Lower leg support device for a vehicle seat, and vehicle seat

A lower leg support device for a vehicle seat, comprising:

• a first cushion carrier, a second cushion carrier, which is connected in an articulated manner to the first cushion carrier, and a coupling gear for transferring the first cushion carrier and the second cushion carrier from a non-use position to a use position, wherein the coupling gear is able to be driven by a drive device, wherein the coupling gear has a drive linkage comprised of a first linkage part and a second linkage part wherein the first and second linkage parts are rotationally connected together up to a critical load by a spring device, wherein the spring device is a leg spring having a main body and two legs, wherein the main body at least partially encircles a connecting tube to which the first linkage part and the second linkage part are connected, and wherein the legs cross and then diverge from one another.