Vehicle seat

• US 8,616,636 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2011
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Inventors: Arata, Kazuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): GABLER, PHILIP F
• Application Number:
  US13/029,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20120212014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.1, 297/216.16, 297/216.19, 297/216.2, 297/344.12, 297/344.14, 297/344.15
• US Class Current: 297/216.16
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1615 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/165 Gear wheel driven mechanism

Abstract

In a vehicle seat, first and second front links as well as first and second rear links are pivotally connected between a seat cushion frame and a floor of vehicle. The first front link has one pivot point pivotally connected with a drive pinion rotatably supported in one side of the seat cushion frame and another pivot point disposed forwardly of that one pivot point. Likewise, the second front link has one pivot point pivotally connected with the other side of the seat cushion frame and another pivot point disposed forwardly of that one pivot point. A first connecting link element is pivotally connected between the afore-said another pivot point of the first front link and the first rear link. A second connecting link element is pivotally connected between the afore-said another pivot point of the second front link and the second rear link.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat in combination with a floor of vehicle, in which said floor of vehicle has a forward side facing forwardly of the vehicle and a backward side facing backwardly of the vehicle, comprising:

a seat cushion frame including a first lateral frame member and a second lateral frame member, wherein said first lateral frame member has a forward portion facing forwardly of the vehicle and a backward portion facing backwardly of the vehicle, whereas said second lateral frame member has a forward portion facing forwardly of the vehicle and a backward portion facing backwardly of the vehicle;

a stationary gear element fixedly secured on said forward side of said floor of vehicle, said stationary gear element having an arcuate gear region which faces backwardly of the vehicle;

a drive pinion having a connecting shaft rotatably connected with said forward portion of said first lateral frame member, said drive pinion being in meshed engagement with said arcuate gear region of said stationary gear element;

a first front link element so formed to have;

a lower portion pivotally secured on said floor; and

an upper portion having;

a first pivotal connection point which is pivotally connected with said connecting shaft associated with said drive pinion; and

a second pivotal connection point;

a second front link element having;

a lower portion pivotally secured on said floor; and

an upper portion having;

a first pivotal connection point which is pivotally connected with said forward portion of said second lateral frame member; and

a second pivotal connection point;

a first rear link element having;

an upper portion movably connected with said backward portion of said first lateral frame member; and

a lower portion pivotally secured on said floor;

a second rear link element having;

an upper portion movably connected with said backward portion of said second lateral frame member; and

a lower portion pivotally secured on said floor;

a first connecting link element which is at the forward end portion thereof pivotally connected with said second pivotal connection point of said first front link element, while being at the backward end portion thereof pivotally connected with said upper portion of said first rear link element;

wherein said second pivotal connection point of said first front link element is defined at a first fixed point forwardly of and distant from said first pivotal connection point of the first front link throughout the whole range of pivotal motion of the first front link,

a second connecting link element which is at the forward end portion thereof pivotally connected with said second pivotal connection point of said second front link element, while being at the backward end portion thereof pivotally connected with said upper end portion of said second rear link element, and

wherein said second pivotal connection point of said second front link element is defined at a second fixed point forwardly of and distant from said first pivotal connection point of the second front link element, and

wherein, even when said first and second front links are moved forwardly and backwardly relative to said floor upon rotation of said drive pinion, a distance between said second pivotal connection point and a meshed engagement point between said drive pinion and said arcuate gear region remains unchanged or fixed, irrespective of said pinion being moved on and along said arcuate gear region.

2. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, which is arranged such that, at said first fixed point, said second pivotal connection point of said first front link element is also defined above said first pivotal connection point of the first front link element, and that, at said second fixed point, said second pivotal connection point of said second front link element is also defined above said first pivotal connection point of the second front link element.

3. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein a connecting rod is extended between said second pivotal connection point of said first front link element and said second pivotal connection point of said second front link element.