Seat height adjusting device for automobile

• US 20090127907A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Inventors: Sugiyama, Shinji, Yoshida, Masami, Hoshi, Masayuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,984,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/344.120
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1615 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/165 Gear wheel driven mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/167 Ratchet mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1675 with weight compensating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/168 and provided with braking systems

Abstract

An automobile seat height adjuster includes a linkage base frame between the seat'"'"'s side frames and seat brackets so as to be vertically swingable. The base frame has two pairs of linkage members interconnected by respective shafts. Each of the linkage members extends between one of the side frames and one of the brackets so as to be collapsable. A power transmission mechanism transmits to the linkage base frame power generated by operation of an operating knob and causes the linkage base frame to swing vertically, thereby causing the seat to move vertically. Stops on the linkage base frame abut the installation surfaces, limiting downward movement of the seat and keeping the seat in a lowermost position at which side frames of the seat are spaced from the installation surfaces.

Claims

1. A height adjusting device for adjusting a height of a seat for an automobile, said automobile seat including a seat cushion having first and second spaced apart side frames, and spaced apart brackets provided on predetermined installation-surfaces for supporting said seat, said height adjusting device comprising:

a linkage base frame provided between said first and second side frames and said brackets so as to be vertically swingable, so that said seat is supported through said linkage base frame to said brackets so as to be vertically movable;

said linkage base frame comprising a pair of forward linkage members spaced apart from each other, a first connecting shaft interconnecting said forward linkage members, a pair of rearward linkage members spaced apart from each other, and a second connecting shaft interconnecting said rearward linkage members, each of said forward and rearward linkage members being bridged between corresponding one of said first and second side frames and corresponding one of said brackets so as to be collapsable;

an operating knob arranged outside one of said first and second side frames and supported to the one of said first and second side frames;

power transmission means coupling said operating knob and said linkage base frame for transmitting to said linkage base frame power generated according to operation of said operating knob and causing said linkage base frame to be vertically swung, to thereby cause said seat to be vertically moved; and

stopper means provided at said linkage base frame for abutting against said installation-surfaces and limiting downward movement of said seat and keeping said seat in a lowermost position at which said first and second side frame frames of said seat are spaced apart from said installation surfaces.

3. A height adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein said seat includes a slide rail mechanism comprising a pair of lower rail members mounted on a floor of said automobile and a pair of upper rail members slidably supported to said lower rail members, and a position sensor system provided at said slide rail mechanism for sensing relative positions between said upper rail members and said lower rail members, said position sensor system including position sensors provided on said upper rail members, each of said brackets being mounted on corresponding one of said upper rail members, and said stopper means being adapted to serve as means to causes said position sensors to be spaced apart from said side frames when said seat reaches the lowermost position.

2. A height adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein said stopper means comprises projection-shaped stopper portions projecting from portions of said forward and rearward linkage members which are adapted to be opposed to said installation surfaces when said linkage base frame is swung downward.

4. A height adjusting device for adjusting a height of a seat for an automobile, said automobile seat including a seat cushion having first and second spaced apart side frames, and spaced apart brackets for supporting said seat, said height adjusting device comprising:

a linkage base frame provided between said first and second side frames and said brackets so as to be vertically swingable, so that said seat is supported through said linkage base frame to said brackets so as to be vertically movable;

said linkage base frame comprising a pair of forward linkage members spaced apart from each other, a first connecting shaft interconnecting said forward linkage members, a pair of rearward linkage members spaced apart from each other, and a second connecting shaft interconnecting said rearward linkage members, each of said forward and rearward linkage members being bridged between corresponding one of said first and second side frames and corresponding one of said brackets so as to be collapsable;

an operating knob arranged outside one of said first and second side frames and supported to the one of said first and second side frames; and

power transmission means coupling said operating knob and said linkage base frame for transmitting to said linkage base frame power generated according to operation of said operating knob and causing said linkage base frame to be vertically swung, to thereby cause said seat to be vertically moved;

said power transmission means including a power transmission member supported, via a support pin, to the one of said first and second side frames so as to be rotatable about said support pin according to the operation of said operating knob, and a rod coupled between corresponding one of said rearward linkage members and a portion of said power transmission member which is eccentric from said support pin, one of said forward linkage members being supported, through said support pin, to the one of said first and second side frames.

