Vehicle seat assembly

• US 7,971,938 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Wieclawski, Stanislaw Andrzej
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer; Laurie K
• Application Number:
  US12/277,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20090195044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 297/378.12, 297/311, 297/340, 297/341, 297/342, 297/362.12, 297/378.14, 297/378.1, 297/367
• US Class Current: 297/378.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/12 slidable and tiltable

Abstract

A vehicle seat assembly adapted to perform an easy entry function includes a seat body having a seat bottom and a pivotally connected seat back. The seat body is configured to limit the seat back to pivot through a first angular range that inhibits the seat back from actuating the easy entry function. The seat body is further configured to limit the seat back to pivot through a second angular range that allows the seat back to actuate the easy entry function. The first actuator is provided to actuate the seat back to pivot through the first angular range. A second actuator is provided to actuate the seat back to pivot through the second angular range. The seat back maintains a generally upright orientation as the seat back pivots in a forward direction through the first angular range and the second angular range.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat body having a seat bottom and a seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom, the seat back being configured to pivot through a first angular range that does not permit the seat back to actuate an easy entry function, and a second angular range that does permit the seat back to actuate the easy entry function;

a first actuator for releasing the seat back to pivot through the first angular range;

a second actuator for releasing the seat back to pivot through the second angular range, the second actuator having a protrusion; and

a blocking member disposed on the seat body and configured to move between a first position in which the blocking member inhibits the seat back from pivoting forward beyond a predetermined point and a second position in which the seat back is free to pivot forward beyond the predetermined point, the blocking member having a slot;

wherein the protrusion is disposed in and moves along the slot to move the blocking member from the first position to the second position when the second actuator is actuated.

2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the first angular range is a subset of the second angular range.

3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the second angular range has a forward limit that exceeds a forward limit of the first angular range.

4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a pair of rails for slidably mounting the seat body to a vehicle and a slide lock mechanism for selectively locking and unlocking the rails to slide, wherein the seat body is configured to release the slide lock mechanism from the locked state when the seat back pivots forward past a predetermined angular position with respect to the seat bottom and wherein the predetermined angular position is outside of the first angular range and within the second angular range.

5. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 4 wherein the seat body is further configured to permit the rails to return to the locked position when the seat back pivots rearward past the predetermined angular position.

6. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 4 wherein the seat body includes a retaining member that precludes the rails from returning to the locked state until the seat back pivots rearward beyond the predetermined angular position to a second predetermined angular position.

7. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a switch disposed on the seat body at a location spaced apart from the second actuator, the switch being connected to the second actuator and being configured to remotely actuate the second actuator.

8. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat body having a seat bottom and a seat back configured to pivot with respect to the seat bottom, the seat body being configured to selectively lock and unlock pivot movement of the seat back;

a blocking member disposed proximate the seat body, the blocking member being configured to move between a first position that obstructs the seat back from pivoting in a forward direction beyond a predetermined point, and a second position that does not obstruct the seat back from pivoting in the forward direction;

a first actuator connected to the seat body and configured to unlock the seat back to pivot when actuated without moving the blocking member to the second position; and

a second actuator connected to seat body and to the blocking member, the second actuator configured to unlock the seat back to pivot and to move the blocking member to the second position when actuated;

wherein an easy entry function is triggered when the seat back pivots forward of the predetermined point, wherein the blocking member inhibits the seat back from pivoting forward beyond the predetermined point when the first actuator is actuated, and wherein the seat back is free to pivot forward beyond the predetermined point when the second actuator is actuated.

9. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8 wherein a channel is defined in the blocking member and wherein the second actuator includes a protrusion protruding into the channel, the protrusion moving along the channel and pushing on a wall of the channel to move the blocking member from the first position to the second position when the second actuator is actuated.

10. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 9 wherein the second actuator includes a biasing member that urges the second actuator towards a non-actuated state and wherein the second actuator biases the blocking member towards the first position when the second actuator is in the non-actuated state through engagement between the protrusion and the channel.

11. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the blocking member is a first blocking member and the seat back includes a second blocking member, the first blocking member being configured to obstruct the second blocking member and to inhibit the seat back from pivoting forward beyond the predetermined point while the first blocking member is in the first position.

12. The vehicle assembly of claim 11 wherein the second blocking member obstructs the first blocking member from returning to the first position when the seat back pivots forward beyond the predetermined point and wherein the first blocking member retains the second actuator in an actuated state through engagement between the channel and the protrusion while the first blocking member is in the second position.

13. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8 further comprising a pair of rails for slidably mounting the seat body to a vehicle and a slide lock mechanism for locking and unlocking the rails to slide, the seat body being configured to release the slide lock mechanism from the locked state when the seat back pivots forward past a slide lock trigger point which is at least as far forward as the predetermined point.

14. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8 wherein the second actuator comprises a plate having a void to avoid obstructing operation of the first actuator when the first actuator unlocks the seat back to pivot.

15. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat bottom;

a seat back having an engagement member, the seat back being configured to pivot with respect to the seat bottom;

a blocking member configured to move between a first position that engages the engagement member to obstruct the seat back from pivoting in a forward direction beyond a predetermined point, and a second position that does not obstruct the seat back from pivoting in a forward direction;

a first actuator configured to unlock the seat back to permit the seat back to pivot without moving the blocking member to the second position;

a second actuator connected to the blocking member, the second actuator being configured to unlock the seat back to pivot and to move the blocking member to the second position when the second actuator is actuated and being further configured to remain in an actuated state until the blocking member returns to the first position; and

a retaining member connected to the blocking member, the retaining member being configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position, a portion of the retaining member extending in a rearward direction beyond a rear end of the blocking member when the retaining member is in the extended position and the retaining member being configured to engage the engagement member and to inhibit the blocking member from returning to the first position when the retaining member is in the extended position and engaged with the engagement member;

wherein the second actuator is retained in an actuated state until the engagement member moves beyond a rear end of the retaining member when the retaining member is in the extended position.

16. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 15 wherein the retaining member defines a slot and the blocking member comprises a protrusion slidably engaging the slot, the retaining member sliding along the protrusion as the retaining member moves between the extended position and the retracted position.

17. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 16 wherein the blocking member comprises two of the protrusions, the protrusions being spaced apart and cooperating to inhibit the retaining member from rotating with respect to the blocking member.

18. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 15 further comprising a retaining member spring connected to the retaining member, the retaining member spring biasing the retaining member towards the extended position.

19. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 18 further comprising a second actuator spring, the second actuator spring biasing the second actuator towards a non-actuated state.

20. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 15 wherein an easy entry function is actuated when the seat back pivots forward of the predetermined point, wherein the blocking member inhibits the seat back from pivoting forward beyond the predetermined point when the first actuator is actuated, and wherein the seat back is free to pivot forward beyond the predetermined point when the second actuator is actuated.