Easy entry seat adjuster

• US 5,597,206 A
• Filed: 10/31/1995
• Issued: 01/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Lomason Corp. (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Douglas & Lomason Co. (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ainsworth, Dean R., Bartling, Russell D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US08/550,604
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 297/378.12, 297/317, 297/341, 297/344.1
• US Class Current: 297/378.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0705 omega-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0715 C or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0732 Attachment of seat frame to the slide, e.g. eyelets
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0825 outside the rail
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0843 about a longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/123 and provided with memory locks

Abstract

A manually-adjustable seat assembly for use in motor vehicles is disclosed as having a manual seat adjuster equipped with a seat latch mechanism and an easy entry latch release mechanism. The seat latch mechanism can be manually shifted from a latched mode into an unlatched mode via actuation of a release handle to permit selective adjustment of the fore/aft position of the seat assembly. The east entry latch mechanism is operably connected to the seat latch mechanism and is normally maintained in a non-actuated mode. Pivotal movement of the seatback to a forwardly dumped position causes the easy entry latch release mechanism to be shifted into an actuated mode for causing the seat latch mechanism to be automatically shifted into its unlatched mode. Upon return of the seatback from its formally dumped position, the east entry latch release mechanism is maintained in this non-actuated mode until the seat assembly is slid rearwardly to a predetermined memory position. At this memory position, the easy entry latch release mechanism is automatically shifted back into its non-actuated mode for shifting seat latch mechanism back into its latched mode. Thus, the seat assembly is releasably latched in the memory position.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat cushion;

a seatback mounted to a seat bottom for pivotal movement between an upright position and a forwardly folded dump position; and

a manual seat adjuster having a lower rail assembly adapted to be mounted to a vehicle floor structure, an upper rail assembly supported for sliding movement on said lower rail assembly and on which said seat bottom is mounted, a latch member carried by said upper rail assembly and movable between a first position engaged with said lower rail assembly for inhibiting sliding movement of said upper rail assembly and a second position disengaged from said lower rail assembly for permitting sliding movement of said upper rail assembly, a release handle for moving said latch member from said first position to said second position, a biasing mechanism for normally biasing said latch member toward said first position, and an easy entry latch release mechanism that is operable in a non-actuated mode for permitting movement of said latch member between said first and second positions via actuation of said release handle when said seatback is in said upright position, and in an actuated mode for holding said latch member in said second position in response to pivotal movement of said seatback to said forwardly dumped position, said easy entry latch release mechanism including a stationary lug and means carried by said upper rail assembly for moving said latch member to said second position in response to rotation of said seatback to said forwardly dumped position and holding said latch member in said second position until said seatback has been returned to said upright position and said upper rail assembly has been rearwardly slid past a predetermined memory position whereat said means engages said stationary lug for releasing said latch member to return to said first position so as to latch said upper rail assembly to said lower rail assembly at said memory position.