Full memory seat track mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9919622-B2
Application number	US-201615054840-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2016
Priority date	Dec 3, 2010
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A seat track assembly includes a latch mechanism operable to allow movement of a movable track relative to a fixed track between a plurality of positions. A memory mechanism is operable between a home position, coupled with the movable track, and a memory position, coupled with the fixed track, to define a selected position. Actuation of the memory mechanism to the memory position unlocks the latch mechanism to allow movement of the movable track in a first direction away from the selected position to an easy-entry position. In response to movement of the movable track in a second direction from the easy-entry position, the memory mechanism blocks the movable track at the selected position, allowing the latch mechanism to lock and the memory mechanism to return to the home position. The latch mechanism operates independently to unlock the latch mechanism when the memory mechanism is in the home position.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A seat assembly secured to a floor in an automotive vehicle, said seat assembly comprising:
a seat cushion;
a seat back operatively coupled to said seat cushion, said seat back movable between an upright position and a folded position;
a seat track assembly including a fixed track adapted to be fixedly secured to the floor and a movable track fixedly secured to said seat cushion and slidably coupled to said fixed track;
a latch mechanism operatively coupled between said fixed and movable tracks, wherein said latch mechanism prevents sliding movement of said movable track and is selectively disengaged from said fixed track to allow sliding movement of said seat assembly between a plurality of positions;
a memory mechanism operable between a home position, wherein said memory mechanism is coupled with said movable track and moves therewith during sliding movement of said movable track, and a memory position, wherein said memory mechanism is coupled with said fixed track and defines a previously selected one of said plurality of positions, and wherein moving said seat back to said folded position actuates said memory mechanism to said memory position; and
an interlock assembly comprising a hook lever pivotally connected to the seat cushion and releasably engaged with the seat back when in the folded position, and a cable connected to the hook lever and configured for moving it into and out of engagement with the seat back, the hook lever operatively coupled between said seat back and said seat track assembly for selectively engaging said seat back to maintain said seat back in said folded position during sliding movement of said seat assembly between said previously selected one of said plurality of positions and an easy-entry position;
wherein actuation of said memory mechanism to said memory position disengages said latch mechanism from said fixed track, thereby allowing sliding movement of said seat assembly in a first direction away from said previously selected one of said plurality of positions to said easy-entry position, and in response to sliding movement of said seat assembly in a second direction from said easy-entry position said memory mechanism blocks said seat assembly at said previously selected one of said plurality of positions, thereby allowing said latch mechanism to engage with said fixed track and said memory mechanism to return to said home position;
and wherein said latch mechanism is independently operable to disengage said latch mechanism from said fixed track when said memory mechanism is in said home position.

2. The seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable track includes an elongated slot extending between first and second ends, said elongated slot having a recess at said first end, and wherein said memory mechanism includes a memory plate slidably coupled to said elongated slot, said memory plate having a memory tab extending laterally therefrom, said memory plate is disengaged from said fixed track and said memory tab is disposed in said recess when said memory mechanism is in said home position and said memory plate is engaged with said fixed track and said memory tab is withdrawn from said recess when said memory mechanism is in said memory position.

3. The seat assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said interlock assembly includes an interlock slider slidably coupled to said movable track for movement between a first position and a second position, and said cable operatively coupled to said hook lever and said interlock slider.

4. The seat assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said hook lever is disengaged from said seat back when said interlock slider is in said first position and said hook lever is engaged with said seat back when said interlock slider is in said second position.

5. The seat assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said hook lever is biased towards engagement with said seat back and said interlock slider is biased towards said second position.

6. The seat assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said memory tab maintains said interlock slider in said first position when said memory plate is in said home position.

7. The seat assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein actuation of said memory mechanism to said memory position and sliding movement of said seat assembly in said first direction away from said previously selected one of said plurality of positions allows said interlock slider to move to said second position, thereby allowing said hook lever to engage with said seat back.

8. The seat assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said memory tab moves said interlock slider from said second position to said first position to disengage said hook from said seat back in response to sliding movement of said seat assembly in said second direction.

Assignees

• Magna Seating Inc

Inventors

• Tame Omar D
• Gupte Ameya
• Aktas Macit
• Carroll Jeffrey P

Classifications

• B60N2002/126

  the backrest being maintained in its tilted position until the seat has slided to its memorised position · CPC title

• B60N2/22

  the back-rest being adjustable {(B60N2/2878 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N2/0727

  Stop members for limiting sliding movement · CPC title

• B60N2/0818 Primary

  inside the rail · CPC title

• B60N2/123

  and provided with memory locks · CPC title