GB2547229A

GB2547229A - Vehicle seating assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2547229A
Application number: GB1602463.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Penton Stephen; Brown Christopher
Original assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Current assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Priority date: 2016-02-11
Filing date: 2016-02-11
Publication date: 2017-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2036-02-11
Also published as: WO2017137296A1; GB2547229B; GB201602463D0; DE112017000794T5

Abstract

A heated footrest assembly, where a passenger in a rear seat 14 can rest a limb on a support 42, 46, 82, preferably a footrest, mounted on the front seat 12, and the support contains a heating element to warm the passenger. The supports may comprise any or all of a heel rest 42, to be used when the front seat 12 is upright, the backboard 46 of the front seat 12, to be used with the front seat 12 leant forwards or the front edge 82 of the front seat 12, to be used when the front seat 12 is reclined back. Also disclosed is a method of operation whereby the vehicle designates a front heating zone and a rear heating zone, and on reclining the front seat 12, the front seats front edge is arranged to provide heating for the rear heating zone as opposed to the front heating zone.

Description

VEHICLE SEATING ASSEMBLY

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle seating assembly comprising a heating system for providing heating to passengers seated in the rear vehicle seats. Aspects of the invention also relate to a method of heating rear-seated passengers in a vehicle, to a controller for a heating system and to a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

It is known to provide heating systems for both the driver and passenger seats in vehicles. In particular, heating systems for the front vehicle seats are commonplace and comprise of a heater element, situated within the seat cushion for the driver or front-seat passenger, and which is controllable by the passenger or driver via a control unit in the front of the vehicle cabin. It is also known to provide a heating element in the seat back of the driver seat or the front passenger seat to provide a heating effect for the seated user’s back, thereby to enhance the overall heating effect experienced by the driver or passenger.

Heating systems for the passengers in the rear rows of the vehicle are less familiar. It has been proposed to provide heat to the passenger seats via the radiative effect of the heat provided by the front passenger seats. However, such systems are relatively ineffective for the rear-seated passengers and also require higher levels of heating of the front seats which could lead to discomfort for the front-seated passengers, or may mean that the seat just forward of the rear-seated passenger cannot be used at all.

Systems which provide heated rear seats for the rear-seated passengers are more effective at providing heat to the rear-seated passengers, but come at the expense of additional heating equipment. For some vehicle ranges, the additional expense is prohibitive.

There remains a need for an effective heating system in vehicles for the rear-seated passengers in row two (immediately behind the driver’s seat in row one) and/or in further rearward seats, and for a system which can be provided at reasonable cost.

It is one object of the invention to address this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a vehicle seating assembly, a method for controlling heating, a controller and a vehicle as claimed in the appended claims.

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

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle seating assembly comprising a front seat and a rear seat immediately behind the front seat, wherein the front seat is provided with at least one support member arranged to support a limb of a vehicle user seated in the rear seat and wherein the support member is provided with at least one heating element, to provide a heat source for the supported limb via direct contact between the supported limb and the support member. The present invention advantageously allows elements of the front seat to provide both support and heating for rear-seated passengers, thereby enhancing the comfort of the rear-seated passenger. As the mode of heating is via direct contact with the support member, the heat output of the heating element may suitably be provided at levels that do not adversely affect the comfort of front-seat occupants, yet still provide comfortable heating for the rear-seated passengers.

Utilising elements of the front seats to provide heating to the rear-seated passengers also advantageously allows heating to be provided to rear-seated passengers at relatively low cost. In particular, the heating equipment and circuitry associated with the front seats can also be used also to provide heating for the rear-seated passengers.

The terms ‘front’ and ‘rear’ as used herein are relative terms, not absolute terms. Hence, in vehicles with more than two rows of seats, the front seats are not necessarily the front-most seats, and may be seats of a middle row, for example, which are located behind the front-most seats but forward of the rear-most seats.

The support member may be an integral part of the seat back of the front seat. Alternatively, the support member may lie adjacent to the seat back of the front seat. In a particular embodiment, the support member may be adapted to support the heel of a foot of a vehicle user when seated in the rear seat. Accordingly, the support member may be in the form of a heel rest.

The support member may be an extendable support device which has a stowed position and a deployed position. In the deployed position, the extendable support device may be arranged to support the user’s heel.

The support member may be arranged to support the feet of a vehicle user when seated in the rear seat when the front seat is forwardly inclined. For example, the support member may comprise a rear surface of the front seat, such as a ‘backboard’. In a particular embodiment, the support member forms a surface of a stowage pocket on the reverse of the front seat.

The seating assembly may comprise a plurality of heated support members associated with the front seat for providing heating to the rear-seated user. For example, a heated heel rest and a heated backboard or stowage pocket may be provided. One or more heating elements associated with the various support members may be automatically deactivated when the support member, e.g. the heel rest, is moved into a stowed position. For example, a heating element in the heel rest and a heating element in the backboard or stowage pocket of the front seat may be deactivated when the heel rest is stowed. This advantageously conserves energy when these support members and associated heating elements are not in use.

The support member may be arranged to support the legs and/or feet of a vehicle user when seated in the rear seat when the front seat is reclined. This seating configuration provides maximum comfort and support for the rear-seated passenger and is conducive for rest or sleep when the vehicle is stationary. In such configurations, the support element may comprise a seat back of the front seat. A heating element in the seat back of the front seat may thus be arranged to provide heating for a user in the front seat when the front seat is in an upright and/or partially reclined orientation and heating for a user in the rear seat when the front seat is substantially fully reclined.

Accordingly, the front seat may comprise: a first support member for the heel of a foot of a vehicle user when seated in the rear seat; a second support member for the foot of a vehicle user when seated in the rear seat when the front seat is inclined forwards; and a third support member that defines a support surface for a leg and/or foot of a vehicle user when seated in the rear seat when the front seat is reclined rearwards. Each support may be provided with a respective heating element for heating a respective supported limb of the rear-seated user via direct contact between the supported limb and the support member.

The rear seat may include one or more heated support members selected from a heated head rest, a heated arm rest, a heated calf rest, a heated seat back and a heated seat cushion. The one or more heated support members of the rear may advantageously be arranged to provide heating to the vehicle user seated in the rear seat independently or in combination with the at least one heated support member of the front seat.

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

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a vehicle comprising the vehicle seating assembly described above.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling heating of a front heating zone and a rear heating zone in a vehicle having a vehicle seat assembly comprising at least one front seat located at least partially in the front heating zone and movable between an upright position for seating a vehicle user in a seated position in the front heating zone and a reclined position for providing a support for a limb of a vehicle user seated in a rear seat located immediately behind the front seat in the rear heating zone, the method comprising: controlling at least one heating element located in the front seat via a front zone heat controller when the front seat is in the upright position; and switching control of the at least one heating element in the front seat to a rear zone heat controller when the front seat is moved into the reclined position.

Switching control of the heating element in the front seat to the rear zone heat controller may occur once the front seat is reclined beyond a threshold angle into a reclined position. This advantageously prevents control over this heating element being switched to the rear zone when a front seat occupant reclines their seat partially for comfort. The threshold angle may, for example, be approximately seventy five degrees, or any other suitable angle beyond those associated with normal reclined positions of the front seats. Alternatively, or additionally, the method may involve assigning control over the heating element to the rear zone when the head rest of the front seat is removed.

