Chairs and seats – Movable bottom – Interconnected with back for relative concurrent movement
Patent
1999-11-26
2000-11-28
Brown, Peter R.
Chairs and seats
Movable bottom
Interconnected with back for relative concurrent movement
29737812, B60N 220
Patent
active
061525332
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a seat apparatus for a vehicle, and in particular to a seat apparatus with an E-Z entry mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Passenger cars and utility type vehicles, such as mini-vans, station wagons, hatchbacks, sport-utility vehicles, and the like, are commonly constructed such that the backs of one or more of the vehicle seat assemblies may be folded forward so that the seat back is substantially horizontal (sometimes known as dumping), thus permitting luggage and the like to be stowed on top of the seat back. It is preferable that the vehicle seat assemblies also be able to be lowered closer to the vehicle floor when the seat back is folded, in order to increase the headroom above the folded seat back. In addition, it is sometimes desirable, for the seat, e.g. a front seat, or a second row seat in a mini-van to be moved forward in order to temporarily provide more space behind the seat. Such is the case with seats with so-called E-Z entry features. Furthermore, it is common for vehicle seats, particularly front vehicle seats, to have a reclining mechanism for the seat back. Several mechanisms are known for controlling the features of reclining seat backs, dumping of seat backs, lowering of the seat assembly as the seat back is dumped, and fore and aft movement of seat assemblies. To Applicant's knowledge, none provide for a mechanism with a single controlling means, e.g. a lever, to control all four features, and an independent control over the reclining feature.
E-Z entry mechanisms are known, wherein the seat track lock is automatically released to allow forward sliding of the seat assembly within the vehicle upon dumping of the seat back support. Various types of E-Z entry mechanisms have been patented, and most of these mechanism include a biasing spring which automatically pulls the entire seat assembly forward upon release of the track lock through the agency of the E-Z entry mechanism. An example of one such patented E-Z entry system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,169, issued Jul. 18, 1978. These mechanisms are particularly prevalent in the prior art with respect to two door vehicles, so as to be actuated and provide more room for entry or egress of a passenger to the rear seat area of the vehicle. They are, however, also, of renewed interest in recent years in respect of mini-van applications.
It is also known in the art to mount the seat support to the vehicle floor by means of a parallelogram leg mechanism, such that the seat cushion can be selectively translated forwardly and downwardly toward the floor, in combination with dumping of the seat back support frame in order to provide more room for the storage of cargo on top of dumped seat back, for example as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,349, issued Jan. 9, 1996.
Furthermore, Takeda, et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,087, which issued Jun. 18, 1996, disclose a rear seat assembly which has a mechanism for simultaneously moving the seat back forward and the seat cushion forward and downward, so that the forward part of the seat pivots about a linkage and is able to drop into a well. The assembly does not have the features of a reclining seat, or means for moving the seat fore and aft, and thus there is no suggestion of any kind of mechanism suitable for control of such features in addition to the features disclosed.
Ainsworth et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,206, which issued Jan. 28, 1997, discloses a reclining seat which may be moved fore and aft on tracks which are mounted on a vehicle floor. The seat is equipped with a seat latch mechanism and an E-Z entry latch release mechanism for forward translational movement of the vehicle seat. The seat bottom is secured to the upper rails of the track assembly for fore and aft seat movement. The E-Z entry latch release mechanism is operably connected to the seat latch mechanism. Upon actuation of a dump handle, unlocking of the seat back latch permits forward pivoting of the seat back to a dumped position. The forward pivotal movement of the
REFERENCES:
patent: 4101169 (1978-07-01), Muraishi et al.
patent: 5482349 (1996-01-01), Richter et al.
patent: 5527087 (1996-06-01), Takeda et asl.
patent: 5570931 (1996-11-01), Kargilis et al.
patent: 5597206 (1997-01-01), Ainsworth et al.
patent: 5718477 (1998-02-01), Schuler
patent: 5873629 (1999-02-01), Schuler
Bertrand Faure Components Ltd.
Brown Peter R.
Hofbauer Patrick J.
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