Chairs and seats – Movable back – Tiltable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-18
2001-03-13
Cranmer, Laurie K. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Movable back
Tiltable
C297S378120, C297S372000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199953
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to seats for motor vehicles and, more particularly, to a sector recliner assembly having an easy entry memory feature for use with vehicle seats.
2. Description of Background Art
Virtually all motor vehicles are now equipped with front seat assemblies having a recliner mechanism that can be selectively actuated by the seat occupant for adjusting the angular position of the seatback relative to the seat bottom between an upright position and a fully-reclined position. In most two-door vehicles, the front seat assemblies also include a dump mechanism which can be actuated for pivoting the seatback to a forward dumped position to provide greater access to the rear seating area of the vehicle passenger compartment.
In many instances, recliner mechanisms have been modified to include a memory feature that is actuated in response to movement of the seatback to its dumped position. Many of these memory mechanisms automatically place the seatback in either a fully upright position or to the previous reclined position following return of the seatback from its dumped position. While a variety of such memory dump mechanisms are currently available, most are relatively complex and expensive. Thus, a continuing need exists to develop alternative dump mechanisms which provide the memory feature in an arrangement that is simple in construction, reliable, and less expensive to produce.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a seat hinge assembly for a vehicle seat that is operable to permit selective reclining and dumping movement of the seatback and which has a single position memory feature for returning the seatback to a predetermined design position after a dumping operation has been performed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a seat recliner mechanism with a single position memory device that is reliable as well as simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a hinge assembly with a pawl and sector latching mechanism and a single position memory feature.
According to a preferred construction, the seat hinge assembly of the present invention is adapted for use with a seat assembly having a seatback supported for pivotal movement relative to a seat bottom. The seat hinge assembly includes a lower hinge member adapted to be secured to the seat bottom and an upper hinge member adapted to be fixed to the seatback. The upper hinge member is coupled to the lower hinge member for pivotal movement relative thereto between a forward dumped position and a fully reclined position. The seat hinge assembly also includes a latching mechanism operable in a latched mode for securing the upper hinge member in a fixed position relative to the lower hinge member and to retain the seatback in a reclined position within an adjustment range. The latching mechanism is further operable in an unlatched mode for releasing the upper hinge member from movement relative to the lower hinge member. The seat hinge assembly further includes a memory mechanism operable in a non-actuated mode for permitting independent actuation of the latching mechanism and in an actuated mode for maintaining the latching mechanism in the unlatched mode. The memory mechanism includes a blocker coupled to the lower hinge member for movement between a blocking position and a retracted position. An actuating pin is coupled to move with the upper hinge member and operatably engages the blocker to pivot the blocker into the blocking position when the upper hinge member is moved forward of the adjustment range and to pivot the blocker into the retracted position upon movement of the upper hinge member from the forward dumped position to a predetermined design position.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating a preferred embodiment of the invention, are provided for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3736025 (1973-05-01), Ziegler et al.
patent: 3957312 (1976-05-01), Bonnaud
patent: 4065178 (1977-12-01), Carella et al.
patent: 4502730 (1985-03-01), Kazaoka et al.
patent: 4579386 (1986-04-01), Rupp et al.
patent: 4660886 (1987-04-01), Terada et al.
patent: 4762366 (1988-08-01), Bauer et al.
patent: 4925228 (1990-05-01), Pipon et al.
patent: 5269588 (1993-12-01), Kunz et al.
patent: 5280999 (1994-01-01), Jones et al.
patent: 5390981 (1995-02-01), Griswold
patent: 5393123 (1995-02-01), Hernandez et al.
patent: 5433507 (1995-07-01), Chang
patent: 5522643 (1996-06-01), Matsuura
patent: 5660440 (1997-08-01), Pejathaya
patent: 5707112 (1998-01-01), Zinn
patent: 5749625 (1998-05-01), Robinson
patent: 5769493 (1998-06-01), Pejathaya
patent: 5788330 (1998-08-01), Ryan
patent: 5813725 (1998-09-01), Robinson
patent: 5823622 (1998-10-01), Fisher, IV et al.
patent: 5918939 (1999-07-01), Magadanz
Cranmer Laurie K.
Fisher Dynamics Corporation
Harness & Dickey & Pierce P.L.C.
LandOfFree
Sector recliner with single position memory does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Sector recliner with single position memory, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sector recliner with single position memory will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2446505