Vehicle seat fitted with a hinge mechanism
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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Accused Products
Abstract
A seat has a back connected to a seat proper via a hinge comprising two cheekplates that can be secured to each other by means of toothed slugs controlled by a cam. In order to enable the seat back to be folded down forwards, and then to return the back into its initial position, the cam of the hinge is associated with an external memory mechanism implemented in the form of a self-contained assembly which includes its own drive member connected to the cam by a mechanical connection including lost motion that is adapted so that actuation of the cam does not move the drive member, and so that actuation of the drive member causes the cam to be moved towards its unlocked position.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A vehicle seat comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification