Manual upper seatback support

• US 9,333,882 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2014
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2014
• 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, Hosbach, Christian J., Roorda, Brian John, Nichols, Brandon W., Sidhu, Mandeep Singh
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer, Laurie K
• Application Number:
  US14/505,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20160096449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 297/354.11, 297/367.R, 297/372, 297/376
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2222 the back-rest having two or more parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/224 Stepwise movement mechanisms, e.g. ratchets

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a lower seatback. An upper seatback is operably coupled to the lower seatback. The upper seatback is pivotally mounted to the lower seatback at a pivot axis. A manual articulation assembly operably couples the lower seatback with the upper seatback. The manual articulation assembly includes a housing member having a cam channel and an inner wall with a plurality of engagement recesses. A positional cam includes a cam pin engaged with the cam channel and an outer wall with a plurality of engagement teeth in removable engagement with the plurality of engagement recesses.

Claims

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a lower seatback;

an upper seatback operably coupled to the lower seatback, wherein the upper seatback is pivotally mounted to the lower seatback at a pivot axis; and

a manual articulation assembly operably coupling the lower seatback with the upper seatback, the manual articulation assembly comprising;

a housing member including a cam channel and an inner wall with a plurality of engagement recesses; and

a positional cam including a cam pin engaged with the cam channel and an outer wall with a plurality of engagement teeth in removable engagement with the plurality of engagement recesses, wherein the cam pin is linearly slidable in the cam channel.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the cam pin is linearly slidable between a lowered position that disengages the engagement teeth from the engagement recesses and a raised position that engages the engagement teeth with the engagement recesses.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the manual articulation assembly is configured to position the upper seatback in one of a rear position, intermediate position and a forward position.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the manual articulation assembly is operably coupled with an arcuate back support bar that supports the upper seatback.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4, wherein the arcuate back support bar that supports the upper seatback has a generally U-shaped construction.

6. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a lower seatback;

an upper seatback;

a manual articulation assembly pivotally coupling the lower seatback with the upper seatback, the manual articulation assembly comprising;

a housing member including a cam channel and an inner wall with a plurality of engagement recesses; and

a positional cam including a cam pin engaged with the cam channel and an outer wall with a plurality of engagement teeth engaged with the plurality of engagement recesses, wherein the cam pin is linearly slidable in the cam channel.

7. A vehicle seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the cam pin is linearly slidable between a lowered position that disengages the engagement teeth from the engagement recesses and a raised position that engages the engagement teeth with the engagement recesses.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the manual articulation assembly is configured to position the upper seatback in one of a rear position, intermediate position and a forward position.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the manual articulation assembly is operably coupled with an arcuate back support bar that supports the upper seatback.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 9, wherein the arcuate back support bar that supports the upper seatback has a generally U-shaped construction.

11. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a lower seatback;

an upper seatback operably coupled to the lower seatback, wherein the upper seatback is pivotally mounted to the lower seatback at a pivot axis; and

a manual articulation assembly including a cam pin linearly slidable in a cam channel, and coupling the lower seatback with the upper seatback to temporarily lock the upper seatback at one of a plurality of angled positions relative to the lower seatback.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 11, wherein the cam pin is linearly slidable between a lowered position that disengages engagement teeth from engagement recesses and a raised position that engages the engagement teeth with the engagement recesses.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 11, wherein the manual articulation assembly is configured to position the upper seatback in one of a rear position, intermediate position and a forward position.

14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 11, wherein the manual articulation assembly is operably coupled with an arcuate back support bar that supports the upper seatback.

15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14, wherein the arcuate back support bar that supports the upper seatback has a generally U-shaped construction.