Seat cushion depth adjustment in conjunction with a calf support

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat with a seat cushion (1) having an adjustable seat cushion depth and with an adjustable calf support (3), wherein the calf support (3) is mechanically coupled to a front end of the seat cushion (1) of the vehicle seat in such a way that a longitudinal adjustment of the calf support (3) causes an extension of the seat cushion depth.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle seat with a seat cushion having an adjustable seat cushion depth and with an adjustable calf support, as well as a vehicle with such a vehicle seat.

[0002] Extendable calf supports are known from the state of the art to increase the comfort of vehicle seats.

[0003] In this context, DE 10 2018 216 906 A1 relates to a method for controlling a seat arrangement of a vehicle, wherein the seat arrangement comprises a seat including an extendable calf support, the method comprising: receiving a signal indicating an angle of the calf support; extending the calf support to a first extension limit if the indicated angle of the calf support is less than an angle limit, and extending the calf support beyond the first extension limit to a second extension limit if the indicated angle of the calf support is greater than the angle limit; extending the calf support to the first extension limit while the calf support is oriented substantially orthogonally to a floor of the vehicle.

[0004] DE 10 2010 038 033 B4 further relates to a vehicle seat with a seat cushion having an elastically stretchable and compressible padding that determines the seat design, comprising a seat part on which an occupant can sit, and an ottoman part connected to the seat part; and a cover covering the padding; and an extension mechanism for adjusting the ottoman part between a first position in which the ottoman part is angled downward from the seat part, and a second position in which the ottoman part extends forward from the seat part to support the occupant's calves, wherein the extension mechanism comprises: a shaft element; a frame element pivotable about the shaft element; and a fixed frame element attached to the padding,wherein at least one of the pivotable frame element and the fixed frame element is provided with an engagement part, and the pivotable frame element and the fixed frame element are engaged with each other via the engagement part in such a way that they are movable relative to each other in the radial direction with respect to the pivot axis of the pivotable frame element, wherein the ottoman part is in the first position when the pivotable frame element is oriented so as to project downwards from the shaft element, and in the second position when the pivotable frame element is pivoted forwards, and wherein during an adjustment of the ottoman part from the first position to the second position, the fixed frame element is moved relative to the pivot axis of the pivotable frame element in the radial direction by the elasticity of the cushion,so that the cushion can be stretched or compressed depending on the position adjustment of the ottoman part.

[0005] With the increasing introduction of actuators to replace manual seat adjustments in vehicles, it has also become common to use an electric drive unit for adjusting the calf support. However, since the seat cushion depth adjustment, which allows the seat cushion of a vehicle seat to be extended from the backrest toward the knees, is typically already equipped with a drive unit, two drive units are required for the separate adjustment of the calf support and the seat cushion depth in the current state of the art.

[0006] The object of the invention is to simplify the mechanical implementation of a seat cushion depth adjustment of a vehicle seat.

[0007] The invention is based on the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments and refinements are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] A first aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle seat having a seat cushion with an adjustable seat cushion depth and having an adjustable calf support, wherein the calf support is mechanically coupled to a front end of the seat cushion of the vehicle seat such that a longitudinal adjustment of the calf support causes an extension of the seat cushion depth.

[0009] The seat cushion depth describes the length of the seat cushion in its direction of extension from a seat back to a front edge in the area of ​​the knees of an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat.

[0010] In contrast to seat cushions which may be known in the prior art and which also have an adjustable seat cushion depth, in which the seat cushion depth is adjusted by direct length adjustment, in the vehicle seat according to the invention an extension of the seat cushion depth is preferably achieved by pressing / rotating a front end of the seat cushion upwards.

[0011] This movement of the front end of the seat cushion is caused by the movement of the calf support. The calf support can be adjusted at least lengthwise. Optionally, it can also be adjusted in a rotational direction, allowing an angle to be set toward the calves.

[0012] The adjustable seat cushion depth, dependent on the adjustment of the calf support, eliminates the need for a drive unit if both the seat cushion depth and the calf support are to be adjustable by actuator. Eliminating such a drive unit not only saves costs in the production of the vehicle seat, but also saves installation space, which can be used for other comfort enhancements in the vehicle. Furthermore, weight can be saved.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment, the longitudinal adjustment of the calf support causes a movement of the calf support along its longitudinal direction upwards, so that a front end of the seat cushion is pushed upwards, thereby causing the seat cushion depth to be extended.

[0014] For this purpose, the front end of the seat cushion is advantageously designed to be flexible, so that a movement of the calf support results in an upward movement of the front end of the seat cushion. Preferably, the front end of the seat cushion is merely a section of the continuous seat cushion, without requiring a mechanical joint in the seat cushion to enable movement.

[0015] According to a further advantageous embodiment, a longitudinal adjustment of the calf support in a first area does not result in an extension of the seat cushion depth, and a longitudinal adjustment of the calf support beyond the first area results in an extension of the seat cushion depth.

[0016] This allows the calf support to be retracted first without moving the front end of the seat cushion. Only when the calf support is further retracted can the seat cushion depth be extended by raising the front end of the seat cushion, effectively utilizing it for the passenger sitting on it.

[0017] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the calf support is mechanically coupled to the front end of the seat cushion in such a way that a rotation of the calf support causes an extension of the seat cushion depth.

