Vehicle seat

A vehicle seat includes a seat back frame with an upper subframe pivot. A seat back subframe is pivotably connected to the seat back frame at the upper subframe pivot. An actuation assembly pivotably moves the seat back subframe relative to the seat back frame about the upper subframe pivot, between a seat back subframe design position and a subframe recline position. In the recline position a lower edge of the seat back subframe is positioned outwardly relative to the seat back frame with the seat back subframe pivoted to an angle relative to the seat back frame.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to vehicle seats and more particularly relates to a vehicle seat with the seat back (backrest) which can be angled to a reclined angular position (a recline position) unrestricted by a rearward vehicle body/bulkhead.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Vehicle seats may be provided that include a seat back that pivots forward relative to a vehicle seat base (cushion). The forward pivoting of the seat back may be for stowage or for easy entry behind the vehicle seat. Vehicle seats may include a seat back reclining feature in which the seat back can be pivoted from a design position (a use position) to recline positions. Particularly with a pickup truck environment a rear vehicle seat may have limited clearance between the back of the seat back and the vehicle body/bulkhead. This limits the ability of the seat back of the rearmost seat to recline.

Slouch seats have been provided which support the seat base and the seat back such that the seat back and the seat base can move from a design position, with the seat back closer to vertical, to a recline positions, with the seat back at more of a recline angle relative to vertical. The change in angle of the seat back is accompanied with movement of the seat base. In particular, the front edge of the seat base moves forward as a lower portion of the seat back moves forward and an upper portion of the seat back moves lower. Such slouch seats, as a rearmost seat, do not require clearance between the vehicle body/bulkhead and the seat back for the backrest to recline. However, slouch seats have more complicated mechanisms which may limit the ability of the seat back to pivot forward, for storage above the seat back or for storage or easy entry or access behind the seat back. Complicated mechanisms for slouch seats may also limit the ability of the seat base to pivot up to a stadium position for storage and access.

Vehicle seats may be provided that include a seat back that pivots forward relative to a seat cushion for stowage above the back of the seat back (load floor storage). This may be provided with a pivoting movement of the seat back and may also include a tilting movement of the seat base (cushion), such that the seat back can lie horizontally or more nearly horizontally. However, this added movement of the seat base requires more complicated mechanisms that may require extensive clearance between the back of the seat back and the vehicle body/bulkhead.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle seat which includes a seat back which reclines based on a pivot towards a top of the seat back and which does not require clearance between the vehicle body/bulkhead and the seat back, with the vehicle seat as a rearmost seat.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a vehicle seat with such a seat back as noted above and with the ability of the seat back to pivot forward, for storage above the seat back or for storage, easy entry or access behind the seat back and/or with the ability of the seat base to pivot up into a stadium position, for easy entry, for access or for storage.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a vehicle seat with such a seat back as noted above and with the vehicle seat in a slouch position or at least with the seat back in a recline/slouch position and also folded flat, whereby the back (rear surface or load floor) of the seat back is parallel or more nearly parallel to the floor of the vehicle, thus creating a parallel load floor.

According to the invention, a vehicle seat is provided comprising a seat back frame, with an upper subframe pivot, and a seat back subframe that is pivotably connected to the seat back frame at the upper subframe pivot. The seat also provides an actuation assembly that pivotably moves the seat back subframe relative to the seat back frame about the upper subframe pivot, between a seat back subframe design position and a subframe recline position. The recline position has a lower edge of the seat back subframe that is positioned outwardly relative to the seat back frame with the seat back subframe pivoted to an angle relative to the seat back frame.

The actuation assembly may advantageously comprise an actuator drive and an actuator drive to seat back subframe pivot movement transmission. The pivot movement transmission transfers motion of the actuator drive to pivoting movement of the seat back subframe.

The actuator drive may advantageously comprise an actuation lever connected to the seat back subframe and rotatable about a drive axis. Additionally, the actuator drive to seat back subframe pivot transmission may comprise a pivot lever connected to the seat back subframe and rotatable by the actuation lever about the drive axis and a cam with a cam slot, the cam being connected to one of the pivot lever and the seat back subframe. A cam follower may be connected to another of the pivot lever and the seat back subframe. The cam follower moves along the cam slot between a cam design position and a cam subframe recline position. The lower edge of the seat back subframe is moved outwardly relative to the seat back frame as the cam follower moves along the cam slot between a cam design position and a cam subframe recline position.

