Seat adjustment apparatus of vehicle

• US 7,861,994 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Kojima, Yasuhiro, Yamada, Yukifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood; Kimberly T
• Application Number:
  US12/066,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20090261224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 248/415, 248/421, 248/429, 248/424, 297/344.15, 297/344.13, 297/344.12
• US Class Current: 248/421
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1615 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/165 Gear wheel driven mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/167 Ratchet mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1675 with weight compensating means

Abstract

A seat adjustment apparatus of a vehicle that prevents a torque rod from falling off. A torque rod is rotatably supported by through holes, which are provided in a left base frame. The torque rod pivots with respect to base frames through pivoting of rear lifter links. A metal hook member is secured to the torque rod. The metal hook member includes a first engagement portion, second engagement portions, and a third engagement portion. The first engagement portion is passed through the torque rod and engaged with a torsion bar. The second engagement portions are engaged with the torque rod. The third engagement portion is provided at a position radially outward from the second engagement portions and engaged with the left base frame. The torsion bar is fixed to the torque rod through the metal hook member.

Claims

1. A seat adjustment apparatus of a vehicle, comprising:

two pairs of lifter links that extend along a direction of a width of a seat cushion and are spaced at a predetermined interval in a forward-rearward direction, the lifter links supporting the seat cushion and operating to selectively raise and lower the seat cushion;

a cylindrical torque rod that extends along the direction of the width of the seat cushion, the torque rod being rotatably supported by a rotation support provided in one of the seat cushion and a base member arranged below the seat cushion, the torque rod interlocking the lifter links in one pair of the two pairs of the lifter links with each other;

a torsion bar that is passed through the torque rod and includes a first end and a second end, the first end being fixed to one of the seat cushion and the base member, the torsion bar urging the lifter link corresponding to the second end in a direction in which the seat cushion is raised; and

a coupling member including a first engagement portion passed through the torque rod and engaged with the torsion bar, a second engagement portion received in a slit groove extending from an end surface of the torque rod and engaged with the torque rod, and a third engagement portion arranged at a position radially outward from the second engagement portion and engaged with the rotation support.

2. The seat adjustment apparatus of the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the torsion bar is formed substantially in a U shape, the first engagement portion being arranged inside the second end.

3. The seat adjustment apparatus of the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the slit groove of the torque rod is formed in such a manner as to become engaged with the coupling member.

4. The seat adjustment apparatus of the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the slit groove of the torque rod is shaped in such a manner as to become spaced from an end surface of the torque rod along an urging direction of the torsion bar.

5. The seat adjustment apparatus of the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the third engagement portion of the coupling member is formed in an arcuate shape along an outer circumferential surface of the torque rod.

6. The seat adjustment apparatus of the vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the slit groove of the torque rod is formed in such a manner as to become engaged with the coupling member.

7. The seat adjustment apparatus of the vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the slit groove of the torque rod is shaped in such a manner as to become spaced from an end surface of the torque rod along an urging direction of the torsion bar.

8. The seat adjustment apparatus of the vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the third engagement portion of the coupling member is formed in an arcuate shape along an outer circumferential surface of the torque rod.