阅读说明：本技术 折叠式座椅组件 (Folding seat assembly ) 是由 胡志强 周苏华 殷涛 马建良 于 2020-05-15 设计创作，主要内容包括：本申请涉及一种折叠式座椅组件。交通工具座椅设置为具有轨道组件以允许座椅底部在前后方向上滑动。锁定组件连接到轨道组件并且可在锁定状态和解锁状态之间移动,其中在锁定状态下,座椅底部被防止滑动,而在解锁状态下,座椅底部被允许滑动。座椅靠背枢转地连接到座椅底部。当座椅靠背向前枢转到第一倾斜位置时,座椅靠背接合锁定组件并将锁定组件移动到解锁状态。在解锁状态下,座椅底部被偏压以向后滑动至后部存储位置。在后部存储位置,锁定组件移动到锁定状态。(The present application relates to a folding seat assembly. Vehicle seats are provided having a track assembly to allow the seat bottom to slide in a fore-aft direction. The locking assembly is connected to the track assembly and is movable between a locked state in which the seat bottom is prevented from sliding and an unlocked state in which the seat bottom is allowed to slide. The seat back is pivotally connected to the seat bottom. When the seat back is pivoted forward to the first reclined position, the seat back engages the lock assembly and moves the lock assembly to the unlocked state. In the unlocked state, the seat bottom is biased to slide rearward to a rear storage position. In the rear storage position, the locking assembly is moved to the locked state.)

1. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a track assembly that allows the seat bottom to slide in a front-to-rear direction;

a locking assembly connected to the track assembly and movable between a locked state in which the seat bottom is prevented from sliding and an unlocked state in which the seat bottom is allowed to slide; and

a seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom,

wherein the seat back engages the lock assembly and moves the lock assembly to the unlocked state when the seat back is pivoted forward to a first reclined position,

wherein in the unlocked state, the seat bottom is biased to slide rearward to a rear storage position,

wherein in the rear storage position, the locking assembly moves to the locked state.

2. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein when the seat back is moved rearward from a stored position to the first reclined position, the seat back engages the lock assembly to move to the unlocked state, thereby unlocking the track assembly and allowing the seat bottom to slide forward in the track assembly.

3. The vehicle seat of claim 1, further comprising a cam attached to the seat back, wherein in the first reclined storage position, the first cam engages the lock assembly and moves the lock assembly between the locked condition and the unlocked condition.

4. The vehicle seat of claim 3, wherein the locking assembly comprises:

a first linkage connected to the seat back;

a second linkage connected to the track assembly; and

a cable connecting the first linkage and the second linkage,

wherein the first cam engages and moves the first linkage to pull the cable and move the second linkage to move the locking assembly between the locked and unlocked states.

5. The vehicle seat of claim 4, wherein the locking assembly further comprises:

a release mechanism connected to engage the track assembly and movable by the second linkage to the unlocked state; and

a pawl mounted to pivot, wherein when the second linkage is moved, the pawl engages teeth on the second linkage, thereby retaining the second linkage and the release mechanism to maintain the lock assembly in the unlocked state.

6. The vehicle seat of claim 5, wherein the release mechanism is biased to the mechanism locking position to maintain the locking assembly in the locked state.

7. The vehicle seat of claim 1, further comprising a bracket mounted relative to the track assembly, wherein the lock assembly contacts the bracket when the seat bottom slides along the track assembly to the rear storage position, thereby moving the lock assembly to the locked state and locking the seat bottom in the rear storage position.

8. A seat assembly, comprising:

a track assembly to be installed in a vehicle;

a seat bottom mounted to the track assembly to slide in a fore-and-aft direction between a seating position and a rearward storage position;

a seat back coupled to the seat bottom and operable to pivot relative to the seat bottom between at least an upright position and a flat storage position;

a locking assembly connected between the track assembly and the seat back;

a handle in communication with the seat back, wherein operation of the handle causes the seat back to rotate forward to a first storage position;

a first cam attached to the seat back, wherein in the first reclined storage position, the first cam engages the locking assembly and moves the locking assembly to an unlocked state, thereby unlocking the track assembly and allowing the seat bottom to slide in the track assembly;

a biasing member coupled to the seat bottom and biasing the seat bottom rearward to a rear storage position when the locking assembly is in the unlocked state; and

a bracket fixed relative to the track assembly,

wherein when the seat bottom is moved to the rear storage position, the locking assembly contacts the bracket, thereby moving the locking assembly to a locked state and locking the seat bottom in the rear storage position.

