Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080197653 | Pivot and Stow Seating - A method is disclosed for stowing a bench seat or a segment of a bench seat into the floor of a vehicle. The steps include folding the backrest onto the seat base. The seat is then tilted upwards about an axis aligned with one side end of the seat to place the seat in a raised position. The raised seat is then rotated about a vertical axis until the seat is aligned for pivoting into the seat stowage compartment. The seat is then pivoted downwards into the stowage compartment. | 08-21-2008 |
20080246296 | Static-Reducing Vehicle Seat - A vehicle seat is provided having at least one seat cushion for carrying a vehicle occupant, and having a static-reducing device positioned in sufficient proximity to the occupant for dissipating an electrostatic charge from the seat. The static-reducing device includes conductive threading woven into the seat cushion or into piping along the seat cushion seams, conductive wiring connected to the base to form a conductive path for dissipating the electrostatic charge, or a humidity-absorbing layer. A vehicle is also provided having a floor and a vehicle seat having a cushion and a base mounted to the floor. The cushion is operatively connected to the base and has a static-reducing device adapted to reduce electrostatic charge of the seat to thereby minimize the electrostatic discharge between the seat and a passenger when the passenger exits the vehicle, the static-reducing device including conductive threading, conductive wiring, or a humidity-absorbing mat. | 10-09-2008 |
20080284195 | Vehicle Seat Assembly - A vehicle includes a seat assembly and a floor. The seat assembly includes a lower seat member operatively connected to the floor, a seatback member operatively connected to the lower seat member, and a head restraint operatively connected to the seatback member. The seat assembly is characterized by an occupiable configuration and a stowed configuration. The seat assembly is configured such that movement of the seat assembly from its occupiable configuration to its stowed configuration causes the head restraint to rotate in a first direction and then a second direction. | 11-20-2008 |
20090206581 | Airbag System - An embodiment of an airbag system includes a cavity configured to store an airbag, wherein the cavity has an aperture that provides an outlet for the airbag during deployment. The embodiment also includes a cover releasably attached over the aperture via an attachment mechanism having an initial attachment strength. The initial attachment strength is configured to reduce to a release attachment strength in response to receipt of a release signal at the attachment mechanism. | 08-20-2009 |
20090218858 | MANIPULABLE SEAT BOLSTER UTILIZING ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION - A manipulable seat bolster including an active material actuator configured to selectively cause or enable a condition, such as the geometric configuration, or position of the bolster to be modified, when the active material is activated. | 09-03-2009 |
20090218859 | ADJUSTABLE SEAT RAMP UTILIZING ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION - An adjustable seat ramp adapted for use with a seat base and defining a first angle of inclination, includes a structure translatably disposed within or integrally formed with the base and presenting a first position, and further includes an actuator employing a shape memory material element and configured to cause the structure to translate to a second position, wherein a second angle of inclination is defined. | 09-03-2009 |
20090230275 | FORE-AFT POSITION ADJUSTER UTILIZING ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION - A fore-aft positioning adjuster adapted for use with an object, such as a seat, includes a locking mechanism, and an actuator employing an active material element operable to undergo a reversible change when exposed to or occluded from an activation signal, and configured to selectively cause the mechanism to release, so that the object can be repositioned, as a result of the change. | 09-17-2009 |
20090236884 | RECLINER RELEASE ACTUATION THROUGH ACTIVE MATERIALS - A recliner adjustment system and method utilizing active material based actuation is adapted for use with a recliner defining an engaging surface and operable to adjust the angle of inclination of the surface, and includes a locking mechanism configured to selectively prevent the surface from pivoting, an unlocking actuator including at least one active material element configured to release the mechanism when activated or deactivated, a signal source operable to generate and deliver to the element an activation signal, and more preferably, a second adjusting actuator including a second active material element configured to rotationally displace the surface, so as to adjust the angle, when activated or deactivated and the mechanism has been released. | 09-24-2009 |
20090315373 | Vehicle Seat Side Air Bag - A vehicle seat includes a seat back frame, a foam cushion mounted on the frame, and an air bag assembly mounted upon the frame within a hollow provided in the cushion. A trim cover covers the cushion and conceals the air bag assembly, and includes a side panel facing the side of the vehicle and a front panel facing forwardly. The side panel and front panel are joined together at a vertical extending separable seam. The side panel has a lower portion and an upper portion joined together at a horizontal extending separable seam located adjacent to the lower edge of the air bag assembly. Upon inflation of the air bag, the inflating air bag forces the side panel outwardly causing separation of the separable seams and enabling the air bag to inflate both forwardly through the vertical extending separable seam and downwardly through the horizontal extending separable seam. | 12-24-2009 |
