling30in a primary position I may allow a passenger to recline the seatback18from a substantially upright position M to a rearward reclined position N for sleeping or resting. The vehicle seating assembly10with the pivotable seatback coupling30in a secondary position J may allow the seatback18to rotate between a forward inclined position O to a substantially flat position P to create a substantially flat load floor118for storing cargo. The seating assembly10may be moved between a sitting position W and a standing position Z to allow passenger egress and ingress to and from a space behind the vehicle seating assembly10.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described concepts, and other components, is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the concepts disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.