The actuator drive may advantageously comprise a drive motor. The actuator drive to seat back subframe pivot transmission may comprise a pivot lever connected to the seat back subframe and rotatable by the drive motor about the drive axis and a cam with a cam slot. The cam is connected to one of the pivot lever and the seat back subframe and a cam follower is connected to another of the pivot lever and the seat back subframe. The cam follower moves along the cam slot between a cam design position and a cam subframe recline position. The lower edge of the seat back subframe is moved outwardly relative to the seat back frame as the cam follower moves along the cam slot between a cam design position and a cam subframe recline position.

The seat back may be pivotable forward from a design position to a stowage or easy entry position. The seat base may be pivotable rearward from a design position to a stowage or stadium position.

The vehicle seat may further comprise bracket supports for connection of the vehicle seat to at least one of a vehicle rear bulkhead and a vehicle floor. The seat back is pivotably connected to the bracket supports for the pivotable movement forward of the seat back from the design position to the stowage or easy entry position. The seat base is pivotably connected to the bracket supports for the pivotable movement rearward of the seat base from the design position to the stowage or stadium position.

The vehicle seat may further comprise a seat base, wherein the seat back is pivotable forward with the subframe in the subframe recline position to a load floor position. With this configuration an angle of a load floor surface, comprised of a rear surface of the seat back, is changed relative to angle of a load floor surface with the subframe in the subframe design position and the seat back in the load floor position.

The vehicle seat according to the invention may be supported at a vehicle floor. In the alternative, the vehicle seat may be supported at a vehicle bulkhead. Further, the vehicle seat may be supported at a vehicle floor and may be supported at a vehicle bulkhead.

The vehicle seat is advantageously provided with foam and trim covering the seat back frame and the subframe. The trim may comprise an elastic portion, a gusset portion or a pleated portion to allow movement of the subframe relative to the seat back frame within the trim covering the seat back frame and the subframe. This allows an expansion of the volume encompassed by the trim as the subframe is moved from the seat back subframe design position to the seat back subframe recline position

According to another aspect of the invention a seat back of a vehicle seat is provided. The seat back comprises a seat back frame with an upper frame pivot and an actuation assembly that pivotably moves the seat back about the upper frame pivot, to move the seat back from a design position to a recline position. According to this embodiment, the actuation assembly may comprise an actuator drive connected to a vehicle bulkhead and connected to the seat back to pivot the seat back about the upper frame pivot and move the seat back relative to the vehicle bulkhead. In the alternative, the actuation assembly may comprise an actuator drive connected to a backrest support shaft at the upper frame pivot to pivot the support shaft and to pivot the seat back about the upper frame pivot and move the seat back relative to the vehicle bulkhead. A seat base may be connected to the seat back wherein the seat base moves with the seat back as the seat back pivots about the upper frame pivot and move the seat back relative to the vehicle bulkhead. This embodiment allows the seat back and the seat base to be supported at the upper frame pivot without an further support below the seat base.

According to still another aspect of the invention, a vehicle seat back assembly is provided comprising a seat back frame with an upper subframe pivot and a seat back subframe pivotably connected to the seat back frame at the upper subframe pivot. The vehicle seat back assembly further includes an actuation assembly pivotably moving the seat back subframe relative to the seat back frame about the upper subframe pivot between a seat back subframe design position and a subframe recline position wherein in the recline position a lower edge of the seat back subframe is positioned outwardly relative to the seat back frame with the seat back subframe pivoted to an angle relative to the seat back frame.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings,FIG. 1shows a vehicle seat generally designated10. The vehicle seat10includes a headrest12that is connected to a seat back frame14. The vehicle seat10also includes a seat base frame16. The vehicle seat may be a driver seat or a passenger seat or any other vehicle seat type. The vehicle seat10is particularly a pick up truck rearmost seat. The vehicle seat10is particularly useful in situations in which the space behind the seat is limited, so as to restrict a pivot range of a standard pivotable reclining seat back.

The vehicle seat10is described based on the vehicle seat having a front side that is positioned facing in a direction of travel and with left and right sides of the vehicle seat10, corresponding to the left and right of the person seated in the vehicle seat10. The seat back frame14includes a left side seat back frame end bracket13and a right side seat back frame end bracket15. The end bracket13connects the seat back frame14pivotably to left support bracket32and the end bracket15connects the seat back frame4pivotably to right support bracket34. The connections form a left seat back pivot31and a right seat back pivot33. The seat back frame14and seat back pivots31and33allow the seat back frame14to pivot forward from the design position as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2(and also from the slouch/recline position as shown inFIG. 6) to an easy entry or storage position shown inFIG. 4.

