Vertical seat positioning device

• US 6,347,778 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Koga, Yoshitaka, Uryu, Naoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Anita
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZUMNY, JONATHON A
• Application Number:
  US09/672,504
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 248/419, 248/421, 248/424, 248/429, 297/344.12, 297/344.13, 297/344.15, 297/344.17, 296/65.02, 296/65.05
• US Class Current: 248/421
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1615 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/164 Linear actuator, e.g. screw mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1685 characterised by a lock

Abstract

A seat vertical positioning device for a vehicle seat includes a seat side member supported by the vehicle seat, a bracket fixed to a vehicle floor side member and a link having on end pivotally connected with the bracket at a first pivot point and another end pivotally connected with the seat side member at a second pivot point. The seat vertical positioning device further includes a pin for moving the first pivot point of the link relative to the bracket when the seat side member receives a load which exceeds a predetermined value. A plurality of recesses are formed on the bracket at a position separated from the first pivot point, and a lock pin is fixed to the link and engageable with the recesses when the pivot point of the link is moved.

Claims

1. A seat vertical positioning device for a vehicle seat comprising:

a seat side member supported by the vehicle seat;

a floor side member supported on a vehicle floor;

a bracket fixed to the floor side member;

a link having one end pivotally connected with the bracket at a first pivot point and another end connected with the seat side member at a second pivot point;

a pin for moving the first pivot point of the link relative to the bracket when the seat side member receives a load which exceeds a predetermined value;

a plurality of recesses formed on the bracket at a position separated from a pivot center of the pin; and

a lock pin fixed to the link and engageable with one of the recesses when the pin is moved.

2. The seat vertical positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the bracket has an elongated hole in which the pin is positioned to allow the first pivot point to move when the seat side member receives a load exceeding the predetermined value.

3. The seat vertical positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the bracket has a first hole in which is positioned the pin and another hole adjacent the first hole to allow the first pivot point to move when the seat side member receives a load exceeding the predetermined value.

4. The seat vertical positioning device according to claim 3, wherein the first hole is positioned forward of the another hole.

5. The seat vertical positioning device according to claim 3, wherein the another hole is positioned forward of the first hole.

6. A seat vertical positioning device for a vehicle seat comprising:

a seat side member supported by the vehicle seat;

a floor side member supported on a vehicle floor;

a bracket fixed to the floor side member;

a link pivotally connected to the bracket by a first pin passing through respective first holes in the bracket and the link to permit the link to rotate relative to the bracket, the link also being pivotally connected to the seat side member;

a lock pin passing through respective second holes in the bracket and the link, the first hole in the bracket being larger than the first hole in the link and the second hole in the bracket being larger than the second hole in the link so that in addition to rotating relative to the bracket, the link is adapted to shift relative to the bracket when the seat side member receives a load exceeding a predetermined value.

7. The seat vertical positioning device according to claim 6, wherein the first hole in the bracket is an elongated hole through which the first pin extends.

8. The seat vertical positioning device according to claim 6, wherein the second hole in the bracket is an elongated hole through which the second pin extends.

9. The seat vertical positioning device according to claim 6, wherein the second hole in the bracket is an arcuate shaped hole provided with a plurality of spaced apart recesses.

10. The seat vertical positioning device according to claim 6, wherein the first hole in the bracket is positioned forward of the second hole in the bracket.

11. The seat vertical positioning device according to claim 6, wherein the second hole in the bracket is positioned forward of the first hole in the bracket.

12. A seat vertical positioning device for a vehicle seat comprising:

a seat side member for supporting the vehicle seat;

a floor side member adapted to be supported on a vehicle floor;

a bracket fixed to the floor side member;

a link pivotally connected to the bracket by a first pin passing through a hole in the link and an elongated hole in the bracket to permit the link to rotate relative to the bracket about a pivot point during vertical adjustment of the vehicle seat while also permitting the link to shift relative to the bracket to move said pivot point when the seat side member receives a load exceeding a predetermined value, said link also being pivotally connected to the seat side member by a second pin; and

a lock pin fixed to the link and movable with respect to the bracket to engage a portion of the bracket when the seat side member receives a load exceeding a predetermined value.

13. The seat vertical positioning device according to claim 12, wherein said elongated hole in the bracket is a first hole, the lock pin passing through an elongated second hole in the bracket which possesses a plurality of spaced apart recesses.

14. The seat vertical positioning device according to claim 13, wherein the first hole in the bracket is positioned forward of the second hole in the bracket.

15. The seat vertical positioning device according to claim 13, wherein the second hole in the bracket is positioned forward of the first hole in the bracket.

16. The seat vertical positioning device according to claim 12, wherein said link is a rear link, and including a connecting link connected to the rear link by a pin.