5. A height adjusting device according to claim 4, wherein said support pin is penetrated through the one of said first and second side frames, said power transmission member is arranged outside the one of said first and second side frame and supported to said support pin, and the one of said forward linkage members is arranged inside the one of said first and second side frame and supported to said support pin.

6. A height adjusting device for adjusting a height of a seat for an automobile, said automobile seat including a seat cushion having first and second spaced apart side frames, and spaced apart brackets for supporting said seat, said height adjusting device comprising:

a linkage base frame provided between said first and second side frames and said brackets so as to be vertically swingable, so that said seat is supported through said linkage base frame to said brackets so as to be vertically movable;

said linkage base frame comprising a pair of forward linkage members spaced apart from each other, a first connecting shaft interconnecting said forward linkage members, a pair of rearward linkage members spaced apart from each other, and a second connecting shaft interconnecting said rearward linkage members, each of said forward and rearward linkage members being bridged between corresponding one of said first and second side frames and corresponding one of said brackets so as to be collapsable;

an operating knob arranged outside one of said first and second side frames and supported to the one of said first and second side frames; and

power transmission means coupling said operating knob and said linkage base frame for transmitting to said linkage base frame power generated according to operation of said operating knob and causing said linkage base frame to be vertically swung, to thereby cause said seat to be vertically moved;

said power transmission means including a power transmission member supported, via a support pin, to the one of said first and second side frames so as to be rotatable about said support pin according to the operation of said operating knob, and a rod coupled between corresponding one of said rearward linkage members and a portion of said power transmission member which is eccentric from said support pin; and

one of said forward linkage members including a body portion supported to corresponding one of said brackets and a prolongation portion extending from said body portion, said portion of said power transmission member and said rod being connected to the prolongation portion of the one of said first and second forward linkage members.

7. A height adjusting device according to claim 6, wherein said body portion of the one of said forward linkage members is supported to said support pin supporting said power transmission member.

8. A height adjusting device according to claim 7, wherein said body portion of the one of said forward linkage members and said power transmission member are supported to said support pin so as to be rotatable relative to each other, said portion of said power transmission member and said rod are connected to each other by a connecting pin, and said prolongation portion of the one of said forward linkage members is formed with an elongated through-hole of a circular arc-shape, said connecting pin being inserted through said elongated through-hole.

9. A height adjusting device for adjusting a height of a seat for an automobile, said automobile seat including a seat cushion having first and second spaced apart side frames, and spaced apart brackets for supporting said seat, said height adjusting device comprising:

a linkage base frame provided between said first and second side frames and said brackets and supported to said first and second side frames by support pins so as to be vertically swingable, so that said seat is supported through said linkage base frame to said brackets so as to be vertically movable;

said linkage base frame comprising a pair of forward linkage members spaced apart from each other, a first connecting shaft interconnecting said forward linkage members, a pair of rearward linkage members spaced apart from each other, and a second connecting shaft interconnecting said rearward linkage members, each of said forward and rearward linkage members being bridged between corresponding one of said first and second side frames and corresponding one of said brackets so as to be collapsable;

an operating knob arranged outside one of said first and second side frames and supported to the one of said first and second side frames; and

power transmission means coupling said operating knob and said linkage base frame for transmitting to said linkage base frame power generated according to operation of said operating knob and causing said linkage base frame to be vertically swung, to thereby cause said seat to be vertically moved; and

spiral springs arranged inside said first and second side frames for biasing said linkage base frame in such a direction that said linkage base frame stands up, said spiral springs being fixed at innermost end portions thereof to said support pins and wound around said support pins.

10. A height adjusting device according to claim 9, wherein outermost end portions of said spiral springs wound around said support pins are engaged with said forward linkage members.

