Adjustment system, vehicle seat, vehicle and method therefor

• US 9,022,477 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Pleskot, Andrzej
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US13/748,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20130187424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 297/361.1, 297/358, 297/463.1
• US Class Current: 297/361.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02 the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable adjustable arm-rests B60N2/75; adjustable head-rests B60N2/806
• 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 2/2356 with internal pawls

Abstract

An adjustment system for repeated adjustment of a vehicle seat having a seat part and a support element are provided. The adjustment system includes a seat actuation unit for adjusting a seat position of the seat part and a support actuation unit for adjusting a support position of the support element. The seat actuation unit and the support actuation unit are arranged in a common reach area and are positioned next to each other. A vehicle seat using the adjustment system, a vehicle having the vehicle seat, and a method for making multiple adjustments to a vehicle seat via the adjustment system also are provided.

Claims

1. An adjustment system for repeated adjustment of a vehicle seat having a seat part and a support element, the adjustment system comprising:

a seat actuation unit for adjusting a seat position of the seat part;

a support actuation unit for adjusting a support position of the support element; and

a multiplier unit that transmits a force received from the support actuation unit to adjust the support position of the support part, the multiplier unit including a first lever unit having a first end attached to an axis of rotation of a support adjustment device and a second end, a second lever unit having a first end coupled to the support actuation unit and a second end attached rotatably to an axis of rotation formed immovably on the seat part, and a coupler coupled rotatably to the second end of the first lever unit and coupled to the second lever unit,

wherein the seat actuation unit and the support actuation unit are arranged in a common reach area and are positioned next to each other.

2. The adjustment system according to claim 1, wherein the support adjustment device for adjusting the support element is discontinuous, and a seat adjustment device for adjusting the seat part of a driver'"'"'s seat.

3. The adjustment system according to claim 1, wherein the seat actuation unit and the support actuation unit are positioned so that at least parts thereof are aligned and/or flush with one another.

4. The adjustment system according to claim 1, wherein the seat actuation unit and the support actuation unit are decoupled from one another so that the seat actuation unit and the support actuation unit are operable separately from one another.

5. The adjustment system according to claim 1, wherein the seat actuation unit and the support actuation unit are arranged in an area of the seat actuation unit.

6. The adjustment system according to claim 1, wherein at least the support actuation unit is arranged between the seat actuation unit and a seat adjustment mechanism of a seat adjustment device coupled to the seat actuation unit.

7. The adjustment system according to claim 1, wherein a handle part of the support actuation unit is arranged in a mounting of a handle part of the seat actuation unit.

8. A vehicle seat with an adjustable seat part and a support part that is adjustable with respect to the adjustable seat part, the vehicle seat having an adjustment arrangement for adjusting the support part and the adjustable seat part, and the adjustment arrangement comprises:

a seat actuation unit for adjusting a seat position of the adjustable seat part;

a support actuation unit for adjusting a support position of the support part; and

a multiplier unit that transmits a force received from the support actuation unit to adjust the support position of the support part, the multiplier unit including a first lever unit having a first end attached to an axis of rotation of a support adjustment device and a second end, a second lever unit having a first end coupled to the support actuation unit and a second end attached rotatably to an axis of rotation formed immovably on the seat part, and a coupler coupled rotatably to the second end of the first lever unit and coupled to the second lever unit,

wherein the seat actuation unit and the support actuation unit are arranged in a common reach area and are positioned next to each other.

9. A vehicle with a seat unit for a vehicle occupant, wherein the seat unit has an adjustable seat part, a support part that is adjustable with respect to the adjustable seat part, and an adjustment arrangement for adjusting the adjustable seat part and the support part, and the adjustment arrangement comprises:

a seat actuation unit for adjusting a seat position of the adjustable seat part;

a support actuation unit for adjusting a support position of the support part; and

a multiplier unit that transmits a force received from the support actuation unit to adjust the support position of the support part, the multiplier unit including a first lever unit having a first end attached to an axis of rotation of a support adjustment device and a second end, a second lever unit having a first end coupled to the support actuation unit and a second end attached rotatably to an axis of rotation formed immovably on the seat part, and a coupler coupled rotatably to the second end of the first lever unit and coupled to the second lever unit,

wherein the seat actuation unit and the support actuation unit are arranged in a common reach area and are positioned next to each other.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle is a motor car.

11. A method for repeated adjustment of a vehicle seat using an adjustment system with a discontinuous support adjustment device for adjusting a backrest position and a seat adjustment device for adjusting a seat position of the vehicle seat, the method comprising the steps of:

actuating a seat actuation unit of the adjustment system and/or actuating a support actuation unit of the adjustment system to adjust the vehicle seat,

transmitting a force via a multiplier unit to an axis of rotation of a support adjustment device for adjusting a backrest position, the multiplier unit including a first lever unit having a first end attached to the axis of rotation of the support adjustment device and a second end, a second lever unit having a first end coupled to the support actuation unit and a second end attached rotatably to an axis of rotation formed immovably on the seat part, and a coupler coupled rotatably to the second end of the first lever unit and coupled to the second lever unit,

wherein actuating takes place in a common reach area.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the force is transmitted unevenly.