Electric adjusting device for a front seat of a motor vehicle

• US 6,460,934 B1
• Filed: 08/04/2000
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Rauscher, Frank, Maly, Peter, Langer, Jochen
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Beth A.
• Application Number:
  US09/633,181
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 297/463.1, 297/391, 297/284.6, 297/284.9, 297/378.12, 297/216.12, 297/216.13, 297/216.14, 297/216.15, 297/216.16, 297/33, 297/378.14, 297/330, 297/344.1, 297/344.3, 297/362.1, 297/378, 297/379, 297/329, 296/64, 296/65.1
• US Class Current: 297/463.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0228 Hand-activated mechanical switches B60N2/0229 takes precedence

Abstract

An electric adjusting device for a front seat of a motor vehicle, with which the front seat can be displaced at least in the longitudinal direction by means of an electric motor is provided. In the present invention, a forwards displacement of the front seat is requested by folding the seat back forwards (entry assistance). According to the invention, a changeover switch which is coupled to the release lever is provided. The changeover switch having to be actuated at the same time as the seat back is folded forwards, if it is intended for the seat to be displaced by means of an electric motor in order to facilitate entry.

Claims

1. An electric adjusting device for a front seat of a motor vehicle, with which the front seat can be displaced at least in the longitudinal direction by means of an electric motor, comprising:

a control unit which can be set, by a seat-back switch which is actuable by folding the seat back forwards, into an entry-assisting operating mode in which the front seat is displaced forwards into an entry position,

a release lever being provided on the seat back, which is used, in a release position, to release the seat back mechanically and enable it to fold forwards,

a changeover switch having at least one forwards-displacement position V and a neutral position N, wherein the changeover switch is coupled to the release lever in such a manner that the release lever is in the release position, the changeover switch is located in the forwards-displacement position V, and

wherein the control unit can be additionally activated by the changeover switch and wherein not only the seat-back switch has to be actuated, by folding the seat back forwards, but also the changeover switch has to be located in the forwards-displacement position V, in order to displace the front seat into the entry position by means of the electric motor.

2. An electric adjusting device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the seat-back switch is arranged in such a manner that the seat-back switch is only actuated if the seat back has been folded forwards near an end position.

3. An electric adjusting device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the changeover switch also has a rearwards-displacement position R into which the changeover switch can be brought by pressing down the release lever beyond the neutral position N, at least the changeover switch having to be located in the rearwards-displacement position R in order to displace the front seat rearwards.

4. An electric adjusting device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the seat back additionally has to be folded back in order to displace the front seat rearwards.

5. An electric adjusting device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein if a longitudinal adjustment of the front seat is requested, by actuating the release lever, the electric motor is activated in such a manner that this adjustment of the front seat takes place at a higher speed than the normal comfort speed.

6. An electric adjusting device, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the adjustment at an increased speed only takes place if at the same time a door-contact switch indicates an opened door.

7. An electric adjusting device for adjusting a front seat of a motor vehicle by means of an electric motor, the front seat having a seat back, the electric adjusting device comprising:

a seat-back switch that can be actuated by folding the seat back forward; and

a release lever having a release position and a neutral position, wherein the front seat is moved forward when the release lever is placed and held in the release position and when the seat-back switch is actuated by folding the seat back forward.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the release lever has a rearward-displacement position, and in order to move the front seat rearwards, the release lever must be in the rearward-displacement position.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the front seat is moved rearwards when the seat back is folded back and when the release lever is placed and held in the rearward-displacement position.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the front seat is moved rearwards at a speed higher than a normal comfort speed when the seat back is folded back and when the release lever is placed and held in the rearward-displacement position.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the front seat is moved rearwards at a speed higher than a normal comfort speed only when a door-contact switch indicates the driver-side front door is open.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the front seat is moved forward at a speed higher than a normal comfort speed when the release lever is placed and held in the release position and when the seat-back switch is actuated by folding the seat back forward.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the front seat is moved forward at a speed higher than a normal comfort speed only when a door-contact switch indicates the driver-side front door is open.

14. A method for adjusting a front seat of a motor vehicle by means of an electric motor, the front seat having a seat back, the method comprising:

moving the front seat forward by folding the seat back forward to actuate a seat-back switch and by placing and holding a release lever in a release position.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

moving the front seat rearwards by folding the seat back back and by placing and holding a release lever in a rearward-displacement position.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein moving the front seat rearwards includes moving the front seat rearwards at a speed higher than a normal comfort speed.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein moving the front seat rearwards at a speed higher than a normal comfort speed when a door-contact switch indicates the driver-side front door is open.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein moving the front seat forward includes moving the front seat forward at a speed higher than a normal comfort speed.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein moving the front seat forward at a speed higher than a normal comfort speed when a door-contact switch indicates the driver-side front door is open.