VEHICLE SEATING ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A method for controlling the heating of a front heating zone (60) and a rear heating zone (62) in a vehicle (11) having a vehicle seating arrangement (10) comprising at least one front seat (12, 12a, 12b) located at least partially in the front heating zone (60) and movable between an upright position for seating a vehicle occupant in a seating position in the front heating zone (60) and a reclined position for providing a support (42) for a limb of a vehicle occupant seated in a rear seat located immediately behind the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) in the rear heating zone (62), the method comprising: Controlling the at least one heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) located in the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) via a front zone heating control device when the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) is in the upright position; and Switching the control of the at least one heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) in the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) to a rear zone heating control device when the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) is moved to the reclined position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle seating assembly comprising a heating system for providing heating to occupants seated in the rear vehicle seats. Inventive aspects also relate to a method for heating the rear seat occupants in a vehicle, a control device for a heating system, and a vehicle. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] It is known to provide heating systems for both the driver and passenger seats in vehicles. In particular, heating systems for the front vehicle seats are common and consist of a heating element located within the driver or passenger seat cushion, which is controllable by the occupant or driver via a control unit in the front of the vehicle cabin. It is also known to provide a heating element in the backrest of the driver's seat or the passenger seat to provide a heating effect for the back of the seated occupant, thereby enhancing the overall heating effect felt by the driver or passenger.

[0003] Heating systems for rear-row passengers are less common. It has been proposed to provide heat to the passenger seats through the radiant effect of heat delivered by the front passenger seats. However, such systems are relatively ineffective for rear-seat passengers and also require higher heating outputs from the front seats, which could cause discomfort for the front-seat passengers or make the seat directly in front of the rear passenger unusable.

[0004] Systems that provide heated rear seats for rear passengers provide warmth more effectively, but at the expense of additional heating equipment. For some vehicle lines, the additional cost is prohibitive.

[0005] EP 2 565 074 A1 relates to a footrest system for a vehicle. JP H04-66 341 A relates to a vehicle heating device that is attached to the backrest of a seat in an automobile to warm the feet of a person in a rear seat.

[0006] There remains a need for an effective heating system in vehicles for rear seat occupants in row two (immediately behind the driver's seat in row one) and / or in further rear seats, and for a system that can be provided at a reasonable cost.

[0007] An object of the invention is to address this need. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a vehicle seat assembly, a method for controlling heating, a control device and a vehicle as claimed in the appended claims.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle seat assembly comprising a front seat and a rear seat immediately behind the front seat, wherein the front seat is provided with a support means arranged to support a limb of a vehicle occupant seated in the rear seat, and wherein the support means comprises heating means arranged to provide a heat source for the supported limb.

[0010] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a vehicle seat assembly is provided, comprising a front seat and a rear seat immediately behind the front seat, wherein the front seat is provided with at least one support element arranged to support a limb of a vehicle occupant sitting on the rear seat, and wherein the support element is provided with at least one heating element to provide a heat source for the supported limb via direct contact between the supported limb and the support element.

[0011] The present invention advantageously allows elements of the front seat to provide both support and heating for the rear seat occupants, thereby increasing the comfort of the rear seat occupant. Since the heating mode is via direct contact with the support element, the heat output of the heating element can be conveniently provided in stages that do not adversely affect the comfort of the front seat occupants, yet still provide comfortable heating for the rear seat occupants.

[0012] Utilizing portions of the front seats to provide heating for rear-seat passengers advantageously also allows for heating for rear-seat passengers at relatively low cost. In particular, the heating equipment and circuit associated with the front seats can also be used to provide heating for rear-seat passengers.

[0013] The terms "front" and "rear," as used herein, are relative terms, not absolute terms. Thus, in vehicles with more than two rows of seats, the front seats are not necessarily the frontmost seats and may, for example, be middle row seats located behind the frontmost seats but in front of the rearmost seats.

[0014] The support element may be an integral part of the backrest of the front seat. Alternatively, the support element may be located adjacent to the backrest of the front seat. In a particular embodiment, the support element may be adapted to support the heel of a vehicle occupant's foot when sitting in the rear seat. Accordingly, the support element may be in the form of a heel rest.

