Multi-position vehicle seat

• US 9,452,692 B1
• Filed: 05/07/2015
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
• Inventors: Muir, Daniel Jefferson, Rawlinson, Peter Dore
• Primary Examiner(s): Daniels, Jason S
• Application Number:
  US14/706,008
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 296/65.07, 296/65.08, 296/65.12, 296/65.13, 296/65.15
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0278 using sensors external to the seat for measurements in relation to the seat adjustment, e.g. for identifying the presence of obstacles or the appropriateness of the occupants position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/062 transversally slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/065 Rear seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/067 by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/10 using a database
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/20 using a deterministic algorithm

Abstract

A seat mounting system is provided that allows a vehicle passenger seat, preferably a rear passenger seat mounted within the rear portion of the passenger cabin, to move laterally (i.e., side-to-side), fore-aft (i.e., forwards-backwards), and rotationally. As a result, an occupant of the passenger seat can optimize their seat position for the task at hand, e.g., relaxing, obtaining additional leg and/or shoulder room, rotating inwards during a conversation with others in the car, rotating outwards to aid vehicle egress, etc. Seat movement may be performed automatically or manually using dual track assemblies.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat positioning system, comprising:

a first pair of track assemblies mounted within a vehicle, wherein said first pair of track assemblies is comprised of a first pair of fixed track members and a first pair of rails, wherein said first pair of rails are configured to slide within said first pair of fixed track members, and wherein said first pair of fixed track members are attached to a vehicle structure;

a second pair of track assemblies, wherein said second pair of track assemblies is comprised of a second pair of fixed track members and a second pair of rails, wherein said second pair of rails are configured to slide within said second pair of fixed track members, and wherein said second pair of fixed track members are coupled to said first pair of rails, wherein a first rail of said first pair of track assemblies is coupled to a first fixed track member of said second pair of track assemblies via a first pin, wherein said first rail of said first pair of track assemblies is coupled to a second fixed track member of said second pair of track assemblies via a second pin, wherein a second rail of said first pair of track assemblies is coupled to said first fixed track member of said second pair of track assemblies via a third pin, and wherein said first rail of said first pair of track assemblies is coupled to said second fixed track member of said second pair of track assemblies via a fourth pin, said first fixed track member of said second pair of track assemblies comprising a first mounting slot and a first mounting aperture, said second fixed track member of said second pair of track assemblies comprising a second mounting slot, wherein said first pin passes through said first mounting slot of said first fixed track member of said second pair of track assemblies and said third pin passes through said first mounting aperture of said first fixed track member of said second pair of track assemblies, and wherein said second and fourth pins pass through said second mounting slot of said second fixed track member of said second pair of track assemblies;

a vehicle seat mounted to said second pair of rails;

a drive system coupled to said first pair of track assemblies and said second pairs of track assemblies, wherein said drive system is configured to move said vehicle seat in a forward direction and a backward direction within a first range of motion via one of said first and second pairs of track assemblies, wherein said drive system is configured to move said vehicle seat in a lateral-left direction and a lateral-right direction within a second range of motion via one of said first and second pairs of track assemblies, and wherein said drive system is configured to move said vehicle seat in a clockwise rotational direction and a counter-clockwise rotational direction within a third range of motion via said first and second pairs of track assemblies;

a seat position selection system; and

a control system coupled to said drive system and to said seat position selection system, wherein said control system adjusts a position corresponding to said vehicle seat using said drive system in response to an input signal from said seat position selection system.

2. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 1, wherein said drive system is configured to move said vehicle seat in said forward direction and said backward direction within said first range of motion via said second pair of track assemblies, and wherein said drive system is configured to move said vehicle seat in said lateral-left direction and said lateral-right direction within said second range of motion via said first pair of track assemblies.

3. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 1, said drive system further comprising a first drive unit coupled to a first track assembly of said first pair of track assemblies, a second drive unit coupled to a second track assembly of said first pair of track assemblies, and a third drive unit coupled to said second pair of track assemblies.

4. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 3, further comprising a first rack and pinion actuator coupling said first drive unit to said first track assembly of said first pair of track assemblies, a second rack and pinion actuator coupling said second drive unit to said second track assembly of said first pair of track assemblies, and a third rack and pinion actuator coupling said third drive unit to said second pair of track assemblies.

5. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 3, wherein said first drive unit is comprised of a first electro-mechanical motor, wherein said second drive unit is comprised of a second electro-mechanical motor, and wherein said third drive unit is comprised of a third electro-mechanical motor.

6. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 1, wherein said second mounting slot of said second fixed track member of said second pair of track assemblies is divided into a first slot and a second slot, wherein said second pin passes through said first slot of said second mounting slot of said second fixed track member of said second pair of track assemblies, and wherein said fourth pin passes through said second slot of said second mounting slot of said second fixed track member of said second pair of track assemblies.

7. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 1, further comprising a floor panel interposed between said first pair of fixed track members and said vehicle structure.

8. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 7, wherein said vehicle structure is comprised of at least one vehicle frame member.

9. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 7, wherein said vehicle structure is comprised of a battery pack enclosure.

10. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle seat is welded to said second pair of rails.

11. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle seat is bolted to said second pair of rails.

12. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 1, said seat position selection system further comprising a plurality of switches, wherein each switch of said plurality of switches corresponds to a preset vehicle seat position.

13. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 1, said seat position selection system further comprising at least one multi-positional switch configured to move in a plurality of directions, wherein each of said plurality of directions corresponds to a preset direction of motion for said vehicle seat.

14. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 1, said seat position selection system further comprising a plurality of seat positioning switches, wherein each of said plurality of seat positioning switches corresponds to a preset direction of motion for said vehicle seat.

15. A vehicle seat positioning system of claim 1, further comprising at least one vehicle status sensor, wherein said at least one vehicle status sensor is configured to monitor at least one vehicle subsystem, wherein said control system is coupled to said at least one vehicle status sensor, and wherein said control system is configured to adjust said position corresponding to said vehicle seat using said drive system in response to a specific condition corresponding to said at least one vehicle subsystem.

16. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 15, wherein said at least one vehicle status sensor monitors a vehicle speed, and wherein said specific condition corresponds to a current vehicle speed exceeding a preset vehicle speed.

17. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 15, wherein said at least one vehicle status sensor monitors at least one vehicle door lock, and wherein said specific condition corresponds to said at least one vehicle door lock shifting from a door locked condition to a door unlocked condition.

18. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 15, wherein said at least one vehicle status sensor monitors at least one vehicle door lock, and wherein said specific condition corresponds to said at least one vehicle door lock shifting from a door unlocked condition to a door locked condition.

19. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 15, wherein said specific condition corresponds to activation of said vehicle.

20. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 15, wherein said specific condition corresponds to deactivation of said vehicle.

21. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 15, wherein said specific condition corresponds to said vehicle being placed in park.

22. The vehicle seat positioning system of claim 15, wherein said specific condition corresponds to said vehicle being placed in drive.