WO2022159648A1 - Deployable leg support with linear actuation - Google Patents

Abstract

A deployable leg support for a vehicle seat includes an inner rail slidably coupled to an outer rail and a support platform rotationally coupled to the inner rail. The support platform is fixedly coupled to a front link. The rear link is rotatably coupled to the inner rail and slidably coupled to the front link. The rear link includes a locking hook configured to matingly engage with a lock pin fixedly coupled to the outer rail. When the inner link is transposed along the outer link towards an extended position, the locking hook matingly engages with the lock pin, rotates the rear link upward, and causes the rear link to slide along the front link which tilts the support platform towards the deployed position.

Description

DEPLOYABLE LEG SUPPORT WITH LINEAR ACTUATION

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 63/140,276, filed on January 22, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a leg support for a vehicle seat. More particularly, the invention relates to deployable leg support having linear actuation for a vehicle seat.

2. Description of Related Art

[0003] Various vehicle seat assemblies are known that include deployable leg supports. Certain vehicle seats include deployable leg supports that can be selectively extended from the vehicle seat. For example, German Publication 102017110262 Al discloses a leg support that is stored underneath the vehicle seat and deployed by a telescopic power train connected to a drive motor. This leg support includes a platform connected by front and rear links to sliding rails. In addition, the platform is connected to a center link that is operatively coupled to the power train. As the leg support is deployed, the center link raises the platform. The rear links are longer than the front links so that the platform is tilted as the platform is raised by the center link.

[0004] The use of a centrally located telescopic power train in combination with a center link adds cost and complexity. Further, while the platform can be raised and lowered by the telescopic power train, the tilt angle of the platform cannot be independently adjusted while the platform is deployed. It is therefore desirable to eliminate the centrally located telescopic power train to reduce the cost of the leg support. It is further desirable to reduce the number of links required to deploy the leg support to reduce the cost of the leg support. It is also desirable to independently control the horizontal position and the tilt angle of the platform while the platform is deployed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to one embodiment, there is provided a deployable leg support for a vehicle seat comprising an inner rail slidably coupled to an outer rail and a support platform rotationally coupled to the inner rail. The support platform is fixedly coupled to a front link. A rear link is rotatably coupled to the inner rail and slidably coupled to the front link. The rear link includes a locking hook configured to matingly engage with a lock pin fixedly coupled to the outer rail. When the inner link is transposed along the outer link towards an extended position, the locking hook matingly engages with the lock pin, rotates the rear link upward, and causes the rear link to slide along the front link which tilts the support platform towards the deployed position.

[0006] According to another embodiment, there is provided a deployable leg support for a vehicle seat comprising an inner rail slidably coupled to an outer rail and a support platform rotationally coupled to the inner rail. The support platform is fixedly coupled to a front link. A rear link is rotationally coupled to the inner rail and slidably coupled to the front link by a rear pin. A tilt motor is fixedly coupled to the support platform and configured to rotate a tilt screw. A tilt nut is meshingly engaged with the tilt screw and coupled to the rear pin. The tilt nut is configured to be transposed along the tilt screw as the tilt screw rotates. Transposing the inner rail along the outer rail adjusts a horizontal position of the support platform. Transposing the tilt nut along the tilt screw adjusts a tilt angle of the support platform by transposing the rear pin along the front link.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0008] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat having a deployable leg support according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the leg support of Figure 1 in a retracted position;

[0010] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the leg support of Figure 2 with the leg support in an intermediary position; [0011] Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the leg support of Figure 3 with the leg support in a partially deployed position;

[0012] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the leg support of Figure 3 with the leg support in a deployed position;

[0013] Figure 6 is an enlarged side view of the leg support of Figure 5 with the leg support in the deployed position;

[0014] Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of portion 7 of the leg support of Figure 3 with the leg support in the intermediary position;

[0015] Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of portion 8 of the leg support of Figure 4 with the leg support in the partially deployed position;

[0016] Figure 9 is an enlarged side view of portion 8 of the leg support of Figure 5 with the leg support in the deployed position;

