Clam-shell pivot assembly for a structured vehicle seat

• US 5,795,024 A
• Filed: 04/22/1997
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
• Inventors: Schmidt, Timothy J. Jr., Whalen, John F., Collins, Cecil A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): White, Rodney B.
• Application Number:
  US08/837,751
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 297/361.1, 297/362.11, 297/216.15, 297/311, 297/344.11, 297/362.14, 297/440.21, 297/452.18, 297/452.2
• US Class Current: 297/361.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/23 by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms

Abstract

A pivot arm assembly for a structured vehicle seat assembly accommodates loads applied to the seatback through a safety belt restraint system carried by the seat assembly. The pivot arm assembly includes a pair of C-shaped plates interconnected to define a clam-shell assembly. An arm segment of the pivot arm assembly extends into a hollow channel defined by the seatback frame and is fixedly attached thereto. The pivot arm assembly is pivotally mounted to a portion of the lower seat structure to permit the seatback to rotate relative thereto about a pivot axis. A drive arrangement is provided for rotating the pivot arm assembly about the pivot axis. The pivot arm assembly functions to efficiently and effectively transfer loads from the seatback to the lower seat structure, and in turn, to the vehicle structure.

Claims

1. A structured vehicle seat, comprising:

a lower seat structure;

a seatback frame defining an upwardly extending channel;

a safety belt restraint system mounted to and carried by the structured vehicle seat; and

a pivot arm interconnecting said seatback frame to said lower seat structure, said pivot arm including a first arm plate connected to a second arm plate to define a clam-shell pivot arm, said pivot arm having a seatback mounting portion extending within said upwardly extending channel and being fixedly interconnected to said seatback frame, and said pivot arm has a seat mounting portion interconnected to said lower seat structure for rotation about a pivot axis;

said seatback mounting portion of said pivot arm including a pair of spaced apertures which align with a pair of correspondingly spaced apertures in said seatback frame for receiving a pair of fasteners to interconnect said seatback mounting portion of said pivot arm to said seatback frame;

whereby said pivot arm is operative for interconnecting said seatback frame to said lower seat structure such that said seatback frame is selectively adjustable to a plurality of angular positions.

2. The structured vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein said seat mounting portion of said pivot arm includes an aperture receiving a hinge pin for pivotally interconnecting said pivot arm to said lower seat structure.

3. The structured vehicle seat of claim 1 further comprising a drive mechanism for rotating said pivot arm about said pivot axis and thereby pivoting said seatback frame relative to said lower seat structure to adjust the angular position of said seatback frame relative to said lower seat structure.

4. The structured vehicle seat of claim 3 wherein said pivot arm further includes a drive mounting portion having an aperture formed therein for receiving a hinge pin pivotally interconnecting said drive mechanism to said drive mounting portion of said pivot arm.

5. The structured vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein said first arm plate is a generally C-shaped member having a base portion and a transverse flange along opposite sides of said base portion, and wherein said second arm plate is a generally C-shaped member having a base portion and a transverse flange along opposite sides of said base portion, said flanges of said first arm plate are arranged to overlap said flanges of said second arm plate to define said clam-shell pivot arm.

6. The structured vehicle seat of claim 5 wherein a pair of mounting apertures extend through said first and second arm plates which align with a pair of apertures formed in said seatback frame for receiving fasteners to interconnect said pivot arm to said seatback frame.

7. The structured vehicle seat of claim 6 wherein said mounting apertures in said second arm plate are threaded such that threaded fasteners inserted through said seatback frame, through said mounting apertures in said first arm plate and through said mounting apertures in said second arm plate causes said pivot arm to be secured against said seatback frame and also to clamp said second arm plate against said first arm plate.

8. The structured vehicle seat of claim 5 wherein one of said first and second arm plates has upstanding lugs formed on its flanges and the other of said first and second arm plates has apertures formed in either of its base portion or flanges which are adapted to receive said lugs for aligning said first arm plate relative to said second arm plate.

9. The structured vehicle seat of claim 8 further comprising spacers positioned between said first and second arm plates and having posts extending through aligned apertures in said base portions of said first and second arm plates, said posts subsequently being deformed for securing said first arm plate to said second arm plate.

10. The structured vehicle seat of claim 8 wherein said juxtapositioned flanges of said first and second arm plates are welded together to secure said first arm plate to said second arm plate.

11. The structured vehicle seat of claim 5 wherein said juxtapositioned flanges of said first and second arm plates are welded together to secure said first arm plate to said second arm plate.

12. A structured vehicle seat, comprising:

a lower seat structure;

a seatback frame having an inboard side and an outboard side, said seatback frame including an upwardly extending channel adjacent said outboard side;

a safety belt restraint system mounted to and carried by the structured vehicle seat; and

a pivot arm for interconnecting said seatback frame to said lower seat structure, said pivot arm including a first arm plate connected to a second arm plate to define a clam-shell pivot arm, said pivot arm having an arm segment extending into said upwardly extending channel and fixedly attached to said seatback frame, a heel segment having an aperture receiving a hinge pin for interconnecting said pivot arm to said lower seat structure for rotation about a pivot axis, and a toe segment; and

a drive mechanism coupled to said toe segment for rotatably driving said pivot arm about said pivot axis;

said arm segment of said pivot arm including a pair of apertures which align with apertures in said seatback frame for receiving a pair of fasteners to interconnect said arm segment to said seatback frame;

whereby said pivot arm is operative for interconnecting said seatback frame to said lower seat structure such that said seatback frame is selectively adjustable to a plurality of angular positions.

13. The structured vehicle seat of claim 12 wherein said first arm plate is a generally C-shaped member having a base portion and a transverse flange along opposite sides of said base portion, and wherein said second arm plate is a generally C-shaped member having a base portion and a transverse flange along opposite sides of said base portion, said flanges of said first arm plate are arranged to overlap said flanges of said second arm plate to define said clam-shell pivot arm.

14. The structured vehicle seat of claim 13 wherein a pair of mounting apertures extend through said first and second arm plates which align with a pair of apertures formed in said seatback frame for receiving fasteners to interconnect said pivot arm to said seatback frame.

15. The structured vehicle seat of claim 14 wherein said mounting apertures in said second arm plate are threaded such that threaded fasteners inserted through said seatback frame, through said mounting apertures in said first arm plate and through said mounting apertures in said second arm plate causes said pivot arm to be secured against said seatback frame and also to clamp said second arm plate against said first arm plate.

16. The structured vehicle seat of claim 13 wherein one of said first and second arm plates has upstanding lugs formed on its flanges and the other of said first and second arm plates has apertures formed in either of its base portion or flanges which are adapted to receive said lugs for aligning said first arm plate relative to said second arm plate.

17. The structured vehicle seat of claim 16 further comprising spacers positioned between said first and second arm plates and having posts extending through aligned apertures in said base portions of said first and second arm plates, said posts subsequently being deformed for securing said first arm plate to said second arm plate.

18. The structured vehicle seat of claim 16 wherein said juxtapositioned flanges of said first and second arm plates are welded together to secure said first arm plate to said second arm plate.

19. The structured vehicle seat of claim 13 wherein said juxtapositioned flanges of said first and second arm plates are welded together to secure said first arm plate to said second arm plate.

20. A structured vehicle seat, comprising:

a lower seat structure;

a seatback frame defining an upwardly extending channel;

a safety belt restraint system mounted to and carried by the structured vehicle seat; and

a pivot arm interconnecting said seatback frame to said lower seat structure, said pivot arm including a first arm plate connected to a second arm plate to define a clam-shell pivot arm, said pivot arm having a seatback mounting portion extending within said upwardly extending channel and being non-rotatably interconnected to said seatback frame, and said pivot arm has a seat mounting portion pivotally interconnected to said lower seat structure for rotation about a pivot axis;

whereby said pivot arm is operative for interconnecting said seatback frame to said lower seat structure such that said seatback frame is selectively adjustable to a plurality of angular positions.

21. The structured vehicle seat of claim 20, wherein said seatback mounting portion of said pivot arm being attached to said seatback frame at spaced apart points.

22. The structured vehicle seat of claim 20, wherein said seatback mounting portion of said pivot arm including a pair of spaced apertures which align with a pair of correspondingly spaced apertures in said seatback frame for receiving a pair of fasteners to interconnect said seatback mounting portion of said pivot arm to said seatback frame.

23. The structured vehicle seat of claim 20, wherein said first arm plate is a generally C-shaped member having a base portion and a transverse flange along opposite sides of said base portion, and wherein said second arm plate is a generally C-shaped member having a base portion and a transverse flange along opposite sides of said base portion, said flanges of said first arm plate are arranged to overlap said flanges of said second arm plate to define said clam-shell pivot arm.