U.S. patent application number 15/721370 was filed with the patent office on 2019-02-14 for in-vehicle bed assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is Faraday&Future Inc.. Invention is credited to Claudio Carbone, Pontus Anthony Fontaeus, Jared L. Gargano, Richard S. Kim, Juergen W. Sauer, Leonard Konrad Wozniak.
Application Number | 20190047445 15/721370 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65274574 |
Filed Date | 2019-02-14 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190047445 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Richard S. ; et
al. |
February 14, 2019 |
IN-VEHICLE BED ASSEMBLY
Abstract
An in-vehicle bed assembly includes a passenger seat having a
seat cushion and an extendable leg rest, and a movable ottoman
positioned in front of the passenger seat. When the leg rest
extends from the passenger seat, the seat cushion, the extended leg
rest, and the ottoman form a substantially flat surface for an
occupant to lie in a horizontal position.
Inventors: |
Kim; Richard S.; (Los
Angeles, CA) ; Fontaeus; Pontus Anthony; (Newport
Beach, CA) ; Wozniak; Leonard Konrad; (Los Angeles,
CA) ; Carbone; Claudio; (Los Angeles, CA) ;
Sauer; Juergen W.; (Denkendorf OT Gelbelsee, DE) ;
Gargano; Jared L.; (Costa Mesa, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Faraday&Future Inc. |
Gardena |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
65274574 |
Appl. No.: |
15/721370 |
Filed: |
September 29, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62402259 |
Sep 30, 2016 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/995 20180201;
B60N 3/002 20130101; B60N 2/345 20130101; B60N 2/34 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60N 2/34 20060101
B60N002/34 |
Claims
1. An in-vehicle bed assembly comprising: a passenger seat having a
seat cushion; and a movable ottoman positioned in front of the
passenger seat, wherein the seat cushion and the ottoman form at
least a part of a substantially flat surface for an occupant to lie
in a horizontal position.
2. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 1, wherein the seat cushion
is configured to tilt upward to provide a head rest for the
occupant.
3. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 1, wherein the passenger
seat comprises a leg rest that is extendable from the passenger
seat, and wherein when the leg rest extends from the passenger
seat, where the seat cushion, the leg rest, and the ottoman form at
least a part of a substantially flat surface for an occupant to lie
in a horizontal position.
4. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
mattress configured to be placed over the seat cushion and the
ottoman to provide a flat surface for the occupant to lie on.
5. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 4, further comprising a
roller storage attached to the mattress and configured to roll the
mattress into a compact form for storage within a compartment area
of the ottoman.
6. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 4, wherein the mattress is
foldable and includes a first portion, a second portion, and a
third portion, the first portion being configured to be placed on
the seat cushion, the second portion being configured to bridge the
seat cushion and the ottoman, and the third portion being
configured to be placed on the ottoman.
7. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 4, further comprising a
latching system that secures the mattress with the passenger
seat.
8. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 7, wherein the latching
system comprises hooks attached to an end of the mattress for
latching on hooks on the passenger seat.
9. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 4, wherein the mattress is
foldable.
10. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
platform and an arm having a first end and a second end, the first
end being attached to the platform and the second end being
rotatably attached to the ottoman.
11. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 10, wherein the arm is
rotatable between a first position and a second position, and in
the first position, the arm extends forward and the platform is
placed against a front end of the ottoman, and in the second
position, the arm extends backward and the platform is placed on
the seat cushion.
12. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 10, wherein the arm is
rotatable to an angled position where the platform provides a desk
for an occupant sitting on the passenger seat and arm is lockable
at the angled position.
13. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 10, wherein the ottoman is
constructed by folding a front passenger seat.
14. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 13, wherein the arm is
rotatable to an angled position where the platform provides a desk
for an occupant sitting on the front passenger seat when it is not
folded and the arm is lockable at the angled position.
15. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 1, wherein the ottoman
comprises a foldable platform including a middle panel having one
edge pivotally connected to an edge of the ottoman and a top panel
pivotally connected to another edge of the middle panel.
16. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 15, wherein the platform
further includes an end panel, which is extendable from the middle
panel.
17. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 15, wherein the platform
further includes two side segments capable of being folded on the
top of the top panel and being unfolded and placed by two side
edges of the top panel.
18. An in-vehicle bed assembly comprising: a passenger seat having
a seat cushion; a movable ottoman positioned in front of the
passenger seat; a mattress; a roller storage attached to the
mattress and configured to roll the mattress into a compact form
for storage, wherein the mattress is configured to be placed over
the seat cushion and the ottoman to provide a flat surface for the
occupant to lie on.
19. An in-vehicle bed assembly comprising: a passenger seat having
a seat cushion; a movable ottoman positioned in front of the
passenger seat; a platform and an arm having a first end and a
second end, the first end being attached to the platform and the
second end being rotatably attached to the ottoman; and a mattress
having one end configured to be attached to the platform and
another end configured to be attached to a front end of the
ottoman, wherein the arm is rotatable between a first position and
a second position, and in the first position, the arm extends
forward and the platform is placed in contact with the ottoman, and
in the second position, the arm extends backward and the platform
is placed in contact with the seat cushion to cover a slope of the
seat cushion to provide a flat surface in conjunction with the seat
cushion, and wherein when the arm is in the second position, the
mattress extends from a front end of the ottoman to the seat
cushion.
20. The in-vehicle bed assembly of claim 19, wherein: the platform
includes a flat surface; the mattress is further configured to be
detatched from the platform; and wherein the arm is rotatable to a
third position between the first position and the second position,
and in the third position the platform is above the seat cushion
with the flat surface of the platform parallel to a floor of the
vehicle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/402,259, filed Sep. 30, 2016, the entirety of
which is hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure is generally related to adjustable
and reclining in-vehicle seats. In particular, the present
disclosure provides adjustable and reclining in-vehicle seats to be
used as a bed or a recliner seat.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Many vehicles provide reclining seats that allow occupants
to recline at an angled, but relatively upright position when
wishing to relax or rest more comfortably in the seats. While
reclining to an angled position does provide some form of greater
relaxed comfort compared to sitting in an upright position, the
greatest mode of comfort is often experienced when lying down in a
fully reclined and horizontal position with the feet elevated and
the body substantially parallel to the ground.
