Tachi-S Engineering U.s.a., Incorporated

John M Hurite

Makoto Watanabe

Thomas J Kralik

An adjustable armrest mechanism includes a mounting bracket securely mounted relative to a vehicle seatback, an armrest rotatable relative to the mounting bracket, an armrest bracket securably attachable to the armrest, a pawl attachable with the armrest bracket, a coil spring for biasing the pawl, and a ratchet securably mounted onto the mounting bracket. The ratchet includes a camming surface having a plurality of serrated teeth for engagement with the pawl. A plurality of in-use positions are defined by engagement between the pawl and the serrated teeth. The armrest bracket includes a stop which prevents further rotation of the pawl member during disengagement. Cooperative engagement of the pawl with an armrest stop and a ratchet stop on the camming surface prevents further rotation of the pawl during relative rotation into the non-use position.

Adjustable armrest mechanism

A multi-axis seat test machine for use with seats is disclosed. The test machine includes a loading element and a seat mount. A selectively actuable fore-aft displacement mechanism is disposed between the loading element and the seat mount and operably displaces one of the seat mount and the loading element relative to the other in the fore-aft direction. A selectively actuable lateral displacement mechanism is disposed between the loading frame and the seat mount and operably displaces one of the seat mount and the loading frame relative to the other in a lateral direction. An engaging member simulates, at least in part, a shape of a human posterior for engagement with the seat. The loading element operably biases the engaging member against the seat in a substantially vertical direction with a predetermined vertical load.

Multi-axis seat durability test machine

A handleless locking hinge mechanism is connected between the seat back and the support structure. The handleless locking hinge mechanism includes a cup-shaped mounting bracket having a central axis. The bracket connectible to the seat back centered on a hinge axis. Two opposing elongated detent springs connected to an interior surface of the bracket at a first end and extending inwardly and arcuately toward the hinge axis with a detent formed adjacent a second end. The detent concave with respect to the hinge axis. An elongated support having a central axis disposed coaxial with the hinge axis. The support connectible to the support structure at a first end and having a second end extending inwardly within the bracket. Two opposing generally cylindrical elongated rollers having longitudinal axes disposed on opposite radial sides of the elongated support in a common plane with the hinge axis. Each roller is supported at both ends from the elongated support within the bracket for engagement with one of the springs. Each roller is engaged within the detent of the respective spring when in the collapsed position, such that a predetermined force applied to the seat back causes dislodging movement of the roller from the respective detent against the spring bias allowing the seat back to be raised to the upright position.

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West Bloomfield, MI, United States of America

John M Hurite