Seat with recliner limit switch assembly and method of use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9758060-B2
Application number	US-201615003586-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2016
Priority date	Jan 21, 2016
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

The disclosure provides a seat for an automotive vehicle, including a seat bottom frame, a seat back frame rotatably coupled with the seat bottom frame and a limit switch assembly. The limit switch assembly comprises a limit switch configured to prevent rotation of the seat back when the limit switch is opened, a link moveable from a first position in which the limit switch is closed to a second position in which the limit switch is open, and a bias member configured to impart a bias force on the link in a direction toward the first position. The disclosure also provides a method of reclining the seat.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat for a vehicle, comprising:
a seat bottom frame;
a seat back frame rotatably coupled with the seat bottom frame; and
a limit switch assembly, the limit switch assembly comprising:
a limit switch configured to prevent rotation of the seat back when the limit switch is opened;
a link moveable from a first position in which the limit switch is closed, and in which the seat back frame is upright or forward inclined, to a second position in which the limit switch is open, and in which the seat back frame is reclined; and
a bias member configured to impart a bias force on the link in a direction toward the first position.

2. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the limit switch assembly further comprises a back bracket coupled with the seat back frame such that rotation of the seat back frame rotates the back bracket.

3. The seat of claim 2 , wherein the limit switch assembly further comprises a switch bracket coupled with the seat back frame, and wherein the link is coupled with the switch bracket.

4. The seat of claim 2 , wherein the back bracket comprises a first end face and the link comprises a second end face, and wherein rearward rotation of the seat back frame causes the first end face to impart a force on the second end face.

5. The seat of claim 4 , wherein the force on the second end face is imparted in a direction opposite a direction of the bias force imparted by the bias member.

6. The seat of claim 5 , wherein the link comprises a third end face contacting the limit switch in the first position.

7. The seat of claim 5 , wherein when the force on the second end face is greater than the bias force, the link rotates to the second position.

8. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the limit switch is biased to open when the link is in the second position.

9. The seat of claim 8 ,
further comprising a rotator and a motor,
wherein the seat back frame is rotatably coupled with the seat bottom frame via the rotator,
wherein the actuation of the motor causes rotation of the rotator, and
wherein power is prevented from reaching the motor when the limit switch is opened.

10. The seat of claim 9 , further comprising a recline switch, wherein actuating the recline switch in a recline direction when the limit switch is closed actuates the motor, and wherein actuating the recline switch in a recline direction when the limit switch is open does not actuate the motor.

11. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the bias member is a torsion spring.

12. A method of reclining a seat for an automotive vehicle, the seat including a seat bottom frame, a seat back frame rotatably coupled with the seat bottom frame, and a limit switch assembly, the limit switch assembly including a link, a limit switch, and a bias member, the method comprising:
receiving an input to rotate the seat back frame in a recline direction; and
in response to the received input, moving the link from a first position, in which the seat back frame is upright or forward inclined, to a second position, in which the seat back frame is reclined, including overcoming a bias force imparted by the bias member on the link in a direction toward the first position,
wherein movement of the link from the first position to the second position opens the limit switch, thereby preventing further rotating of the seat back frame in the recline direction.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the limit switch assembly further comprises a back bracket coupled with seat back frame, the method further comprising rotating the back bracket in response to the received input.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the limit switch assembly further comprises a switch bracket coupled with the seat back frame, and wherein the link is coupled with the switch bracket.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the back bracket comprises a first end face and the link comprises a second end face, the method further comprising imparting a force on the second end face with the first end face in response to the receive input when the link is in the second position.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the force imparted on the second end face is in a direction opposite the direction of the bias force imparted by the bias member.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the link comprises a third end face, and wherein moving the link from the first position to the second position comprises lifting the third end face from contacting the limit switch in response to the received input when the link is in the second position.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the limit switch is biased to open when the link is moved to the second position.

19. The method of claim 18 ,
wherein the seat further comprises a rotator and a motor,
wherein the seat back frame is rotatably coupled with the seat bottom frame via the rotator,
wherein rotating the seat back frame further comprises actuating the motor to rotate the rotator in response to the received input, and
wherein opening the limit switch prevents power from reaching the motor.

20. A powered recliner control device for a vehicle seat, the device comprising:
a limiting switch biased to an open circuit position, the switch being attached at a first point on a seat that is fixed relative to reclining movement of a seat back;
a link attached so as to rotate about a second point on the seat that is fixed relative to reclined movement of the seat back;
a biasing device operatively engaged with the link so as to biasedly engage the limiting switch at a first end of the link when the link is in a first position, in which the seat back is upright or forward inclined, the engaged link placing the limiting switch in a closed circuit position that enables the reclining movement of the seat back via a control circuit and a motor, wherein the direction of bias of the biasing device is opposite the direction of bias of the limiting switch; and
a bracket attached to seat back, the bracket being moveable with the moveable seat back between a first movement range and a second movement range, wherein the bracket engages the link at a second end of the link only in the second movement range, and wherein the switch is placed in an open circuit position when the bracket engages the link in the second movement range.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kubota Yuji
• Demetrius Carlington George
• Shimazu Masaki

Classifications

• B60N2/20

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

• B60N2/2227

  and provided with braking systems · CPC title

• B60N2002/0236

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60N2/0232

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60N2/0244 Primary

  with logic circuits · CPC title