Held Erect By A Releasable Latch Patents (Class 297/378.12)
  • Patent number: 7350867
    Abstract: A seat for a vehicle is provided with a sliding device including a slide-lock mechanism, the sliding device sliding a seat body in a case of releasing the slide-lock mechanism, a seatback including a reclining device, the seatback being tilted forward in a case of releasing the reclining device, a seat cushion including a tip-up device, the seat cushion being tipped up in a case of operating the tip-up device and a walk-in mechanism including a lever, the walk-in mechanism configured to release the slide-lock mechanism, release the reclining device and operate the tip-up device in proportion to a shifting length of the lever. The tip-up device is operated in a case where the lever is shifted in an intermediate position and the slide-lock mechanism and the reclining device are released in a case where the lever is shifted in an end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Automotive Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Gil Sam Park
  • Patent number: 7338121
    Abstract: A vehicle child seat restraining system automatically retracts out of the way of folding portions of the seat, so that the striker of the system does not impinge on and damage portions of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenneth Pilcher
  • Patent number: 7328954
    Abstract: A reclining mechanism of a reclining seat including a seat back and a seat cushion includes a reclining lock mechanism which locks the seat back at an adjusted angular position and allows the seat back to be rotated forward/rearward relative to the seat cushion when manually operated; a reclining angle memory mechanism which remembers an angular position of a previous adjustment of the seat back and allows the seat back to be rotated forward relative to the seat cushion when manually operated independently of the reclining lock mechanism, wherein the reclining angle memory mechanism locks the seat back to the remembered angular position when the seat back is rotated rearward from the forward position; and a manual operation limiting device which prevents the reclining lock mechanism or the reclining angle memory mechanism from being operated when the other thereof is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Shiroki Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutaka Sasaki, Hidehiko Fujioka
  • Patent number: 7325876
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat cushion having a riser releasably secured to a floor. A seat back operatively coupled to the seat cushion pivots between seating and folded positions. A recliner is coupled between the seat back and seat cushion. Rotation of an input shaft actuates the recliner between locked and unlocked states. A lockout mechanism controls actuation of the recliner and includes a lock plate fixedly secured to the input shaft and a lock arm operatively coupled to the riser. The lock arm moves between a retracted position allowing rotation of the input shaft and actuation of the recliner when the riser is latched to the floor and an extended position wherein the lock plate abuts the lock arm preventing rotation of the input shaft and actuation of the recliner when the seat back is in the folded position and the riser is unlatched from the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Lavoie, Omar D. Tame
  • Patent number: 7320501
    Abstract: A remote release actuating system 10 for a seat assembly 12 in a vehicle. Conventionally, the system includes a seatback 14 that is removable through an arcuate range. The seatback 14 is moveable between a design position (tilted upward and rearwardly in which it may support a passenger), and a full fold flat position. Seatback latches 24 secure the seatback 14 in the effective position. A seat cushion 32 supports the seatback 14. The seat cushion 32 has a rearward portion that cooperates with the seatback 14. The rearward portion also releasably engages floor latches 26. The seat cushion 32 has a forward portion that is pivotally attached to the vehicle floor. The seat cushion 32 and seatback 14 tumble forwardly when (a) the seat cushion 32 is disengaged from the floor latches 26; (b) the seatback 14 lies in the full forward flat position; and (c) the floor latches 26 are disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Mark R. Keyser, Michele R. Palomba
  • Patent number: 7309105
    Abstract: An adjustable lumbar support for a seat comprising a pair of parallel lateral rails, wherein each of the lateral rails has a lower end and an upper end, a support panel having a top end and a bottom end, the support panel pivoting at the top end while remaining fixed with respect to the lateral rails, a rail bracket slidably attached to the lateral rails, a spring operatively connected to the rail bracket, wherein the spring biases the rail bracket in a first position, a cable operatively connected to the rail bracket, wherein the cable pulls the bracket from the first position to a second position, and a lift wire pivotably attaching the support panel to the rail bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Donald D. Mundell, Joe Reu
  • Patent number: 7306286
