Automotive seat with a backrest whose position can be electrically adjusted

• US 7,192,089 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH (Adient plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH (Adient plc)
• Inventors: Boudinot, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr.; Milton
• Application Number:
  US10/506,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20050168035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 297/378.1, 297/362.11, 297/217.3, 296/65.16, 296/65.17
• US Class Current: 297/362.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/20 the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/04, B60N2/22 , B60N2/3002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3013 the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/36 into a loading platform B60N2/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/35 Seat, bench or back-rests being split laterally in two or more parts

Abstract

In the case of a vehicle seat (1), in particular rear seat or rear seat bench, having a seat part (2) and having a backrest (3) which has a foldover function brought about with an electric drive, the foldover function bringing about a folding over of the backrest (3) or of a backrest part (4, 5) relative to the seat part (2), an adjustment of the inclination and the folding over are to take place in a simple and convenient manner. This is achieved by the electric drive (6) having an inclination-adjusting function, it being possible for the adjusting speed of the electric drive (6) to be changed in such a manner that a different speed can be set in each case for the inclination-adjusting function and for the foldover function.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle seat comprising:

a seat part (2);

a backrest (3) and

an electric drive (6) coupled to the seat part (2) and backrest (3), wherein the backrest (3) is moved relative to the seat part (2) in one of a fold-over function and an inclination-adjusting function by adjusting the speed of the electric drive (6) in such a manner that a different speed can be set in each case for one of the inclination-adjusting function and for the fold-over function,

wherein the electric drive (6) has one of an electronic torque limitation and a mechanical torque limitation.

2. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electric drive (6) has two adjusting speeds, a higher speed being provided for the foldover function and a lower speed being provided for that of the inclination-adjusting function.

3. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the foldover function and the inclination-adjusting function each have a dedicated adjusting characteristic.

4. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electric drive (6) has an electric motor (9) which is common to all of the adjusting functions.

5. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electric drive (6) is a combination of a motor and transmission.

6. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inclination of the backrest (3) can be changed in the inclination-adjusting function by the electric drive (6) in a stepwise manner.

7. The motor vehicle seat of claim 6, wherein the electric drive (6) is an electric stepping motor.

8. The motor vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the backrest (3) includes a first backrest part (4) and a second, smaller backrest part (5).

9. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 8 wherein one of the backrest (3) and backrest parts (4, 5) is folded over by wireless remote control.

10. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 8 wherein the electric drive (6) is positioned proximate of one end (8) of an axis of rotation (7) and is integrated in one of the backrest (3) and the backrest part (4, 5).

11. A motor vehicle seat comprising:

a seat part (2), wherein the seat part (2) has at least one seat occupation sensor (13);

a backrest (3) and

an electric drive (6) coupled to the seat part (2) and backrest (3), wherein the backrest (3) is moved relative to the seat part (2) in one of a fold-over function and an inclination-adjusting function by adjusting the speed of the electric drive (6) in such a manner that a different speed can be set in each case for one of the inclination-adjusting function and for the fold-over function;

wherein the seat occupation sensor (13) is functionally connected to the electric drive (6) in such a manner that, when the seat is occupied, the foldover function is blocked while the inclination-adjusting function is not blocked.

12. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11 wherein the electric drive (6) has two adjusting speeds, a higher speed being provided for the foldover function and a lower speed being provided for that of the inclination-adjusting function.

13. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11 wherein the foldover function and the inclination-adjusting function each have a dedicated adjusting characteristic.

14. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11 wherein the electric drive (6) has an electric motor (9) which is common to all of the adjusting functions.

15. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11 wherein the electric drive (6) is a combination of a motor and transmission.

16. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11 wherein the inclination of the backrest (3) can be changed in the inclination-adjusting function by the electric drive (6) in a stepwise manner.

17. The motor vehicle seat of claim 16, wherein the electric drive (6) is an electric stepping motor.

18. The motor vehicle seat of claim 11 wherein the backrest (3) includes a first backrest part (4) and a second, smaller backrest part (5).

19. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 18 wherein one of the backrest (3) and backrest parts (4, 5) is folded over by wireless remote control.

20. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 18 wherein the electric drive (6) is positioned proximate of one end (8) of an axis of rotation (7) and is integrated in one of the backrest (3) and the backrest part (4, 5).

21. A motor vehicle seat comprising:

a seat part (2);

a backrest (3) and

an electric drive (6) coupled to the seat part (2) and backrest (3), wherein the backrest (3) is moved relative to the seat part (2) in one of a fold-over function and an inclination-adjusting function by adjusting the speed of the electric drive (6) in such a manner that a different speed can be set in each case for one of the inclination-adjusting function and for the fold-over function;

wherein, in the foldover function, the electric drive (6) can be actuated from the seat and a dashboard—

by a first operating switch (11), and can be actuated from a second location by a second operating switch (12) and, in the inclination-adjusting function, can be actuated from the seat.

22. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 21 wherein the electric drive (6) has two adjusting speeds, a higher speed being provided for the foldover function and a lower speed being provided for that of the inclination-adjusting function.

23. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 21 wherein the foldover function and the inclination-adjusting function each have a dedicated adjusting characteristic.

24. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 21 wherein the electric drive (6) has an electric motor (9) which is common to all of the adjusting functions.

25. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 21 wherein the electric drive (6) is a combination of a motor and transmission.

26. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 21 wherein the inclination of the backrest (3) can be changed in the inclination-adjusting function by the electric drive (6) in a stepwise manner.

27. The motor vehicle seat of claim 26, wherein the electric drive (6) is an electric stepping motor.

28. The motor vehicle seat of claim 21 wherein the backrest (3) includes a first backrest part (4) and a second, smaller backrest part (5).

29. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 28 wherein one of the backrest (3) and backrest parts (4, 5) is folded over by wireless remote control.

30. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 28 wherein the electric drive (6) is positioned proximate of one end (8) of an axis of rotation (7) and is integrated in one of the backrest (3) and the backrest part (4, 5).