Description:Field of the Invention
[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of a vehicle seat.
More particularly the present disclosure relates to a vehicle seat with a bolster part
5 assisting in easy ingress/egress of passengers.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Background description includes information that may be
10 useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the
information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed
invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Vehicle seats with a bolster is a very trending feature that
companies provide along with vehicles nowadays. The bolster is mostly used in the
15 seat pan/ seat back side portion of the vehicle to provide comfort and/or safety to a
passenger sitting on the vehicle seat. Mostly they are fixed or movable/adjustable
so as to fit with different passenger contours.
[0004] However, these known bolsters may hinder/obstruct the
ingress/egress of the passenger while stepping into the vehicle or stepping out of
20 the vehicle. Moreover, for a fat person, it may create discomfort.
[0005] There is, therefore, a need for an improved vehicle seat
with a bolster part which solves at least one of the above explained drawbacks of
the prior art.
3
Objects of the Present Disclosure
[0006] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at
least one embodiment herein satisfy are listed below.
5 [0007] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a bolster
part for a vehicle seat that is capable of providing easy ingree/egress facility.
[0008] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an
improved vehicle seat with an adjustable bolster part.
[0009] It is an object of the present disclosure to an on-demand
10 bolster part of a vehicle seat.
[0010] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle
seat with a bolster part that require no/less maintenance.
[0011] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a simple
and easy to use, and cost-effective at the same time since no complex
15 electronic/mechanical components are used for the on-demand bolster part of the
vehicle.
Summary of the Invention
20 [0012] The present disclosure relates to the field of vehicle seat.
More particularly the present disclosure relates to a vehicle seat with a bolster part
assisting in easy ingress/egress or an on-demand bolster part.
4
[0013] An aspect of the present disclosure pertains to a vehicle
seat. In an aspect, the vehicle seat includes a bolster part for supporting and/or
providing comfort/safety to a passenger sitting on the vehicle seat. The bolster part
can be covered by a cushioning member. The bolster part is arranged on a frame.
5 Further, a biasing member is configured to bias the bolster part away from the frame
such that only upon application of a predefined force on the bolster part it is
movable in a first direction (vertical up-down direction) which is towards the frame.
In an aspect, the biasing member is a compression spring. The predefined force on
the bolster part can be applied by the passenger of the vehicle like by hand or by a
10 portion of a leg (thigh) during egress/ingress.
[0014] In an aspect, a stopper is arranged on/in the frame. The
stopper is movable in between a first position and one or more second position such
that when the stopper is in the first position blocks the movement of the bolster part
in the first direction and when in the one or more second position the bolster part is
15 movable in the first direction for assisting passenger during egress/ingress. In an
aspect, the stopper is a wedge-shaped block and is movable in a second direction
which is substantially perpendicular/oblique to the first direction.
[0015] In implementation, when the passenger desires to step out
(egress) of the vehicle or to step in (ingress) into the vehicle, the stopper can be
20 moved to the one or more second position for assisting in an easy egress/ingress,
and once the passenger sits on the vehicle seat, the stopper can be moved back to
the first position thereby supporting and/or providing comfort/safety to a passenger
sitting on the vehicle seat.
5
[0016] In an aspect, the stopper may include an extended portion
(handle) which is accessible to the passenger to move the stopper manually between
the first position and the one or more second position in the second direction (frontrear direction on the vehicle). In another aspect, the movement of the stopper
5 between the first position and the one or more second position in the second
direction can be control electrically for example by an electric motor.
[0017] In an aspect, the bolster part can be of an M-shape
structure with three legs. Particularly, a central leg of the three legs is equal/smaller
in length compared to the other right and left legs. More particularly, the central leg
10 of the three legs is of a Y-shaped structure providing reinforcement to the bolster
part. Further, a pair of biasing members are arranged at the right and left side legs
of the M-shape structure of the bolster part allowing the bolster part to be movable
in the first (vertical up-down) direction. Particularly, the stopper in its first position
abuts with the central leg of the M-shape structure of the bolster part thereby blocks
15 the movement of the bolster part in the first direction.
[0018] In an aspect, a free end portion of the right and left legs is
movable inside a hollow (circular) cylinder arranged on the frame such that the
biasing member (compression spring) is arranged within the hollow cylinder in
which a first end portion of the biasing member is abutting to the frame and a second
20 end portion is abutting the free end portion the legs. In another aspect, the right and
left legs of the M-shaped structure have a foot preferably of a circular shape
movable inside the hollow (circular) cylinder. Particularly, the foot has a cavity
6
therein such that the second end portion of the biasing member is abutting an inner
surface of the cavity of the foot.
