Apparatus for adjusting a seat belt

• US 6,517,157 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Vorac, Shane Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDELL, JOSEPH F
• Application Number:
  US09/810,847
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 297/344.13, 297/344.15, 297/344.17, 297/468, 297/464
• US Class Current: 297/344.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/161 Rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/164 Linear actuator, e.g. screw mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1803 with independent front and/or rear adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/181 Rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1853 Linear actuator, e.g. screw mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/208 by automatic or remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/20 adjustable in position, e.g. in height
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

A seat apparatus is provided for a vehicle comprising a first mechanism for moving a seat horizontally relative to the floor of the vehicle and a second mechanism movably mounted to the first mechanism for moving the seat vertically relative to the floor of the vehicle. The second mechanism includes at least one link and a motor drive assembly operatively associated with the link to move the seat vertically. The seat apparatus further includes a third mechanism for moving a seat belt to adjust for vertical and horizontal movement of the seat in order to insure that the seat belt will remain stationary relative to an occupant seated on the seat. The third mechanism is responsive to the motor drive assembly for moving the seat belt simultaneously with vertical movement of the seat.

Claims

1. A seat apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a first mechanism for moving a seat horizontally relative to a floor of the vehicle, the first mechanism including;

first and second lower tracks mounted to the floor of the vehicle; and

first and second upper tracks movably carried on the first and second lower tracks, respectively;

a second mechanism movably mounted to the first and second upper tracks for moving the seat vertically relative to the floor of the vehicle, the second mechanism including a pair of lift links for engaging the seat and a motor drive assembly operatively associated with the pair of lift links for causing the lift links to pivot and the seat to move vertically;

a third mechanism for moving a seat belt to adjust for vertical movement of the seat in order to insure that the seat belt will remain stationary relative to an occupant seated on the seat, the third mechanism including a pair of seat belt links pivotably attached at one end thereof to the first and second upper tracks respectively, and the motor drive assembly operatively associated with the pair of seat links for causing the pair of seat links to pivot; and

a stop mounted on at least one of the first and second upper tracks for limiting motion of the pair of seat belt links.

2. The seat apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third mechanism includes a plurality of links responsive to rotational movement of a torsion bar for causing the pair of seat belt links to pivot.

3. The seat apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of links includes a slave link, a follower link and a drive link.

4. The seat apparatus of claim 3, wherein the slave link is secured to at least one of the pair of seat belt links by a rod member.

5. The seat apparatus of claim 3, wherein the drive link is secured to the torsion bar.

6. A seat apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a first mechanism for moving a seat horizontally relative to a floor of the vehicle, the first mechanism including;

first and second lower tracks mounted to the floor the vehicle; and

first and second upper tracks movably carried on the first and second lower tracks, respectively;

a second mechanism movably mounted to the first and second upper tracks for moving the seat vertically relative to the floor of the vehicle, the second mechanism including a pair of lift links attached to a torsion bar having first and second ends rotatably mounted to the first and second upper tracks, respectively, the torsion bar being operatively associated with a drive motor assembly to cause said torsion bar to rotate for causing the pair of lift links to move the seat generally vertically; and

a third mechanism for moving a seat belt to adjust for vertical movement of the seat in order to ensure that the seat belt will remain substantially stationary relative to an occupant seated in the seat, the third mechanism including a first seat belt link pivotally coupled to the first upper track, a slave link coupled to the first seat belt link, a follower link coupled to the slave link, a drive link secured to the torsion bar and coupled to the follower link to cause the first seat belt link to pivot.

7. The seat apparatus of claim 6, wherein the third mechanism includes a second seat belt link attached to the second upper track.

8. The seat apparatus of claim 7, wherein the third mechanism includes a second drive link, a second slave link, a second follower link responsive to the rotational motion of the torsion bar for causing the second seat belt link to pivot.

9. The seat apparatus of claim 6 wherein the third mechanism includes a strap having a first end pivotably attached to the vehicle and a second end attached to a buckle.

10. A seat apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a first mechanism for moving a seat horizontally relative to a floor of the vehicle, the first mechanism including;

first and second lower tracks mounted to the floor of the vehicle; and

first and second upper tracks movably carried on the first and second lower tracks, respectively;

a second mechanism movably mounted to the first and second upper tracks for moving the seat substantially vertically relative to the floor of the vehicle, the second mechanism including a pair of lift links for lifting the seat and a drive motor assembly operatively associated with the pair of lift links for causing the pair of lift links to move the seat generally vertically;

a third mechanism for moving a seat belt to adjust for vertical movement of the seat in order to ensure that the seat belt will remain substantially stationary relative to an occupant seated in the seat, the third mechanism including a seat belt link pivotally engaged to the first upper track and a motor drive assembly operatively associated with the seat belt link to cause the seat belt link to pivot; and

a stop mounted to the first upper track for limiting rotational movement of the seat belt link.

11. A seat apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a first mechanism for moving a seat horizontally relative to a floor of the vehicle, the first mechanism including;

first and second lower tracks mounted to the floor of the vehicle; and

first and second upper tracks movably carried on the first and second lower tracks, respectively;

a second mechanism movably mounted to the first and second upper tracks for moving the seat substantially vertically relative to the floor of the vehicle, the second mechanism including a pair of lift links for lifting the seat and a drive motor assembly operatively associated with the pair of lift links for causing the pair of lift links to move the seat generally vertically; and

a third mechanism for moving a seat belt to adjust for vertical movement of the seat in order to ensure that the seat belt will remain substantially stationary relative to an occupant seated in the seat, the third mechanism including a seat belt link pivotally engaged to the first upper track and a motor drive assembly operatively associated with the seat belt link to cause the seat belt link to pivot;

wherein the seat belt link includes a knee joint link for limiting rotational motion of the seat belt link.

12. A seat apparatus for a vehicle the apparatus comprising:

a first mechanism for moving a seat horizontally relative to a floor of the vehicle and having first and second lower tracks mounted to a floor of the vehicle and first and second upper tracks movably carried on the first and second lower tracks, respectively, the upper tracks supporting the seat;

a second mechanism movably mounted to the first mechanism for moving the seat vertically relative to the floor of the vehicle, the second mechanism including a torsion bar rotatably mounted to the first and second upper tracks and attached to at least one link for supporting the seat and a motor drive assembly operatively associated with the torsion bar to cause the torsion bar to rotate and move the seat vertically; and

a third mechanism for moving a seat belt to adjust for vertical movement of the seat and being responsive to the motor drive assembly for moving the seat belt simultaneously with vertical movement of the seat, the third mechanism including a seat belt link coupled at least to one of the upper tracks, a slave link coupled to the seat belt link, a follower link coupled to the slave link, and a drive link coupled to the follower link and to the torsion bar.

13. The seat apparatus of claim 12, wherein the slave link is secured to the seat belt link by a rod member.

14. The seat apparatus of claim 13, wherein the rod member is movably received in one of the upper tracks.

15. The seat apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a seat belt component coupled to the seat belt link.

16. The seat apparatus of claim 12, wherein the follower link is rotationally coupled to the drive link and the slave link.

17. The seat apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a stop member coupled to at least one of the upper tracks to limit motion of the seat belt link.