Easy slim fold seat

• US 8,931,844 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2012
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Line, Johnathan Andrew, Ferretti, Daniel, Heath, Gornique'Ka Mo'Nya, Nae, Dumitru Dan, Jaranson, John W., Stanhope, Curtis D., Kormos, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): GABLER, PHILIP F
• Application Number:
  US13/540,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20140001809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 297/340, 297/378.1, 296/65.09
• US Class Current: 297/378.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2356 with internal pawls
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3013 the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3065 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/309 rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3093 slides

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly including a seat having a top surface. A seatback includes a back support surface. A tab extends forward from the seatback. A track assembly includes a rail and a slide. A bracket is coupled to the slide and includes an elongate slot disposed at a mid-portion thereof. A linkage includes a first end coupled with the seat. A second end is coupled with the tab. A protrusion is disposed at an intermediate portion of the linkage and is engaged with the elongate slot. Movement of the protrusion is relative to the elongate slot, causing translation of the seating assembly between a deployed position, in which a planar extent of the seatback extends substantially orthogonally relative to a planar extent of the seat, and a stowed position, in which the top surface of the seat and the back support surface of the seatback are in abutting contact.

Claims

1. A vehicle seating assembly, comprising:

a seat including a top surface;

a seatback pivotally coupled with the seat and including a back support surface;

a tab extending forward from a lower portion of the seatback;

a track assembly below the seat and including a rail and a slide;

a bracket pivotally coupled directly at opposing ends with the seat and the slide and including an elongate slot disposed at a mid-portion thereof; and

a linkage having a first link with a forward end coupled directly with the seat and a second link pivotally coupled directly with the tab and a rearward end of the first link, wherein the second link includes a protrusion slidably engaged with the elongate slot, wherein pivotal movement of the seatback forward to a stowed position moves the tab rearward and causes sliding movement of the protrusion relative to the elongate slot, thereby translating the seat from a deployed position, in which a planar extent of the seatback extends substantially orthogonally relative to a planar extent of the seat, rearward and downward to a collapsed position, in which the top surface of the seat and the back support surface of the seatback are in abutting contact.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the first link is pivotally coupled with a forward portion of the seat.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongate slot of the bracket is substantially arcuate.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the seatback is rotatable about a recliner pivot, and wherein rotational movement of the seatback about the recliner pivot in a forward direction rotates the tab and the second link rearward.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a rear engagement portion, an intermediate arcuate portion, and a forward slide connector.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 5, wherein a longitudinal extent of the bracket is substantially nonlinear, and wherein the forward slide connector extends substantially orthogonally from the intermediate arcuate portion.

7. A vehicle seating assembly, comprising:

a seat coupled to a seatback;

a bracket extending between and pivotally coupled at opposing ends with a rearward portion of the seat and a base fixed below the seat; and

a linkage comprising;

a first link pivotally coupled directly with a forward portion of the seat;

a second link pivotally coupled directly at a front end with the first link and at an opposing rear end with the seatback; and

an intermediate portion second link slidably engaged with the bracket, wherein movement of the seatback between and upright position and a forward stowed position causes the intermediate portion to slide relative to the bracket, which moves the seat respectively between a deployed position and a lowered collapsed position.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the bracket includes an elongate slot disposed at a middle portion thereof.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

a protrusion disposed at the intermediate portion of the second link and engaged with the elongate slot for providing sliding movement therebetween.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

a recliner pivot disposed along a bottom edge of the seatback; and

a tab disposed at a forward portion of the seatback and pivotally connected with the second link.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 10, wherein rotational movement of the seatback about the recliner pivot causes the tab to draw the second link backward along the elongate slot and move the seat from the deployed position to the lowered collapsed position.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 10, further comprising:

an actuating device engaged to the recliner pivot, wherein the actuating device operates to lock the angle of a planar extent of the seatback relative to a planar extent of the seat.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the bracket includes an elongate body that is substantially nonlinear.

14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the base is coupled to a track assembly.

15. A vehicle seating assembly, comprising:

a seat;

a seatback pivotal about an axis;

a front link pivotally coupled with a rear link, wherein opposing ends of the front and rear links are pivotally coupled directly with the seat and the seatback below the axis, respectively; and

a bracket directly coupled between the seat and a floor, wherein pivoting the seatback forward moves the second linkage rearward along a slot in the bracket, lowering the seat.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 15, wherein the seatback is rotatable about a recliner pivot aligned with the axis, and wherein the recliner pivot includes and actuating device that operates to lock the angle of seatback relative the seat.

17. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 15, wherein the bracket includes a rear engagement portion, an intermediate arcuate portion, and a forward slide connector.

18. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 15, further comprising:

a base coupled with a track assembly on the floor, wherein the bracket is coupled directly with the base.