Vehicle seat and footrest assembly therefor

Abstract

The utility model discloses a vehicle seat and foot support assembly thereof. The foot support assembly comprises a foot support frame mounted to a seat frame of the vehicle seat, a guide mechanism fixed to the foot support frame, and a foot support mechanism. The foot support mechanism is movable between a retracted position and an extended position by means of the guide mechanism. In the retracted position, the foot support mechanism is retracted into the foot support frame. In the extended position, the foot support mechanism is extended forwardly out of the foot support frame. The vehicle seat comprises the foot support assembly as described above. The foot support assembly according to the utility model can provide support to the feet of the vehicle occupant to improve the comfort of the vehicle occupant.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of vehicles, specifically to vehicle seats and their footrest assemblies. Background Technology

[0002] To improve passenger comfort, many vehicles now feature leg support components in the seats to support passengers' legs. However, current leg support components typically do not provide adequate support for the occupants' feet.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need to improve current vehicle seat components. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a footrest assembly for vehicle seats to provide support for the feet of occupants.

[0005] Therefore, this utility model provides a footrest assembly for a vehicle seat, wherein the vehicle seat includes a seat frame, characterized in that the footrest assembly includes a footrest frame mounted on the seat frame, a guide mechanism fixed to the footrest frame, and a footrest mechanism, wherein the footrest mechanism is movable between a retracted position and an extended position by means of the guide mechanism, wherein in the retracted position the footrest mechanism retracts into the footrest frame, and in the extended position the footrest mechanism extends forward out of the footrest frame.

[0006] According to an embodiment, the footrest assembly further includes a drive mechanism. Specifically, the drive mechanism includes a motor and a drive spindle meshing with the output end of the motor. The drive spindle extends in a front-to-back direction, with one end (e.g., the rear end) fixed to the footrest frame and the other end (e.g., the front end) being a free end. The motor is fixed to the footrest mechanism such that rotation of the motor's output end causes the motor to move relative to the drive spindle. In this arrangement, as the motor's output end rotates, the motor moves back and forth relative to the drive spindle, thereby driving the footrest mechanism to move between a retracted position and an extended position.

[0007] According to an embodiment, the guiding mechanism includes a guide plate defining a guide groove, and the foot support mechanism includes a slider capable of sliding along the guide groove. The guide plate is fixed to the side of the foot support frame, preferably both sides. The guide plate is made of metal, for example, machined by a CNC machine tool.

[0008] According to an embodiment, the guide groove includes a first part and a second part. The first part extends linearly in a front-rear direction, and the second part smoothly transitions to the first part and extends in a forward-upward direction from the first part. This arrangement allows for an upward flipping movement of the footrest assembly, thereby providing better support for the feet.

[0009] According to an embodiment, the footrest mechanism further includes a footrest bracket, which comprises a transverse portion and a side plate portion, to which a slider is fixed. The footrest bracket is made of plastic material, for example, manufactured by 3D printing. The slider is constructed, for example, as a bolt, with the bolt head extending out of a guide groove.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the side plate portion includes an upper side plate portion and a lower side plate portion. The two plate portions are hinged at their rear ends along the front-rear direction. A slider is fixed to the lower side plate portion in the middle. The guiding mechanism also includes a slide rail that extends linearly along the front-rear direction and is fixed to the guide plate on its inner side (e.g., by bolts and nuts). The upper portion is movable along the slide rail. With this arrangement, linear movement of the footrest assembly is achieved via the slide rail, and flipping movement of the footrest assembly is achieved via the guide groove, thereby achieving dual guidance.

[0011] According to an embodiment, when viewed from the side, the lower side plate portion is constructed in a V-shape.

[0012] According to an embodiment, the lower side plate portion includes an outer section located on the outer side in the lateral direction and an inner section located on the inner side, as well as a smooth transition section between them. The slider is fixed to the lower side plate portion on the outer section, and the two plate portions are hinged on the inner section.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the footrest assembly is mounted to the seat frame via a linkage mechanism that is movable between a first position and a second position, such that the footrest assembly moves between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the footrest assembly retracts below the seat frame, and in the extended position, the footrest assembly extends forward beyond the seat frame.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the footrest frame is constructed in a plate shape. Arranged in this way, the footrest frame can act as a leg support, providing support for the occupant's legs.

