Seat assembly
A seat assembly includes a seat base, a seat bottom connected to the seat base, a seat back pivotably connected to the seat base, and/or an adjustment assembly connected to the seat base. The adjustment assembly may include a first lever connected to the seat back, a second lever pivotably connected to the seat base and the seat back, and/or a motor coupled to the first lever. Actuation of the motor may rotate the first lever to adjust the seat back to a first seat position and to a second seat position relative to the seat base.
1 . A seat assembly, comprising:
a seat base;
a seat bottom connected to the seat base;
a seat back pivotably connected to the seat base and the seat bottom is pivotably connected to the seat base via the seat back; and
an adjustment assembly connected to the seat base, the adjustment assembly comprising:
a first lever connected to the seat back;
a second lever pivotably connected to the seat base and the seat back; and
a motor coupled to the first lever, wherein actuation of the motor rotates the first lever to adjust the seat back to a first seat position and to a second seat position.
2 . The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seat back and the first lever are connected such that rotation of the first lever causes rotation of the seat back.
3 . The seat assembly of claim 1 , comprising a bracket connected to a vehicle; wherein:
the seat base comprises the bracket; and
the bracket connects the seat base and the seat back to the vehicle.
4 . The seat assembly of claim 1 , comprising a seat bottom adjuster that comprises (i) a seat bottom frame connected to the seat bottom and (ii) a seat bottom lever pivotably connected to the seat back and the seat bottom frame.
5 . The seat assembly of claim 4 , wherein the seat bottom adjuster comprises a seat bottom motor connected to the seat bottom frame;
the seat bottom adjuster comprises a transverse lever support connected to the seat bottom motor and the seat bottom lever; and
the seat bottom motor is connected to the transverse lever support such that actuation of the seat bottom motor causes movement of the seat bottom lever and tilting of the seat bottom relative to the seat back.
6 . The seat assembly of claim 5 , wherein a seat bottom bracket of the seat bottom frame comprises an opening; and
a first end of the seat bottom lever slides in the opening as the seat bottom tilts relative to the seat back.
7 . The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the seat back comprises a seat back frame;
the seat back frame comprises an upper portion and a lower portion; and
the lower portion extends underneath the seat bottom such that the lower portion and the seat bottom overlap in a vertical direction.
8 . The seat assembly of claim 7 , wherein a length of overlap between the lower portion and the seat bottom is at least 25% of a length of the seat bottom.
9 . The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first lever comprises a sector gear comprising a plurality of teeth; and
the plurality of teeth are engaged with a gear of the motor.
10 . The seat assembly of claim 9 , wherein the motor comprises a shaft;
the shaft extends through the seat base;
the gear is connected to the shaft at an inner side of the seat base; and
a body of the motor is disposed at an outer side of the seat base.
11 . The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein an axis of rotation of the seat back is aligned in a longitudinal direction with an expected hip point of an occupant of the seat assembly in the first seat position and the second seat position.
12 . The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the seat base comprises a first bracket and a second bracket disposed at opposite sides of the seat assembly;
the first lever and the second lever are pivotably connected to the first bracket; and
the adjustment assembly comprises a third lever and a fourth lever that are pivotably connected to the seat back and the second bracket.
13 . The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment assembly does not comprise a synchronization lever or a second motor for rotating the seat back.
14 . A seat assembly, comprising:
a seat base;
a seat bottom connected to the seat base;
a seat back pivotably connected to the seat base, wherein the seat bottom is pivotably connected to the seat base via the seat back; and
an adjustment assembly connected to the seat base, the adjustment assembly comprising:
a first lever connected to the seat back;
a second lever pivotably connected to the seat base and the seat back; and
a motor coupled to the first lever,
wherein actuation of the motor rotates the first lever to adjust the seat back to a first seat position in which a first circumferential end of the first lever is engaged with a shaft of the motor and to adjust the seat back to a second seat position in which a second circumferential end of the first lever is engaged with the shaft of the motor.
15 . The seat assembly of claim 14 , wherein the seat back and the first lever are connected such that rotation of the first lever causes rotation of the seat back.
16 . The seat assembly of claim 14 , comprising a seat bottom adjuster that comprises (i) a seat bottom frame connected to the seat bottom and (ii) a seat bottom lever pivotably connected to the seat back and the seat bottom frame.
17 . The seat assembly of claim 14 , comprising a bracket connected to a vehicle; wherein:
the seat base comprises the bracket; and
the bracket connects the seat base and the seat back to the vehicle.
18 . The seat assembly of claim 14 , wherein:
the seat back comprises a seat back frame;
the seat back frame comprises an upper portion and a lower portion; and
the lower portion extends underneath the seat bottom such that the lower portion and the seat bottom overlap in a vertical direction.