    Abstract: An assembly for holding open a locking mechanism for a motor vehicle folding seat includes a locking mechanism having a gear shaft and a release link fixedly attached to the gear shaft that transitions the locking mechanism between an engaged and a released orientation. A hold-open pin attached to the release link is received within a follower link notch to maintain the locking mechanism in the released orientation. An actuator positions the follower link notch to receive the hold-open pin within the follower link notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignees: Chrysler LLC, Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn F Syrowik, Pius Ng, Erik Fontaine, Ravi Hosalli, Ronald J Kaip
  • Publication number: 20070262630
    Abstract: A seat frame structure includes a seat cushion frame, a seat back frame, and a connecting bracket connecting the seat cushion frame to the seat back frame. The seat cushion frame includes a first beam portion having an internal space in at least one of a left/right side edge portion. The seat back frame includes a second beam portion having an internal space in at least one of a left/right side edge portion. The connecting bracket includes a first arm portion inserted into the internal space of the first beam portion and connected to the first beam portion and a second arm portion inserted into the internal space of the second beam portion and connected to the second beam portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Sawada, Mitsugu Udagawa
  • Patent number: 7287814
    Abstract: A fitting includes a movable locking device connected to a lower fitting part for engaging an upper fitting part and thereby locking the fitting, a control cam for engaging with a control element of the upper fitting part and thereby controlling the engagement of the locking device and the upper fitting part, and a spring-loaded clamping eccentric that acts on the locking device for securing its engagement with the upper fitting part. For unlocking the fitting, the spring-loaded clamping eccentric is moved with an actuating force in a first unlocking step, so that the engagement of the locking device and the upper fitting part is removed. In the first unlocking stage, the control cam and the control element still engage. In a second unlocking stage, which is attainable with a higher actuating force, the engagement of control cam and control element is at least to a large extent is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernd Heimann, Martin Gehrhardt, Martin Lübken, Stefan Haber
  • Patent number: 7281766
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided with a pair of left and right seatback side frames comprising a seatback frame. The seatback frame is connected to the rear end of a seat portion frame via a reclining mechanism. The vehicle seat is further provided with a torsion bar that is an elastic body between the reclining mechanism and the seatback frame. When the seatback frame displaces and falls forward relative to the seat portion frame, the torsion bar deforms and resists the displacement of the seatback frame. The torsion bar is arranged at the upper region of the seat occupant's pelvis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Yasuhide Takata
  • Patent number: 7273243
    Abstract: Seat for a rear row of seats in a vehicle, which seat can be collapsed into a recess positioned in the cargo area behind the row of seats for the purpose of expanding cargo space, so that the back side of the backrest, which is folded forward onto the seat portion, is facing upward, and is essentially flush with the cargo area floor. The seat improves the kinematics of known seats and thereby makes the seat more ergonomically favorable in terms of its operation. The conversion of the seat from its use position to its non-use position is achieved through a single operation, namely a continuous pull on a strap fastened at the back end of a two-component seat portion frame, unlike known complicated systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH
    Inventor: Michal Prugarewicz
  • Patent number: 7270375
    Abstract: A disengage mechanism incorporated into a floor-mounted, forwardly pivotal and removable seat including a bottom and a pivotally associated back. The mechanism includes a handle-operated actuating assembly mounted to an underside of the seat bottom. A seat forward tumble mechanism includes a cable securing to the assembly at a first location and a seat disengage mechanism includes a pair of cables securing to the assembly at a second location. The assembly is actuated in a first selected direction to engage the forward tumble mechanism, the assembly being actuated in a second reverse direction to concurrently engage the forward tumble mechanism as well as the seat disengagement mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tavis S. Lutzka, Keith Brantley
  • Patent number: 7267406
