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Vehicle seat fitted with a hinge mechanism

  • US 6,619,744 B2
  • Filed: 12/27/2001
  • Issued: 09/16/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A vehicle seat comprising:

  • first and second seat elements mounted to pivot relative to each other about a pivot axis;

    at least one hinge mechanism including a locking device movable between firstly a locked position preventing relative pivoting between the first and second seat elements, and secondly an unlocked position enabling the first and second seat elements to pivot freely relative to each other, said locking device being controlled by a first drive member actuatable by a user, said first drive member being urged towards a rest position in which said first drive member places the locking device in its rest position, and the first drive member being movable in an actuation angular direction towards an actuation position in which said first drive member places the locking device in its unlocked position, the rest and actuation positions of the first drive member being fixed relative to the first seat element; and

    a memory mechanism movable between firstly a rest position in which said memory mechanism is adapted to avoid interfering with relative pivoting between the first and second seat elements, and secondly an active position in which said memory mechanism is adapted to;

    enable the second seat element to pivot freely relative to the first seat element in a first angular direction away from the most recent adjusted relative position of said two seat elements; and

    then enable the second seat element to pivot relative to the first seat element in a second angular direction opposite to the first angular direction until it reaches said most recent adjusted relative position of said two seat elements;

    the memory mechanism being controlled by a second drive member actuatable by a user, said second drive member being urged towards a rest position in which said second drive member places the memory mechanism in its rest position, and the second drive member being displaceable into an actuation position in which said second drive member places the memory mechanism in its active position;

    wherein the hinge mechanism interconnects the first and second seat elements independently of the memory mechanism, which memory mechanism is in the form of a self-contained assembly distinct from the hinge mechanism;

    wherein the memory mechanism comprises;

    a memory plate mounted to pivot freely about the pivot axis independently of the first and second seat elements;

    a first locking member connected to the second drive member and to the first seat element in such a manner as to be capable of moving relative to said first seat element as a function of the displacements of the second drive member, said first locking member co-operating with the memory plate to lock it relative to the first seat element when the second drive member is in its rest position, and the first locking member enabling the memory plate to pivot relative to the first seat element about the pivot axis when said second drive member is in its actuation position; and

    a second locking member connected to the second drive member and to the second seat element in such a manner as to be capable of moving relative to said second seat element as a function of the displacements of the second drive member, said second locking member co-operating with the memory plate to lock it relative to the second seat element when the second drive member is in its actuation position, and the second locking member enabling the memory plate to pivot about the pivot axis relative to the second seat element when said second drive member is in its rest position; and

    wherein the first and second drive members are connected to each other by a mechanical connection with lost motion which is adapted;

    to leave the second drive member in its rest position when acting on the first drive member by moving it into its actuation position; and

    to drive the first drive member from its rest position to its actuation position when acting on the second drive member to move it from its rest position to its actuation position.

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