Easy entry seat with seat back lockout until full return

• US 5,927,809 A
• Filed: 09/14/1998
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atoma International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atoma International, Inc.
• Inventors: Tame, Omar D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer, Laurie K.
• Application Number:
  US09/152,675
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• Field of Search: 297/341, 297/344.1, 297/344.11, 297/378.1, 297/378.12, 297/378.14, 248/429, 248/430
• US Class Current: 297/341
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/123 and provided with memory locks

Abstract

A vehicle seat movable through a cycle of access movement which includes (1) forward movement of the seat back cushion assembly into a seat back access position and forward movement of the seat and seat back cushion assemblies together from a seat operating position into said seat access position and (2) rearward movements of the seat and seat back assemblies together from the seat access position into a seat operating position and the seat back cushion assembly into a seat back operating position. A blocking mechanism is provided operative associated with a motion transmitting assembly for the seat operable during a cycle of access movement to prevent the seat back cushion assembly from reaching a seat back operating position during the rearward movement of the seat back cushion assembly from the seat back access position in the event the aforesaid rearward movement of the seat back cushion assembly precedes the rearward movement of the seat and seat back cushion assemblies together into a seat operating position.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat cushion assembly constructed and arranged to support a vehicle occupant seated thereon, a seat back cushion assembly constructed and arranged to support the back of a vehicle occupant,

a seat mounting assembly constructed and arranged to mount said seat cushion assembly on a vehicle floor for forward and rearward movements,

said seat mounting assembly including a releasable seat locking mechanism constructed and arranged to be moved between a locking position locking said seat mounting assembly to fixedly retain said seat cushion assembly in a seat operating position and a releasing position releasing said seat mounting assembly to allow forward movement of said seat cushion assembly from a seat operating position into a seat access position and rearward movement of said seat cushion assembly from said seat access position into a seat operating position,

a seat back mounting assembly disposed between said seat and seat back cushion assemblies, said seat back mounting assembly being constructed and arranged to pivotally mount said seat back cushion assembly on said seat cushion assembly for forward and rearward movements together and for pivotal movement of the seat back cushion assembly relative to said seat cushion assembly about a seat pivot axis (1) forwardly from a seat back operating position suitable to support the back of a vehicle occupant seated on said seat cushion assembly into a seat back access position overlying the seat cushion assembly and (2) rearwardly from said seat back access position into a seat back operating position,

said seat back mounting assembly including a releasable seat back locking mechanism operatively associated with said seat back mounting assembly, said releasable seat back locking mechanism being constructed and arranged to be capable of manually controlled movements between a locking position locking said seat back mounting assembly to prevent forward movement of said seat back cushion assembly from a seat back operating position into said seat back access position and a releasing position releasing said seat back mounting assembly to allow forward movement of said seat back cushion assembly into said seat back access position and rearward movement therefrom into a seat back operating position,

said seat back mounting assembly having a generally forwardly facing abutment surface located generally below the pivot axis thereof;

a motion transmitting mechanism is operatively associated with said releasable seat locking mechanism, said motion transmitting mechanism being constructed and arranged to transmit a forward movement of said seat back cushion assembly from a seat back operating position to a movement of said releasable seat locking mechanism from the locking position thereof into the releasing position thereof so as to permit a cycle of access movement which includes (1) the aforesaid forward movement of said seat back cushion assembly into said seat back access position and forward movement of said seat and seat back cushion assemblies together from a seat operating position into said seat access position and (2) rearward movements of said seat and seat back assemblies together from said seat access position into a seat operating position and said seat back cushion assembly into a seat back operating position,

said motion transmitting mechanism and said releasable seat locking mechanism being constructed and arranged such that said releasable seat locking mechanism moves into its locking position when said seat and seat back cushion assemblies are moved rearwardly together into a seat operating position during said cycle of access movement, and

a blocking mechanism operatively associated with said motion transmitting mechanism, said blocking mechanism including a blocking member mounted for pivotal movement about a blocking member pivot axis which is located generally forwardly of the abutment surface of said seat back mounting assembly and having a generally rearwardly facing abutment surface which is engageable with the forwardly facing abutment surface of said seat back mounting assembly;

said blocking member being movable between (1) a blocking position wherein, when said seat back cushion assembly is in said seat back access position thereof, said abutment surface of blocking member is positioned to engage the abutment surface of said seat back mounting assembly in cooperating abutting relation and thereby prevent movement of said seat back cushion assembly from said seat back access position thereof to said seat back operating position thereof and (2) an inoperative position wherein said blocking member allows said seat back cushion assembly to be moved from said seat back access position thereof to said seat back operating position thereof;

said blocking mechanism being constructed and arranged such that said blocking member moves from said inoperative position thereof to said blocking position thereof in response to the forward movement of said seat back cushion assembly into said seat back access position thereof and such that said blocking member is moved from said blocking position thereof to said inoperative position thereof in response to movement of said seat and seat back cushion assemblies together into a seat operating position.

2. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 1 wherein said blocking mechanism includes a blocking member movable between a blocking position preventing said seat back cushion assembly from reaching a seat back operating position as aforesaid and an inoperative position permitting said seat back cushion assembly to reach a seat back operating position, said blocking mechanism being constructed and arranged to move said blocking member from the blocking position thereof into the inoperative position thereof when the seat and seat back cushion assemblies are moved rearwardly together into a seat operating position and the releasable seat locking mechanism is moved into its locked position after such movements have been preceded by the rearward movement of said seat back cushion assembly from said seat back access position toward a seat back operating position.

3. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 2 wherein said blocking mechanism is constructed and arranged to move said blocking member from said inoperative position into said blocking position in response to a rearward movement of said seat back cushion assembly from said seat back access position which precedes the rearward movement of the seat and seat back cushion assemblies together into a seat operating position, the arrangement being such that the blocking member remains in said inoperative position when the rearward movement of said seat back cushion assembly from said seat back access position is subsequent to the rearward movement of said seat and seat back cushion assemblies together into a seat operating position during a cycle of access movement.

4. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 2 wherein the blocking mechanism is constructed and arranged to move said blocking member from said inoperative position into said blocking position in response to the forward movement of said seat back cushion assembly from a seat back operating position into said seat back access position during a cycle of access movement, the arrangement being such that said blocking member is moved from said blocking position into said inoperative position in response to the rearward movement of said seat and seat back cushion assemblies together onto a seat operating position.

5. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 1 wherein said seat mounting assembly includes a seat locking structure constructed and arranged to be moved between locking and releasing positions, a manually engageable structure constructed and arranged to move said seat locking structure between the locking and releasing positions thereof, and a spring system constructed and arranged to effect a resiliently biased return movement of said seat locking structure into the locking position thereof after said manually engageable structure has moved the same from its locking position into its releasing position.

6. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 5 wherein said seat locking structure, said manually engageable structure and said spring system are components of said releasable seat locking mechanism.

7. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 6 wherein said motion transmitting mechanism is connected with said releasable seat locking mechanism by a one-way connection constructed and arranged to enable said releasable seat locking mechanism to be moved into the releasing position thereof against the bias of said spring system by a manual movement of said manually engageable structure without an operative movement of said motion transmitting mechanism taking place.

8. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 7 wherein said motion transmitting mechanism includes a Bowden wire assembly including a cable having one end connected with said releasable seat locking mechanism by said one-way connection.

9. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 8 wherein said seat back mounting assembly includes a pivotal connection constructed and arranged to mount said seat back cushion assembly for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis between a seat back operating position and said seat back access position thereof.

10. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 9 wherein said motion transmitting mechanism includes a connecting link having one end operatively connected to move with said cable and a lost motion connection between an opposite end portion of said connecting link and said seat back cushion assembly at a position thereon spaced below the pivotal axis thereof.

11. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 10 wherein said blocking mechanism includes a blocking member having a forward end pivoted to said seat cushion assembly about an axis disposed in forwardly spaced generally parallel relation to the pivotal axis of said seat back cushion assembly.

12. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 11 wherein said blocking mechanism includes an abutment member fixed to said seat back cushion assembly below the pivotal axis thereof, said blocking member including a rearward end movable generally upwardly into a blocking position of engagement with said abutment member when said blocking mechanism is moved into the blocking position thereof.

13. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 12 wherein said blocking mechanism includes a control member pivotally mounted on said seat cushion assembly about an axis spaced rearward in generally parallel relation to the pivotal axis of said blocking member, said control member being connected to an opposite end of said cable and to said one end of said connecting link so as to be pivoted (1) in one direction by the movement of said connecting link generally in said one direction and (2) in an opposite direction by the movement of said cable generally in said opposite direction.

14. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 13 wherein said blocking mechanism includes an interconnection between said control member and said blocking member constructed and arranged to move said blocking member (1) into the operative blocking position thereof during the pivotal movement of said control member in said one direction and (2) into said inoperative position during the pivotal movement of said control member in said opposite direction.

15. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 14 wherein said interconnection includes a slot in one of said control and blocking members and a pin fixed to another of said control and blocking members, said slot including a moving section constructed and arranged to be engaged by said pin to effect movements of said blocking member by said control member and a locking section constructed and arranged to be engaged by said pin to lock and unlock said blocking member in the operative blocking position thereof by the movement of said control member after having moved said blocking member into said operative blocking position.

16. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 5 wherein said seat locking structure, said manually engageable structure and said spring system are separate from said releasable seat locking mechanism.

17. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 16 wherein said motion transmitting mechanism includes a Bowden wire assembly including a cable having one end connected with said releasable seat locking mechanism.

18. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 17 wherein said releasable seat locking mechanism includes a seat locking structure spring biased into a locking position and movable therefrom against the spring bias into a releasing position, said Bowden wire assembly and said releasable seat locking mechanism being constructed and arranged so that movement of said Bowden wire one end in one direction moves said seat locking structure from the locking position thereof to the releasing position thereof.

19. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 18 wherein said releasable seat locking mechanism includes a releasable latching structure constructed and arranged (1) to be spring biased into a latching position to retain said seat locking structure in the releasing position thereof against the spring bias thereof during the movement of said seat and seat back cushion assemblies together forwardly away from and rearwardly toward a seat operating position during a cycle of access movement and (2) to be moved from said latching position against the spring bias thereof in response to the forward movement of said seat and seat back cushion assemblies together back into a seat operating position during a cycle of access movement into a releasing position enabling said seat locking structure to be spring biased into said locking position.

20. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 19 wherein said seat back mounting assembly includes a pivotal connection constructed and arranged to mount said seat back cushion assembly for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis between a seat back operating position and said seat back access position.

21. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 20 wherein said cable includes an opposite end connected with said seat back cushion assembly at a position thereon spaced below the pivotal axis thereof so that the movement of said seat back cushion assembly from a seat back operating position into said seat back access position causes said cable to be tensioned and said one end to move in said one direction.

22. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 21 wherein said blocking mechanism includes a spring system constructed and arranged with respect to said blocking member to resiliently bias the blocking member into said blocking position, said blocking member being connected with the opposite end portion of said cable, the connection of the ends of said cable as aforesaid establishing sufficient tension in said cable to (1) retain said blocking member in said inoperative position against the bias of said spring system when said seat cushion assembly is in a seat operating position and said seat back cushion assembly is in a seat back operating position (2) retain said blocking member in said inoperative position against the resilient bias of said spring system during the forward movement of said seat back cushion assembly into the seat back access position thereof in a cycle of access movement and (3) retain said blocking member in said inoperative position against the resilient bias of said spring system during the rearward movement of said seat back cushion assembly from said seat back access position into a seat back operating position after said seat and seat back cushion assemblies have been moved rearwardly into a seat operating position in a cycle of access movement, the connection of the ends of said cable establishing sufficient slack in said cable to allow said spring system to move the blocking member from said inoperative position into said blocking position in response to the rearward movement of said seat back cushion assembly away from said seat back access position in a cycle of access movement when said seat locking structure is latched into the releasing position thereof by said latching structure.

23. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat cushion assembly constructed and arranged to support a vehicle occupant seated thereon,

a seat back cushion assembly constructed and arranged to support the back of a vehicle occupant,

a seat mounting assembly constructed and arranged to mount said seat cushion assembly on a vehicle floor for forward and rearward movements,

said seat mounting assembly including a releasable seat locking mechanism constructed and arranged to be moved between a locking position locking said seat mounting assembly to fixedly retain said seat cushion assembly in a seat operating position and a releasing position releasing said seat mounting assembly to allow forward movement of said seat cushion assembly from a seat operating position into a seat access position and rearward movement of said seat cushion assembly from said seat access position into a seat operating position,

said seat mounting assembly including a seat locking structure constructed and arranged to be moved between locking and releasing positions, a manually engageable structure constructed and arranged to move said seat locking structure between the locking and releasing positions thereof, and a spring system constructed and arranged to effect a resiliently biased return movement of said seat locking structure into the locking position thereof after said manually engageable structure has moved the same from its locking position into its releasing position, said seat locking structure, said manually engageable structure, and said spring system being separate from said releasable seat locking mechanism,

a seat back mounting assembly disposed between said seat and seat back cushion assemblies, said seat back mounting assembly being constructed and arranged to mount said seat back cushion assembly on said seat cushion assembly for forward and rearward movements together and for movement of the seat back cushion assembly relative to said seat cushion assembly (1) forwardly from a seat back operating position suitable to support the back of a vehicle occupant seated on said seat cushion assembly into a seat back access position overlying the seat cushion assembly and (2) rearwardly from said seat back access position into a seat back operating position,

said seat back mounting assembly including a releasable seat back locking mechanism operatively associated with said seat back mounting assembly, said releasable seat back locking mechanism being constructed and arranged to be capable of manually controlled movements between a locking position locking said seat back mounting assembly to prevent forward movement of said seat back cushion assembly from a seat back operating position into said seat back access position and a releasing position releasing said seat back mounting assembly to allow forward movement of said seat back cushion assembly into said seat back access position and rearward movement therefrom into a seat back operating position,

a motion transmitting mechanism is operatively associated with said releasable seat locking mechanism, said motion transmitting mechanism being constructed and arranged to transmit a forward movement of said seat back cushion assembly from a seat back operating position to a movement of said releasable seat locking mechanism from the locking position thereof into the releasing position thereof so as to permit a cycle of access movement which includes (1) the aforesaid forward movement of said seat back cushion assembly into said seat back access position and forward movement of said seat and seat back cushion assemblies together from a seat operating position into said seat access position and (2) rearward movements of said seat and seat back assemblies together from said seat access position into a seat operating position and said seat back cushion assembly into a seat back operating position,

said motion transmitting mechanism and said releasable seat locking mechanism being constructed and arranged such that said releasable seat locking mechanism moves into its locking position when said seat and seat back cushion assemblies are moved rearwardly together into a seat operating position during said cycle of access movement, and

a blocking mechanism operatively associated with said motion transmitting mechanism, said blocking mechanism being constructed and arranged to be operable during a cycle of access movement to prevent said seat back cushion assembly from reaching a seat back operating position during the rearward movement of said seat back cushion assembly from said seat back access position in the event the aforesaid rearward movement of said seat back cushion assembly precedes the rearward movement of the seat and seat back cushion assemblies together into a seat operating position.

24. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 23 wherein said motion transmitting mechanism includes a Bowden wire assembly including a cable having one end connected with said releasable seat locking mechanism.

25. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 24 wherein said releasable seat locking mechanism includes a seat locking structure spring biased into a locking position and movable therefrom against the spring bias into a releasing position, said Bowden wire assembly and said releasable seat locking mechanism being constructed and arranged so that movement of said Bowden wire one end in one direction moves said seat locking structure from the locking position thereof to the releasing position thereof.

26. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 25 wherein said releasable seat locking mechanism includes a releasable latching structure constructed and arranged (1) to be spring biased into a latching position to retain said seat locking structure in the releasing position thereof against the spring bias thereof during the movement of said seat and seat back cushion assemblies together forwardly away from and rearwardly toward a seat operating position during a cycle of access movement and (2) to be moved from said latching position against the spring bias thereof in response to the forward movement of said seat and seat back cushion assemblies together back into a seat operating position during a cycle of access movement into a releasing position enabling said seat locking structure to be spring biased into said locking position.

27. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 26 wherein said seat back mounting assembly includes a pivotal connection constructed and arranged to mount said seat back cushion assembly for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis between a seat back operating position and said seat back access position.

28. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 27 wherein said cable includes an opposite end connected with said seat back cushion assembly at a position thereon spaced below the pivotal axis thereof so that the movement of said seat back cushion assembly from a seat back operating position into said seat back access position causes said cable to be tensioned and said one end to move in said one direction.

29. A vehicle seat as defined in claim 28 wherein said blocking mechanism includes a spring system constructed and arranged with respect to said blocking member to resiliently bias the blocking member into said blocking position, said blocking member being connected with the opposite end portion of said cable, the connection of the ends of said cable as aforesaid establishing sufficient tension in said cable to (1) retain said blocking member in said inoperative position against the bias of said spring system when said seat cushion assembly is in a seat operating position and said seat back cushion assembly is in a seat back operating position (2) retain said blocking member in said inoperative position against the resilient bias of said spring system during the forward movement of said seat back cushion assembly into the seat back access position thereof in a cycle of access movement and (3) retain said blocking member in said inoperative position against the resilient bias of said spring system during the rearward movement of said seat back cushion assembly from said seat back access position into a seat back operating position after said seat and seat back cushion assemblies have been moved rearwardly into a seat operating position in a cycle of access movement, the connection of the ends of said cable establishing sufficient slack in said cable to allow said spring system to move the blocking member from said inoperative position into said blocking position in response to the rearward movement of said seat back cushion assembly away from said seat back access position in a cycle of access movement when said seat locking structure is latched into the releasing position thereof by said latching structure.