    Abstract: A foldable vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back frame having a lower end adapted to be supported relative to a vehicle floor to permit movement of the seat back frame between an upper, deployed position and a lowered, stowed position. A seat cross member is adapted to be supported relative to the vehicle floor in a spaced relation to the seat back frame. A seat suspension member, constructed of a flexible material, has a rear portion connected to the seat back frame and a front portion connected to the cross member. When the seat back frame is moved between the deployed position and the stowed position, the cross member and the suspension member are also moved between a deployed position and a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Alan Sturt
  • Patent number: 7258400
    Abstract: In a vehicle-seat retracting apparatus, a seating state is switched to a non-seating state by retracting a headrest and tilting a seat back relative to a seat cushion (lower arm). In association with retraction of the headrest, the tilting angle of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion is unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukifumi Yamada
  • Patent number: 7255399
    Abstract: An ultra compact, easy to operate folding vehicle seat includes a seat back, seat base and support leg members and is movable between a stow position and a design position. The folding vehicle seat includes a folding mechanism having an upper member for connection to the seat back and a lower member for supporting the seat base; the upper and lower members of the folding mechanism include integrated teeth aligned in meshing relationship such that movement of the seat back causes the lower member to rotate and lift the seat base to move the folding vehicle seat to a design position. A pair of upper cams are provided for selective engagement with the upper member and a third cam tab of the lower member of the folding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Brennon White, William H. Jones, Kurt Seibold, Kyle M. Doxey, Patricia L. Conn, Alan J. King, Vanja Cemalovic
  • Patent number: 7255398
    Abstract: A seat reclining apparatus is provided with a neutral position returning means which holds a link lever at a forward reclining operating position, and releases the holding of the link lever in the case that a seat back is shifted from a forward reclined position side to a neutral position within a reclining range. The neutral position returning means shifts a cam plate by a spring in such a manner as to hole the position of the link lever at a lever rotating position while the link lever rotates a releasing lever fixed to a center shaft of a reclining lock mechanism together therewith so as to release a lock of the reclining lock mechanism, and shifts the cam plate to an original position against the spring by a cam releasing means so as to return the link lever to an original position, in the case that the forward reclining seat back 3 is shifted to the neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignees: Fujikiko Kabushiki Kaisha, Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Tokui, Akira Nemoto
  • Patent number: 7252337
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat arrangement for a motor vehicle seat, comprising a seat base that defines a seat surface for a vehicle passenger and extends in the longitudinal direction of the seat, and a back rest. According to the invention, the back rest can be adjusted in relation to the seat base in the longitudinal direction of the seat by means of a lever arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co KG, Coburg
    Inventors: Jochen Hofmann, Jürgen Angermüller, Thomas Haagen, Matthias Fischer
  • Patent number: 7243995
    Abstract: A second row seat is guided by a vehicle-longitudinal-direction sliding mechanism and a vehicle-width-direction siding mechanism supported on the vehicle-longitudinal-direction sliding mechanism. The vehicle-width-direction sliding mechanism is configured such that a length thereof is set within a width of a recess portion formed at the bottom face of a seat cushion so as to allow the vehicle-width-direction sliding mechanism to be placed within the recess portion when the seat cushion has been moved forward and downward by a moving mechanism. Accordingly, a load floor formed by a back face of a seat back according to a forward movement of the seat back with its lower and horizontal position can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichi Nakaya, Kenji Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 7243996
    Abstract: A power folding seat for installation within a vehicle includes a seat cushion mountable to the vehicle, a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion, and a power actuator disposed within the seat back for automatically rotating the seat back between an upright position and a folded position. The power actuator includes a power seat recliner, a latch assembly, a power head restraint adjuster, and a control system coupled to the power seat recliner, the latch assembly, and the power head restraint adjuster. The control system includes a signal receiver which is configured to receive commands from a remote transmitter, and a data processor coupled to the signal receiver. The data processor controls the power seat recliner, the power latch actuator and the power head restraint adjuster, and is configured to move the seat back between the upright position and the folded position in accordance with the received remote commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew R. Daniels
  • Patent number: 7229132
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to a foldable or collapsible juvenile car seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Meeker R & D, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Meeker, William R. Gibson
  • Patent number: 7226128
    Abstract: In the case of a vehicle seat (1) with a first seat rail (5), a second seat rail (8) which can be moved and locked relative to the first seat rail (5), by way of which the longitudinal seat position of the vehicle seat (1) can be adjusted, an adjustable fitting connected to the second seat rail (8), a seat back coupled by way of the fitting, and a seat cushion carrier (28) coupled to the second seat rail (8) by way of a pivotable support member (30), whereby the vehicle seat (1) can be can be converted from a use position by releasing the fitting and pivoting the seat back relative to the seat cushion carrier (28) to a floor position, a device (33) is provided which queries the relative position between pivotable support member (30) and second seat rail (8) and in dependency on that releases the seat rails (5, 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Eckhard Spies, Jörg Adam
  • Patent number: 7222918
    Abstract: The invention relates to a forwardly movable vehicle seat having an underframe including a longitudinal adjusting device, the longitudinal adjusting device including two pairs of rails, two catch devices and one actuation lever for actuating the catch devices. The vehicle seat further includes a seat pan that is carried by the underframe, and a seat back that is pivotal about a seat back axis and on which there is disposed a disengagement lever. In an actuated condition, the seat back is unlocked so as to be foldable, the actuation lever being actuated and the catch devices unlocked and the seat being allowed to be brought from an initial position to a forwardly moved position when the seat back is folded forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: C. Rob Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Brönner, Wilfried Beneker, Reinhard Vogel
  • Patent number: 7210734
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat bottom and a seat back pivotally attached to the seat bottom. The seat bottom includes a track having a longitudinal track axis. The seat assembly further includes a head restraint moveably attached to the track such that the head restraint is moveable longitudinally along the track from a use position to a stowed position. An actuation device is associated with the head restraint for moving the head restraint from the use position toward the stowed position when the seat back pivots toward the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Nagarjun V. Yetukuri, Mladen Humer, Gerald S. Locke
  • Patent number: 7204556
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat underframe and a backrest which tips forwards, these being interconnected by an adjustment and tipping axle and which preferably has a backrest inclination adjustment device on both sides. The adjustment device containing an adjustment gear and a part whose angle is adjustable in relation to a side part of the seat underframe. In the use position of the backrest, a stop of the part with an adjustable angle rests on a first stop of a fitting which is fixed in relation to the backrest, while in the tipped-forward position of the backrest, a stop that is provided on a fitting on the seat side rests on a second stop of the fitting that is fixed in relation to the backrest and/or the backrest upholstery rests on the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg
    Inventors: Christina Schwerdtner, Peter Rausch, Wolfgang Suck
  • Patent number: 7201437
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly including a lower seat cushion supported by the vehicle and a seat back supported for movement between an upright position and a stowed position. The seat assembly also has a headrest supported for movement relative to the seat back. A locking mechanism engages the headrest to retain the headrest in a raised position when the seat back is in the upright position. The locking mechanism also disengages the headrest for allowing movement of the headrest away from the raised position when the seat back is moved toward the stowed position. The seat assembly also has a biasing mechanism that biases the headrest toward the raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Nizar Freijy
  • Patent number: 7172253
    Abstract: Vehicle seat includes seat frame, an articulated backrest frame lockable by an angle adjuster adjustable between an upright basic position, a partially forwardly-folded easy-entry position, and a completely forwardly folded cargo position. A release shaft is pivotable by a release lever to release the angle adjuster. The backrest frame can only be moved out of the basic position into the cargo position by being folded forward into the easy-entry position, locked by resetting the release lever, then unlocked by actuating the release lever and folded forward into cargo position. An easy-entry mechanism includes the following: control cams on the backrest frame with an easy-entry stop, a locking hook articulated to the seat frame to engage the easy-entry stop, and a pushrod eccentrically articulated to the release shaft that, when the backrest is folded forward, is initially in an inactive position, and then releases the locking hook in an active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Haverkamp
