Seat cushion height adjustment assembly

• US 6,488,337 B1
• Filed: 06/11/2001
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Seating Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Magna Seating Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Modreski, Michael P., Zeimis, Peter P. III, De Voss, Catherine A., Tokarz, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US09/807,308
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 297/344.13, 297/344.15, 248/419, 248/421
• US Class Current: 297/344.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/181 Rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1835 pivoting about an axis located in the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1864 Gear wheel driven mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1885 with weight compensating means

Abstract

An automotive seat adjustment assembly adjusts a relative position of a seat cushion. The adjustment assembly comprises at least one front mounting bracket adapted for supporting a forward end of the seat cushion and at least one rear mounting bracket adapted fort supporting a rearward end of the seat cushion. At least one front seat support is movably mounted to the front mounting bracket and adapted for mounting to the forward end of the seat cushion. The front seat support is movable between a first position with the seat cushion in a lowered orientation and a second position with the seat cushion in a raised orientation. At least one rear seat support movably mounted to the rear mounting bracket and adapted for mounting to the rearward end of the seat cushion. The rear support is movable between a first position with the seat cushion in a lowered orientation and a second position with the seat cushion in a raised orientation. At least one drive plate interconnecting one of the front and rear mounting brackets with a corresponding front and rear support. A drive arm having first and second ends, the first end mounted to the drive plate and is movable between actuated and non-actuated positions for moving the corresponding front and rear seat support between the first and second positions to move the seat cushion between the lowered and raised orientations. A cam connected to the second end of the drive arm for selectively moving the drive arm between the actuated and non-actuated positions to move the front and rear supports and the seat cushion.

Claims

1. An automotive seat adjustment assembly (22) adapted for adjusting a relative position of a seat cushion (12), said adjustment assembly (22) comprising:

at least one front mounting bracket (24) adapted for supporting a forward end (16) of the seat cushion (12),

at least one rear mounting bracket (26) adapted for supporting a rearward end (18) of the seat cushion (12),

at least one front seat support (36) movably mounted to said front mounting bracket (24) and adapted for mounting to the forward end (16) of the seat cushion (12), said front seat support (36) movable between a first position with the seat cushion (12) in a lowered orientation and a second position with the seat cushion (12) in a raised orientation,

at least one rear seat support (38) movably mounted to said rear mounting bracket (26) and adapted for mounting to the rearward end (18) of the seat cushion (12), said rear seat support (38) movable between a first position with the seat cushion (12) in a lowered orientation and a second position with the seat cushion (12) in a raised orientation,

at least one drive plate (40) including a first pivot pin (50) rotatably mounting said drive plate (40) to one of said front (24) and rear (26) mounting brackets to interconnect one of said front (24) and rear (26) mounting brackets with a corresponding front (36) and rear (38) seat support,

a drive arm (44) having first (46) and second (48) ends with said first end (46) mounted to said drive plate (40) and movable between actuated and non-actuated positions for moving said corresponding front (36) and rear (38) seat support between said first and second positions to move the seat cushion (12) between said lowered and raised orientations,

a shank (60) extending from said seat adjustment assembly (22), and

a cam (56) rotatably connected to said shank (60) and connected to said second end (48) of said drive arm (44) for selectively moving said drive arm (44) between said actuated and non-actuated positions to move said front (36) and rear (38) seat supports and the seat cushion (12),

said assembly (22) characterized by said cam being arranged and configured such that movement of said drive arm (44) toward said actuated position rotates said drive plate (40) about said first pivot pin (50) and moves said corresponding front (36) and rear (38) seat support toward one of said first and second positions until said drive arm (44) engages said shank (60) to prevent further movement thereof, and said drive plate (40) being arranged and configured such that movement of said drive arm (44) toward said non-actuated position rotates said drive plate (40) about said first pivot pin (50) and moves said corresponding front (36) and rear (38) seat support toward the other of said first and second positions until said drive arm (44) engages said first pivot pin (50) extending from one of said front (24) and rear (26) mounting brackets to prevent further movement thereof, thereby defining a pair of positive stops for the upward and downward movement of the seat cushion (12).

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cam (56) is a sector gear (56) pivotally mounted to said second end (48) of said drive arm (44).

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 further including a drive mount (58) having said shank (60) interconnecting said mount (58) to said sector gear (56) for rotatably supporting said sector gear (56) to said mount (58) and limiting said movement of said drive arm (44) toward at least one of said positions.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 further including a drive mechanism (62) mounted to said drive mount (58) and having an input shaft (64) with a sprocket gear (66) in coupling relationship with said sector gear (56) for providing said pivotal movement to said sector gear (56).

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said sector gear (56) includes a plurality of teeth (70) with an oversized outer tooth (72) at each end of said sector gear (56) such that said sprocket gear (66) cannot uncouple from said sector gear (56).

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive plate (40) further includes a second pivot pin (52) rotatably mounting said drive plate (40) to said corresponding front (36) and rear (38) seat support and moveable between a first position disposed below said first pivot pin (50) and a second position disposed above said first pivot pin (50).

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said drive plate (40) further includes a third pivot pin (54) rotatably mounting said drive plate (40) to said drive arm (44) with said third pivot pin (54) remaining below said first (50) and second (52) pivot pins.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 further including a drive mount (58) having said shank (60) interconnecting said mount (58) to said cam (56) for rotatably supporting said cam (56) to said mount (58) and limiting said movement of said drive arm (44) toward at least one of said positions.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first (50), second (52) and third (54) pivot pins are configured in a substantially triangular configuration such that movement of said drive arm (44) toward said actuated position rotates said drive plate (40) about said first pivot pin (50) and moves said corresponding front (36) and rear (38) seat support toward said second position for raising the seat cushion (12) until said drive arm (44) engages said shank (60) of said drive mount (58) and movement of said drive arm (44) toward said non-actuated position rotates said drive plate (40) about said first pivot pin (50) and moves said corresponding front (36) and rear (38) seat support toward said first position for lowering the seat cushion (12) until said drive arm (44) engages said first pivot pin (50) extending from one of said front (24) and rear (26) mounting brackets.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said drive plate (40) is pivotally mounted between said rear mounting bracket (26) and said rear seat support (38).

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said at least one front mounting bracket (24) includes a pair of front mounting brackets (24) and said at least one rear mounting bracket (26) includes a pair of rear mounting brackets (26).

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 further including a seat track mechanism (28, 30) with said pairs of front (24) and rear (26) mounting brackets being mounted thereto.

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said at least one front seat support (36) includes a pair of front seat supports (36) and said at least one rear seat support (38) includes a pair of rear seat supports (38).

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 further including a link (39) interconnecting each of said front mounting brackets (24) and said front seat supports (36).

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said at least one drive plate (40) includes a pair of drive plates (40) interconnecting each of said rear mounting brackets (26) to said rear seat supports (38).

16. An assembly as set forth in claim 15 further including a connecting rod (42) interconnecting each of said drive plates (40) such that each of said drive plates (40) and said rear seat supports (38) move upward and downward in unison.

17. An assembly as set forth in claim 16 further including a return spring (74) interconnected between one of said front mounting brackets (24) and one of said drive plates (40) for continuously biasing said corresponding drive plate (40) and said drive arm (44) toward said actuated position to assist in said raising of the seat cushion (12).