Sprung vehicle seat

• US 5,533,703 A
• Filed: 10/13/1994
• Issued: 07/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Inventors: Grassl, Johann, Herbert, Dietmar
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAN, KO HUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/322,220
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 248/550, 248/157, 248/421, 248/422, 248/423, 248/370, 297/344.15, 297/344.16, 267/64.28, 267/34, 267/221, 267/223, 108/136
• US Class Current: 248/550
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/501 actively controlled suspension, e.g. electronic control
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/505 Adjustable suspension including height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/508 Scissors-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/525 using gas

Abstract

A sprung vehicle seat comprises a scissor support assembly formed by scissor members pivotable about a common pivot axis, and a gas spring for adjustment of the support assembly. A first valve device can be connected to the gas spring for adjustment of the height of the seat and a second valve device can be connected to the gas spring by way of a coupling for adjusting the height of the seat in dependence on weight. The coupling comprises a segment member which is pivotable about the support assembly pivot axis and which has an arcuate toothed portion, and a pivot arm with a tooth arrangement which can be brought into meshing engagement with the toothed portion. The pivot arm is connected to one of the scissor members of the support assembly and is actuable by a drive means connected to the first valve device. Also arranged pivotably at the support assembly pivot axis is a rocker member operable to actuate the second valve device and movable limitedly relative to the segment member.

Claims

1. A sprung vehicle seat comprising:

a scissor support assembly having first and second scissor members pivotable about a common pivot axis, a gas spring for adjusting the support assembly, a first valve means connected to the gas spring for height adjustment of the seat, a second valve means connected to the gas spring for adjustment of the height of the seat in dependence on weight, a coupling for providing the connection of the second valve means to the second scissor member, the coupling having a segment member which is pivotable about said pivot axis and which has an arcuate tooth portion, and a pivot arm with a tooth configuration adapted to be brought into meshing engagement with said tooth portion, means pivotably connecting the pivot arm to the first scissor member, a drive means connected to the first valve means and operable to actuate the pivot arm, a rocker member pivotably arranged at said pivot axis movable relative to the segment member for actuation of the second valve means, a limiting means for limiting movement of the rocker member relative to the segment member, and a first spring means operatively disposed between the segment member and the rocker member.

2. The seat as set forth in claim 1 including a shift plate member fixed to the first scissor member, wherein the pivot arm is arranged pivotably on said plate member.

3. The seat as set forth in claim 2 wherein the drive means includes a piston-cylinder unit for actuating the pivot arm, and including a second spring means operatively disposed between said plate member and the pivot arm.

4. The seat as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rocker member and the segment member are arranged facing from the support assembly pivot axis in at least approximately the same direction and each have a fixing means for mounting of the first spring means.

5. The seat as set forth in claim 4 wherein the fixing means on the segment member is a projection which projects from the segment member, wherein the rocker member has an arcuate slot into which the projection on the segment member extends, the slot having first and second end portions co-operable with said projection to form the limiting means.

6. The seat as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second valve means has first and second valve members operatively associated with the rocker member and arranged on the second scissor member.

7. A support arrangement for a seat, comprising first and second lever means each having first and second ends and disposed in mutually crossing relationship, pivot axis means pivotably interconnecting the first and second lever means intermediate their ends, thereby to form a scissor support assembly, a gas spring for supportive springing of the support assembly, a first valve means and means communicating the first valve means with the gas spring, operable for adjusting the gas spring for height adjustment of the support arrangement, a second valve means and means communicating the second valve means with the gas spring, operable for adjusting the gas spring for adjustment of the height of the support arrangement responsive to seat occupant weight, coupling means operatively disposed in the communication between the second valve means and the gas spring, the coupling means including a segment member which is pivotable about said pivot axis and which has an arcuate tooth portion, and a pivot arm with a tooth configuration adapted to be brought into meshing engagement with said tooth portion, means pivotably connecting the pivot arm to the first lever means, a drive means connected to the first valve means and operable to actuate the pivot arm, an actuating member pivotably arranged at said pivot axis movable relative to the segment member for actuation of the second valve means, a limiting means for limiting movement of the actuating member relative to the segment member, and a first spring means operatively disposed between the segment member and the actuating member.

8. The support arrangement as set forth in claim 7 wherein the drive means is a piston-cylinder means.

9. The support arrangement as set forth in claim 7 and including a second spring means urging the pivot arm towards a rest position.