Patent ID: 6726282
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
A seat adjustment mechanism for pivotably adjusting the position of a seat back relative to a support frame, the seat adjustment mechanism having a recline adjustment state allowing the seat back to be moved relative to the support frame, a dump state biasing the seat back into the support frame, and a fixed state fixing the position of the seat back relative to the support frame at a selected relative position, said seat adjustment mechanism comprising:a locking mechanism connected to the support frame; a positioning member coupled between said locking mechanism and the seat back and disposed such that movement of the seat back relative to the seat frame moves said positioning member relative to said locking mechanism; said locking mechanism including a locking element having an engaged state and a disengaged state, said locking element fixed to said positioning member in said engaged state and allowing said positioning member to move within a plurality of positions relative to said locking mechanism when in said disengaged state, thereby allowing the seat back to move relative to the support frame when said locking mechanism is in said disengaged state; an arresting mechanism including an arresting member, said arresting mechanism operably coupled to said locking mechanism, said arresting member coupled between said positioning member and said arresting mechanism in a position related to the selected relative position of the seat back and the support frame; said arresting mechanism having an adjustment state in which said arresting member changes position as said positioning member moves relative to said locking mechanism; said arresting mechanism having an arresting state in which movement of said arresting member, when the relative position of said positioning member to said locking mechanism is the selected relative position, actuates said arresting mechanism, shifting the seat adjustment mechanism to the fixed state, thereby fixing the relative position of said seat back to the support frame at said selected relative position upon actuation of said arresting mechanism; said arresting mechanism having a memory state fixing the position of said arresting member; an adjustment control actuator operably coupled with said locking mechanism and said arresting mechanism, said adjustment control actuator disposed such that movement of said adjustment control actuator selects the recline adjustment state of the seat adjustment mechanism, wherein said locking mechanism is in said disengaged state and said arresting mechanism is in said adjustment state, thereby allowing the seat back to be movable relative to the support frame when said adjustment control actuator is actuated; and a dump actuator operably coupled with said locking mechanism and said arresting mechanism, said dump actuator disposed such that actuation of said dump actuator fixes said locking element in said engaged state and said arresting mechanism in said memory state, thereby allowing the seat back to be movable relative to the support frame until the seat back is moved to the selected relative position of the seat back to the support frame.