[0015] The support element may be an extendable support device with a stowed position and an extended position. In the extended position, the extendable support device may be arranged to support the user's heel.

[0016] The support member may be arranged to support the feet of a vehicle occupant when sitting in the rear seat when the front seat is reclined.

[0017] For example, the support element may comprise a rear surface of the front seat, such as a backboard. In a particular embodiment, the support element forms a surface of a storage compartment on the rear of the front seat.

[0018] The seating assembly may include a plurality of heated support members associated with the front seat to provide heating for the rear seat occupant. For example, a heated heel support and a heated backboard or a heated storage compartment may be provided. One or more heating elements associated with the various support members may be automatically deactivated when the support member, e.g., the heel support, is moved to a stowed position. For example, a heating element in the heel support and a heating element in the backboard or storage compartment of the front seat may be deactivated when the heel support is stowed. This advantageously conserves energy when these support members and associated heating elements are not in use.

[0019] The support member may be arranged to support the legs and / or feet of a vehicle occupant when seated in the rear seat with the front seat reclined. This seating configuration provides superior comfort and support for the rear seat occupant and is conducive to resting or sleeping when the vehicle is stationary. In such configurations, the support member may comprise a backrest of the front seat. A heating element in the backrest of the front seat may thus be arranged to provide heating for a front seat occupant when the front seat is in an upright and / or partially reclined orientation and heating for a rear seat occupant when the front seat is substantially fully reclined.

[0020] Accordingly, the front seat may comprise: a first support element for the heel of a foot of a vehicle occupant when seated in the rear seat; a second support element for the foot of a vehicle occupant when seated in the rear seat when the front seat is reclined; and a third support element defining a support surface for a leg and / or a foot of a vehicle occupant when seated in the rear seat when the front seat is reclined. Each support element may be provided with a corresponding heating element for heating a respective supported limb of the rear seat occupant via direct contact between the supported limb and the support element.

[0021] The rear seat may include one or more heated support elements selected from a heated headrest, a heated armrest, a heated calf rest, a heated backrest, and a heated seat cushion. The one or more heated support elements of the rear may advantageously be arranged to provide heating for the vehicle occupant sitting in the rear seat, independently of or in combination with the at least one heated support element of the front seat.

[0022] The seat assembly preferably includes user control means configured to enable a user in the rear seat to control one or more heating elements associated with the rear seat in combination with one or more heating elements associated with the front seat located immediately in front of the rear seat.

[0023] According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is also provided which includes the seating arrangement described above.

[0024] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling heating of a front heating zone and a rear heating zone in a vehicle having a vehicle seating assembly comprising at least one front seat located at least partially within the front heating zone and movable between an upright position for seating a vehicle occupant in a seating position in the front heating zone and a reclined position for providing support for a limb of a vehicle occupant seated in a rear seat located immediately behind the front seat in the rear heating zone, the method comprising: controlling at least one heating element located in the front seat via a front zone heating control device when the front seat is in the upright position;and switching the control of the at least one heating element in the front seat to a rear zone heating control device when the front seat is placed in the reclined position;

[0025] Switching control of the heating element in the front seat to the rear zone heating control device may occur as soon as the front seat is reclined beyond a threshold angle into a reclined position. This advantageously prevents control of that heating element from being switched to the rear zone when a front seat occupant partially reclines their seat for comfort. The threshold angle may, for example, be approximately seventy-five degrees or any other suitable angle associated with normal reclined positions of the front seats. Alternatively or additionally, the method may include allocating control of the heating element to the rear zone when the front seat headrest is removed.

[0026] Heating element control can be automatically switched from the front zone heater control to the rear zone heater control when the front seat is reclined and / or when the front seat headrest is removed. Alternatively, control can be switched manually via the rear zone heater control.

