×

Seat height adjustment mechanism

  • US 7,517,020 B2
  • Filed: 06/12/2007
  • Issued: 04/14/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A height adjustment mechanism provided in a vehicle seat including a seat cushion frame and a base member, wherein said seat cushion frame has a forward region facing forwardly of said vehicle seat and a rear region facing rearwardly of the vehicle seat, and said base member also has a forward region facing forwardly of said vehicle seat and a rear region facing rearwardly of the vehicle seat,said height adjustment mechanism comprising:

  • a forward link element pivotally connected between said forward region of said seat cushion frame and said forward region of said base member;

    a backward link element pivotally connected between said rear region of said seat cushion frame and said rear region of said base member;

    a ratchet-type drive means operatively connected with said rear link element and operable to cause vertical rotation of said rear link element towards and away from said base member, said ratchet-type drive means including an operating lever normally set at a neutral operative position, said operating lever being movable in one of a first direction and a second direction relative to said neutral inoperative position to thereby cause said vertical rotation of said rear link element;

    said ratchet-type drive means being of a type having an inoperative stroke custom characterS) in one stroke of said operating level in said one of said first and second directions, and, during said inoperative stroke custom characterS), movement of said operating lever in either of said first and second directions is inoperative to said ratchet-type drive means; and

    a locking mechanism including;

    a gear element fixed to said backward link element;

    a latch element rotatably connected with said base member;

    an actuator link rotatably connected with said base member;

    said actuator link having an operative connection with said latch element, and also having an operative connection with said operating level via a transmission element; and

    a biasing means for biasing said latch element to meshed engagement with said gear element, thereby normally locking and retaining said backward link element against rotation,with such an arrangement that, when the operating lever is moved in said one of said first and second directions during said inoperative stroke custom characterS), a corresponding force of said operating lever is transmitted by said transmission element to said actuator link which is in turn rotated to cause simultaneous rotation of said latch element, so that said latch element is disengaged from said gear element during said inoperative stroke custom characterS), thereby placing said rear link member in unlocked state.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×