Abstract:
A vehicle seat system including a seat-bottom ( 1.7 ) and a.seatback ( 15 ) wherein the seatback ( 15 ) is prevented from rotating by both a recliner mechanism ( 50 ) and a latch mechanism ( 60 ) connected to the seatback ( 15 ). The latch mechanism ( 60 ) is configured to be disengaged to permit rotation of the seatback ( 15 ), to a forward position to aid ingress into a rearward positioned seat, which in turn releases a pair of tracks to shuttle the seat forward, to provide for easier ingress into a rearward positioned seat. When the latch mechanism ( 60 ) is released or unlocked, the recliner mechanism ( 50 ) release handle is free to rotate, but the lockout mechanism is prevented from, releasing the recliner mechanism. The seat is configured so that the seatback ( 15 ) unfolds and returns to the specific comfort position prior to activation of the latch mechanism release handle ( 23 ).

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/897,131 filed Jan. 24, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present application relates generally to the field of automotive vehicle seat systems and more specifically to the field of mechanisms for use in automotive vehicle seat systems having the purpose of providing increased utility to the user. 
         [0003]    Traditionally, seat assemblies in vehicles have been known to provide adjustability for users for the purpose of utility or convenience, including, for example, the ability to move a seat positioned for occupant seating to a position such that a passenger may more easily gain entry to a seat positioned behind the adjustable seat. It has been known to provide adjustability of a “front row” seat to a forward position to gain ingress to a “second row” seat on vehicles such as a coupe (i.e. a two door vehicle) as well as providing adjustability of “second row” seats to a forward position to gain ingress to a “third row” seat on vehicles such as vans, trucks, sport utility vehicles, and others similarly configured with more than two rows of seats. 
         [0004]    Many different ways have been utilized to adjust the seat to a forward ingress position. For example, the seatback may be rotated with respect to the seat cushion while, at the same time, releasing a pair of tracks (typically used for comfort adjustment of the seat in the forward and rearward directions) to allow the seat to shuttle forward (i.e. towards the instrument panel of a coupe vehicle), thereby maximizing the ingress/egress space for the user. Also, to achieve a forward ingress position, the seatback may rotate from a reclined comfort position for occupant seating into a folded position, in which the seatback is folded down toward the seat base. 
         [0005]    One problem associated with many adjustable seat assemblies is that when the seat is folded, the original desired position of the seatback (i.e., a user&#39;s comfort position) may be lost, requiring it to be re-set upon unfolding the seatback portion. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a seat assembly having a “memory” feature such that the seatback may return to the desired comfort position (i.e. the specific position prior to folding the seatback) after the seatback is unfolded from its easier ingress position. 
         [0006]    It would also be advantageous to provide this memory feature such that the comfort adjust handle would still be allowed to rotate, while the seat was in its forward ingress position. This would convey to the user that the handle and, thus, the connected mechanism is still operable, without allowing for loss of user&#39;s specific comfort position. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a seat assembly having a mechanism system that provides one or more of these advantageous features or addresses one or more of the above-identified concerns. Other features and advantages will be made apparent from the present disclosure. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    A vehicle seat system including a seat bottom and a seat back is provided. The seat system includes a recliner mechanism for providing rotation of the seat-back. The recliner mechanism included a tooth plate pivotally connected to a base plate through an internal gear mesh. The seat system includes a lockout mechanism to prevent unlocking of the recliner mechanism when seat system is in the forward ingress position. The lockout mechanism includes a rotatable lockout lever which contains a slot configured to retain a lockout pin. The seat system includes a latch mechanism for providing rotation of the seatback to provide easier ingress to another rearward positioned seat and to induce actuation of the lockout mechanism. The latch mechanism includes a side plate pivotally connected to the recliner mechanism tooth plate through a gear mesh. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, appended claims, and the accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which are briefly described below. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an automotive vehicle. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary seat system used in an automotive vehicle. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view, partially exploded for clarity, of an embodiment of a seat mechanism in an occupant seated position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a seat mechanism (latch side plate removed) showing internals of an exemplary latch mechanism. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a seat mechanism in an occupant seated position, with latch mechanism unlocked, thus preventing recliner from unlocking, but showing recliner handle still rotatable. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a seat mechanism in an occupant seated position, with latch mechanism locked and recliner mechanism unlocked (for comfort adjust of seatback). 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a seat mechanism in an occupant seated position with both recliner mechanism and latch mechanism locked. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment (a seat structure) utilizing seat mechanism. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    An exemplary embodiment of a vehicle seat that provides the convenient utility of a rotatable seatback, to provide adjustable comfort to the occupant. The seat allows for repositioning of the seatback to aid ingress into a seat positioned rearward of the adjustable seatback. The seat includes a recliner mechanism and a comfort adjust handle for adjusting the position of the seatback. The seat includes a memory feature to lock the recliner mechanism in its current comfort position, yet still permits the comfort adjust handle to rotate. These functions are achieved by a seat mechanism which couples the recliner mechanism to a latch mechanism through a lockout mechanism. 
