Fore-and-aft suspension device for automotive seat

• US 5,014,960 A
• Filed: 10/05/1988
• Issued: 05/14/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Inventors: Kimura, Takeo
• Primary Examiner(s): Britts, Ramon S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DORNER, KENNETH J
• Application Number:
  US07/253,433
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 248/602, 248/583, 248/298, 248/419, 248/420, 267/70, 267/75, 267/174
• US Class Current: 248/602
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/502 attached to the base of the seat B60N2/504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/505 Adjustable suspension including height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/508 Scissors-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/509 Seat guided by slides or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/544 Compression or tension springs B60N2/542 takes precedence

Abstract

A fore-and-aft suspension device for an automotive seat, in which the seat lower base frame of said seat is movable forwardly and backwardly along a guide rail, and a shaft extends between the seat lower base frame and guide rail, with a pair of coil springs being wound around the shaft. A spring abutment member is also provided between the seat lower base frame and guide rail, such that those coil springs are at their respective ends abutted against both sides of the spring abutment member. Thus, a forward and backward load or jolting applied to the seat is smoothly transmitted, via such seat lower base frame, to the the coil springs, which are then compressed at the spring abutment member, absorbing the forward and backward load or jolting.

Claims

1. A fore-and-aft suspension device for an automotive seat, in which said seat includes a seat lower base frame, said fore-and-aft suspension device comprising:

support means fixed on the side of a floor of an automobile, said support means being arranged so as to extend along a longitudinal direction of said seat lower base frame, and supports said seat lower base frame, said support means comprising a pair of guide rails of a channel shape in section having opened portions extending longitudinally thereof, disposed such that the respective opened portions thereof face toward each other, one of said guide rails being disposed at one side of said seat lower base frame and the other of said guide rails being disposed at the other of said seat lower base frame;

movable means provided at said seat lower base frame, said movable means being adapted to permit forward-and-backward movement of said seat lower base frame along said support means, said movable means comprising at least two pairs of rollers, wherein one pair of said rollers is rotatably provided at one side of said seat lower base frame and the other pair of said rollers is rotatably provided at the other side of said seat lower base frame so that said at least two pairs of rollers are respectively disposed within said pair of guide rails in a rollable manner;

at least one shaft provided at said seat lower base frame, such that said shaft extends between said seat lower base frame and said support means;

at least one pair of coil springs wound around said at least one shaft; and

at least one spring abutment member provided at said support means, in an opposite relation with said at least one shaft, such that said at least one spring abutment member extends towards said at least one shaft, spacing apart the coil springs of said at least one pair of coil springs from each other, so that the coil springs are at their respective ends abutted against said at least one spring abutment member,

wherein said at least one shaft with said at least one pair of coil springs wound therearound comprises two shafts provided at both sides of said seat lower base frame and two pairs of coils springs wound around a respective shaft, and wherein said at least one spring abutment member comprises one spring abutment member provided in each of said pair of guide rails, and said at least one shaft, around which said at least one pair of coil springs are wound, is disposed within respective ones of said guide rails,

whereby, when a forward and backward load or jolting is applied to said seat, said seat lower base frame is moved along said support means, and each of said coil springs is compressed at said spring abutment member, giving a repercussive force against said forward and backward load or jolting, thereby absorbing same.

2. The fore-and-aft suspension device according to claim 1, wherein on each side of said lower base frame, said shaft is at both ends thereof fixedly secured to first and second support brackets respectively, first and second annular slide pieces are slideably attached about said shaft such that they are disposed generally at a mid-way point of said shaft and a slideable along said shaft in its axial direction, said spring abutment member extends generally towards said midway point of said shaft, so that said spring abutment member is interposed between said first and second annular slide pieces, and one of the coil springs of said pair of coil springs is interposed between said first support bracket and said first annular slide piece, and the other coil spring of said pair of coil springs is interposed between said second support bracket and said second annular slide piece.

3. The fore-and-aft suspension device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one spring abutment member has a cutway recessed portion formed therein, through which said shaft passes.

4. The fore-and-aft suspension device according to claim 1, wherein there is further provided a locking device mechanism for locking and unlocking said fore-and-aft suspension device, said locking device mechanism including a lock pin provided at one of said seat lower base frame and said floor side, and a lock lever which is rotatably, pivotally provided at the other of said seat lower base frame and said floor side, said lock lever having a notch formed therein, whereby rotation of said lock lever causes engagement and disengagement of said lock pin into and from said notch of said lock lever, to thereby effect locking and unlocking of said fore-and-aft suspension device.

5. The fore-and-aft suspension device according to claim 1, wherein a vertically movable seat suspension device is provided on said seat lower base frame.