Vertical movement apparatus for vehicle seat

• US 6,843,460 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Uryu, Naoyuki, Koga, Yoshitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): BAXTER, GWENDOLYN WRENN
• Application Number:
  US10/388,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20030173487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 296/68.1, 296/65.02, 296/65.05, 296/65.07, 296/68, 297/344.16, 297/344.12, 297/344.15, 297/344.13, 297/344.17, 248/421, 248/429, 248/393, 248/394, 248/395, 248/396, 248/398, 248/422, 248/419
• US Class Current: 248/421
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/067 by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1615 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/164 Linear actuator, e.g. screw mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1685 characterised by a lock
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/43 Safety locks for back-rests B60N2/433
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/929 linear
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

A vertical movement apparatus for a vehicle seat includes a seat bracket supported on a seat member, a floor bracket adapted to be supported on a floor member, a link supported by the floor bracket to move the seat bracket in the vertical direction of the seat member, a driving member operatively connected to the link to drive the link and move the seat bracket in the vertical direction, and a link control mechanism. The link control mechanism includes an elongated hole located in either the seat bracket or the floor bracket, a pin operatively engaged with the other of the floor bracket or the seat bracket and slidably disposed within the elongated hole, and a depression portion located on the inside surface of the elongated hole to prevent the pin from sliding within the elongated hole.

Claims

1. A vertical movement apparatus for a vehicle seat comprising:

a seat bracket supported on a seat member;

a floor bracket adapted to be supported by a floor member;

a link supported by the floor bracket to move the seat bracket in a vertical direction;

a driving member operatively connected to the link for driving the link to move the seat bracket in the vertical direction;

a connecting link located between the driving member and the link to transmit a driving force from the driving member to the link; and

a pin fixed on the connecting link and a slit formed in the seat bracket, the slit being provided with a depression portion and the pin being positioned in the slit and engageable with the depression portion.

2. The vertical movement apparatus for the vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the depression portion is defined by a plurality of spaced apart concavities.

3. The vertical movement apparatus for the vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the driving member includes a rod connected to the connecting link at a connection point which allows the rod and the connecting link to be positioned out of axial alignment with one another.

4. The vertical movement apparatus for the vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the link is provided with a connecting portion connected with the connecting link so as to apply a compression force to the connecting link when a load is applied to the seat bracket via a seat belt.

5. A vertical movement apparatus for a vehicle seat comprising:

a seat bracket supported on a seat member;

an elongated through hole provided in the seat bracket;

a floor bracket adapted to be supported by a floor member;

a link supported by the floor bracket and connected to the seat bracket to permit movement of the seat bracket and allow height adjustment of the seat member;

a motor;

an elongated member operatively extending between the motor and the link so that operation of the motor moves the link in a manner which moves the seat bracket to effect the height adjustment of the seat member;

a part extending from the elongated member positioned in the elongated through hole of the seat bracket and movable along the elongated through hole; and

a depression portion provided along at least a portion of the elongated through hole for receiving the part extending from the elongated member when the seat bracket receives a load.

6. The vertical movement apparatus for the vehicle seat according to claim 5, wherein the depression portion is comprised of a plurality of spaced apart concavities.

7. The vertical movement apparatus for the vehicle seat according to claim 5, wherein the elongated member includes a rod connected to a connecting link.

8. The vertical movement apparatus for the vehicle seat according to claim 7, wherein the rod is connected to the connecting link at a pin which allows the connecting link and the rod to be positioned out of alignment with one another.

9. The vertical movement apparatus for the vehicle seat according to claim 5, wherein the part extending from the elongated member that is received in the elongated through hole is a pin.

10. The vertical movement apparatus for the vehicle seat according to claim 5, wherein the link is a rear link connected to a rear portion of the seat bracket, and including a front bracket connected to a front portion of the seat bracket.