Using resting load to augment active material actuator demand in power seats

Abstract

A power adjusted seat assembly includes a seat, and is adapted for use when a resting load is present within the seat. The assembly further includes at least one reconfigurable seat structure shiftable between first and second permanent dimensions, orientations, positions, or conditions. An active material actuator is drivenly coupled to the structure. A mechanical transmission is drivenly coupled to the structure, so as to act in concert with the actuator, and is configured to receive and modify at least a portion of the load. The actuator and transmission are cooperatively configured to cause the structure to shift between the first and second permanent dimensions, orientations, positions, or conditions, when the resting load is present and the actuator is activated.

1 . A power adjusted seat assembly including a seat for use when a resting load is present within the seat, the seat assembly comprising:
 a seat base structure extendable and retractable between a first seat base length and a second seat base length, wherein:
 the seat base structure includes a rigid horizontal member rotatably connected to a seat base frame at a pivot axis at a first end of the horizontal member and the horizontal member having a pivot connection to a flexible member at a second end of the horizontal member opposite the first end; 
 the flexible member is pivotally connected to the seat base frame at a base end of the flexible member opposite the pivot connection to the horizontal member; 
 the flexible member has a first shape in a first configuration that defines the first seat base length; 
 the flexible member has a second shape in a second configuration that defines the second seat base length; and 
 an actuator drivenly coupled to the horizontal member, wherein:
 the horizontal member is drivenly coupled to the seat base frame to selectably rotate about the pivot axis in response to at least a portion of the resting load acting upon the horizontal member; and 
 the actuator and the horizontal member are cooperatively configured to cause the flexible member to shift between the first configuration and the second configuration by shifting between the corresponding first shape and the second shape to shift between the first seat base length and the second seat base length when the resting load is present and the actuator is activated. 
 
   
     
     
         2 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The power adjusted seat assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lever pivotally connected to the base frame at a pivot axis defined laterally by the seat base structure; and   a seat upright structure rotatable between a first upright angle of inclination and a second upright angle of inclination, wherein:
 the lever has a first lever arm connected to the seat base structure and a second lever arm connected to the seat upright structure; 
 a rotation of the first lever arm downward corresponds with an upward rotation of the second lever arm to rotate the seat upright structure to the second upright angle of inclination; 
 the actuator is drivenly coupled to the lever; 
 the lever is drivenly coupled to the seat base structure to selectably rotate about the pivot axis in response to at least a portion of the resting load acting upon the first lever arm; 
 the actuator and the lever are cooperatively configured to cause the seat upright structure to rotate between the first upright angle of inclination and the second upright angle of inclination when the resting load is present and the actuator is activated; and 
 the shift between the first seat base length and the second seat base length is simultaneous with the rotation of the seat upright structure. 
   
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A power adjusted seat assembly for use when a resting load is present within the seat, the seat assembly comprising:
 a seat base;   a seat upright structure pivotally connected to the seat base at a pivot axis defined laterally by the seat base, the seat upright structure defining a back of the seat assembly having a lumbar area   a lumbar support defined in the seat upright structure in a plane parallel to the pivot axis, wherein the lumbar support is bi-stable having a bowed-inward state to present a more rigid surface to the lumbar area to support an occupant at a first depth into the seat upright structure, and a bowed-rearward state to present a less rigid surface to the lumbar area to support the occupant at a second depth into the seat upright structure deeper than the first depth; and   an actuator drivenly coupled to the lumbar support, wherein:
 the lumbar support is to receive at least a portion of the resting load to bias the lumbar support toward the bowed-rearward state; 
 the actuator and the lumbar support are cooperatively configured to cause the lumbar support to snap from the bowed-inward state to the bowed-rearward state when the resting load is present and the actuator is activated; and 
 the lumbar support snaps to the bowed-inward state or remains in the bowed-inward state when the actuator is deactivated. 
   
     
     
         8 . A power adjusted seat assembly including a seat for use when a resting load is present within the seat, the seat assembly comprising:
 a seat base;   a lateral bolster pivotally connected to the seat base at a pivot axis defined longitudinally by the seat base, the lateral bolster defining a lateral side of the seat assembly;   an angle of inclination defined between the seat base and the lateral bolster, wherein:
 the lateral bolster is rotatable between a first value of the angle of inclination and a second value of the angle of inclination; 
 the seat base includes a base frame and a lever pivotally connected to the base frame at the pivot axis; 
 the lever defines a first arm and a second arm; and 
 a rotation of the first arm downward corresponds with an upward rotation of the second arm to rotate the lateral bolster to the second value of the angle of inclination; and 
   an actuator drivenly coupled to the lever, wherein:
 the lever is selectably rotatable about the pivot axis in response to at least a portion of the resting load acting upon the first arm; and 
 the actuator and the lever are cooperatively configured to cause the lateral bolster to rotate between the first value of the angle of inclination and the second value of the angle of inclination when the resting load is present and the actuator is activated. 
   
     
     
         9 . The power adjusted seat assembly as defined in  claim 8 , further comprising a folding mechanism, wherein:
 the folding mechanism includes the lever;   the folding mechanism further includes a plurality of parallel slats, each of the slats pivotally connected at a central end to a floating rib and each of the slats pivotally connected to the lever at a distal end of the slat opposite the central end;   the folding mechanism is manipulable between a collapsed state and an extended state .      the actuator is to cause the folding mechanism to shift between the collapsed state and the extended state;   the actuator is augmented by a platform and a column orthogonally connected to the floating rib to receive the resting load;   the slats are to transfer at least a portion of the resting load to the lever; and   the collapsed state corresponds to the first value of the angle of inclination, and the extended state corresponds to the second value of the angle of inclination.   
     