[0004] However, passenger seats in current vehicles cannot fully
recline so that the occupant may fully lie down flat on his or her
back with the legs comfortably elevated from the ground. Moreover,
in conventional vehicles, once an occupant reclines his or her
seat, there is insufficient space in the front area of the cabin
that allows for the occupant's feet to be elevated without hitting
the dashboard compartment. Thus, passenger seats in current
vehicles do not allow the occupant's body to be comfortably
positioned in a fully horizontal state.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] The present disclosure provides an in-vehicle bed assembly
that can be used as a bed for an occupant to lie down in a
horizontal position. In some embodiments, the in-vehicle bed
assembly includes a passenger seat having a seat cushion and a
movable ottoman positioned in front of the passenger seat. The seat
cushion and the ottoman form at least a part of a substantially
flat surface for an occupant to lie in a horizontal position.
[0006] In some other embodiments, an in-vehicle bed assembly
includes a passenger seat having a seat cushion, a movable ottoman
positioned in front of the passenger seat, a mattress, and a roller
storage attached to the mattress and configured to roll the
mattress into a compact form for storage. The mattress is
configured to be placed over the seat cushion and the ottoman to
provide a flat surface for the occupant to lie on.
[0007] According to some further embodiments, an in-vehicle bed
assembly includes a passenger seat having a seat cushion, a movable
ottoman positioned in front of the passenger seat, a platform and
an arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being
attached to the platform and the second end being rotatably
attached to the ottoman, and a mattress having one end configured
to be attached to the platform and another end configured to be
attached to a front end of the ottoman. The arm is rotatable
between a first position and a second position. In the first
position, the arm extends forward and the platform is placed
against a front end of the ottoman, and in the second position, the
arm extends backward and the platform is placed on the seat cushion
to cover a slope of the seat cushion to provide a flat surface in
conjunction with the seat cushion. When the arm is in the second
position, the mattress extends from the front end of the ottoman to
the seat cushion.
[0008] The present disclosure also provides a foldable car seat in
a vehicle. In some embodiments, the foldable car seat includes a
seat platform and a back support rotatably coupled to the seat
platform. The back support is configured to fold forward to touch
an upper surface of the seat platform to form an ottoman.
[0009] Additional objects and advantages of the disclosed
embodiments will be set forth in part in the following description,
and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be
learned by practice of the embodiments. The objects and advantages
of the disclosed embodiments may be realized and attained by the
elements and combinations set forth in the claims.
[0010] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosed
embodiments, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Various embodiments are disclosed herein and described in
detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are
provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict
typical or example embodiments of the disclosed technology. These
drawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of
the disclosed technology and shall not be considered limiting of
the breadth, scope, or applicability thereof. It should be noted
that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not
necessarily made to scale.
[0012] FIG. 1A illustrates an integrated in-vehicle bed assembly
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary reclining car seat
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary reclining car seat with an
attached leg rest and an adjustable seat cushion according to one
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary integrated in-vehicle bed
with a pad mattress according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary integrated in-vehicle bed
with a pad mattress according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary integrated in-vehicle bed
with a pad mattress according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary storage unit located within
the ottoman according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary platform located within the
ottoman according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 8A illustrates an exemplary platform stored underneath
an ottoman according to one embodiment of the technology disclosed
herein.
[0021] FIG. 8B illustrates an exemplary platform attached to a pad
mattress according to one embodiment of the technology disclosed
herein.
[0022] FIG. 8C illustrates an exemplary platform with a pad
mattress extended back to the reclining car seat according to one
embodiment of the technology disclosed herein.
[0023] FIG. 8D illustrates an exemplary platform extended back to
the reclining car seat according to one embodiment of the
technology disclosed herein.
[0024] FIG. 9A illustrates an exemplary platform partially folded
out from an ottoman according to one embodiment of the technology
disclosed herein.
[0025] FIG. 9B illustrates the exemplary platform partially
unfolded from the ottoman according to one embodiment of the
technology disclosed herein.
[0026] FIG. 9C illustrates the exemplary platform unfolded from the
ottoman and a mattress partially pulled out from within the ottoman
and onto the platform according to one embodiment of the technology
disclosed herein.
[0027] FIG. 9D illustrates an exemplary mattress fully pulled out
from within the ottoman and onto the platform according to one
embodiment of the technology disclosed herein.
[0028] FIG. 10A illustrates an exemplary platform unfolded from an
ottoman and a cushion partially folded according to another
embodiment of the technology disclosed herein.
[0029] FIG. 10B illustrates the exemplary platform unfolded from
the ottoman and the cushion partially folded according to one
embodiment of the technology disclosed herein.
[0030] FIG. 10C illustrates the exemplary platform unfolded from
the ottoman and the cushion folded according to one embodiment of
the technology disclosed herein.
[0031] FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary platform unfolded from an
ottoman according to one embodiment of the technology disclosed
herein.
[0032] FIG. 12A illustrates an exemplary deployment of a stored
mattress according to one embodiment of the technology disclosed
herein.
[0033] FIG. 12B illustrates an exemplary storage of a mattress
according to one embodiment of the technology disclosed herein.
[0034] FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary mattress attached onto a
platform extended from an ottoman according to one embodiment of
the technology disclosed herein.
[0035] The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit
the invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be
understood that the invention can be practiced with modification
and alteration, and that the disclosed technology be limited only
by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0036] The details of some exemplary embodiments of the methods and
systems of the present disclosure are set forth in the description
below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the disclosure
will be apparent to one of skill in the art upon examination of the
following description, drawings, examples and claims. It is
intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and
advantages be included within this description, be within the scope
of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying
claims.
[0037] Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to
adjustable vehicle seats configured with one or more components
that may be repositioned to form an in-vehicle bed assembly (or
part of an in-vehicle bed assembly) to allow an occupant to lie
down in a fully reclined and horizontal position relative to the
ground. In other embodiments, the adjustable passenger seats may
provide the occupant the option of sitting in one or more reclined
positions at varied angles, so as to give the occupant a wide range
of seating selections that can be easily adjusted according to the
occupant's desire of comfort.
[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary integrated in-vehicle bed
assembly 100 according to one embodiment. The integrated in-vehicle
bed assembly 100 may include a rear passenger seat 105 and an
ottoman 130. The passenger seat 105 and the ottoman 130 form at
least a part of a substantially flat surface that allows an
occupant to lie down in a fully reclined and horizontal position so
as to comfortably sleep or relax within the confines of the vehicle
cabin. The rear passenger seat 105 may include a rear passenger
seat cushion 115. As illustrated, the rear passenger seat 105 may
be configured to be used as the supporting platform to one end of
the in-vehicle bed assembly 100, and the ottoman 130 is used as the
supporting platform to the other end of the in-vehicle bed assembly
100. By way of example only, the rear passenger seat cushion 115
may be the area where the occupant's head is placed when the
occupant wishes to lie down on the in-vehicle bed assembly 100.
