Full Memory Seat Track Mechanism

• US 20130278033A1
• Filed: 12/05/2011
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Seating Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Macit Aktas
• Inventors: Tame, Omar D., Gupte, Ameya, Carroll, Jeffrey P., Aktas, Macit
• Granted Patent: US 9,308,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/344.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0722 Constructive details
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0727 Stop members for limiting sliding movement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/08 characterised by the locking device
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0818 inside the rail
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/12 slidable and tiltable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/123 and provided with memory locks
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/126 the backrest being maintained in its tilted position until the seat has slided to its memorised position

Abstract

A seat track assembly includes a latch mechanism operable to allow movement of a movable track relative to a fixed track between a plurality of positions. A memory mechanism is operable between a home position, coupled with the movable track, and a memory position, coupled with the fixed track, to define a selected position. Actuation of the memory mechanism to the memory position unlocks the latch mechanism to allow movement of the movable track in a first direction away from the selected position to an easy-entry position. In response to movement of the movable track in a second direction from the easy-entry position, the memory mechanism blocks the movable track at the selected position, allowing the latch mechanism to lock and the memory mechanism to return to the home position. The latch mechanism operates independently to unlock the latch mechanism when the memory mechanism is in the home position.

Claims

1. A seat track assembly providing forward and rearward movement of a seat assembly along a floor in an automotive vehicle, said seat track assembly comprising:

a fixed track adapted to be fixedly secured to the floor;

a movable track adapted to be fixedly secured to the seat assembly and slidably coupled to said fixed track;

a latch mechanism operatively coupled between said fixed and movable tracks, wherein said latch mechanism prevents sliding movement of said movable track and is selectively disengaged from said fixed track to allow sliding movement of said movable track between a plurality of positions; and

a memory mechanism operable between a home position, wherein said memory mechanism is coupled with said movable track and moves therewith during sliding movement of said movable track, and a memory position, wherein said memory mechanism is coupled with said fixed track and defines a previously selected one of said plurality of positions;

wherein actuation of said memory mechanism to said memory position disengages said latch mechanism from said fixed track, thereby allowing sliding movement of said movable track in a first direction away from said previously selected one of said plurality of positions to an easy-entry position, and in response to sliding movement of said movable track in a second direction from said easy-entry position said memory mechanism blocks said movable track at said previously selected one of said plurality of positions, thereby allowing said latch mechanism to engage with said fixed track and said memory mechanism to return to said home position;

and wherein said latch mechanism is independently operable to disengage said latch mechanism from said fixed track when said memory mechanism is in said home position.

2. The seat track assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said memory mechanism includes a memory plate operatively coupled to said movable track, said memory plate is disengaged from said fixed track when said memory mechanism is in said home position and said memory plate is engaged with said fixed track when said memory mechanism is in said memory position.

3. The seat track assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said movable track includes an elongated slot extending between first and second ends, said elongated slot having a recess at said first end and said memory plate having a memory tab extending laterally from a first end of said memory plate, said memory plate is slidably coupled to said elongated slot and said memory tab is disposed in said recess when said memory mechanism is in said home position and said memory tab is withdrawn from said recess when said memory mechanism is in said memory position.

4. The seat track assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first end of said elongated slot contacts said memory tab to block said movable track at said previously selected one of said plurality of positions in response to sliding movement of said movable track in said second direction.

5. The seat track assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said fixed track includes an elongated tooth rack and said memory plate includes at least one memory tooth, said at least one memory tooth engaged with said tooth rack when said memory mechanism is in said memory position.

6. The seat track assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said memory plate is biased towards said home position.

7. The seat track assembly as set forth in claim 6 further including a latch release lever pivotally coupled to said movable track, said latch release lever directly engaging said latch mechanism and operable to disengage said latch mechanism from said fixed track in response to pivotal movement of said latch release lever.

8. The seat track assembly as set forth in claim 7 further including a slider for directly contacting a second end of said memory plate and directly contacting said latch release lever, said slider is operable between a raised position, wherein said memory mechanism is in said home position and said latch mechanism is engaged with said fixed track, and a depressed position, wherein said memory mechanism is in said memory position and said latch mechanism is disengaged from said fixed track.

9. The seat track assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said slider includes a groove engaging a guide tab on said movable track, said guide tab guiding said slider between said raised position and said depressed position.

10. The seat track assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said movable track contacts said slider in said depressed position to prevent said slider from moving to said raised position during sliding movement of said movable track between said previously selected one of said plurality of positions and said easy-entry position, thereby preventing engagement of said latch mechanism with said fixed track.

11. The seat track assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said slider contacts a flag tab on said second end of said memory plate in response to sliding movement of said movable track in said second direction, thereby moving said slider in said first direction to allow said slider to return to said raised position.

12. The seat track assembly as set forth in claim 11 further including a cam lever pivotally coupled to said movable track and directly contacting said slider, wherein pivotal movement of said cam lever in a first direction moves said slider from said raised position to said depressed position.

13. The seat track assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said recess extends downward at said first end of said elongated slot and said memory plate pivots between said home position and said memory position.

14. The seat track assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said recess extends upward at said first end of said elongated slot and said memory plate slides vertically between said home position and said memory position.

15. The seat track assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein movement of said slider from said raised position to said depressed position actuates said memory mechanism to said memory position prior to disengaging said latch mechanism from said fixed track.

16. The seat track assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein movement of said slider from said depressed position to said raised position allows said latch mechanism to engage with said fixed track prior to allowing said memory mechanism to return to said home position.