9. The seat assembly of claim 8 wherein the seat back is adapted to be folded into a generally flat storage position in which a forward seating surface of the seat back is adjacent an upward seating surface of the seat bottom, wherein the seat back is adapted to be folded into the flat storage position independently of the lock assembly.

10. The seat assembly of claim 8 wherein the locking assembly comprises:

a ratchet linkage mounted to pivot and connected to the seat back by a cable, wherein the cable pivots the ratchet linkage from a ratchet locked position to a ratchet unlocked position when the seat back is pivoted to the first reclined position;

a release mechanism connected to engage the track assembly and movable by the ratchet linkage between a mechanism locked position in which the track assembly is prevented from sliding and a mechanism unlocked position in which the track assembly is slidable; and

a pawl mounted to pivot, wherein the pawl engages teeth on the ratchet linkage when the ratchet linkage is moved to the ratchet unlocked position, thereby holding the ratchet linkage in the ratchet unlocked position,

wherein the locking assembly is in the locked state when the ratchet linkage and the release mechanism are in the locked position.

11. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said pawl contacts said bracket and rotates when said seat bottom is moved to said rear storage position such that said pawl disengages said teeth on said ratchet linkage thereby rotating said ratchet linkage to said ratchet locking position and moving said release mechanism to said mechanism locking position and locking said seat bottom in said rear storage position.

12. The seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the release mechanism is biased to the mechanism locking position to ensure that the seat bottom is locked and cannot slide in the track assembly.

13. The seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the first linkage rotates in a clockwise direction and the ratchet linkage rotates in a counterclockwise direction.

14. The seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the ratchet linkage and the pawl are biased toward each other and rotate in the same direction.

15. The seat assembly of claim 8 wherein the first cam engages the lock assembly to move to the unlocked state when the seat back is pivoted rearwardly from the stored position to the first reclined position, thereby unlocking the track assembly and allowing the seat bottom to slide forwardly in the track assembly.

16. The seat assembly of claim 8 wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

17. The seat assembly of claim 8 wherein the seat bottom engages the track assembly, wherein the seat bottom is slidable rearward with the track assembly from the seating position to the rear storage position when the locking assembly is in the unlocked state.

18. A method of adjusting a seat assembly, comprising:

pivoting the seat back from the upright use position to a first reclined position;

moving a locking assembly connected between the seat back and a track assembly to an unlocked state when the seat back is in the first reclined position;

sliding the seat assembly rearward along the track assembly;

moving the locking assembly to a locked state when the seat assembly reaches a rear storage position; and

pivoting the seat back from the first reclined position to a stored position.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

pivoting the seat back from the stored position to the first reclined position;

moving the locking assembly to the unlocked state; and

sliding the seat assembly forward to a seating position.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein moving the locking assembly between the locked and unlocked states comprises moving a first linkage connected to the seat back and moving a second linkage connected to the track assembly, wherein the first and second linkages are connected by a cable.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a foldable vehicle seat.

Background

The vehicle seat assembly may have a seat back that pivots for access or storage, such as the seat back disclosed in U.S. patent No. 8,585,145 to lier corporation.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a vehicle seat is provided having a track assembly to allow the seat bottom to slide in a fore-aft direction. The locking assembly is connected to the track assembly and is movable between a locked state in which the seat bottom is prevented from sliding and an unlocked state in which the seat bottom is allowed to slide. The seat back is pivotally connected to the seat bottom. When the seat back is pivoted forward to the first reclined position, the seat back engages the lock assembly and moves the lock assembly to the unlocked state. In the unlocked state, the seat bottom is biased to slide rearward to a rear storage position. In the rear storage position, the locking assembly is moved to the locked state.

According to one other embodiment, a seat assembly is provided having a track assembly mounted in a vehicle. The seat bottom is mounted to the track assembly for sliding fore and aft between a seating position and a rearward storage position. The seat back is coupled to the seat bottom and is operable to pivot relative to the seat bottom between at least an upright position and a flat storage position. The locking assembly is connected between the track assembly and the seat back. A handle is in communication with the seat back and operation of the handle causes the seat back to rotate forward to a first storage position. A first cam is attached to the seat back and, in a first reclined storage position, the first cam engages the lock assembly and moves the lock assembly to an unlocked state, thereby unlocking the track assembly and allowing the seat bottom to slide in the track assembly. A biasing member is coupled to the seat bottom and biases the seat bottom rearward to a rear storage position when the lock assembly is in the unlocked state. The bracket is fixed relative to the track assembly. When the seat bottom is moved to the rear storage position, the locking assembly contacts the bracket, thereby moving the locking assembly to the locked state and locking the seat bottom in the rear storage position.