[0017] Figure 10 is an enlarged side view of portion 8 of the leg support of Figure 5 with the leg support in the deployed position;

[0018] Figure 11 is front cut-away view of the leg support of Figure 2 taken along section line 11-11;

[0019] Figure 12 is cross-sectional view of the leg support of Figure 2 taken along section line 12-12;

[0020] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support of Figure 2 taken along section line 13-13;

[0021] Figure 14 is a partially transparent front perspective view of a leg support for a vehicle seat having a tilt mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention and showing the leg support in a retracted position;

[0022] Figure 15 is enlarged top view of a portion of the leg support of Figure 14;

[0023] Figure 16 is a side view of a vehicle seat having the leg support of Figure 14 with the leg support in the design position; [0024] Figure 17 is a side view of the vehicle seat of Figure 16, showing the leg support in an intermediary position;

[0025] Figure 18 is a side view of the vehicle seat of Figure 17, showing the support platform partially tilted;

[0026] Figure 19 is a side view of the vehicle seat of Figure 18, showing the leg support in a fully deployed position;

[0027] Figure 20 is a partially transparent side view of the tilt mechanism of Figure 15 with the tilt mechanism in a stowed position;

[0028] Figure 21 is a side view of the tilt mechanism of Figure 20 with the tilt mechanism in a partially tilted position; and

[0029] Figure 22 is a side view of the tilt mechanism of Figure 21 with the tilt mechanism in a tilted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Figures 1-22 illustrate a leg support 10 for a vehicle seat 12 according to embodiments described herein. Directional references employed or shown in the description, figures, or claims, such as top, bottom, upper, lower, upward, downward, lengthwise, widthwise, left, right, and the like, are relative terms employed for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any respect. Referring to the Figures, like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

[0031] As depicted in Figure 1, the leg support 10 is configured to be attached to a vehicle seat 12 and is selectively deployable for use by an occupant of the vehicle seat 12. The vehicle seat 12 includes a seat back 14 rotatably coupled to a seat cushion 16 that is attached to a seat base 18. In certain vehicle seats 12, the seat back 14 can be reclined relative to the seat cushion 16 with the seat cushion 16 having an adjustable angle of inclination. In addition, the seat base 18 is transposable fore and aft along a pair of lower rails 20. It should be appreciated that certain vehicle seats 12 lack the lower rails 20 shown in Figure 1 without departing from the scope of the present invention. [0032] Referring to Figures 2-6, the leg support 10 includes opposing outer rails 22 and opposing inner rails 23. The outer rails 22 are fixedly coupled to the vehicle seat 12 by front brackets 24 and rear brackets 26. Each inner rail 23 is configured to be transposed along the outer rail 22.

[0033] As best shown in Figure 4, the leg support 10 also includes a tilt assembly 28. The tilt assembly 28 includes a support platform 29, opposing front links 30, opposing pivot links 31, opposing rear links 32, and a pivot tube 33. The support platform 29 has a generally rectangular shape with opposing platform sides 34 extending between a rear edge 35 and a front edge 36. However, it will be understood that the support platform 29 can vary in shape without departing from the scope of the invention, including but not limited to replacing the support platform 29 with one or more brackets extending between the opposing front links 30. Each of the front links 30 has a slot 37 extending in a longitudinal direction on a proximal portion of the front link 30 and a flange 38 (shown in phantom) extending at an angle from the front link 30. The flange 38 of each front link 30 is fixedly coupled to the adjacent platform side 34 in the embodiment shown in Figure 4. It should be appreciated that in alternate embodiments the front links 30 may be integrally formed with the support platform 29 without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0034] Also depicted in Figure 4, an upper end of each opposing pivot link 31 is fixedly coupled to the adjacent distal end of front link 30, while the lower end of each opposing pivot link 31 is rotationally coupled to a front end of the adjacent inner rail 23. More specifically, a platform pin 46 extends through the upper end of each of the pivot links 31 and through the distal end of the adjacent front link 30. In addition, a lower pin 48 extends through the other end of each of the pivot links 31 and is rotationally coupled to the front end of the adjacent inner rail 23. It should be appreciated that in alternate embodiments the opposing pivot links 31 could be rotationally coupled to the adjacent distal end of the front link 30, while the lower end of the each opposing pivot link 31 is fixedly coupled to the front end of the adjacent inner rail 23 without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0035] An upper end of each opposing rear link 32 is rotationally and slidably coupled to the slot 37 in the respective front link 30. More specifically, a rear pin 52 extends through the upper end of each rear link 32 and passes through a bushing 54 configured to slide along the slot 37 in the front link 30 between a distal end 37a and a proximal end 37b of the slot 37. In addition, the pivot tube 33 is fixedly coupled to a lower end of both rear links 32. As best shown in Figure 13, a weld stud 57 is fixedly coupled to each of the inner rails 23 and is inserted into the respective end of the pivot tube 33. The pivot tube 33 is rotatable relative to the weld studs 57 to rotationally couple the lower end of each rear link 32 to each inner rail 23. It should be appreciated that the weld stud 57 shown in Figure 13 can be replaced by a pivot bolt or a pin extending from the inner rail 23 without altering the scope of the invention. Further, it should be appreciated that certain embodiments can include one or more washers or bushings between the pivot tube 33 and the inner rail 23 without altering the scope of the invention.

[0036] As best shown in Figure 7, each rear link 32 includes a locking hook 58 projecting from a lower portion of the rear link 32. The locking hook 58 includes a hook slot 60 that is open- ended. More specifically, the hook slot 60 includes a mouth portion 60a connected to a base portion 60b with the mouth portion 60a generally oriented towards an upper end of the rear link 32. The base portion 60b of the hook slot 60 is configured to matingly engage with a lock pin 62 fixedly coupled to the adjacent outer rail 22. As depicted in Figure 6, the lock pin 62 (shown in phantom) projects from a flange 64 extending from each of the outer rails 22. It should be appreciated that in alternate embodiments the flange 64 can be a separate bracket that is fixedly coupled to the outer rail 22.

[0037] Referring to Figure 7, the mouth portion 60a of the hook slot 60 is configured such that the lock pin 62 can pass into and through the mouth portion 60a and into the base portion 60b. The base portion 60b is configured to matingly engage with the lock pin 62 with the base portion 60b being able to frictionally slide around the lock pin 62. The mouth portion 60a has an inclination angle 65 relative to the rear link 32. In addition, an upper edge 60c of the rear link 32 forming part of the hook slot 60 has an offset distance 67 from the lock pin 62 when the locking hook 58 is spaced apart from the lock pin 62 and the rear link 32 is in a down position, as shown in Figure 7. As will be further described below, both mouth portion 60a and the upper edge 60c of the rear link 32 act as camming surfaces to rotate the rear link 32.

[0038] An assist spring 68 is shown in Figure 7 that is operatively coupled between the rear link 32 and a stud 69 projecting from the inner rail 23. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the assist spring 68 is a torsion spring having a spring end 70 passing through a spring slot 72 in an angled flange 74 projecting from the rear link 32. An opposing spring end 76 is looped around the stud 69. The spring-bias within the assist spring 68 urges the rear link 32 to rotate upward, as illustrated by arrow 77. As such, the assist spring 68 rotationally spring-biases the rear link 32 relative to the inner rail 23. In addition, the pivot tube 33 passes laterally through a coiled portion 78 of the assist spring 68. It should be appreciated that the assist spring 68 can be omitted in certain embodiments. Further, it should also be appreciated that other types and shapes of springs can be substituted for the torsion spring 68 shown in Figure 7 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0039] As depicted in Figures 2, 11, and 12, the leg support 10 includes a linear actuation system 80 configured to transpose the inner rails 23 along the outer rails 22. As best shown in Figures 5 and 11, the linear actuation system 80 comprises a drive motor 82, a drive shaft 84, left and right gearboxes 86a, 86b, lead screws 88, and lead screw nuts 90. A wiring harness (not shown) provides power to the drive motor 82. The drive motor 82 is configured to rotate the drive shaft 84 (arrows 92a, 92b), as depicted in Figure 11. Left and right ends 84a, 84b of the drive shaft 84 are operatively coupled to a respective one of the left and right gearboxes 86a, 86b.

