Vehicle seat

• US 6,644,737 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Inventors: Meier, Manfred, Kohl, Josef, Raum, Holger
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer, Laurie K.
• Application Number:
  US10/167,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20020190560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 297/217.1, 297/217.2, 297/311, 297/344.1, 297/344.15, 248/542, 248/543, 248/550
• US Class Current: 297/217.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/502 attached to the base of the seat B60N2/504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/505 Adjustable suspension including height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/508 Scissors-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/544 Compression or tension springs B60N2/542 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle seat comprises a seat squab supported on a base structure, and a spring arrangement for weight adjustment, the spring arrangement being connected to a weight adjustment actuating device. Associated with the actuating device is a level indicator device for indicating adjustment of the seat squab to the seat squab level which optimally corresponds to the weight of the respective seat occupant, in relation to the spring travel of the seat squab. The level indicator device and the actuating device are provided at least substantially centrally at the front edge of the seat squab for optimum actuability and adjustability.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising:

a base structure;

a seat squab supported on the base structure;

a spring arrangement for weight adjustment, operatively disposed between the base structure and seat squab;

a weight adjustment actuating means connected to the spring arrangement for weight adjustment; and

a level indicator means operatively associated with the weight adjustment actuating means for indicating adjustment of the seat squab to the seat squab level optimally corresponding to the weight of the respective seat occupant in relation to the spring travel of the seat squab, said level indicator means including an elongate flexible element connected between the base structure and the seat squab, a spring member mechanically prestressing the elongate flexible element, and an indicator member operatively associated with said elongate flexible element, and wherein the level indicator means and the weight adjustment actuating means are provided at least substantially centrally at the front edge of the seat squab.

2. A vehicle seat as set forth in claim 1

wherein said elongate flexible element includes a pointer and the indicator member has an elongate viewing opening into which the pointer projects.

3. A vehicle seat as set forth in claim 2

wherein the elongate flexible element is formed by a wire.

4. A vehicle seat as set forth in claim 2

wherein the indicator member includes a marking for the seat level which optimally corresponds to the respective seat user in relation to the spring travel of the seat squab.

5. A vehicle seat as set forth in claim 1

wherein the elongate flexible element includes a marker for the seat level optimally corresponding to the respective seat occupant in relation to the spring travel of the seat squab, and

wherein the indicator member has a small viewing opening for the elongate flexible element.

6. A vehicle seat as set forth in claim 5

wherein the elongate flexible element is formed by a strip.

7. A vehicle seat as set forth in claim 1

wherein the indicator member is disposed at least substantially centrally at the front edge of the seat squab.

8. A vehicle seat as set forth in claim 1

wherein the weight adjustment actuating means includes a handle displaceable between an inactive position adjacent to the indicator member and an active position of being spaced from the indicator member.

9. A vehicle seat as set forth in claim 8 including

mounting means mounting the handle reciprocatingly displaceably between the inactive position and the active position linearly in the longtitudinal direction of the seat, and

pivotal mounting means the handle in the active position pivotably up and down about a horizontal pivot axis for stepwise adjustment of the spring arrangement for weight adjustment.

10. A vehicle seat as set forth in claim 8 including

mounting means mounting the handle reciprocatingly displaceably about a vertical axis between the inactive position and the active position, and

pivotal mounting means mounting the handle in the active position pivotably up and down about a horizontal pivot axis for stepwise adjustment of the spring arrangement for weight adjustment.