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Vertical adjustment support device for a vehicle seat

  • US 4,659,052 A
  • Filed: 01/30/1986
  • Issued: 04/21/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1985
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A vertical adjustment device for use in a seat of a vehicle comprising:

  • a mounting frame adapted to be fixed to the vehicle;

    a seat supporting frame adapted to receive the seat of the vehicle thereon;

    a pair of X-shaped expansion legs each having a first link and a second link, said first and second links of each said expansion leg being pivotally mounted at their respective central portions so as to provide an X-shaped configuration, each said first link being slidably coupled to said seat supporting frame at an upper end thereof and being pivotally coupled to said mounting frame at a lower end thereof, each said second link being pivotally coupled to said seat supporting frame at an upper end thereof and being slidably coupled to said mounting frame at a lower end thereof, the pivotal mounting of the links of each of said X-shaped expansion legs enabling relative rotation so that each of the X-shaped expansion legs can raise and lower said seat supporting frame;

    a support member disposed at an end of at least one of said first and second links of each of said X-shaped expansion legs;

    elastic means secured at one end thereof to said support member, said elastic means being adapted to energize said expansion legs;

    energizing force adjustment means for adjusting the energizing force of said elastic means, said energizing force adjustment means including;

    (a) a pair of wedge members, each being formed in a right triangle configuration and having a slanting surface with a grade and a bottom surface, said pair of wedge members being combined with each other such that the slanting surface of one of said wedge members is in a slidable contact with the slanting surface of the other wedge member whose grade is identical to and in an opposite direction in relation to that of said one wedge member so that the bottom surface of said one wedge member is in a parallel relation to the bottom surface of said other wedge member, said bottom surface of said other wedge member being secured to the end of said elastic means opposite said one end of said elastic means; and

    (b) a feed screw mechanism operatively coupled to said one wedge member, said feed screw mechanism being adapted to move said one wedge member in a direction transversely to a longitudinal direction of said elastic means,whereby forward movement of said one wedge member by operation of said feed screw member causes said other wedge member to move in a direction which increases the energizing force of said elastic means so as to rotate said links of each said pair of X-shaped expansion legs and cause the raising of said seat supporting frame, and a rearward movement of said one wedge member by operation of said feed screw member causes said other wedge member to move in a direction which decreases the energizing force of said elastic means so as to rotate said links of each said pair of X-shaped expansion legs and cause the lowering of said seat supporting frame.

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