Abstract:
A seat assembly having a recliner mechanism and a memory module. The recliner mechanism facilitates pivotal movement of a seat back. The memory module controls operation of the recliner mechanism.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a vehicle seat and a memory module for a recliner mechanism. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a seat assembly is provided. The seat assembly includes a recliner mechanism and a memory module. The recliner mechanism is disposed on the seat assembly and facilitates pivotal movement of a seat back. The memory module is disposed on the recliner mechanism and controls operation of the recliner mechanism. The memory module includes a recliner cam that engages the recliner mechanism and a memory lever rotatably disposed on the recliner cam. The memory lever rotates the recliner cam in a first direction to actuate the recliner mechanism to an open condition in which pivotal movement of the seat back is enabled. 
         [0004]    In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle seat assembly is provided. The vehicle seat assembly includes a recliner mechanism and a memory module. The recliner mechanism permits pivotal movement of a seat back when in an open condition and inhibits pivotal movement of the seat back when in a closed condition. The memory module is disposed on the recliner mechanism. The memory module includes a recliner cam that engages the recliner mechanism, a memory lever coaxially disposed with the recliner cam, and a memory hook that selectively engages the memory lever. The recliner mechanism is held in an open position by the recliner cam when the memory hook engages and inhibits rotation of the memory lever. 
         [0005]    In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle seat assembly is provided. The vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back, a seat bottom, a recliner mechanism, and a memory module. The recliner mechanism is fixedly disposed on the seat bottom and includes a pinion. The memory module is disposed on the recliner mechanism. The memory module includes a recliner cam that engages the pinion, a memory lever configured to engage the recliner cam, and a memory hook configured to engage the memory lever. The memory lever inhibits rotation of the recliner cam when the memory hook inhibits rotation of the memory lever. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a seat assembly. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary view of the seat assembly and an exploded view of a memory module that may be provided with the vehicle seat. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary side view of the seat assembly of  FIG. 2  with the memory module in a first position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary side view of the seat assembly with the memory module in a second position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary side view of the seat assembly with the memory module in a third position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    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 figures 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 the claims and/or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary seat assembly  10  is shown. The seat assembly  10  may be configured for use in a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle like a car or truck. 
         [0013]    The seat assembly  10  may include a seat bottom  12  and a seat back  14 . The seat bottom  12  may be configured to be mounted on a support surface, such as a floor pan of a vehicle. The seat back  14  may be pivotally disposed on the seat bottom  12  as will be described in more detail below. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the seat bottom  12  and seat back  14  may each include structural frames. The frame of the seat bottom  12  may include a seat bottom side member  16 . The frame of the seat back  14  may include a seat back side member  18 . A trigger  20  may be fixedly disposed on the seat back side member  18 . The side members  16 ,  18  and trigger  20  may be made of any suitable material or materials, such as a metal like an aluminum alloy. 
         [0015]    A recliner mechanism  24  may be disposed between the seat bottom side member  16  and the seat back side member  18 . The recliner mechanism  24  may be generally disk shaped and may be fixedly positioned with respect to the seat bottom side member  16 . For example, the recliner mechanism  24  may be welded to the seat bottom side member  16  and facilitate pivoting of the seat back  14  with respect to the seat bottom  12 . The recliner mechanism  24  may be spaced apart from the trigger  20  to allow the seat back  14  to pivot. Moreover, the recliner mechanism  24  may be adapted to permit pivoting of the seat back  14  when in an open condition and inhibit pivoting of the seat back  14  when in a closed condition. The recliner mechanism  24  may include a pinion  26  that may be disposed at or near its center. The pinion  26  may protrude from a side of the recliner mechanism  24  and may be configured to rotate with respect to the housing of the recliner mechanism  24  as will discussed in more detail below. 
         [0016]    A memory module  30  may be provided that helps control pivoting of the seat back  14  with respect to the seat bottom  12 . In at least one embodiment, the memory module  30  may include a base plate  32 , a memory hook  34 , a memory hook spring  36 , a memory lever  38 , an actuator assembly  40 , a recliner cam  42 , a recliner cam spring  44 , a memory lever spring  46 , and a cover plate  48 . Individual components of the memory module  30  are best shown in  FIG. 2  while the assembly of the memory module  30  is best shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . 
         [0017]    The base plate  32  may be fixedly disposed on the recliner mechanism  24 . The base plate  32  may include various features, such as notches and/or protrusions, that engage mating features on recliner mechanism  24  to facilitate positioning and orientation of the base plate  32  with respect to the recliner mechanism  24 . The base plate  32  may include a hole  50  through which the pinion  26  extends. The base plate  32  may include or be configured to receive a first mounting pin  52 , a second mounting pin  54 , and a mounting bolt  56 . The first and second mounting pins  52 ,  54  may be spaced apart from each other and may extend substantially parallel to the pinion  26 . The mounting pins  52 ,  54  may have any suitable configuration and may be configured as fasteners, such as bolts. The mounting bolt  56  may extend through an opening in the base plate  32  and attach the base plate  32  to the seat bottom side member  16 . 
