Vehicle seat having a folded position

• US 6,655,738 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adient US, LLC (Adient plc)
• Original Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Company KG (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Kämmerer, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Barfield, Anthony D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRIS, STEPHANIE N
• Application Number:
  US10/127,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20020125753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 297/344.1, 297/341, 297/340, 297/15, 297/331, 297/335, 297/336, 297/334, 297/325, 297/326, 296/65.09, 296/65.05
• 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 2/0292 Multiple configuration seats, e.g. for spacious vehicles or mini-buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3031 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/309 rods

Abstract

In the case of a vehicle seat (1), in particular a motor vehicle seat, having a seat cushion (3), a backrest (5) and an articulated seat frame (9, 11, 21, 29, 31) with feet (11, 21) which are to be fastened releasably to the vehicle structure, it is possible for the vehicle seat (1) to be adjusted between at least one seat position, which is suitable for conveying a person, and a folded position. In order for the vehicle seat (1) to be transferred from the seat position into the folded position, after the feet (21) present in the region of the backrest (5) have been released, the backrest (5) executes a shifting movement in the direction of the seat cushion (3).

Claims

1. A vehicle seat for being fastened to a vehicle structure, comprising:

an articulated seat frame carrying a seat cushion and a backrest, wherein the seat frame is operative so that the vehicle seat can be transferred between at least one seat position and a folded position, with the seat cushion extending at least generally horizontally and the backrest extending at least generally upright from proximate a rear of the seat cushion during the seat position so that a user can sit on the vehicle seat, wherein the seat frame includes rear feet for being releasably fastened to the vehicle structure, wherein the rear feet are positioned closer to the rear of the seat cushion than to a front of the seat cushion while the vehicle seat is in the seat position, wherein the seat frame is operative so that in order for the backrest to be transferred from the seat position into the folded position, after the rear feet are unfastened from the vehicle structure, the backrest executes a forward shifting movement,

wherein the seat frame further includes front feet, which are positioned forward of the rear feet while the vehicle seat is in a seat position, and the seat cushion is pivotably connected to the front feet at a position that is proximate a front end of the seat cushion so that the seat cushion pivots about an axis that is proximate the front end of the seat cushion while the vehicle seat is transferred between the seat position and the folded position, and

wherein while the vehicle seat is in the folded position, simultaneously;

both the seat cushion and the backrest extend at least generally upright, and

the backrest is positioned rearward of the seat cushion.

2. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat frame is operative so that during the transfer from the seat position into the folded position, the pivoting movement of the seat cushion results in the seat cushion folding upward during the shifting movement of the backrest.

3. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 2, wherein surfaces of the seat cushion and the backrest, which face the user in the seat position, face in at least approximately in the same direction while the vehicle seat is in the folded position.

4. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein the seat frame includes coupling means for causing the shifting movement of the backrest and the pivoting movement of the seat cushion to occur at the same time.

5. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 4, wherein the coupling means have a slot and tenon guide.

6. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 5, wherein the coupling means has a plurality of couplers.

7. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 4, wherein the coupling means have a plurality of couplers.

8. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a pneumatic spring which at least assists the pivoting movement of the seat cushion.

9. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a pneumatic spring which at least assists the pivoting movement of the seat cushion.

10. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a locking element mounted to a first foot of the rear feet for releasably locking the first foot of the rear feet to a first foot of the front feet during the folded position, and thereby releasably locking the vehicle seat in the folded position.

11. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 10, wherein the locking element is further for releasably locking the first foot of the rear feet to the vehicle structure during the seat position, and thereby releasably locking the vehicle seat in the seat position.

12. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rear feet have fastening means for:

releasably fastening the rear feet to the vehicle structure during the seat position, and

releasably holding the vehicle seat in the folded position.

13. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein a single operating element is provided for triggering the transfer into the folded position and for triggering the return into the seat position.

14. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3, further comprising rails for being connected to the vehicle structure and for respectively receiving the front and rear feet, with each of the rails including a plurality of locations to which the feet can be respectively releasably locked so that the vehicle seat can be connected to the vehicle structure in various longitudinal seat positions.

15. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 14, wherein the vehicle seat is constructed so that the vehicle seat can be completely removed from the vehicle structure.

16. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein the seat frame is further operative so that the vehicle seat can be moved into a floor position by pivoting the backrest forward, into an at least generally horizontal configuration, wherein the seat frame is operative so that during the pivoting of the backrest into the at least generally horizontal position the seat cushion is lowered.

17. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 16, wherein the backrest is in opposing face-to-face relation with the seat cushion while the vehicle seat is in the floor position.

18. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein during the transfer from the seat position to the folded position, inclination of the backrest remains substantially unchanged.

19. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a locking catch mounted to a first foot of the rear feet for both:

releasably locking to a bolt to thereby releasably lock the first foot of the rear feet to the vehicle structure during the seat position, and thereby releasably locking the vehicle seat in the seat position, and

releasably locking the first foot of the rear feet to a bolt of a first foot of the front feet during the folded position, and thereby releasably locking the vehicle seat in the folded position.

20. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the seat frame is operative so that;

the pivoting movement of the seat cushion results in the seat cushion folding upward while the vehicle seat is transferred from the seat position to the folded position,

the backrest shifts toward the seat cushion during the shifting movement of the backrest, and

the shifting movement of the backrest and the pivoting movement of the seat cushion occur at the same time while the vehicle seat is transferred from the seat position to the folded position;

the front feet remain fixed with respect to the vehicle structure while the vehicle seat is transferred from the seat position to the folded position;

the rear feet are proximate the front feet while the vehicle seat is in the folded position;

surfaces of the seat cushion and the backrest, which face the user in the seat position, face in at least approximately in the same direction while the vehicle seat is in the folded position; and

while the vehicle seat is in the folded position;

a highest portion of the seat cushion is at an upper elevation,

a lowest portion of the seat cushion is at a lower elevation, and

a lowest portion of the backrest, which is where the rear feet are attached to the backrest, is closer to the lower elevation than to the upper elevation.

21. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20, wherein the rear feet have fastening means for:

releasably fastening the rear feet to the vehicle structure during the seat position, and releasably holding the vehicle seat in the folded position.

22. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a locking element mounted to a first foot of the rear feet for releasably locking the first foot of the rear feet to a first foot of the front feet during the folded position, and thereby releasably locking the vehicle seat in the folded position.

23. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 22, wherein the locking element is further for releasably locking the first foot of the rear feet to the vehicle structure during the seat position, and thereby releasably locking the vehicle seat in the seat position.

24. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20, wherein during the transfer from the seat position to the folded position, inclination of the backrest remains substantially unchanged.

25. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20, wherein the rear feet have fastening means for:

releasably fastening the rear feet to the vehicle structure, and

releasably securing the vehicle seat in the folded position.

26. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20, wherein the seat cushion is carried by a cushion carrier that is directly pivotably connected to the front feet at the position that is proximate the front end of the seat cushion so that the seat cushion pivots with the cushion carrier about the axis that is proximate the front end of the seat cushion while the vehicle seat is transferred between the seat position and the folded position.

27. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20, wherein the seat cushion is supported by four-bar linkages.

28. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 27, wherein the seat frame is further operative so that the vehicle seat can be moved into a floor position by pivoting the backrest forward, into an at least generally horizontal configuration, wherein the seat frame is operative so that during the pivoting of the backrest into the at least generally horizontal position the seat cushion is lowered.

29. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20, wherein the seat frame includes coupling means for causing the shifting movement of the backrest and the pivoting movement of the seat cushion to occur at the same time, and the coupling means includes a first coupler between one of the front feet and one of the rear feet, for supporting the shifting of the backrest.

30. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 29, wherein the coupling means further includes a second coupler between the seat cushion and the rear foot or the backrest for forcing the seat cushion to fold upward while the backrest shifts forward.

31. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 29, wherein the coupling means have a slot and tenon guide.

32. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

the rear feet are releasably locked to the front feet in the folded position by way of at least one locking element, which is mounted to a first foot of the rear feet, being releasably locked to a locking element mounted to a first foot of the front feet,

the locking element mounted to the first foot of the rear feet is either a catch or a bolt, and

the locking element mounted to the first foot of the front feet is either;

a catch that is releasably latched onto the bolt during the folded position, or

a bolt onto which the catch of the first foot of the rear feet is releasably latched during the folded position.

33. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20, wherein a single operating element is provided for triggering the transfer into the folded position and for triggering the return into the seat position.

34. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20, further comprising rails for being connected to the vehicle structure and for respectively receiving the front and rear feet, with each of the rails including a plurality of locations to which the feet can be respectively releasably locked so that the vehicle seat can be connected to the vehicle structure in various longitudinal seat positions.

35. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20, wherein the vehicle seat is constructed so that the vehicle seat can be completely removed from the vehicle structure.

36. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a locking catch mounted to a first foot of the rear feet for both:

releasably locking to a bolt to thereby releasably lock the first foot of the rear feet to the vehicle structure during the seat position, and thereby releasably locking the vehicle seat in the seat position, and

releasably locking the first foot of the rear feet to a bolt of a first foot of the front feet during the folded position, and thereby releasably locking the vehicle seat in the folded position.