  • Patent number: 7156463
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat has a pivoted backrest that can be swung forward in the direction of a seating of the seat, a longitudinal seat adjuster for adjusting the longitudinal position of the seat, a locking device of the longitudinal seat adjuster for locking a longitudinal seat position previously adjusted, and an unlocking mechanism for unlocking the locking device, and a flexible traction device via which the unlocking mechanism is coupled with the backrest so that the locking device is unlocked when the backrest is swung forward. An actuation element acts upon the traction device with a force component at an angle to the direction of extension of the traction device when the backrest is swung forward, thereby tightening the traction device and unlocking the locking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co KG, Coburg
    Inventors: Werner Taubmann, Thomas Hein
  • Patent number: 7152924
    Abstract: Unlocking mechanism of reclining device features an angularly movable stabilizer link mechanism of four-point articulated link structure which comprises a first link member connected with a remote lock control device, a second link member and a third link member. The second link member is pivotally connected with a shaft of the reclining device and one end of the first link member. The third link member is pivotally connected with seat back side and another end of the first link member. With inclination of seat back, the second and third link members are moved angularly relative to the reclining device shaft so as to retain the first link member at fixed horizontal position. Operation of the remote lock control device causes rotation of the first link member away from such fixed horizontal position, thereby causing rotation of the shaft to unlock the reclining device, irrespective of the inclination of seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Nemoto, Tomohisa Kubota
  • Patent number: 7152921
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including a seat cushion assembly, a seat back assembly, and a seat track assembly for supporting the seat cushion assembly and the seat back assembly in a vehicle. The seat cushion and seat back assemblies being movable to a stadium position such that the seat cushion and seat back assemblies are in a substantially upright position so that an area behind the seat is easily accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Mohammad Saberan
  • Patent number: 7152923
    Abstract: Vehicle seat comprising a cushion and a backrest pivoting with respect to the cushion about a horizontal pivot axis by means of an articulation between a range of erect positions of use, a folded-flat position and an intermediate folded-down position. This seat comprises a first, a second and a third control member connecting the cushion to the backrest, one of the first, second and third control members being distinct from the other two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'automobile S.A.
    Inventors: Fabrice Charras, Jean-François Pierrey, Gérald Thevenot, Yann Reubeuze, Jean-Gabriel Saint Supery, David Panet, Emmanuel Lardais, Xavier Lelaure, Cédric Legras
  • Patent number: 7140687
    Abstract: A headrest assembly that includes a head support connected to a rail that is adjustably mounted to a housing so that the headrest assembly is capable of moving between a use position and a stow position. A lock member engages the rail in the use position and operably disengages the rail to initiate the movement from the use position to the stow position. Specifically, the rail is biased to a stow position so that disengaging the lock member from the rail moves the headrest assembly from the use position to the stow position. The headrest assembly is also coordinated into a seat assembly such that the movement of a seatback from a use position to a stow position concurrently causes the headrest assembly to move from the use position to the stow position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Hoekstra, David L. Robinson
  • Patent number: 7137666
    Abstract: A seat for use in a vehicle that is configured to be movable between a generally upright in-use position and a retracted cargo position includes a seat base, a seat part having a rear region and a front region, a first articulated arm having a first end coupled to the rear region of the seat part and an opposite second end coupled the seat base, the first articulated arm having a horizontal axes of rotation, and a backrest rotatably coupled to the first end of the first articulated arm and movable between the in-use position and the cargo position. The backrest is lowerable together with the seat part toward the seat base into the cargo position providing an increased freight space above the backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Guido Haladuda, Michael Hoerl, Michael Comes, Patrick Stachel, Walter Link
  • Patent number: 7137667