Control of the heating element may be switched automatically from the front zone heat controller to the rear zone heat controller when the front seat is moved into the reclined position and/or when the front seat head rest is removed. Alternatively, control may be switched manually via the rear zone heat controller.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a controller for controlling heating of a vehicle seat assembly comprising at least one front seat located at least partially in a front heating zone and movable between an upright position for seating a vehicle user in a seated position in the front heating zone and a reclined position for providing a support for a limb of a vehicle user seated in a rear seat located immediately behind the front seat in a rear heating zone, the controller being configured to: assign control of a heating element located in the front seat to a front zone heat controller when the front seat is in the upright position; and switch control of the heating element in the front seat to a rear zone heat controller when the front seat is moved into the reclined position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle seating assembly for a vehicle comprising at least one seat for a vehicle user, comprising a seat portion upon which the vehicle user sits, a seat back to provide a back rest for the vehicle user and a head support located above the seat back, wherein the head support is provided with a heating element to provide a heating effect for the head of the seated vehicle user via direct contact with the head support. The head support is preferably associated with the rear seat.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a side view of a seat assembly of an embodiment of the invention when in a first seating configuration;

Figure 2 is a schematic plan view showing front and rear heating zones of the seat assembly in a first heating configuration, corresponding to the first seating configuration of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a side view of the seat assembly when in a second seating configuration;

Figure 4 is a schematic plan view showing front and rear heating zones of the seat assembly in a second heating configuration, corresponding to the second seating configuration of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a side view of the seat assembly when in a third seating configuration; and

Figure 6 is a schematic plan view showing front and rear heating zones of the seat assembly in a third heating configuration, corresponding to the third seating configuration of Figure 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a seat assembly for a vehicle which may provide comfortable heating to both the front and rear seat passengers of the vehicle. It is a particular feature of the invention that the rear-seated passengers are provided with comfortable heating.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a seat assembly 10 for a vehicle 11 includes a row of front seats 12 and a row of rear seats 14. In this embodiment, the front row 12 includes a driver seat 12a and a passenger seat 12b, but in other embodiments the front row 12 could itself comprise rear-passenger seats, for example in the case of a vehicle having more than two rows of seats.

The rear row 14 in this embodiment includes two passenger seats 14a, 14b located rearward of the front row seats 12 with sufficient space in a foot well 16 to accommodate the lower legs and feet of rear-seated passengers. The front seats 12a, 12b each have outer and inner side arms 18, 20, with the inner side arms 20 being adjacent to one another centrally within the vehicle 11. Each of the rear seats 14a, 14b has an independent outer side arm 22 and the two seats 14a, 14b share a common central arm 24.

Referring in particular to Figure 1, the front seat 12b on the left side of the front row 12 includes a seat base 26 (also referred to as a cushion) on which the front-seated passenger sits, and a seat back 28 (also referred to as a squab) against which the front-seated passenger rests their back. A head rest 30 is provided at the upper end 31 of the seat back 28 to provide support for the passenger’s head.

The rear seat 14b immediately behind the left-side front seat 12b is similar in form to the front seat 12b and includes a seat base 32, a seat back 34 and a head rest 36. In addition, the rear seat 14b includes a lower leg rest 38 (also referred to as a calf rest), which attaches pivotally to the front of the seat base 32 so as to be movable between a relatively vertical orientation, in which no support for the lower leg is provided, and a relatively horizontal orientation in which the lower leg rest 38 is able to support the calf of a rear-seated passenger.

Further means of supporting the feet of the rear passenger are incorporated on a rear side 40 of the front seat 12b. In particular, a support 42 is attached pivotally to the rear 40 of the front seat 12b at the base 44 of the seat back 28. The support 42 is movable towards and away from the rear side 40 of the front seat 12b and, when in a lowered position (as shown in Figure 3), provides a heel rest support for the heel of a passenger seated in the rear seat 14b. In addition, a rear surface 46 of the front seat 12b (referred to as the ‘backboard’) provides a support for the feet of the passenger seated in the rear seat 14b when the front seat 12b is inclined forwardly as shown in Figure 3.

The front and rear seats 12a, 12b on the right-hand side of the vehicle 11 are similar to those on the left side of the vehicle 11 and comprise similar components.

