Backrest release system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10604033-B2
Application number	US-201815981019-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2018
Priority date	Jul 19, 2017
Publication date	Mar 31, 2020
Grant date	Mar 31, 2020

Abstract

A backrest release system is provided for a seat having a seat bottom, a pivotable backrest, and a releasable latch for locking the backrest relative to the seat bottom. The system comprises a first portion that is mountable to a support structure of the backrest. The first portion includes a carrier and a retainer that is attachable to the carrier so that the retainer is pivotable relative to the carrier. Furthermore, the retainer is connectable to the latch. The system also includes a second portion including a cover mountable on a back panel of the backrest, and a handle configured to be pivotally attached to the cover. The second portion is configured to be attached to the back panel prior to positioning the back panel on the backrest support structure, and the second portion is alignable with the first portion so that the handle may be attached to the retainer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A backrest release system for a vehicle seat having a seat bottom, a backrest that is pivotable relative to the seat bottom, and a releasable latch for locking the backrest with respect to the seat bottom, the backrest including a backrest support structure and a back panel, the backrest release system comprising:
a first portion that is mountable to the backrest support structure, the first portion including a carrier, and a retainer that is attachable to the carrier so that the retainer is pivotable relative to the carrier, the retainer further being connectable to the latch; and
a second portion including a cover that is mountable on the back panel, and a handle configured to be pivotally attached to the cover;
wherein the second portion is configured to be attached to the back panel prior to positioning the back panel on the backrest support structure, and wherein the second portion is alignable with the first portion when the back panel is positioned on the backrest support structure so that the handle of the second portion may be attached to the retainer of the first portion.

2. The backrest release system of claim 1 wherein the carrier is configured to be connected directly to the backrest support structure.

3. The backrest release system of claim 1 wherein the retainer is configured to be attached to the carrier with a connecting rod so that radial play of the retainer relative to the carrier is inhibited, while enabling axial movement of the retainer with respect to the carrier when the handle is not attached to the retainer.

4. The backrest release system of claim 3 wherein the handle is configured to be connected to the cover so that axial play of the handle with respect to the cover is inhibited, while enabling radial movement of the handle with respect to the cover when the handle is not attached to the retainer.

5. The backrest release system of claim 4 wherein the cover includes an elongated slot that is configured to receive a pivot rod of the handle so that the pivot rod is radially slidable in the slot when the handle is not attached to the retainer.

6. The backrest release system of claim 1 wherein the seat further includes a cable associated with the latch for releasing the latch, and wherein the retainer is connectable to the cable.

7. The backrest release system of claim 1 wherein the handle is configured to be connected to the cover so that the handle is axially fixed with respect to the cover, while being radially movable with respect to the cover when the handle is not attached to the retainer.

8. The backrest release system of claim 1 wherein the handle is configured to be attached to the retainer with a fastener when the handle is in a raised position.

9. The backrest release system of claim 8 wherein the handle and the retainer each define an opening, and the openings are alignable for receiving the fastener when the back panel is positioned on the backrest support structure.

10. The backrest release system of claim 1 wherein the first and second portions are configured so that the back panel is positioned between the cover and the carrier when the handle is attached to the retainer.

11. A vehicle seat comprising:
a seat bottom;
a backrest pivotally attached to the seat bottom; and
a releasable recliner mechanism configured to inhibit pivotal movement of the backrest with respect to the seat bottom when engaged, and to allow pivotal movement of the backrest with respect to the seat bottom when released;
wherein the backrest includes a support structure, a back panel for covering a rear portion of the support structure, and a backrest release system that is operable to release the recliner mechanism so that the backrest may pivot with respect to the seat bottom, the backrest release system including:
a first portion mounted on the support structure, the first portion including a carrier, and a retainer attached to the carrier so that the retainer is pivotable relative to the carrier, the retainer further being connected to the recliner mechanism; and
a second portion including a cover mounted on the back panel, and a handle pivotally attached to the cover and fixedly attached to the retainer so that the handle and retainer are rotatable together.

12. The vehicle seat of claim 11 wherein the second portion is configured to be mounted on the back panel prior to positioning the back panel on the support structure.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 11 further comprising a cable connected to the recliner mechanism and the retainer.

14. A method of assembling a backrest release system for a vehicle seat having a seat bottom, a seat back that is pivotable relative to the seat bottom, a releasable latch for locking the seat back with respect to the seat bottom, and a cable associated with the latch for releasing latch, the seat back including a backrest support structure and a back panel, the method comprising:
attaching a first portion of the backrest release system to the backrest support structure, the first portion including a carrier, and a retainer pivotally attached to the carrier;
attaching the retainer to the cable;
mounting a second portion of the backrest release system on the back panel, the second portion including a cover and a handle pivotally attached to the cover;
positioning the back panel proximate the backrest support structure; and
attaching the handle of the second portion to the retainer of the first portion after positioning the back panel proximate the backrest support structure;
wherein attaching the first portion of the backrest release system to the backrest support structure and mounting the second portion of the backrest release system on the back panel are performed before positioning the back panel proximate the backrest support structure.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the backrest release system is configured so that the second portion is alignable with the first portion when the back panel is positioned proximate the backrest support structure, and wherein attaching the handle of the second portion to the retainer of the first portion comprises attaching the handle to the retainer with a fastener when the handle is in a raised position.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the handle and the retainer each define an opening, and the openings are alignable for receiving the fastener.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein attaching the first portion of the backrest release system to the backrest support structure comprises attaching the carrier to the backrest support structure and attaching the retainer to the carrier with a connecting rod so that the retainer is radially fixed with respect to the carrier, while being axially movable with respect to the carrier prior to attaching the handle of the second portion to the retainer.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein mounting the second portion of the backrest release system on the back panel comprises attaching the cover directly to the back panel, and connecting the handle to the cover so that the handle is axially fixed with respect to the cover, while being radially movable with respect to the cover prior to attaching the handle to the retainer.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the handle is connected to the cover prior to attaching the cover to the back panel.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising aligning the handle with the retainer prior to attaching the handle to the retainer, and wherein the aligning comprises moving the retainer axially with respect to the car

Assignees

• Lear Corp

Inventors

• Widhopf Josef
• Hoyer Uwe
• Schenker Ralph

Classifications

• B60N2/203

  taking a position opposite to the original one · CPC title

• B60N2/20 Primary

  the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access (B60N2/04, B60N2/22 {, B60N2/3002} take precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/22

  the back-rest being adjustable {(B60N2/2878 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N2/14

  rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access (B60N2/10 {, B60N2/2869} take precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/433

  Safety locks for back-rests, e.g. with locking bars activated by inertia · CPC title