Seat adjustment and dumping system with memory

Details Seat adjustment and dumping system with memory Seat adjustment and dumping system with memory

2000-04-24

2001-11-13

Brown, Peter R. (Department: 3636)

Chairs and seats

Movable back

Tiltable

C297S375000, C297S378120

Reexamination Certificate

active

06315361

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a seat recline and dumping system that includes a memory feature. More particularly, the system of the invention is capable of adjustment to a particular angle, dumping the seat back away from that angle, and then returning to the preset angular orientation.
In most modern vehicles, the seat backs of the passenger seats, particularly the front seats, are adjustable. By the simple expedient of a hand lever, a passenger can adjust the angle of incline of the seat back to suit the person's comfort level. In many vehicles, the seat back can be adjusted from a substantially vertical orientation to a nearly horizontal position to allow the passenger to recline.
When passengers enter the rear seat of a two-door vehicle, it becomes necessary to pivot the seat back of the front seat forward to allow access to the rear of the vehicle. This process is known as “dumping” the front seat. In some reclining seat designs, the dumping process occurs by manipulating the same lever that is used to adjust the angular orientation of the seat back. This approach is simple, but it does not allow the vehicle passenger to restore the passenger seat back to a preset angle.
This process is shown schematically in FIGS.
1
(
a
)-(
c
). Specifically, a seat S is connected to the vehicle body by way of a frame F. The seat back B can be adjusted in either direction as indicated by the dual arrows R. As shown in FIG.
1
(
b
), the passenger can adjust the seat back to a preferred angle A of inclination. However, when a passenger desires access to the rear of the vehicle, the seat back must be dumped from its pre-set angular position. This dumping phenomenon occurs by pivoting the seat forward in the direction of the arrow P.
In the case of the simpler seat adjustment mechanism, using the recline adjustment to dump the seat does not allow the passenger to automatically return the seat back to the predetermined angle A. As a result, more sophisticated systems have been developed that separate the seat recline feature from the dumping feature. These devices separate dumping from the normal adjustments of the seat back so that the seat back does not lose its predetermined angle of inclination A.
One such patent is owned by the assignee of the present invention, namely, U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,932. The '932 patent relies upon a memory latch to establish the angle of inclination A of the seat back. The memory latch is allowed to pivot when the seat is operated in its dump mode. When the dumping has been completed, the latch is restored to its locked position to thereby re-establish the seat back at its user set angle A. While the system of the '932 patent provides significant benefits over the prior adjustment mechanisms, there remains a need for improvements to seat adjustment and dumping mechanisms. For instance, most prior adjustment and dumping mechanisms rely upon relatively bulky stamped metal components that can be expensive and difficult to assemble. There remains a need for a recline and dumping system that is lightweight, that fits into as small an envelope as possible, and that is inexpensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to address these needs, the present invention contemplates a seat adjustment and dumping system having a memory feature. In one embodiment, the seat adjustment is accomplished by a pair of adjustment rods (master and slave) engaged to opposite sides of the seat frame. Axial translation of the rods causes the seat back to pivot relative to the fixed seat frame. The axial position of each rod can be simultaneously fixed by corresponding master and slave locking mechanisms mounted to the fixed support frame. The master locking mechanism can include a user-operated adjustment input that can be rotated to selectively open or close the locking mechanisms.
The system also includes a marker slidably mounted on the master adjustment rod that itself includes a selectively activatable locking mechanism. When the locking mechanism is engaged, the marker moves or translates with the master adjustment rod. Movement of the marker is limited by a marker dock attached to the locking mechanism, which thereby stops movement of the adjustment rod at a “memory” position corresponding to the passenger selected angle of inclination of the seat back. When the marker is released, the master adjustment rod translates freely through the marker while the marker remains held within the marker dock. In this way, the user can generate a new memory position once the marker is re-engaged to the rod.
In one embodiment of the invention, the rod locking mechanisms and the marker locking mechanism are simultaneously controlled by operation of the adjustment input. Preferably, the adjustment input includes a pivoting lever carrying a cable spool at one end. A cable winds around the spool and through a cable block mounted on the master locking mechanism. One portion or side of the cable is a marker cable engaged to the marker and operable to release or engage the marker from the master adjustment rod. The opposite side of the cable is provided as a first input to a transfer mechanism that constitutes another feature of the invention.
The transfer mechanism includes a pivoting lever that is connected at one end to the first input originating from the adjustment input. The lever is further connected, preferably at its opposite ends, to a master output and a slave output. These outputs are fed to a corresponding locking mechanism for the master and slave adjustment rods. In operation, activation of the first input (following user-activation of the adjustment input) causes the lever to pivot, which simultaneously places the master and slave outputs in tension. This tension is translated to the corresponding locking mechanisms to release the mechanisms from the rods to permit adjustment of the seat back angle.
The transfer mechanism also receives a second input from a user-operated dump input. The dump input can be activated to allow the seat back to be pivoted forward to allow access to the back seat of a vehicle. The second input is connected to the lever at the opposite end of the lever from the first input. In this way, activation of the dump input and second input to the transfer mechanism causes the lever to operate in the same manner as if the activation input is operated. Thus, with either input (adjustment or dump), the two outputs from the transfer mechanism are activated to release the master and slave locking mechanisms.
In one feature of the invention, the marker is isolated from the dumping function so that the system can “remember” the passenger-selected seat back angle. This isolation is accomplished by linking the marker directly to only the adjustment input, rather than to the transfer mechanism. However, in another aspect of the invention, the marker plays an integral role in the dump cycle for the system. In particular, the marker operates a cam-type reset mechanism that restricts de-activation of the transfer mechanism when the marker is outside its memory position—i.e., not positioned within the marker dock. In one embodiment, this reset function is fulfilled by a rack attached to the marker that translates with the marker as it moves with the master adjustment rod. The rack gear selectively engages a reset gear to cause the gear to rotate from a neutral position in a preferably clockwise direction a pre-determined partial turn.
The reset gear is connected to a reset cable by an eccentrically mounted eye fitting. As the gear rotates, so too does the eye fitting, which places the reset cable in tension. in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the reset cable is linked to the transfer mechanism and is operable to move a stop into position within the mechanism to prevent return movement of the lever. According to one aspect of the invention, when the dump input is activated, the input to the transfer mechanism releases the locking mechanisms so the adjustment rods can freely translate and the seat back freel

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