Mono Leg Transformer Seat

• US 20080203772A1
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intier Automotive, Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Intier Automotive, Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Holdampf, Carl J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,850,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/15
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3065 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3075 stowed in recess B60N2/3079 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/309 rods

Abstract

A vehicle seat assembly for supporting an occupant above a floor having a recess includes a seat cushion and seat back pivotally coupled thereto. A riser mechanism includes at least one front and rear leg, each leg extending between a lower end pivotally coupled to the floor and an upper end pivotally coupled to the seat cushion. A seat adjustment mechanism disposed between the seat cushion and upper end of the rear leg is operable between locked and unlocked states allowing the legs to pivot about the lower ends thereby moving the seat assembly between a seating position and a stowed position disposed in the recess. An arcuate channel is operatively coupled to the rear leg selectively receiving a laterally extending guide pin mounted to the front leg for operatively coupling the front and rear legs to rotate together as the seat assembly moves between the seating and stowed positions.

Claims

1. A seat assembly for supporting an occupant in an automotive vehicle above a floor having a recess, said seat assembly comprising:

a seat cushion;

a seat back pivotally coupled to said seat cushion, said seat back selectively moveable between a plurality of reclined seating positions and a forwardly folded flat position overlying said seat cushion;

a riser mechanism including at least one front leg and at least one rear leg, each of said front and rear legs extending between a lower end adapted to be pivotally coupled to the floor and an upper end pivotally coupled to said seat cushion, wherein said front and rear legs are offset laterally such that they rotate in different planes;

a seat adjustment mechanism disposed between said seat cushion and said upper end of said rear leg, said seat adjustment mechanism operable between a locked state and an unlocked state allowing said front and rear legs to pivot about said lower end of said front and rear legs while said seat cushion pivots about said upper end of said front and rear legs thereby moving said seat assembly between a seating position with said seat cushion spaced above the floor and a stowed position with said seat cushion and seat back disposed in the recess in the floor; and

an arcuate channel operatively coupled to said rear leg for selectively receiving a laterally extending guide pin mounted to said front leg for operatively coupling said front and rear legs to rotate together as said seat assembly moves between said seating and stowed positions.

2. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a guide link extending between a first end adapted to be pivotally coupled to said lower end of said rear leg and a second end adapted to be pivotally and slidably coupled to said lower end of said front leg, wherein said second end includes said arcuate channel for selectively receiving said laterally extending guide pin mounted to said lower end of said front leg for operatively coupling said lower end of said front and rear legs to rotate together as said seat assembly moves between said seating and stowed positions.

3. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said laterally extending guide pin is a roller rotatably coupled to said lower end of said front leg.

4. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 3 including a bracket having an upper roller defining said guide pin and a lower roller each rotatably coupled to said bracket and extending laterally therefrom, said bracket fixedly secured to said lower end of said front leg for pivoting therewith.

5. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said guide link includes a guide track extending between said first and second ends, said lower roller rollingly engaging said guide track.

6. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said arcuate channel selectively receives said upper roller for operatively coupling said lower end of said front and rear legs to rotate together as said riser mechanism passes through an on-center condition wherein said upper and lower ends of said front and rear legs are linearly aligned.

7. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 6 including a rear pin operatively coupled to said seat cushion adjacent said upper end of said rear leg, said rear pin selectively moveable between an extended position protruding laterally outward from said seat cushion for engagement with said rear leg and a retracted position.

8. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 7 including a front pin disposed forward and upward of said rear pin, said front pin fixedly secured to said seat cushion and protruding laterally therefrom for engagement with said rear leg.

9. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said seat adjustment mechanism unlocks to said unlocked state allowing said front and rear legs to pivot about said lower ends while said seat cushion pivots about said upper ends thereby moving said seat assembly between a full rearward seating position wherein said upper end of said rear leg abuts said front pin and a full forward seating position wherein said upper end of said rear leg abuts said rear pin, said seat adjustment mechanism lockable in said locked state at any of a plurality of seating positions between and including said full forward and full rearward seating positions.

10. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 9 including a plate fixedly secured to said upper end of said rear leg for abutting said front pin when said seat assembly is in said full rearward seating position and abutting said rear pin when said seat assembly is in said full forward seating position.

11. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said plate includes a forward slot for abutting said front pin and a rearward slot for abutting said rear pin.

12. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 11 including a first handle operatively coupled to said seat adjustment mechanism for actuating said seat adjustment mechanism between said locked and unlocked states.

13. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 12 including a second handle operatively coupled to said seat adjustment mechanism for actuating said seat adjustment mechanism between said locked and unlocked states, and operatively coupled to said rear pin for actuating said rear pin between said extended position when said seat adjustment mechanism is in said locked state and said retracted position when said seat adjustment mechanism is in said unlocked state thereby allowing selective movement of said seat assembly between any of said plurality of seating positions and said stowed position.

14. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 13 including a floor panel covering the recess in the floor, said floor panel selectively movable between a closed position covering the recess and an open position allowing access for stowing or removing said seat assembly.

15. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said seat assembly is selectively moveable between any of said plurality of seating positions and an easy-entry position, forward and downward of said full forward seating position, whereat said front leg abuts said floor panel in said closed position.

16. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 15 including a seat back recliner mechanism disposed between said seat back and seat cushion, said seat back recliner mechanism operable between a locked state and an unlocked state allowing said movement of said seat back between said plurality of reclined seating positions and said forwardly folded flat position.

17. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a lower link extending between a proximal end fixedly secured to said lower end of said front leg for pivoting therewith and a distal end having said guide pin coupled thereto and extending laterally therefrom.

18. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said laterally extending guide pin is a roller rotatably coupled to said distal end of said lower link.

19. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said arcuate channel selectively receives said roller for operatively coupling said front and rear legs to rotate together as said riser mechanism passes through said on-center condition.

20. A seat assembly for supporting an occupant in an automotive vehicle above a floor having a recess, said seat assembly comprising:

a seat cushion;

a seat back pivotally coupled to said seat cushion, said seat back selectively moveable between a plurality of reclined seating positions and a forwardly folded flat position overlying said seat cushion;

a riser mechanism including at least one front leg and at least one rear leg, each of said front and rear legs extending between a lower end adapted to be pivotally coupled to the floor and an upper end pivotally coupled to said seat cushion, wherein said front and rear legs are offset laterally such that they rotate in different planes; and

a seat adjustment mechanism disposed between said seat cushion and said upper end of said rear leg, said seat adjustment mechanism operable between a locked state and an unlocked state allowing said front and rear legs to pivot about said lower end of said front and rear legs while said seat cushion pivots about said upper end of said front and rear legs thereby moving said seat assembly between a seating position with said seat cushion spaced above the floor and a stowed position with said seat cushion and seat back disposed in the recess in the floor.

21. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 20 including a rear pin operatively coupled to said seat cushion adjacent said upper end of said rear leg, said rear pin selectively moveable between an extended position protruding laterally outward from said seat cushion for engagement with said rear leg and a retracted position.

22. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 21 including a front pin disposed forward and upward of said rear pin, said front pin fixedly secured to said seat cushion and protruding laterally therefrom for engagement with said rear leg.

23. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein said seat adjustment mechanism unlocks to said unlocked state allowing said front and rear legs to pivot about said lower end of said front and rear legs while said seat cushion pivots about said upper end of said front and rear legs thereby moving said seat assembly between a full rearward seating position wherein said upper end of said rear leg abuts said front pin and a full forward seating position wherein said upper end of said rear leg abuts said rear pin, said seat adjustment mechanism lockable in said locked state at any of a plurality of seating positions between and including said full forward and full rearward seating positions.

24. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 23 including a plate fixedly secured to said upper end of said rear leg for abutting said front pin when said seat assembly is in said full rearward seating position and abutting said rear pin when said seat assembly is in said full forward seating position.

25. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 24 wherein said plate includes a forward slot for abutting said front pin and a rearward slot for abutting said rear pin.

26. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 25 including a first handle operatively coupled to said seat adjustment mechanism for actuating said seat adjustment mechanism between said locked and unlocked states.

27. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 26 including a second handle operatively coupled to said seat adjustment mechanism for actuating said seat adjustment mechanism between said locked and unlocked states, and operatively coupled to said rear pin for actuating said rear pin between said extended position when said seat adjustment mechanism is in said locked state and said retracted position when said seat adjustment mechanism is in said unlocked state thereby allowing selective movement of said seat assembly between any of said plurality of seating positions and said stowed position.

28. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 27 including a floor panel covering the recess in the floor, said floor panel selectively movable between a closed position covering the recess and an open position allowing access for stowing or removing said seat assembly.

29. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 28 wherein said seat assembly is selectively moveable between any of said plurality of seating positions and an easy-entry position, forward and downward of said full forward seating position, whereat said front leg abuts said floor panel in said closed position.

30. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 29 including a seat back recliner mechanism disposed between said seat back and seat cushion, said seat back recliner mechanism operable between a locked state and an unlocked state allowing said movement of said seat back between said plurality of reclined seating positions and said forwardly folded flat position.

31. A seat assembly for supporting an occupant in an automotive vehicle above a floor having a recess, said seat assembly comprising:

a seat cushion;

a seat back pivotally coupled to said seat cushion, said seat back selectively moveable between a plurality of reclined seating positions and a forwardly folded flat position overlying said seat cushion;

a riser mechanism including at least one front leg and at least one rear leg, each of said front and rear legs extending between a lower end adapted to be pivotally coupled to the floor and an upper end pivotally coupled to said seat cushion;

a front pin fixedly secured to said cushion and protruding laterally therefrom;

a rear pin disposed rearward and downward of said front pin, said rearward pin fixedly secured to said cushion and protruding laterally therefrom; and

a seat adjustment mechanism disposed between said seat cushion and said upper end of said rear leg, said seat adjustment mechanism operable between a locked state and an unlocked state allowing said front and rear legs to pivot about said lower end of said front and rear legs while said seat cushion pivots about said upper end of said front and rear legs thereby moving said seat assembly between a full forward seating position wherein said upper end of said rear leg abuts said front pin and a full rearward seating position wherein said upper end of said rear leg abuts said rear pin, said seat adjustment mechanism lockable in said locked state at any of a plurality of seating positions between and including said full forward and full rearward seating positions.