Easy-entry system and vehicle seat with an integrated easy-entry system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9914374-B2
Application number	US-201415028815-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2014
Priority date	Oct 16, 2013
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

An easy-entry system (EE) for a vehicle seat ( 1 ) with a backrest ( 1.1 ) and a seat cushion ( 1.2 ), in arrangement with a fitting ( 2 ) for adjusting the inclination of the backrest ( 1.1 ) relative to the seat cushion ( 1.2 ) at least within a comfort range and optionally with an extended comfort function for positioning the backrest ( 1.1 ) beyond an easy-entry position into a loading floor position. The system includes, for initiating an easy-entry function, at least one actuating lever ( 4 ) which is coupled via at least one tension element ( 6 ) to an unlocking lever ( 8 ) for unlocking the inclination adjustment of the backrest ( 1.1 ). A translatory movement of the tension element ( 6 ) is transformed by means of a sliding element ( 7.2 ) of a transmission arrangement ( 7 ) into a rotatory movement of the unlocking lever ( 8 ) for opening the fitting ( 2 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An easy-entry system for a vehicle seat having a backrest and having a seat cushion, in an arrangement with a fitting for an inclination adjustment of the backrest relative to the seat cushion at least in a comfort range and with an enhanced comfort function for the positioning of the backrest beyond an easy-entry position or beyond a forward position into a loading floor position, the easy-entry system comprising:
at least one actuation lever;
an unlocking lever;
at least one tension element, the at least one actuation element being coupled via the at least one tension element to the unlocking lever for the unlocking of the inclination adjustment of the backrest, wherein the at least one tension element is articulatedly connected in a region of a pivot axis of the backrest such that the at least one tension element is not tensioned when the backrest is folded down onto the seat cushion and the at least one tension element is tensioned when the backrest is in an unfolded position with respect to the seat cushion; and
a slide element, wherein the slide element has at least one receiving element with an externally at least partially encircling groove in which an end-side loop of the tension element is arranged.

2. The easy-entry system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the slide element is a part of a transmission arrangement and a translational movement of the tension element is transformed by way of the transmission arrangement into a rotational movement of the unlocking lever for the opening of the fitting.

3. The easy-entry system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the transmission arrangement comprises at least one main element, which is fixed relative to a substructure, and the slide element, which is movable relative to said main element, translationally, and which comprises a driver which is connected to the unlocking lever.

4. The easy-entry system as claimed claim 3 , wherein the slide element has at least one slide groove into which a bearing of the main element is arranged, wherein the bearing and the slide groove form a slot-pin guide.

5. The easy-entry system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the slide element is held on the main element by a guiding mechanism so as to be movable relative thereto.

6. The easy-entry system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the slide element has at least one guide element which engages into a guide of the main element, or vice versa, wherein the guide element and the guide form a slot-pin guide.

7. The easy-entry system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the driver is in the form of a driving pin which projects from the slide element and which engages into a recess of the unlocking lever.

8. The easy-entry system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the unlocking lever is connected to a transmission element.

9. The easy-entry system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the transmission element is mounted rotatably in a bearing of the main element.

10. A vehicle seat comprising:
a backrest;
a seat cushion, in an arrangement with a fitting for an inclination adjustment of the backrest relative to the seat cushion at least in a comfort range and with an enhanced comfort function for the positioning of the backrest beyond an easy-entry position or beyond a forward position into a loading floor position; and
an easy entry system comprising:
at least one actuation lever;
an unlocking lever;
at least one tension element, the at least one actuation element being coupled via the at least one tension element to the unlocking lever for the unlocking of the inclination adjustment of the backrest, wherein the at least one tension element is articulatedly connected in a region of a pivot axis of the backrest such that the at least one tension element is not tensioned when the backrest is folded down onto the seat cushion and the at least one tension element is tensioned when the backrest is in an unfolded position with respect to the seat cushion; and
a slide element, wherein the slide element has at least one receiving element with an externally at least partially encircling groove in which an end-side loop of the tension element is arranged.

11. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the slide element is a part of a transmission arrangement and a translational movement of the tension element is transformed by way of the transmission arrangement into a rotational movement of the unlocking lever for the opening of the fitting.

12. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the transmission arrangement comprises at least one main element, which is fixed relative to a substructure, and the slide element, which is movable relative to said main element, translationally, and which comprises a driver which is connected to the unlocking lever.

13. A vehicle seat as claimed claim 12 , wherein the slide element has at least one slide groove into which a bearing of the main element is arranged, wherein the bearing and the slide groove form a slot-pin guide.

14. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the slide element is held on the main element by a guiding mechanism so as to be movable relative thereto.

15. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the slide element has at least one guide element which engages into a guide of the main element, or vice versa, wherein the guide element and the guide form a slot-pin guide.

16. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the driver is in the form of a driving pin which projects from the slide element and which engages into a recess of the unlocking lever.

17. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the unlocking lever is connected to a transmission element.

18. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the transmission element is mounted rotatably in a bearing of the main element.

19. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the unlocking lever and the transmission element are connected with each other by a form-fit connection or force-fit connection.

20. The easy-entry system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the unlocking lever and the transmission element are connected with each other by a form-fit connection or force-fit connection.

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co

Inventors

• Pluta Wolfgang
• Wolf Christian
• Dill Thomas
• Hammann Heinrich

Classifications

• B60N2/2356

  with internal pawls · CPC title

• B60N2/12 Primary

  slidable and tiltable · CPC title

• B60N2/14 Primary

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