Abstract:
A control device for regulating adjustment of vehicle seats is disclosed. The control device is a dual function control arm which combines the manual recliner and lumbar mechanism into a single handle. The handle is moved in a first direction to release the seat back recliner mechanism without affecting the lumbar adjustment mechanism. The same handle is moved in a second direction to actuate the lumbar adjustment mechanism without affecting the recliner mechanism.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention disclosed herein relates generally to control devices for regulating adjustment of vehicle seats. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dual function control arm which combines the manual recliner and lumbar mechanism into a single handle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In the early days of automotive vehicles the vehicle seats provided little comfort to the vehicle occupant. Early vehicle seat backs, in fact, did not use seat springs, but instead were only piled material covered with leather. Later seat backs used springs, but for many years only the seat style and type of covering material changed, with coil springs being used in automotive applications for decades. 
         [0003]    Recognizing that many drivers required back support to compensate for back pain brought on through disease, injury or age, some auto seat suppliers began to offer specific types of focused back relief in the form of supplemental lumbar support. Some supports were adjustable by the user. These types of lumbar support mechanisms are embodied in fluid bladders that are connected to fluid pumps. The seat occupant can manipulate an inflator button to adjust the volume of fluid in the bladder. 
         [0004]    Manufacturers also provided seats which are adjustable between a broad variety of different positions. This is particularly true with respect to the vehicle seat back which, while fixed in position in early vehicles, is able to move between a number of positions, from almost vertical to almost horizontal. 
         [0005]    However, due to the increasing number of interior packaging constraints such as cup holders, map pockets, side impact energy absorbers, manufacturers have found that additional seat travel and adjustment the packaging of both the manual recliner and the manual lumber handle is becoming more difficult. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, a need exists today for an improved system for providing a mechanism for controlling both movement of the vehicle seat back as well as the lumbar mechanism on the vehicle seat. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A dual function recliner and lumbar control device is provided which overcomes the limitations associated with the prior art. The disclosed invention combines the functions of seat back control and lumbar control into one handle via a mechanism that allows both upward movement (the traditional back recliner release) and downward movement to actuate the manual lumbar mechanism. Movement of the handle in one direction to actuate one feature does not affect actuation of the other feature. 
         [0008]    More particularly, the disclosed invention includes a seat back recliner device, a lumbar actuating device, and the control handle. A first link connects the control handle to the seat back recliner device while a second link connects the control handle to the lumbar actuating device. 
         [0009]    Other features of the invention will become apparent when viewed in light of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should now be made to the embodiment illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described below by way of examples of the invention wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle seat having the dual function manual recliner and lumbar handle of the disclosed invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic side view of the dual function manual recliner and lumbar handle in its resting position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is the same view as  FIG. 2  but showing the handle moved in a first direction to release the seat back recliner mechanism; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is the same view as  FIG. 2  but showing the handle moved in a second direction to actuate the lumbar mechanism. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    In the following figures, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components. In the following description, various operating parameters and components are described for one constructed embodiment. These specific parameters and components are included as examples and are not meant to be limiting. 
         [0016]    Referring to the drawings and in particular to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a seat, generally illustrated as  10 , is shown. The seat  10  includes a seat back  12 , a seat base  14 , and a control mechanism of the disclosed invention in the form of a dual action control arm  16 . The configuration of the control arm  16  and its placement on the seat is shown for illustrative purposes and it is not intended that neither the illustrated configuration nor the illustrated placement be deemed limiting. Furthermore, while the dual action control arm  16  is shown as being a mechanical device, it is possible that the dual action control arm  16  may be substituted by an electromechanical device in whole or in part. Again, the illustrated configuration and the following discussion is intended as being illustrative and not limiting. 
         [0017]    The dual action control arm  16  is attached to a control mechanism which is substantially built into the seat base  14 . The control mechanism can be seen in  FIGS. 2 through 4  which illustrate the resting position of the mechanism as well as its two actuation positions. 
         [0018]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , a control mechanism, generally illustrated as  20 , is shown. The control mechanism  20  includes a lumbar actuator  22  and a seat back recliner release  24 . The lumbar actuator  22  is preferably but not necessarily a uni-direction lumbar actuator. A cable  26  connects the lumbar actuator  22  and the lumbar mechanism built into the lower portion of the seat back  12  as is known in the art. 
