Adjustable vehicle seat

• US 5,470,129 A
• Filed: 09/22/1993
• Issued: 11/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ferrero Giulio SPA
• Original Assignee: Ferrero Giulio SPA
• Inventors: Ferrero, Ferruccio
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US08/125,413
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 297/330, 297/329, 297/344.17, 248/394, 248/396, 248/419
• US Class Current: 297/330
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02258 characterised by the mounting of the electric motor for adjusting the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0296 Central command actuator to selectively switch on or engage one of several special purpose circuits or mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/161 Rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1803 with independent front and/or rear adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1821 Combination of Rods and slides
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1839 pivoting about an axis located in an intermediate position

Abstract

An adjustable vehicle seat wherein the frame supporting the seat portion is defined by two sides, each presenting a bottom portion sliding along a respective horizontal longitudinal guide, and a top portion integral with the seat portion and connected to the respective bottom portion so as to travel, in relation to the bottom portion, along a fixed vertical guide integral with the bottom portion and by virtue of two actuating devices located on either side of the fixed guide and each of which provides for rocking the respective top portion in relation to the respective bottom portion and about a respective axis perpendicular to the fixed guide.

Claims

1. An adjustable vehicle seat comprising a seat portion;

a backrest connected for rotation to the seat portion;

a frame supporting the seat portion;

first adjusting means coupled to the frame for adjusting the position of the seat portion in relation to the vehicle; and

second adjusting means coupled to the frame for adjusting the angular position of the backrest in relation to the seat portion;

the first adjusting means comprising first guide means for attachment to the vehicle and for longitudinally guiding the frame and shift means coupled to the seat portion and first guide means for vertically adjusting the position of the seat portion in relation to the first guide means in a lift direction;

characterized by the frame comprising two spaced sides, each side comprising a bottom portion connected in sliding engagement to the first guide means, and a top portion connected to the seat portion;

said shift means comprising, for each said side, a vertical guide and slide assembly, the guide and slide assembly being coupled to and interposed between said bottom and top portions, and first and second actuating devices each coupled to the top and bottom portions and to a corresponding slide assembly on a side for imparting to the top portion rocking movements relative to the bottom portion for vertically lifting the top portion relative to the bottom portion in said lift direction, said rocking movements being directed about respective spaced first and second axes perpendicular to said sides, each said actuating devices including means coupled to said top and bottom portions for simultaneous rotation about a different axis and translating relative to the bottom portion transversely the lift direction in response to said rotation to effect said rocking movements.

2. A seat as claimed in claim 1, characterized by each vertical guide and slide assembly includes a first slide and a corresponding first guide, the slide of each said vertical slide assembly including means for rotatably securing that first slide to its respective first guide so as to rotate, in relation to its first guide, about a third axis parallel to said first and second axes (35, 36).

3. A seat as claimed in claim 2 wherein each actuating device comprises a horizontal guide and slide assembly interposed between and coupled to said top and bottom portions at each side;

the horizontal guide and slide assembly including a second guide and a second slide, the second slide of each horizontal assembly being coupled to the respective second guide so as to rotate, in relation to the second guide, about one of said first and second axes.

4. A seat as claimed in claim 3 wherein on each said side, the second guide of each said horizontal assembly is coupled to one of said top and bottom portions, and the respective second slide is coupled to the other of said top and bottom portions;

each actuating device comprising activating means for moving the respective second slides along the respective second guides and for rotating the second slides in relation to the second guides and about a respective one of said first and second axes.

5. A seat as claimed in claim 4 wherein the first guide of each said vertical guide and slide assembly is defined by a vertical slot formed in a respective corresponding bottom portion;

and the respective first slide is defined by a first pin connected to said top portion and engaging said slot in rotation and in transversely sliding translation.

6. A seat as claimed in claim 5 wherein the second guide of each said horizontal assembly is defined by a horizontal slot formed in the respective corresponding bottom portion;

and the respective second slide is defined by a second pin coaxial with a respective one of said first and second axes and engaging the respective horizontal slot in rotation and transversely sliding translation.

7. A seat as claimed in claim 6 wherein, on each said bottom portion, said horizontal slots are formed on a side of the respective vertical slot;

and said means for respectively activating said second pins are supported on a respective top portion, and comprise a crank pivoting on a respective corresponding second pin and connected to the respective top portion so as to rotate about a respective fourth axis of rotation, and drive means coupled to the frame for rotating the crank about its axis of rotation and in relation to the respective top portion.

