Vehicle seat assembly with stand up position

• US 8,016,354 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intier Automotive, Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Intier Automotive, Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Scholl, John, Gregory, William John, Tame, Omar D., Wei, Xiao Jun, Veluswamy, Selvakumaresan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr.; Milton
• Application Number:
  US11/916,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20080224520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,929 Days
• Field of Search: 297/61, 297/344.1, 297/378.12, 297/316, 297/331, 297334-336, 297/408, 297/340, 297/354.12, 296/65.09
• US Class Current: 297/320
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/01583 locking on transversal elements on the vehicle floor or rail, e.g. transversal rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3031 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/309 rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/838 Tiltable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/856 movable to an inoperative or stowed position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/40 Dual or redundant actuating means, e.g. backrest tilting can be actuated alternatively by a lever at the backrest or a lever in the luggage compartment

Abstract

A seat assembly has a seat cushion that is pivotally mountable to a vehicle floor. The seat cushion is selectively movable between an operative condition and a standup condition. A seat back is pivotally mounted to the seat cushion and is selectively movably angularly relative to the seat cushion. A pair of hinges pivotally receives the seat back and is linked to the seat cushion, whereby movement of the seat cushion from the operative condition to the standup condition rotates the pair of hinges, generally aligning the seat cushion and the seat back when the seat cushion is tumbled forward.

Claims

1. A seat assembly for supporting an occupant above a floor in an automotive vehicle, said seat assembly comprising:

a seat back pivotal between a first vertical position for supporting the occupant of said seat assembly and a second vertical position;

a seat cushion adapted to be releasably coupled to the floor at a rearward end thereof and pivotable relative to the floor about a forward end of said seat cushion between a generally horizontal seating position for supporting the occupant of said seat assembly and a generally upright vertical position;

a pair of hinge assemblies operatively coupling said seat back to said seat cushion, said pair of hinge assemblies defining a selectively pivotal connection directly connecting said seat back and said pair of hinge assemblies, and said pair of hinge assemblies enabling pivotal movement of said seat back between said first and second vertical positions as said seat assembly moves between a seating position and a stand-up position wherein said seat cushion and seat back are generally vertically aligned in said respective upright vertical position and second vertical position; and

at least one drive link pivotally coupling said hinge assemblies relative to the floor, whereby said drive link controls said pivotal movement of said seat back between said first vertical position and said second vertical position in response to pivotal movement of said seat cushion between said horizontal seating position and said upright vertical position as said seat assembly moves between said seating and stand-up positions;

wherein said seat back does not pivot at said selectively pivotal connection as said seat back moves between said first vertical position and said second vertical position.

2. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pair of hinge assemblies include a seat cushion bracket fixedly secured to said seat cushion and a seat back bracket operatively coupled to said seat back at said selectively pivotal connection and said seat back bracket is pivotally coupled to said seat cushion bracket, said at least one drive link pivotally coupled to said seat back bracket whereby said at least one drive link controls said pivotal movement of said seat back as said seat assembly moves between said seating and stand-up positions.

3. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a pair of seat back recliner mechanisms operatively coupling said pair of hinge assemblies to said seat back at said selectively pivotal connection thereby providing selective angular adjustment of said seat back relative to said seat cushion.

4. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 3 including at least one seat back lock mechanism selectively coupling said seat cushion to one of said pair of hinge assemblies, said seat back lock mechanism including a pawl operatively engaging said one of said pair of hinge assemblies to said seat cushion thereby preventing relative movement therebetween when said seat assembly is in said seating position and disengaging said one of said pair of hinge assemblies from said seat cushion thereby enabling movement of said seat assembly between said seating and stand-up positions.

5. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 3 including a head restraint pivotally mounted to said seat back for movement between an operative position extending generally vertically from said seat back and a stowed position pivoted relative to said operative position in response to movement of said seat assembly between said seating and stand-up positions, said head restraint having a spring biasing said head restraint to said stowed position.

6. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said pair of seat back recliner mechanisms are ganged together for cooperative operation, and one of said pair of seat back recliner mechanisms includes a recliner handle, a recliner link and a release link, said recliner handle pivotally mounted to said seat cushion, said recliner link pivotally and slidably coupled to said recliner handle and pivotally coupled to said release link, said release link engaging said one of said pair of seat back recliner mechanisms, whereby pivotal movement of said recliner handle responsively moves said pair of seat back recliner mechanisms between locked and unlocked states, and wherein said recliner handle rotates with said seat cushion during movement of said seat assembly between said seating and stand-up positions.

7. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 3 including at least one seat back lock mechanism selectively coupling said seat cushion to one of said pair of hinge assemblies, wherein said at least one seat back lock mechanism includes an arcuate slot disposed in said seat cushion bracket, said arcuate slot extending between a vertical portion interconnected with a horizontal portion, and a lever pivotally coupled to said seat back bracket, said lever having a pin extending laterally therefrom disposed in said arcuate slot, said seat back lock mechanism operable between a locked condition with said pin disposed within said vertical portion of said arcuate slot and a released condition with said pin disposed within said horizontal portion of said arcuate slot in response to pivotal movement of said lever.

8. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 3 including at least one seat back lock mechanism selectively coupling said seat cushion to one of said pair of hinge assemblies, wherein said at least one seat back lock mechanism includes an arcuate slot disposed in said seat cushion bracket, a hook pivotally coupled to said seat cushion bracket, and a pin extending laterally from said seat back bracket disposed in said arcuate slot, said seat back lock mechanism operable between a locked condition with said hook engaging said pin and a released condition with said hook away from said pin in response to pivotal movement of said hook.

9. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 3 including at least one seat back lock mechanism selectively coupling said seat cushion to one of said pair of hinge assemblies, wherein said at least one seat back lock mechanism includes a generally C-shaped lock feature having a hook interface, said lock feature fixedly secured to said seat cushion bracket and oriented for receiving a hook, said hook extending between a proximal end fixedly secured to said lower end of said seat back bracket and a distal end, said seat back lock mechanism operable between a locked condition with said distal end of said hook engaging said hook interface, and a released condition with said distal end of said hook separated from said hook interface.

10. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 3 including at least one seat back lock mechanism selectively coupling said seat cushion to one of said pair of hinge assemblies, wherein said at least one seat back lock mechanism includes a pin operatively coupled to said seat cushion bracket and a first hole in said seat back bracket, said seat back lock mechanism operable between a locked condition with said pin extending into said first hole and a released condition with said pin retracted from said first hole.

11. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 10 including a second hole in said seat cushion bracket, wherein said pin extends into said second hole locking said seat back relative to said seat cushion when said seat assembly is in said stand-up position.

12. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said seat cushion includes a pair of seat tracks enabling fore and aft adjustment of said seat assembly relative to said floor.

13. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein said pair of seat tracks has a towel bar to selectively lock and unlock said pair of seat tracks, said towel bar having a hinged portion that rotates between a deployed position and a retracted position as said seat assembly moves between said seating and stand-up positions, said hinged portion biased to said deployed position.

14. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein said seat cushion includes a pair of support brackets supporting said seat cushion, each of said pair of support brackets pivotally coupled to said pair of seat tracks.

15. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said pair of support brackets has at least one floor latch, said floor latch operable to lock said seat assembly to the floor when said seat assembly is in said seating position and operable to unlatch said seat assembly allowing said pivotal movement of said seat cushion between said horizontal seating position and said upright vertical position.

16. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a pair of seat back recliner mechanisms operatively coupling said pair of hinge assemblies to said seat back at said selectively pivotal connection thereby providing selective angular adjustment of said seat back relative to said seat cushion.

17. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 16 including at least one seat back lock mechanism selectively coupling said seat cushion to one of said pair of hinge assemblies, said seat back lock mechanism including a cam surface operatively engaging said one of said pair of hinge assemblies to said seat cushion thereby preventing relative movement therebetween when said seat assembly is in said seating position and disengaging said one of said pair of hinge assemblies from said seat cushion thereby enabling movement of said seat assembly between said seating and stand-up positions.

18. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 17 including a head restraint pivotally mounted to said seat back for movement between an operative position extending generally vertically from said seat back and a stowed position pivoted relative to said operative position in response to movement of said seat assembly between said seating and stand-up positions, said head restraint having a spring biasing said head restraint to said stowed position.

19. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein said seat cushion includes a pair of seat tracks enabling fore and aft adjustment of said seat assembly relative to said floor.

20. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 19, wherein said pair of seat tracks has a towel bar to selectively lock and unlock said pair of seat tracks, said towel bar having a hinged portion that rotates between a deployed position and a retracted position as said seat assembly moves between said seating and stand-up positions, said hinged portion biased to said deployed position.

21. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 20, wherein said seat cushion includes a pair of support brackets supporting said seat cushion, each of said pair of support brackets pivotally coupled to said pair of seat tracks.

22. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 21, wherein said pair of support brackets has a forward rod extending therebetween, said at least one drive link is operatively coupled to said forward rod, whereby movement of said forward rod with said pair of support brackets urges said at least one drive link to control said pivotal movement of said seat back between said first and second vertical positions.

23. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein said at least one drive link engages a rearward rod extending between said pair of hinge assemblies and said rearward rod ganging rotation of said pair of hinge assemblies together.