Additionally, the ottoman 130 may be configured to provide a
substantially horizontal surface (i.e. the surface facing upward),
which may be used as a foot rest to allow the occupant to place his
or her legs on the surface of the ottoman 130. In some instances,
the features described herein in connection with the ottoman 130
may be provided by a customized front passenger seat configured to
display the same or similar features of the ottoman 130 as
described herein (e.g. by folding the front passenger seat all the
way forward such that the back surface of the front passenger seat
provides a level surface facing substantially upward). For example,
as shown in FIG. 1A, the front passenger seat may include a seat
platform 132 and a back support 134. The seat platform 132 and the
back support 134 are rotatably coupled together. The back support
134 can fold forward to touch an upper surface of the seat platform
132. In this folded form, the front passenger seat constructs the
ottoman 130.
[0039] In order for the occupant's body to be fully supported by
the rear passenger seat 105 and the ottoman 130 when lying down on
the in-vehicle bed assembly 100, the rear passenger seat 105 may
also include an extendable leg rest 125 coupled thereto. With the
push of an automatic button (not shown here) or the pulling/pushing
of a mechanical lever (not shown here), or by any mechanism known
in the art, the extendable leg rest 125 may extend outward from the
rear passenger seat 105 such that the extendable leg rest 125
bridges the gap (entirely or partially) between the rear passenger
seat cushion 115 and the ottoman 130. The mechanical controls for
the extendable leg rest 125 may be located on the side of the rear
passenger seat 105, as indicated by reference number 120, or on the
ottoman, a passenger door, or any other part of the vehicle. In
some instances, the extendable leg rest 125 may be controlled
and/or operated from a wireless device application (e.g. via an
application on a smartphone). The extendable leg rest 125 may be
utilized to provide sufficient back/body support when the occupant
is lying down on the in-vehicle bed assembly 100.
[0040] With the extendable leg rest 125 in an extended position,
the extendable leg rest 125 may be coupled or otherwise abutted
next to the ottoman 130 so as to lessen or eliminate any gaps or
space in between the extendable leg rest 125 and the ottoman 130,
as depicted in FIG. 1. To help eliminate the presence of such gaps
in some instances, the ottoman 130 may be movable and adjustably
positioned closer to the rear passenger seat 105 and/or the
extendable leg rest 125 in the extended position. For example, the
ottoman 130 may be placed on a roller track (not shown) so that the
occupant is able to move the ottoman 130 forward and backward
manually or automatically (e.g. in some instances, using a
mechanism similar to or the same as that employed in connection
with passenger seats that may be adjusted forward or backward). In
another example, the rear passenger seat 105 may also be placed on
a roller track (now shown) so that the rear passenger seat 105 also
moves forward and backward, which may also be used to further help
create or eliminate the presence of the gap between the extendable
leg rest 125 and the ottoman 130. This adjustment feature enabling
a user to move the rear passenger seat 105 and the ottoman 130
closer or father apart from one another may be used to achieve
optimal custom configurations for various occupants, which may be
dependent upon an occupant's body frame and height. For example, an
occupant with a smaller frame and height may adjust the extendable
leg rest 125 and the ottoman 130 much closer to one another so that
the surface of the rear passenger seat 105 and the surface of the
ottoman 130 provide a stable platform to support the occupant's
body in the horizontal position. However, for another occupant with
a much larger frame and height, the rear passenger seat 105 and the
ottoman 130 may be pushed far away from one another so as to ensure
that the ottoman 130 is located where the occupant's legs and feet
rest will be resting when lying down. In these and other exemplary
embodiments, whether the extendable leg rest 125 completely or
entirely bridges the area between the passenger seat 105 and the
ottoman 130 (i.e. the gap), the extendable leg support may provide
added support in at least a portion of the area between the
passenger seat 105 and the ottoman 130.
[0041] In some embodiments, the rear passenger seat cushion 115 may
not include the extendable leg rest 125. However, the gap between
the rear passenger seat cushion 115 and the ottoman 130 may be
eliminated with the use of a plank or board (not shown here). The
plank or board may be made of any rigid material, such as hard
plastic, wood, metal, or composite material, or any combination of
the same. In some embodiments, the plank or board may be made of a
compressible foam or be air-inflatable, or a combination of a
compressible foam and an air-inflatable plastic container. The
plank or board may be folded and stored/concealed, for example,
within an interior cavity within the ottoman 130 (as will be
described in further detail below). One end of such a plank or
board, when unfolded, may attach to a portion of the ottoman 130
(e.g. the edge of the ottoman 130 nearest to the rear seat cushion
115) while the other end of the plank or board may attach to a
portion of the rear passenger seat cushion 115 (e.g. the edge of
the seat cushion nearest to the ottoman 130). However, as discussed
above, in some instances, the rear passenger seat 105 and the
ottoman 130 may be pushed far away from one another so as to ensure
that the ottoman 130 is located where the occupant's legs and/or
feet will be resting when lying down, which may be particularly
true for larger and/or taller occupants. Thus, even in the
instances where the rear passenger seat cushion 115 has an
extendable leg rest 125, the ottoman 130 may be pushed to the front
most area of the cabin as possible, which may result in the ottoman
130 being situated partially underneath dashboard compartment 135.
In such an embodiment, there may be a relatively large gap between
the extendable leg rest 125 and the ottoman 130. In such instances,
one or more planks or boards may be placed on the edges of
extendable leg rest 125 and the ottoman 130 to eliminate the gap,
thus providing greater support to the in-vehicle bed assembly
100.
[0042] In other instances, the in-vehicle bed assembly 100 may not
utilize an ottoman 130 for the support of the occupant's legs and
feet. Instead, the ottoman 130 may be pushed all the way towards
the forward section of the cabin so that it is tucked underneath
the dashboard compartment 135. The rear passenger seat 105 may also
be moved more towards the front part of the cabin so that there is
enough space in the back area of the vehicle to accommodate the
reclining of the rear passenger seat 105, as depicted in FIG.
1B.
[0043] In some instances, the rear passenger seat 105 may be moved
substantially towards the front of the cabin so that the head and
back support 110 of the rear passenger seat 105 may be fully
reclined to a horizontal position. By way of example only, the
extendable leg rest 125 may also be extended from the rear
passenger seat cushion 115, thus allowing the occupant to lie down
in a fully reclined and horizontal position with his or feet
elevated from the floor and supported by the extendable leg rest
125.
[0044] In other instances, the occupant may not wish to lie down,
but instead, would rather sit in an upright position with his or
her feet elevated to relatively the same height as the rear
passenger seat cushion 115. In such instances, the occupant may sit
in the rear passenger seat 105 with the extendable leg rest 125 out
in the extended position. In other embodiments, the ottoman 130 may
be pushed all the way back so that the edge of the ottoman 130
couples or abuts against the edge of the rear passenger seat 105,
where the extendable leg rest 125 need not be utilized. However,
for occupants who have exceptionally long legs and the extendable
leg rest 125 alone does not provide substantial support to the
occupant's feet and legs, the occupant may sit in the rear
passenger seat 105 with the extendable leg rest 125 in the extended
position and the ottoman 130 coupled or abutted against the edge of
the extendable leg rest 125 so that the occupant's feet and legs
may be supported and elevated.
[0045] If the occupant wishes to have the legs elevated higher than
the rear passenger seat 105, the occupant may adjust the angle
and/or height of the ottoman 130 such that the ottoman 130 surface
may take on an angle (relative to the level plane) anywhere from 1
degree to 90 degrees. In such an instance, the occupant's legs and
feet may take on an angle pose when resting on the angled surface
of the angled ottoman 130. As such, the occupant may control the
angle of the ottoman 130 surface based on his or her selected
preference. An occupant may engage this feature in any manner, such
as with the mechanical control located on the rear passenger seat
105, as indicated at 120, or with a mechanical control located on
the side (or other portion) of the ottoman 130, or any automatic or
wirelessly controlled mechanism known in the art.
[0046] FIG. 2 illustrates another exemplary car seat 200. In the
instance that the seat cushion 210 is to be used as the head rest
(or, in some embodiments, to support a separate head rest
structure, as further described in detail below) for the integrated
in-vehicle bed assembly, the seat cushion 210 may be adapted to
pivot, so as to tilt upward. For example, the occupant may wish to
tilt the seat cushion 210 upward because car seats 200 often
characteristically have a sloped seated area, which may otherwise
cause the occupant's head to tilt down when placed on the seat
cushion 210. When the head is resting at such a tilted position,
discomfort to the occupant's neck and back is likely to result. In
some embodiments, by pivoting/adjusting the seat cushion 210 upward
and forward, the seat cushion 210 can be made to correct for the
otherwise uncomfortable downward slope of the seat cushion 210. In
some embodiments, the seat cushion 210 may be adjusted such that it
provides a level surface (i.e. creating a plane that substantially
matches the plane of the surface of the ottoman and/or an
extendable leg rest 215) upon which a user may rest his or her
head. In other embodiments, by pivoting the seat cushion 210
forward, the seat cushion 210 may be adjusted such that it provides
a head support piece that is tilted slightly forward/upward rather
than backward/downward. The seat cushion 210 may be securely locked
in its pivoted position via a latching system that anchors the seat
cushion in its pivoted configuration. Other types of fasteners or
locking mechanisms as appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the
art upon reading this disclosure may be used, such as clamps,
hooks, padlocks, and the like. The seat control for the car seat
200 can be configured to control the seat cushion to tilt. In some
other embodiments, a manual control, e.g., a lever, may be
provided, to allow the occupant to manually control the tilt of the
seat cushion 210.
[0047] In further embodiments, the exemplary reclining car seat 200
may include the extendable leg rest 215 so as to provide the
necessary support for the occupant's body when lying down on the
reclining car seat 200 with the occupant's head placed on the seat
cushion 210.
[0048] In other instances, the occupant may rather wish to sit in
an upright or reclined position with his or her back supported by
the back rest 205 of the car seat 200. In that particular instance,
the occupant's head will be rested on the head rest 220 rather than
the seat cushion 210.
[0049] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary integrated in-vehicle bed
assembly 300 including pad mattress 330 according to one
embodiment. In such embodiments, the rear passenger seat 305 may
include an extendable leg rest 315. When in the extended position,
the extendable leg rest 315 may be substantially parallel to the
ground (i.e. level). In some embodiments, the extendable leg rest
315 may be configured to extend outward at varying degrees in
accordance to the occupant's preference.
[0050] In further embodiments, the exemplary integrated in-vehicle
bed assembly 300 includes an ottoman 320. In accordance with this
particular set-up or configuration, the occupant's head may be
placed and/or supported by the seat cushion 310, the upper body and
torso supported by the extendable leg rest 315, and the legs and
feet supported by the ottoman 320, thus allowing the occupant to
comfortably lie down in a fully reclined position in the vehicle.
In some embodiments, while the use of the seat cushion 310 as the
head rest area and the use of the ottoman 320 as the leg and foot
rest attempts to place the occupant in the most horizontal and
comfortable position as possible, the ergonomics of the seat
cushion 310 may be slightly titled, making the overall shape of the
top surface of the seat cushion 310, extended leg rest 315, and the
ottoman 320 somewhat curved. Both the extendable leg rest 315 and
the ottoman 320 may be made of relatively hard surfaces, making the
integrated in-vehicle bed 300 uncomfortable to lie upon. Thus, in
order to enhance the overall comfort of the occupant when lying
down in a fully reclined position, a pad mattress 330 may be
deployed in the in-vehicle bed 300 system to give extra cushioned
support, while also providing an even flatter and horizontal
platform surface for the occupant to lie upon.
[0051] In a particular embodiment, the pad mattress 330 may be made
of high density foam so that the pad mattress 330 may be capable of
being both expandable and highly compressible, which may be ideal
for storing the pad mattress 330 in narrow and relatively small
storage areas. In some embodiments, the pad mattress 330 may be an
air mattress or a combination of both an air mattress and a foam
mattress. In other instances, the pad mattress 330 may be made of
latex foam, memory foam, cotton, wool, synthetic batting, and the
like. Thus, when the pad mattress 330 is laid out for use, the pad
mattress 330 may take shape as the foam rises or air is filled in,
as highlighted and indicated at 335 and 340.
[0052] In some embodiments, the underside of the pad mattress 330
may be configured to, in an uncompressed state, substantially match
a curvilinear profile of the surface created by seat cushion 310,
the extendable leg rest 315, and/or the ottoman 320, while the top
side of mattress 330 may be configured to, in an uncompressed
state, remain substantially flat and/or level.
