Seat assembly with cushion tilt

Abstract

A seat assembly comprises a seat back pivotably connected to a seat base, a tilt pan pivotably connected to the seat base, pivotable over a travel range between a lower position and a raised position, and a biasing device positioned between the tilt pan and the seat base, wherein the biasing device applies a biasing force to the tilt pan, biasing the tilt pan toward the raised position.

1 . A seat assembly comprising, in combination:
 a seat back pivotably connected to a seat base;   a tilt pan pivotably connected to the seat base, pivotable over a travel range between a lower position and a raised position; and   a biasing device positioned between the tilt pan and the seat base, wherein the biasing device applies a biasing force to the tilt pan, biasing the tilt pan toward the raised position.   
   
   
       2 . The seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the biasing device comprises an air bag positioned between the tilt pan and the seat base, wherein the air bag is inflatable, and inflation of the air bag biases the tilt pan from the lower position to the raised position. 
   
   
       3 . The seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the tilt pan is positioned between the seat back and the seat base. 
   
   
       4 . The seat assembly of  claim 1  further comprising foam and fabric positioned on the seat assembly, covering the seat back, seat base and tilt pan, and inflation of the air bag adjusts a position of the foam and fabric. 
   
   
       5 . The seat assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a seat suspension affixed to the seat base. 
   
   
       6 . The seat assembly of  claim 5  wherein the seat suspension comprises a plurality of linkages which move the seat back and seat base together. 
   
   
       7 . The seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the seat back is pivotable with respect to the seat base about a first pivot axis, and the tilt pan is pivotable with respect to the seat base about a second pivot axis. 
   
   
       8 . The seat assembly of  claim 7  wherein the first pivot axis is separate from the second pivot axis. 
   
   
       9 . The seat assembly of  claim 7  wherein the seat base has a front and a back, and the second pivot axis is positioned closer to the back than the front. 
   
   
       10 . The seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the seat base has a front and a back, the tilt pan has a downwardly extending flange which extends in front of the front of the seat base. 
   
   
       11 . The seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the tilt pan is infinitely adjustable over the travel range. 
   
   
       12 . The seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the biasing device comprises an air spring.