[0018] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the rotation of the calf support causes the front end of the seat cushion to be pushed upwards, thereby causing the seat cushion depth to be extended.

[0019] According to a further advantageous embodiment, only a rotation of the calf support above a limit rotation angle of the calf support produces an upward movement of the front end of the seat cushion, thereby causing the extension of the seat cushion depth.

[0020] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the vehicle seat further comprises an adjustment unit which is designed to detect an input from a user for the desired seat adjustment, wherein the adjustment unit has a first input element for adjusting the seat cushion depth by adjusting the calf support and a second input element for adjusting a longitudinal position of the vehicle seat.

[0021] The longitudinal position of the vehicle seat describes the position of the vehicle seat after the vehicle seat has been pushed forward or backward along the vehicle's longitudinal axis.

[0022] A further aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle having a vehicle seat as described above and below.

[0023] Advantages and preferred developments of the proposed vehicle result from an analogous and analogous transfer of the statements made above in connection with the proposed vehicle seat.

[0024] Further advantages, features, and details will become apparent from the following description, which – where appropriate with reference to the drawings – describes at least one embodiment in detail. Identical, similar, and / or functionally equivalent parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0025] They show: Fig. 1: A vehicle seat in a shortened position of the seat cushion according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2: A vehicle seat in an extended position of the seat cushion according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0026] The representations in the figures are schematic and not to scale.

[0027] Fig. 1 shows a vehicle seat with a seat cushion 1 with an adjustable seat cushion depth and with an adjustable calf support 3. The calf support 3 is mechanically coupled to a front end of the seat cushion 1 of the vehicle seat in such a way that a longitudinal adjustment (indicated by the straight double arrow in the Fig. 1) the calf support 3 causes an extension of the seat cushion depth. While in Fig. 1 the seat cushion is in its regular, short, length setting, is in Fig. 2 the seat cushion 1 has already been extended by the movement of the calf support 3. The longitudinal adjustment along its longitudinal direction upwards and / or a rotation of the calf support 3 in the plane of the drawing of the Fig. 1 counterclockwise causes a front end of the seat cushion 1 to be pushed upwards (indicated by the curved double arrow in the Fig. 1), which causes the seat cushion depth to be extended. However, this only occurs when the calf support 3 is sufficiently displaced upwards above a predetermined limit or when it is sufficiently rotated counterclockwise above a predetermined angle. Both the rotation and the displacement of the calf support 3 result in an upward movement of the front end of the seat cushion 1, which in turn extends the seat cushion depth. A one-handed adjustment unit 5 on the side of the vehicle seat serves to detect a user input for the desired seat adjustment. This adjustment unit 5 has a first input element for adjusting the seat cushion depth by adjusting the calf support 3 and a second input element for adjusting a longitudinal position of the vehicle seat.

[0028] Fig. 2 shows the vehicle seat of the Fig.1, however, the result of the displacement and rotation of the calf support 3 is already visible, which has moved the front end of the seat cushion 1 upward, thus extending the seat cushion depth. This extension of the seat cushion depth of the seat cushion 1 is achieved by a drive unit that adjusts the longitudinal position and rotation angle of the calf support 3 – a separate drive unit for extending the seat cushion depth on the seat cushion 1 is not necessary.

[0029] Although the invention has been illustrated and explained in detail by preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that a multitude of variations exist. It is also clear that exemplary embodiments are truly only examples and should not be construed as limiting the scope, possible applications, or configuration of the invention in any way.Rather, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete terms, whereby the person skilled in the art, with knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, can make various changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2018 216 906 A1

[0003] DE 10 2010 038 033 B4

[0004]

Claims

[1] Vehicle seat with a seat cushion (1) with an adjustable seat cushion depth and with an adjustable calf support (3), wherein the calf support (3) is mechanically coupled to a front end of the seat cushion (1) of the vehicle seat such that a longitudinal adjustment of the calf support (3) causes an extension of the seat cushion depth. [2] Vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal adjustment of the calf support (3) causes a movement of the calf support (3) along its longitudinal direction upwards, so that a front end of the seat cushion (1) is pushed upwards, thereby causing the extension of the seat cushion depth. [3] Vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a longitudinal adjustment of the calf support (3) in a first region does not cause an extension of the seat cushion depth, and a longitudinal adjustment of the calf support (3) beyond the first region causes an extension of the seat cushion depth. [4] Vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the calf support (3) is mechanically coupled to the front end of the seat cushion (1) such that rotation of the calf support (3) causes an extension of the seat cushion depth. [5] A vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the rotation of the calf support (3) causes the front end of the seat cushion (1) to be pushed upwards, thereby causing the seat cushion depth to be extended. [6] Vehicle seat according to claim 5, wherein only a rotation of the calf support (3) above a limit rotation angle of the calf support (3) produces an upward movement of the front end of the seat cushion (1), thereby causing the extension of the seat cushion depth. [7] Vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an adjustment unit (5) which is designed to detect an input from a user for the desired seat adjustment, wherein the adjustment unit (5) has a first input element for adjusting the seat cushion depth by adjusting the calf support (3) and a second input element for adjusting a longitudinal position of the vehicle seat. [8] Vehicle with a vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims.

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