Vehicle seat with inclinable seatback

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11254245-B2
Application number	US-202017028174-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2020
Priority date	Sep 23, 2019
Publication date	Feb 22, 2022
Grant date	Feb 22, 2022

Abstract

A vehicle seat comprising a seatback pivoting relative to a frame around the first transverse axis, a seat cushion pivoting relative to the seatback around a second transverse axis, a link pivoting relative to the seat cushion around a third transverse axis, wherein the link is further pivoting relative to the frame around a fourth transverse axis, a mechanism for releasing the angular position of the seatback relative to the frame around the first transverse axis, and an actuator, attached under the seat cushion. The angular position of the seatback relative to the frame released, the actuator commands a movement of the link relative to the seat cushion and consequently of the seatback relative to the seat cushion, from a comfort position of the seat to a flat floor position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle seat comprising:
a seatback, wherein the seatback configured to be mounted for pivotable movement relative to a frame around a first transverse axis;
a seat cushion, wherein the seat cushion is mounted for pivotable movement relative to the seatback around a second transverse axis;
a link mounted for pivotable movement relative to the seat cushion around a third transverse axis, wherein the link is further configured to be mounted for pivotable movement relative to the frame around a fourth transverse axis;
a mechanism for releasing the angular position of the seatback relative to the frame around the first transverse axis; and
an actuator attached under the seat cushion and configured to, once the angular position of the seatback relative to the frame is released, cause movement of the link relative to the seat cushion and consequently of the seatback relative to the seat cushion, for switching the vehicle seat from a comfort position to a flat floor position.

2. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the seatback is mounted pivoting relative to the frame by means of a hinge mechanism for adjusting the angular position of the seatback, wherein the hinge mechanism is mobile between at least one locked position where the seatback is immobilized relative to the frame and an unlocked position where the seatback can pivot freely relative to the frame about the first transverse axis, and wherein the mechanism for releasing the angular position of the seatback relative to the frame is suited for commanding the movement of the hinge mechanism from the at least one locked position to the unlocked position.

3. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the seatback is mounted pivoting freely relative to the frame, wherein a locking device allows selectively locking or unlocking the rotation of the seatback relative to the frame, and wherein the mechanism for disengaging is suited for commanding the locking device.

4. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein in the comfort position of the seat, the link, seat cushion and seatback form a “Z”.

5. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein, in the flat floor position of the seat, the seat cushion and the link extend substantially one in the extension of the other.

6. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein, in the flat floor position of the seat, the seatback extends facing at least one among the seat cushion and the link.

7. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , further comprising the frame.

8. The vehicle seat of claim 7 , wherein the actuator is arranged between the seat cushion and the frame.

9. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , comprising two links each disposed on one respective side of the seat, wherein the two links are secured by means of a crosspiece, and wherein the actuator is connected to the cross piece.

10. A method for placing the seat according to claim 1 into the flat floor position from the comfort position, the method comprising the steps of
releasing the rotation of the seatback relative to the frame and using the actuator for moving the link relative to the seat cushion and consequently the seatback relative to the seat cushion so as to shift from said comfort position of the seat to the flat floor position of the seat.

11. A vehicle seat comprising:
a seatback, wherein the seatback configured to be mounted for pivotable movement relative to a frame around a first transverse axis;
a seat cushion, wherein the seat cushion is mounted for pivotable movement relative to the seatback around a second transverse axis;
a link mounted for pivotable movement relative to the seat cushion around a third transverse axis, wherein the link is further configured to be mounted for pivotable movement relative to the frame around a fourth transverse axis;
a mechanism for releasing the angular position of the seatback relative to the frame around the first transverse axis; and
an actuator attached under the seat cushion and configured to, once the angular position of the seatback relative to the frame is released, cause movement of the link relative to the seat cushion and consequently of the seatback relative to the seat cushion, for switching the vehicle seat from a comfort position to a flat floor position,
wherein the actuator comprises an actuator body attached to the seat cushion, and a rod configured to move relative to the actuator body along a longitudinal direction.

12. The vehicle seat of claim 11 , wherein the actuator body is mounted rotatably relative to the seat cushion around a sixth transverse axis.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 11 , wherein the actuator body is mounted freely in rotation around the sixth transverse axis in a support, wherein the support is rigidly attached, directly or indirectly, to the seat cushion.

14. The vehicle seat of claim 13 , wherein the support is rigidly attached to the seat cushion via a first short-link.

15. The vehicle seat of claim 11 , wherein the actuator body comprises a stator of a motor, the rotation of a rotor of the motor relative to the stator around a seventh axis causing a movement of the rod along the longitudinal direction.

16. The vehicle seat of claim 15 , wherein the seventh axis, of rotation of the rotor of the motor, is transverse.

17. The vehicle seat of claim 15 , wherein the seventh axis, of rotation of the rotor of the motor, extends along the longitudinal direction.

18. The vehicle seat of claim 15 , wherein the stator of the motor is mounted rotating in the support around the sixth transverse axis.

19. The vehicle seat of claim 15 , wherein the actuator body also comprises a set of gears interposed between the motor and the rod.

20. The vehicle seat of claim 19 , wherein the set of gears is received in a box, wherein the box is mounted in the support, rotatably around the sixth transverse axis.

21. The vehicle seat of claim 11 , wherein the actuator is a jack.

22. The vehicle seat of claim 11 , wherein one end of the rod is mounted freely in rotation relative to the link around the fifth transverse axis.

23. The vehicle seat of claim 22 , wherein the end of the rod is mounted freely in rotation around the fifth transverse axis relative to a second short-link, wherein the second short-link is rigidly attached to the link, directly or indirectly.

24. The vehicle seat of claim 11 , wherein the rod is one among a screw and an endless screw.

Assignees

• Faurecia Sieges Dautomobile

Inventors

• Epaud David
• Bouzid Farouk

Classifications

• B60N2/3013

  the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame · CPC title

• B60N2/206

  to a position in which it can be used as a support for objects, e.g. as a tray · CPC title

• B60N2/3045

  about transversal axis · CPC title

• B60N2/224

  Stepwise movement mechanisms, e.g. ratchets · CPC title

• B60N2/3011

  the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement" · CPC title