Vehicle Seat Lift Structure

• US 20080303327A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S..R.L.
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Ramaseshadri, Ganesh T., Brewer, William S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,963,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/338
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1615 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/169 Stepwise movement mechanisms, e.g. ratchets B60N2/167 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/023 Three-point seat belt systems comprising two side lower and one side upper anchoring devices B60R22/022, B60R22/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

A vehicle seat having a lift structure for adjusting the position of the seat employs a load transfer link (9) to transfer the loads applied to the seat from a lift link (3) and an upper support (2) to a pivot bracket (7), which is typically coupled to the floor of the vehicle. The load transfer link is coupled to the pivot bracket on one end and to the lift link on the opposite end, in order to transfer the load. The lift structure permits movement of a restraint seatbelt with the height adjustment of the vehicle seat, thus reducing the potential for discomfort of the occupant.

Claims

1. A lift apparatus of a vehicle seat, comprising:

a pivot bracket configured to be attachable with respect to a floor of a motor vehicle;

an upper support configured to support a load of the vehicle seat;

a load transfer link having a first and a second end, the first end of the load transfer link being coupled to the pivot bracket for transferring the load of the vehicle seat; and

a lift link having a first and a second end, the first end of the lift link being coupled to the upper support and the second end of the lift link being coupled to the second end of the load transfer link for height adjustment of the vehicle seat.

2. The lift apparatus of claim 1, further including a torsion tube coupled to the upper support of the vehicle seat.

3. The lift apparatus of claim 1, further including a sensor for detecting a load in the vehicle seat.

4. The lift apparatus of claim 1, further including a restraint attachment coupled to the upper support.

5. The lift apparatus of claim 1, further including a fastener coupled to the load transfer link for height adjustment of the vehicle seat.

6. The lift apparatus of claim 5, wherein the lift link includes a slot, having a first side and a second side, such that the fastener is configured to travel along the first side of the slot for height adjustment of the vehicle seat.

7. The lift apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second side of the slot is configured to include a plurality of indentations for supporting the fastener.

8. A lift system for transferring a load of a vehicle seat, comprising:

a pivot bracket configured to be mounted to a floor of a motor vehicle;

an upper support of the vehicle seat base, wherein the upper support is configured to sustain a load;

a load transfer link being coupled to the pivot bracket, wherein the load transfer link is configured to transfer the load of the vehicle seat to the pivot bracket; and

a lift link being coupled to the upper support, wherein the lift link is further coupled to the load transfer link for height adjustment of the vehicle seat.

9. The lift system of claim 8, further including a torsion tube coupled to the upper support of the vehicle seat.

10. The lift system of claim 8, further including a sensor for detecting a load in the vehicle seat.

11. The lift system of claim 8, further including a restraint attachment coupled to the upper support.

12. The lift system of claim 8, further including a fastener coupled to the load transfer link for height adjustment of the vehicle seat.

13. The lift system of claim 12, wherein the lift link includes a slot, having a first side and a second side, such that the fastener is configured to travel along the first side of the slot for height adjustment of the vehicle seat.

14. The lift system of claim 13, wherein the second side of the slot is configured to include a plurality of indentations for supporting the fastener.

15. The method of manufacturing a lift apparatus of a vehicle seat, the steps comprising:

mounting a pivot bracket to a floor of a motor vehicle;

coupling a lift link to an upper support, wherein the upper support is configured to support a load of the vehicle seat;

fastening the lift link to a load transfer link with a fastener, wherein the load transfer link facilitates height adjustment of the vehicle seat; and

coupling the load transfer link to the pivot bracket, wherein the load transfer link is configured to transfer the load of the vehicle seat to the pivot bracket.

16. The method of manufacturing according to claim 15, further including affixing a sensor for detecting a load in the vehicle seat.

17. The method of manufacturing according to claim 15, further including affixing a restraint attachment to the upper support.

18. The method of manufacturing according to claim 15, wherein a torsion tube is configured to couple the upper support and the lift link.

19. The method of manufacturing according to claim 18, wherein the torsion tube is configured to be orthogonally traverse to the lift link.

20. The method of manufacturing according to claim 15, wherein the lift link is configured to include a slot, having a first side and a second side, such that the fastener is configured to travel along the first side of the slot for height adjustment of the vehicle seat.