         [0019]    Numerous types and designs of recliner mechanisms are known. For example, a recliner mechanism is shown and described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/878,765 filed Jan. 5, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The recliner mechanism allows the seatback to rotate with respect to the seat cushion to provide adjustability so the user can locate a desired comfort position. According to an exemplary embodiment, the recliner mechanism is a rotary, discontinuous locking type, that includes a tooth plate, which is coupled to the seatback and through an internal meshing of gears, is pivotally coupled to a base plate, which is also coupled to the seat cushion. According to an exemplary embodiment the recliner mechanism may be unlocked directly, through rotation of a release handle. The release handle is rigidly connected to an actuator, which is pivotally connected to a drive. Rotation of the release handle rotates the actuator, which contains a finger that may rotate into contract with a lockout pin, and subsequently rotates the lockout pin with continued release handle rotation. Through continued rotation of the release handle the lockout pin may contact the finger of the drive and then rotate the drive. The recliner mechanism disengages allowing for rotation of the seatback after a preset rotation of the drive, which is rigidly connected to the cam, internal to the recliner mechanism. 
         [0020]    An alternative embodiment may use a remote release lever, which is connected to a cable which is then connected to the actuator. The recliner mechanism may be single sided (i.e. one recliner mechanism per seat) or dual sided (i.e. two recliner mechanisms per seat), in which a synchronization tube or additional cable is utilized for actuating the “slave” recliner when the “lead” recliner is actuated. Those skilled in the art will recognize that although the seat mechanism is discussed and illustrated using a rotary, discontinuous locking type, that other recliners (e.g. continuous locking, pawl and sector, etc.) may be utilized for use within the seat mechanism to provide equivalent functionality. 
         [0021]    The latch mechanism allows for rotation of the seatback with respect to the seat cushion for the purpose of repositioning the seat to aid ingress into a rearward positioned seat, and may comprise of a conventional cam, pawl, and sector type or another latch type mechanism. Repositioning of the seat may be induced by pulling a release lever that may be directly attached or remotely attached to the cam, thereby driving the cam out of engagement with the pawl. The cam may then drive the teeth of the pawl out of mesh with the teeth of the sector, thereby allowing for rotation of the seatback. According to an exemplary embodiment, the teeth that serve as the sector of the latch mechanism are incorporated or integrated onto the tooth plate of the recliner mechanism. To allow the seatback to rotate, a bushing pivotally connects the recliner mechanism tooth plate and the latch mechanism side plate, which is rigidly connected to the back frame contained within the seatback. 
