Pivoting seat cushion arrangement for vehicle seat assemblies

• US 5,474,353 A
• Filed: 12/01/1993
• Issued: 12/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hoover Universal Incorporated (Adient plc)
• Original Assignee: Hoover Universal Incorporated (Adient plc)
• Inventors: Demick, Robert L., Freeman, Basil M., Vo, Benny T., Koester, Daniel J., Potes, Duane E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): KRAMER, DEAN J
• Application Number:
  US08/160,564
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 296/65.1, 296/68, 296/68.1, 297/344.21, 297/344.22, 297/344.23, 297/344.24, 297/240, 297/242
• US Class Current: 296/65.07
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0256 Arrangements for facilitating the occupant to get in or out of the vehicle, e.g. stowing a seat forward
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/062 transversally slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/245 for handicapped persons
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/30 Seat or seat parts characterised by comprising plural parts or pieces

Abstract

A vehicle seat assembly includes a fixed seat portion which is adapted to be mounted on the floor of a vehicle and a movable seat portion which is mounted on the fixed seat portion and adapted to be moved between a normal use or drive position and an access position where the front edge of the movable seat portion overlies the sill of the vehicle to facilitate egress from the vehicle, the movable seat portion providing substantial support for the occupant at the drive position and during its movement to the access position, the vehicle seat assembly including mechanisms for pivoting and/or sliding movement of the movable seat portion relative to the fixed seat portion and for locking the movable seat portion to the fixed seat portion to prevent unwanted movement of the movable seat portion. Also disclosed are systems wherein the movable seat cushion arrangement is supplemented by hand grips on the vehicle positioned to be grasped by an individual upon ingress into or egress from the vehicle to facilitate the ingress by an individual into and egress out of a vehicle through a door opening of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly having front and rear inboard corners and front and rear outboard corners, comprising:

a seat cushion and a seat back mounted on and aligned with said seat cushion, said seat cushion including first and second seat portions,

said first seat portion including first cushion material defining a fixed partial seat cushion section providing partial support for an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly;

said second seat portion including second cushion material defining a pivoting partial seat cushion section providing partial support for an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly;

mounting means for mounting said second seat portion on said first seat portion for movement relative to said first seat portion, said mounting means including pivot means extending downwardly from said second seat portion near the outboard rear corner of the vehicle seat assembly defining a substantially vertical pivot axis for permitting said second seat portion to pivot relative to said first seat portion about said pivot axis in a substantially horizontal plane between a forward facing use position and an access position where at least a portion of one edge of said second seat portion overlies the rocker of the vehicle to facilitate ingress into and egress from the vehicle through a doorway of the vehicle;

said pivoting partial seat cushion section being adapted to nest with said fixed partial seat cushion section when said second seat portion is in said use position, whereby said fixed and pivoting partial seat cushion sections provide the appearance of a whole seat cushion for the vehicle seat assembly when said second seat portion is in said use position;

and wherein said seat back includes third cushion material which defines a fixed partial seat back section of the vehicle seat assembly having a recessed cutout area and fourth cushion material which defines a pivoting partial seat back section of the vehicle seat assembly, said pivoting partial seat back section being mounted on and movable with said pivoting partial seat cushion section between said use and access positions, said second partial seat back section being received in said recessed cutout area of said fixed partial seat back section and being adapted to nest with said fixed partial seat back section when said second seat portion is in said use position, whereby said first and second partial seat back sections provide the appearance of a whole seat back cushion for the vehicle seat assembly.

2. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, including releasable latch means for maintaining said second seat portion in at least one of said positions, release means for releasing said latch means to permit said second seat portion to be moved from said one position to the other one of said positions, and bias means for urging said second seat portion toward said other one of said positions.

3. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, including restoring means for moving said second seat portion from one of said use and access positions to the other one of said use and access positions.

4. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second seat portion has a front corner portion at said front outboard corner having a radius of curvature that is less than about ten inches to provide increased leg room for an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly during the pivoting movement of said second seat portion between said use and access positions.

5. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle seat assembly has front and rear inboard corners and front and rear outboard corners, and wherein said seat back has a shoulder formed in an upwardly extending side portion at said rear outboard corner defining a push off shoulder that is located to be reached and gripped by an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly during egress from the vehicle.

6. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a first seat portion including first cushion material defining a first partial seat cushion section of the vehicle seat assembly;

a second seat portion including second cushion material defining a second partial seat cushion section of the vehicle seat assembly;

said second seat portion being mounted on said first seat portion and adapted for movement relative to said first seat portion,

between a use position and an access position where at least a portion of one edge of said second seat portion overlies the rocker of the vehicle to facilitate ingress into and egress from the vehicle

said second partial seat cushion section being adapted to nest with said fixed partial seat cushion section when said second seat portion is in said use position, whereby said first and second partial seat cushion sections provide the appearance of a whole seat cushion for the vehicle seat assembly when said second seat portion is in said use position, said first seat portion includes third cushion material which defines a first partial seat back section of the vehicle seat assembly, and said second seat portion includes fourth cushion material which defines a second partial seat back section of the vehicle seat assembly, said second partial seat back section being adapted to nest with said first partial seat back section when said second seat portion is in said use position whereby said first and second partial seat back sections provide the appearance of a whole seat back cushion for the vehicle seat assembly, said third cushion material including first and second vertically extending portions which define the inboard and outboard sides of the seat back cushion of the vehicle seat assembly and a third portion extending horizontally between upper ends of said first and second portions and which defines the upper middle portion of the seat back cushion of the vehicle seat assembly.

7. A vehicle seat assembly having front and rear inboard corners and front and rear outboard corners, said vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat cushion and a seat back mounted on and aligned with said seat cushion, said seat cushion including first and second seat portions,

said first seat portion including first cushion material defining a fixed partial seat cushion section providing partial support for an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly;

said second seat portion including second cushion material defining a pivoting partial seat cushion section providing partial support for an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly;

mounting means for mounting said second seat portion on said first seat portion for movement relative to said first seat portion, said mounting means including pivot means extending downwardly from said second seat portion near the outboard rear corner of the vehicle seat assembly, defining a substantially vertical pivot axis for permitting said second seat portion to pivot relative to said first seat portion about said pivot axis in a substantially horizontal plane between a forward facing use position and an access position where at least a portion of one edge of said second seat portion overlies the rocker of the vehicle to facilitate ingress into and egress from the vehicle through a doorway of the vehicle;

first and second guide rollers carried by said second seat portion, and an arcuate guide track defined by said first seat portion for said guide rollers, said guide track extending from a first location on said first seat portion near said rear inboard corner to a second location on said first seat portion near said front outboard corner, said first seat portion having a raised portion which defines a fixed guide adjacent to said second location for providing a smooth glide surface for said pivoting seat portion at said second location, means mounting said first guide roller on said second seat portion near said rear inboard corner for turning movement about a generally horizontal axis and in rolling engagement with said guide track, and means mounting said second guide roller on said second seat portion at a location spaced approximately 45°

from said first guide roller for turning movement about said horizontal axis and in rolling engagement with said guide track,

said pivoting partial seat cushion section being adapted to nest with said fixed partial seat cushion section when said second seat portion is in said use position, whereby said fixed and pivoting partial seat cushion sections provide the appearance of a whole seat cushion for the vehicle seat assembly when said second seat portion is in said use position.

8. A vehicle seat assembly having front and rear inboard corners and front and rear outboard corners, said vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat cushion and a seat back mounted on and aligned with said seat cushion, said seat cushion including first and second seat portions,

said seat cushion including a first seat portion and a second seat portion, said first seat portion being adapted to be mounted on the floor of the vehicle and including adjustment means for providing at least fore and aft adjustment for the vehicle seat assembly, said first seat portion including first cushion material defining a fixed partial seat cushion section providing partial seat cushion support for an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly;

and said second seat portion including second cushing material defining a pivoting partial seat cushion section providing partial seat cushion support for an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly,

said seat back including a first seat back cushion portion including third cushion material defining a fixed partial seat back cushion section which together with said fixed partial seat cushion section defines a fixed seat portion of the vehicle seat assembly, and a second seat back cushion portion defining a pivoting partial seat back cushion section which together with said pivoting partial seat cushion section defines a pivoting seat portion of the vehicle seat assembly;

and mounting means mounting said pivoting seat portion on said fixed seat portion, said mounting means including a pivot member carried by one of said seat portions near said rear outboard corner of said vehicle seat assembly and a receptacle on the other one of said seat portions for receiving said pivot member, said pivot member defining a substantially vertical pivot axis for permitting said pivoting seat portion to pivot relative to said fixed seat portion in a substantially horizontal plane between a use position and an access position, whereby the pivoting movement of said pivoting seat portion about said pivot axis from said normal use position to said access position corresponds substantially to the movement of an individual during normal egress from the vehicle, and guide means for providing guided movement for said pivoting seat portion relative to said fixed seat portion between said use and access positions, said guide means including at least first and second guide rollers carried by one of said seat portions, and an arcuately shaped guide roller track defined by the other one of said seat portions, said guide roller track extending from a location adjacent to the front outboard corner of said seat assembly to a location adjacent to the rear inboard corner of said seat assembly.

9. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 8, wherein said fixed seat portion includes a first frame having an upper surface defining said arcuate guide track, and wherein said pivoting seat portion includes a second frame having a surface opposing said upper surface of said first frame, said pivot member connecting said second frame to said first frame near said rear outboard corner, said first and second guide rollers being mounted to said second frame and being interposed between said second frame and said first frame for providing guided movement for said pivoting seat portion along said upper surface of said first frame, said first frame having a raised portion on said upper surface near said front outboard corner, defining a guide which serves as a bearing surface for surface of said seat frame of said pivoting seat portion near said front outboard corner to provide a smooth glide surface for the front of said pivoting seat portion.

10. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 9, including means mounting said first and second guide rollers on said second frame for turning movement about a generally horizontal axis and in rolling engagement with said arcuate guide track.

11. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 9, including travel limit means cooperating with at least one of the said guide rollers to limit the pivotal movement of said pivoting seat portion to a predetermined range.

12. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 11, wherein said travel limit means limits pivoting of said pivoting seat portion to about 45°

from said use portion.

13. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 9, wherein the plane of separation between said first and second frames extends at an angle relative to the horizontal, said angle being in the range of about 0°

to 10°

.

14. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 9, wherein said upper surface of said first frame has a detent notch near said front forward corner for receiving said second guide roller to maintain said pivoting seat portion at said access position at least as long as the occupant remains in the vehicle seat assembly.

15. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 8, including manually operable locking means for locking said pivoting seat portion in a plurality of positions between said use position and said access position, said locking means including first and second pads, support means for supporting said first pad in overlying relationship with said upper surface of said guide track and supporting said second pad in underlying relationship with said lower surface of said guide track, and operating means coupled to said first and second pads and manually operable between a locking position in which said operating means causes said first and second pads to be driven into engagement with said upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of said guide track to maintain said pivoting seat portion at any position at or between said use and access positions to which it has been pivoted, and a release position in which said operating means allows said first and second pads to be moved out of engagement with said surfaces of said guide track, permitting said pivoting seat portion to be moved at a different position at or between said use and access positions.

16. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a fixed seat portion adapted to be mounted on the floor of a vehicle and including adjustment means for providing at least fore and aft position adjustment for the vehicle seat assembly;

a pivoting seat portion including a seat cushion and a seat back cushion connected to said seat cushion, said pivoting seat portion providing substantial back and seat support for an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly; and

mounting means mounting said pivoting seat portion on said fixed seat portion, said mounting means including a pivot member carried by one of said seat portions and a receptacle on the other one of said seat portions for receiving said pivot member, said pivot member defining a substantially vertical pivot axis for permitting said pivoting seat portion to pivot relative to said fixed seat portion in a substantially horizontal plane between a use position and an access position, and guide means for providing guided movement for said pivoting seat portion relative to said fixed seat portion between said use and access positions, said guide means including at least first and second guide rollers carried by one of said seat portions, and an arcuately shaded guide roller track defined by the other one of said seat portions said pivot means being located to cause the pivoting movement of said pivoting seat portion from said use position to said access position to correspond substantially to the movement of an individual during normal egress from the vehicle, and to cause at least a portion of the front edge of said pivoting seat portion to overlie the rocker of the vehicle when said pivoting seat portion is in said access position, whereby an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly is translated in a direction outboard of the vehicle when said pivoting seat portion is pivoted from said use position to said access position, said fixed seat portion including a first frame and said pivoting seat portion includes a second frame, said pivot member connecting said second frame to said first frame, and said fluid means including a plurality of guide rollers interposed between said second frame and said first frame for guided movement for said pivoting seat portion along a surface of said first frame, said first frame including an arcuate guide track cooperating with said guide rollers for providing said guided movement for said pivoting seat portion, said guide track including a first portion having a first radius of curvature and a second portion having a radius of curvature different from said first radius of curvature.

17. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 16, wherein said guide means includes first and second guide rollers arcuately spaced from one another and holding means cooperating with at least one of said guide rollers to prevent horizontal tipping of said second frame relative to said first frame while said pivoting seat portion is moving between said normal use and access positions.

18. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a fixed seat portion adapted to be mounted on the floor of a vehicle and including adjustment means for providing at least fore and aft position adjustment for the vehicle seat assembly;

a pivoting seat portion including a seat cushion and a seat back cushion connected to said seat cushion, said pivoting seat portion providing substantial back and seat support for an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly; and

mounting means mounting said pivoting seat portion on said fixed seat portion, said mounting means including a pivot member carried by one of said seat portions and a receptacle on the other one of said seat portions for receiving said pivot member, said pivot member defining a substantially vertical pivot axis for permitting said pivoting seat portion to pivot relative to said fixed seat portion in a substantially horizontal plane between a use position and an access position, and guide means for providing guided movement for said pivoting seat portion relative to said fixed seat portion between said use and access positions, said guide means including at least first and second guide rollers carried by one of said seat portions, and an arcuately shaped guide roller track defined by the other one of said seat portions said pivot means being located to cause the pivoting movement of said pivoting seat portion from said use position to said access position to correspond substantially to the movement of an individual during normal egress from the vehicle, and to cause at least a portion of the front edge of said pivoting seat portion to overlie the rocker of the vehicle when said pivoting seat portion is in said access position, whereby an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly is translated in a direction outboard of the vehicle when said pivoting seat portion is pivoted from said use position to said access position, said fixed seat portion including a first frame and said second pivoting seat portion including a second frame, the plane of separation between said first and second frames inclined laterally at an angle relative to the horizontal.

19. A vehicle seat assembly having front and rear inboard corners and front and rear outboard corners, said vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a fixed seat portion adapted to be mounted on and secured to the floor of a vehicle;

a pivoting seat portion providing substantial cushion support for an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly;

mounting means mounting said pivoting seat portion on said fixed seat portion, said mounting means including pivot means located at said rear outboard corner for permitting said pivoting seat portion to pivot about a pivot axis relative to said fixed seat portion between a normal use position and an access position; and

guide means for guiding said pivoting seat portion relative to said fixed seat portion during movement of said pivoting seat portion between said normal use and access positions, said guide means including at least first and second guide rollers mounted on said pivoting seat portion, and an arcuately shaped guide roller track defined by said fixed seat portion, said guide track extending from a first location on said fixed seat portion near said rear inboard corner to a second location on said fixed seat portion near said front outboard corner, said first seat portion having a raised portion which defines a fixed guide adjacent to said second location for providing a smooth glide surface for said pivoting seat portion at said second location, means mounting said first guide roller on said pivoting seat portion near said rear inboard corner for turning movement about a generally horizontal axis and in rolling engagement with said guide track, and means mounting said second guide roller on said pivoting seat portion at a location spaced approximately 45 degrees from said first guide roller for turning movement about said horizontal axis and in rolling engagement with said guide track.

21. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 19, including bias means for urging said pivoting seat portion toward one of said positions.

22. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 21, wherein said bias means urges said pivoting seat portion toward said normal use position, and including locking means for permitting said pivoting seat portion to be locked in a plurality of positions intermediate said normal use and access positions.

23. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 21, wherein said bias means urges said pivoting seat portion toward said access position, and including locking means engaging said pivoting seat portion for maintaining said pivoting seat portion in said normal use position, and means responsive to the opening of the door of the vehicle for releasing said pivoting seat portion from said locking means to permit said pivoting seat portion to be pivoted to said access position by said bias means.

20. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a fixed seat portion adapted to be mounted on and secured to the floor of a vehicle;

a pivoting seat portion providing substantial cushion support for an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly;

mounting means mounting said pivoting seat portion on said fixed seat portion, said mounting means including pivot means for permitting said pivoting seat portion to pivot about a pivot axis relative to said fixed seat portion between a normal use position and an access position and travel limit means for limiting the pivoting movement of said pivoting seat portion about said pivot axis from said normal use position, said mounting means including guide means for guiding said pivoting seat portion relative to said fixed seat portion during movement of said pivoting seat portion between said normal use and access positions, said guide means including at least first and second guide rollers carried by said pivoting seat portion, and an arcuately shaped guide roller track defined by said fixed seat portion, said travel limit means being mounted on said fixed seat portion adjacent to said guide roller track and being adapted to cooperate with said guide rollers to limit the pivoting movement of said pivoting seat portion, said travel limit means including a notch formed in said fixed seat portion, said notch being located to receive said second guide roller when said pivoting seat portion is in said access position, for maintaining said pivoting seat portion in said access position.