[0015] This utility model also provides a vehicle seat that includes the aforementioned footrest assembly.

[0016] Compared to current adjustment mechanisms, the footrest assembly of this invention requires less driving space while still achieving a larger adjustment range. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The features and advantages of this utility model will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this utility model, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, those skilled in the art can obtain all other embodiments without inventive effort, and these embodiments all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. In the accompanying drawings:

[0018] Figure 1AThis is a schematic perspective view of the vehicle seat footrest assembly in the retracted state according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0019] Figure 1B This is a schematic perspective view of the vehicle seat footrest assembly in an extended state according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0020] Figure 2 yes Figure 1B Another schematic perspective view of the vehicle seat footrest assembly shown from below, which illustrates the drive mechanism;

[0021] Figure 3A This is a schematic side view of a vehicle seat footrest assembly according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0022] Figure 3B This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat footrest assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] In the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present invention are shown in a simplified manner for clarity and are not necessarily shown to scale. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] For ease of description, directional terms are used in the following description, referring to the direction of the vehicle seats.

[0026] Figure 1A and Figure 1B A vehicle seat 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, comprising a footrest assembly 10 and a linkage mechanism 20. The footrest assembly 10 is mounted to a seat frame (not shown) via the linkage mechanism 20. The linkage mechanism 20 is movable between a first position and a second position, such that the footrest assembly 10 moves between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the footrest assembly retracts below the seat frame; in the extended position, the footrest assembly extends forward beyond the seat frame. The linkage mechanism 20 may employ a construction known in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0027] Footrest assembly 10 includes footrest frame 11, guide mechanism 12, footrest mechanism 13, and drive mechanism 14 (see...). Figure 2 The guide mechanism 12 is fixed to the footrest frame 11, and the footrest mechanism 13 can move between a retracted position and an extended position by means of the guide mechanism 12. In the retracted position, the footrest mechanism 13 retracts into the footrest frame 11 (see...). Figure 1A In the extended position, the footrest mechanism 13 extends forward beyond the footrest frame 11 (see...). Figure 1B ).

[0028] like Figure 2As shown, the guiding mechanism 12 includes a guide plate 121, which is fixed to the foot support frame 11 on both sides. In this example, the guide plate 121 is made of metal and can be machined by a CNC machine tool. Furthermore, the guide plate 121 defines guide grooves 1211 (see...). Figure 3A The guide groove 1211 includes a first part 1211a and a second part 1211b, the first part being along the front-back direction ( Figure 3A The first part extends linearly in the left-right direction, and the second part smoothly transitions from the first part and extends forward and upward from the first part. Furthermore, the guide mechanism 12 also includes a slide rail 122 (see...). Figure 3A It extends linearly in the front-back direction and is fixed to the guide plate 121 on the inside by bolt and nut assembly 123.

[0029] Figure 3A A schematic side view of the footrest assembly 10 is shown. As shown, the footrest mechanism 13 includes a slider 131 that is slidable along a guide groove 1211. In this example, the slider 131 is constructed as a bolt with its head extending out of the guide groove 1211 (see Figure 131). Figure 3B In addition, the footrest mechanism 13 also includes a footrest bracket 132, which includes a transverse portion 1321 and a side plate portion 1322. The side plate portion 1322 includes an upper side plate portion 1322a and a lower side plate portion 1322b, which are hinged at their rear ends by a pin 133 in the front-rear direction. A slider 131 is fixed in the middle to the lower side plate portion 1322b, and the upper side plate portion 1322a is located inside the slide rail 122 and is movable along the slide rail 122. In this example, the footrest bracket 132 is made of plastic and can be manufactured by 3D printing.