[0053] In some embodiments, when the pad mattress 330 is not in
use, the pad mattress 330 may be stored by rolling the pad mattress
330 through a roller storage 325 configured to roll the pad
mattress 330 neatly and tightly in compact form around a hollow
cylinder 325a (or other elongate component, not necessarily hollow
and/or cylindrical). The hollow cylinder 325a of the roller storage
325 may be placed on a roller storage holder, which may be a long
slender shaft so as to allow the roller storage holder 325 to spin
around the axis of the shaft when unrolling and pulling the pad
mattress over the surface of the seat cushion 310, extendable leg
rest 325, and the ottoman 320. In some embodiments, roller storage
325 may be located within or beneath ottoman 320 such that the
roller storage and mattress are hidden when not in use. By way of
example only, the roller storage 325 may include a crank (not shown
here) so that the occupant may manually unroll the pad mattress 330
over the seat cushion 310, extendable leg rest 325, and the ottoman
320, and roll the pad mattress 330 back onto the roller storage
325. In other instances, the roller storage 325 may be automated so
that with a press of a button, the mechanical components either
automatically release the pad mattress 330 from the axis of the
roller storage 325 or automatically roll the pad mattress 330 back
onto the axis of the roller storage 325. When the pad mattress 330
is not in use, the pad mattress may be rolled onto the roller
storage holder 325 and then placed in any appropriate storage
compartments within the vehicle 300.
[0054] In other instances, the pad mattress 330 may not be stored
on a roller storage holder 325 altogether. Instead, the pad
mattress 330 may be foldable and stored at various storage units
located within the cabin of the vehicle 300.
[0055] The ottoman 320 may have a storage space inside the ottoman
320 or beneath the ottoman 320. The pad mattress 330 (and the
roller storage holder 325 if any) can be stored in the storage
space of the ottoman 320. By way of example only, the ottoman 330
may have a storage unit 605, which may be implemented as a drawer,
as depicted in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, the storage unit 605 may be
readily accessible to the occupant sitting in the rear passenger
seat 610 by pulling out the storage unit 605 from the ottoman
320.
[0056] Referring back to FIG. 3, in the instance that the pad
mattress 330 is unrolled over the seat cushion 310, extendable leg
rest 315, and the ottoman 320, the pad mattress 330 may be securely
placed in position by anchoring the pad mattress 330 to the rear
passenger seat 305 (or a strap or latch coupled thereto) via a
latching system. The pad mattress 330 may be anchored onto the rear
passenger seat using latches, hooks, clasps, buttons, Velcro,
zippers, and the like to ensure that the pad mattress 330 does not
fall or slide off of the rear passenger seat. Additionally, the pad
mattress 330 may also be anchored onto the ottoman 320 so that the
pad mattress 330 does not slip or fall off of the ottoman 320. Some
examples of anchoring the pad mattress 330 onto the ottoman 320 may
include using seat belt latches, hooks, clasps, buttons, Velcro,
zippers, and the like.
[0057] By way of another example only, the pad mattress 320 may be
anchored onto the rear passenger seat 305 by engaging with the
seatbelt. That is, in some embodiments, pad mattress 320 may be
configured with a male and/or female seat belt buckle. As such, the
female seat belt buckle on the pad mattress 330 is inserted into
the corresponding male seat belt buckle located at/near the seat
cushion 310, and the male seat belt latch on the pad mattress 330
is inserted into the corresponding female seat belt latch located
at/near the seat cushion 310. As another example, the pad mattress
330 may have hooks that can be anchored onto the hooks on the rear
seat that are normally used to secure a child car seat.
[0058] The underside of the pad mattress 330 in contact with the
surface of the seat cushion 305, leg rest 315, and the ottoman 320
may be configured to match the profile of the surface of the seat
cushion 305, leg rest 315, and the ottoman 320. The opposite
surface of the pad mattress 330 may be configured to have a
completely or substantially flat and horizontal level surface, as
depicted in FIG. 4. In other instances, the pad mattress 330 may be
relatively flat, but have a raised portion 340 near one end of the
pad mattress 330, which may be used as a pillow or headrest
support. Thus, in the instance that the pad mattress 330 is made of
highly dense foam, the raised portion 340 may simply have more
cushion and padding at one end of the pad mattress 330. In other
instances, a separate component that may be attached and detached
from the pad mattress 330 may be provided to serve as a pillow. In
the instance that the pad mattress 330 is an air mattress or a
combination of air and foam mattress, the inflow of air into the
pad mattress 330 may form the raised portion 340.
[0059] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary foldable pad mattress 400
supported by a seat cushion 425 of a rear passenger seat 430 and an
ottoman 415 according to one embodiment. In this particular
embodiment, the foldable pad mattress 400 is foldable in at least
three parts instead of being rolled around a roller storage as
described above with respect to FIG. 3. However, it should be noted
that the foldable pad mattress 400 is not limited to being folded
in three parts, and may contain any number of foldable
partitions.
[0060] Referring back to FIG. 4, the foldable pad mattress 400 may
include an upper body portion 408, a middle body portion 410, and a
lower body portion 420. The upper body portion 408 may be supported
by the seat cushion 425 of the rear passenger seat 430. The lower
body portion 420 of the foldable pad mattress 400 may be supported
by the ottoman 415. To further ensure the upper body portion 408 of
the foldable pad mattress 400 is level and stably situated on the
rear passenger seat 430, the profile of the underside of the upper
body portion 408 over the rear passenger seat 430 may substantially
match the profile of the rear passenger seat 430. Additionally, to
also ensure that the lower body portion 420 of the foldable pad
mattress 400 is level and stably situated on the ottoman 415, the
profile of the underside of the lower body portion 420 may
substantially match the profile of the surface of the ottoman
415.
[0061] In some embodiments, the middle body portion 410 of the
foldable pad mattress 400 may include a hard bottom surface or
structure that bridges across the seat cushion 425 and the ottoman
415 as shown in FIG. 4, so that the middle body portion 410 can
provide sufficient support to the weight of an adult occupant. In
this particular example, the middle body portion 410 may not be
supported by anything underneath.
[0062] In some embodiments, the rear seat 430 may include an
extendable leg rest as shown in FIG. 3 and other figures. The
middle body portion 410 of the foldable pad mattress 400 may be
supported by the extended leg rest, or supported by all of the seat
cushion 425, the extended leg rest, and the ottoman 415. In this
embodiment, the profile of the underside of the middle body portion
410 may match the profile of the upper surface of the extendable
leg rest.
[0063] In some other embodiments, the middle portion 410 of the
foldable pad mattress 400 may be supported by one or more planks
underneath. The underside of the middle portion 410 of the foldable
pad mattress 400 may match a surface profile of the plank, so that
the foldable pad mattress 400 may be fitted onto the plank.