     
         10 . A power adjusted seat assembly for use when a resting load is present within the seat, the seat assembly comprising:
 a seat base;   a lateral bolster pivotally connected to the seat base at a pivot axis defined longitudinally by the seat base, the lateral bolster defining a lateral side of the seat assembly;   an angle of inclination defined between the seat base and the lateral bolster, wherein:
 the lateral bolster is rotatable between a first value of the angle of inclination and a second value of the angle of inclination; 
 the seat base includes a base frame and a lever pivotally connected to the base frame at the pivot axis; 
 the lever defines a first arm and a second arm; and 
 a rotation of the first arm downward corresponds with an upward rotation of the second arm to rotate the lateral bolster to the second value of the angle of inclination; and 
   a vertically movable toothed rack and a pinion gear to meshingly engage the rack to rotate the pinion gear;   a crank arm fixedly connected to the pinion gear to rotate therewith;   a connecting rod pivotably connected to the crank arm and pivotably connected to second arm;   a platform fixedly connected to the top of the rack, the platform receive the resting load; and   an actuator drivenly coupled to the rack, wherein:
 the rack is selectably vertically movable in response to at least a portion of the resting load acting upon the platform to cause the lever to rotate via the pinion gear, the crank arm, and the connecting rod; and 
 the actuator, the rack, the pinion gear, the crank arm, the connecting rod and the lever are cooperatively configured to cause the lateral bolster to rotate between the first value of the angle of inclination and the second value of the angle of inclination when the resting load is present and the actuator is activated. 
   
     
     
         11 . The power adjusted seat assembly as defined in  claim 10  wherein the actuator, the rack, the pinion gear, the crank arm, the connecting rod and the lever are cooperatively configured to cause the lateral bolster to rotate from the first value of the angle of inclination toward the second value of the angle of inclination when the resting load is present and the actuator is activated. 
     
     
         12 . The power adjusted seat assembly as defined in  claim 10  wherein the actuator, the rack, the pinion gear, the crank arm, the connecting rod and the lever are cooperatively configured to cause the lateral bolster to rotate from the second value of the angle of inclination toward the first value of the angle of inclination when the resting load is present and the actuator is activated. 
     
     
         13 . The power adjusted seat assembly as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a compression spring having a preload to bias the rack antagonistically to the resting load and to the actuator wherein the actuator is a first actuator;   a multi-position detent having multiple holes in a member connected to the rack;   a biased locking pin to selectably engage the detent to secure the position of the rack; and   a second actuator to selectably overcome a bias on the locking pin to disengage the locking pin from the detent wherein when the resting load is greater than the preload and the second actuator is actuated, the rack is downwardly movable to cause the lateral bolster to move between the first value of the angle of inclination and the second value of the angle of inclination.   
     
     
         14 . The power adjusted seat assembly as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising a third actuator connected to the rack to work antagonistically to the resting load wherein when the resting load is greater than the preload and the second actuator is actuated, the rack is upwardly movable to cause the lateral bolster to move between the second value of the angle of inclination and the first value of the angle of inclination. 
     
     
         15 . The power adjusted seat assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an auxiliary shape memory actuator wire having an anchor end and an active end opposite the anchor end, wherein:
 the anchor end is connected to the horizontal member at the pivot connection between the horizontal member and the flexible member; 
 the active end is connected to the flexible member to form a diagonal chord when the flexible member has the bowed shape; and 
 when the auxiliary shape memory actuator wire is activated, a curvature of the flexible member is altered to extend the seat base beyond the second seat base length. 
   
     
     
         16 . The power adjusted seat assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein the actuator is an active material actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The power adjusted seat assembly as defined in  claim 7  wherein the actuator is an active material actuator. 
     
     
         18 . The power adjusted seat assembly as defined in  claim 8  wherein the actuator is an active material actuator. 
     
     
         19 . The power adjusted seat assembly as defined in  claim 10  wherein the actuator is an active material actuator. 
     
     
         20 . The power adjusted seat assembly as defined in  claim 13  wherein the second actuator is an active material actuator. 
     
     
         21 . The power adjusted seat assembly as defined in  claim 14  wherein the third actuator is an active material actuator. 
     
     
         22 . A power adjusted seat assembly for use when a resting load is present within the seat, the seat assembly comprising:
 a seat base structure extendable and retractable between a first seat base length and a second seat base length, wherein:
 the seat base structure includes a base frame and an angled flap pivotally connected to the base frame at a pivot axis defined laterally by the seat base structure; 
 the angled flap defines a first panel and a second panel; and 
 a rotation of the first panel downward corresponds with an outward rotation of the second panel to extend the seat base to the second seat base length; and 
   an actuator drivenly coupled to the angled flap, wherein:
 the angled flap is drivenly coupled to the seat base structure to selectably rotate about the pivot axis in response to at least a portion of the resting load acting upon the first panel; and 
 the actuator and the angled flap are cooperatively configured to cause the seat base structure to extend between the first seat base length and the second seat base length when the resting load is present and the actuator is activated.