Seat and seat mounting structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11305673-B2
Application number	US-202016734711-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2020
Priority date	Jan 7, 2019
Publication date	Apr 19, 2022
Grant date	Apr 19, 2022

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a seat for a vehicle. The seat may have a seat structure having at least a backrest frame part adjustable between an initial position and at least an inclined position. The seat may also have a seat adjusting device having at least a number of linear actuators. Further, the disclosure relates to a seat mounting structure having such a seat.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A seat for a vehicle, the seat comprising at least:
a seat structure having at least a backrest frame part adjustable between an initial position and at least an inclined position, and
a seat adjusting device having at least one linear actuator, the at least one linear actuator is at least mounted to the backrest frame part via a respective single pivot connection,
wherein the seat adjusting device comprises a coupling mechanism providing an external pivot axis arranged behind the backrest frame part and which is relatively coupled with the at least one linear actuator and the backrest frame part,
wherein actuation of said at least one linear actuator initiates movement of the backrest frame part with respect to the external pivot axis,
wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a fixed coupling bar and two coupling elements each pivotable coupled to one side of the coupling bar and each coupling element comprises at least two connection areas,
wherein one connection area is coupled to the backrest frame part and to the at least one linear actuator and the other connection area is coupled to the coupling bar.

2. The seat according to claim 1 , wherein actuation of the at least one linear actuator initiates movement of the backrest frame part about the external pivot axis.

3. The seat according to claim 1 , wherein actuation of the at least one linear actuator initiates substantially vertical movement of the backrest frame part with respect to the external pivot axis.

4. The seat according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a fixed coupling bar and two coupling elements each pivotable coupled to one side of the coupling bar.

5. The seat according to claim 4 , wherein each coupling element is respectively coupled to the backrest frame part and at least one of the linear actuators via a pivot bearing.

6. The seat according to claim 4 , wherein each coupling element comprises at least two connection areas, wherein one connection area is coupled to the backrest frame part and to at least one of the linear actuators and the other connection area is coupled to the coupling bar.

7. The seat according to claim 4 , wherein actuation of at least one of the linear actuators initiates movement of the coupling element about the external pivot axis whereas the coupling element moves the backrest frame part in a guided manner with respect to the external pivot axis.

8. The seat according to claim 1 , wherein the seat adjusting device comprises at least one bracket relatively coupled to the seat structure.

9. The seat according to claim 1 , wherein when said at least one linear actuator is in a non-actuated state, a pivot point is provided by said linear actuator whereas actuation of at least another linear actuator initiates movement of the seat structure about said pivot point with respect to the external pivot axis.

10. The seat according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one linear actuator telescopes between at least a first length and a second length, and lockable in any state in which said linear actuator has the first length, the second length or any other length between the first length and the second length.

11. A seat mounting structure for a vehicle, the seat mounting structure comprising at least:
a seat rib cage which comprises integrated seat mounting points, vehicle structure mounting points and mounting locations for seat adjusting devices, and
a seat having a seat structure with at least a backrest frame part adjustable between an initial position and at least an inclined position, and
a seat adjusting device having at least one linear actuator, the at least one linear actuator is at least mounted to the backrest frame part via a respective single pivot connection,
wherein the seat adjusting device comprises a coupling mechanism providing an external pivot axis arranged behind the backrest frame part and which is relatively coupled with the at least one linear actuator and the backrest frame part,
wherein the coupling mechanism is coupled to the mounting location of the seat rib cage,
wherein actuation of the at least one linear actuator initiates movement of the backrest frame part with respect to the external pivot axis,
wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a fixed coupling bar and two coupling elements each pivotable coupled to one side of the coupling bar and each coupling element comprises at least two connection areas,
wherein one connection area is coupled to the backrest frame part and to the at least one linear actuator and the other connection area is coupled to the coupling bar.

12. A seat for a vehicle, the seat comprising at least:
a seat structure having at least a backrest frame part and a seat pan frame part both being adjustable between an initial position and at least an inclined position, and
a seat adjusting device having at least a number of linear actuators,
a first number of linear actuators is mounted to the backrest frame part via a respective single pivot connection,
a second number of linear actuators is mounted to the seat pan frame part via a respective single pivot connection,
wherein the seat adjusting device comprises a coupling mechanism providing an external pivot axis arranged behind the backrest frame part and which is relatively coupled with the second number of linear actuators and the backrest frame part,
wherein each linear actuator is individually actuatable or actuatable with other linear actuators from said number of linear actuators whereas depending on an individual actuation or a combined actuation of more than one linear actuator the seat structure is relatively movable with respect to the external pivot axis in at least one degree of freedom up to a plurality of degrees of freedom,
wherein the seat pan frame part and the backrest frame part are configured as one-piece frame.

13. The seat according to claim 12 , wherein the second number of linear actuator provides at least two linear actuators coupled to lateral sides of the seat pan frame part.

Assignees

• Adient Us Llc

Inventors

• Gomez John J
• Seibold Kurt A
• Biebel James D
• Bashir Raza
• Dimovski Dalibor
• Iavasile Raymond Anthony

Classifications

• B60N2/6027 Primary

  by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like · 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

• B60N2/012

  The seat support being a part of the vehicle body or chassis · CPC title

• B60N2/5621

  by air · CPC title

• B60N2/0284

  Adjustable seat-cushion length (B60N2/0224 takes precedence) · CPC title