Multiple function seat back adjusting mechanism
First Claim
1. A vehicle seat comprising:
- a generally horizontal seat bottom having a rear end;
a seat back extending upwardly from said rear end of said seat bottom;
a seat back adjusting mechanism mounting said seat back to said seat bottom for rotation about a primary pivot to adjust said seat back within a range of recline positions between a foremost recline position and a rearmost recline position and for rotation about said primary pivot forward beyond said foremost recline position to a forward dump easy entry position;
said adjusting mechanism further having a secondary pivot displaced from said primary pivot about which said seat back rotates from said foremost recline position to a generally horizontal fold flat position;
said adjusting mechanism including a recliner operable to hold said seat back in an adjusted position within said range of recline positions when engaged, said recliner being releasable to adjust said seat back position, a dump latch releasable to enable said seat back to rotate to said forward dump easy entry position and an upper latch operable to hold said seat back fixed about said secondary pivot when engaged, said upper latch being releasable to rotate said seat back about said secondary pivot to said fold flat position; and
said adjusting mechanism including a recliner release pivot actuatable to release said recliner and an upper latch release mechanism coupling said recliner release pivot to said upper latch and being operable to release said upper latch, wherein said upper latch release mechanism includes a first linkage connected to said recliner release pivot and a second linkage connected to said upper latch, said first and second linkages engaging one another when said recliner release pivot is actuated and said seat back rotates forward about said primary pivot to said foremost recline position to release said upper latch.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adjusting mechanism for a vehicle seat back provides for recliner adjustment of the seat back, rotation of the seat back to a forward dump easy entry position and rotation of the seat back to a fold flat position for storage. In the fold flat position, the seat back is locked in place. A single actuating handle is operated to adjust the recline position of the seat and to rotate the seat back to the fold flat position. A second handle is actuated to rotate the seat back to the forward dump position in which the seat back is unlocked. Upon return of the seat back from the dump position, the seat back locks in the previously adjusted recline position. A lock out is provided to prevent release of the recliner when the seat back is in the forward dump position.
126 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A vehicle seat comprising:
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a generally horizontal seat bottom having a rear end; a seat back extending upwardly from said rear end of said seat bottom; a seat back adjusting mechanism mounting said seat back to said seat bottom for rotation about a primary pivot to adjust said seat back within a range of recline positions between a foremost recline position and a rearmost recline position and for rotation about said primary pivot forward beyond said foremost recline position to a forward dump easy entry position; said adjusting mechanism further having a secondary pivot displaced from said primary pivot about which said seat back rotates from said foremost recline position to a generally horizontal fold flat position; said adjusting mechanism including a recliner operable to hold said seat back in an adjusted position within said range of recline positions when engaged, said recliner being releasable to adjust said seat back position, a dump latch releasable to enable said seat back to rotate to said forward dump easy entry position and an upper latch operable to hold said seat back fixed about said secondary pivot when engaged, said upper latch being releasable to rotate said seat back about said secondary pivot to said fold flat position; and said adjusting mechanism including a recliner release pivot actuatable to release said recliner and an upper latch release mechanism coupling said recliner release pivot to said upper latch and being operable to release said upper latch, wherein said upper latch release mechanism includes a first linkage connected to said recliner release pivot and a second linkage connected to said upper latch, said first and second linkages engaging one another when said recliner release pivot is actuated and said seat back rotates forward about said primary pivot to said foremost recline position to release said upper latch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle seat comprising:
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a generally horizontal seat bottom having a rear end; a seat back extending upwardly from said rear end of said seat bottom; a seat back adjusting mechanism mounting said seat back to said seat bottom, said adjusting mechanism including; a lower mounting member fixed to said seat bottom; an intermediate arm mounted to said mounting member for rotation about a primary pivot; a recliner operatively associated with said lower mounting member and said intermediate arm, said recliner being engagable to lock said intermediate arm in an adjusted position relative to said lower mounting member, said recliner being selectively releasable to enable adjustment of said intermediate arm within a range of adjusted positions between a foremost recline position and a rearmost recline position; a recliner release pivot mounted to said lower mounting member and coupled to said recliner, said recliner release pivot being actuatable to release said recliner for adjustment of said intermediate arm relative to said lower mounting member; an upper arm mounted to said intermediate arm for rotation about a secondary pivot, said seat back being fixed to said upper arm for movement therewith; an upper arm latch engagable to hold said upper arm in an upright position relative to said intermediate arm, said upper arm latch being releasable to rotate said upper arm forward about said secondary pivot to a seat back fold flat position; and an upper arm latch release means coupled to said upper arm latch and said recliner release pivot for releasing said upper arm latch when said recliner is released and said intermediate arm is rotated forward to said foremost recline position to enable said upper arm to rotate to about said secondary pivot to said seat back fold flat position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A vehicle seat comprising:
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a generally horizontal seat bottom; a seat back extending substantially upwardly from said seat bottom; a seat back adjusting mechanism in communication with said seat back and said seat bottom, said seat back adjusting mechanism being operable to rotate said seat back about a primary pivot and a secondary pivot displaced from said primary pivot to at least one of at least one adjusted position, a generally forward dump easy entry position, and a generally horizontal fold flat position, said seat back adjusting mechanism including, a recliner operable to releasably hold said seat back in said at least one adjusted position, a dump latch operable to enable said seat back to rotate to said generally forward dump easy entry position, an upper latch operable to releasably hold said seat back fixed about said secondary pivot and allow rotation of said seat back about said secondary pivot to said fold flat position, and a recliner release pivot operable to release said recliner and said upper latch, wherein said upper latch is released by actuation of said recliner release pivot to enable said seat back to rotate from said generally horizontal fold flat position to said at least one adjusted position. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification