Vehicle seat with a seat tilt adjustment

• US 7,922,230 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2009
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Bokelmann, Tobias, Wieclawski, Stanislaw Andrzej
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder; Dennis H
• Application Number:
  US12/396,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20090224585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 296/65.09, 297/338, 297/339
• US Class Current: 296/65.09
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1839 pivoting about an axis located in an intermediate position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1857 Eccentric mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3013 the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/36 into a loading platform B60N2/065 takes precedence

Abstract

A foldable vehicle seat assembly includes a pivotable seat back that is can be positioned into an upright position and a folded position. The pivotable seat back may optional also be able to be positioned in one or more additional positions thereby allowing a reclining or forward positioning of the seat back. The seat bottom cushion subassembly is positioned over the seat bottom reinforcement member. The pivotable seat bottom reinforcement member provides structural support to a forward section of seat bottom cushion subassembly when this section is raised during seat repositioning.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a pivotable seat back positionable into an upright position and folded position;

a pivotable seat bottom reinforcement member, the seat bottom reinforcement being pivotable about a first pivot point;

a pivot arm in communication with the reinforcement member wherein movement of the pivot arm causes movement of the reinforcement member;

a seat bottom cushion subassembly positioned over the seat bottom reinforcement such that a forward portion of the seat bottom cushion subassembly is supported by the reinforcement member, the seat bottom cushion subassembly being pivotable about a second pivot point that is more rearward than the first pivot point and the reinforcement member pushing against the seat bottom cushion subassembly during movement of the seat bottom;

an actuator for positioning the seat bottom in one or more raised positions, wherein the actuator comprises a handle that is operable by a user and is positioned proximate or attached to a vehicle seat bottom;

a cable such that operation of the handle causes pivoting of the pivot arm through the movement of the cable; and

a flywheel that stabilizes movement of the pivot arm.

2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the seat bottom cushion subassembly includes a cushion such that the seat bottom cushion subassembly is moveable between a lowered and raised position without bending or crinkling of the seat cushion.

3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the seat back and the reinforcement member are each independently pivotable relative to a vehicle floor.

4. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a pivotable seat back positionable into an upright position and folded position;

a pivotable seat bottom reinforcement member, the seat bottom reinforcement being pivotable about a first pivot point;

a pivot arm in communication with the reinforcement member wherein movement of the pivot arm causes movement of the reinforcement member;

a seat bottom cushion subassembly positioned over the seat bottom reinforcement such that a forward portion of the seat bottom cushion subassembly is supported by the reinforcement member, the seat bottom cushion subassembly being pivotable about a second pivot point that is more rearward than the first pivot point and the reinforcement member pushing against the seat bottom cushion subassembly during movement of the seat bottom;

an actuator for positioning the seat bottom in one or more raised positions, wherein the actuator comprises a handle that is operable by a user and is positioned proximate or attached to a vehicle seat bottom;

a wheel; and

an actuator arm, wherein operation of the handle causes pivoting of the pivot arm which in turn causes rotation of the wheel, rotation of the wheel causing the actuator arm to move in an upward direction thereby raising reinforcement member.