Seat adjusting mechanism

• US 6,894,234 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2000
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sottong, Sascha
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KYUNG S
• Application Number:
  US09/979,953
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5.R, 200/5.A, 200/17.A, 200/17.R, 200/18, 318/282, 318/286
• US Class Current: 200/5.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0228 Hand-activated mechanical switches B60N2/0229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2025/004 the operating member being depressable perpendicular to the other directions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2025/043 the operating member being rotatable around wobbling axis for additional switching functions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/04 Mimics of controlled apparatus or symbol
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/002 having an operating member rectilinearly slidable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/008 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Abstract

A device for controlling motor operation for adjusting a car seat using at least two switches wherein one switch is a multi-function switch and the other switch is a selector switch. The multi-function switch controls horizontal, vertical, and incline adjustments and the selector switch selects the portion of the seat to which the adjustment of the multi-function switch will be directed.

Claims

1. Device for controlling motor operators for adjusting the various parts of a seat, comprising:

a first selector switch means for selecting different menus of an adjustable region of seat parts,

a second multi-function switch means for adjusting the respective adjustable regions of the seat part, wherein the multi-function switch is realized in the form of a sliding rotary switch that is actuated in a cruciform fashion, wherein the horizontal and vertical adjustments, as well as incline adjustments for the selected adjustable region of the seat part, are assigned to the multi-function switch in each menu of the selector switch.

2. Control device according to claim 1, wherein said first selector switch means includes a first selector switch for the switching menu of the entire seat, a second selector switch for the switching menu of the seating surface, a third selector switch for the switching menu of the back rest.

3. Control device according to claim 2, further including a fourth selector switch is provided for the switching menu of a lumbar support.

4. Control device according to claim 3, wherein the first selector switch is arranged in the angle, wherein the second selector switch is arranged in the horizontal limb, and wherein the third selector switch is arranged in the vertical limb of the L-shape, with the fourth selector switch lying in the free space between the limbs of the L-shape.

5. Control device according to claim 3, wherein each selector switch is realized in the form of a contact switch.

6. Control device according to claim 3, wherein the first, the second and the third selector switch are arranged in a correspondingly shaped depression of a housing, and wherein the fourth selector switch is arranged in a separate depression of the housing.

7. Control device according to claim 6, wherein incline adjustments are assigned to the opposite rotational movements of at least one actuating element from a zero position of the multi-function switch, and by the fact that horizontal and vertical adjustments of the seat part in one direction are assigned to the horizontal and the vertical sliding movement of the actuating element.

8. Control device according to claim 6, wherein the actuating element of the multi-function switch is realized in the form of a truncated cone, a large end face of which is arranged in a cylindrical depression of the housing with a certain play, with its smaller free interface being provided with symbols.

9. Control device according to claim 8, wherein the symbols of the actuating element of the multi-function switch are backlit by means of a locating and function light.

10. Control device according to claim 2, wherein the first, second, and third selector switches are arranged relative to one another in accordance with the adjustable regions of the seat.

11. Control device according to claim 2, wherein the first, second, and third selector switches are arranged relative to one another in the shape of an L, with the horizontal limb of the L-shape pointing in the direction of the multi-function switch means.

12. Control device according to claim 2, wherein each switch includes a respectively associated actuating element, wherein each actuating element is provided with a symbol that is backlit by means of a locating and function light.