         [0022]    The seat includes a lockout mechanism that serves to provide the seat with a memory function that prevents release, or unlocking, of the recliner mechanism when the latch mechanism is unlocked. The lockout mechanism includes a lockout cable that may have one end pivotally connected to a release stud, which is rigidly fixed to the latch mechanism&#39;s cam. Rotation of the cam pulls the cable along the arc of a release stud. The lockout cable&#39;s other end may be connected to a lockout lever, which rotates when the cable is stroked or pulled. Rotation of the lockout lever rotates a lockout pin to a position in which the actuator, which is rigidly connected to the comfort adjust release handle, may not contact the lockout pin when rotated. The actuator is not able to contact the lockout pin when rotated. As a result, the actuator may not induce rotation through the lockout pin onto the drive, which would release the recliner mechanism. However, the actuator and the drive are pivotally connected and, as a result, the actuator and release handle, which are rigidly connected, may rotate freely about the drive. A spring may be used to provide torque, to return the actuator and release handle to the home position and to reduce or eliminate any noise issues. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of an automotive vehicle  10 , including a rear seat system  11  and a (front) seat system  13 , is illustrated. Seat system  13  provides the convenient utility of a rotatable seatback, to allow the occupant adjustability for comfort, and to allow the seat to be repositioned to aid ingress into a rearward positioned seat, which includes a memory feature to lock the recliner in its current comfort position, yet allowing the comfort adjust handle to rotate. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary embodiment of seat system  13 , including a seatback  15 , a seat cushion  17 , a recliner (comfort adjust) release handle  21 , a latch mechanism release handle  23  and a seat mechanism  30  (contained within seat system  13 ), is illustrated. Recliner release handle  21 , when actuated, communicates to seat mechanism  30  to allow for seatback  15  to rotate with respect to seat cushion  17  so that the user may find a desired comfort position. Latch mechanism release handle  23 , when actuated, communicates to seat mechanism  30  to allow for seatback  15  to rotate with respect to seat cushion  17 , which may then in turn release tracks (allowing seat system  13  to slide forward) so that user may gain more room for ingress to rear seat system  11 . During this increased ingress seat position, recliner release handle  21  may rotate, but does not release or unlock recliner mechanism, thereby providing memory of the seatback&#39;s specific comfort position when seatback  15  is rotated back to comfort position. Recliner release handle  21  and latch mechanism release handle  23  may be located anywhere on seat system  13 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a partially exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of seat mechanism  30  that includes a lockout mechanism  40 , a recliner mechanism  50 , a cushion-frame mounting bracket  51  and a latch mechanism  60 . Lockout mechanism  40  includes an actuator  31 , a spring  32 , a drive  33 , a lockout lever  35 , a lockout pin  37 , a retainer bracket  39 , a pivot stud  41  and a lockout cable  45  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). Latch mechanism  60  includes a cable attachment stud  43 , a back-frame mounting bracket  61 , a pivot bushing  63 , and a side plate  65 , a cam  67  (shown in  FIG. 4 ), a pawl  69  (shown in  FIG. 4 ), a stop stud  71  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) a pawl pivot  73 , a cam pivot  75  and a cam return spring  77 . Recliner mechanism  50  includes a base plate  55 , rigidly connected to cushion-frame mounting bracket  51 , and a tooth plate  53 , rigidly connected to one end of pivot bushing  63 . Tooth plate  53  and base plate  55  are pivotally coupled through an internal gear mesh. Cushion frame mounting bracket  51  may be rigidly connected to the cushion frame. Pivot bushing  63  may have the other end rigidly connected to back-frame mounting bracket  61 . Recliner release handle  21  may be rigidly connected to actuator  31 , which is pivotally connected to a drive  33 . The release handle  21  and the actuator  31  share the same axis of rotation. 
         [0026]    Drive  33  may be keyed to a synchronization tube  54 , which is connected to the cam contained within recliner mechanism  50  for the purpose of releasing recliner mechanism  50  when rotated. In the exemplary embodiment disclosed in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , synchronization tube  54  is connected to both recliners used in a dual sided application for the purpose of releasing both simultaneously. An alternative embodiment may have one recliner with its cam connected to a release shaft, which may be keyed to drive  33 . Lockout lever  35  is pivotally connected, about its center, to pivot stud  41  and contains on one end a cable attachment feature and on its other end a slot which contains while allowing for translation of lockout pin  37  along the slot. Pivot stud  41  is rigidly connected to retainer bracket  39 , which is rigidly connected to cushion frame mounting bracket  51 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a side view of an exemplary latch mechanism  60 , which allows the seatback to rotate when unlocked, is illustrated. The latch mechanism  60  includes a cam  67 , which is pivotally connected to a cam pivot  75 , and a pawl  69 , which is pivotally connected to pawl pivot  73 . The cam  67  and pawl  69  are contained between side plate  65  (removed from  FIG. 4  for clarity) and a back-frame mounting bracket  61 . Pawl  69  has teeth which mesh with external teeth of tooth plate  53 . Latch mechanism  60  may include a stop stud  71  for the purpose of controlling rearward travel and for removing clearance in conjunction with cam  67  being induced to rotate by cam return spring  77 . Actuation is achieved (in this exemplary embodiment) by pulling on latch mechanism release handle  23 , which strokes a cable, which is connected to cable attachment stud  43 , that in turn rotates cam  67  in a counter-clockwise direction, about cam pivot  75 . The counter-clockwise rotation of cam  67  causes the corresponding rotation of pawl  69  in a clockwise direction. The rotation of the pawl  69  disengages teeth of pawl  69  from teeth of tooth plate  53 . Seatback  15 , which is connected to back-frame mounting bracket  61  may then rotate with respect to seat cushion  17 . In an alternative embodiment not shown, the track system would be released by the rotation of seatback  15 , allowing for seat system  13  to shuttle forward, to allow for user to maximize ingress into rear seat system  11 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  discloses, an exemplary embodiment of seat mechanism  30  in an occupant seating position. Latch mechanism  60  is unlocked, inducing lockout of recliner mechanism  50 , which provides memory when the seatback is unfolded. As a result of latch mechanism  60  being unlocked, lockout mechanism  40  prevents recliner mechanism  50  from being able to be released or unlocked. 