[0027] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control device for controlling the heating of a vehicle seating assembly, comprising at least one front seat located at least partially in a front heating zone and movable between an upright position for seating a vehicle occupant in a seating position in the front heating zone and a reclined position for providing support for a limb of a vehicle occupant seated in a rear seat located immediately behind the front seat in the rear heating zone, the control device being configured to: associate control of a heating element located in the front seat with a heating control device of the front zone when the front seat is in the upright position;and switching the control of the heating element in the front seat to a rear zone heating control device when the front seat is moved to the reclined position;

[0028] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a vehicle seating assembly for a vehicle is provided, comprising at least one seat for a vehicle occupant, comprising: a seating portion on which the vehicle occupant sits, a backrest for providing a backrest for the vehicle occupant, and a headrest located above the backrest, wherein the headrest is provided with a heating element for providing a heating effect for the head of the seated vehicle occupant via direct contact with the headrest. The headrest is preferably associated with the rear seat.

[0029] Within the scope of this application, it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples, and alternatives presented in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims, and / or in the following description and drawings, and in particular their individual features, may be considered independently of one another or in any combination. This means that all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment may be combined in any manner and / or in any combination, provided these features are not incompatible.The applicant reserves the right to amend any originally filed claim or to file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend on and / or incorporate any feature of any other claim not previously claimed in that manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a side view of a seat assembly according to an embodiment of the invention when in a first seating configuration; Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view showing front and rear heating zones of the seat assembly in a first heating configuration corresponding to the first seat configuration of Fig. 1 corresponds; Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a side view of the seating arrangement when in a second seating configuration; Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view showing front and rear heating zones of the seat assembly in a second heating configuration similar to the second seat configuration of Fig. 3 corresponds; Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a side view of the seating arrangement when in a third seating configuration; and Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view showing front and rear heating zones of the seat assembly in a third heating configuration similar to the third seat configuration of Fig. 5 corresponds. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The present invention provides a seating arrangement for a vehicle that can provide comfortable heating for both the front and rear seat occupants of the vehicle. It is a particular feature of the invention that the rear seat occupants are provided with comfortable heating.

[0032] Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a seating arrangement 10 for a vehicle 11 includes a row of front seats 12 and a row of rear seats 14. In this embodiment, the front row 12 includes a driver's seat 12a and a front passenger seat 12b, but in other embodiments, the front row 12 could itself include rear seats for passengers, for example in the case of a vehicle with more than two rows of seats.

[0033] The rear row 14 in this embodiment includes two passenger seats 14a, 14b located behind the front row seats 12 with sufficient space in a footwell 16 to accommodate the lower legs and feet of rear-seated passengers. The front seats 12a, 12b each have outer and inner side arms 18, 20, with the inner side arms 20 located side by side centrally within the vehicle 11. Each of the rear seats 14a, 14b has a separate outer side arm 22, and the two seats 14a, 14b share a common center arm 24.

[0034] With particular reference to Fig. 1, the front seat 12b on the left side of the front row 12 includes a seat bottom 26 (also referred to as a cushion) on which the front passenger sits, and a backrest 28 (also referred to as a seat back) against which the front passenger leans his or her back. A headrest 30 is provided at the upper end 31 of the backrest 28 to provide support for the occupant's head.

[0035] The rear seat 14b immediately behind the left front seat 12b is similar in shape to the front seat 12b and includes a seat bottom 32, a backrest 34, and a headrest 36. In addition, the rear seat 14b includes a lower leg support 38 (also referred to as a calf support) pivotally attached to the front of the seat bottom 32 for movement between a relatively vertical orientation in which no support is provided for the lower leg and a relatively horizontal orientation in which the lower leg support 38 can support the calf of a rear seated occupant.

[0036] Further means for supporting the feet of the rear occupant are incorporated on a back side 40 of the front seat 12b. In particular, a support 42 is pivotally attached to the back side 40 of the front seat 12b at the base 44 of the backrest 28. The support 42 is movable toward and away from the back side 40 of the front seat 12b and, when in a lowered position (as in Fig. 3), provides a heel support for the heel of an occupant sitting in the rear seat 14b. In addition, a rear surface 46 of the front seat 12b (referred to as the "backboard") provides a support for the feet of the occupant sitting in the rear seat 14b when the front seat 12b is reclined forward, as shown in Fig. 3 shown.