[0064] In further embodiments, the foldable pad mattress 400 may
have a pillow 405 to provide additional neck support when the
occupant lies down on the foldable pad mattress 400. The pillow 405
may be attached and detached from the foldable pad mattress 400;
while in other instances, the pillow 405 may be permanently
attached to the foldable pad mattress 400.
[0065] The foldable pad mattress 400 may be made of highly dense
foam, thus allowing the foldable pad mattress 400 to be tightly
compressed into small storage areas and to immediately expand when
unfolded and removed from the storage area. In other instances, the
foldable pad mattress 400 may also be an air mattress or a
combination of both an air mattress with highly dense foam, so that
the foldable pad mattress 400 may gain its shape when an inflow of
air is provided into the foldable pad mattress 400.
[0066] Once the foldable pad mattress 400 is laid out onto at least
the seat cushion 425 and the ottoman 415, an occupant may lie down
on the foldable pad mattress 400 in a level orientation (or
substantially level orientation), as depicted in FIG. 5.
[0067] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary storage unit 605 located
within the ottoman 330 according to one embodiment. The storage
unit 605 may be a drawer that can be pulled out from the ottoman
330, as shown in FIG. 6. As briefly discussed above, the storage
unit 605 may be used to store the pad mattress when not in use.
Additionally, the storage unit 605 may be used to store other
accessories used to assemble the integrated in-vehicle bed, such as
planks, pillows, blankets, and the like. However, it should be
noted that the storage unit 605 is not strictly limited to storing
accessories for the integrated in-vehicle bed, and instead, may be
used to store any items.
[0068] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary platform 710 coupled to or
located within the ottoman 705 according to one embodiment. In one
particular embodiment, the platform 710 may be attached to an arm
715 that may be rotated back towards the rear passenger seat and
locked at an angled position so that the platform 710 may be used
as a personal desk or tray. In another embodiment, the arm 715 that
may be rotated forward to an angled position close to the dashboard
compartment and locked there, so that a front seat passenger may
use the platform 710 as a desk or tray. The arm 715 may be
extendable, so that the platform 710 can reach a far front or a far
back position.
[0069] FIGS. 8A, B, C, and D illustrate another embodiment of an
in-vehicle bed assembly according to the present disclosure. As
shown in FIG. 8A, the bed assembly may include a rear passenger
seat 810 having a seat cushion 815 and an extendable leg rest 818,
and an ottoman 820. The bed assembly may further include an
platform 830 that can be used to help create a substantially flat
surface for the occupant when lying down on the in-vehicle bed
assembly. The platform 830 may be attached to an arm 850, which is
rotatably attached to ottoman 820. The arm 850 may be rotatable
between a first (e.g., a frontmost) position and a second (e.g., a
backmost) position. When the arm 850 is in the first position, the
platform 830 may be placed against a frond end of the ottoman 820
to free up space when the platform 830 is not in use. The platform
830 may also be stored or tucked underneath the ottoman 820, which
may completely conceal the platform 830 from plain view.
[0070] FIG. 8B depicts that, when the arm 850 is in the second
position, the platform 830 reaches far back to the rear passenger
seat 810. The platform 830 may initially be taken out of its stored
area underneath the ottoman 820. In some instances, the bed
assembly may further include a pad mattress 840 having one end
attached to an upper side of the platform 830 and another end
attached to a front end of the ottoman 820 (e.g., attached to a
roller storage as described with reference to FIG. 3 above). The
pad mattress 840 may be attached to the platform 830 through a
coupling mechanism and is detachable from the platform 830. The
coupling mechanism may include one or more of latches, hooks,
clasps, buttons, Velcro, zippers, strings, and the like. Thus, as
the platform 830 is being extended back, the pad mattress 840
stored within or underneath the ottoman 820 is also simultaneously
released (e.g., unrolled) and placed over the ottoman 820 and the
seat cushion 815 of the rear passenger seat 810. In some
configurations, platform 830 can be detached from pad mattress 840
in a default state, thereby allowing a user to use the platform 830
as a table as described above, or without a mattress as discussed
below with reference to FIG. 8D. In these configurations, just
prior to releasing (e.g., unrolling) pad mattress 840 and while in
its first (e.g., frontmost) position, platform 830 can be attached
to pad mattress 840 using the coupling mechanism. Thus, once the
user wishes to deploy pad mattress 840, the platform 830 can pull
the pad mattress 840 over ottoman 820 and seat cushion 815 as the
platform 830 is moved to its second (e.g., backmost) position. The
arm 850 may be extendable, so that the platform can reach a far
front and a far back position.
[0071] As further depicted in FIG. 8C, the platform 830 may also
swivel so that the surface of the platform 830 may lie flatly
against the surface of a seat cushion 815 of the rear passenger
seat 810 when the platform 830 is extended back. The platform 830
may reach far back so the end of the platform 830 abuts against the
back support of the rear passenger seat 810. In order for the
platform 830 to reach as far back, the arm 850 may be extended to
various lengths in order to accommodate the shortening and
lengthening of the arm 850 based on the desired use and length of
the platform 830.
[0072] When the platform 830 lies flat against the seat cushion 815
of the rear passenger seat 810, the downward slope of the seat
cushion 815 is eliminated. Because seat cushions 815 often
characteristically have a sloped seated area, the occupant's head
tilts back at an uncomfortable position and angle when the head is
resting on the angled seat cushion 815. When the head is resting at
such a tilted position, discomfort to the occupant's neck and back
is likely to immediately result. As such, it is important that a
flat and/or level platform surface is available for the occupant to
lie on. Thus, the platform 830 may be used to eliminate and cover
up (i.e. provide a bridge spanning over) the sloped seated area
between the seat cushion 815 and the back support.
[0073] In the instance that the pad mattress 840 is connected or
attached to the surface of the platform 830, the pad mattress 840
may cover the in-vehicle assembly by rotating the arm 850 from the
front of the ottoman 820 to the rear passenger seat 810. This
allows for the mattress pad 840 to be easily and quickly laid out
in one continuous motion.
[0074] In other instances, as illustrated in FIG. 8D, a pad
mattress (not shown here) may not be attached to an upper side of
the platform 830, as discussed above with respect to FIG. 8B.
Instead, both sides of the platform 830 may be exposed and not
covered by a pad mattress when pulling the platform 830 away from
the ottoman 820. Once the platform 830 is extended back in contact
with the seat cushion 815, the occupant may then choose to lie on
the assembled in-vehicle bed as is or take a separate pad mattress
out and lay it on the assembled in-vehicle bed. The pad mattress
may be securely held onto the assembled in-vehicle bed with a
latching mechanism or other fastening devices as discussed
above.
