Device for adjusting the height and the attitude of a seat structure, in particular for a vehicle

• US 4,781,414 A
• Filed: 10/26/1987
• Issued: 11/01/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell - CIM
• Original Assignee: Rockwell-Cim
• Inventors: Periou, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US07/112,785
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 248/396, 248/371, 248/393, 248/394, 248/398, 248/419, 248/429, 248/430, 297/88, 297/313, 297/311, 297/322
• US Class Current: 297/313
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/163 Slides only
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/164 Linear actuator, e.g. screw mechanism

Abstract

This device comprises elements for fixing it to slides (6) which are longitudinally movable on fixed slides (10), other elements allowing the mounting of a seat (4) carrying a cushion (3) and a backrest (2), and, on each side of the seat structure, a cam (5) interposed between the slide (6) and the seat (4). There are provided in the cam (5) bearing tracks (7, 8) for the cam (5) on the slide (6) for the adjustment of the cam (5) in height. Jacks (12, 13) control the height of the cam (5) and the attitude adjusting movement of the seat (4) relative to the cam. This device permits the obtainment of the exact required attitude path, is of small overall size and avoids practically all play or vibrations.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting the height and the attitude of a seat structure in particular of a vehicle, said device comprising:

slides for mounting a seat on the floor of the vehicle;

a cushion and a backrest carried by the seat;

adjusting means for adjusting the seat in height and in attitude, located on each side of the seat structure;

said adjusting means comprising a cam interposed between the slide and the seat on each side of the seat;

at least one first bearing track for the bearing of each cam on the respective slide for the adjustment for the cam and each in height;

each said cam being formed by a plate in which are formed two elongated and inclined first openings having upper edges constituting said at least one first bearing track, said adjusting means further comprising supports mounted on the slide and rolling elements mounted on the supports for bearing against said first bearing tracks;

and at least one second bearing track for the bearing of the seat on each cam, the second bearing track having a shape which is a function of a desired attitude-adjusting movement of the seat relative to the cam; and

means for controlling the height of each cam and seat relative to the respective slide and for controlling the attitude of the seat relative to the respective cam.

2. A device according to claim 1, comprising at least one counter-track provided on each cam, a support mounted on the respective slide, and a rolling or sliding element mounted on the support for bearing against said counter-track which is so arranged as to ensure a play-free displacement of the cam by the bearing tracks provided thereon.

3. A device according to claim 2, comprising an inclined and elongated second opening substantially similar to said first openings and having a lower edge constituting said counter-track, and said lower edge constantly bears against the associated rolling or sliding element.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said two inclined, elongated openings provided in each cam have curved openings having profiles for correlating with the desired attitude-adjusting movement.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said attitude-adjusting movement is a tilting of the seat about a horizontal transverse axis passing through a point located at a given height in a region provided for the passenger on the seat structure, the seat being provided with rolling or sliding elements which are cooperative with said bearing tracks for the seat on the cam.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein said rolling or elements are mounted on the seat and the cam is provided with a seat attitude-adjusting counter-track maintained in bearing relation against said rolling or sliding elements mounted on the seat whereby any play of the seat relative to the cam in its attitude-changing movement is eliminated.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the seat attitude-adjusting counter-track is an upper edge of an elongated and curved opening provided in the cam.

8. A device according to claim 1, comprising yokes for carrying the respective rolling or sliding elements, the respective yokes being fixed to the slide for the adjustment of the cam in height relative to the slide, and the respective yokes being fixed to the seat for the attitude-adjusting movement of the seat relative to the cam.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the means for controlling the height of the cam and seat comprise, for each cam, a jack having one end articulated to the cam and an opposite end articulated to the slide.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the jack is articulated to the slide by an arrangement comprising a spindle mounted on the slide and carrying a rolling or sliding element engaged with a respective bearing track, the jack being articulated to said spindle

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the means for controlling the height of the cam and seat

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the cam having an elongated inclined opening is provided in the slide in facing relation to the opening provided in the cam, and there extends through said two openings a roller having a spindle and a link is articulated to said spindle and has two opposed ends articulated to the slide and to the cam, the roller being capable of rolling simultaneously on the cam along a bearing track formed by an upper edge of the aforementioned opening in the cam, and on the slide along a bearing track formed by a lower edge of the opening in the slide.

13. A device according to claim 12, said link being rotable by means comprising a jack anchored, on one hand, to the slide, and, on the other hand, to the articulation of the link to the cam.

14. A device according to claim 12, wherein there are formed in the cam and in the slide, in facing relation to each other, two inclined and elongated openings, and a roller rotatively mounted on a spindle mounted on the cam extend through said openings, the mounting of the roller and the dimensioning of the openings being such that the roller rolls in bearing relation to a first counter-track constituted by a lower edge of the opening of the cam and on a second counter-track constituted by an upper edge of the opening of the slide.

15. A device according to claim 12, wherein the ends of the link are provided with elongate apertures, the cam and the slide are provided with elongate apertures, and pins slidably extend through said elongate apertures and slide therein when the link pivots about the spindle of its roller during the adjustment of the cam in height relative to the slide.

16. A device according to claim 14, wherein the ends of the link are provided with elongate apertures, the cam and the slide are provided with elongate apertures, and pins slidably extend through said elongate apertures and slide therein when the link pivots about the spindle of its roller during the adjustment of the cam in height relative to the slide.

17. A device according to claim 12, comprising yokes formed in an upper part of the slide and having two parallel branches, said openings of the slide being provided in said parallel branches of said yokes formed in the upper part of the slide, the cam being interposed between said branches and the rollers and their spindles extending through said branches and said cam.

18. A device according to claim 14, comprising yokes formed in an upper part of the slide and having two parallel branches, said openings of the slide being provided in said parallel branches of said yokes formed in the upper part of the slide, the cam being interposed between said branches and the rollers and their spindles extending through said branches and said cam.

19. A device according to claim 16, comprising yokes formed in an upper part of the slide and having two parallel branches, said openings of the slide being provided in said parallel branches of said yokes formed in the upper part of the slide, the cam being interposed between said branches and the rollers and their spindles extending through said branches and said cam.

20. A device according to claim 16, comprising yokes formed in an upper part of the slide and having two parallel branches, said openings of the slide being provided in said parallel branches of said yokes formed in the upper part of the slide, the cam being interposed between said branches and the rollers and their spindles extending through said branches and said cam.