[0037] The front and rear seats 12a, 12b on the right side of the vehicle 11 are similar to those on the left side of the vehicle 11 and include similar components.

[0038] The left rear seat 14b is provided with a plurality of heating elements to provide a heating effect for the rear seat occupant. The seat bottom 32 is provided with a first heating element 48, the backrest 34 is provided with a second heating element 50, the headrest 36 is provided with a third heating element 52, and the lower leg support 38 is provided with a fourth heating element 54. Additional heating elements 56, 58 are provided in the outer and center armrests 22, 24, as shown in Fig. 2, which is a schematic plan view of the various heating elements located in the front and rear heating zones 60, 62 of the vehicle seat assembly 10, respectively.

[0039] Where compatible, all four seats 12a, 12b, 14a, 14b of the assembly 10 may be provided with similar heating components to provide a direct heating effect for the occupants seated thereon. Accordingly, and as shown in Fig. 2, the front seats 12a, 12b in this example also include heating elements in the seat surface 26 and in the backrest 28 and in the armrests 18, 20. Further heating elements may be included if necessary, although in Fig. 2, are provided in the headrests 30 of the front seats 12a, 12b depending on the vehicle type and customer requirements. The right rear seat 14a also includes heating elements in the seat cushion, backrest, headrest, calf support, and armrests. Heating elements can also, although in Fig. 2 not shown, in a heel rest and a backboard on a back side of the right front seat 12a. The heating elements of the front seats 12a, 12b and the right rear seat 14a in Fig. 2, no reference numbers are assigned, since these heating elements are not referred to in the following description, with the exception of the heating elements 63 and 64 in the cushion 26 and the backrest 28 of the left front seat 12b.

[0040] In addition to the heating elements 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 associated with the rear seat 14b, which provide heating to the rear seat occupant, the rear seat occupant is provided with additional heating by the elements of the front seat 12b, which is located immediately in front of the rear seat 14b. In particular, and as shown in Fig. 3, the heel support 42 and the rear surface 46 (backboard) of the left front seat 12b are provided with further heating elements 66 and 68, respectively. In this embodiment, the heating element 68 is integrated into the surface of a storage compartment 69 ( Fig. 3) is integrated on the back 40 of the front seat 12b. The additional heating elements 66, 68 provide the rear seat occupant with a heating effect through direct contact of the heels or soles of the feet with the heel support 42 and the backboard support 46.

[0041] The seat assembly 10 or the vehicle 11 in which the seat assembly 10 is installed includes a heating control system 70. The heating control system 70 includes user controls in the form of front and rear zone heating control devices 72, 74 ( Fig. 2) associated with the front and rear seats 12, 14, respectively. These user controls 72, 74 allow the front and rear occupants to control the various heating elements associated with their respective seating positions. The user controls 72, 74 may, for example, be physical switches or controls on a touchscreen. The heating control system 70 includes a controller 76 configured to control the operation of the various heating elements according to user commands. As will now be described, the operating mode of the various heating elements also depends on the orientation of the seats.

[0042] Fig. 1 shows the left front and rear seats 12b, 14b in a first seating configuration, wherein the seats 12b, 14b are both in an upright orientation, and the heel rest 42 on the rear of the front seat 12b is in a stowed position. In this seating configuration, the feet of the rear seat occupant are located in the rear footwell 16. Since the rear seat occupant does not use the heel rest 42, the control device 76 ( Fig. 2) configured to deactivate the heating elements 66, 68 in the heel rest 42 and the backboard 46 supports when the heel rest 42 is stowed, since these are not in direct contact with the feet of the rear seated occupant. Deactivating these heating elements 66, 68 when not in use advantageously saves energy. The various heating elements activated for the rear seated occupant in this seating configuration are schematically shown in Fig. 2, as will now be described.

