Seat apparatus for vehicles

• US 7,404,584 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Yoshiyuki, Maruyama, Kazuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder; Dennis H
• Application Number:
  US11/472,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20060290186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 296/65.05, 296/65.08, 296 6513- 6515, 296/65.18, 297/344.1, 297/344.12, 297/344.13, 297/344.14, 701/49
• US Class Current: 296/65.08
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/067 by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/161 Rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/162 Scissors-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/163 Slides only
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/164 Linear actuator, e.g. screw mechanism

Abstract

Disclosed is a seat apparatus for a vehicle, which has the functions of supporting a seat main body being placed on a floor and behind pedals in the vehicle in such a way that the seat main body is movable forward, backward, upward and downward and that the seat main body is made higher in height as it moves forward, and adjusting a position of the seat main body forward, backward, upward and downward in a predetermined adjusting orbit, so that the position fits different builds of drivers. Furthermore, the adjusting orbit is determined based on hip points of the drivers, and the hip points are set on the condition that a viewpoint and heels of the drivers are fixed.

Claims

1. A seat apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a support portion configured to support a seat main body being placed on a floor and behind pedals in the vehicle in such a way that the seat main body is movable forward, backward, upward and downward and that the seat main body is made higher in height as the seat main body moves forward; and

an adjustment portion configured to adjust adjusting a position of the seat main body forward, backward, upward and downward in a predetermined adjusting orbit having a curved shape, while maintaining an angular orientation of the seat main body so that the position fits different builds of drivers,

wherein the adjusting orbit is determined based on hip points of the drivers, and the hip points are set on the condition that a viewpoint and heels of the drivers are fixed.

2. The seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support portion comprises

a link unit configured to support the seat main body parallel to the floor in such a way that the seat main body is movable upward and downward, and

a seat slide unit configured to support the seat main body through the link unit in such a way that the seat main body is movable forward and backward;

and

wherein the adjustment portion comprises a guide unit configured to move the seat main body in the adjusting orbit by varying a height of the link unit in response to the movement of the seat slide unit.

3. The seat apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the guide unit comprises at least one aperture being formed to have a shape of the adjusting orbit, and

wherein the link unit comprises at least one guide member engaging with the at least one aperture and sliding within the at least one aperture.

4. The seat apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the seat slide unit comprises a vehicle body fixture unit and a movable unit, the vehicle body fixture unit being secured to the floor, the movable unit being slidably attached to the vehicle body fixture unit.

5. The seat apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the vehicle body fixture unit comprises a pair of lower rails, and the movable unit comprises a pair of upper rails.

6. The seat apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the seat slide unit further comprises a motor, a power source and a switch, and the seat slide unit is configured to move the seat main body by the motor in response to an operation of the switch.

7. A vehicle, comprising:

a floor; and

a seat comprising a support portion configured to support a seat main body being placed on the floor and behind pedals in the vehicle in such a way that the seat main body is movable forward, backward, upward and downward and that the seat main body is made higher in height as the seat main body moves forward; and

an adjustment portion configured to

adjust a position of the seal main body forward, backward, upward and downward in a predetermined adjusting orbit having a curved shape, while maintaining an angular orientation of the seat main body so that the position fits different builds of drivers,

wherein the adjusting orbit is determined based on hip points of the drivers, and the hip points are set on the condition that a viewpoint and heels of the drivers are fixed.

8. A vehicle, comprising:

a seat configured to

support a seat main body being placed on a floor and behind pedals in the vehicle in such a way that the seat main body is movable forward, backward, upward and downward and that the seat main body is made higher in height as the seat main body moves forward; and

adjust a position of the seat main body forward, backward, upward and downward in a predetermined adjusting orbit having a curved shape, so that the position fits different builds of drivers;

wherein the adjusting orbit is determined based on hip points of the drivers, and the hip points are set on the condition that a viewpoint and heels of the drivers are fixed,

the seat comprising

a link unit configured to support the seat main body parallel to the floor in such a way that the seat main body is movable upward and downward,

a seat slide unit configured to support the seat main body through the link unit in such a way that the seat main body is movable forward and backward, and

a guide unit configured to move the seat main body in the adjusting orbit by varying a height of the link unit in response to the movement of the seat slide unit.