Combined manual recline and manual lumbar adjustment mechanism

• US 7,942,479 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2007
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Harper, Kendrick Alden, Crainic, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US11/946,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20090134679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 297/284.4, 297/378.12, 297/354.12
• US Class Current: 297/354.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0296 Central command actuator to selectively switch on or engage one of several special purpose circuits or mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/235 by gear-pawl type mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports

Abstract

A control device for regulating adjustment of vehicle seats is disclosed. The control device is a dual function control arm which combines the manual recliner and lumbar mechanism into a single handle. The handle is moved in a first direction to release the seat back recliner mechanism without affecting the lumbar adjustment mechanism. The same handle is moved in a second direction to actuate the lumbar adjustment mechanism without affecting the recliner mechanism.

Claims

1. A seat for a vehicle comprising:

a handle assembly movable between a first position and a second position, said assembly having a handle and a pivot pin;

a first eccentric attached to said pin;

a second eccentric attached to said pin;

a first actuator being a seat back release mechanism;

a second actuator being a lumbar actuator;

a first link between said handle and said first actuator, said first link being attached to said first eccentric at a point spaced apart from said pivot pin; and

a second link between said handle and said second actuator, said second link being attached to said second eccentric at a point spaced apart from said pivot pin,

whereby movement of said handle to said first position actuates said first actuator while releasing tension on said second actuator and movement of said handle to said second position actuates said second actuator while releasing tension on said first actuator.

2. The seat for a vehicle of claim 1 wherein said handle is movable to a resting position where neither the said first actuator nor said second actuator is actuated.

3. A seat assembly for a vehicle having a seat back, a seat base, and a lumbar support element, the seat assembly comprising:

a seat back recliner device;

a lumbar actuating device;

a control handle assembly including a pivot pin and a control handle having a body;

a first eccentric attached to said pivot pin;

a second eccentric attached to said pivot pin;

a first link attached to said first eccentric at a point spaced apart from said pivot pin and connecting said first eccentric to said seat back recliner device; and

a second link attached to said second eccentric at a point spaced apart from said pivot pin and connecting said second eccentric to said lumbar actuating device.

4. The seat assembly of claim 3 wherein said seat back recliner device includes a pivoting element, said pivoting element having a slot formed therein.

5. The seat assembly of claim 4 wherein said first link has a first end and a second end, said first end being pivotably connected to said control handle and said second end being movably fitted to said slot of said pivoting element of said seat back recliner device.

6. The seat assembly of claim 3 wherein said lumbar actuating device includes a pivoting element, said pivoting element having a slot formed therein.

7. The seat assembly of claim 6 wherein said second link has a first end and a second end, said first end being pivotably connected to said control handle and said second end being movably fitted to said slot of said pivoting element of said lumbar actuating device.

8. The seat assembly of claim 3 wherein said control handle includes a first pivotable flange and a second pivotable flange.

9. The seat assembly of claim 8 wherein said first link is pivotably attached to said first pivotable flange and said second link is pivotably attached to said second pivotable flange.

10. The seat assembly of claim 3 wherein said seat back recliner device includes a pivoting element having a first slot formed therein and wherein said first link is attached to said first slot and wherein said lumbar actuating device has a pivoting element having a second slot formed therein and wherein said second link is attached to said second slot.

11. The seat assembly of claim 10 wherein said control handle includes a first pivotable flange and a second pivotable flange and wherein said first link is pivotably attached to said first pivotable flange and said second link is pivotably attachable to said second pivotable flange.

12. The seat assembly of claim 11 wherein said first pivotable flange and said second pivotable flange are fixed to one another.

13. A recliner and lumbar control assembly for use with a vehicle seat having a seat back and a seat base, the control assembly comprising:

a control handle assembly including a pivot pin and a control handle having a body;

a first eccentric attached to said pin;

a second eccentric attached to said pin;

a seat back release mechanism;

a lumbar actuator;

a first link between said control handle and said seat back release mechanism, said first link being attached to said first eccentric at a point spaced apart from said pivot pin; and

a second link between said control handle assembly and said lumbar actuator, said second link being attached to said second eccentric at a point spaced apart from said pivot pin, said first and second links being pivotably attached to said assembly at separate points spaced apart from each other and from said pivot pin.

14. The recliner and lumbar control assembly of claim 13 wherein said control handle is a dual function control handle that is movable between a first actuating position and a second actuating position.

15. The recliner and lumbar control assembly of claim 13 wherein said seat back recliner mechanism includes a pivoting element, said pivoting element having a slot formed therein and wherein said first link has a first end and a second end, said first end being pivotably connected to said control handle and said second end being movably fitted to said slot of said pivoting element of said seat back recliner mechanism.

16. The recliner and lumbar control assembly of claim 13 wherein said lumbar actuator includes a pivoting element, said pivoting element having a slot formed therein and wherein said second link has a first end and a second end, said first end being pivotably connected to said control handle and said second end being movably fitted to said slot of said pivoting element of said lumbar actuator.

17. The recliner and lumbar control assembly of claim 13 wherein said control handle includes a first pivotable flange and a second pivotable flange.

18. The recliner and lumbar control assembly of claim 17 wherein said first link is pivotably attached to said first pivotable flange and said second link is pivotably attached to said second pivotable flange.

19. The recliner and lumbar control assembly of claim 13 wherein said seat back release mechanism includes a pivoting element having a first slot formed therein and wherein said first link is attached to said first slot and wherein said lumbar actuator has a pivoting element having a second slot formed therein and wherein said second link is attached to said second slot.

20. The recliner and lumbar control assembly of claim 19 wherein said control handle includes a first pivotable flange and a second pivotable flange and wherein said first link is pivotably attached to said first pivotable flange and said second link is pivotably attachable to said second pivotable flange.