Power folding seat

• US 20040195892A1
• Filed: 04/20/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intier Automotive, Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Intier Automotive, Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Daniels, Andrew R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,118,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/378.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02253 characterised by the transmission between the electric motor and the seat or seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/366 characterised by the locking device
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/835 specially adapted for rear seats

Abstract

A power folding seat for installation within a vehicle includes a seat cushion mountable to the vehicle, a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion, and a power actuator disposed within the seat back for automatically rotating the seat back between an upright position and a folded position. The power actuator includes a power seat recliner, a latch assembly, a power head restraint adjuster, and a control system coupled to the power seat recliner, the latch assembly, and the power head restraint adjuster. The control system includes a signal receiver which is configured to receive commands from a remote transmitter, and a data processor coupled to the signal receiver. The data processor controls the power seat recliner, the power latch actuator and the power head restraint adjuster, and is configured to move the scat back between the upright position and the folded position in accordance with the received remote commands.

Claims

1. A power folding seat for use in an automotive vehicle, said seat comprising:

a seat cushion mountable to the vehicle;

a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion; and

a power actuator disposed within the seat back for automatically rotating the seat back between an upright position and a folded position overlying said seat cushion, said power actuator including a prime mover supported by said seat back for powering said seat back between said upright and folded positions, a fixed gear retained by the vehicle in fixed relation to said seat back, and a gear train coupled between said prime mover and said fixed gear for rotating said seat back between said upright and folded position in response to power actuation of said prime mover.

2. The power folding seat according to claim 1, wherein said power actuator includes a power seat recliner for rotating said seat back between said upright and folded positions, a latch assembly for selectively locking said seat back in said upright position, and a control system coupled to said power seat recliner and the latch assembly for selectively and automatically unlocking said latch assembly and seat back from said upright position and rotating said seat back between said upright and folded positions in response to a command signal received from a remote transmitter.

3. The power folding seat according to claim 2, further including a frame structure for supporting said power actuator in said seat back and a fixed pivot pin on the vehicle for, retaining said fixed gear and forcing rotation of said seat back between said upright position and said folded position in response to power actuation of said prime mover.

4. The power folding seat according to claim 3, wherein the fixed pivot pin comprises a keyed pin, and said gear train is configured to engage with said keyed pin to facilitate rotation of said seat back about said keyed pin.

5. The power folding seat according to claim 4, wherein said latch assembly comprises a mechanical seat latch for securing said seat back in said upright position to the vehicle, and a power latch actuator coupled to said mechanical seat latch and configured to manipulate the mechanical seat latch between a cinched position and a released position.

6. The power folding seat according to claim 5, wherein said seat back includes an adjustable head restraint, and said power actuator also includes a power head restraint adjuster, and said control system is coupled to said power head restraint adjuster.

7. The power folding seat according to claim 6, wherein said power head restraint adjuster comprises a prime mover and a gear coupled between said prime mover and said head restraint for moving said head restraint vertically between an extended position and a retracted position.

8. The power folding seat according to claim 2, wherein said control system includes a signal receiver configured to receive commands from said remote transmitter, and a data processor coupled to said signal receiver and configured to operate said power seat recliner and said power latch actuator in response to said received commands.

9. The power folding seat according to claim 8, wherein said signal receiver comprises a wireless signal receiver.

10. A method for automatically rotating a seat back of an automotive vehicle power folding seat between an upright position and a folded position, the seat back being pivotally coupled to the vehicle and including a power seat recliner for rotating the seat back between the upright position and the folded, a mechanical seat latch for securing the seat back in the upright position, a power latch actuator configured to manipulate the mechanical seat latch between a cinched position and a released position, and a control system coupled to the power seat recliner and the power latch actuator, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a remote user command requesting operation of the seat back; and

actuating the power seat recliner and the power latch actuator to rotate the seat back portion under vehicle power in accordance with the received remote user command.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the remote user commands comprises at least one of an electronic fold command signal commanding deployment of the seat back into the folded position, and an electronic upright command signal commanding deployment of the seat back into the upright position.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the command signal comprises the fold command signal, and the actuating step comprises the steps of commanding the power latch actuator to release the mechanical seat latch, and commanding the power seat recliner to rotate the seat back into the folded position.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the seat back includes an adjustable head restraint, and a power head restraint adjuster for moving the head restraint vertically between an extended position and a retracted position, and the actuating step comprises commanding the power latch actuator to move the head restraint to the retracted position prior to commanding the power seat recliner to rotate the seat back.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the command signal comprises the upright command signal, and the actuating step comprises the steps of commanding the power seat recliner to rotate the seat back into the upright position and commanding the power latch actuator to cinch the mechanical seat latch.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the seat back includes an adjustable head restraint, and a power head restraint adjuster for moving the head restraint vertically between an extended position and a retracted position, and the actuating step comprises commanding the power latch actuator to move the head restraint to the retracted position after commanding the power seat recliner to rotate the seat back.