Hoover Universal, Inc.

Les Griswold

Robert D Elton

Marc D Hewko

William H Jones

John Krieger

Joanne H Cole

Mark D Hewko

Paul M Grippo

A vehicle seat assembly is provided with a single set position memory dump mechanism. The memory feature acts to lock the seat back in a predetermined set position upon return of the seat back from a forward dump position. The set position is rearward of the front use position of the seat back so as to provide a comfortable seat back position for all occupants rather than locking in the front most use position which is typically an uncomfortable position for most seat occupants.

Seat assembly with a single position memory dump mechanism

A vehicle seat assembly with a structural seat back to accommodate the seat belt loads applied to the seat back by the belt system which is carried by the seat assembly. The seat back includes a reinforced beam along one side of the seat back frame to accommodate these loads with a recliner mechanism along the same side of the seat assembly and engaging the reinforced member to resist forward rotation of the seat back caused by seat belt loads applied thereto. The seat assembly while being reinforced to accommodate the seat belt loads is configured to be as similar to conventional seat assemblies as possible to minimize the need to redesign the non-structural components of the seat assembly. In addition, the seat assembly includes many features found in current production seat assemblies such as a fore and aft adjuster, an adjustable lumbar support, a seat cushion lift and a seat back recliner. While reinforcing the seat structure, care has been taken to efficiently manage the seat belt loads without adding unnecessary structure and weight to the seat assembly.

Vehicle seat assembly with structural seat back to accommodate seat belt

A vehicle seat assembly with a structural seat back to accommodate the seat belt loads applied to the seat back by a belt system which is carried by the seat assembly. The seat back includes a reinforced beam along one side to accommodate these loads with a recliner mechanism along the same side of the seat assembly coupled to the reinforced member to resist forward rotation of the seat back caused by seat belt loads applied thereto. The seat assembly is configured to be as similar to conventional seat assemblies as possible to minimize the need to redesign the non-structural components of the seat assembly. The seat assembly includes many features found in current production seat assemblies such as a fore and aft adjuster, an adjustable lumbar support, a seat cushion lift mechanism and a seat back recliner. The seat belt loads have been efficiently managed to avoiding adding unnecessary structure and weight.

A vehicle seat assembly with a linear actuator is disclosed in which the actuator is used to adjust the relative position of two relatively movable components of the seat assembly. The actuator includes a first part attached to one of the seat assembly components in the form of a lead screw with an external helical screw thread. A second part of the actuator is attached to the other seat component that is relatively movable and includes a housing containing a spin nut threaded onto the lead screw. The second part further includes means for axially capturing the spin nut to prevent the spin nut from rotating along the lead screw and means for selectively releasing the spin nut from its axial capture to permit rotation about the lead screw and thereby relative movement of the actuator second part relative to the first part. A cam is mounted to the second part to selectively engage and release the spin nut from its axial capture.

Vehicle seat assembly with linear actuator

A linear seat rack recliner is disclosed having a lead screw mounted to a seat frame for rotation about its axis and a drive nut carried by the seat back frame movable along the lead screw upon rotation of the screw. A locking gear/thrust disk is fixed to the lead screw with a cam actuated locking pawl engageable with the gear to lock the gear in lead screw in position. The lead screw is also mounted for axial movement upon high loading with one face of the lock gear/thrust disk engaging a fixed wall surface to frictionally lock the gear and lead screw from rotation.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Les Griswold