According to another embodiment, a method of adjusting a seat assembly is provided. The seat back pivots from an upright use position to a first reclined position. A locking assembly coupled between the seat back and the track assembly is moved to an unlocked state when the seat back is in the first reclined position. The seat assembly slides rearward along the track assembly. The locking assembly is in a locked state when the seat assembly reaches the rear storage position. The seat back pivots from the first reclined position to the stored position.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates a seat assembly according to one embodiment with the seat back shown in a comfort seating position and pivoted forward to a first reclined position.

Fig. 2 illustrates the seat assembly of fig. 1 with a portion removed to illustrate the seat frame and locking assembly.

Fig. 3 shows the locking assembly in more detail and shows the locked state when the seat is in the forward position.

Fig. 4 shows the locking assembly of fig. 3 in an unlocked state.

Figure 5 illustrates the seat assembly of figure 1 with the seat back shown in a folded storage position.

Fig. 6 shows the lock assembly in a locked state when the seat is in the rearward position.

Fig. 7 illustrates the seat assembly in a comfortable seating position and a portion of the respective track assembly and locking assembly in a forward locking state.

Fig. 8 illustrates the seat assembly in a first reclined position and a portion of the corresponding track assembly and locking assembly in a forward unlocked state.

Fig. 9 shows the seat assembly in a second reclined position and a portion of the corresponding track assembly and locking assembly in a rearwardly unlocked condition.

Figure 10 illustrates the seat assembly in a folded storage position and a portion of the corresponding track assembly and locking assembly in a rearward locked condition.

Detailed Description

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The drawings are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a vehicle seat assembly is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment and is generally designated by the numeral 10. The vehicle seat assembly 10 is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat bottom 14, the seat bottom 14 adapted to be adjustably mounted in the vehicle along a track assembly 16, the track assembly 16 allowing the seat assembly 10 to move in the fore/aft direction a.

The seat back 20 is adapted to be pivotally connected to the vehicle body adjacent the seat bottom 14. The seat back 20 may be pivotally connected to the seat bottom 14 by a recliner mechanism (recliner mechanism) that may be actuated to pivot the seat back 20 relative to the seat bottom 14. For example, the seat back 20 can pivot in the direction of arrow B to recline the seat back 20 rearward at a recline angle, i.e., a comfortable seating position. Of course, the seat back 20 can be positioned rearwardly at various recline angles at a plurality of recline positions depending on the occupant's preferred seating position.

The seat back 20 may also be pivoted forward in the direction C to an upright position or to a reclined position in which the seat back 20 is tilted forward. The seat back 20 may be pivoted forward to a non-use or stowed position, as shown in fig. 5. An actuator 18, such as a handle, is provided to actuate the seat back 20 to pivot to a reclined/rearward angle or a reclined/forward storage position. The actuator 18 may be located on the seat back 20 or the seat bottom 14, or any suitable location to actuate pivoting of the seat back 20.

When the seat back 20 is tilted forward, the seat back 20 may not have enough space to fold flat (fold flat) completely. For example, when the seat assembly 10 is folded forward, the seat in front of the seat assembly 10 may interfere with the seat back 20 or the head restraint 22. To enable the seat assembly 10 to fold forward, it is advantageous if the seat assembly 10 simultaneously slides rearward along the track assembly 16 so that the seat back 20 and/or the head restraint 22 do not interfere with the front seat and allow the seat back 20 to fold into a compact storage position. In the compact storage position, the seat back 20 may be pivoted forward such that the forward seating surface 24 of the seat back 20 contacts the upward facing seating surface 26 of the seat bottom 14.

The seat assembly 10 may be a rear seat assembly, such as a second row or a third row, adapted to be moved to a storage position to allow additional cargo space in the vehicle. The seat back 20 may pivot or tilt forward in a direction C opposite the comfort seating position in which the seat back 20 is reclined. Operation of the recliner handle 18 causes the seat back 20 to rotate forwardly to the first reclined storage position 32. As shown in fig. 1, the first inclined position 32 may be only the initial minimum rotational angle D. For example, the initial rotation angle D may be about 15 degrees, or any suitable initial forward rotation angle. In the first inclined position 32, the locking assembly 30 is actuated.

As shown in fig. 2, the locking assembly 30 is connected between the track assembly 16 and the frame 28 of the seat back 20. When the seat back 20 is rotated forward to the first reclined position 32, the lock assembly 30 is urged to move to the unlocked condition to allow the seat bottom 14 to slide within the track assembly 16.

Fig. 3-4 show the locking assembly 30 in more detail. In fig. 3, the locking assembly 30 is shown in a locked state. Fig. 4 shows the locking assembly 30 in an unlocked state that allows the track assembly 16 to slide. The first cam 34 is attached to the seat back 20. When the seat back 20 is rotated forward to the first reclined position 32, the first cam 34 engages the lock assembly 30 and moves the lock assembly 30 to the unlocked condition.

The first cam 34 engages the first linkage 38 of the locking assembly 30 when the seat back 20 is rotated forward to the first reclined position 32. The first linkage 38 is mounted to the seat back 20 at a pivot point 48. As the first cam 34 continues to rotate counterclockwise with the rotation of the seat back 20, the first cam 34 engages the pin 36 on the first linkage 38 and forces the first linkage 38 to pivot and rotate clockwise. Clockwise rotation of the first linkage 38 causes the front edge 40 to move upward, which pulls the cable 42 connected to the first linkage 38.

The locking assembly 30 includes a second or ratchet linkage 44 to which the other end of the cable 42 is connected to the second or ratchet linkage 44. The ratchet linkage 44 is mounted to pivot and rotate at a pivot point 50. The cable 42 pulls the lower tab (lower tab)52 of the ratchet linkage 44 in a counterclockwise direction. The ratchet linkage 44 is normally biased in a clockwise direction by a ratchet spring 46 connected to a ratchet pawl (ratchet paw) 54, the ratchet pawl 54 being mounted to pivot at a pawl pivot point 56.

The locking assembly 30 also includes a release mechanism 60. The release mechanism 60 is coupled to the track assembly 16 and prevents the track assembly 16 from sliding when in the locked position, as shown in FIG. 3. Release mechanism 60 is biased upward to a (biased up to) locked position, as shown in FIG. 3. When the ratchet linkage 44 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the release mechanism 60 moves downward to the unlocked position. As shown in FIG. 4, when the ratchet linkage 44 is rotated counterclockwise, the ratchet arm 58 of the ratchet linkage 44 contacts the pin 62, forcing the release mechanism 60 to the unlocked state.

The seat assembly 10 is able to slide within the track assembly 16 as long as the release mechanism 60 and the ratchet linkage 44 remain in the unlocked state. The ratchet pawl 54 holds the ratchet linkage 44 in the unlocked state. The ratchet pawl 54 is constantly urged counterclockwise by the spring 46 so that the ratchet pawl 54 is held against the ratchet linkage 44. The counterclockwise rotation of the ratchet linkage 44 also pivots the ratchet pawl 54 in the counterclockwise direction. As the ratchet linkage 44 and ratchet pawl 54 rotate counterclockwise, the pawl finger 64 moves from the first ratchet tooth 66 to the second ratchet tooth 68 on the ratchet linkage 44. When the pawl finger 64 engages the second ratchet tooth 68, the ratchet linkage 44 remains in the unlocked state to allow the seat assembly 10 to slide.

As the ratchet spring 46 urges the ratchet linkage 44 clockwise (urging) and the ratchet pawl 54 counterclockwise, the pawl finger 64 on the ratchet pawl 54 is retained in the second ratchet tooth 68 to retain the track assembly 16 in the unlocked state.

With the track assembly 16 in the unlocked state, the entire seat assembly 10 is biased rearward. The seat assembly 10 may be biased rearward by a return spring 72 or other biasing member, or may be manually moved rearward by an operator. The return spring 72 may be connected between the seat bottom 14 and a rearward position along the track assembly 16 such that when the lock assembly 30 is in the unlocked state, the spring force of the return spring 72 moves the seat assembly 10 to the rearward storage position.