         [0019]    The lumbar actuator  22  includes a rotatable lumbar actuator body  28  which is pivotable on a pivot pin  30 . A slot  32  is formed in relation to the rotatable lumbar actuator body  28 . 
         [0020]    The seat back recliner release  24  is preferably but not necessarily a rotary style seat back recliner device as is known in the art. The seat back recliner release  24  includes a rotatable recliner release body  34  which is pivotable on a pivot pin  36 . A slot  38  is formed in relation to the rotatable recliner release body  34 . 
         [0021]    The dual action control arm  16  is attached to a rotatable control arm body  40 . The rotatable control arm body is pivotable on a pivot pin  42 . The rotatable control arm body  40  includes a first pivoting flange  44  and a second pivoting flange  46 . The pivoting flanges  44  and  46  are rotatable with the rotatable control arm body  40 . 
         [0022]    A first link  48  is provided between the rotatable control arm body  40 , to which it is pivotably attached at the first pivoting flange  44 , and the slot  38  formed in the rotatable recliner release body  34 . The end of the first link  48  is movable within the slot  38  as is understood in the art. 
         [0023]    A second link  50  is provided between the rotatable control arm body  40 , to which it is also pivotably attached at the second pivoting flange  46 , and the slot  32  formed in the rotatable lumbar actuator body  28 . The end of the second link  50  is movable within the slot  32  as is understood in the art. 
         [0024]    The control mechanism  20  is illustrated in  FIG. 2  in its resting position in which neither the lumbar actuator  22  nor the seat back recliner release  24  are actuated. In  FIGS. 3 and 4  the dual action control arm  16  has been moved from its resting position of  FIG. 2  to its actuation positions. 
         [0025]    With reference first to  FIG. 3 , the operator has pulled upward on the dual action control arm  16 , causing the rotatable control arm body  40  to rotate on the pivot  42 . This action effects forward movement of the first pivoting flange  44  as well as the second pivoting flange  46  and the first link  48  is pulled forward (relative to the front of the vehicle). Because of the forward movement of the second pivoting flange  46  the second link  50  is also moved forward, but its motion has no impact on the rotatable lumbar actuator body  28  because the forward movement of the second link  50  is limited to movement within the slot  32  of the rotatable lumbar actuator body  28  and thus transmits no movement. 
         [0026]    However, as the first link  48  is moved forward its movement in the slot  38  of the rotatable recliner release body  34  is restricted and thus causes the rotatable recliner release body  34  to rotate on the pivot pin  36 . This rotation effects release of the seat back for adjustment by the occupant as is known in the art. Accordingly, upward movement of the dual action control arm  16  by the occupant results in the transfer of upward movement to release the seat back  12 . Lumbar adjustment position is not affected. 
         [0027]    With reference second to  FIG. 4 , the operator has pushed downward on the dual action control arm  16 , again causing the rotatable control arm body  40  to rotate on the pivot  42  but in the direction opposite that shown in  FIG. 3 . This action effects rearward movement of the second pivoting flange  46  as well as the first pivoting flange  44  and the second link  50  is pulled backward. Because of the rearward movement of the first pivoting flange  44  the first link  48  is also moved rearward, but its motion has no impact on the rotatable recliner release body  34  because the rearward movement of the first link  48  is limited to movement within the slot  38  of the rotatable recliner release body  34  and thus transmits no movement. 
         [0028]    However, as the second link  50  is moved rearward its movement in the slot  32  of the rotatable lumbar actuator body  28  is restricted and thus causes the rotatable lumbar actuator body  28  to rotate on the pivot pin  30 . This rotation transfers linear motion via the cable  26  to the lumbar mechanism as is known in the art. Accordingly, downward movement of the dual action control arm  16  by the occupant results in the transfer of downward movement to adjust the lumbar mechanism. Seat back release is not affected. 
         [0029]    While the invention has been described in connection with one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that the specific mechanisms and techniques which have been described are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, numerous modifications may be made to the methods and apparatus described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.