Adjustable vehicle seat

• US 7,753,429 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2008
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Villeminey, Jean-Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan; Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Westbrook; SunSurraye
• Application Number:
  US12/051,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20090236880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 297/188.1, 297/34, 297/188.04, 297/188.06, 297/15, 297/340, 297/344.1, 297/378.1, 296/37.15, 296/37.8, 296/37.16, 296/64, 296/65.13, 296/65.16, 296/67, 296/65.05, 224/275
• US Class Current: 296/65.16
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2209 by longitudinal displacement of the cushion, e.g. back-rest hinged on the bottom to the cushion and linked on the top to the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3031 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/043 mounted on or under a seat

Abstract

A seat assembly is provided for use in a vehicle interior, and includes a frame and lower and upper bracket assemblies. The lower bracket assembly is connected to a lower portion of the frame, and selectively moves the frame in a longitudinal direction with respect to the vehicle interior. The upper bracket assembly is connected to an upper portion of the frame, and has a slot which receives a selector pin for selectively pivoting the upper portion of the frame with respect to the lower portion of the frame. A moveable linkage is connected to the upper bracket assembly and moves the selector pin for adjusting between different passenger seating positions. An adjustment mechanism includes a lever for moving the moveable linkage via a cable. The seat assembly can include a deployable storage bin positioned between the bulkhead and a seat surface.

Claims

1. A seat assembly having a back cushion and a seat cushion for use in a vehicle interior having a bulkhead, the seat assembly being positioned immediately adjacent to the bulkhead and comprising:

an L-shaped frame having an upper portion supporting the back cushion and a lower portion supporting the seat cushion;

a lower bracket assembly connected to the lower portion of the frame, and configured for selectively moving the frame in a longitudinal direction with respect to the vehicle interior;

an upper bracket assembly connected to the upper portion of the frame and rigidly connected to the bulkhead, and configured for selectively rotating the upper portion of the frame with respect to the lower portion of the frame, the upper bracket assembly defining a slot;

a selector pin selectively moveable within the slot;

an adjustment mechanism having a handle; and

a moveable linkage operably connected to the selector pin and to the handle, the moveable linkage being adapted for moving the selector pin in response to a movement of the handle to thereby adjust the frame between a plurality of different passenger seating positions.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the slot has a plurality of fixed stop positions each corresponding to different ones of the plurality of different passenger seating positions.

3. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower bracket assembly includes a fixed bottom portion that is rigidly attached to a floor of the vehicle interior, and a moveable top portion connected to the lower portion of the frame, the moveable top portion being slidingly connected to the fixed bottom portion.

4. The seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising a deployable storage bin;

wherein the deployable storage bin is connected to the frame, and is accessible only when the frame is moved to a first one of the plurality of different passenger seating positions.

5. The seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the handle is operatively connected to a cable, and wherein a force exerted on the handle moves the cable, thereby moving the moveable linkage.

6. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the slot has a first, a second, and a third fixed position, and wherein a movement of the moveable linkage in one direction retracts the selector pin from one of the fixed positions, and wherein a movement of the moveable linkage in another direction extends the selector pin into one of the fixed positions.

7. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower bracket assembly is configured to allow the frame to move approximately 80 to 90 millimeters in the longitudinal direction.

8. A vehicle interior comprising:

a bulkhead;

a rear row of seats positioned immediately adjacent to the bulkhead;

an L-shaped frame having an upper portion for supporting a back cushion and a lower portion for supporting a seat cushion;

a pair of lower bracket assemblies each configured for selectively positioning the L-shaped frame in a longitudinal direction with respect to the vehicle interior;

a pair of conjoined upper bracket assemblies operatively connected to the upper portion of the L-shaped frame, and configured for selectively pivoting the upper portion with respect to the lower portion, wherein at least one of the pair of conjoined upper brackets is fastened to the bulkhead and defines a slot;

an adjustment handle;

a selector pin which is selectively moveable within the slot; and

a moveable linkage operatively connected to the selector pin and to the adjustment lever;

wherein a force exerted on the adjustment handle moves the linkage and the selector pin to enable the selector pin to move within the slot, thereby allowing an adjustment of the L-shaped frame between at least three different fixed seating positions and a stowed position.

9. The vehicle interior of claim 8, wherein the slot has three fixed stop positions each corresponding to a different one of the at least three different fixed seating positions.

10. The vehicle interior of claim 8, wherein each of the pair of lower bracket assemblies includes a moveable top portion and a fixed bottom portion, the moveable top portion being selectively moveable a predetermined maximum distance with respect to the fixed bottom portion for the adjustment of the L-shaped frame.

11. The vehicle interior of claim 10, wherein the predetermined maximum distance is approximately 80 to 90 millimeters.

12. The vehicle interior of claim 8, including a deployable storage bin positioned between and connected to each of the bulkhead and a surface of the rear row of seats.

13. An adjustable seat assembly for a vehicle interior comprising:

a frame having a first portion and a second portion;

a first bracket having a generally V-shaped slot providing a first, a second, and a third fixed seating position, the first bracket being rigidly connected to the first portion of the frame and a stationary surface of the vehicle interior;

a second bracket having a moveable top portion and a fixed bottom portion, the moveable top portion being slidably movable along the fixed bottom portion to provide the frame with a predetermined amount of forward travel; and

a retractable selector pin that is slidably moveable within the slot of the first bracket as the first portion of the frame pivots with respect to the second portion of the frame;

wherein pivoting of the first portion of the frame between a first seating position and a second seating position moves the moveable top portion of the second bracket with respect to the fixed bottom portion.

14. The adjustable seat of claim 13, wherein the adjustable seat assembly is configured as a 60-40 seat.

15. The adjustable seat of claim 13, wherein the first fixed seating position establishes a substantially vertical first frame portion without the predetermined amount of forward travel, the second fixed seating position establishes a reclined first frame portion with the predetermined amount of forward travel, and the third fixed seating position establishes a substantially vertical first frame portion with the predetermined amount of forward travel.

16. The adjustable seat of claim 15, including a deployable storage bin, wherein the third fixed position provides access to the deployable storage bin.