[0043] Referring to Fig. 2, it can be seen that the front heating zone 60 primarily includes the heating elements associated with the front seats 12a, 12b, while the rear heating zone 62 primarily includes the heating elements associated with the rear seats 14a, 14b. The rear heating zone 62 for the rear left occupant also includes heating elements associated with the left front seat 12b, i.e., the heating elements 66 and 68 associated with the heel rest 42 and the backboard 46 at the rear of the left front seat 12b.

[0044] Hatching shows Fig. 2 the heating elements arranged in a first heating configuration corresponding to the first seat configuration Fig. 1 (both front and rear seats 12b, 14b upright and heel rest 42 stowed) are activated when heating is selected by the rear occupant on the left side. In Fig. 2 it can be seen that the heating elements 48, 50, 54, 56, 58 in the cushion 32, the seat back 34, the headrest 36, the calf support 38 and the armrests 22, 24 are activated, while the heating elements 66 and 68 in the heel support 42 and the backboard 46 of the front seat are deactivated since they are not required when the heel support 42 is stowed.

[0045] Now referring to Fig. 3, this shows a second seating configuration in which the left rear seat 14b is in a reclined orientation with the left front seat 12b leaning forward. The heel support 42 is lowered to an extended position with the heel support 42 being substantially horizontal. Advantageously, this extended position provides support for a heel of a rear seat occupant with or without support for their Achilles tendon as needed. This reclined seating position, referred to as the "loose position," advantageously provides increased comfort for the rear seat occupant with increased support for the lower leg and foot. When the front seat 12b is leaning forward, the backboard 46 is tilted away from a vertical position and toward the front of the vehicle 11, i.e., away from the rear seat occupant. Therefore, an obtuse angle 78 is defined between the backboard 46 and the heel support 42.In this position, the backboard 46 provides a comfortable and ergonomic support against which the soles of the feet of the rear seated occupants can rest, with their heels supported on the heel support 42.

[0046] Fig. Figure 4 shows the different heating elements that are activated in a second heating configuration corresponding to the second seating configuration of Fig. 3 when the rear left seated occupant selects heating via the user controls 74. Referring to Fig. 3, it can be seen that the heating elements that are activated are the heating elements 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 in the cushion 32, the seatback 34, the headrest 36, the calf rest 38, and the armrests 22, 24, respectively. The heating elements 66 and 68 in the footrest 42 and backboard 46 of the front seat are also activated in this heating configuration because the footrest 42 is extended to support the feet of the rear seat occupant. The occupant sitting behind the left occupant in the front row 12 therefore experiences a direct heating effect through the contact of their limbs with the backboard support 46 and the heel rest 42.

[0047] In the seat / heating configurations from Fig. 3 and 4, respectively, the support elements 42 and 46 on the front seat 12b, which provide support for the heel and soles of the feet of the rear seat occupant, therefore provide a direct heating effect for the rear seat occupant. In this seating arrangement, if the rear seat occupant returns the heel support 42 to the stowed position, the control device 76 deactivates the heating elements 66 and 68 in the heel support 42 and the backboard 46 to conserve energy, since they are no longer in direct contact with the rear seat occupant's feet.

[0048] Referring to Fig. 5 shows a third seating configuration, referred to as the "resting slumber" position, in which the front seat 12b is folded nearly flat (reclined) such that the backrest 28 of the front seat 12b provides additional support for the legs of the occupant on the seat behind. In this configuration, the lower leg support 38 of the rear seat 14b is pivoted downwardly to a relatively vertical orientation such that the upper end 31 of the backrest 28 of the front seat 12b is as close as possible to the forward edge 80 of the seat bottom 32 of the rear seat 14b. It should be noted that in embodiments of this configuration, the head restraint of the front seat 12b is removed. The resting slumber position provides a comfortable seating configuration for the rear seat occupant, conducive to resting or sleeping when the vehicle is stationary.

[0049] When the front seat 12b is folded nearly flat, the backrest 28 of the front seat 12b extends the support surface for the legs of the rear seat occupant, so that, together with the seating surface 32 of the rear seat 14b, the rear seat occupant can fully extend their legs horizontally when sitting in the rear seat 14b. In this seating configuration, the heating element 64 of the backrest 28 of the front seat 12b provides a heating effect for the rear seat occupant by direct contact of the occupant's legs with the front surface 82 of the backrest 28, thereby enhancing the overall warmth sensation for the rear seat occupant.