The seat back14may be fixed to a vehicle body/bulkhead4via a connectable and disconnectable body/bulkhead connection8. The seat base frame16includes seat base pivot brackets17that are L-shaped and are each connected to one of the support brackets32and34. The connections form a left side seat base pivot36and a right side seat base pivot38. The seat base pivots36and38allow the seat base frame16to pivot up from the design position shown inFIGS. 1, 2and at16D inFIG. 3to a stadium or stored position16S as shown inFIG. 3. The seat base frame16pivots about the seat base pivots36and38in the direction of arrow S to move from the design position16D to the stadium position16S.

The left side support bracket32includes a rear portion forming a left side vehicle body/bulkhead connection35. The connection35allow s the left side support bracket32to be fixed at the left side vehicle body/bulkhead connection35to the vehicle body/bulkhead4. The right side support bracket34includes a rear portion forming a right side vehicle body/bulkhead connection37. The connection37allows the right side support bracket34to be fixed at the vehicle body/bulkhead connection37to the vehicle body/bulkhead4. The left side support bracket32includes a floor engagement foot30that rests on the vehicle floor2and may be fixed thereto. The right side support bracket34includes a floor engagement foot39that rests on the vehicle floor2and may be fixed thereto. The left side support bracket32is connected to the right side support bracket34by a horizontal support tube44fixed at each support bracket32,34via tube and bracket support connections45.

The seat back frame14carries with it a seat back subframe20. The subframe20moves with the seat back frame14such as for forward pivoting movement of the seat back frame14to the pivoted forward position shown inFIG. 4. However, the subframe20is also connected to the seat back frame14for limited pivoting movement of the subframe20, relative to the seat back frame14, about subframe pivots23. As can be seen inFIGS. 1, 2 and 7the subframe pivots23are provided at an upper location of the seat back frame14. Subframe pivots23are provided by seat back pivot brackets24, at each of an inner right side and an inner left side of a tube forming the seat back frame14. The seat back subframe20includes a seat back support frame22that extends along a lateral or width direction of the vehicle seat10between the tubes that form the subframe20. The seat back support frame22may advantageously support foam to support the back of the user of the vehicle seat10. Trim140may be applied to cover the subframe20and the seat back frame14. The sides of the trim may have elastic portions, gussets or pleats142that allow for movement of the subframe20, and movement of foam on top of the support frame22as well movement of trim140covering the foam at the subframe22, relative to the seat back frame14(FIG. 17). The elastic portions, gussets or pleats142allow for an expansion of the volume enclosed by the trim so as to cover both the frame14and the subframe20, both with the subframe20in the design position of subframe20and the in the slouch/recline position of the subframe20.

FIGS. 5 and 6show the basic pivoting motion of the subframe20relative to the seat back frame14. Based on the pivot connections23, at seat back pivot brackets24, the seat back subframe20may be moved relative to the seat back frame14, about the upper subframe pivot23between a seat back subframe design position, a full rear position with the seat back subframe20aligned with the seat back frame14(FIG. 5) and a subframe slouch/recline position, a fully deployed recline position with the seat back subframe angled outwardly relative to the seat back frame (FIG. 6). This pivoting movement of the subframe20results in a changed angular state of the seat back as indicated by14R inFIG. 6. In the slouch/recline position or the seat back recline state14R, a lower edge of the seat back subframe20is positioned outwardly relative to the seat back frame14with the seat back subframe20pivoted to an angle relative to the seat back frame (seeFIG. 6).

FIGS. 8 and 9show aspects of an actuation assembly70. The actuation assembly70pivotably moves the seat back subframe20relative to the seat back frame14about the upper subframe pivots23, between the seat back subframe design position (FIGS. 5, 8 and 10) and the subframe slouch/recline position (FIGS. 6, 9 and 11). The actuation assembly70includes an actuator drive72and a drive to pivot transmission74(FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11). The actuator drive72provides a rotational actuation drive. The drive to pivot transmission74transmits the rotational drive of the actuator drive72into pivoting movement of the seat back subframe20. The actuator drive72comprises an actuation lever50which can move from the initial position shown inFIGS. 5 and 8to an actuated position as shown inFIGS. 6 and 9. The actuation lever50is fixed to a pivot shaft58which pivot shaft58rotates with actuation lever50. The pivot shaft58is supported by a bushing/bearing57formed at an end of the seat back frame and bracket15. An end of the pivot shaft58, on an opposite side of the bearing57from the actuation lever50, is fixed to a pivot lever54. The pivot lever54is fixed to the pivot shaft58for rotation with the pivot shaft58and the for rotation with the actuation lever50. As can best be seen inFIG. 8, a cam follower tube52is fixedly connected to the pivot lever54at connection56. A seat back subframe cam bracket25is fixed to the seat back subframe20. The seat back subframe cam bracket25defines a cam slot26(seeFIG. 9). With the cam follower tube52fixed to the pivot lever54at connection56, the cam follower tube52moves with the pivot lever54as the pivot lever54is rotated by the pivot shaft58and the actuation lever50. This moves the cam follower tube52along an arcuate path with the cam follower tube52sliding along the cam slot26. The arcuate path of movement of the cam follower tube52with the resulting rotation and sliding of the cam follower tube52within the slot26, causes the seat back subframe cam bracket25with the subframe20to move outwardly relative to the seat back frame14. As can be seen inFIGS. 8 and 9, the clockwise rotation of the actuation lever50, from the position shown inFIG. 8to the position shown inFIG. 9, causes the cam follower tube52to move along the arcuate path which includes moving downwardly and outwardly (e.g., forward as to a direction of travel). The downward movement moves the cam follower tube52along the extent of the cam slot26. The outward movement causes the seat back subframe cam bracket25and the lower portion the seat back subframe20to move outwardly relative to the frame14, causing the subframe20to pivot to an angle relative to the frame14.