         [0029]    During operation of the seat, actuation of latch mechanism release handle  23 , causes corresponding movement of a cable that is connected to cable attachment stud  43  thereby moving stud  43 . Lockout cable  45  has one end connected to cable attachment stud  43  and the other end connected to lockout lever  35 . Movement of cable attachment stud  43  induces lockout cable  45  to stroke, which rotates lockout lever  35  in a clockwise direction, about pivot stud  41 , which further induces lockout pin  37  to rotate, about pivot stud  41 . Lockout pin  37  may rotate free of the arc through which the finger of actuator  31  rotates, so that rotation of actuator  31  may cause the finger to rotate under and clear of lockout pin  37 . Recliner release handle  21  may then be rotated without release of recliner mechanism  50 . Seatback  15  may then be rotated to its forward position for increased ingress and then unfolded back to the specific comfort position of seatback  15  prior to latch mechanism release handle  23  actuation. 
         [0030]    An alternative embodiment may include a spring or similar device to return actuator  31  to its home or locked position by inducing a counter-clockwise rotation of both actuator  31  and recliner release handle  21 , which may also allow for easier return of lockout pin  37  to its home position. Another alternative embodiment may include a spring or other suitable device to return lockout lever  35  to its home position, whereby the lockout pin  37  finds it home position. 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  discloses an exemplary embodiment of seat mechanism  30  in an occupant seating position, with latch mechanism  60  locked and recliner mechanism  50  unlocked to provide comfort adjust of seatback  15  to the user. Rotation of recliner release handle  21  rotates actuator  31  in a clockwise direction inducing the finger of actuator  31  into contact with lockout pin  37 . Further rotation of actuator  31  drives lockout pin  37  into contact with the finger of drive  33 . Continued rotation of actuator  31  and subsequent rotation of drive  33  may release recliner mechanism  50  to allow the user to rotate the seatback, with respect to the seat-cushion, to provide for a specific comfort seating position. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , an exemplary embodiment illustrating seat mechanism  30  in an occupant seating position, with both recliner mechanism  50  and latch mechanism  60  locked. The home positions of actuator  31 , lockout lever  35  are shown. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , an exemplary embodiment of seat mechanism  30  connected to a seat structure contained within seat system  13  is illustrated. Seat mechanism  30  is shown utilizing a dual sided configuration with a left-hand side as shown in  FIG. 7  and with a right-hand side symmetrically opposite. An alternative embodiment may utilize a single sided configuration with one seat mechanism  30  on one side and a “free pivot” on the other side. An exemplary embodiment has a pair of tracks connected to the cushion frame to provide forward and rearward comfort adjust of seat and to also provide additional ingress for seat system  13  when latch release handle is actuated. 
         [0034]    It should be noted that references to “front,” “rear,” “top,” and “base” in this description are merely used to identify various elements as are oriented in the Figures, with “front” and “rear” being relative to the environment in which the device is provided. 
         [0035]    For the purpose of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature. 
         [0036]    It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the vehicle seating system as shown in the various exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present embodiments. 
         [0037]    The U.S. priority application 60/897,131 filed Jan. 24, 2007, including the specification, drawings, claims and abstract, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.