Linear recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11548416-B2
Application number	US-202117218622-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2021
Priority date	Mar 31, 2021
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

A vehicle seat including a pivot bracket, a back frame, a linear adjustment mechanism, a striker, and a latch. The back frame is pivotally connected to the pivot bracket and configured to pivot about a pivot axis. The back frame includes a first end spaced apart from the and disposed below the pivot axis. The latch is configured to selectively attach the linear adjustment mechanism to the first end of the back frame so that as the first linear adjustment mechanism translates, the back frame pivots from a first use position and a second use position, and selectively detach the linear adjustment mechanism from the first end of the back frame so that the back frame is pivotable to a non-use position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seat for use in a vehicle including a vehicle floor, the vehicle seat comprising:
a pivot bracket configured to be coupled to the vehicle floor;
a back frame pivotally connected to the pivot bracket and configured to pivot about a pivot axis between a first use position, a second use position, and a non-use position;
a linear adjustment mechanism coupled to the back frame and configured to translate between a first position and a second position to move the back frame from the first use position and the second use position, wherein the linear adjustment mechanism includes a spindle and a gearbox operatively engaged to the spindle, wherein either the gearbox or the spindle is configured to translate in a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the vehicle floor to pivot the back frame between the first use position and the second use position;
a striker fixed to either the back frame or the linear adjustment mechanism; and
a latch fixed to the other of the back frame or the linear adjustment mechanism, wherein the latch is configured to change between an unlocked state, in which the back frame is pivotable from either the first use position or the second use position to the non-use position, and a locked state in which the latch engages the striker so that the back frame is pivotable between the first use position and the second use position,
wherein the gearbox is pivotally connected to the pivot bracket and configured to pivot as the back frame pivots between the first use position and the second use position.

2. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the spindle pivots towards the vehicle floor as the back frame is pivots between the first use position and the second use position.

3. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the back frame includes a first side member pivotally attached to the pivot bracket.

4. The vehicle seat of claim 3 , further comprising:
a cross member, wherein the back frame includes a second side member and the cross member extends between the first side member and the second side member and at least a portion of the cross member is coaxial to the pivot axis.

5. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the spindle translates from an extended position, in which the back frame is in the first use position, to a retracted position, in which the back frame is in the second use position.

6. The vehicle seat of claim 5 , further comprising:
a support bracket fixed to an end of the spindle and configured to carry the striker or the latch, wherein when the spindle is in the extended position, the support bracket is spaced apart from the gearbox by a first distance, and when the spindle is in the retracted position, the gearbox is spaced apart from the gearbox by a second distance, wherein the first distance is less than the first.

7. The vehicle seat of claim 6 , further comprising:
an attachment member, wherein the support bracket includes a supporting portion, extending substantially parallel to the vehicle floor, and a guide portion defining a slot, wherein the attachment member extend through the slot and is fixed to the pivot bracket.

8. The vehicle seat of claim 7 , wherein the slot has an arcuate shape extending away from the vehicle floor with respect to the longitudinal direction.

9. A vehicle seat for use in a vehicle including a vehicle floor, the vehicle seat comprising:
a pivot bracket;
a back frame pivotally connected to the pivot bracket and configured to pivot about a pivot axis, wherein the back frame includes a first end spaced apart from and disposed below the pivot axis;
a first linear adjustment mechanism; and
a latch configured to
selectively attach the linear adjustment mechanism to the first end of the back frame so that as the first linear adjustment mechanism translates the back frame pivots from a first use position to a second use position, and
selectively detach the linear adjustment from the first end of the back frame so that the back frame is pivotable to a non-use position.

10. The vehicle seat of claim 9 , wherein the linear adjustment mechanism includes an elongated rack, configured to be coupled to the vehicle floor and coupled to the back frame, and a pinion drive, wherein the pinion drive is provided with a pinion configured to rotate in a first rotational direction to translate the elongated rack so that the back frame pivots from the first use position to the second use position.

11. The vehicle seat of claim 10 , further comprising:
a fixed rail configured to be coupled to the vehicle floor;
a translatable rail configured to move along the fixed rail; and
a second linear adjustment mechanism including,
a gearbox,
a spindle operatively coupled with the gearbox,
a second bracket attaching the second gearbox to either the translatable rail or the fixed rail, and
an attachment member operatively coupled to the second gearbox and configured to carry the translatable rail along the fixed rail.

12. The vehicle seat of claim 9 , wherein when the back frame is in the non-use position and when the vehicle seat is used in the vehicle, the back frame is positioned substantially parallel to the vehicle floor.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 9 , wherein the back frame includes a first side member configured to pivot about the pivot bracket and wherein the first side member is substantially aligned with the first linear adjustment mechanism.

14. A vehicle seat for use in a vehicle, the vehicle seat comprising:
a fixed rail configured to be coupled to a floor of the vehicle;
a translatable rail configured to move along the fixed rail;
a cushion carrier coupled to the translatable rail;
a pivot bracket configured to be fixed to at least one of the fixed rail, the translatable rail, and the floor;
a back frame pivotally connected to the pivot bracket and configured to pivot about a pivot axis between a first use position, a second use position, and a non-use position;
a first linear adjustment mechanism coupled to the translatable rail; and
a latch configured to
selectively attach the first linear adjustment mechanism to the back frame so that as the linear adjustment mechanism translates, the back frame pivots from the first use position to the second use position, and
selectively detach the first linear adjustment mechanism from the back frame so that the back frame is pivotable to the non-use position.

15. The vehicle seat of claim 14 , wherein the pivot bracket is fixed to the translatable rail and the first linear adjustment mechanism includes,
a gearbox,
a gearbox bracket attaching the gearbox to the pivot bracket,
a spindle extending through the gearbox,
an attachment member extending between the spindle and the latch, wherein the gearbox is configured to translate the spindle to move the back frame between the first use position and the second use position.

16. The vehicle seat of claim 15 , further comprising:
a motor operatively connected to the gearbox;
a motor attachment bracket fixed to the motor and defining a first slot and a second slot, wherein the gearbox bracket includes a first leg, a second leg, and a medial member extending therebetween, wherein the first slot lies along the first leg and the second slot lies along the second leg.

17. The vehicle seat of claim 15 , wherein the attachment member includes a striker and the latch is configured to engage the striker to selectively attach the back frame to the spindle.

18. The vehicle seat of claim 15 , wherein the pivot bracket includes a first side and a second

Assignees

• Brose Fahrzeugteile Se & Co Kg Coburg

Inventors

• Stapleton Dakota

Classifications

• B60N2/686

  Panel like structures · CPC title

• B60N2/366

  characterised by the locking device · CPC title

• B60N2/2213

  Gear wheel driven mechanism (B60N2/2231, B60N2/225 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/233 Primary

  by linear screw mechanisms · CPC title

• B60N2/3011

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