         [0018]    The memory hook  34  may be pivotally disposed on the first mounting pin  52  and may rotate about an axis of rotation  60  represented by the associated dashed line in  FIG. 2 . The memory hook  34  may have any suitable configuration. For example, the memory hook  34  may include a first arm portion  62  and a second arm portion  64 . The first arm portion  62  may include one or more engagement features  66  that may be adapted to inhibit rotation of the memory lever  38 . The engagement features  66  may be configured as one or more teeth as shown in  FIG. 2 . Optionally, the engagement features  66  may be configured as a hook, tab, or other feature in one or more embodiments of the present invention. The memory hook  34  may also include a trigger engagement feature  68  that may cooperate with the trigger  20  to control operation of the memory module  30  as will be discussed in more detail below. 
         [0019]    The memory hook spring  36  may be configured to exert a biasing force on the memory hook  34 . The memory hook spring  36  may have any suitable configuration. In the embodiment shown, the memory hook spring  36  includes a coil portion that is disposed around the first mounting pin  52 , a first end that engages the memory hook  34 , and a second end that may engage the base plate  32 . As such, the memory hook spring  36  may exert a biasing force against the second arm portion  64  to rotate the memory hook  34  in a counterclockwise direction to move the first arm portion  62  and engagement features  66  toward the memory lever  38  in the absence of a sufficient counteracting force. The memory hook spring  36  may be provided in other configurations and does not necessarily have to be disposed about the first mounting pin  52  in one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0020]    The memory lever  38  may be configured to rotate about a center axis of rotation  70 . The memory lever  38  may include a hole  72  through which the pinion  26  extends. In addition, the memory lever  38  may include one or more engagement features  74  that are compatible with the engagement features  66  on the memory hook  34 . In the embodiment shown, the engagement features  74  are configured as a set of teeth. Optionally, the engagement features  74  may be configured as a hook, tab, protrusion, or other feature in one or more embodiments of the present invention. The memory lever  38  may include a rotation tab  76  that may engage and rotate the recliner cam  42  as will be discussed in more detail below. 
         [0021]    The actuator assembly  40  may be configured to actuate the memory lever  38 . The actuator assembly  40  may have any suitable configuration. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the actuator assembly  40  includes a cable  80 , such as a Bowden cable, that may be connected or coupled to the memory lever  38 . For example, a first end of the cable  80  may be attached to a fastener  82 , such as a pin, and retained by a nut  84 . The fastener  82  may extend from the memory lever  38  and may be provided as a separate component or may be integrally formed with the memory lever  38 . If the fastener  82  is provided as a separate component, it may be attached in any suitable manner, such as with a fastener like a rivet, welding, adhesive, or an interference fit. The cable  80  may have a second end (not shown) that is disposed opposite the first end and is attached to a handle  86  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) that may facilitate manual operation or activation of the seat assembly  10 . For instance, the handle  86  may be mounted on a portion of the seat, such as the seat bottom  12  or seat back  14 , and may be actuated by a user to initiate pivotal movement of the seat back  14  as will be discussed in more detail below. 
         [0022]    The recliner cam  42  may be configured to receive the pinion  26  and to rotate about the center axis of rotation  70 . For example, the recliner cam  42  may include a socket-like hole  90  that mates with the pinion  26  in one or more embodiments of the present invention. The recliner cam  42  may include a first hub  92  that extends from a back side of the recliner cam  42  and into the center hole  72  of the memory lever  38  to help align the memory lever  38  and recliner cam  42  and provide a bearing surface upon which the memory lever  38  may rotate. The recliner cam  42  may also include a second hub  94  extending from a front side of the recliner cam  42  and a third hub  96  extending from the second hub  94 . The first, second, and third hubs  92 ,  94 ,  96  may be generally cylindrical and may be concentrically disposed about the center axis of rotation  70 . 