The left side rear seat 14b is provided with several heating elements to provide a heating effect for the rear-seated passenger. The seat base 32 is provided with a first heating element 48, the seat back 34 is provided with a second heating element 50, the head rest 36 is provided with a third heating element 52, and the lower leg rest 38 is provided with a fourth heating element 54. Further heating elements 56, 58 are provided in the outer and central armrests 22, 24, as shown in Figure 2, which is a schematic plan view of the various heating elements located in respective front and rear heating zones 60, 62 of the vehicle seating assembly 10.

Where compatible, all four seats 12a, 12b, 14a, 14b of the assembly 10 may be provided with similar heating components to provide a direct heating effect for the passengers seated on them. Accordingly, and as shown schematically in Figure 2, the front seats 12a, 12b in this example also include heating elements in the seat base 26 and in the seat back 28, and in the armrests 18, 20. Whilst not shown in Figure 2, further heating elements may optionally be provided in the head rests 30 of the front seats 12a, 12b depending upon vehicle type and customer requirements. The right-side rear seat 14a also includes heating elements in the seat base, seat back, head rest, calf rest, and arm rests. Whilst not shown in Figure 2, heating elements may also be provided in a heel rest and backboard on a rear side of the right-side front seat 12a. Reference numerals are not assigned to the heating elements of the front seats 12a, 12b and right-side rear seat 14a in Figure 2, since these heating elements are not referred to in the subsequent description, with the exception of the heating elements 63 and 64 in the cushion 26 and back rest 28 of the left-side front seat 12b.

In addition to the heating elements 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 associated with the rear left seat 14b, which provide a heating effect to the rear-seated passenger, an additional heating effect for the rear-seated passenger is provided by elements of the front seat 12b located immediately in front of the rear seat 14b. In particular, and as shown in Figure 3, the heel rest 42 and the rear surface 46 (backboard) of the front left seat 12b are provided with further heating elements, 66 and 68 respectively. In this embodiment, the heating element 68 is integrated in the surface of a stowage pocket 69 (Figure 3) on the rear 40 of the front seat 12b. The further heating elements 66, 68 provide a heating effect to the rear-seated passenger by direct contact of the heel and soles of the feet, respectively, with the heel rest 42 and the backboard 46 supports.

The seat assembly 10, or the vehicle 11 in which the seat assembly 10 is incorporated, includes a heating control system 70. The heating control system 70 includes user controls in the form of front- and rear-zone heat controllers 72, 74 (Figure 2) associated with the front and rear seats 12, 14 respectively. These user controls 72, 74 allow the front and rear passengers to control the various heating elements associated with their respective seating positions. The user controls 72, 74 may comprise physical switches or touch screen controls, for example. The heating control system 70 comprises a controller 76 configured to control the operation of the various heating elements in accordance with the user’s commands. As will now be described, the mode of operation of the various heating elements also depends upon the orientation of the seats.

Figure 1 shows the front and rear left seats 12b, 14b in a first seating configuration, whereby the seats 12b, 14b are both in an upright orientation, and the heel rest 42 at the rear of the front seat 12b is in a stowed position. In this seating configuration, the rear passenger’s feet will be located in the rear foot well 16. As the rear passenger is not using the heel rest 42, the controller 76 (Figure 2) is configured to disable the heating elements 66, 68 in the heel rest 42 and backboard 46 supports when the heel rest 42 is stowed since these will not be in direct contact with the feet of the rear passenger. Disabling these heating elements 66, 68 when they are not in use advantageously conserves energy. The various heating elements that are activated for the rear-passenger in this seating configuration are shown schematically in Figure 2, as will now be described.

Referring to Figure 2, it can be seen that the front heating zone 60 primarily comprises the heating elements associated with the front seats 12a, 12b, whilst the rear heating zone 62 primarily comprises the heating elements associated with the rear seats 14a, 14b. However, the rear heating zone 62 for the rear left passenger additionally includes heating elements associated with the front left seat 12b, i.e. the heating elements 66 and 68 associated with the heel rest 42 and backboard 46 at the rear of the front left seat 12b.

