Seat back assist
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A seat back assist system for providing an assist when opening a vehicle seat back from an upright position and a lift assist when returning the seat back to the upright position from a load floor position, the system comprising:
- first and second floor mounting brackets on which the seat back pivots,first and second channels attached to first and second sides of the seat back and positioned adjacent to the first and second floor brackets, respectively,a torque rod extending through a first opening in the first floor bracket and a second opening in the first channel and across the seat back and through a third opening in the second floor bracket,a first end of the torque rod adjacent to the first opening in the first floor bracket including at least one bend for attaching the first end of the torque rod to the first floor bracket,a torque rod retainer press fit onto a second end of the torque rod extending through the third opening in the second floor bracket, the torque rod retainer being attached to the second channel,whereby the torque rod is spring-loaded due to twisting when the seat back is moved from a free position angle where the torque rod has no wind up, to either the upright position or to the horizontal, load floor position.
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Abstract
A seat back assist system is disclosed which provides an assist when opening a vehicle split seat back from an upright position and a lift assist when returning the seat back to the upright position from a load floor (horizontal) position. The assist system allows the seat to pop off a latch when released and to fold down to the load floor position. It also provides a lift assist to the upright position.
37 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A seat back assist system for providing an assist when opening a vehicle seat back from an upright position and a lift assist when returning the seat back to the upright position from a load floor position, the system comprising:
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first and second floor mounting brackets on which the seat back pivots, first and second channels attached to first and second sides of the seat back and positioned adjacent to the first and second floor brackets, respectively, a torque rod extending through a first opening in the first floor bracket and a second opening in the first channel and across the seat back and through a third opening in the second floor bracket, a first end of the torque rod adjacent to the first opening in the first floor bracket including at least one bend for attaching the first end of the torque rod to the first floor bracket, a torque rod retainer press fit onto a second end of the torque rod extending through the third opening in the second floor bracket, the torque rod retainer being attached to the second channel, whereby the torque rod is spring-loaded due to twisting when the seat back is moved from a free position angle where the torque rod has no wind up, to either the upright position or to the horizontal, load floor position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An assist system for a split vehicle seat back comprising first and second seat backs, the system providing an assist when the first and/or second seat back(s) is/are opened from an upright position and a lift assist when the first and/or second seat back(s) is/are returned to the upright position from a load floor position, the system comprising:
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first inboard and outboard floor mounting brackets on which the first seat back pivots, second inboard and outboard floor mounting brackets on which the second seat back pivots, first inboard and outboard channels attached to first inboard and outboard sides, respectively, of the first seat back and positioned adjacent to the first inboard and outboard floor brackets, respectively, second inboard and outboard channels attached to second inboard and outboard sides, respectively, of the second seat back and positioned adjacent to the second inboard and outboard floor brackets, respectively, a first torque rod extending through a first opening in the first outboard floor bracket and a second opening in the first outboard channel and across the first seat back and through a third opening in the first inboard floor bracket, an outboard end of the first torque rod adjacent to the first opening in the first outboard floor bracket including at least one bend for attaching the outboard end of the first torque rod to the first outboard floor bracket, a first torque rod retainer press fit onto an inboard end of the first torque rod extending through the third opening in the first inboard floor bracket, the first torque rod retainer being attached to the first inboard channel, a second torque rod extending through a first opening in the second outboard floor bracket and a second opening in the second outboard channel and across the second seat back and through a third opening in the second inboard floor bracket, an outboard end of the second torque rod adjacent to the first opening in the second outboard floor bracket including at least one bend for attaching the outboard end of the second torque rod to the second outboard floor bracket, a second torque rod retainer press fit onto an inboard end of the second torque rod extending through the third opening in the second inboard floor bracket, the second torque rod retainer being attached to the second inboard channel, whereby the first and second torque rods are spring-loaded due to twisting when the first and second seat back, respectively, are moved from a free position angle where the first and second torque rods have no wind up, to either upright position or to a horizontal, load floor position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification