Seat adjusting switch particularly for vehicle seats

• US 5,777,394 A
• Filed: 01/14/1997
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Arold, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US08/783,001
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/119, 307/10.2, 180/315, 180/320, 180/333, 200/61.58 R, 200/293, 200/5 R, 174/69, 174/DIG. 9, 364/424.059, 364/424.045, 248/475.1, 701/49, 701/36
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0228 Hand-activated mechanical switches B60N2/0229 takes precedence

Abstract

A seat adjusting switch assembly for vehicle seats includes manual setting and display elements for accommodating changes in seat part positions and for programmed seat part positions. In a first condition of the seat adjusting switch, only the memory setting and display elements are visible and operable by a vehicle occupant and, in a second condition, all setting and display elements are visible and operable, the first and second conditions being settable by the occupant.

Claims

1. A seat adjusting switch assembly for vehicle seats comprising:

manually operable manual setting and display elements accommodating manual setting of seat part positions,

and manually operable memory setting and display elements accommodating storing, setting and retrieval of memory stored seat part positions,

wherein said seat adjusting switch assembly is selectively operably switchable between first and second operating conditions, said first condition providing occupant accessibility to only the memory setting and display elements and said second condition providing occupant accessibility to said manual setting and display elements.

2. A seat adjusting switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first condition corresponds to relative movement of a part of the seat adjusting switch assembly under a covering and into an opening provided at the vehicle.

3. A seat adjusting switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting switch assembly is mounted at a vehicle side door to be movable between said first and second condition.

4. A seat adjusting switch assembly according to claim 2, wherein the side door includes an opening with a covering for accommodating the adjusting switch assembly, said adjusting switch assembly being slidably movable between the first and second conditions with the first condition corresponding to movement of the manual setting and display elements under the covering and the second condition corresponding to movement of the manual setting and display elements out of the opening from under the covering.

5. A seat adjusting switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second condition provides occupant accessibility to both said manual setting and display elements and said memory setting and display elements.

6. A seat adjusting switch assembly according to claim 2, wherein said second condition provides occupant accessibility to both said manual setting and display elements and said memory setting and display elements.

7. A seat adjusting switch assembly according to claim 3, wherein said second condition provides occupant accessibility to both said manual setting and display elements and said memory setting and display elements.

8. A seat adjusting switch assembly according to claim 4, wherein said second condition provides occupant accessibility to both said manual setting and display elements and said memory setting and display elements.

9. A seat adjusting switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the different conditions of the seat adjusting switch are caused by different positions of a covering assigned to the seat adjusting switch.

10. A seat adjusting switch assembly according to claim 5, wherein the different conditions of the seat adjusting switch are caused by different positions of a covering assigned to the seat adjusting switch.

11. A seat adjusting switch assembly according to claim 6, wherein the different conditions of the seat adjusting switch are caused by different positions of a covering assigned to the seat adjusting switch.

12. A seat adjusting switch assembly according to claim 7, wherein the different conditions of the seat adjusting switch are caused by different positions of a covering assigned to the seat adjusting switch.

13. A seat adjusting switch assembly according to claim 8, wherein the different conditions of the seat adjusting switch are caused by different positions of a covering assigned to the seat adjusting switch.