SEAT ADJUSTING MECHANSIM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20140167483A1
• Filed: 12/11/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Schneider, Michael D., Swain, Phillip B., Strobach, Daniel P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,211,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/463.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0722 Constructive details
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0825 outside the rail
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0843 about a longitudinal axis

Abstract

The present invention relates to a seat adjustment mechanism for a seat, for example a seat for all terrain vehicles having at least a pair of laterally spaced apart seats.

Claims

1. A seat adjustment mechanism, comprising:

a base member having an upper wall, and a cavity positioned below the upper wall;

an adjustment mechanism comprised of a movable portion being positioned within an envelope of the cavity, and being movable longitudinally relative to the base member, the adjustment mechanism further comprising a coupling mechanism protruding though at least a portion of the base member and movable therewith; and

an adjusting and locking mechanism having a locked and unlocked position, allowing the adjustment mechanism to be longitudinally movable relative to the base member when in the unlocked position, and locked relative to the base member when in the locked position.

2. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 1, wherein the movable portion is defined by a sliding plate.

3. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 2, wherein the adjusting and locking mechanism comprises an adjustment lever coupled to the sliding plate.

4. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 3, wherein the adjustment lever is coupled to a lower side of the sliding plate, and is movable with the sliding plate.

5. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 4, wherein the adjustment lever comprises a shaft portion and a handle portion.

6. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 5, wherein the shaft portion is coupled to the lower side of the sliding plate and the handle portion protrudes through the base member.

7. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 6, wherein the base member includes a front lower wall and an opening is positioned vertically above the front lower wall, and the handle portion protrudes through the opening.

8. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 6, wherein the shaft portion is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and the handle portion includes a gripping portion which is generally perpendicular to the shaft portion.

9. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 8, wherein the shaft portion comprises first locking elements which locate and lock the shaft portion relative to the base member.

10. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 9, wherein the base member further comprises second locking elements cooperable with the first locking elements.

11. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 10, wherein the first locking elements comprise one or more locating pegs on the shaft portion and the second locking elements comprise a locating slot having a longitudinal slot portion, and a plurality of transverse slot portions;

the shaft portion being rotatable to a position where the locating lugs align with the longitudinal slot portion, whereupon the shaft is longitudinally movable relative to the base member, and the shaft being rotatable to a position where the locating lugs align with the transverse slot portions, shaft portion is fixed relative to the base member.

12. A seat adjustment mechanism, comprising:

a base member having a perimetral wall and an upper wall supported by the perimetral wall, a cavity positioned below the upper wall, and an opening positioned vertically above the perimetral wall and communicating with the cavity;

an adjustment mechanism comprised of a movable portion and an adjusting and locking mechanism, the movable portion being positioned within the cavity, and at least a portion of the adjusting and locking mechanism protrudes through the opening, the adjustment mechanism further comprising a coupling mechanism protruding though at least a portion of the base member and is movable with the adjustment mechanism;

wherein the movable portion is movable longitudinally relative to the base member; and

the adjusting and locking mechanism has a locked and unlocked position, allowing the adjustment mechanism to be longitudinally movable relative to the base member when in the unlocked position, and locked relative to the base member when in the locked position.

13. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 12, wherein the movable portion is defined by a sliding plate.

14. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 13, wherein the adjusting and locking mechanism comprises an adjustment lever coupled to the sliding plate.

15. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 14, wherein the adjustment lever is coupled to a lower side of the sliding plate, and is movable with the sliding plate.

16. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 15, wherein the adjustment lever comprises a shaft portion and a handle portion.

17. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 16, wherein the shaft portion is coupled to the lower side of the sliding plate and the handle portion protrudes through the base member.

18. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 16, wherein the perimetral wall includes a front lower wall and the opening is positioned vertically above the front lower wall, and the handle portion protrudes through the opening.

19. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 16, wherein the shaft portion is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and the handle portion includes a gripping portion which is generally perpendicular to the shaft portion.

20. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 19, wherein the longitudinal axis is below the perimetral wall, and the handle portion is angled up and over the perimetral wall.

21. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 20, wherein the shaft portion comprises first locking elements which locate and lock the shaft portion relative to the base member.

22. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 21, wherein the base member further comprises second locking elements cooperable with the first locking elements.

23. The seat adjustment mechanism of claim 22, wherein the first locking elements comprise one or more locating pegs on the shaft portion and the second locking elements comprise a locating slot having a longitudinal slot portion, and a plurality of transverse slot portions;

the shaft portion being rotatable to a position where the locating lugs align with the longitudinal slot portion, whereupon the shaft is longitudinally movable relative to the base member, and the shaft being rotatable to a position where the locating lugs align with the transverse slot portions, shaft portion is fixed relative to the base member.