[0019] In an aspect, the frame is a side portion of a seat pan and/or
seat back of the vehicle seat. In another aspect, the frame is plate shaped member
5 adapted to be arranged in/on the side portion of a seat pan and/or seat back of the
vehicle seat. Further, the frame includes a base and an arm which is extending
substantially in the first direction (vertical up-down direction). The arm includes a
rail such that the extended portion (handle) of the stopper is arranged slidably in/on
the rail enabling the movement of the stopper between the first position and the
10 second position.
[0020] In an aspect, wherein the stopper is further movable from
the one or more second position to a third position in the second direction.
Particularly, the stopper includes a hook adapted to be engaged and locked with a
groove arranged on the central leg of the bolster part in the third position which
15 restricts the biasing member to bias the bolster part away from the frame. In the
third position, the bolster part is substantially in a same plane as that of the seat pan
and/or the seat back of the vehicle seat. In implementation, to achieve the third
position of the bolster part, the stopper is first moved to the one or more second
position and then simultaneously moving the bolster part towards the first direction
20 and the stopper towards the third position until the hook gets engaged and locked
within the groove of the central leg. The third position is particularly useful when
the seat back is rotated backwards to a sleep seat position wherein the passenger
can lie down or when the bolster is not helpful like for a fat passenger.
7
[0021] In another aspect of the present invention, a bolster
assembly for a vehicle seat is disclosed. The assembly includes a bolster part for
supporting and/or providing comfort/safety to a passenger sitting on the vehicle
seat. In which the bolster part is arranged on a frame. Further, a biasing member is
5 configured to bias the bolster part away from the frame such that only upon
application of a predefined force on the bolster part, the bolster part is movable in
a first direction towards the frame. A stopper is arranged on/in the frame. The
stopper is movable in between a first position and one or more second position such
that when the stopper is in the first position blocks the movement of the bolster part
10 in the first direction and when in the one or more second position the bolster part is
movable in the first direction (towards the frame).
[0022] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the
inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed
description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing
15 figures in which like numerals represent like components.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0023] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a
20 further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary
embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to
8
explain the principles of the present disclosure. The diagrams are for illustration
only, which thus is not a limitation of the present disclosure.
[0024] In the figures, similar components and/or features may
have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may
5 be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that
distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used
in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar
components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second
reference label.
10 [0025] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary representation of the
proposed vehicle seat with a bolster part and a stopper (in its one or more second
position), in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary representation of the
proposed vehicle seat with a bolster part and a stopper (in its first position), in
15 accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary representation of the
proposed vehicle seat with a bolster part and a stopper (in its third position), in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric view of the Fig. 1.
20
Detailed Description
9
[0029] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of
the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in
such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail
offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the
5 contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives
falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0030] In the following description, numerous specific details are
set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present
invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the
10 present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details.
[0031] The present disclosure relates to the field of a vehicle seat.
More particularly the present disclosure relates to an adjustable bolster part for a
vehicle seat. Referring to FIGs. 1 to 4, a vehicle seat (1) with a bolster part (10) for
supporting and/or providing comfort/safety to a passenger sitting on the vehicle seat
15 (1) is illustrated. In an embodiment, the bolster part (10) is arranged on a frame
(20). Further a biasing member (8) is configured to bias the bolster part (10) away
from the frame (20) such that only upon application of a predefined force on the
bolster part (10), the bolster part (10) is movable in a first direction (10a) which is
towards the frame (20).
20 [0032] In an embodiment, a stopper (30) is arranged on/in the
frame (20) and, the stopper (30) is movable in between a first position (15-1) and
one or more second position (15-2) such that when the stopper (30-2) is in the first
position (15-1), the stopper (30) blocks the movement of bolster part (20) in the
10
first direction (10a), and when the stopper (30) is in the one or more second position
(15-2) the bolster part (10) is movable in the first direction (10a) for assisting
passenger during egress/ingress of the vehicle.
[0033] In an embodiment, the stopper (30) is a wedge-shaped
5 block and is movable in a second direction (10b) which is substantially
perpendicular/oblique to the first direction (10a). In implementation, when the
passenger desires to step out (egress) of the vehicle or to step in (ingress) into the
vehicle, the stopper (30) can be moved to the one or more second position (15-2)
for assisting in an easy egress/ingress and once the passenger sits on the vehicle
10 seat, the stopper (30) can be moved back to the first position (15-1) thereby
supporting and/or providing comfort/safety to a passenger sitting on the vehicle seat
(1).