The seat assembly 10 is adapted to slide rearwardly along the track assembly 16. As shown in more detail in fig. 7-10, the track assembly 16 may include a first track rail 76 and a second track rail 78. The first track rail 76 is adapted to be connected to a seat frame 28, such as the frame of the seat bottom 14. The first track rail 76 is coupled to slide relative to the second track rail 78. The second track rail 78 may be mounted to the vehicle and stationary. The first and second track rails 76, 78 are adapted to slide relative to each other. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the track assembly 16 may include other components or configurations that facilitate sliding movement of the seat assembly 10 within a vehicle.

The lock assembly 30 is connected to the seat assembly 10 and moves rearward with the seat assembly 10. The bracket 80 is fixed in position along the rear with respect to the second rail guide 78. As the seat assembly 10 and lock assembly 30 move rearward, the bottom tab 84 on the ratchet pawl 54 contacts the bracket 80. As shown in detail in fig. 6, the tab 84 and the ratchet pawl 54 are pushed clockwise by the bracket 80 and the pawl finger 64 moves out of the second ratchet tooth 68 on the ratchet linkage 44. The ratchet linkage 44 is then biased clockwise by the spring 46, which causes the release mechanism 60 to move upwardly to the locked state of FIG. 6. The release mechanism 60 locks the track assembly 16 to maintain the seat assembly 10 in the rear storage position, as shown in fig. 10. With the seat assembly 10 locked in the rear storage position, the seat back 20 may be pivoted and tilted forward to a fully folded storage position.

The seat assembly 10 can be moved back to the seating position in which the seat back 20 is reclined in direction B and the seat assembly 10 is moved forward. When the seat back 20 rotates clockwise in the direction B, the first cam 34 rotates together with the seat back 20. The first cam 34 engages the pin 36 and pivots the first linkage 38 clockwise. First linkage 38 pulls cable 42 to operate ratchet linkage 44 and release mechanism 60 in the same manner as shown in fig. 3-4 to unlock track assembly 16. When the cam 34 is not engaging the first linkage 38, the first linkage 38 may be biased in a counterclockwise direction by the spring 70 to bias the front edge 40 of the first linkage 38 downward.

The ratchet pawl 54 is held clockwise by the bracket 80 against the biasing force until the entire seat assembly 10 slides forward. As the entire seat assembly 10, including the ratchet pawl 54, slides forward, the tab 84 on the ratchet pawl 54 moves forward of the bracket 80 and the ratchet spring 46 then urges the ratchet pawl 54 and the tab 84 counterclockwise, which moves the pawl finger 64 into the second ratchet tooth 68 on the ratchet linkage 44 and places the track assembly 16 in the unlocked state to allow the seat assembly 10 to be repositioned in the fore-aft direction a.

Fig. 7-10 illustrate the seat assembly 10 being lowered from the comfort down to the (dive down) fully folded storage position and how the track assembly 16 and locking assembly 30 move to the respective locked or unlocked states in each of these positions.

For example, in fig. 7, the seat assembly 10 is in a comfortable seating position. When the seat assembly 10 is in the comfort seating position, the track assembly 16 and the locking assembly 30 are in the forward locking condition.

In fig. 8, when the seat assembly 10 is moved to the first reclined position 32, the lock assembly 30 is moved to the unlocked state, thereby unlocking the track assembly 16. Figure 9 illustrates the seat assembly 10 continuing to fold to the second reclined position. The track assembly 16 is unlocked and the locking assembly 30 can slide rearward. In fig. 8-9, the seat assembly 10 is able to slide when the lock assembly 30 is in the unlocked state.

Finally, in fig. 10, the seat assembly 10 reaches the fully folded storage position and the locking assembly 30 slides rearward and is forced into a rear locking condition, thereby locking the track assembly 16 and preventing the seat assembly 10 from sliding.

The following is a list of reference numerals:

10 seat assembly

14 seat bottom

16 track assembly

18 actuator

20 seat back

22 head restraint

24 forward seating surface

26 upward facing seating surface

28 frame

30 locking assembly

32 first inclined position

34 first cam

36 pin

38 first linkage

40 front edge of first linkage

42 Cable

44 ratchet linkage

46 ratchet spring

48 pivot point of first linkage

Pivot point of 50 ratchet linkage

52 lower projection of ratchet linkage

54 ratchet pawl

56 pawl pivot point

58 ratchet arm

60 Release mechanism

62 pin on release mechanism

64 pawl finger

66 first ratchet tooth

68 second ratchet tooth

70 spring

72 return spring

76 first track guide

78 second track rail

80 support

84 bottom projection of ratchet pawl

While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, the features of the various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.