[0050] Fig. Figure 6 shows the different heating elements that are activated in a third heating configuration, which corresponds to the third seating configuration of Fig. 5 when the left rear seat occupant selects heating via the user controls 74. Referring to Fig. 6, it can be seen that the activated heating elements in this seating arrangement are the heating elements 48, 50, 52, 56, 58, which are provided in the cushion 32, the seatback 34, the headrest 36, and the armrests 22, 24, respectively. The heating elements 54, 66, and 68 in the lower leg (calf) support 38, the heel support 42, and the backboard 46 of the front seat are deactivated because these heating elements are not required in this seating configuration.

[0051] In addition, Fig. 6 that the heating element 64 in the seat back 28 of the left front seat 12b is activated, and this heating element 64 now forms part of the rear heating zone 62 in the third seat / heating configuration. Accordingly, the control device 76 of the heating system 70 is, when the front and rear seats 12b, 14b are in the third Fig. 5, configured to assign control of the heating element 64 in the seatback 28 of the left front seat 12b to the rear seat occupant. The rear seat occupant is therefore now able to control this heating element 64 via the user controls 74 of the rear heating zone 62.

[0052] Accordingly, the control device 76 is configured to assign control of the front seatback heating element 64 to the front zone heating control device 72 when the front seat is in the upright position ( Fig. 1) and to switch the control of this heating element 64 to the rear zone heating control device 74 when the front seat 12b is in the reclined position ( Fig.5). In other words, the control device 76 shifts control of the front seatback heating element 64 from the front heating zone 60 to the rear heating zone 62 when the front seat 12b is reclined.

[0053] In this embodiment, the controller 76 is configured to shift control of the front seatback heating element 64 from front to rear when the front seat 12b is reclined beyond a predetermined threshold angle. The predetermined threshold angle in this embodiment is seventy-five degrees. This prevents control of this heating element 64 from shifting to the rear seat occupant in situations where an occupant is sitting in the front seat and reclines their seat for comfort. Alternatively or additionally, control of the front seatback heating element 64 may be shifted to the rear heating zone 62 when the head restraint of the front seat 12b is removed.

[0054] Accordingly, one or more of the heating elements are operable by the front passengers or the rear seat occupants, depending on the orientation of the front seat.

[0055] While in this example, the control device 76 assigns control of the heating element 64 of the left front seat 12b to the rear seat user when the left front seat 12b is reclined, in other embodiments the control system may be configured to allow the rear seat user to manually select the heating element 64 via the user controls 74.

[0056] The various heating elements described above can be in the form of electrical heating elements, e.g., heating mats, or in the form of fluid heating elements, e.g., comprising tubes or ducts through which a heating fluid, such as warm air, is circulated. In fluid heating systems, the heating system can also be used for cooling, and a cooling fluid, such as cool air, can be circulated through the various heating elements.

[0057] In certain embodiments, the heating control system is configured to allow the front and / or rear seated occupants to independently control the various heating elements of their respective heating zones. Therefore, the occupant can select to activate or deactivate one of the heating elements in their respective heating zones 60, 62 via the user controls 72, 74. The occupant can therefore select any combination of heating elements in their respective heating zone 60, 62 according to their preference. The user controls 72, 74 can also be suitably configured to allow the occupant to adjust the temperature of the various heating elements and thereby select their preferred levels of heating or cooling. In certain embodiments, the front user controls 72 can also be suitably configured to allow a front passenger to control the heating elements of the rear heating zone 62.This advantageously allows, for example, a driver to control the heating for the comfort of rear seat passengers.

[0058] While the examples described above refer to the thermal sensation of the rear left-hand seat occupant, it should be noted that equivalent equipment and user controls may be provided equally for the rear right-hand seat occupant.