[0034] In an embodiment, the stopper (30) includes an extended
portion (30-2) which is accessible to the passenger to move the stopper (30)
15 manually between the first position (15-1) and the one or more second position (15-
2) (in the second direction). In another embodiment (not shown), the movement of
the stopper (30) between the first position (15-1) and the one or more second
position can be controlled electrically for example, by an electric motor.
[0035] In an embodiment, the bolster part (20) is of an M-shape
20 structure with three legs (10-1, 10-2, 10-3). That is a central leg (10-2) and (two)
right and left legs (10-1, 10-2). The central leg (10-2) of the three legs (10-1, 10-2,
10-3) is equal/smaller in length compared to the other right and left legs (10-1, 10-
3). In which the stopper (30) in its first position (15-1) (as shown in figure 2) abuts
11
with the central leg (10-2) thereby blocks the movement of the bolster part (10) in
the first direction (10a). Specifically, in the first position (15-1), the slanting surface
of the wedge-shaped stopper (30) is in contact/near to the central leg (10-2) thereby
not allowing the central leg (10-2) to move in a downward direction. In an aspect,
5 the stopper (30) may have a locking surface where the central leg (10-2) may abut.
Further, when the stopper (30) is moved to the second position (15-2), the distance
between the slanting surface of the stopper (30) and the central leg (10-2) increases
thereby allowing the central leg (10-2) to move in a downward direction allowing
the biasing member (8) to bias the bolster part (10) towards the frame (20). As
10 shown in fig 4, a pair of biasing members (8) are arranged at the right and left side
legs (10-1, 10-3) of the M-shape structure of the bolster part (10) allowing the
bolster part to be movable in the first (vertical up-down) direction.
[0036] In an embodiment, a free end portion of the right and left
legs (10-1, 10-3) is movable inside a hollow (circular) cylinder (12) arranged on the
15 frame (20) such that the biasing member (8) (for e.g. a compression spring) is
arranged within the hollow cylinder (12) in which a first end portion (8-1) of the
biasing member (8) is abutting to the frame (20) and a second end portion (8-2) is
abutting to the free end portion of the right and left legs (10-1, 10-3). In another
embodiment (as shown in fig 4), the right and left legs (10-1, 10-3) include a foot
20 (11) (piston) preferably of circular shape movable inside a hollow (circular)
cylinder (12) arranged on the frame (20) such that the biasing member (compression
spring) (8) is arranged within the hollow cylinder in which a first end portion (8-1)
of the biasing member (8) is abutting to the frame (20) and a second end portion (8-
12
2) is abutting the foot (11) of the right and left legs (10-1, 10-3). Particularly, the
foot (11) has a cavity (8-3) such that the second end portion (8-2) of the biasing
member (8) is abutting with an inner surface of the cavity (8-3). In an embodiment
a plug (13) can be arranged on the upper surface of the hollow cylinder (12) which
5 will restrict the foot (11) from coming out of the cylinder (12).
[0037] In an aspect, the bolster part (10) is covered by a
cushioning member. In an aspect, the frame (20) is a side portion of a seat pan (1-
1) and/or a seat back (1-2) of the vehicle seat (1) or the frame (20) is plate shaped
member adapted to be arranged in/on the side portion of a seat pan (1-1) and/or seat
10 back (1-2) of the vehicle seat (1). Particularly, the frame (20) includes a base (20-
1) and an arm (20-2) which is extending substantially in the first direction (10a),
wherein the arm (20-2) includes a rail (20-3) such that the extended portion (30-2)
of the stopper (30) is arranged slidably in/on the rail (20-3) enabling the movement
of the stopper (30) between the first position (15-1) and the second position (15-2).
15 [0038] In an embodiment (as shown in fig.3), the stopper (30) is
movable from the one or more second position (15-2) to a third position (15-3) in
the second direction (10b), wherein the stopper (30) includes a hook (5) adapted to
be engaged and locked with a groove (6) of the central leg (10-2) of the bolster part
(10) in the third position (15-3) of the stopper (30) which restricts the biasing
20 member (8) to bias the bolster part (10) away from the frame (20). In
implementation, to achieve the third position (15-3) of the bolster part (10), the
stopper (30) is first moved to the one or more second position (15-2), then
simultaneously moving the bolster part (10) towards the first direction (10a) and the
13
stopper (30) towards the third position until the hook (5) of the stopper (30) gets
engaged and locked within the groove (6) of the central leg (10-2) of the bolster part
(10). In particularly, the third position (15-3) is useful when the seat back of the seat
(1) is rotated backwards to a sleep seat position wherein the passenger can lie down
5 or when the bolster part is not desirable for example by a fat passenger.