[0075] FIGS. 9A-D illustrate an exemplary integrated in-vehicle bed
assembly 900 formed by a rear passenger seat 905 and an ottoman 920
according to one embodiment of the technology disclosed herein. The
rear passenger seat 905 may include a seat cushion 915 and an
extendable leg rest 910 extending from the seat cushion 915. The
extendable leg rest 910 may pivot upward and outward so as to be
along the same surface plane level as the seat cushion 915. Because
a gap between the edge of the extendable leg rest 910 and the edge
of the ottoman 920 may still remain even with the extendable leg
rest 910 fully extended out, some sort of platform may be needed to
eliminate the gap in order to provide a sufficient supporting
structure or platform that allows an occupant to comfortably and
safely lie on the in-vehicle bed assembly 900.
[0076] To eliminate the presence of the gap, an extendable platform
structure may be unfolded from within the ottoman 920. In some
embodiments, the ottoman 920 includes an ottoman cover 925 (also
called extendable platform 925), which unfolds out when needed to
provide a stable platform or base to the in-vehicle bed assembly
900 so that an occupant may lie down in a fully reclined and
horizontal position within the confines of the vehicle cabin.
Additionally, the ottoman 920 may have a hollow interior, which may
provide a storage compartment 935. In some instances, a mattress
930 may be rolled and stored within the ottoman storage compartment
935.
[0077] As shown in FIGS. 9A-9D, the ottoman cover 925 is pivotally
connected to the ottoman 920 by, e.g., one or more hinges. The
ottoman cover 925 may include three sections: a top panel 940, a
middle panel 942, and an end panel 945. The top panel 940 and the
middle panel 942 are connected by one or more hinges. The end panel
945 is received in a slot of the middle panel 942 or can be
retracted to a place below the middle panel 942. The end panel 945
can extend out to cover the storage compartment 935 when the
ottoman cover 925 is lifted up and unfolded from the ottoman
920.
[0078] FIG. 9B illustrates an exemplary integrated in-vehicle bed
assembly 900 with the ottoman cover 925 partially extended and
unfolded according to one embodiment of the technology disclosed
herein. Here, the ottoman top cover 925 may be extended back
towards the rear passenger seat 905 so that the gap between the
extendable leg rest 910 and the ottoman 920 is eliminated.
Additionally, the top panel 940 attached to the ottoman top cover
925 may be unfolded and placed on top of the extendable leg rest
910 and seat cushion 915. As shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, placing the
additional top panel 940 on the seat cushion 915 provides a
substantially flat surface for the occupant's upper body area and
head when the occupant is fully reclined in a horizontal position
on the in-vehicle bed assembly 900. Once a flat platform surface is
laid out with the use of the ottoman cover 925, the mattress 930 is
ready to be rolled out, as illustrated in FIG. 9C.
[0079] In FIG. 9C, the mattress 930 may be pulled out from within
the ottoman 920 according to one embodiment of the technology
disclosed herein. As illustrated, the mattress 930 stored in the
ottoman storage compartment 935 may be pulled out to cover the
entire platform area created from the ottoman cover 925.
Additionally, in some embodiments, the end panel 945 may be pulled
out to cover the ottoman compartment area 935 when the ottoman
cover 925 is unfolded out to form part of the platform. Thus, the
fully extendable platform of the in-vehicle bed assembly 900 may
include the top panel 940, the middle panel 942, and the end panel
945 so that an occupant may lie down in a fully reclined and
horizontal position on the in-vehicle bed assembly 900.
[0080] In some other instances, the extendable platform of the
in-vehicle bed assembly may include the end panel 945 and the
middle panel 942 when unfolded from the ottoman 920, such that the
top panel 940 is not included. In this particular example, the seat
cushion 915 may be used to support the upper body of the occupant.
The seat cushion 915, together with the two segments of the ottoman
cover 925, forms the platform.
[0081] In FIG. 9D, a mattress 930 may be fully pulled out from
within the ottoman 920 according to one embodiment of the
technology disclosed herein. Once fully pulled out from the ottoman
920, the mattress 930 may be securely attached to the platform or
the passenger seat 905, as described above with respect of FIG.
3.
[0082] FIG. 10A, 10B, and 10C illustrates an exemplary extendable
platform 1025 unfolded from an ottoman 1020 onto a rear seat 1005
according to one embodiment of the technology disclosed herein. The
rear seat 1005 may include a seat cushion 1015 and extendable leg
rest 1010. Similar to FIGS. 9A-9C, the extendable platform 1025 of
the in-vehicle bed assembly 1000 includes a top panel 1040, a
middle panel 1042, and an end panel 1045. As shown in the figures,
in some embodiments, to allow the extendable platform 1025 be
folded within the ottoman 1020, the top panel 1040 may be narrower
than the middle panel 1042. To fill in the space by the two sides
of the top panel 1040, the extendable platform 1025 may include two
side segments 1050a, 1050b placed on top of the top panel 1040. The
two side segments 1050a and 1050b may be connected to two side
edges of the top panel 1040. When not in use or when the top panel
1040 is stored within the ottoman 1020, the side segments 1050a,
1050b may be folded on the top of the top panel 1040 as shown in
FIG. 10A.
[0083] FIG. 10B illustrates the side segments 1050a, 1050b
unfolding outward when the top panel 1040 is unfolded and placed on
the seat cushion 1015 and the extendable leg rest 1010. FIG. 10C
illustrates the side segments 1050a, 1050b completely unfolded and
placed by the two side edges of the top panel 1040, against the
surface of the seat cushion 1015 and the extendable leg rest 1010.
After the side segments 1050a and 1050b are unfolded to the two
sides of the top panel 1040, the two side segments 1050a, 1050b,
and the top panel 1040 form a wider flat surface to accommodate an
occupant's upper body. The mattress 1030 may then be pulled out
from within a storage compartment 1035 of the ottoman 1020 and
placed over the extendable platform 1025.
[0084] The side segments 1050a, 1050b may be used ensure that a
flat surface covers most, if not all, of the rear passenger seat
1005 surface. The side segments 1050a, 1050b may be made of
material such as plastic, vinyl, or any other hard surface as would
be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. In other
instances, the side segments 1050a, 1050b may be made of foam or be
air-inflatable, or a combination of a compressible foam and an
air-inflatable plastic container.
