Vehicle seat structure, and a vehicle provided with a seat having such a structure

• US 7,243,992 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2004
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Faurecia Sieges D'Automobile (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Faurecia Sieges D'Automobile (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Canteleux, Joe, Da Costa, Augusto
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US11/010,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.1, 297/344.15, 297/344.1, 297/325
• US Class Current: 297/216.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1615 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1675 with weight compensating means
• 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: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

The structure of the seat proper of a vehicle seat comprises:

• • a frame for a seat proper, the frame including a side cheek plate; and
  • a coupling system comprising a link mounted to pivot on a base to enable the seat proper to move at least vertically relative to said base.

The coupling system has a first latch surface.

The seat structure further comprises an anchoring element provided with a second latch surface.

The anchoring element is mounted to move on the cheek plate between a locked position and an unlocked position.

Claims

1. A system comprising a seat belt and a structure for a motor vehicle seat proper, the structure comprising:

a rigid frame for said seat proper, the frame extending between a front portion and a rear portion, the frame including a side cheek plate extending from said rear portion of the rigid frame to said front portion of the rigid frame; and

a coupling system comprising a link having a bottom portion mounted to pivot on a base and a top portion mounted to pivot relative to the rear portion of said rigid frame about a first pivot axis so that said bottom portion of the link pivoting relative to said base in a third direction causes said rear portion of the rigid frame to move at least vertically upward relative to said base;

said coupling system having an axial connection member secured to said top portion of the link, and mounted to pivot relative to said cheek plate; and

a ring constrained to rotate with the axial connection member and having a first latch surface, so that said first latch surface is constrained to rotate with the link;

said seat structure further comprising an anchoring element provided with a second latch surface and to which said seatbelt is directly secured;

and wherein the anchoring element is mounted to pivot on said rigid frame about a second pivot axis distinct from the first axis, said anchoring element being adapted so that traction exerted by said seatbelt on the anchoring element along a seatbelt traction axis causes the anchoring element to pivot about the second axis in a second direction, from an unlocked position in which the second latch surface of said anchoring element is held at some distance away from the first latch surface of the coupling system by return means exerting forces in a first direction of rotation opposite to the second direction of rotation, and secondly to a locked position in which the second latch surface co-operates with the first latch surface to prevent the bottom portion of the link from pivoting in said third direction relative to said base.

2. A system according to claim 1, in which system said axial connection member passes through an opening provided at least in part in said cheek plate, in which system said cheek plate has an inside face and an outside face facing in the opposite direction to the direction in which said inside face faces, said anchoring element being mounted on said outside face of the cheek plate, and in which system said link is disposed facing said inside face of the cheek plate.

3. A system according to claim 1, in which system said axial connection member passes through an opening provided at least in part in said cheek plate, in which system said cheek plate has an inside face and an outside face facing in the opposite direction to the direction in which said inside face faces, said anchoring element being mounted on said outside face of the cheek plate, and in which system said link is disposed facing said outside face of the cheek plate.

4. A system according to claim 3, in which, on either side of the first latch surface, said ring is further provided with a first bearing piece having a contact surface mounted facing said link and with a second bearing piece having a contact surface mounted facing said cheek plate.

5. A system according to claim 1, in which said structure further comprises a second side cheek plate parallel to the first side cheek plate, and a second link, parallel to the first link, and having a bottom portion mounted to pivot on a base and a top portion mounted to pivot relative to the rear portion of said second cheek plate, said axial connection member being secured to said top portion of the second link and mounted to pivot relative to said second cheek plate;

so that said bottom portions of said links pivoting together relative to said base causes said rear portion of the seat frame to move at least vertically upward relative to said base.

6. A system according to claim 1, in which said first latch surface is provided with teeth, and in which said second latch surface is provided with teeth complementary to the teeth of said first latch surface.

7. A system according to claim 1, in which the frame includes a side cheek plate extending from said rear portion of the rigid frame to said front portion of the rigid frame and in which said anchoring element is mounted to pivot relative to said cheek plate.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said structure further comprises at least one runner comprising:

a stationary rail serving to be secured to a vehicle floor; and

a moving rail including at least a portion forming said base.