Rear seat having two independent modes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9944204-B2
Application number	US-201614990041-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2016
Priority date	Jan 7, 2016
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A seat for a vehicle is provided. The seat includes a seat base and a seat back coupled to the seat base so as to be rotatable with respect to the seat base about a seat back rotation axis. The seat also includes a first linkage having a first link rotatably coupled to the seat back at a first connection and a second link rotatably coupled to the seat base at a second connection. The first link is also rotatably coupled to the second link at a third connection. The third connection is structured to be movable with respect to the seat base responsive to rotation of the seat back about the rotation axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seat comprising:
a seat base;
a seat back coupled to the seat base so as to be rotatable about a seat back rotation axis;
a first linkage including a first link rotatably coupled to the seat back at a first connection, and a second link rotatably coupled to the seat base at a second connection, the first link being rotatably coupled to the second link at a third connection; and
a seat bottom directly connected to the first link at a fourth connection, the seat bottom being rotatable about the fourth connection,
wherein the third connection is structured to be movable with respect to the seat base responsive to rotation of the seat back about the seat back rotation axis.

2. The seat of claim 1 further comprising a seat bottom latch mechanism operatively coupled to the seat bottom and to the first linkage, wherein the seat bottom latch mechanism is structured to prevent rotation of the seat bottom with respect to the first link.

3. The seat of claim 2 further comprising a seat bottom latch disengagement mechanism structured to disengage the seat bottom latch mechanism so as to enable rotation of the seat bottom with respect to the first link.

4. A vehicle seat comprising:
a seat base;
a seat back coupled to the seat base so as to be rotatable about a seat back rotation axis; and
a first linkage including a first link rotatably coupled to the seat back at a first connection and
a second link rotatably coupled to the seat base at a second connection, the first link being rotatably coupled to the second link at a third connection, and
a seat bottom rotatably coupled to the first link at a fourth connection,
wherein the third connection is structured to be movable with respect to the seat base responsive to rotation of the seat back about the seat back rotation axis,
the vehicle seat further comprising a seat bottom latch mechanism operatively coupled to the seat bottom and to the first linkage, wherein the seat bottom latch mechanism is structured to prevent rotation of the seat bottom with respect to the first link,
the vehicle seat further comprising a seat bottom latch disengagement mechanism structured to disengage the seat bottom latch mechanism so as to enable rotation of the seat bottom with respect to the first link,
the vehicle seat further comprising a tip-up actuator rotatably coupled to the seat base, wherein the seat bottom latch disengagement mechanism includes a cable operatively coupled to the seat bottom latch mechanism and to the seat back, and a tensioning linkage structured to be operable by the tip-up actuator to contact the cable so as to tension the cable when the tip-up actuator is rotated.

5. The seat of claim 1 further comprising a seat back recline mechanism operatively coupled to the seat back and to the seat base, the seat back recline mechanism being structured to permit rotational adjustment of the seat back, the seat back recline mechanism including a pawl structured to rotate with the seat back, the pawl having an outer edge and a tooth projecting from the outer edge.

6. The seat of claim 5 further comprising a stopper cavity formed in the seat base and a spring-loaded stopper positioned within the stopper cavity so as to be movable between an engagement position structured to engage the pawl during rotation of pawl, and a disengagement position in which the stopper is prevented from engaging the pawl during rotation of pawl.

7. The seat of claim 6 further comprising a fold-down actuator operatively coupled to the recline mechanism so as to operate the recline mechanism when the fold-down actuator is operated by a user, and wherein the fold-down actuator is also operatively coupled to the stopper so as to move the stopper into the disengagement position when the fold-down actuator is operated by the user.

8. The seat of claim 4 wherein the cable is operatively coupled to the seat bottom latch mechanism and to the seat back such that a forward rotation of the seat back tensions the cable.

9. The seat of claim 4 wherein the tip-up actuator is operatively coupled to the recline mechanism so as to operate the recline mechanism when the tip-up actuator is operated by a user, and wherein the tip-up actuator is also operatively coupled to the seat bottom latch mechanism so as to operate the seat bottom latch mechanism when the recline mechanism is operated by the user.

10. The seat of claim 8 wherein the cable is operatively coupled to the seat bottom latch mechanism and to the seat back such that tensioning of the cable produced by operation of the tip-up actuator and forward rotation of the seat back operates to disengage the seat bottom latch mechanism so as to enable rotation of the seat bottom with respect to the first link.

11. The seat of claim 1 wherein the third connection is structured to rotate about the second connection when the first connection is rotated about the seat back rotation axis.

12. The seat of claim 1 wherein the second link is structured to rotate about the second connection when the first connection is rotated about the seat back rotation axis.

13. The seat of claim 1 wherein the third connection is structured to move forwardly when the seat back rotates in a forward direction.

14. The seat of claim 1 wherein the second link is structured to rotate about the second connection when the seat back rotates in a forward direction.

15. A vehicle seat comprising:
a seat base;
a seat back coupled to the seat base so as to be rotatable about a seat back rotation axis;
a first linkage including a first link rotatably coupled to the seat back at a first connection and a second link rotatably coupled to the seat base at a second connection, the first link being rotatably coupled to the second link at a third connection;
a seat bottom directly coupled to the first link at a fourth connection, the seat bottom being rotatable about the fourth connection so as to be rotatable independently of the seat back;
a seat bottom latch mechanism operatively coupled to the seat bottom and engageable with the seat bottom to prevent rotation of the seat bottom;
a stopper operatively coupled to the seat base and engageable with the recline mechanism so as to prevent full forward rotation of the seat back during operation of the recline mechanism, the stopper also being disengageable from the recline mechanism so as to enable full forward rotation of the seat back during operation of the recline mechanism;
a tip-up actuator operatively coupled to the recline mechanism so as to operate the recline mechanism when the tip-up actuator is operated by a user, wherein the tip-up actuator is also operatively coupled to the seat bottom latch mechanism so as to disengage the seat bottom latch mechanism when the tip-up actuator is operated by a user, thereby enabling rotation of the seat bottom; and
a fold-down actuator operatively coupled to the recline mechanism so as to operate the recline mechanism when the fold-down actuator is operated by a user, and also operatively coupled to the stopper so as to disengage the stopper when the fold-down actuator is operated by the user, thereby enabling full forward rotation of the seat back.

16. A vehicle including a seat in accordance with claim 15 .

17. The vehicle seat of claim 1 further comprising:
a second linkage structured to operatively couple the seat back to the seat bottom along a second side of the seat bottom opposite the first side of the seat bottom,
the second linkage including a first link rotatably coupled to the seat back at another first conne

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Salvia Iii John J
• Vargo Christopher M
• Murthy Vasudeva S

Classifications

• B60N2/3065

  in a longitudinal-vertical plane · CPC title

• B60N2/206 Primary

  to a position in which it can be used as a support for objects, e.g. as a tray · CPC title

• B60N2/02

  the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable (adjustable arm-rests B60N2/75; adjustable head-rests B60N2/806) · CPC title

• B60N2/2227

  and provided with braking systems · CPC title

• B60N2/235

  by gear-pawl type mechanisms · CPC title