VEHICLE SEAT APPARATUS

• US 20070194613A1
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Kojima, Yasuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,717,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/344.15
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0705 omega-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1615 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/165 Gear wheel driven mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4228 due to impact coming from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42736 of the whole seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/43 Safety locks for back-rests B60N2/433

Abstract

A vehicle seat apparatus includes a pair of vehicle-width spaced lower arms attached to a seat cushion, each of the lower arms having a rear portion; a connecting member fixed to the rear portion of each of the lower arms; a pair of vehicle-width spaced upper arms attached to a seat back, each of the upper arms being pivoted by a rotational shaft to the rear portion of the corresponding lower arm to rotate relative thereto; a reclining apparatus provided at one of the connecting member and serving for restricting and allowing the upper arms to rotate; and a load receiving portion provided at one of the lower arms for receiving a downward load, when the downward load is transmitted from the connecting member to the rear portion of one of the lower arms, by being brought into engagement with at least one of the upper arm, the reclining apparatus, and the connecting member. at least one lower arm attached to a seat cushion, at least one upper

Claims

1. A vehicle seat apparatus comprising:

a pair of vehicle-width spaced lower arms attached to a seat cushion, each of the lower arms having a rear portion;

a connecting member fixed to the rear portion of each of the lower arms;

a pair of vehicle-width spaced upper arms attached to a seat back, each of the upper arms being pivoted by a rotational shaft to the rear portion of the corresponding lower arm to rotate relative thereto;

a reclining apparatus provided at one of the connecting member and serving for restricting and allowing the upper arms to rotate; and

a load receiving portion provided at one of the lower arms for receiving a downward load, when the downward load is transmitted from the connecting member to the rear portion of one of the lower arms, by being brought into engagement with at least one of the upper arm, the reclining apparatus, and the connecting member.

2. A vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member is flexible enough when receiving the load.

3. A vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a seat lifting apparatus for moving the seat cushion vertically, the seat lifting apparatus including a pair of vehicle-width spaced link members, each of the link members being pivoted at both ends thereof to the corresponding upper rail and the seat cushion, respectively, a torque rod connected between the pair of link members for transmitting a torque from one of the link members to the other of the link members, the torque rod being served as the load receiving portion.

4. A vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member is a shaft establishing the pivotal connection between one of the upper arms and the rear portion of the corresponding lower arm.

5. A vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the torque rod is in the form of a hollow tube.

6. A vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the load receiving portion is a fastener member connecting one of the lower arms and a portion of a vehicle floor.