Crank and rod actuator for moving a seat back

• US 7,901,006 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2008
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Pigeon, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US12/193,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20100038948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 297/361.1, 297/362.11
• US Class Current: 297/362.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02253 characterised by the transmission between the electric motor and the seat or seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2245 provided with a lock mechanism on the upper part of the back-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/366 characterised by the locking device

Abstract

A reclining actuator for moving a seat back relative to a seat bottom includes a mounting plate and a crank supported on the mounting plate for movement relative thereto. A rod is provided having a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the crank and the second end is adapted to engage a seat back. A driver is provided for moving the crank relative to the mounting plate. A seat assembly includes a seat having a seat back and a seat bottom. The seat back is moveable relative to the seat bottom. A crank is connected to a driver for movement. A rod is connected between the crank and the seat back such that movement of the rod causes movement of the seat back.

Claims

1. An actuator for moving a seat back relative to a seat bottom comprising:

a mounting plate having a stop provided thereon;

a crank supported on the mounting plate for movement relative thereto;

a rod having a first end connected to the crank for movement therewith and a second end adapted to engage a seat back; and

a driver for moving the crank relative to the mounting plate, wherein one of the crank and the rod contacts the stop to limit movement of the crank and the rod in a first direction.

2. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the crank contacts the stop to limit movement of the crank and the rod.

3. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the rod contacts the stop to limit movement of the crank and rod.

4. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the driver is an electric motor.

5. The actuator of claim 4 wherein the driver further includes a gear set engaged to the electric motor, the gear set having an output shaft oriented at an angle relative to the electric motor.

6. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the crank is a compound offset crank having a crank pin connected to a pivot offset.

7. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the rod includes a latch striker that is selectively engaged with the seat back.

8. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the mounting plate has first and second stops provided thereon, and wherein one of the crank and the rod contacts the first stop to limit movement of the crank and the rod in a first direction and contacts the second stop to limit movement of the crank and the rod in a second direction.

11. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the driver is a manually operated device.

12. The actuator of claim 1 further including a second stage recliner that is positioned between the mounting plate and the crank to reduce or prevent the seat back from moving the crank and the rod.

9. An actuator for moving a seat back relative to a seat bottom comprising:

a mounting plate;

a crank supported on the mounting plate for movement relative thereto, wherein the crank is a compound offset crank having a crank pin connected to a pivot offset;

a rod having a first end connected to the crank for movement therewith and a second end adapted to engage a seat back; and

a driver for moving the crank relative to the mounting plate.

10. An actuator for moving a seat back relative to a seat bottom comprising:

a mounting plate;

a crank supported on the mounting plate for movement relative thereto;

a rod having a first end connected to the crank for movement therewith and a second end adapted to engage a seat back, wherein the rod includes a latch striker that is selectively engaged with the seat back; and

a driver for moving the crank relative to the mounting plate.