Position memory for automatically adjustable seat assemblies

• US 4,283,036 A
• Filed: 09/27/1978
• Issued: 08/11/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tsuda, Hiroshi, Matsuoka, Hideoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Zugel, Francis K.
• Application Number:
  US05/946,166
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 248/429, 248/430, 248/419, 248/420, 300/346, 300/344
• US Class Current: 248/429
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions

Abstract

A rotary wheel with a peripheral recess rotates with the adjusting movement of a motor-driven, adjustably movable seat. A manual lever is operable to freely rotate the wheel relative to the seat to an angular rest position, where a contact element of a memory switch engages in the recess of the wheel. When the seat moves back to the initial position after an adjusting movement, the contact element snaps into the recess to open the switch stopping the motor so that the seat automatically resumes the initial position.

Claims

1. Position memory for an adjustable seat assembly having at least one adjustable movable seat member, comprising:

drive means for driving the seat member for the adjusting movement thereof,

a rotary wheel member engageable with a stationary surface for rotation with the adjusting movement of the seat member while being freely rotatable relative to the stationary surface when disengaged and having a recess formed at the periphery thereof,

biasing means to engage said wheel member with the stationary surface,

first operating means for bringing said wheel member out of engagement with said stationary surface for free rotation relative to the seat member, said first operating means including a pivotal member carried by said seat member and pivotally movable to allow free rotation of the wheel and a manually operable lever operatively connected with said pivotal member for pivotal movement thereof,

second operating means for providing said wheel member with an angular rest position under a condition wherein said wheel member is disengaged from said stationary member, said second operating means including a cam member integrally mounted on said rotary wheel member and having a cam surface, and a cam mating surface which is engageable with said cam surface to bring said wheel member into said angular rest position, and

switch means having a contact element in constant engagement with the periphery of said wheel member and engageable in said recess in the rest position of the wheel member to open said switch means.

2. Position memory according to claim 1, in which said drive means comprises an electric motor, and in which said switch means comprises an electric toggle switch and said contact element comprises a lever hinged to the body of said toggle switch.

3. Position memory for an adjustable seat assembly having two spaced stationary guide rails, two spaced slide rails slidably carried on said guide rails for back and forth adjusting movement, a horizontal seat member fixedly mounted on said slide rails, and drive means for driving the slide rails for adjusting movement thereof, comprising a rocker arm pivotally carried by one of said slide rails and extending generally in parallel with the same,

a rotary wheel member rotatably carried by the free end of said rocker arm and engageable with and disengageable from one guide rail in dependence on swinging movement of the rocker arm, said wheel member having a recess formed at the periphery thereof,

means biasing said wheel member into friction engagement with said one guide rail for rotation with the back and forth movement of the slide rails,

a manually operable means for swinging said rocker arm out of engagement with said one guide rail against said biasing means,

means providing an angular rest position of said wheel member, and

a toggle switch mounted on said rocker arm and having a lever pivotally carried by the body of said switch and in constant engagement with the periphery of said wheel member and engageable in said recess in the rest position of said wheel member.

4. Position memory according to claim 3, in which said manually operable means comprises a pivotal lever mounted on the outboard side of said seat member and an operating cable connected between said pivotal lever and said rocker arm to exert a pulling force upon said rocker arm in dependence on pivotal movement of said pivotal lever.

5. Position memory according to claim 4, further comprising auxiliary means for biasing said rocker arm to urge said wheel member in a direction away from said one guide rail.

6. Position memory according to claim 5, further comprising stop means for limiting the pulling force exerted on said rocker arm through said operating cable.

7. Position memory according to claim 3, in which said manually operable means comprises a lever integrally extending rearward from said rocker arm.

8. Position memory according to claim 3, in which said means providing a rest position comprises a cam member fixedly mounted on said wheel member and having a cam surface of a predetermined shape, and a cam mating surface fixedly carried by a bracket extending from one slide rail, said cam mating surface being engageable with said cam surface to bring said wheel member to said rest position.

9. A combination comprising

at least one adjustably movable seat support member slidable along a guide member,

at least one seat member supported on said seat support member,

a drive motor having two opposite drive directions,

control means for controlling the drive action and direction of said drive motor, said control means including means for selection between automatic and manual adjustment and producing a signal representing the selected one of adjustment, and means for selection between the two opposite directions of the adjusting movement of the seat member,

means transferring the drive action of the drive motor to said seat support member,

a position memory for automatic return to the initially set position of the seat support member after any adjusting movement thereof, comprising

a rotary wheel member engageable with said guide member for rotation with the adjusting movement of the support member while being freely rotatable relative to the same when disengaged and having a recess formed at the periphery thereof,

means biasing said wheel member into engagement with the guide member,

operating means for bringing said rotary wheel member out of engagement with said guide member for free rotation relative to the same,

means providing an angular rest position of said wheel member, and

switch means operatively connected with said control means and having a contact element in constant engagement with the periphery of said wheel member and engageable in said recess in said rest position of the wheel member to open said switch means.