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat, in particular a rear row of seats of a motor vehicle, that is displaceable between a seat position and a functional position, having a seat part (3) adjustable relative to a seat frame (2), a back rest (4) foldable relative to the seat part, a front handle (11) for unlocking a seat longitudinal locking unit (8) of the seat part (3), a handle (24) operated from a rear position of the back rest (4), by means of which the seat longitudinal locking (8) of the seat part (3) can be unlatched; it is possible to check, whether the seat part (3) is in a rear position; if the seat part (3) is in the rear position, a rest blocking unit of the back rest (4) can be released. According to the invention, a simple displacement of the motor vehicle seat, in particular also from the rear side, is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH & Co.KG
    Inventor: Klaus-Dieter Habedank
  • Patent number: 7137670
    Abstract: An improved seating system that includes a seat back assembly (10) that is fabricated to include a seat back (12) with first and second wall portions (14,16), and which may include an integrated reinforcement structure (18). The seating system is capable of either or both of withstanding without rupture at least about 11000 Newtons in the direction in which the seat back (12) faces in a plane, parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle or, upon rapid acceleration up to at least about 20 g, substantially no fragmentation of the seat back with at least a 30 kg mass placed behind the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikas Gupta, Jane M. Palmieri, Mick F. Heckert, Gregory J. Korchnak, Eric R. Kurtycz, Gregory P. Reny
  • Patent number: 7134725
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat including a foldable backrest and a lowerable seat part, wherein the backrest is foldable toward the seat part and a mechanism is provided so the seat part is lowerable from a use position into a forward position, wherein a coupling element is provided to couple folding-down of the backrest to forward movement and lowering of the seat part, and a locking mechanism is provided to lock the seat part in the use position. The coupling element may unlock the locking mechanism as the backrest is folded forward toward the seat part at a predefined angle of inclination, so that inclination of the backrest can be changed while the seat part is locked by folding the backrest forward to the predefined angle of inclination and the unlocked seat part is lowered into the forward position by folding the backrest further forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg
    Inventors: Jochen Hofmann, Olaf Göbel
  • Patent number: 7134724
    Abstract: The adjustment device comprises a toothed quadrant connected to the sitting surface, and a toothed quadrant which is connected to the back and which can be meshed into the toothed quadrant connected to the sitting surface, in a locked configuration of the seat, and can be demeshed from the toothed quadrant connected to the sitting surface, in an unlocked configuration of the seat, making it possible to adjust the angular position of the back with respect to the sitting surface, an element which possesses a stepped quadrant having a first convex surface and at least one second convex surface, each defining an angular sequence, which are connected to one another by a stop surface, a pawl possessing a tooth capable of following each convex surface until it comes to bear against a stop surface, and an element to pivot the pawl in order to release the tooth from a stop surface, so as to cause the seat to change from one angular sequence to the next sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Grupo Antolin-Ingenieria, S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Chabanne, Eric Gagnaire
  • Patent number: 7124849
    Abstract: A tricycle includes a body with a handlebar stand pivotally connected to a front portion of the body to steer a front wheel rotatably mounted on a front wheel bracket which is mounted to a front side of the body, two rear wheels rotatably and oppositely mounted on a rear side of the body and respectively driven by a motor, two side plates respectively formed on the body to be opposite to each other for supporting a user's feet, a seat pivotally mounted on top of the body and a backrest frame pivotally mounted on top of the body and detachably connected to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignees: Taiwan An I Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shun-Tai Huang
  • Patent number: 7125080
    Abstract: A retractable armrest is disclosed for a foldable chair. The chair has a seat and a backrest with the backrest being pivotably mounted to the seat by a chair pivot for movement between an operating position and a folded position. A link pivotably operates between armrest and the seat for enabling the armrest to be rotated into the retracted position when the backrest is in the operating position. The link rotates the armrest from the extended position to the retracted position upon the backrest being moved from the operating position to the folded position. The foldable chair is suitable for use on a personal mobility vehicle such as a scooter, a power wheel chair, a foldable personal mobility vehicle or any other suitable chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Electric Mobility Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Jarema, III, Edward J. Dwyer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7121624
    Abstract: A seat adjustment mechanism for a vehicle seat including a seat bottom supported by the vehicle and a seatback coupled to the seat bottom is provided. The seat adjustment mechanism includes a first kneel mechanism connected to the vehicle seat and a powered motor operably connected to the first kneel mechanism. The powered motor drives the first kneel mechanism to translate the seatback and seat bottom relative the vehicle to manipulate the seat assembly into a desired configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Srinivas Pejathaya, Jeffery T Bonk, Christopher J Ryan, David L Robinson
  • Patent number: 7114779
    Abstract: A fitting system (5) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, for adjusting the inclination of a backrest relative to a seat part of the vehicle seat, having a first fitting (10) and a second fitting (20) arranged above and attached to the adjustment fitting (10), wherein after the first fitting (10) has been unlocked, the backrest is adjustable between various upright use positions and/or between at least one upright use position and a rearward inclined recline position, and wherein after unlocking the second fitting (20), the backrest can be adjusted between at least one upright use position and a forward-tilted table position, the first fitting (10) and the second fitting (20) being separately formed as entirely functional adjustment fittings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Thiel, Andreas Rabbach
  • Patent number: 7100984
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprising a runner made up of a fixed rail fixed to a vehicle floor, and of a moving rail mounted to slide relative to the fixed rail, a front leg having a top end and a bottom end mounted to pivot relative to the vehicle floor, a seat back mounted to pivot relative to the moving rail of the runner, and a seat proper having a front end mounted to pivot on the top end of the front leg. The seat back is mounted to pivot relative to the seat proper, and the seat further comprises at least one locking device adapted to selectively preventing the seat back from pivoting or allowing said seat back to pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile S.A.
    Inventors: David Epaud, François Fourrey, Fabrice Lesbats, Christian Couasnon
  • Patent number: 7097253
    Abstract: A vehicle seat recliner and folding latch assembly is provided. The assembly generally includes a lower quadrant disk, a slide pin sub-assembly and a recliner disk. The slide pin sub-assembly is supported on the lower quadrant disk for pivotal displacement between a first position and a second position. The recliner disk is supported for pivotal displacement on the slide-pin sub-assembly. The recliner disk includes an engagement edge engaging the slide pin sub-assembly. The engagement edge is adapted to lock the slide pin sub-assembly in the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Craig J Coughlin, Jeffery T Bonk, Scott Fast
  • Patent number: 7097252
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat with a seat back hinge including a lower hinge arm associated with a seat carrier and an upper hinge arm associated with a seat back. A locking mechanism prevents the seat back tilting forward in a locked position and allows tilting of the seat back in a released position. The locking mechanism includes a handle, and a blocking lever hinged to the seat back that includes a blocking side. The upper hinge arm cooperates with the blocking side and a retaining catch stop. A retaining lever on the seat back forms a retaining lug which abuts the retaining catch stop in the tilted position of the seat back and retains the seat back in position. The blocking lever pivots upon actuation of the handle to abut the retaining lever, which is pivoted as a result, releasing the retaining lug from engagement with the retaining catch stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Burckhard Becker, Dieter Strasser, Michael Hennicke
  • Patent number: 7097250
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat including: a seat frame; a pivotally mounted seat back which, when released, is tiltable forward out of its position of use and toward a seat surface of the seat frame; a longitudinal guide with which the seat frame is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the seat; a fixing device for fixing a seat frame in a previously adjusted longitudinal position of the seat; a coupling mechanism; and, a memory device by which the seat frame can be automatically held in an adjustable longitudinal position of the seat, which is defined as a memory position. An actuating mechanism is actively connected to a seat back release for the forward tilted seat back and actuates the seat back release when the memory position of the seat frame is reached, thereby enabling the seat back to be tilted into a position of use once again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Peter Rausch, Werner Taubmann, Jürgen Koppenstein
