IP Library Granted Patent US 12,600,268
Granted Patent B2
US 12,600,268 · App. 18/250,997 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Vehicle seat

Inventors: Joachim Kaemmerer (Kaiserslautern, DE); Ralph Recktenwald (Freisen, DE); Holger Kunz (Otterberg, DE)
Assignee: Adient US LLC
B60N2/12B60N2/02253B60N2002/952
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,600,268
App. No.
18/250,997
Granted
Apr 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle seat having a seat part, a backrest, a kinematics system for transferring the vehicle seat from a use position into an entry position and back, a drive apparatus for driving the kinematics system, and a coupling apparatus for coupling the drive apparatus to the kinematics system. The coupling apparatus has a pawl and a counter-element. The pawl and the counter-element are locked to one another in order to couple the drive apparatus to the kinematics system, wherein the pawl is released from the counter-element by an actuation of the coupling apparatus, resulting in the drive apparatus being decoupled from the kinematics system. The pawl is configured as a bracing pawl, and the pawl and the counter-element are locked to one another beyond a self-locking action.

Claims (20)

1 . A vehicle seat, comprising:

a) a seat part,

b) a backrest,

c) a kinematics system for transferring the vehicle seat from a use position, suitable for passenger transport, into an entry position and back,

d) a drive apparatus for driving the kinematics system, wherein the drive apparatus selectively rotates both a coupling link, that is driven by a spindle nut, and a pawl, and

e) a coupling apparatus for coupling the drive apparatus to the kinematics system, the coupling apparatus having the pawl and a counter-element comprising a pin,

it being possible for the pawl and the counter-element to be locked to one another in order to couple the drive apparatus to the kinematics system, and it being possible for the pawl to be released from the counter-element by an actuation of the coupling apparatus, as a result of which the drive apparatus can be decoupled from the kinematics system,

wherein the pawl is configured as a bracing pawl, it being possible for the pawl and the counter-element to be locked to one another beyond the self-locking action.

2 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the counter-element can be locked exclusively to the pawl.

3 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a force accumulator comprising a spring, preloads the pawl in the direction of a position which locks it to the counter-element.

4 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the coupling apparatus can be actuated by the application of an actuating force to the backrest of the vehicle seat.

5 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the pawl can be loaded via the counter-element with an opening torque by the application of the actuating force to the vehicle seat, wherein the pawl is released from the counter-element, by the opening torque being greater than a closing torque which is exerted on the pawl by way of the force accumulator.

6 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the drive apparatus comprising an electric motor and a gear mechanism.

7 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the coupling link is pivotally connected to the spindle nut, the spindle nut interacting with a spindle of the drive apparatus.

8 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the coupling link has a toothing system which interacts with a pinion of the drive apparatus.

9 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pawl is articulated on one of the coupling device and the coupling link, and the counter-element is fastened to the other coupling device and the coupling link.

10 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the pawl is articulated pivotably on a carrier of the coupling device.

11 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the coupling device and the coupling link are mounted pivotably about a common pivot axis.

12 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the common pivot axis of the coupling device and of the coupling link are aligned with a rotational axis of a rotary joint of the kinematics system.

13 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the kinematics system has a motion link, wherein the motion link is pivoted by the rotary joint (I) about the common pivot axis of the coupling device and of the coupling link.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2025
From: ADIENT US LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073872/0954 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: KAEMMERER, JOACHIM; RECKTENWALD, RALPH; KUNZ, HOLGER
To: ADIENT US LLC
Reel/Frame 063474/0515 →
Priority Claims (2)
DE 10 2020 128 812.3 · Nov 2, 2020 · national
DE 10 2020 130 355.6 · Nov 17, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230382273A1 · Nov 30, 2023
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