Vehicle seat assembly with swivel mechanism
A seat assembly may include a seatback, a seat bottom, and a pair of seat track assemblies. The seat bottom may be movable in an angular direction relative to the vehicle. The pair of seat track assemblies may include a first seat track assembly and a second seat track assembly. Each of the first and second track assemblies may include a lower track and an upper track slidably engaging the lower track. The upper tracks of the first and second seat track assemblies may be attached to the seat bottom. The upper tracks of the first and second seat track assemblies are independently movable along lengths of the respective lower tracks such that the upper tracks are configured to move along the lengths of the lower tracks at different linear velocities to move the seat bottom and the seatback in the angular direction.
1 . A vehicle seat assembly comprising:
a seatback;
a seat bottom supporting the seatback, wherein the seat bottom and the seatback are movable relative to a vehicle floor among a range of positions including a first angular position and a second angular position;
a pair of seat track assemblies having a first seat track assembly and a second seat track assembly, each of the first and second track assemblies include a lower track and an upper track slidably engaging the lower track, wherein the upper tracks of the first and second seat track assemblies are attached to the seat bottom; and
a seat base attached to the seat bottom and movably coupled to the upper tracks, the seat base is movable with the seat bottom and seatback relative to the upper tracks between the first angular position and the second angular position,
wherein the upper tracks of the first and second seat track assemblies are independently movable along lengths of the respective lower tracks such that the upper tracks are configured to move along the lengths of the lower tracks at different linear velocities to move the seat base, the seat bottom and the seatback in an angular direction between the first and second angular positions,
wherein the vehicle seat assembly further comprises a support arm including a first arm end rotatably coupled to the seat base and a second arm end rotatably coupled to the upper track of the second seat track assembly, and
wherein the seat base is rotatable relative to the support arm about an axis that is fixed relative to the seat base and the support arm and extends through the seat base and the first arm end of the support arm.
2 . The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second seat track assemblies includes a motor, and wherein each of the motors drives a respective one of the upper tracks along the length of the respective lower track.
3 . The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper tracks of the first and second seat track assemblies are independently movable together along the lengths of the lower tracks at the same linear velocity to move the seat bottom and the seatback in a fore-aft direction without moving the seat bottom and the seatback in the angular direction.
4 . The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seat base includes an elongated aperture having a first aperture end and a second aperture end.
5 . The vehicle seat assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a protrusion movably received in the elongated aperture of the seat base and engaging the upper track of the first seat track assembly.
6 . The vehicle seat assembly of claim 5 , wherein the protrusion is a mechanical fastener.
7 . The vehicle seat assembly of claim 5 , wherein movement of the upper tracks of the first and second seat track assemblies at different linear velocities relative to the lower tracks causes relative movement of the protrusion within the elongated aperture between the first and second aperture ends.
8 . The vehicle seat assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the seat base includes a second elongated aperture having a first end and a second end,
the vehicle seat assembly further comprises a second protrusion movably received in the second elongated aperture of the seat base and engaging the upper track of the second seat track assembly, and
movement of the upper track of the first seat track assembly and movement of the upper track of the second seat track assembly at different linear velocities relative to the lower tracks causes relative movement of the second protrusion within the second elongated aperture between the first and second ends of the second elongated aperture.
9 . The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a spindle screw attached to the lower track; and
a length adjuster assembly attached to the upper track,
wherein the length adjuster assembly includes a worm gear threaded about the spindle screw and a cylindrical worm coupled to a drive shaft, the worm gear is meshed with the cylindrical worm.
10 . The vehicle seat assembly of claim 9 , wherein a gear ratio of the cylindrical worm to the worm gear is less than or equal to 3.25:1.