Vehicle seat

• US 8,128,147 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Inventors: Kanda, Kenji, Honda, Masaaki, Karino, Yosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US12/975,220
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 296/65.05, 296/65.09, 297/312, 297/313, 297/321
• US Class Current: 296/65.05
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02258 characterised by the mounting of the electric motor for adjusting the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1615 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/62 Thigh-rests B60N2/914 takes precedence

Abstract

Vehicle seat including a link for raising and lowering the seat and a tilt pan disposed forwardly of seat cushion frame of the seat. Rotatably provided to the seat cushion frame is an actuator link having: one end portion pivoted to the tilt pan; and another end portion formed with sector gear portion and arcuate hole. A pin for supporting a gear case having a pinion meshed with the sector gear portion is fixed to the seat cushion frame. Such pin is used with both of the link and actuator link, in common. Namely, an upper end portion of the link and the afore-said another end portion of actuator link are collectively disposed at that pin so as to overlap each other, and the upper end portion of link is pivotally connected to the pin, whereas the pin passes through the arcuate hole of actuator link.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat in combination with a floor of vehicle, comprising:

a seat cushion frame having a forward end portion facing forwardly of the vehicle seat;

a tiltable frame pivotally connected with said forward end portion of the seat cushion frame, said tiltable frame being so arranged as to overlie said forward end portion in an overhanging manner and be inclinable vertically relative to said seat cushion frame;

a link element having;

an upper end portion; and

a lower end portion pivotally connected with said floor of vehicle;

a shaft element rotatably provided to said seat cushion frame;

a substantially sector-shaped link element connected with said shaft element, said substantially sector-shaped link element including;

a first end portion pivotally connected with said tiltable frame; and

a second end portion having;

a sector gear portion formed therewith; and

an arcuate hole formed therein so as to extend along a circumference of a circle having a center at a central axis of said shaft element;

a motor provided with a gear case in an integral manner, said gear case having a pinion being in a meshed engagement with said sector gear portion; and

a pin with which said gear case is supportively connected, said pin being fixedly attached to said seat cushion frame so as to project horizontally therefrom,

wherein said upper end portion of said link element and said second end portion of said substantially sector-shaped link element are collectively disposed at said pin so as to overlap each other, wherein said upper end portion of the link element is pivotally connected with said pin, and wherein said pin passes through said arcuate hole formed in said second end portion of the substantially sector-shaped link element.

2. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, which includes a slide rail device comprising a lower rail element fixed on said floor of vehicle and an upper rail element slidably engaged with said lower rail element, wherein said lower end portion of said link element is pivotally connected with said upper rail element.

3. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seat cushion frame includes:

a first lateral frame member having a forward end portion facing forwardly of the vehicle seat; and

a second lateral frame member having a forward end portion facing forwardly of the vehicle seat, wherein said forward end portions respectively of said first and second lateral frame members correspond to said forward end portion of said seat cushion frame, wherein said tiltable frame is pivotally connected between said forward end portion of said first lateral frame member and said forward end portion of said second lateral frame member, wherein said tiltable frame is so arranged as to overlie said forward end portions respectively of said first and second lateral frame members in an overhanging manner and be inclinable vertically relative to said seat cushion frame, wherein said shaft element has;

one end rotatably connected with said forward end portion of said first lateral frame member; and

another end rotatably connected with said forward end portion of said second lateral frame member, wherein said pin is fixed to said first lateral frame member so as to project horizontally therefrom.

4. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pin is so formed to have a first pin region with which said gear case is supportively connected;

a second pin region larger in diameter than said first pin region, said second pin region passing through said arcuate hole;

a third pin region with which said upper end portion of said link element is pivotally connected;

a flange region defined between said second and third pin regions so as to be interposed between said upper end portion of said link element and said second end portion of said substantially sector-shaped link element; and

a base end region firmly attached to said seat cushion frame.