[0040] Referring to Figure 5, each of the left and right gearboxes 86a, 86b is fixedly coupled to the respective outer rail 22 of the leg support 10. In addition, a lead screw 88 (shown in phantom) is operatively connected to each of the left and right gearboxes 86a, 86b. As best depicted in Figure 12, each of the lead screws 88 is meshingly engaged with a respective lead screw nut 90, and each of the lead screw nuts 90 is transposable along the respective lead screw 88.

[0041] Also shown in Figure 12, each of the lead screw nuts 90 is fixedly coupled to a respective inner rail 23. The inner rail 23 includes a bearing 94 or other glide devices such that the inner rail 23 is transposable along the outer rail 22. One or more position detection switches is configured to indicate if the inner rails 23 are retracted or extended relative to the outer rails 22. It should be appreciated that the linear actuation system 80 can include other methods of linearly transposing the inner rails 23 along the outer rails 22 without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, an alternate linear actuation system 80 includes a manual release to lock and unlock the inner rail 23 and the outer rail 22. With this alternative linear actuation device, the inner rail 23 is manually transposable along the outer rail 22 when the manual release unlocks the inner rail 23 from the outer rail 22.

[0042] The leg support 10 can be deployed for use upon demand by the occupant. Referring to Figure 2, the leg support 10 is initially in a design position where the support platform 29 is at least partially stowed underneath the vehicle seat 12 and is unobtrusive to the occupant when not in use. In the design position, the rear link 32 is in the down position. Referring to Figures 2 through 10, to move the leg support 10 from the design position to the deployed position, the drive motor 82 rotates the drive shaft 84, which causes the left and right gearboxes 86a, 86b to rotate the respective lead screws 88. The lead screw nuts 90 are transposed along the lead screws 88 in response to the rotation of the lead screws 88, and the inner rails 23 are transposed along the outer rails 22 by the lead screw nuts 90 being transposed along the lead screws 88. When the drive motor 82 rotates the drive shaft 84 in one direction, the lead screw nuts 90 are transposed along the lead screws 88 in a forward direction (arrow 96) which causes the inner rails 23 to be transposed in the forward direction (arrow 96) along the outer rails 22.

[0043] Movement of the support platform 29 is controlled by movement of the rear link 32 as the rear link 32 engages with the lock pin 62, as illustrated in more detail in Figures 7 through 10. Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of portion 7 of Figure 3 with the leg support 10 in the intermediary position before the support platform 29 starts to tilt. In Figure 7, the locking hook 58 on the rear link 32 is shown approaching and spaced apart from the lock pin 62 as the inner rail 23 is transposed in the forward direction (arrow 96). When the locking hook 58 is spaced apart from the lock pin 62 prior to the locking hook 58 engaging the lock pin 62, the rear link 32 is in the down position generally aligned with the inner rail 23.

[0044] As shown in Figure 4, additional forward movement (arrow 96) of the inner rail 23 brings the lock pin 62 into engagement with the locking hook 58. Figure 4 shows the leg support 10 in a partially deployed position with the support platform 29 partially tilted. As best depicted in Figure 8, the lock pin 62 enters the mouth portion 60a of the hook slot 60 and slides along the hook slot 60 as the inner rail 23 is transposed in the forward direction (arrow 96). The inclination angle 65 of the mouth portion 60a in combination with the offset distance 67 between the bottom of the lock pin 62 and the upper edge 60c of the rear link 32 cause the rear link 32 to be rotated upward (arrow 77) as the lock pin 62 enters the mouth portion 60a. In addition, the spring bias of the assist spring 68 urges the rear link 32 to rotate in the direction of arrow 77. It should be appreciated that certain embodiments of the leg support 10 omit the assist spring 68 without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0045] The lock pin 62 is shown matingly engaged with the base portion 60b of the hook slot 60 in Figure 9. When the lock pin 62 matingly engages with the base portion 60b of the hook slot 60, additional forward movement (arrow 96) of the inner rail 23 causes the rear link 32 and pivot tube 33 to rotate about the axis of the pivot tube 33, as illustrated by arrow 77. The assist spring 68 continues to urge the rear link 32 upward, as illustrated by arrow 77.