8. A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein a transverse rod is interposed between each said crank on each said side, for connecting said two corresponding cranks angularly to each other;

each pair of corresponding cranks and the respective rod defining an output member of a respective actuating device.

9. A seat as claimed in claim 8 wherein each said actuating device comprises said drive means for rotating said output member in relation to said top portions and about the fourth axis of the respective rod;

said drive means comprising a planocentric drive.

10. A seat as claimed in claim 9 wherein said drive means also comprise a motor connected to said planocentric drive.

11. A seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second adjusting means is fitted to said top portion and supports said backrest.

12. A seat as claimed in claim 11 wherein said second adjusting means comprise a pair of parallel cranks, each connected to a respective top portion so as to rotate about a common axis parallel to said perpendicular first and second axes, and each having an end portion projecting beyond the respective top portion and connected integral with said backrest;

and activating means coupled to the frame for rotating said cranks about said common axis of rotation.

13. A seat as claimed in claim 12 wherein said activating means comprises a planocentric drive.

14. A seat as claimed in claim 13 wherein said activating means comprises a motor connected to said planocentric drive.

15. An adjustable vehicle seat comprising:

a seat portion;

a backrest connected for rotation to the seat portion;

a frame for supporting the seat portion;

first adjusting means coupled to the frame for adjusting the position of the seat portion in relation to the vehicle, the first adjusting means comprising first guide means for attachment to the vehicle and for longitudinally guiding the frame and shift means coupled to the seat portion and first guide means for vertically adjusting the position of the seat portion in relation to the first guide means; and

second adjusting means coupled to the frame for adjusting the angular position of the backrest in relation to the seat portion;

the frame comprising two spaced sides each comprising a bottom portion connected to the first guide means and a top portion connected to the seat portion;

said shift means comprising, for each said side, a vertical guide and slide assembly coupled to and interposed between said bottom and top portions for guiding the top portion relative to the bottom portion during lifting of the top portion relative to the bottom portion in a lift direction, and actuating means coupled to the top and bottom portions for vertically lifting the top portion relative to the bottom portion in the lift direction with rocking movements directed about respective spaced first and second axes perpendicular to said sides, said actuating means including first and second spaced means coupled to the top and bottom portions, each of said latter spaced means for independent rotation about a different one of said first and second axes and for simultaneously translating relative to the bottom portion transversely the lift direction in response to said rotation to effect said rocking movements, said vertical lifting occurring in response to said rocking movements.

16. An adjustable vehicle seat comprising:

a seat portion;

a backrest connected for rotation to the seat portion;

a frame supporting the seat portion;

first adjusting means coupled to the frame for adjusting the position of the seat portion in relation to the vehicle; and

second adjusting means coupled to the frame for adjusting the angular position of the backrest in relation to the seat portion;

the first adjusting means comprising first guide means fitted for attachment to the vehicle and for longitudinally guiding the frame and shift means coupled to the seat portion and first guide means for vertically adjusting the position of the seat portion in relation to the first guide means in a lift direction;

the frame comprising two spaced sides, each side comprising a bottom portion connected in sliding engagement to the first guide means, and a top portion connected to the seat portion;

said shift means comprising, for each said side, a vertical guide and slide assembly, the vertical guide and slide assembly including a first guide and a first slide for each said side, the guide and slide assembly being coupled to and interposed between said bottom and top portions on each said side, and first and second actuating devices each coupled to the top and bottom portions and to a corresponding slide assembly on a side for imparting to the top portion rocking movements relative to the bottom portion for vertically lifting the top portion relative to the bottom portion in said lift direction, said rocking movements being directed about respective spaced first and second axes perpendicular to said sides;

each actuating device comprising a horizontal guide and slide assembly interposed between and coupled to said top and bottom portions at each side;

the horizontal guide and slide assembly including a second guide and a second slide, the second slide of each horizontal assembly being coupled to the respective second guide so as to rotate, in relation to the second guide, about one of said perpendicular axes on each said side, the second guide of each said horizontal assembly being coupled to one of said top and bottom portions, and the respective second slide being coupled to the other of said top and bottom portions;

each actuating device comprising activating means for moving the respective second slides along the respective second guides and for rotating the second slides in relation to the second guides about a respective one of said perpendicular axes;

the first guide of each said vertical guide and slide assembly being defined by a vertical slot formed in a respective corresponding bottom portion; and

the respective first slide being defined by a first pin connected to said top portion and engaging said slot in rotation and in transversely sliding translation.