11. A height adjusting device for adjusting a height of a seat for an automobile, said automobile seat including a seat cushion having first and second spaced apart side frames, and spaced apart brackets for supporting said seat, said height adjusting device comprising:

a linkage base frame provided between said first and second side frames and said brackets and supported to said first and second side frames by first and second support pins so as to be vertically swingable, so that said seat is supported through said linkage base frame to said brackets so as to be vertically movable;

said linkage base frame comprising a pair of forward linkage members spaced apart from each other, a first connecting shaft interconnecting said forward linkage members, a pair of rearward linkage members spaced apart from each other, and a second connecting shaft interconnecting said rearward linkage members, each of said forward and rearward linkage members being bridged between corresponding one of said first and second side frames and corresponding one of said brackets so as to be collapsable;

an operating knob arranged outside one of said first and second side frames and supported to the one of said first and second side frames;

power transmission means coupling said operating knob and said linkage base frame for transmitting to said linkage base frame power generated according to operation of said operating knob and causing said linkage base frame to be vertically swung, to thereby cause said seat to be vertically moved;

said power transmission means comprising a power transmission member supported, via said first support pin, to the one of said first and second side frames so as to be rotatable about said support pin according to the operation of said operating knob, and a rod coupled, via a connecting pin, between corresponding one of said rearward linkage members and a portion of said power transmission member which is eccentric from said support pin;

a first spiral spring arranged inside the one of said first and second side frames for biasing said linkage base frame in such a direction that said linkage base frame stand up;

said first spiral spring being fixed at an innermost end portion thereof to said first support pin, wound around said first support pin, and engaged at an outermost end portion thereof with said connecting pin; and

a second spiral spring arranged inside the other of said first and second side frames for biasing said linkage base frame in such a direction that said linkage frame stands up;

said second spiral spring being fixed at an innermost end portion thereof to said second support pin, wound around said second support pin, and engaged at an outermost end portion thereof with one of said forward linkage members.

12. A height adjusting device for adjusting a height of a seat for an automobile, said automobile seat including a seat cushion having first and second spaced apart side frames, and spaced apart brackets for supporting said seat, said height adjusting device comprising:

a linkage base frame provided between said first and second side frames and said brackets so as to be vertically swingable, so that said seat is supported through said linkage base frame to said brackets so as to be vertically movable;

said linkage base frame comprising a pair of forward linkage members spaced apart from each other, a first connecting shaft interconnecting said forward linkage members, a pair of rearward linkage members spaced apart from each other, and a second connecting shaft interconnecting said rearward linkage members, each of said forward and rearward linkage members being bridged between corresponding one of said first and second side frames and corresponding one of said brackets so as to be collapsable;

one of said first and second side frames having a gear case which is arranged outside the one of said first and second side frames and mounted to the one of said first and second side frames;

an operating knob arranged outside one of said first and second side frames;

said operating knob having a rotating shaft penetrated through said gear case and the one of said first and second side frame; and

power transmission means coupling said operating knob and said linkage base frame for transmitting to said linkage base frame power generated according to operation of said operating knob and causing said linkage base frame to be vertically swung, to thereby cause said seat to be vertically moved;

said power transmission means comprising a pinion gear housed within said gear case and mounted on said rotating shaft of said operating knob, a sector gear housed within said gear case, meshed with said pinion gear and supported through a support pin to the one of said first and second side frames so as to be rotatable about said support pin according to the operation of said operating knob, and a rod arranged inside the one of said first and second side frames and coupled between corresponding one of said rearward linkage members and a portion of said sector gear power transmission member which is eccentric from said support pin, one of said forward linkage members being supported, through said support pin, to the one of said first and second side frames.

13. A height adjusting device according to claim 12, wherein said operating knob is provided with a ratchet mechanism for allowing rotation of said rotating shaft to be releasably stopped per a predetermined angle of the rotation of said rotating shaft.

14. A height adjusting device according to claim 12, wherein the one of said first and second side frames has an elongated through-hole formed therein, said rod and said portion of said sector gear are connected to each other by a connecting pin which is penetrated through said elongated through-hole of the one of said first and second side frames, and said pinion bear is arranged forwardly of said connecting pin in said gear case.

15. A height adjusting device according to claim 12, wherein said rotating shaft of said operating knob is rotatably supported to the one of said first and second side frames.

16. A height adjusting device according to claim 12, wherein said sector gear and said pinion gear are interposedly held by said gear case and the one of said first and second side frames so as to be rotatable.