  • Patent number: 7086700
    Abstract: An automobile seat with supporting frame, upholstery, and seat cover includes a seat body and a seat back, as well as at least one seat back region, such as a side wing on the seat back, whose height and shape in its use position extends forward over the central shape of the seat back. An elastic adjustment element and actuation medium for the adjustment element are positioned within the seat back or the side wing. The adjustment element and the deformed region in the seat back such as the side wing are so deformed by the actuation medium when the seat back is tilted forward from the use position into the tilted-forward position that the height of the seat back portion, such as the side wing, extending over the central shape is less than when in the use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Klaus-Dieter Habedank
  • Patent number: 7086697
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism for an automotive vehicle seat for allowing pivotal adjustment of a seat back (12) relative to a seat cushion (14) between a plurality of reclined seating positions and a forwardly stowed position. The recliner mechanism includes a seat back (12) bracket pivotally coupled to a seat cushion bracket. The seat back (12) bracket and seat cushion (14) bracket are each fixedly secured to the seat back (12) and seat cushion (14), respectively. A sector of teeth is formed in the seat back bracket. A pawl (40) having a rack of teeth lockably engageable with the sector of teeth is slidably engaged with the seat cushion bracket (30) for movement between a locked position with the rack of teeth engaged with the sector of teeth and an unlocked position with the rack of teeth disengaged with the sector of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Inventor: Omar D. Tame
  • Patent number: 7086698
    Abstract: A seat device equips a walk-in mechanism and a fold down mechanism (a seatback is turned down with large angle so as to attain the flat condition). These mechanisms can be operated selectively using a simple operation without using plural levers. A base bracket of the seat device is fixed to a lower arm. The base bracket has a stopper and pivotally supports the first link member and the second member in a freely turning way. An upper arm has a contact portion. If the upper arm is turned down in the forward direction for the walk-in operation, the contact portion gets in contact with an intervening member of the first link member so as not to turn further down in the forward direction. In the case that the seatback is turned to the flat condition, the intervening member is moved towards the outside portion of the locus of movement of the contact portion. Consequently, the contact portion of the upper arm can be turned down on a large scale without getting in contact with the intervening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Gifu Shatai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shin Shiraki
  • Patent number: 7077463
    Abstract: Disclosed is a folding split seat which is easy to move from a seating position to a cargo position and back and which accomplishes this by moving the seat cushion forward and downward out of the way of the folded seat back without the need to fold or flip the seat cushion. Also disclosed is a embodiment of the folding split seat that also provides for a reclining seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Simon Sun, Zorn Kojic
  • Patent number: 7073861
    Abstract: A hinge construction in which a center hinge 14 is provided between seat backs 1 and 2 arranged by being divided into left and right, and the left and right seat backs 1 and 2 are supported by the center hinge 14 so as to be reclinable. In this hinge construction, the center hinge 14 includes a mounting bracket 18 of which one end portion is installed to the right seat back 2, a center hinge bracket 19 installed to the vehicle body side, and a hinge shaft 20 for connecting the mounting bracket 18 to the center hinge bracket 19. The left and right seat backs 1 and 2 are supported via the center hinge 14 so as to be reclinable by inserting the hinge shaft 20 through the other end portion of the mounting bracket 18 and the center hinge bracket 19 and by fixing the hinge shaft 20 to a seat frame 3 of the left seat back 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Ichikawa, Toru Hirano, Akira Hijikata
  • Patent number: 7066543
    Abstract: A fold-flat hinge assembly for use with a seat assembly includes an arm pivotably supported by a support member and adapted to support the seat back, as well as a gear fixedly attached to a shaft that is rotatably supported within a first slot of the support member. The shaft also includes a gear fixedly attached thereto and interfacing said arm. A blocking pin slidably supported by the support member between a first position and a second position and mechanically communicating with the shaft blocks rotation of the arm relative to the support member when in a first position. When the blocking pin is moved to a second position by the shaft interacting with the gear teeth of the arm, the arm is in rotate relative to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: Shihong Yu