By way of hatching, Figure 2 shows the heating elements that are activated in a first heating configuration corresponding to the first seating configuration of Figure 1 (both front and rear seats 12b, 14b upright and heel rest 42 stowed) when heating is selected by the rear passenger on the left side. It can be seen in Figure 2 that the heating elements 48, 50, 54, 56, 58 in the cushion 32, squab 34, head rest 36, calf rest 38 and arm rests 22, 24 respectively, are activated, whilst the heating elements 66 and 68 in the heel rest 42 and front seat backboard 46 are deactivated since these are not required when the heel rest 42 is stowed.

Referring now to Figure 3, this shows a second seating configuration, in which the rear left seat 14b is in a reclined orientation with the front left seat 12b inclined forwardly. The heel rest 42 is lowered into a deployed position, whereby the heel rest 42 is substantially horizontal. Advantageously this deployed position provides support for a heel of a rear-seat passenger with or without providing support for their Achilles as required. This reclined seating position, referred to as a ‘slouch’ position, advantageously provides increased levels of comfort for the rear-seated passenger with increased lower leg and foot support. With the front seat 12b forwardly inclined, the backboard 46 is tilted away from a vertical position, and is inclined towards the front of the vehicle 11, i.e. away from the rear-seated passenger. An obtuse angle 78 is therefore defined between the backboard 46 and the heel rest 42. In this position, the backboard 46 provides a comfortable and ergonomic support against which the soles of the rear-seated passenger’s feet may rest against with their heels supported on the heel rest 42.

Figure 4 shows the various heating elements that are activated in a second heating configuration corresponding to the second seating configuration of Figure 3, when the left rear-seated passenger selects heating via the user controls 74. Referring to Figure 3, it can be seen that the heating elements that are activated are the heating elements 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 in the cushion 32, squab 34, head rest 36, calf rest 38, and arm rests 22, 24, respectively. The heating elements 66 and 68 in the heel rest 42 and front seat backboard 46 are also activated in this heating configuration since the heel rest 42 is deployed to support the rear-seated passenger’s feet. The passenger seated behind the left-side passenger in the front row 12 therefore experiences a direct heating effect through contact of their limbs with the backboard support 46 and the heel rest 42.

In the seating/heating configurations of Figures 3 and 4 respectively, the support members 42 and 46 on the front seat 12b, which provide support for the heel and the soles of the feet of the rear-seated passenger, therefore provide a direct heating effect to the rear-seated passenger. If the rear-seated passenger moves the heel rest 42 back into the stowed position when in this seating configuration, the controller 76 disables the heating elements 66 and 68 in the heel rest 42 and backboard 46 to conserve energy since these are no longer in direct contact with the rear passenger’s feet.

Referring to Figure 5, this shows a third seating configuration, referred to as a ‘static slumber’ position in which the front seat 12b is folded (reclined) near flat so that the seat back 28 of the front seat 12b provides an additional support for the legs of the passenger in the seat behind. In this configuration the lower leg support 38 of the rear seat 14b is pivoted downwardly, into a relatively vertical orientation, so that the upper end 31 of the seat back 28 of the front seat 12b lies as close as possible to the front edge 80 of the seat base 32 of the rear seat 14b. It will be appreciated that in embodiments of this configuration the head rest of the front seat 12b is removed. The static slumber position provides a comfortable seating configuration for the rear-seated passenger conducive for rest or sleep when the vehicle is stationary.

With the front seat 12b folded near flat, the seat back 28 of the front seat 12b extends the support surface for the legs of the rear-seated passenger so that, together with the seat base 32 of the rear seat 14b, the rear-seated passenger can extend their legs entirely horizontally when seated in the rear seat 14b. In this seating configuration, the heating element 64 of the seat back 28 of the front seat 12b provides a heating effect for the rear-seated passenger through direct contact of the legs of the passenger with the front surface 82 of the seat back 28, thereby enhancing the overall heating experience for the rear-seated passenger.