20100244495 | PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL USAGE IN WINDOW TREATMENTS - The window assembly for a vehicle includes a first portion supported by the vehicle and a second portion located proximate to the first portion. The second portion includes a phase change material (PCM) barrier. | 09-30-2010 |
20120234815 | TIME SENSITIVE HEATED SEAT CONTROL - A method and system for controlling a seat heater for a seat is provided. The method includes determining a timer value by a heated seat control module. The timer value is based on at least a current heater setting of the seat heater. The method includes sending the timer value to a timer. The timer counts down from the timer value and sends a timer expired signal to the heated seat control module if the amount of time indicated by the timer value has expired. The method includes determining a modified heater setting if the heated seat control module receives the time expired signal. The modified heater setting indicates a reduced level of heat provided to the seat heater. The method includes sending a notification signal to a signal generation module. The notification signal includes the modified heater setting. | 09-20-2012 |
20130341977 | ALERT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A VEHICLE - Haptic feedback systems, vehicle seat assemblies, and vehicles are provided. The haptic feedback system includes a bottom seat member, a first motor, and a second motor. The bottom seat member includes a seat pan with a first side, a second side, a first bolster, and a second bolster. The first bolster is positioned on the first side of the seat pan and the second bolster is positioned on the second side of the seat pan, wherein the first bolster and the second bolster include a resilient material. The first motor supported by the resilient material of the first bolster and the second motor is supported by the resilient material of the second bolster. | 12-26-2013 |
20130342330 | ALERT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A VEHICLE - Methods and vehicles are provided for providing haptic feedback to a vehicle occupant. In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a pattern of active haptic periods during which a controller will command a plurality of haptic actuators disposed in a seat of a vehicle to generate haptic pulses, determining a desired voltage of a signal supplied to the haptic actuators that indicates the active haptic periods to generate a desired intensity of haptic pulses, determining an actual voltage of an energy storage device of the vehicle, calculating a pulse width modulation (PWM) pattern that simulates the desired voltage when applied to the signal using the actual voltage, and generating a signal that indicates the active haptic periods based on the PWM pattern to command the haptic actuators to generate the desired intensity of haptic pulses. | 12-26-2013 |
20130342334 | ALERT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A VEHICLE WITH IMPROVED ACTUATOR PLACEMENT - A vehicle seat assembly is provided. The assembly includes a bottom seat member and a haptic alert assembly. The haptic alert assembly includes a first actuator incorporated into the bottom seat member. The first actuator is configured to generate at least a first portion of a haptic alert. | 12-26-2013 |
20130342335 | ALERT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A VEHICLE WITH IMPROVED ACTUATOR INSTALLATION - A vehicle seat assembly is provided. The vehicle seat assembly includes a bottom seat member with a seat pan with a first side and a second side, a first bolster positioned on the first side of the seat pan, and a second bolster positioned on the second side of the seat pan. The first bolster defines a first depression. The vehicle seat assembly further includes a haptic alert assembly with a first actuator having a first housing and a first motor within the first housing. The first housing is mounted within the first depression. | 12-26-2013 |
20130342339 | ALERT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A VEHICLE - Methods and vehicles are provided for providing haptic feedback to a vehicle occupant. In one embodiment, the method includes evaluating conditions related to a vehicle, selecting a type of haptic alert based on the evaluated conditions, selecting a pattern of haptic actuators to command based on the type of haptic alert and a location of the haptic actuators in a seat of the vehicle, selecting a number of active haptic periods to command based on the type of haptic alert, selecting a duration of the active haptic periods and a duration of inactive haptic periods based on the type of haptic alert, and generating a signal indicating the active haptic periods based on the selected pattern of haptic actuators, the selected number of active haptic periods, and the selected duration of the active and inactive haptic periods. | 12-26-2013 |
20130342366 | ALERT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A VEHICLE - Methods and vehicles are provided for providing haptic feedback to a vehicle occupant. In one embodiment, the method includes determining at least one of interior conditions and exterior conditions of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a plurality of haptic actuators disposed in a seat. The method further includes calculating at least one of a pulse width modulation (PWM) pattern and an on/off compensation pattern based on the determined interior conditions and exterior conditions. The method further includes generating a signal with active periods that include at least one of the calculated patterns to command the plurality of haptic actuators to produce haptic pulses. | 12-26-2013 |