[0085] FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary extendable platform 1105
unfolded from an ottoman 1120 according to one embodiment of the
technology disclosed herein. The extendable platform 1105 may
include a middle panel 1110 and a top panel 1115. The top panel
1115 may include raised legs 1130 attached to a bottom surface of
the top panel 1115. The raised legs 1130 may be used to compensate
for the dipped or slanted surface of the seat cushion, so that the
extendable platform 1105 is horizontal or raised when fully
extended out from the ottoman 1120. In some instances, the raised
legs 1130 may be affixed in its place and position. In other
instances, the raised legs 1130 may have multiple sections
connected by hinges, so that when not in use, the raised legs 1130
may be folded inward or outward onto the bottom surface of the top
panel 1115. And when in use, the raised legs 1130 may be raised
from the bottom surface of the top panel 1115.
[0086] In some embodiments, the in-vehicle bed assembly 1100
includes railings 1125 at each sides of the platform 1105. The
railings 1125 may provide added safety by helping ensure that the
occupant does not roll or fall over onto the floor of the vehicle
cabin. In one example, the railings 1125 may be a solid structure
that is attached to the sides of the middle panel 1110. In another
example, the railings 1125 may be made of a fabric that inflates
with air when the occupant wishes to use the in-vehicle bed
assembly 1100. The air within the railings 1125 may deflate when
the in-vehicle bed assembly 1100 is no longer in use and the
platform 1105 is to be stored within the ottoman 1120. However, it
should be noted that the railings 1125 may be composed of any
material as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill upon
reading this disclosure, such as plastic, foam, or a combination of
compressible foam and an air-inflatable plastic container.
[0087] FIG. 12A illustrates an exemplary deployment of a mattress
1205 stored within an ottoman 1220 according to one embodiment of
the technology disclosed herein. FIG. 12B illustrates an exemplary
mattress 1205 within an ottoman 1220 according to one embodiment of
the technology disclosed herein. The system illustrated in FIGS.
12A and 12B and described herein can be used in the embodiments
described above. As illustrated, the air mattress 1205 may be
deflated and rolled within the ottoman 1220. The deflated air
mattress 1205 may be rolled around an axis, in which one end of the
deflated air mattress 1205 is connected to a motor 1215. As
illustrated in FIG. 12A, when the deflated air mattress 1205 is
ready to be pulled and extended over a platform, the motor 1215 may
unroll the air mattress 1205 so that the air mattress 1205 may be
placed over the platform. When the air mattress 1205 is ready to be
stored within the ottoman 1220, the motor 1215 may be turned on to
retract and roll the air mattress within the ottoman 1220, as
illustrated in FIG. 12B. The motor 1215 may be controlled with a
press of a button located anywhere within the vehicle cabin, such
as the sides of the seat cushion or on the dashboard of the vehicle
cabin. In other instances, the motor 1215 may also be operated from
a wireless device application (e.g. via an application on a
smartphone or a tablet).
[0088] Additionally, FIGS. 12A and 12B both depict an air pump 1210
attached to one end of the air mattress 1205. When powered on, the
air pump 1210 may provide a stream of air to inflate the air
mattress 1205. Additionally, the air pump 1210 may also deflate the
air mattress 1205. The air pump 1210 may be controlled with a press
of a button located anywhere within the vehicle cabin, such as the
sides of the seat cushion or on the dashboard of the vehicle cabin.
In other instances, the air pump 1210 may also be operated from a
wireless device application (e.g. via an application on a
smartphone or a tablet). In some embodiments, the air pump 1210 may
be controlled together with the motor 1215. For example, when an
occupant turns on the motor 1215 to unroll the air mattress 1205,
the air pump 1210 is also turned on to start to inflate the air
mattress 1205. When the occupant controls the motor 1215 to roll
the air mattress 1205 to store it in the ottoman 1220, the air pump
1210 also starts to deflate the air mattress.
[0089] FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary mattress 1305 attached onto
a platform 1310 extended from an ottoman according to one
embodiment of the technology disclosed herein. As illustrated, the
mattress 1305 may be inflated with air and may include exhaust
ports 1320a, 1320b located at each corners of the mattress 1305.
The exhaust ports 1320a, 1320b can be snapped into place on the
platform 1310 by placing the exhaust ports 1320a, 1320b over the
corresponding exhaust port receivers 1315a, 1315b.
[0090] The exhaust port receivers 1315a, 1315b allow for the
mattress 1305 to be firmly positioned in place on the platform
1310. Additionally, the exhaust port receivers 1315a, 1315b may be
connected to an air pump (not shown here), where the air from the
air pump (not shown here) travels through the exhaust port
receivers 1315a, 1315b and the exhaust ports 1320a, 1320b to
inflate the mattress 1305. Additionally, when the mattress 1305 is
to be deflated to be stored away, the air pump (not shown here)
connected to the exhaust port receivers 1315a, 1315b may withdraw
air from the mattress 1305.
[0091] While various embodiments of the disclosed technology have
been described above, it should be understood that they have been
presented by way of example only, and not of limitation. Likewise,
the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other
configuration for the disclosed technology, which is done to aid in
understanding the features and functionality that can be included
in the disclosed technology. The disclosed technology is not
restricted to the illustrated example architectures or
configurations, but the desired features can be implemented using a
variety of alternative architectures and configurations. It will be
apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional,
logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be
implemented to implement the desired features of the technology
disclosed herein. Also, a multitude of different constituent module
names other than those depicted herein can be applied to the
various partitions. Additionally, with regard to flow diagrams,
operational descriptions and method claims, the order in which the
steps are presented herein shall not mandate that various
embodiments be implemented to perform the recited functionality in
the same order unless the context dictates otherwise.
[0092] Although the disclosed technology is described above in
terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it
should be understood that the various features, aspects and
functionality described in one or more of the individual
embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the
particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead
can be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of
the other embodiments of the disclosed technology, whether or not
such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are
presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the
breadth and scope of the technology disclosed herein should not be
limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.
[0093] Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations
thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as
open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing:
the term "including" should be read as meaning "including, without
limitation" or the like; the term "example" is used to provide
exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or
limiting list thereof; the terms "a" or "an" should be read as
meaning "at least one," "one or more" or the like; and adjectives
such as "conventional," "traditional," "normal," "standard,"
"known" and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as
limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item
available as of a given time, but instead should be read to
encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard
technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in
the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies
that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the
art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the
skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.
[0094] The presence of broadening words and phrases such as "one or
more," "at least," "but not limited to" or other like phrases in
some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is
intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may
be absent.
[0095] Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are
described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and
other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary
skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated
embodiments and their various alternatives can be implemented
without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block
diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed
as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.
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