FIGS. 10 and 11show the opposite left side of the drive to pivot transmission74. The cam follower tube52moves along the arcuate path based on the movement of the pivot lever54and the actuation lever50. The cam follower tube52is supported at the left side via a non-rotational connection55with the pivot53(FIG. 10). A pivot shaft60is non-rotationally connected to pivot53. The pivot shaft60is rotatably supported by seat base pivot bracket17at a bushing/bearing59. The arcuate movement of the cam follower tube52, supported by the connection55to pivot lever53, moves the associated seat back subframe cam bracket27as the cam follower tube52slides in the cam slot28of the seat back subframe cam bracket27.

In the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-11, no actuation drive is provided at the left side and no driving force is exerted at the left side. However, an actuation drive could be provided at each side. Although the lever actuation lever50is shown at the right side according to the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 through 11, the two sides may be switched with the actuation lever50provided at the left side of the vehicle seat10and with the pivot transmission arrangement74, without the actuator drive72, provided at the right side of the vehicle seat10.

This arrangement preferably provides two essential positions, namely the design position shown inFIGS. 8 and 10and the slouch/recline position shown inFIGS. 9 and 11. The arrangement essentially moves toward one of the end two positions based on the cam follower tube52interacting with the cam slot26with the configuration shown and described. The arrangement is such that a movement 5° over (beyond) a center position, in either direction, will essentially move the cam follower tube52to one of the two end positions. However, an additional spring mechanism may be used to urge the arrangement into one of the two positions and avoid the cam follower tube52being maintained in a mid position. Even without the spring, the arrangement is essentially self locking, with the cam follower tube52assuming one of the two extreme (end) positions with any movement 5° over (beyond) the center position.

As an alternative to the embodiment discussed above, with the actuation lever50as the actuator drive72, the actuation lever50may be replaced with a motor65providing the actuation drive72. Further gearing/transmission may be provided between the motor65and the pivot shaft58.FIG. 12shows an example in which the motor65is provided in place of the lever50. The motor65may be driven in either direction between the design position and the slouch/recline position. Further, although the embodiment discussed above with reference toFIGS. 1 through 11provides the pivot transmission arrangement74that assumes one of the two extreme positions, either the design position or the slouch/recline position, the use of the motor65may be such that any desired position may be maintained between the two extreme positions and the two extreme positions may also be maintained with a controlled rotation and stopping of the motor.

FIG. 13schematically shows the vehicle seat10relative to the vehicle floor2and the vehicle body/bulkhead4. This shows the position of the occupant, showing the design position occupant back angle80with the seat back14in the design position and the position slouch/recline position occupant back angle82with the seat back14and the slouch/recline position.

FIG. 14shows a modified embodiment in which all or part of a vehicle seat110pivots about a fixed location rotating pivot123. In practice the entire vehicle seat110may be supported at the pivot123or may be at least partially supported by other structural features. The support and movement may be provided by supporting and applying a pivoting force between the vehicle body/bulkhead4and the seat back114and/or the seat base116via a seat back actuation assembly125that can move the vehicle seat110back and forth along the directions128. As an alternative, a motor may drive a pivot shaft of pivot123, wherein the pivot shaft is rotationally fixed to the backrest114to move/pivot with the pivot shaft. According to the embodiment ofFIG. 14, the seat back114and the seat base116pivot about the pivot123. The pivot may be fixed to the bulkhead4. As such, the seat base116may be moved (with a tilt and with a forward movement) from the design position116D to the slouch/recline position116S as the seat back moves from the design position114D to the slouch/recline position114S. This configuration provides very different support and movement features from the other embodiments. Further, with such a vehicle seat110hanging at pivot123, there need not be any structural features under the seat base116. This provides space under the seat base116with the seat base116pivoted down as shown. Further, this provides directly accessible floor space with the seat base116pivoted up to the stadium position.

