Foldable multi-position automotive vehicle seat

• US 6,079,763 A
• Filed: 05/06/1998
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Clemente, Carlos Alberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, KIRAN B
• Application Number:
  US09/073,307
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 296/65.05, 296/65.09, 296/65.08, 296/65.13-65.16, 296/65.18, 296/65.17, 248/430
• US Class Current: 296/65.05
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/309 rods

Abstract

A vehicle seat is provided having a back portion and a seat portion. A series of linkages are also provided which enable the back portion to fold forward against the horizontal seat portion. Once folded, the seat portion is then engaged to store in a forward direction. The seat movement may be powered by a single reversible motor or other power source.

Claims

1. An occupant vehicle seat comprising:

a back portion moveable between a generally upright position and a forward folded position;

a seat portion having a generally horizontal position which receives the back portion thereon when the back portion is in the forward folded position, and a generally vertical stored position wherein the seat portion and the back portion, while in the folded position, are only together moveable to the generally vertical stored position;

at least one bracket pivotally connecting the seat portion with the back portion so that the back portion pivots with respect to the stationary seat portion; and

at least one floor guide mechanism rigidly mounted to a vehicle frame, the at least one floor guide mechanism including;

a slot concentrically located about a seat rotating axis; and

a pin having a pin first end rigidly and normally mounted to the seat portion and a pin second end guided within the slot so that the vehicle seat rotates relative to the vehicle frame, about the seat rotating axis, as the pin is guided along the slot.

2. An occupant vehicle seat as set forth in claim 1 including a power means for storing and un-storing the vehicle seat.

3. An occupant vehicle seat as set forth in claim 2 further including:

a stationary track rigidly fixed to the seat portion, the track having a forward stop end and a rearward stop end; and

a linkage mechanism guided by the stationary track.

4. An occupant vehicle seat as set forth in claim 3 wherein the linkage mechanism includes:

a linkage having a linkage track end slideably engaged within the track, and a linkage back portion end pivotally secured to the back portion;

a restricted-link confined to movement within the track, the restricted-link having a restricted-link first end pivotally connected to the linkage track end and a restricted-link second end; and

a push/pull mechanism pivotally secured to the restricted-link second end.

5. An occupant vehicle seat as set forth in claim 4 wherein the push/pull mechanism comprises:

a free-link having a free-link first end pivotally connected to the restricted-link second end and a free-link second end;

an armature having an armature first end pivotally connected to the free-link second end and an armature second end; and

a rotational shaft rigidly and normally secured to the armature second end and operatively engaged with the power means, wherein the power means is a reversible motor.

6. An occupant vehicle seat as set forth in claim 2 wherein the power means includes a remote switch to allow power from a power source to the power means.

7. An occupant vehicle seat as set forth in claim 4 further including a folded position restraining mechanism having an open hook member pivotally hinged to the seat portion so that the hook member is biased to hook about the restricted-link first end when the restricted-link second end is at the forward stop end.

8. An occupant vehicle seat as set forth in claim 5 wherein the shaft has a rotational centerline which is in-line with the rotating axis.

9. An occupant vehicle seat comprising:

a back portion movable between a generally upright position and a forward folded position;

a seat portion movable from a generally horizontal position to a stored position;

connection means for interconnecting the back portion to the seat portion to allow the back portion to pivot relative to the seat portion between the upright position and the folded position;

back portion folding means for alternately placing the back portion in the upright position and the folded position;

vehicle seat rotating means for alternately placing the seat portion and the folded back portion in the horizontal position and the stored position;

folding power means for operatively and consecutively engaging, first, the back portion folding means to place the back portion in the forward position, and second, the vehicle seat storing means to place the seat portion in the stored position, in response to a first operator input; and

unfolding power means for operatively and consecutively engaging, first, the vehicle seat storing means to place the seat portion from the stored position to the horizontal position, and second, the back portion folding means to place the back portion from the folded position to the upright position, in response to a second operator input.

10. An occupant vehicle seat as set forth in claim 9 wherein the folding power means and the unfolding power means is a single reversible rotating shaft having rotating means.

11. An occupant vehicle seat as set forth in claim 10 wherein the rotating means is a reversible motor.

12. An occupant vehicle seat as set forth in claim 9 wherein the power means includes a remote switch to allow power from a power source to the power means.

13. An occupant vehicle seat as set forth in claim 9 including folded position restraining means for securing the vehicle seat in the folded position while the seat portion travels from the stored position to the horizontal position.

14. An occupant vehicle seat as set forth in claim 9 wherein the connection means is at least one bracket pivotally connecting the seat portion with the back portion.

15. An occupant vehicle seat as set forth in claim 9 wherein the back portion folding means comprises:

a stationary track rigidly fixed to the seat portion, the track having a forward stop end, an intermediate track position, and a rearward stop end;

a linkage having a linkage track end slideably engaged within the track, and a linkage back portion end pivotally secured to the back portion;

linkage track end pulling means for pulling the linkage track end along the track so that the back portion moves from the upright position to the folded position when the linkage track end is pulled towards the forward stop end and reaches the intermediate track position; and

linkage track end pushing means for pushing the linkage track end from the intermediate track position to the rearward stop end so that the back portion respectively pivots from the folded position to the upright position.

16. An occupant vehicle seat as set forth in claim 15 wherein the linkage track end pulling means and the linkage track end pushing means includes:

a restricted-link confined to movement within the track and pivotally connected to the linkage track end;

a free-link having a free-link first end pivotally connected to the restricted link and a free-link second end;

an armature having an armature first end pivotally connected to the free-link second end and an armature second end; and

a rotational shaft rigidly and normally secured to the armature second end, the rotational shaft having a clockwise rotation and a counter-clockwise rotation.

17. An occupant vehicle seat as set forth in claim 9 wherein the vehicle seat rotating means comprises:

a stationary track rigidly fixed to the seat portion, the track having a forward stop end, an intermediate track position, and a rearward stop end;

a free-link having a free-link first end pivotally connected to the restricted link and a free-link second end;

an armature having an armature first end pivotally connected to the free-link second end and an armature second end;

a rotational shaft rigidly and normally secured to the armature second end, the rotational shaft having a clockwise rotation and a counter-clockwise rotation;

at least one floor guide mechanism rigidly mounted to a vehicle frame, where the at least one floor track guide mechanism includes a slot concentrically located about a rotating axis about which the seat portion rotates; and

a pin having a first pin end rigidly secured to the seat portion and a second pin end extending through the slot.