Easy access seat assembly with full memory

• US 6,513,868 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2001
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Seating Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Magna Seating Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Tame, Omar D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US09/831,031
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 297/341, 297/378.12, 248/429, 248/430
• US Class Current: 297/341
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0705 omega-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0715 C or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0825 outside the rail
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/085 about a transversal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0875 in a vertical direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0887 with synchronised movements
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/12 slidable and tiltable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/123 and provided with memory locks
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/20 the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/04, B60N2/22 , B60N2/3002 take precedence

Abstract

A seat assembly (24) is mounted to a seat cushion assembly (22) for movement between an operative position and a forwardly dumped access position generally overlying the seat cushion assembly (22). A fixed track assembly (36, 42) movably supports a movable track assembly (45, 46) carrying the seat cushion assembly (22) for movement between a forward access position and a rearward position. A releasable track locking assembly (56, 57) is movable between a track locking position and a track releasing position for allowing adjustment of the movable track assembly (45, 46) between fore and aft positions with respect to the fixed track assembly (36, 42). A memory track (76) is fixed with respect to the fixed track assembly (36, 42) and a memory slide (78) is fixed with respect to the memory track (76). A slide block (100) is slidably supported by the memory slide (78). A memory latch (98) is supported by a slide block (100) and is movable between a memory position and an adjustment position.

Claims

1. An easy access vehicle seat (20) comprising:

a seat cushion assembly (22) for supporting an occupant when seated thereon,

a seat back assembly (24) for supporting a back of an occupant seated on said seat cushion assembly (22),

a mounting assembly (26) mounting said seat back assembly (24) on said seat cushion assembly (22) for moving said seat back assembly (24) between an operative position and a forwardly dumped access position generally overlying said seat cushion assembly (22),

a fixed track assembly (28) for attachment to a vehicle,

a movable track assembly (30) carrying said seat cushion assembly (22) and movably supported by said fixed track assembly (28) for incremental adjustment between fore and aft positions when said seat back assembly (24) is in said operative position as well as movement to a forward access position when said seat back assembly (24) is in said forwardly dumped access position;

a releasable track locking assembly (54) movable between a track locking position for locking said movable track assembly (30) with respect to said fixed track assembly (28) and a track releasing position for allowing said adjustment of said movable track assembly (30) between said fore and aft positions with respect to said fixed track assembly (28),

a memory track (76) fixed with respect to said fixed track assembly (28),

a memory slide (78) fixed with respect to said memory track (76),

a slide block (100) slidably supported by said memory slide (78), and

said vehicle seat (20) characterized by a memory latch (98) supported by said slide block (100) and movable between a memory position when said seat back assembly (24) is in said forwardly dumped access position and an adjustment position when said seat back assembly (24) is in said operative position, said memory latch (98) uncoupled from said movable track assembly (30), and interlocking with said memory track (76) while in said memory position thereby limiting independent return travel of said movable track assembly (30) from said forward access position, and coupled to said movable track assembly (30) and disengaged from said memory track (76) while in said adjustment position enabling said adjustment of said movable track assembly (30), said memory latch (98) remaining in said adjustment position disengaged from said memory track (76) during said adjustment of said movable track assembly (30) between said fore and aft positions while said track locking assembly (54) moves between said track locking position and said track releasing position.

2. An easy access vehicle seat as set forth in claim 1 including an actuating assembly being interrelated with said releasable track locking assembly (54), said memory latch (98) and said seat back assembly (24) for moving said memory latch (98) between said adjustment position and said memory position and moving said releasable track locking assembly (54) between said track locking position and said track releasing position in response to movement of said seat back assembly (24) between said operative position and said access position.

3. An easy access vehicle seat as set forth in claim 2 including a lost motion connection between said actuating assembly and said seat back assembly (24) for effecting said releasable track locking assembly (54) to move to said track releasing position in response to forward movement of said seat back assembly (24) without effecting said releasable track locking assembly (54) to move to said track locking position in response to return movement of said seat back assembly (24) enabling said actuating assembly to engage said memory latch (98) and responsively urge said releasable track locking assembly (54) to move to the track locking position.

4. An easy access vehicle seat as set forth in claim 3 wherein said memory latch (98) has a cam surface (155) for engaging said actuating assembly to retain the memory latch (98) in the adjustment position while said releasable track locking assembly (54) is in said track releasing position.

5. An easy access vehicle seat as set forth in claim 4 wherein said memory track (76) includes a plurality of apertures (88) and said memory latch (98) includes teeth (10) for engaging said apertures (88) in said memory position.

6. An easy access vehicle seat as set forth in claim 5 wherein said releasable track locking assembly (54) operatively interconnects said fixed (28) and movable (30) track assemblies to present a locking system independent of said memory latch teeth (110) and memory track apertures (88).

7. An easy access vehicle seat as set forth in claim 1, including

a seat back spring system resiliently biasing said seat back assembly (24) to move to said seat back assembly (24) to said access position, and

a seat cushion spring system (154) resiliently biasing said seat cushion assembly (22) to move along said fixed track assembly (28) to said forward access position, said springs systems each having relative strengths such that said seat back spring system provides greater resistance to a return of the seat back assembly (24) into the operative position thereof than the seat cushion spring system (154) provides a return of the seat cushion assembly (22) into an aft position thereof.

8. An easy access vehicle seat as set forth in claim 7 including an actuating assembly being interrelated with said releasable track locking assembly (54), said memory latch (98) and said seat back assembly (24) for moving said memory latch (98) between said adjustment position and said memory position and moving said releasable track locking assembly (54) between said track locking position and said track releasing position in response to movement of said seat back assembly (24) between said operative position and said access position.

9. An easy access vehicle seat as set forth in claim 8 including a lost motion connection between said actuating assembly and said seat back assembly (24) for effecting said releasable track locking assembly (54) to move to said track releasing position in response to forward movement of said seat back assembly (24) without effecting said releasable track locking assembly (54) to move to said track locking position in response to return movement of said seat back assembly (24) enabling said actuating assembly to engage said memory latch (98) and responsively urge said releasable track locking assembly (54) to move to the track locking position.

10. An easy access vehicle seat as set forth in claim 9 wherein said memory latch (98) has a cam surface (155) for engaging said actuating assembly to retain the memory latch (98) in the adjustment position while said releasable track locking assembly (54) is in said track releasing position.

11. An easy access vehicle seat as set forth in claim 10 wherein said memory track (76) includes a plurality of apertures (88) and said memory latch (98) includes teeth (110) for engaging said apertures (88) in said memory position.

12. An easy access vehicle seat as set forth in claim 11 wherein said releasable track locking assembly (54) operatively interconnects said fixed (28) and movable (30) track assemblies to present a locking system independent of said memory latch teeth (110) and memory track apertures (88).