[0039] Thus, the proposed vehicle seat with a bolster
part/assembly assisting in easy egress/ingress also provides on-demand bolster
features and also makes a room to have a flat seat in its sleep seat position wherein
the passenger may lie down. Moreover, the proposed vehicle seat/ bolster assembly
10 for a vehicle seat requires less maintenance cost since no cumbersome design is
used. The durability is also more compared to existing systems as the proposed
system is manual with minimum components and the reliability of the whole system
is not compromised.
[0040] Moreover, in interpreting the specification, all terms
15 should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context.
In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as
referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating
that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, utilized, or
combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly
20 referenced. Where the specification claims refer to at least one of something
selected from the group consisting of A, B, C ….and N, the text should be
interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus
N, etc.
14
[0041] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the
invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without
departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by
the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments,
5 versions, or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill
in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and
knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art. , Claims:We Claim
1. A vehicle seat (1) comprising;
a bolster part (10) for supporting and/or providing comfort/safety to a
passenger sitting on the vehicle seat (1),
5 wherein the bolster part (10) is arranged on a frame (20),
wherein a biasing member (8) is configured to bias the bolster part (10)
away from the frame (20) such that only upon application of a predefined force on
the bolster part (10), the bolster part (10) is movable in a first direction (10a) which
is towards the frame (20);
10 wherein a stopper (30) is arranged on/in the frame (20), the stopper (30) is
movable in between a first position (15-1) and one or more second position (15-2)
such that when the stopper (30) is in the first position (15-1), the stopper (30) blocks
the movement of the bolster part (10) in the first direction (10a), and when the
stopper (30) is in the one or more second position (15-2), the bolster part (10) is
15 movable in the first direction (10a).
2. The vehicle seat (1) as claimed in the claim 2, wherein the stopper (30) is a
wedge-shaped block and is movable in a second direction (10b) which is
substantially perpendicular/oblique to the first direction (10a).
3. The vehicle seat (1) as claimed in the claim 2, wherein the stopper (30)
20 includes an extended portion (30-2) which is accessible to the passenger to move
the stopper (30) manually between the first position (15-1) and the one or more
second position (15-2) in the second direction (10b).
16
4. The vehicle seat (1) as claimed in the claim 2, wherein the movement of the
stopper (30) between the first position (15-1) and the one or more second position
(15-2) in the second direction (10b) can be controlled electrically for example by
an electric motor.
5 5. The vehicle seat (1) as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the bolster part (20)
is of an M-shape structure with three legs (10-1, 10-2, 10-3), wherein a central leg
(10-2) of the three legs (10-1, 10-2, 10-3) is equal/smaller in length compared to the
other right and left legs (10-1, 10-3).
6. The vehicle seat (1) as claimed in the claim 5, wherein a pair of biasing
10 members (8) are arranged at the right and left side legs (10-1, 10-3) of the M-shape
structure of the bolster part (10).
7. The vehicle seat (1) as claimed in the claim 5, wherein the stopper (30) in
its first position (15-1) abuts with the central leg (10-2) thereby blocks the
movement of the bolster part (10) in the first direction (10a).
15 8. The vehicle seat (1) as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the bolster part (10)
is covered by a cushioning member.
9. The vehicle seat (1) as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the frame (20) is a
side portion of a seat pan (1-1) and/or a seat back (1-2) of the vehicle seat (1) or the
frame (20) is plate shaped member adapted to be arranged in/on the side portion of
20 a seat pan (1-1) and/or seat back (1-2) of the vehicle seat (1), wherein the frame
(20) includes a base (20-1) and an arm (20-2) which is extending substantially in
the first direction (10a), wherein the arm (20-2) includes a rail (20-3) such that the
extended portion (30-2) of the stopper (30) is arranged slidably in/on the rail (20-3)
17
enabling the movement of the stopper (30) between the first position (15-1) and the
second position (15-2).
10. 10. The vehicle seat (1) as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the stopper (30)
or central leg (10-2) includes a hook (5) adapted to be engaged and locked with a
5 groove (6) of the central leg (10-2) or the stopper (30) of the bolster part (10),
wherein the stopper (30) is movable from the one or more second position (15-2) to
a third position (15-3) in the second direction (10b) such that in the third position
(15-3) of the stopper (30) and central leg (10-2) are engaged and locked which
restricts the biasing member (8) to bias the bolster part (10) away from the frame
10 (20).