[0030] Figure 3A The lower side plate portion 1322b is also shown to be constructed in a V-shape.

[0031] Figure 3B A schematic transverse cross-sectional view of the footrest assembly 10 is shown. As shown, in the transverse direction from the vehicle seat, the lower side panel portion 1322b includes an outer section and an inner section, and a smooth transition section between them. A slider 131 is fixed to the lower side panel portion 1322b on the outer section, and the upper side panel portion 1322a and the lower side panel portion 1322b are hinged to each other on the inner section by a pin 133.

[0032] return Figure 2 The drive mechanism 14 includes a motor 14a and a drive spindle 14b that meshes with the output end of the motor 14a. For example... Figure 2As shown, the drive spindle 14b is constructed in the form of a lead screw, extending in the front-to-back direction, with its rear end fixed to the footrest frame 11 and its front end being free. The motor 14a is fixed at the middle of the transverse portion 13b of the footrest mechanism 13, so that the rotation of the output end of the motor 14a causes the motor 14a to move relative to the drive spindle 14b, thereby driving the footrest mechanism 13 to move.

[0033] During operation, as the motor 14a runs, the foot support mechanism 13 (particularly the foot support bracket 132) moves between the retracted and extended positions under the dual guidance of the guide groove 1211 and the slide rail 122 of the guide mechanism 12. Furthermore, the orientation of the second part 1211b of the guide groove 1211 allows the foot support bracket 132 to flip upward, thereby providing better support for the feet.

[0034] Through the above description of the disclosed embodiments, those skilled in the art will be able to implement or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will also be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown herein, but covers the widest scope consistent with the principles disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A footrest assembly for a vehicle seat, wherein the vehicle seat includes a seat frame, characterized in that, The footrest assembly includes a footrest frame mounted on a seat frame, a guide mechanism fixed to the footrest frame, and a footrest mechanism, wherein the footrest mechanism is movable between a retracted position and an extended position by means of the guide mechanism. In the retracted position, the footrest mechanism retracts into the footrest frame, and in the extended position, the footrest mechanism extends forward out of the footrest frame.

2. The footrest assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The footrest assembly also includes a drive mechanism, which includes a motor and a drive spindle meshing with the output end of the motor. The drive spindle extends in a front-to-back direction, with one end fixed to the footrest frame and the other end being a free end. The motor is fixed to the footrest mechanism such that rotation of the motor's output end causes the motor to move relative to the drive spindle.

3. The footrest assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The guiding mechanism includes a guide plate defining a guide groove, and the foot support mechanism includes a slider capable of sliding along the guide groove, the guide plate being fixed to both sides of the foot support frame.

4. The footrest assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The guide channel includes a first part and a second part. The first part extends linearly in the front-back direction, and the second part smoothly transitions to the first part and extends forward and upward from the first part.

5. The footrest assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The footrest mechanism also includes a footrest bracket, which comprises a transverse portion and a side plate portion, with the slider fixed to the side plate portion.

6. The footrest assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The side plate includes an upper side plate and a lower side plate. The two plates are hinged at the rear end along the front-rear direction. The slider is fixed to the lower side plate in the middle. The guide mechanism also includes a slide rail that extends linearly along the front-rear direction and is fixed to the guide plate on the inside. The upper part can move along the slide rail.

7. The footrest assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The lower side plate is constructed in a V-shape and includes an outer section located on the outside and an inner section located on the inside in the lateral direction, as well as a smooth transition section between them. The slider is fixed to the lower side plate on the outer section, and the two plate sections are hinged on the inner section.

8. The footrest assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The footrest assembly is mounted to the seat frame via a linkage mechanism that can move between a first position and a second position, allowing the footrest assembly to move between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the footrest assembly retracts below the seat frame, and in the extended position, the footrest assembly extends forward beyond the seat frame.

9. The footrest assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The footrest frame is constructed in a plate shape.

10. A vehicle seat, characterized in that... Includes the footrest assembly according to any one of claims 1-9.

Images