IP Library Granted Patent US 7,780,235
Granted Patent B2
US 7,780,235 · App. 12/132,838 · Granted Aug 24, 2010

Vehicle seat, in particular motor vehicle seat

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,780,235
App. No.
12/132,838
Granted
Aug 24, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle seat ( 1 ), in particular a motor vehicle seat, is provided including a seat substructure ( 5 ), a seat cushion ( 31, 33 ) with a seat shell ( 31 ) and an inclination adjuster ( 21 ) with a drive ( 43 ). The inclination adjuster ( 21 ) with drive ( 43 ) is used to change the inclination of the seat cushion relative to the seat substructure ( 5 ). The inclination adjuster ( 21 ) is loosely positioned on the seat substructure ( 5 ) or on the seat cushion ( 31, 33 ) and movably attached to the other respective sub-assembly.

Claims (35)

1. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat substructure including a transverse member arranged in a transverse direction of the vehicle seat;

a seat cushion comprising a seat shell, said seat shell being pivotally connected to said seat substructure;

an inclination adjuster arranged between said seat cushion and said seat substructure, said inclination adjuster including a shaft rotatably mounted in said seat cushion and arranged substantially parallel to said transverse member, said inclination adjuster including a lift lever having a first end fixed to said shaft, said lift lever having a second end spaced from said first end, said second end of said lift lever being in contact with, and movable on, said transverse member to incline said seat cushion relative to said seat substructure when the shaft is rotated, said second end of said lift lever being rotatable on said transverse member, said inclination adjuster including a drive lever having a first end fixed to said shaft, said drive lever having a second end spaced from said first end, said inclination adjuster including a drive moving said second end of said drive lever to cause rotation of said shaft about a longitudinal axis of said shaft.

2. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 , wherein the seat cushion, in a region at or near a hip point of a passenger, is movably attached to said seat substructure in a suspended or articulated manner.

3. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 , wherein said inclination adjuster is loosely positioned by a rotary thrust bearing in side parts of said seat substructure, wherein said inclination adjuster is movably attached to said seat shell of said seat cushion by means of said rotary thrust bearing.

4. A vehicle seat according to claim 3 , wherein said shaft of said inclination adjuster extends in a transverse direction of the vehicle seat wherein the shaft has ends mounted in said rotary thrust bearing.

5. A vehicle seat according to claim 4 , further comprising a drive lever fixedly attached to said shaft, wherein said shaft is rotatable by means of said drive lever.

6. A vehicle seat according to claim 5 , wherein said drive of said inclination adjuster includes a spindle as an output shaft and a spindle nut located on said spindle.

7. A vehicle seat according to claim 6 , wherein said spindle nut is rotatably mounted on the drive lever.

8. A vehicle seat according to claim 7 , wherein said drive is pivotably mounted on said seat shell of said seat cushion by means of at least one drive bearing.

9. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 , wherein said shaft of said inclination adjuster and said transverse tube are aligned in a transverse direction of the vehicle seat.

10. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:

said seat substructure includes first and second side parts extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle seat, said first and second side parts being spaced from each other;

said transverse member extends between said first and second parts of said seat substructure.

11. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 , wherein:

said drive is pivotally mounted on said seat shell of said seat cushion, and moves with said seat cushion relative to said seat substructure.

12. A vehicle seat in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:

said shaft is rotatably mounted in said seat cushion in a bearing, said bearing restricting radial movement of said shaft in one radial direction of said shaft, said bearing allowing radial movement of said shaft in another radial direction of said shaft.

13. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat substructure;

a seat cushion comprising a seat shell, said seat shell being pivotally connected to said seat substructure;

an inclination adjuster comprising a drive for adjusting an inclination of said seat cushion relative to said seat substructure, said inclination adjuster having first and second ends;

a bearing arrangement for pivotally connecting said first end of said inclination adjuster to at least one of said seat substructure and said seat cushion about a pivot lift axis, said bearing arrangement restricting radial freedom of movement of said first end of said inclination adjuster relative to said at least one of said seat substructure and said seat cushion in at least one radial direction with respect to said pivot lift axis, said bearing arrangement allowing radial freedom of movement of said inclination adjuster relative to said at least one of said seat substructure and said seat cushion in at least another radial direction with respect to said pivot lift axis; and

a movable attachment for movably attaching said second end of said inclination adjuster to the other of said seat substructure or on said seat cushion.

14. A vehicle seat according to claim 13 , wherein said drive is pivotably mounted on said seat shell of said seat cushion by means of at least one drive bearing.

15. A vehicle seat according to claim 13 , wherein said bearing arrangement includes:

a rotary thrust bearings wherein said inclination adjuster is movably attached to said seat shell of said seat cushion via said rotary thrust bearings and

fork bearings wherein said inclination adjuster is movably attached to said seat substructure via said fork bearings and wherein said at least one direction of each of said rotary thrust bearings and said fork bearings is the same direction in a state just after said inclination adjuster is attached to said seat shell of said seat cushion and said seat substructure.

16. A vehicle seat according to claim 15 , further comprising a drive lever, wherein

said inclination adjuster comprises a shaft aligned in a transverse direction of the vehicle seat;

said shaft has ends mounted in said rotary thrust bearings; and

a drive lever is fixedly attached to said shaft, wherein said shaft is rotatable by means of said drive acting on said drive lever.

17. A vehicle seat according to claim 16 , further comprising a fork fixedly attached to said shaft, wherein said seat substructure includes a transverse tube aligned in the transverse direction of the seat, said fork being loosely positioned on said transverse tube by said fork bearings being pivotable about the transverse tube.

18. A vehicle seat according to claim 17 , wherein said drive of said inclination adjuster includes a spindle as an output shaft and a spindle nut located on said spindle, spindle nut being rotatably mounted on the drive lever.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: RECARO AUTOMOTIVE LTD. & CO. KG
To: ADIENT LUXEMBOURG HOLDING S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 044245/0650 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 27, 2013
From: RECARO AUTOMOTIVE GMBH & CO. KG
To: RECARO AUTOMOTIVE LTD. & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 031870/0642 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2011
From: RECARO GMBH & CO. KG
To: RECARO AUTOMOTIVE GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 027456/0236 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2008
From: TEUFEL, INGO; EDRICH, HANS; SCHUMANN, KAI
To: RECARO GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 021204/0446 →