Adjustable seat with lock-out feature

A vehicle includes a seat adjustable fore and aft and a lock-out feature configured to render the vehicle inoperable when the seat is rearward of a predetermined point in the vehicle. The lock-out feature is preferably configured to prevent movement of the seat rearward of the predetermined point when at least one predetermined vehicle condition exists. A corresponding method is also provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to vehicles having a seat that is adjustable fore/aft and a vehicle-disabling lock-out mechanism to render the vehicle inoperable when the seat is rearward of a predetermined point.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical prior art vehicle front seat is adjustable for the comfort of an occupant. Prior art front seats, however, are limited in their range of fore and aft movement, and therefore the number of useful front seat configurations is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A vehicle is provided in which a front seat is adjustable fore/aft within the vehicle, and in which a lock-out feature renders the vehicle inoperable when the seat is located rearward of a predetermined point of travel. The lock-out feature is also preferably configured such that the front seat is prevented from traveling rearward of the predetermined point of travel when a predetermined vehicle condition exists. For example, the lock-out feature may prevent the front seat from traveling rearward of the predetermined point if the engine is running, if the ignition switch is in the on position, if the transmission selector is not in “Park” position, etc. A corresponding method is also provided. The method includes determining whether the vehicle seat is positioned rearward of the predetermined point, and rendering the vehicle inoperable in response to the vehicle seat being positioned rearward of the predetermined point. The method also preferably includes sensing the presence or existence of a predetermined vehicle condition, and preventing movement of the vehicle seat rearward of the predetermined point in response to the presence or existence of the predetermined condition.

The invention provides vehicle occupants with flexibility in seating configurations not achievable with the prior art. For example, a driver can park the vehicle, adjust the seat substantially rearward in the vehicle, and thereby have a substantial amount of room away from the dashboard and the steering wheel in which to rest or perform work. Similarly, a driver can reposition the seat rearward when parked to tend to a child or infant in a rear seat without having to leave the vehicle to access the rear seat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1, a vehicle10includes front row seats, namely a front driver seat14and a front passenger seat16, each including a lower seat portion17,17′ and a seatback portion18,18′. A console19separates the front driver seat14and the front passenger seat16. The vehicle10also includes a rear seat20located more rearwardly in the vehicle than the front row seats and behind the front passenger seat16. An infant seat22is fastened to the rear seat20. A pair of parallel lower rails26is connected to the vehicle floor30to form a seat track. Upper rails34are connected to the driver seat14and are slideably engaged with the lower rails26. Those skilled in the art will recognize and understand a variety of seat track configurations that may be employed within the scope of the claimed invention. Exemplary seat tracks and upper rails are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,756, issued Nov. 29, 1988 to Pilarski; U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,987, issued Jan. 25, 1994 to Miller; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,166, issued Apr. 18, 1995 to Pilarski, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The driver seat14is adjustable fore/aft, i.e., forward and rearward within the vehicle, by sliding the upper rails34along the lower rails26. The seat track may be manually operated, or a power drive mechanism may be employed to adjust the driver seat14. A latch mechanism (not shown) locks the seat14relative to the lower rails26when the seat14is in a desired position. The driver seat14is depicted in a driving position in which the driver seat14is adjacent a steering wheel35and other controls such as foot pedals (not shown).

A lock-out system36is configured to prevent movement of the driver seat14rearward of a predetermined point37on the rails26when certain predetermined vehicle conditions exist. The vehicle10includes an ignition switch38and a transmission selector40. The ignition switch38is switchable between an on position and off position. The transmission selector40is moveable between a park position and various transmission operation modes including reverse, neutral and drive. For the vehicle to be in an operational mode, the ignition switch38must be in the on position and the transmission selector40must be in a position other than park. The vehicle10also includes a power plant46which provides motive power to propel the vehicle10.

A sensor50is sufficiently configured and positioned with respect to the ignition switch38to detect the position of the ignition switch38. A sensor59is sufficiently configured and positioned with respect to the transmission selector40to detect the position of the transmission selector40. The sensors50,59are operatively connected to a controller58that is programmed to energize solenoids62when sensor50indicates that the ignition switch38is in the on position, or when sensor59indicates that the transmission selector40is in a position other than park. As depicted inFIG. 1, each energized solenoid62extends a pin66such that the pin66blocks the travel path of the upper rails34on the lower rails26at the predetermined point37, thereby preventing movement of the seat14rearward of the predetermined point37.

Referring toFIG. 2, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components fromFIG. 1, the lower rails26define channels70, or receptive cavities, in which a portion of the upper rails34are received and slidably engaged. Pins66extend through holes in the upper and lower segment of the lower rails26to restrict movement of the upper rails34.

Referring toFIG. 3, the ignition switch38is in the off position and the transmission selector40is in the park position. Accordingly, the controller58has caused the solenoid62to retract the pins66so that the driver seat14is movable to a nondriving position rearward of the predetermined point37. At least a portion of the driver seat14is rearward of a portion of the rear seat20, enabling an occupant72of the driver seat14to tend to an occupant73of the infant seat22.

The lock-out system36is also configured such that the vehicle10is inoperable by a driver when the front driver seat14is rearward of the predetermined point37. A position sensor74is sufficiently configured and positioned with respect to the lower rails26to determine whether the driver seat14is positioned rearward of the predetermined point37. For example, the sensor74may be configured to detect when the seat14is rearward of the predetermined point37and continuously transmit a signal indicative of the seat's presence when the seat is rearward of the predetermined point. Similarly, the sensor74may be configured to detect movement of the seat14as it passes the predetermined point and transmit a signal indicative of the seat's movement past the predetermined point. The position sensor74is operatively connected to the controller58.

An ignition switch lock78is operatively connected to the ignition switch38and selectively locks the ignition switch38in the off position, thereby rendering the vehicle10inoperable. A transmission selector lock82is operatively connected to the transmission selector40and selectively locks the transmission selector40in the park position, thereby rendering the vehicle10inoperable. The controller58is operatively connected to the ignition switch lock78and the transmission selector lock82and is programmed to cause the ignition switch lock78and/or the transmission selector lock82to activate and thereby lock the ignition switch38or transmission selector40when the position sensor74indicates that the driver seat14is rearward of the predetermined point.

Thus, when the driver seat14is rearward of the predetermined point37, the ignition switch38is locked in the off position and/or the transmission selector40is locked in the park position, thereby rendering the vehicle10inoperable. Alternatively, the controller58may be operatively connected to the powerplant46and programmed to disable the powerplant46when the driver seat14is rearward of the predetermined point37.

In the context of the present invention, the “lock-out system” may or may not include substantially independent subsystems. For example, a lock-out system may include a first subsystem that is configured to detect the existence of a predetermined vehicle condition and prevent the seat from moving rearward of the predetermined point when the predetermined vehicle condition exists. The lock-out system may include a second subsystem that is configured to detect whether the seat is rearward of the predetermined point and render the vehicle inoperable when the seat is rearward of the predetermined point. The first subsystem and the second subsystem may or may not have components or elements in common with one another and may or may not operate substantially independently from one another.

While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.