Seat assembly for vehicle

• US 7,328,939 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Hoshihara, Naoaki, Moriyama, Genta
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARRETT, ERIKA P
• Application Number:
  US10/739,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20050035621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 297/331, 297/334, 297/335, 297/15, 297/378.1, 297/362.11, 297/378.12, 297/344.1, 297/330, 296/66, 296/65.09, 296/65.01
• US Class Current: 297/15
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3075 stowed in recess B60N2/3079 takes precedence

Abstract

A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seatback, a seat cushion, a link mechanism for supporting the seat cushion, and a drive unit for driving the link mechanism and moving the seat cushion between a seating position and a stowed position. When the seat cushion is moved between the seating position and the stowed position, the seat cushion and the seatback keep a constant posture by an operation of the link mechanism and the drive unit.

Claims

1. A seat assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a seatback;

a seat cushion;

a four-link mechanism for supporting the seat cushion;

a drive unit for driving the four-link mechanism and moving the seat cushion between a seating position and a stowed position;

wherein when the seat cushion is moved between the seating position and the stowed position, support of the seat cushion is maintained by operation of the four-link mechanism and the drive unit; and

a control unit for operating the drive unit, wherein the drive unit includes a first drive unit for moving the seat cushion into the stowed position and a second drive unit for moving the seatback, and the first drive unit and the second drive unit are electrically connected to said control unit and operate in association with each other for simultaneously operating the seat cushion and the seatback.

2. A seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first drive unit is attached to one of cushion side frames forming the seat cushion and the second drive unit is attached to one of backside frames forming the seatback.

3. A seat assembly according to claim 2, wherein the four-link mechanism includes a first pair of links rotatably connected to the respective cushion side frames via a first rotational shaft and to a vehicle floor via a second rotational shaft, and a second pair of links rotatably connected to the respective cushion side frames via a third rotational shaft and to the vehicle floor via a fourth rotational shaft.

4. A seat assembly according to claim 3, wherein the first pair of links are connected with each other via the first rotational shaft.

5. A seat assembly according to claim 4, wherein the first drive unit includes a first motor and a first deceleration mechanism and the second drive unit includes a second motor and a second deceleration mechanism.

6. A seat assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first drive unit further includes a pinion which is rotated by the first motor and the first deceleration mechanism and which engages with a gear fixed to the first rotational shaft.

7. A seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seatback is positioned on top of the seat cushion when the seat cushion is in the stowed position.

8. A seat assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a seatback;

a seat cushion;

a link mechanism supporting the seat cushion; and

a motor-operated drive unit for driving the link mechanism and moving the seat cushion between a seating position and a stowed position, wherein when the seat cushion is moved between the seating position and the stowed position, support of the seat cushion is maintained by operation of the link mechanism and the drive unit; and

a control unit for operating the motor-operated drive unit, wherein the drive unit includes a first drive unit for moving the seat cushion into the stowed position and a second drive unit for moving the seatback, and the first drive unit and the second drive unit operate in association with each other for simultaneously operating the seat cushion and the seatback.

9. A seat assembly according to claim 8, wherein the first drive unit is attached to one of plural cushion side frames forming the seat cushion and the second drive unit is attached to one of plural backside frames forming the seatback.

10. A seat assembly according to claim 9, wherein the link mechanism is a four-link mechanism and includes a first pair of links rotatably connected to the respective cushion side frames via a first rotational shaft and to a vehicle floor via a second rotational shaft, and a second pair of links rotatably connected to the respective cushion side frames via a third rotational shaft and to the vehicle floor via a fourth rotational shaft.

11. A seat assembly according to claim 10, wherein the first pair of links are connected with each other via the first rotational shaft.

12. A seat assembly according to claim 11, wherein the first drive unit includes a first motor and a first deceleration mechanism and the second drive unit includes a second motor and a second deceleration mechanism.

13. A seat assembly according to claim 12, wherein the first drive unit further includes a pinion which is rotated by the first motor and the first deceleration mechanism and which engages with a gear fixed to the first rotational shaft.

14. A seat assembly according to claim 8, wherein the seatback is positioned on top of the seat cushion when the seat cushion is in the stowed position.

15. A seat assembly, for a vehicle comprising:

a seatback;

a seat cushion;

a link mechanism supporting the seat cushion; and

a motor-operated drive unit for driving the link mechanism and moving the seat cushion between a seating position and a stowed position, wherein when the seat cushion is moved between the seating position and the stowed position, support of the seat cushion is maintained by operation of the link mechanism and the drive unit; and

wherein the link mechanism is a four-link mechanism and includes a first link mechanism for moving the seat cushion and a second link mechanism for simultaneously moving the first link mechanism and the seatback;

wherein the first link mechanism includes a first pair of links rotatably connected to the seat cushion via a first rotational shaft and to a vehicle floor via a second rotational shaft, and a second pair of links rotatably connected to the seat cushion via a third rotational shaft and to the vehicle floor via a fourth rotational shaft.

16. A seat assembly according to claim 15, wherein the second link mechanism connects the seatback and the second pair of links.

17. A seat assembly according to claim 15, wherein the seatback is positioned on top of the seat cushion when the seat cushion is in the stowed position.