FIGS. 15 and 16schematically illustrate a modified vehicle seat210. InFIG. 15, a seat back of the vehicle seat210is pivoted forward to the lie flat position, with a subframe220in the slouch/recline position14RF. The features of the vehicle seat210are essentially the same as the vehicle seat10but the vehicle seat inner frame220may be positioned outwardly of the main seat back frame214. The seat210is shown inFIGS. 15 and 16in the slouch/recline position, such that the subframe220is pivoted out. With the seat back in the upright position, the pivoted out subframe220, in the slouch/recline state, provides the slouch/recline function. With the seat back in the pivoted forward position and in the slouch/recline state with subframe220pivoted out relative to the seat back frame214(position14RF), a back surface86(top facing with the seat back pivoted forward) of the seat back is disposed closer to a horizontal position than it would be without the seat back in the pivoted forward position and in the slouch/recline state. The back surface86of the seat back provides a raised load floor that is particularly useful as it is essentially horizontally disposed. A cargo strap84is provided that retracts at retractor88for stowage of the cargo strap84and can be used to secure items at the raised load floor86.

FIG. 16shows the seat back of the vehicle seat210in the upright position and in the slouch/recline state with the subframe220pivoted out relative to the seat back frame14to provide position14R. The back surface86supports and/or at conceals the retractor88for stowage of the cargo strap84. Any gap between the frame214and the subframe220may be covered with elastic trim or with pleated trim or with a gusset structure.

FIG. 17shows the vehicle seat according toFIG. 1with the seat back folded forward. Further, trim140is shown covering foam. The foam may be supported on the seat back support frame22of the subframe20. The trim140covers both the frame14and the subframe20. The trim140includes a trim elastic region or a gusset structure or an accordion pleated portion142. The portion142allows for movement of the subframe20relative to the backrest frame14without forming a gap at the sides. In particular, the trim140is provided to allow an expansion of the structure so as to cover both the frame14and the subframe20, both with the subframe20in the design position of subframe20and the in the slouch/recline position of the subframe20.

InFIG. 17, the seat back is folded over forward in the slouch/recline position14RF to provide a more horizontal (parallel to the vehicle floor) position.FIG. 17also shows the seat back folded over forward in the design position14DF. This illustrates that in this state (14DF) there is the greater angle relative to horizontal than in the folded over forward and slouch/recline state14RF.

FIG. 18schematically illustrates the disposition of the seat back folded forward both with the seat back in the design position14DF and in the slouch/recline position14RF. This shows the vehicle seat and the change of angle of the back surface86in the positions14DF and14RF, in which the back surface of the seat back is more nearly horizontal.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

2vehicle floor4vehicle body/bulkhead8body/bulkhead connection10vehicle seat12headrest13seat back frame end bracket14seat back frame14DF seat back in design position pivoted forward14RF seat back in slouch/recline position pivoted forward14R seat back in slouch position (with the subframe in slouch position) you have15seat back frame end bracket16seat base frame16D seat base frame design position16S seat base frame17seat base pivot bracket20seat back subframe22seat back support frame23subframe pivot24seat back pivot bracket25seat back subframe cam bracket26cam slot27seat back subframe cam bracket28cam slot30floor engagement foot31left seat back pivot32left support bracket33right seat back pivot34right support bracket35left side vehicle body/bulkhead connection36left side seat base pivot37right side vehicle body/bulkhead connection38right side seat base pivot39floor engagement foot44horizontal support tube45tube and bracket support connection50actuation lever52cam follower bar53pivot lever54pivot lever55non-rotational connection56non-rotational connection57bushing/bearing58pivot shaft59bushing/bearing60pivot shaft65motor70actuation assembly72actuator drive74drive to pivot transmission80design position occupant back angle82slouch/recline position occupant back angle84cargo strap86load floor surface88strap retractor110modified vehicle seat114D modified seat bask design position114R modified seat back recline position116D modified seat base design position116R modified seat back recline position123upper seat back fixed pivot125seat back pivot actuation assembly128direction of movement140trim142trim elastic region/gusset/accordion pleated portion210modified vehicle seat214seat back frame216seat base220seat back subframe