         [0023]    The recliner cam spring  44  may exert a biasing force against the recliner cam  42 . The recliner cam spring  44  may have any suitable configuration. In the embodiment shown, the recliner cam spring  44  has a helical configuration and includes a first end that engages the base plate  32  and a second end that engages the recliner cam  42 . In  FIG. 2 , the biasing force of the recliner cam spring  44  pulls the recliner cam  42  in a counterclockwise direction. The recliner cam spring  44  may be provided in other configurations in one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0024]    The memory lever spring  46  may be configured to exert a biasing force on the memory lever  38 . The memory lever spring  46  may have any suitable configuration. In the embodiment shown, the memory lever spring  46  includes a coil portion that may be generally disposed around the second hub  94 , a first end that engages part of the actuator assembly  40 , such as fastener  82 , and a second end that engages the second mounting pin  54 . The first end may be retained between the memory lever  38  and an enlarged portion of the fastener  82  in one or more embodiments of the present invention. Alternatively, the first end may directly engage the memory lever  38  and the second end may be disposed directly against a tab or mating feature on the base plate  32  or other fixed surface in one or more embodiments of the present invention. In  FIG. 2 , the biasing force of the memory lever spring  46  may rotate the memory lever  38  in a counterclockwise direction about the center axis of rotation  70  and may be sufficient to actuate or retract the cable  80  when sufficient counteracting force is not being applied to the cable  80 . In addition, the memory lever spring  46  may help inhibit rattling of the memory lever  38  against the recliner cam  42 . The memory lever spring  46  may be provided in other configurations and does not necessarily have to be disposed about the second hub  94  in one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0025]    The cover plate  48  may be provided to help retain the components of the memory module  30 . The cover plate  48  may be mounted in a fixed position relative to the base plate  32 . For example, one or more fasteners  100  may be used to couple the cover plate  48  to the mounting plate  32  or features that are stationary with respect to the base plate  32 , such as the first and second mounting pins  52 ,  54 . The cover plate  48  may include an opening  102  that receives a hub, such as the third hub  96 , and permits rotation of the recliner cam  42 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , operation of the memory module  30  is illustrated in more detail. In these figures the cover plate  48  is not shown for clarity. 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 3 , the seat back  14  is shown in a first position or standard seating position in which the seat back  14  is disposed at an obtuse angle or tilted back from the seat bottom  12 . In this position, the recliner mechanism  24  may inhibit pivoting of the seat back  14  with respect to the seat bottom. 
         [0028]    In the position shown in  FIG. 3 , the memory module  30  is shown with the trigger  20  in engagement with the trigger engagement feature  68  on the memory hook  34 . The force exerted by the trigger  20  overcomes the biasing force exerted by the memory hook spring  36 . As a result, the engagement features  66  on the memory hook  34  are spaced apart and disengaged from the engagement features  74  on the memory lever  38 . The memory lever  38  is then free to rotate and is biased in a counterclockwise direction by the memory lever spring  46 , which moves the actuator assembly  40  and its cable  80  to a retracted position. The counterclockwise rotation or positioning of the memory lever  38  and its rotation tab  76  allows the recliner cam  42  to also rotate in a counterclockwise direction due to the biasing force exerted by the recliner cam spring  44 . 
         [0029]    In  FIG. 4 , the seat back  14  is shown in a second position after the seat back  14  is actuated forward or toward the seat bottom  12 . This position may be referred to as the “easy entry” position in which the seat back  14  is positioned to provide additional space for entry into a rear seating area, such as may be provided in a vehicle without rear doors. 
         [0030]    Movement from the standard seating position shown in  FIG. 3  toward the easy entry position in  FIG. 4  may be initiated when a user actuates the handle  86 . If sufficient force is exerted with the handle  86  to overcome the biasing force exerted by the memory lever spring  46 , then the cable  80  is actuated in the direction represented by the straight arrow and the memory lever  38  is rotated in a clockwise direction to the position shown in  FIG. 4 . Rotation of the memory lever  38  causes the rotation tab  76  to engage the recliner cam  42 . The force exerted by the rotation tab  76  on the recliner cam  42  may overcome the biasing force of the recliner cam spring  44 , causing the recliner cam  42  to rotate in a clockwise direction toward the position shown in  FIG. 4 . Folding of the seat back  14  toward the seat bottom  12 , which may be accomplished at least in part by force exerted by the user, disengages the trigger  20  from the trigger engagement feature  68 , which allows the memory hook  34  to rotate in a clockwise direction due to the biasing force exerted by the memory lever spring  36 . As such, the engagement features  66  on the memory hook  34  may engage the engagement features  74  on the memory lever  38 . As such, the pinion  26  may rotate and the recliner mechanism  24  may be moved to and held in an open position by the recliner cam  42 . 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 5 , the seat back  14  is shown in a third position after it is reclined away from the folded position shown in  FIG. 4  and just before returning to the first position shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0032]    In the third position, the trigger  20  is shown just prior to actuating the memory hook  34 . The trigger  20  actuate the memory hook  34  by exerting sufficient force on the trigger engagement feature  68  to overcome the biasing force of the memory hook spring  36  and rotate the memory hook  34  clockwise, which disengages the engagement features  66 ,  74 . Disengagement of the engagement features  66 ,  74  allows the memory lever  38  to rotate counterclockwise due to the biasing force of the memory lever spring  46  and back to the position shown in  FIG. 3 . In addition, the counterclockwise rotation of the memory lever  38  and its rotation tab  76  permits the recliner cam  42  to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. 
         [0033]    While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and 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.