17. A seat assembly secured to a floor in an automotive vehicle, said seat assembly comprising:

a seat cushion;

a seat back operatively coupled to said seat cushion, said seat back movable between an upright position and a folded position;

a seat track assembly including a fixed track adapted to be fixedly secured to the floor and a movable track fixedly secured to said seat cushion and slidably coupled to said fixed track;

a latch mechanism operatively coupled between said fixed and movable tracks, wherein said latch mechanism prevents sliding movement of said movable track and is selectively disengaged from said fixed track to allow sliding movement of said seat assembly between a plurality of positions;

a memory mechanism operable between a home position, wherein said memory mechanism is coupled with said movable track and moves therewith during sliding movement of said movable track, and a memory position, wherein said memory mechanism is coupled with said fixed track and defines a previously selected one of said plurality of positions, and wherein moving said seat back to said folded position actuates said memory mechanism to said memory position; and

an interlock assembly operatively coupled between said seat back and said seat track assembly for selectively engaging said seat back to maintain said seat back in said folded position during sliding movement of said seat assembly between said previously selected one of said plurality of positions and an easy-entry position;

wherein actuation of said memory mechanism to said memory position disengages said latch mechanism from said fixed track, thereby allowing sliding movement of said seat assembly in a first direction away from said previously selected one of said plurality of positions to said easy-entry position, and in response to sliding movement of said seat assembly in a second direction from said easy-entry position said memory mechanism blocks said seat assembly at said previously selected one of said plurality of positions, thereby allowing said latch mechanism to engage with said fixed track and said memory mechanism to return to said home position;

and wherein said latch mechanism is independently operable to disengage said latch mechanism from said fixed track when said memory mechanism is in said home position.

18. The seat assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said movable track includes an elongated slot extending between first and second ends, said elongated slot having a recess at said first end, and wherein said memory mechanism includes a memory plate slidably coupled to said elongated slot, said memory plate having a memory tab extending laterally therefrom, said memory plate is disengaged from said fixed track and said memory tab is disposed in said recess when said memory mechanism is in said home position and said memory plate is engaged with said fixed track and said memory tab is withdrawn from said recess when said memory mechanism is in said memory position.

19. The seat assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said interlock assembly includes a hook lever pivotally coupled to said seat cushion for engagement with said seat back in said folded position, an interlock slider slidably coupled to said movable track for movement between a first position and a second position, and a cable operatively coupled between said hook lever and said interlock slider.

20. The seat assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein said hook lever is disengaged from said seat back when said interlock slider is in said first position and said hook lever is engaged with said seat back when said interlock slider is in said second position.

21. The seat assembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein said hook lever is biased towards engagement with said seat back and said interlock slider is biased towards said second position.

22. The seat assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein said memory tab maintains said interlock slider in said first position when said memory plate is in said home position.

23. The seat assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein actuation of said memory mechanism to said memory position and sliding movement of said seat assembly in said first direction away from said previously selected one of said plurality of positions allows said interlock slider to move to said second position, thereby allowing said hook lever to engage with said seat back.

24. The seat assembly as set forth in claim 23 wherein said memory tab moves said interlock slider from said second position to said first position to disengage said hook from said seat back in response to sliding movement of said seat assembly in said second direction.

25. A seat assembly secured to a floor in an automotive vehicle, said seat assembly comprising:

a seat cushion;

a seat back operatively coupled to said seat cushion, said seat back movable between an upright position and a folded position;

a seat track assembly including a fixed track adapted to be fixedly secured to the floor and a movable track fixedly secured to said seat cushion and slidably coupled to said fixed track;

a latch mechanism operatively coupled between said fixed and movable tracks, wherein said latch mechanism prevents sliding movement of said movable track and is selectively disengaged from said fixed track to allow sliding movement of said seat assembly between a plurality of positions;

a memory mechanism operable between a home position, wherein said memory mechanism is coupled with said movable track and moves therewith during sliding movement of said movable track, and a memory position, wherein said memory mechanism is coupled with said fixed track and defines a previously selected one of said plurality of positions, and wherein moving said seat back to said folded position actuates said memory mechanism to said memory position; and

a slider operable between a raised position, wherein said memory mechanism is in said home position and said latch mechanism is engaged with said fixed track, and a depressed position, wherein said memory mechanism is in said memory position and said latch mechanism is disengaged from said fixed track, and wherein said movable track contacts said slider in said depressed position to prevent said slider from moving to said raised position during sliding movement of said movable track between said previously selected one of said plurality of positions and an easy-entry position, thereby preventing engagement of said latch mechanism with said fixed track;

wherein actuation of said memory mechanism to said memory position disengages said latch mechanism from said fixed track, thereby allowing sliding movement of said seat assembly in a first direction away from said previously selected one of said plurality of positions to said easy-entry position, and in response to sliding movement of said seat assembly in a second direction from said easy-entry position said memory mechanism blocks said seat assembly at said previously selected one of said plurality of positions, thereby allowing said latch mechanism to engage with said fixed track and said memory mechanism to return to said home position;

and wherein said latch mechanism is independently operable to disengage said latch mechanism from said fixed track when said memory mechanism is in said home position.

26. The seat assembly as set forth in claim 25 wherein said slider contacts said memory mechanism in response to sliding movement of said movable track in said second direction, thereby moving said slider in said first direction to allow said slider to return to said raised position at said previously selected one of said plurality of positions.