Figure 6 shows the various heating elements that are activated in a third heating configuration corresponding to the third seating configuration of Figure 5, when the left rear-seated passenger selects heating via the user controls 74. Referring to Figure 6, it can be seen that the activated heating elements in this seating arrangement are the heating elements 48, 50, 52, 56, 58 provided in the cushion 32, squab 34, head rest 36 and arm rests 22, 24, respectively. The heating elements 54, 66 and 68 in the lower leg support (calf rest) 38, heel rest 42 and front seat backboard 46 are disabled since these heating elements are not required in this seating configuration.

Additionally, it can be seen in Figure 6 that the heating element 64 in the squab 28 of the front-left seat 12b is activated, and this heating element 64 now forms part of the rear heating zone 62 in the third seating/heating configuration. Accordingly, when the front and rear seats 12b, 14b are in the third seating configuration shown in Figure 5, the controller 76 of the heating system 70 is configured to assign control of the heating element 64 in the squab 28 of the front-left seat 12b to the rear-seated passenger. The rear-seated passenger is therefore now able to control this heating element 64 via the user controls 74 of the rear-heating zone 62.

Accordingly, the controller 76 is configured to assign control of the front squab heating element 64 to front-zone heat controller 72 when the front seat is in the upright position (Figure 1) and to switch control of this heating element 64 to the rear-zone heat controller 74 when the front seat 12b is moved into the reclined position (Figure 5). In other words, the controller 76 shifts control of the front squab heating element 64 from the front heating zone 60 to the rear heating zone 62 when the front seat 12b is reclined.

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

Accordingly, one or more of the heating elements is operable by means of the front seat passengers, or the rear seat passengers, depending upon the orientation of the front seat.

Whilst in this example, the controller 76 automatically assigns control of the heating element 64 of the front-left seat 12b to the rear-seated user when the front-left seat 12b is reclined, in other embodiments, the control system may be configured to allow the rear-seated user to manually select the heating element 64 via the user controls 74.

The various heating elements described above may be in the form of electrical heating elements, e.g. heating mats, or they may be in the form of fluid heating elements, for example comprising pipes or ducts through which a heating fluid such as warm air is circulated. In fluid heating systems, the heating system may equally be used for cooling, and a cooling fluid such as cooled air may be circulated through the various heating elements.

In particular embodiments, the heating control system is configured to allow the front-and/or rear-seated occupants independent control over the various heating elements of their respective heating zones. Therefore, via the user controls 72, 74, the occupant may select to activate or de-activate any of the heating elements in their respective heating zones 60, 62. The occupant may therefore select any combination of heating elements in their respective heating zone 60, 62 according to their preference. The user controls 72, 74 may also suitably be configured to allow the occupant to adjust the temperature of the various heating elements, and thereby select their preferred levels of heating or cooling. In certain embodiments, the front user controls 72 may also conveniently be configured to allow a front-seated occupant to control the heating elements of the rear heating zone 62. This advantageously allows a chauffeur, for example, to control the heating for the comfort of rear-seated passengers.

Whilst the examples described above relate to the heating experience of the left rear-seated passenger, it will be appreciated that equivalent equipment and user controls may equally be provided for the right-seated rear passenger.

Many modifications may be made to the above examples without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims. In particular in will be appreciated that the heating zones on the left side of the vehicle may be configured the same or differently to the heating zones on the right side of the vehicle. For example, both the left and right rear heating zones may include heating elements associated with the respective front seats or only the left or right rear heating zones may include heating elements associated with the respective front seat. Also, whilst not illustrated in the figures, the head supports of the front seats may also incorporate a heating element.

Claims

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising a front seat and a rear seat immediately behind the front seat, wherein the front seat is provided with at least one support member arranged to support a limb of a vehicle user seated in the rear seat and wherein the support member is provided with at least one heating element, to provide a heat source for the supported limb via direct contact between the supported limb and the support member.

2. The vehicle seating assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support member is an integral part of or lies adjacent to a seat back of the front seat.

3. The vehicle seating assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the support member is adapted to support the heel of a foot of a vehicle user when seated in the rear seat.