[0046] Referring to Figure 4, as the rear link 32 starts to rotate upward (arrow 77) in response to the inner rail 23 being transposed in the forward direction (arrow 96), the rear pin 52 starts to slide along the slot 37 in the front link 30 in the direction of arrow 102. Since the front link 30 is fixedly coupled to the pivot link 31 which is further rotationally coupled to the inner rail 23, the front link 30 is tilted upward (arrow 104) as the rear link 32 is rotated upward (arrow 77) and the rear pin 52 travels along the slot 37 in the front link 30 (arrow 102). Thus, the rear link 32 tilts the support platform 29 towards the deployed position as the upper end of the rear link 32 slides along the front link 30.

[0047] The leg support 10 is fully deployed with the rear link 32 in an up position and the support platform 29 fully tilted when the rear pin 52 frictionally engages with the proximal end 37b of the slot 37, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Referring to Figure 6, when inner rails 23 are at full extension and the leg support 10 is fully deployed, the rear link 32 is fully locked by the locking hook 58 and lock pin 62 interface. As such, downward pressure (arrow 106) applied to the support platform 29 under normal usage conditions will not collapse the rear links 32 and front links 30. In the fully deployed position, the leg support 10 provides support for the occupant’s lower legs.

[0048] Upon occupant demand, the deployment function can be reversed to retract the leg support 10, as illustrated in Figure 10. The rotational direction of the drive motor 82 is reversed such that the inner rail 23 is retracted (arrow 108) relative to the outer rail 22. As the inner rail 23 is retracted (arrow 108), the lock pin 62 frictionally engages with the upper edge 60c of the rear link 32 and rotates the rear link 32 downward (arrow 110) as the inner rail 23 is retracted from the extended position. Referring to Figure 5, as the rear link 32 rotates downward (arrow 110), the rear pin 52 slides forward (arrow 112) along the slot 37 in the front link 30, causing the front link 30 to rotate downward (arrow 114). After the support platform 29 is in the stowed position shown in Figure 3, the leg support 10 is retracted towards (arrow 108) the design position shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0049] A second embodiment of the leg support 10' is shown in Figures 14 through 22. Elements in Figures 14 through 22 that are the same as those used above in Figures 1 through 13 have the same reference numbers for simplicity, while prime notations indicate similar elements. Only significant differences in relation to the embodiment shown in Figures 1-13 are highlighted below. The differences substantially involve the addition of independent tilt adjustment along with an independent horizontal adjustment of the leg support 10'.

[0050] Referring to Figures 14 and 15, the tilt assembly 28' further includes a support tube 116, a drive bracket 118, a tilt nut 120, a tilt motor 122, a mounting bracket 124, and a tilt screw 126. Each end of the support tube 116 is fixedly coupled to the lower end of each opposing pivot link 31. The lower pins 48 are inserted into the respective ends of the support tube 116. The pivot links 31 and the support tube 116 are rotationally coupled to the adjacent inner rails 23 through the rotational connection therebetween.

[0051] Each opposing end of the drive bracket 118 includes a bent tab 118a that is rotationally coupled to the respective rear pin 52. More specifically, a rear pin 52 extends through the upper end of each rear link 32 and passes through the adj acent bent tab 118a of the drive bracket 118 and through the slot 37 in the adjacent front link 30. In the embodiment shown in Figure 15, the rear pin 52 is a shouldered weld stud having a head welded to the upper end of the rear link 32 and a threaded end passing through the bent tab 118a of the drive bracket 118 and through the slot 37 in the adj acent front link 30. The bent tab 118a abuts a shoulder surface on the rear pin 52. A distal end of the rear pin 52 is fastened with a threaded nut 59. Optionally included between adj acent surfaces of the threaded nut 59, the front link 30, the bent tab 118a, and the shoulder surface of the rear pin 52 are one or more bushings or washers. It will be appreciated that in alternate embodiments the rear pin 52 can be a clinch stud, a shoulder bolt, or the like, without altering the scope of the invention.

[0052] As best depicted in Figure 15, the tilt nut 120 is fixedly coupled to a center portion of the drive bracket 118. Also, the tilt motor 122 is fixedly coupled to the mounting bracket 124 that is further fixedly coupled to a lower surface of the support platform 29. The tilt motor 122 is operatively coupled to the tilt screw 126 and configured to rotate the tilt screw 126. Further, the tilt screw 126 is meshingly engaged with the tilt nut 120. The tilt nut 120 is transposable along the tilt screw 126. The tilt assembly 28' further includes a wiring harness (not shown) to provide power to the tilt motor 122. In addition, the tilt assembly 28' also includes one or more position detection switches to verify if the support platform 29 is in the stowed position.

[0053] The leg support 10' can be deployed for use upon demand by the occupant. After the leg support 10' is deployed to an intermediate position 128 shown in Figure 17, the tilt angle of the support platform 29 and the horizontal position of the support platform 29 are independently adjustable for customizing the support of the occupant’s lower legs.

[0054] Referring to Figures 14 and 16, the leg support 10' is initially in a design position where the support platform 29 is at least partially stowed underneath the vehicle seat 12 and is unobtrusive to the occupant when not in use. In the design position, the rear link 32 is in the down position with the support platform 29 in the stowed position. The inner rails 23 are shown fully retracted relative to the outer rails 22 with the full retraction of the inner rails 23 indicated by element 156 in Figure 16.

[0055] During initial deployment of the leg support 10', the linear actuation system 80 extends the inner rails 23 relative to the outer rails 22, as illustrated by arrow 96 shown in Figure 16 and in a similar manner as described above with respect to the first embodiment.

[0056] The occupant can independently adjust the tilt angle and horizontal position of the support platform 29 for maximum comfort for the occupant, as illustrated by Figures 17 through 19. Once the inner rails 23 are transposed to the intermediate position 128 shown in Figure 17, tilt movement (arrow 152) of the support platform 29 is controlled by the tilt assembly 28' with horizontal position (arrow 133) of the support platform 29 controlled by the linear actuation system 80. The tilt assembly 28' is selectively operatable to adjust the tilt angle (arrow 152) of the support platform 29 from the stowed position shown in Figure 17 and the full tilt position represented by element 134. In addition, the linear actuation system 80 is selectively operatable to reposition the support platform 29 horizontally by adjusting the relative position of the inner rails 23 between the intermediary position 128 and the extended position 135. The adjustment of the support platform 29 while deployed is further illustrated by Figures 18 and 19. Figure 18 shows the relative positions of the support platform 29 and the inner rails 23 after the support platform 29 has been partially tilted with the inner rails 23 retained in the intermediary position 128 relative to the outer rails 22. Figure 19 shows the relative positions of the support platform 29 and the inner rails 23 after the support platform 29 is fully tilted and the inner rails 23 fully extended relative to the outer rails 22.

[0057] Tilt movement of the support platform 29 is controlled by movement of the tilt assembly 28', as illustrated in more detail in Figures 20 through 22. Figure 20 shows the support platform 29 in the stowed position before the support platform 29 starts to tilt. In Figure 20, when the rear links 32 are in the down position, the rear links 32 are positioned at a positive angle 138 relative to the tilt screw 126. When the occupant requests deployment of the leg support 10', after the linear actuation system 80 transposes the inner rails 23 along the outer rails 22 to the intermediary position 128 (Figure 17), the tilt motor 122 turns the tilt screw 126 in a first rotational direction, causing the tilt nut 120 to travel rearward (arrow 140) along the tilt screw 126. The movement of the tilt nut 120 along the tilt screw 126 also moves the rear pins 52 rearward (arrow 143) along the slots 37 in the front links 30. The positive angle 138 of the rear links 32 with respect to the tilt screw 126 allows the rear links 32 to rotate upward (arrow 144) in response to the rear pins 52 being transposed rearward (arrow 143) along the respective slot 37. As viewed in Figure 20, the rear links 32 rotate in a counterclockwise direction (arrow 144) when the rear links 32 rotate upward.

[0058] Figure 21 depicts the tilt assembly 28' after the support platform 29 is partially tilted with the rear pins 52 transposed midway along the slots 37 in the front links 30. The relative position of the rear pins 52 along the slots 37 controls the tilt angle of the support platform 29. The occupant can selectively increase and decrease the tilt angle 130 of the support platform 29 while the support platform 29 is deployed. In response to the occupant’s command for a change in tilt angle 130, the tilt motor 122 rotates the tilt screw 126 such that the tilt nut 120 is transposed forward or rearward (arrow 145) along the tilt screw 126. The movement of the tilt nut 120 transposes the rear pin 52 in the respective forward or rearward direction (arrow 148) along the slot 37. The rear links 32 and the support platform 29 are rotated upward or downward (arrow 150) in response to the movement of the rear pin 52 (arrow 148) along the slot 37. Transposing the tilt nut 120 rearward along the tilt screw 126 increases the tilt angle 130 of the support platform 29. In contrast, transposing the tilt nut 120 towards the tilt motor 122 decreases the tilt angle 130 of the support platform 29. When the support platform 29 is fully tilted, as depicted in Figure 22, the rear pin 52 abuts the proximal end 37b of the slot 37.

[0059] Upon command from the occupant to stow the leg support 10', the leg support 10' is repositioned from the fully deployed position shown in Figure 19 to the stowed position shown in Figure 16. Referring to Figure 19, when the occupant requests that the leg support 10' be stowed underneath the vehicle seat 12, the support platform 29 is rotated towards the stowed position (arrow 152) by the tilt assembly 28' to the stowed position shown in Figure 17. After the support platform 29 is in the stowed position, the linear actuation system 80 retracts the inner rails 23 relative to the outer rails 22 (arrow 154) to the fully retracted position 156. The retraction of the inner rails 23 returns the leg support 10' to the design position shown in Figure 16.

[0060] The process of rotating the support platform 29 to the stowed position is further shown in Figure 22. Referring to Figure 22, to stow the support platform 29, the tilt motor 122 reverses the rotational direction of the tilt screw 126 and transposes the tilt nut 120 forward (arrow 158) along the tilt screw 126. The movement of the tilt nut 120 along the tilt screw 126 in the direction of arrow 158 transposes the rear pin 52 along the slot 37 in a forward direction (arrow 160). Once the support platform 29 is repositioned to the stowed position shown in Figure 20, the linear actuation system 80 can retract the tilt assembly 28' towards the vehicle seat 12.

[0061] As discussed above, the leg support 10, 10' of the present invention includes a linear actuation system 80 that is integrated within the outer rails 22. The leg support 10, 10' of the present invention has a reduced cost over the known systems since the centrally located telescopic power train and the center link have been eliminated. Further, the leg support 10' of the present invention includes independent control of the horizontal position and the tilt angle of the support platform 29 while the support platform 29 is deployed.

[0062] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A deploy able leg support for a vehicle seat comprising: an inner rail slidably coupled to an outer rail and configured to be transposed along the outer rail between a retracted position and an extended position; a lock pin fixedly coupled to the outer rail; a support platform fixedly coupled to a front link and rotatably coupled to the inner rail and tiltable between a stowed position and a deployed position; and a rear link having an upper end slidably coupled to the front link, a lower end rotationally coupled to the inner rail, and a locking hook projecting from the rear link; wherein the locking hook matingly engages with the lock pin and rotates the rear link upward as the inner rail is transposed along the outer rail towards the extended position such that the rear link tilts the support platform towards the deployed position as the upper end of the rear link slides along the front link.

2. The deploy able leg support as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a rear pin proj ecting from the rear link and configured to slide along a slot in the front link.

3. The deployable leg support as set forth in claim 2, wherein the rear pin is frictionally engaged with a proximal end of the slot when the inner rail is fully extended.

4. The deployable leg support as set forth in claim 3, wherein frictional engagement between the rear link and the lock pin rotates the rear link downward as the inner rail is retracted from the extended position.

5. The deployable leg support as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a linear actuation system configured to transpose the inner rail along the outer rail.

6. The deployable leg support as set forth in claim 5, wherein the linear actuation system further comprises a drive motor operatively coupled to the inner rail and configured to selectively transpose the inner rail along the outer rail.

7. The deployable leg support as set forth in claim 6, the linear actuation system further comprising: a lead screw nut fixedly coupled to the inner rail; and a lead screw meshingly engaged with the lead screw nut; wherein the drive motor is operatively coupled to the lead screw and configured to rotate the lead screw to transpose the inner rail between the retracted position and the extended position as the lead screw nut is transposed along the lead screw.

8. The deployable leg support as set forth in claim 5, further comprising: an assist spring rotationally spring-biasing the rear link relative to the inner rail.

9. The deployable leg support as set forth in claim 5, wherein the linear actuation system is configured to manually transpose the inner rail along the outer rail.

10. The deployable leg support as set forth in claim 5, wherein the support platform is retracted at least partially underneath the vehicle seat when the inner rail is transposed towards the retracted position.

11. A deployable leg support for a vehicle seat comprising: an inner rail slidably coupled to an outer rail and configured to be transposed along the outer rail between a retracted position and an extended position; a support platform fixedly coupled to a front link and rotatably coupled to the inner rail; a rear link having a lower end rotationally coupled to the inner rail; a rear pin slidably coupling an upper end of the rear link to the front link; a tilt motor fixedly coupled to the support platform and configured to rotate a tilt screw; and a tilt nut meshingly engaged with the tilt screw and configured to be transposed along the tilt screw as the tilt screw rotates, the tilt nut being coupled to the rear pin; wherein transposing the inner rail along the outer rail adjusts a horizontal position of the support platform; and wherein transposing the tilt nut along the tilt screw adjusts a tilt angle of the support platform by transposing the rear pin along the front link.

12. The deployable leg support as set forth in claim 11, wherein: the front link includes a slot extending in a longitudinal direction of the front link; the rear pin extends from the rear link and passes through the slot; and the rear pin is transposed along the slot by the tilt nut being transposed along the tilt screw.

13. The deploy able leg support as set forth in claim 12, further comprising: 16 a drive bracket rotationally coupled to the rear pin; wherein the tilt nut is fixedly coupled to the drive bracket.

14. The deployable leg support as set forth in claim 13, further comprising: a mounting bracket fixedly coupling the tilt motor to the support platform.

15. The deploy able leg support as set forth in claim 14, further comprising: a linear actuation system configured to transpose the inner rail along the outer rail.

16. The deployable leg support as set forth in claim 15, wherein the linear actuation system further comprises a drive motor operatively coupled to the inner rail and configured to selectively transpose the inner rail along the outer rail.

17. The deployable leg support as set forth in claim 16, further comprising: a lead screw nut fixedly coupled to the inner rail; and a lead screw meshingly engaged with the lead screw nut; wherein the drive motor is operatively coupled to the lead screw and configured to rotate the lead screw to transpose the inner rail between the retracted position and the extended position as the lead screw nut is transposed along the lead screw.

18. The deployable leg support as set forth in claim 17, further comprising: an assist spring rotationally spring-biasing the rear link with respect to the inner rail.

19. The deployable leg support as set forth in claim 15, wherein the linear actuation system is configured to manually transpose the inner rail along the outer rail.

20. The deploy able leg support as set forth in claim 15, wherein the support platform is retracted at least partially underneath the vehicle seat when the inner rail is transposed towards the retracted position.