Automated fold and tumble vehicle seat assembly

• US 6,523,899 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Seating Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Magna Seating Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Tame, Omar D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDELL, JOSEPH F
• Application Number:
  US09/807,161
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 297/331, 297/335, 297/336, 297/378.12
• US Class Current: 297/331
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/01583 locking on transversal elements on the vehicle floor or rail, e.g. transversal rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/206 to a position in which it can be used as a support for objects, e.g. as a tray

Abstract

A fold and tumble vehicle seat assembly (20) having an automatic retraction feature and an easy operation latch feature. An adjustment mechanism (30) is mounted between the seat cushion (22) and the seat riser (28) for providing fore and aft adjustment of the seat cushion. The seat assembly is characterized by a release mechanism (49) mounted adjacent the adjustment mechanism (30) for automatically unlocking the adjustment mechanism and moving the seat cushion toward the aft position during the tumbling of the seat assembly. The seat assembly also comprises a rear latch (70, 71) pivotally mounted to the rear seat support (50, 51) and moveable between an engaged position securing the seat assembly in the operative position and a disengaged position allowing the seat assembly to move into the tumbled position. A stop member (92, 94) pivotally mounted to the rear seat support (50, 51) holds the rear latch (70, 71) in the disengaged position.

Claims

1. A fold and tumble vehicle seat assembly (20) having an automatic retraction feature, said seat assembly (20) comprising;

a seat cushion (22),

a seat back (24) mounted to said seat cushion (22),

a seat riser (28), having forward and rearward ends, mounted to said seat cushion (22) for supporting said seat assembly (20) in an operative position,

an adjustment mechanism (30) mounted between said seat cushion (22) and said seat riser (28) for providing selected fore and aft adjustment of said seat cushion (22),

a locking device (118) disposed on said adjustment mechanism (30) for selectively locking said adjustment mechanism (30) and said seat cushion (22) to said seat riser (28),

at least one rear seat support mounted to said rearward end of said seat riser (28) for supporting a rear portion of said seat assembly (20) while said seat assembly (20) is in said operative position,

at least one front seat support pivotally mounted to said forward end of said seat riser (28) for supporting a front portion of said seat assembly (20) while said seat assembly (20) is in said operative position and for moving said seat assembly (20) to a tumbled position with said seat cushion (22) pivoting upward about said front seat supports,

said seat assembly (20) further comprising a release mechanism (49) mounted adjacent said adjustment mechanism (30) and selectively engaging said locking device (118) for automatically unlocking said adjustment mechanism (30) and moving said seat cushion (22) toward said aft position during movement of said seat assembly (20) to said tumbled position.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said release mechanism (49) includes a housing (128) mounted to said seat riser (28) for supporting said release mechanism (49) near said adjustment mechanism (30) and said locking device (118).

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said release mechanism (49) further includes a moveable portion (130) movably mounted within said housing (128) between a disengaged position spaced from said locking device (118) and an engaged position abutting said locking device (118).

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said moveable portion (130) includes a projecting finger (152) engaging said locking device (118) when said moveable portion (130) is in said engaged position.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said release mechanism (49) further includes a pinion gear mechanism (132) coupled to said movable portion (130) for slideably moving said movable portion (130) between said disengaged and engaged positions.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said movable portion (130) includes a plurality of teeth (150) and said pinion gear mechanism (132) includes a gear use coupled to said teeth (150) for removing said movable portion (130).

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said housing (128) includes a plurality of teeth (148) in opposing relationship to said teeth (150) of said movable portion (130) with said gear (156) coupled between said teeth (148) of said housing (128) and said teeth (150) of said movable portion (130).

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said pinion gear mechanism (132) further includes an actuation rod (154) having a first end mounted to said gear (156) and a second end mounted to said front seat support such that movement of said seat assembly (20) toward said tumbled position moves said housing (128) about said pinion gear mechanism (132) which rotates said gear (156) and slideably moves said movable portion (130).

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said housing (128) further includes a planar structure (134) mounted between said seat riser (28) and said adjustment mechanism (30) for supporting said release mechanism (49).

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said housing (128) further includes a pair of legs interlocking with corresponding apertures disposed within said seat riser (28) to fixedly secure said release mechanism (49) to said seat assembly (20).

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said locking device (118) includes a lock plate (170) selectively engaging said adjustment mechanism (30) to selectively lock said adjustment mechanism (30).

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said locking device (118) further includes an arm (188) having an upward camming edge (194) and a lower abutment surface such that said lower abutment surface selectively engages said lock plate (170) to unlock said adjustment mechanism (30).

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said locking device (118) further includes a pivoting lever(174) having an upward portion (178) and a downward portion (180)with said finger (152) of said movable portion (130) engaging said downward portion (180) to rotate said pivoting lever (174) and move said upward portion (178) into engagement with said camming edge (194) of said arm (188) which pushes said arm (188) into engagement with said lock plate (170) to unlock said adjustment mechanism (30).

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said adjustment mechanism (30) includes a stop structure (184) and said pivoting lever (174) further includes an outwardly extending arm portion (182) which engages said stop structure (184) to limit said pivotal movement of said pivoting lever (174).

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said at least one rear seat support comprises first (50) and second (51) rear legs each having a rear latch (70, 71).

16. An assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said at least one front seat support comprises first (56) and second (62) front legs each having a front latch (66, 67).

17. An assembly as set forth in claim 16 further including a spring system (106) mounted about each of said first (56) and second (62) front legs to assist said upward pivoting movement of seat assembly (20) during said tumbling of said seat assembly (20).

18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 further including a strut (230) mounted between said first (56) and second (62) front legs and corresponding first (50) and second (51) rear legs for further assisting said upward pivoting movement of said seat assembly (20).