4. The vehicle seating assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support member is an extendable support device which has a stowed position and a deployed position, and whereby in the deployed position the extendable support device is arranged to support the user’s heel.

5. The vehicle seating assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein one or more heating elements are automatically deactivated when the support member is moved into the stowed position.

6. The vehicle seating assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the support member is arranged to support the feet of a vehicle user when seated in the rear seat when the front seat is forwardly inclined.

7. The vehicle seating assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the support member comprises a rear surface of the front seat.

8. The vehicle seating assembly as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the support member forms a surface of a stowage pocket on the reverse of the front seat.

9. The vehicle seating assembly claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the support member is arranged to support the legs and/or feet of a vehicle user when seated in the rear seat when the front seat is reclined.

10. The vehicle seating assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the support element comprises a seat back of the front seat, and wherein the heating element is arranged to provide heating for a user in the front seat when the front seat is in an upright and/or partially reclined orientation and heating for a user in the rear seat when the front seat is substantially fully reclined.

11. The vehicle seating assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the front seat comprises: a first support member for the heel of a foot of a vehicle user when seated in the rear seat; a second support member for the foot of a vehicle user when seated in the rear seat when the front seat is inclined forwards; and a third support member which defines a support surface for a leg and/or foot of a vehicle user when seated in the rear seat when the front seat is reclined rearwards, and wherein each support is provided with a heating element for heating a respective supported limb of the rear-seated user via direct contact between the supported limb and the support member.

12. The vehicle seating assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rear seat further comprises one or more heated support members selected from a heated head rest, a heated arm rest, a heated calf rest, a heated seat back and a heated seat cushion.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of Claim 12, wherein the one or more heated support members of the rear seat are arranged to provide heating to the vehicle user seated in the rear seat independently or in combination with the at least one heated support member of the front seat.

14. The vehicle seating assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising user control means and configured to enable a user in the rear seat to control one or more heating elements associated with the rear seat in combination with one or more heating elements associated with a front seat located immediately in front of the rear seat.

15. A vehicle comprising the vehicle seating assembly of any preceding claim.

16. A method for controlling heating of a front heating zone and a rear heating zone in a vehicle having a vehicle seat assembly comprising at least one front seat located at least partially in the front heating zone and movable between an upright position for seating a vehicle user in a seated position in the front heating zone and a reclined position for providing a support for a limb of a vehicle user seated in a rear seat located immediately behind the front seat in the rear heating zone, the method comprising: controlling at least one heating element located in the front seat via a front zone heat controller when the front seat is in the upright position; and switching control of the at least one heating element in the front seat to a rear zone heat controller when the front seat is moved into the reclined position.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein switching control of the heating element in the front seat to the rear zone heat controller occurs once the front seat is reclined beyond a threshold angle into a reclined position.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, wherein control of the heating element is switched automatically from the front zone heat controller to the rear zone heat controller when the front seat is moved into the reclined position or is switched manually via the rear zone heat controller.

19. A controller for controlling heating of a vehicle seat assembly comprising at least one front seat located at least partially in a front heating zone and movable between an upright position for seating a vehicle user in a seated position in the front heating zone and a reclined position for providing a support for a limb of a vehicle user seated in a rear seat located immediately behind the front seat in a rear heating zone, the controller being configured to: assign control of a heating element located in the front seat to a front zone heat controller when the front seat is in the upright position; and switch control of the heating element in the front seat to a rear zone heat controller when the front seat is moved into the reclined position.

20. A vehicle seating assembly for a vehicle comprising at least one seat for a vehicle user, comprising a seat portion upon which the vehicle user sits, a seat back to provide a back rest for the vehicle user and a head support located above the seat back, wherein the head support is provided with a heating element to provide a heating effect for the head of the seated vehicle user via direct contact with the head support.

21. The vehicle seating assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein the head support of the rear seat of the vehicle is provided with the heating element.

22. A vehicle seating assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures.

23. A method for controlling heating in a vehicle, a controller or a vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures.