P. L. Porter Co.

Porter Engineered Systems, Inc.

Donald T Heckel, Jr

Kevin N Tribbett

Joseph Mark Stone

Three mechanical locks are part of a mechanism for adjusting and dumping a vehicle seat. A master mechanical lock attaches to the seat back. When it is unlocked, depending on the condition of the other locks, one can adjust or dump the seat. A dumping mechanical lock also attaches to the seat back through an intermediary of a slave mechanical lock. When the dumping mechanical lock is unlocked, a connection to the master mechanical lock also opens that lock to allow the seat back to dump. When one unlocks just the master mechanical lock, a connection between that lock and the slave lock unlocks the slave lock. When that lock is unlocked, one can adjust the distance of dumping mechanical lock to the seat back. Because the slave lock remains locked during dumping, the distance between the dumping mechanical lock and the seat back remains constant after dumping. A latch mechanism keeps the dumping lock unlocked until the dumping lock returns to a predetermined position. A connection between the master and dumping locks keeps the master lock unlocked as long as the latch mechanism keeps the dumping lock unlocked.

Memory system for seat back recliner

A system for adjusting and dumping the position of a seat, such as a vehicle passenger or driver's seat, utilizes simultaneously translating master and slave adjustment rods to pivot the seat back frame about a pivot point. Each adjustment rod is locked in a passenger pre-set position by a corresponding locking mechanism. This preset position is &ldquo;remembered&rdquo; by way of a marker selectively engaged to the master adjustment rod, and is restored when the marker resides within a marker dock affixed to the locking mechanism. A user adjustment input is operable to release the two locking mechanisms and the marker from the corresponding rods so that the rods can freely translate as the passenger adjusts the angle of inclination of the seat back. When the adjustment input is released, the locking mechanisms and marker re-engage to provide the memory function for the system. A passenger operated dump input is operable to release only the locking mechanisms, but not the marker so that the pre-set angle is remembered. The system contemplates a dual output from the user-operated adjustment input, one output activating the marker and the other fed as a first input to a transfer mechanism. A second input to the transfer mechanism is from the passenger-operated dump input. The transfer mechanism includes a pivoting lever that is connected to the first and second inputs and to two outputs, one connected to the master locking mechanism and the other connected to the slave locking mechanism. Activation of either of the two inputs actuates both outputs to release the corresponding locking mechanisms, allowing translation of the corresponding adjustment rods. The transfer mechanism has a stop feature that holds the pivoting lever in its activated state during the entirety of the dump cycle. The stop feature is activated through a reset gear and rack based on the movement of the marker with the master adjustment rod.

Seat adjustment and dumping system with memory

A threaded leadscrew moves axially within the housing of a linear actuator. The leadscrew's movement rotates a threaded gear nut that surrounds the leadscrew. Stopping the gear nut rotation prevents leadscrew translation. The locking mechanism for selectively blocking rotation of the gear nut includes a cam mounted on the housing, which connects remotely to a user actuated handle. A lever, which mounts on the cam, has a tooth movable between adjacent teeth on the gear nut. The cam also has a blocker that engages the lever. When the cam is in the closed position, the blocker prevents the lever from moving to its released position away from the gear nut's teeth. When the cam is moved to the released position, the blocker releases the lever and allows it to move away from the gear nut. The lever has an opening that is somewhat bigger than a pin on the cam that extends into the opening. When the pin reaches one surface of the opening, it pulls the lever out of its engaged position. However, before the pin reaches that position, the blocker on the cam has already disengaged the lever. Therefore, further movement of the cam pulls the lever out of engagement with the teeth on the gear nut, and the blocker on the cam is moved to a position where it does not prevent that movement.

Device for securing gear nut on actuator

Actuator that adjusts to side loads automatically by pivoting internally

The actuator includes a housing and a gear nut within the housing. A leadscrew on which the gear nut is threaded traverses the housing. As the leadscrew moves axially, the gear nut rotates. The actuator allows a manually controlled ball in a groove to project into castellations on the outside of the gear nut to prevent the nut from rotating. This locks the leadscrew. Disengaging the ball from the gear nut releases the gear nut and leadscrew. To prevent misalignment between the gear nut and leadscrew, the gear nut's outer walls and the housing's inner walls are spherical against each other. A bearing may be in between. This permits the gear nut's axis of rotation to pivot in any direction along with any pivoting of the leadscrew while the gear nut still can rotate about the leadscrew. Therefore, if the leadscrew is not aligned with the housing, the leadscrew will pivot the gear nut so that the gear nut remains aligned with the leadscrew and movement of the leadscrew still occurs.

Growing community of inventors

Westfield, IN, United States of America

Donald T Heckel, Jr