[0059] Many modifications may be made to the above examples without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims. It is particularly noted that the heating zones on the left side of the vehicle may be configured the same as or differently from the heating zones on the right side of the vehicle. For example, both the left and right heating zones may include heating elements associated with the respective front seats, or only the left or right rear heating zone may include heating elements associated with the respective front seat. The headrests of the front seats may also include a heating element, although this is not shown in the figures.

Claims

[1] A method for controlling the heating of a front heating zone (60) and a rear heating zone (62) in a vehicle (11) having a vehicle seating arrangement (10) comprising at least one front seat (12, 12a, 12b) located at least partially in the front heating zone (60) and movable between an upright position for seating a vehicle occupant in a seating position in the front heating zone (60) and a reclined position for providing a support (42) for a limb of a vehicle occupant seated in a rear seat located immediately behind the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) in the rear heating zone (62), the method comprising: Controlling the at least one heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) located in the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) via a front zone heating control device when the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) is in the upright position; and Switching the control of the at least one heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) in the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) to a rear zone heating control device when the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) is moved to the reclined position. [2] The method of claim 1, wherein switching the control of the heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) in the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) to the heating control device of the rear zone occurs as soon as the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) is reclined beyond a threshold angle to a reclined position. [3] Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the switching of the control of the heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) in the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) to the heating control device of the rear zone takes place as soon as the headrest (36) of the front seat (12a, 12b) is removed. [4] A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control of the heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) is automatically switched from the front zone heating control device to the rear zone heating control device when the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) is brought into the reclined position or manually switched via the rear zone heating control device. [5] A control device (76) for controlling the heating of a vehicle seat assembly (10) comprising at least one front seat (12, 12a, 12b) located at least partially in a front heating zone (60) and movable between an upright position for seating a vehicle occupant in a seating position in the front heating zone (60) and a reclined position for providing a support (42) for a limb of a vehicle occupant sitting on a rear seat located immediately behind the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) in the rear heating zone (62), the control device (76) being configured to: to associate the control of a heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) located in the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) with a front zone heating control device when the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) is in the upright position; and to switch the control of the heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) in the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) to a heating control device of the rear zone as soon as the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) is moved into the reclined position. [6] The control device (76) of claim 5, wherein the control device (76) is configured to switch control of the heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) in the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) to the rear zone heating control device as soon as the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) is reclined to a reclined position beyond a threshold angle. [7] Control device (76) according to one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the control device (76) is configured to switch the control of the heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) in the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) to the heating control device of the rear zone as soon as the headrest (36) of the front seat (12a, 12b) is removed. [8] The control device (76) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the control device (76) is configured to automatically switch the control of the heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) from the front zone heating control device to the rear zone heating control device when the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) is moved to the reclined position or manually switched via the rear zone heating control device. [9] Vehicle seat arrangement (10), comprising at least one front seat (12, 12a, 12b) located at least partially in a front heating zone (60) and movable between an upright position for seating a vehicle occupant in a seating position in the front heating zone (60) and a reclined position for providing a support (42) for a limb of a vehicle occupant sitting on a rear seat located immediately behind the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) in the rear heating zone (62); a heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) located in the front seat (12, 12a, 12b); and a control device (76) configured to assign control of the heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) to a front zone heating control device when the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) is in the upright position, and to switch control of the heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) in the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) to a rear zone heating control device as soon as the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) is moved to the reclined position. [10] The vehicle seat assembly (10) of claim 9, wherein the control device (76) is configured to switch control of the heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) in the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) to the rear zone heating control device once the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) is reclined beyond a threshold angle to a reclined position. [11] The vehicle seat assembly (10) of claim 9 or 10, wherein the control device (76) is configured to switch control of the heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) in the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) to the rear zone heating control device as soon as the headrest (36) of the front seat (12a, 12b) is removed. [12] The vehicle seat assembly (10) of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the control device (76) is configured to automatically switch control of the heating element (48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 63, 64, 66, 68) from the front zone heater control device to the rear zone heater control device when the front seat (12, 12a, 12b) is moved to the reclined position or manually via the rear zone heater control device. [13] Vehicle (11) comprising the vehicle seat arrangement (10) according to one of claims 9 to 12.

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