Rear seat/kinematic/seat back folding with resistance curve
A damper is arranged between the seat backrest and the seat base. This damper applies a resistance to seat backrest movement, especially movement from the vertical position to the folded position. The damper includes a pin and profile mounted on the seat backrest and seat base respectively, or vice versa. The pin and profile slide against each other during movement of the seat backrest relative to the seat base. The shape, size, material, and/or the surface characteristics of the pin and profile determine the resistance to movement of the seat backrest. These parameters of the pin and profile can be varied, especially along different portions of the profile to apply the desired resistance at different angular positions of the seat backrest with respect to the seat base.
1. A seat assembly, comprising:
a seat backrest selectively positionable between a first position and a second position;
a seat base configured to cooperate with said seat backrest;
a guide disposed adjacent one of said seat base and said seat backrest, said guide having a profile; and
a pin having a first end fixedly coupled to and extending outwardly from one of said seat base and said seat backrest, said pin slideable along said profile when said seat backrest moves between said first position and said second position, said pin and said profile configured to create a resistance to movement between said first position and said second position, said resistance varying as a function of a relative position of said seat backrest to said seat base.
2. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said resistance varies depending on a direction of movement of said seat backrest relative to said seat base.
3. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said pin and said profile create said resistance through friction between said pin and said profile.
4. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said guide includes a guide slot, two sides of said guide slot form said profile.
5. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said pin and said profile create said resistance by varying a shape of one of said pin and said profile.
6. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said guide includes a guide slot, one side of said guide slot forms said profile.
7. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said pin includes a free second end extending outwardly from said one of said seat base and said seat backrest and through said guide slot.
8. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said pin and said profile create said resistance through deformation of said profile by said pin.
9. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said guide defines a deformation slot, a web is formed between said profile and said deformation slot, said web being arranged to deform when said seat backrest moves between said first position and said second position.
10. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said guide defines a guide slot, one side of said guide slot forms said profile.
11. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said guide defines a guide slot, two sides of said guide slot form said profile.
12. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said pin and said profile create said resistance through friction between said pin and said profile.
13. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said resistance being at a first low level at said first position, said resistance being at a high level at an intermediate position between said first and second positions, said resistance decreasing from said high level to a second low level as the seat backrest moves from said intermediate position to said second position.
14. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 13 , wherein a function of said resistance is substantially continually decreasing between said intermediate position and said second position.
15. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 13 , wherein a function of said resistance changes at a first rate from said first low level to said high level as said seat backrest moves from said first position to said second position; said function of said resistance changes at a second rate from said high level to said second low level as said seat backrest moves from said first position to said second position, said first rate being higher than said second rate.
16. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 13 , wherein a function of said resistance is substantially constant between said first position and a vertical position.
17. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said first position of the seat backrest is angularly spaced from said seat base, said second position of said seat backrest is angularly closer to said seat base than said first position.
18. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 17 , wherein said seat backrest passes through a vertical position as said seat backrest moves from said first position to said second position; said intermediate position of said seat backrest is arranged between said vertical position and said second position.
19. The seat assembly in accordance with claim 18 , wherein said intermediate position is between 20 degrees and 50 degrees from said vertical position.