Chairs and seats – Armrest – Movable to nonuse position
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-08
2001-05-29
Brown, Peter R. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Armrest
Movable to nonuse position
C297S378120, C297S411390
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238002
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to seat assemblies for motor vehicles. More specifically, this invention relates to vehicle seat assemblies that include a seat back connected to a pivot device for rotational movement relative to a seat cushion and an armrest connected to the pivot device for rotational movement relative to the seat back.
BACKGROUND
One of the significant reasons for the popularity of the minivan type vehicle is the versatility of its interior space. The interior space may be filled with seat assemblies for the use of one or more occupants, may be emptied of seat assemblies for the loading of large cargo, such as plywood or furniture, or may be used with any combination of the two options. To increase the comfort of the occupants, many automotive manufacturers are including so-called captain chairs as the seat assemblies. Captain chairs differ from other seat assemblies in that they typically include a seating surface for only one person and a much taller seat back equipped with one or two armrests. To keep the versatility of the interior space, the seat backs of these captain chairs may be rotated forward from an upright position to a folded position. In the folded position, the rear portion of the seat back is relatively flat and can accommodate the loading of some cargo. To increase the versatility even further, seats may be removed altogether from the vehicle.
Because of their size, however, the captain chairs have proved difficult to remove from the vehicle. Without any handles, which would be obtrusive in the upright position, most users of the vehicle desire to lift the folded seat assembly by the armrests, and not the actual seat back or seat cushion. This desire presents a particular problem as the seat assemblies of the conventional design do not incorporate any device to lock the armrests into place. Thus, there is need for a seat assembly equipped with armrests that are held in one position when the seat back is in the folded position. In addition to this need, designers of automotive components and systems continually strive to reduce the cost, weight and complexity of such products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, this invention provides a vehicle seat assembly that overcomes the problems and disadvantages of the conventional techniques in the art. The invention also provides a vehicle seat assembly equipped with armrests that are held in a retracted position when the seat back is in the folded position. Further, the invention provides a vehicle seat assembly equipped with armrests that are urged into the retracted position during rotational movement of the seat back from the upright position to the folded position. Further still, the invention provides a vehicle seat assembly that includes a simplified package, which reduces the number of seat components and overall mass of the vehicle seat assembly.
Briefly, the seat back assembly of the invention includes a seat back, a pivot device having a pivot axis, and an armrest. The seat back is connected to the pivot device for rotational movement relative to a seat cushion between an upright position and a folded position. The armrest is connected to the pivot device for rotational movement relative to the seat back between a deployed position and a retracted position. Both the seat back and the armrest pivot about a common pivot axis. The seat back assembly (1) impedes the rotational movement of the armrest beyond the retracted position; (2) holds the armrest in the retracted position when the seat back is in the folded position; and (3) urges the armrest from the deployed position to the retracted position during rotational movement of the seat back from the upright position to the folded position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4881778 (1989-11-01), Stephenson et al.
patent: 4886317 (1989-12-01), Konzmann et al.
patent: 4968095 (1990-11-01), Moyer
patent: 4978170 (1990-12-01), Pelz et al.
patent: 5033792 (1991-07-01), Kanazawa
patent: 6076890 (2000-06-01), Yoshida et al.
Brewer William S.
Pattok Mark A.
Scott Glenn
Steinke Gregory
Brown Peter R.
Foley & Lardner
Johnson Controls Technology Company
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