Height adjusting device for an automotive seat

• US 4,738,427 A
• Filed: 11/04/1986
• Issued: 04/19/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Inventors: Nishino, Takaichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Machado, Reinaldo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHIN SHUE, ALVIN C
• Application Number:
  US06/927,352
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 248/396, 248/394, 248/395, 248/421, 248/422, 248/397, 248/419, 297/313
• US Class Current: 248/421
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1835 pivoting about an axis located in the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1864 Gear wheel driven mechanism

Abstract

A height adjusting device is disclosed which adjusts the height of a seat cushion of an automotive seat in the vertical direction. In the height adjusting device, a seat cushion frame is mounted to one end of a bell crank rotatably supported by an upper rail of a seat adjuster, a connecting rod is connected to the other end of the bell crank, there is formed in the free end portion of the connecting rod a rack portion intermeshable with a pinion gear cooperatively connected with an operation knob, and the rack portion is grasped by and between the pinion gear and a rotary roller mounted to the upper rail.

Claims

1. A height adjusting device for use in an automotive seat comprising:

a bell crank for connecting right and left upper rails of a seat adjuster with a seat cushion frame;

a crankshaft rotatably supported by and between the rear portions of said right and left upper rails of said seat adjuster, said bell crank being fixed to one end portion of said crankshaft, one end of said bell crank being connected to said seat cushion frame, the front portions of said right and left upper rails being connected with said seat cushion frame by means of brackets, respectively;

a link having one end fixed to the other end of said crankshaft, and the other end of said link being connected to said seat cushion frame;

a connecting rod being connected with said bell crank and having a rack portion;

a pinion gear intermeshable with said rack portion of said connecting rod, and means for restricting the range of rotation of said pinion gear;

an operation lever fixed to a rotary shaft mounted to said upper rail of said seat adjuster and said pinion gear being fixed to a portion where said rotary shaft is located within said upper rails; and

,

a rotary roller mounted to said upper rail of said seat adjuster for supporting a free end portion of said connecting rod said rack portion is formed on a upper side of said free end portion, and said free end portion on a lower side thereof is provided with two step portions for serving as stoppers for said rotary roller in preventing said connecting rod from slipping off.

2. A height adjusting device for use in an automotive seat as defined in claim 1, wherein a seat back frame is mounted to said upper rails of said seat adjuster by means of a reclining device so as to act in concert with said seat adjuster for inclining said seat back frame forwardly and backwardly.

3. A height adjusting device for use in an automotive seat as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for restricting the range of rotation of said pinion gear comprises a locking plate which is rotatable with said pinion gear and engageth with said rack portion.

4. A height adjusting device for use in an automotive seat as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotary roller for supporting said free end portion of said connecting rod is located below said pinion gear, and said connecting rod is held between said rotary roller and said pinion gear.

5. A height adjusting device for use in an automotive seat as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotary roller is provided with an integral flange which prevents said connecting rod from slipping off out of position.

6. A height adjusting device for use in an automotive seat as defined in claim 1, wherein a lower side of said connecting rod free end portion is formed in a curved shape so that said connecting rod in communication with said rotary roller can be inclined correspondingly to the vertical displacements thereof.