Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Seats with body modifications
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-12
2001-06-26
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Seats with body modifications
C296S065030, C296S065090, C296S065130, C297S336000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250704
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application relates generally to a vehicle seat adjuster assembly for a vehicle seat having a seat back that is folded onto a seat bottom where the seat back and bottom are flipped upwardly to a stowed position to increase the available cargo space in a vehicle. More particularly, this invention relates to a seat adjuster assembly with a first lever portion that controls seat back pivotal movement and a second lever portion that controls a latch mechanism to allow the seat to be folded and flipped to the stowed position.
Seat track and adjuster arrangements for mounting seats within vehicles are generally well known. Most arrangements provide for a seat to be moved or adjusted in forward and rearward directions within a vehicle.
In many circumstances, it is desirable to have seats within a vehicle that include a seat back that is pivotally supported on a seat bottom such that the seat back can be folded forward and downward relative to the seat bottom. Such an arrangement is necessary, for example, in vehicles so that a passenger can have access into the area behind the seat. In some vehicles, the seat back can be pivoted downwardly and forwardly into a horizontal position and the seat bottom along with the seat back can be pivoted forwardly into a vertical position to increase available cargo space in a vehicle.
Seat adjuster assemblies that are used to mount the seat to the vehicle are often complex, especially when the adjusters include components to allow the seat back to be folded onto the seat bottom and then allow the seat bottom and back to be flipped to a stowed position. These complex adjuster assemblies require a great number of components, which increases the assembly time and the overall cost of the seat assembly. Also, these adjuster assemblies are bulky, requiring a significant amount of packaging space and are difficult for an occupant to access and operate.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a simplified and inexpensive seat adjuster assembly that includes allows horizontal adjustment of the seat position but which also includes the capability of moving the seat to a stowed position in the vehicle. It is also desirable for the adjuster assembly to be durable and easy to operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general terms, this invention is a vehicle seat assembly with a seat back pivotally supported with respect to a seat bottom, and which is attached to the vehicle by a mounting assembly with a seat adjuster. The seat can be folded down and flipped upwardly to increase the available cargo space within a vehicle. The seat adjuster includes a mount movable between a horizontal position and a vertical position. A seat back member is pivotally supported with respect to the mount and movable between an upright position and a folded position. A first lever is rotatably supported with respect to the mount and controls the movement of the seat back member when selectively actuated by a control assembly. A latch mechanism secures a portion of the mount to a vehicle structure and is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. A second lever is rotatably supported with respect to the mount and controls the movement of the latch mechanism when selectively actuated by the control assembly such that the mount can be moved from the horizontal position to the vertical position when the latch is in the unlatched position.
In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the vehicle seat assembly includes a first track, a second track supported for movement relative to the first track, a seat bottom supported on the second track for movement with the second track, and a seat back pivotally supported for pivotal movement relative to the seat bottom. The seat back is movable between an upright position and a folded position and the seat bottom is movable between a horizontal position and a vertical position or flipped position when the seat back has been moved to the folded position. The assembly includes a locking device that moves between a locked position where the second track is maintained in a selected position relative to the first track and an unlocked position where the second track is movable relative to the first track. The first lever is rotatably supported on the second track to control folding of the seat back. Once the seat back is folded down, the locking device is unlocked and the second track is moved to a rearwardmost position. The latch mechanism secures a rear portion of the first track to the vehicle structure and the second lever is rotatably supported on the second track to control the movement of the latch mechanism. After the seat back is folded onto the seat bottom and the second track has moved to a rearward position, the seat bottom, seat back, and tracks are flipped upwardly and forwardly when the latch mechanism is unlatched, thus moving the seat to a stowed position.
The subject invention offers several advantages over prior art systems because it provides a simplified seat adjuster for a fold and flip seat that significantly reduces the number of required components and decreases overall assembly cost. The subject invention is also advantageous because it is durable, easy to assemble, and is easy to operate.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
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Dayoan D. Glenn
Dura Automotive Systems Inc.
Murray Mickki D.
Roth Robert K.
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