Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Francis Nile Smith

Joshua Forwerck

Bradford K Gauker

Robert W Smith

Juan M Capo

Gerald Lee Elson

Michael A Jones

Donna A Watson

Nancy M Simioni

Michael H Bates

Rick F Pautz

James A Watson

Elisabeth B Nevitt

Carmen Leigh Markstrom

Gregory J Cenzer

Jerome M Scanlon

An occupant classification system for recognizing the type of occupant of a motor vehicle seat especially for use in controlling an inflatable restraint system. The classification system utilizes a number of on-off electrical switches arranged in a pattern on a seat cushion mat. Signals from the switches may be processed in a variety of manners to characterize the occupant.

Electronic seat occupant classification system

A motor vehicle seat system includes a row of front seats, a row of back seats separated from the row of front seats by a lateral isle, a longitudinal aisle through the front row, and a middle seat in the back row having a full-row position behind the lateral aisle and a half-row position overlapping the front row and the lateral aisle. In its full-row position, the middle seat cooperates with the back row seats for bench-type seating. In its half-row position, the middle seat provides a rigid platform for a child seat closer to occupants of the front row seats. The middle seat includes a removable lower frame, a seat cushion frame, a seat back frame pivotally connected to the seat cushion frame, and a mechanical linkage supporting the seat cushion frame on the lower frame for translation between an extended position corresponding to the half-row position of the middle seat and a retracted position corresponding to the full-row position of the middle seat. The seat back frame is pivotable between an upright position and flat position during which the mechanical linkage drops the seat cushion frame to a lowered position below the seat back frame.

Motor vehicle seat system

A foldable motor vehicle seat including a horizontal seat cushion and a vertical seat back joined at a horizontal hinge for pivotal movement of the seat cushion from a horizontal position to a vertical position folded against the seat back. The seat back is connected to a side wall of a body of the motor vehicle for pivotal movement about a vertical axis between a seating position in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the motor vehicle and a cargo position in a plane parallel to the longitudinal centerline. With the seat cushion folded vertically against the seat back and the seat back in its cargo position, the floor of the motor vehicle under the seat is exposed for cargo. With the seat cushion horizontal and the seat back in its seating position, a passenger may sit on the foldable seat. A strut pivotally supported on the seat cushion has a raised position against a side of the seat cushion and a lowered position when the seat cushion is horizontal defining a vertical brace between the seat cushion and the floor. A latch releasably secures the strut to the floor of the motor vehicle.

Seat for motor vehicle

A tumble forward seat for a van or the like includes a device to automatically unlatch the seat adjuster, return the seat from any forwardly adjusted position to its rearwardmost position, and relatch the seat adjuster, during the forward rotation. A specially designed cam and lift lever push the pivoting release handle of the seat adjuster up and open and hold it open while a wedging surface and pusher block react against one another to shift the seat cushion frame back. The lift lever resets itself as the seat is rotated back. The cam, lift lever, and wedging surface are coordinated to one another so as to always provide the correct degree of opening and shifting motion, regardless of initial seat adjusted position.

Tumble forward seat with automatic seat adjuster return

A transmission shift indicator for a floor-mounted transmission shift lever has a pointer to indicate the drive position selected by the operator. The indicator mechanism including the pointer is self-adjusting through a ratcheting detent mechanism connected between the indicator and the manual shift lever. The indicator contacts a stop member at the extreme limits permitted fortransmission ratio selection such as low (L) or Park (P). The manual transmission lever, as permitted by the ratchet detent mechanism, can continue movement after stoppage of the indicator until the transmission is actually positioned at the desired setting so that the indicator and the actual setting are in agreement. The relative positioning thus achieved is maintained by the ratchet detent mechanism.

Transmission shift indicator with adjustment mechanism

Growing community of inventors

Clarkston, MI, United States of America

Francis Nile Smith