Seat assembly having a switch and method of operation
First Claim
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1. A seat assembly comprising:
- a seat bottom;
a seat back;
a power recliner assembly mounted to the seat bottom and the seat back that facilitates pivoting of the seat back with respect to the seat bottom, the power recliner mechanism including a recliner mechanism and a motor for rotating the recliner mechanism;
a switch assembly electrically connected to the motor, the switch assembly having an open condition in which operation of the motor is disabled and a closed condition in which operation of the motor is enabled wherein the switch assembly further comprises an actuator blade that extends from the switch assembly; and
an easy entry release mechanism for actuating the power recliner assembly to a released condition in which the seat back is free to pivot toward the seat bottom independent of operation of the motor, wherein the easy entry release mechanism further comprises a cable having a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end, a handle coupled to the first end, and a lever coupled to the second end and rotatably disposed on the seat assembly, wherein the lever has a tab that engages the actuator blade and rotates when the handle is actuated to actuate the switch assembly from the closed condition to the opened condition;
wherein the switch assembly is in the open condition when the easy entry release mechanism is in the released condition.
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Abstract
A seat assembly and a method of control. The seat assembly includes a power recliner assembly that allows a seat back to pivot with respect to a seat bottom. The power recliner assembly includes a motor for rotating a recliner mechanism. A switch assembly is electrically coupled to the motor and disables operation of the motor when in an open condition.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A seat assembly comprising:
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a seat bottom; a seat back; a power recliner assembly mounted to the seat bottom and the seat back that facilitates pivoting of the seat back with respect to the seat bottom, the power recliner mechanism including a recliner mechanism and a motor for rotating the recliner mechanism; a switch assembly electrically connected to the motor, the switch assembly having an open condition in which operation of the motor is disabled and a closed condition in which operation of the motor is enabled wherein the switch assembly further comprises an actuator blade that extends from the switch assembly; and an easy entry release mechanism for actuating the power recliner assembly to a released condition in which the seat back is free to pivot toward the seat bottom independent of operation of the motor, wherein the easy entry release mechanism further comprises a cable having a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end, a handle coupled to the first end, and a lever coupled to the second end and rotatably disposed on the seat assembly, wherein the lever has a tab that engages the actuator blade and rotates when the handle is actuated to actuate the switch assembly from the closed condition to the opened condition; wherein the switch assembly is in the open condition when the easy entry release mechanism is in the released condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:
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a seat bottom; a seat back; a power recliner assembly including; a lower mounting bracket assembly disposed on the seat bottom; a recliner mechanism heart disposed on the lower mounting bracket assembly; a torque rod that engages the recliner mechanism heart; a motor disposed on and configured to rotate the torque rod; an upper mounting bracket assembly fixedly disposed on the seat back; and a recliner center freeswing mechanism disposed on the upper mounting bracket assembly; a switch assembly disposed on the power recliner assembly and electrically coupled to the motor; and a lever configured to rotate with respect to the recliner mechanism heart that engages and actuates the switch assembly; wherein the switch assembly disables operation of the motor when the recliner center freeswing mechanism is disengaged from the recliner mechanism heart. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of controlling operation of a vehicle seat assembly having a power recliner assembly for adjusting the position of a seat back, the power recliner assembly having an electric motor, the method comprising:
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releasing a seat back to freely pivot toward a seat bottom; and disabling operation of the motor when the seat back is released; wherein a lever that rotates with respect to a recliner mechanism heart is configured to engage and actuate a switch assembly to disable operation of the electric motor, wherein the lever is coupled to a second end of a cable that has a first end coupled to a handle, wherein the lever has a tab that engages an actuator blade of the switch assembly and rotates when the handle is actuated to actuate the switch assembly from the closed condition to the opened condition. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification