Lear Siegler, Inc.

Randall T Murphy

Dennis H Heling

Russell F Chekirda

Thomas H Keane

Walter Lyszczarz

A vehicle seat including a backrest portion and a seating portion, each having a pair of movable lateral bolster sections mounted on opposite sides thereof to its frame assembly, wherein a manual adjustment mechanism for each pair selectively and simultaneously moves its bolster sections in a controlled fashion between first and second lateral support positions and wherein the adjustment mechanism maintains the bolster sections in both the first and second lateral support positions. Each of the bolster sections includes a rigid paddle which is embedded in the body of resilient material and which is hingedly connected to the frame assembly. The adjustment mechanism includes a handwheel which upon rotation causes its corresponding paddles to pivot with respect to its frame assembly, either toward each other or away from each other depending upon the direction of rotation.

Vehicle seat including improved adjustable side bolsters

A seat backrest having an adjustable lumbar support is provided wherein the cam surface of a rotatable cam of a regulating mechanism, which adjusts the lumbar support, is effectively utilized to facilitate manual adjustment of the lumbar support. Rotation of the cam in a first direction cams a follower away from the axis of rotation of the cam. The follower causes an attached bar to rotate therewith. A lumbar support plate is supported by a cantilevered resilient or rigid element in the form of a leaf spring which is supported by the bar.

Seat backrest having an adjustable lumbar support

A vehicle seat having a seat portion, a support frame for the seat portion, a back rest portion and an independently adjustable, front thigh support slidably supported at the front of the seat portion. A pair of spaced slideways define a slide path for the thigh support extending from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position. In a first embodiment of the invention, the slide path is inclined upwardly in a forward direction at an angle which is sufficiently small enough that the sliding friction between the slideways and corresponding slide members of the thigh support prevents the weight of the thighs of a person sitting in a seat from moving the thigh support in a retracting direction. In a second embodiment of the invention, the slide path lies in an upwardly extending curved surface. A pair of biased locking members are movable between unlocked and locked positions on their respective slideways to alternately unlock and lock the thigh support in any selected position between the fully extended and retracted positions.

Vehicle seat with individual adjustable front thigh support

A vehicle seat support assembly including an overcenter locking mechanism with a flexible metallic band wrapped about a floor mounted support tube and connected to a seat support frame pivotal on the tube such that tensioning of the band in an overcenter manner selectively prevents pivotal seat frame movement. A locking member of the mechanism is pivotally supported on the frame for rotation about a first axis and pivotally supports one end of a link about a movable second axis with another end of the link connected to one end of the band. In a locking position of the mechanism, the ends of the link are overcenter with respect to the first axis to provide the band tensioning and consequent prevention of seat frame pivoting. A curved intermediate portion of the link between its ends extends around a pin that supports the locking member on the frame. One preferred embodiment has its link provided with upper and lower link portions between which the other end of the band extends for connection to the seat frame, and a tensioner is provided for clamping a bight section of the band to provide proper band tension in the locking position. In another preferred embodiment, the link extends through an opening in the other band end and is connected to the seat frame by a tensioner having a pivotal lever. Both preferred embodiments have a manually actuated handle that moves the locking member and concomitantly moves a cooperable pawl on the seat frame into and out of engagement with the support tube. A mounting and thrust plate construction cooperates with the upper tube end in mounting the seat frame and limiting pivotal seat frame movement.

Support assembly for vehicle seat

A retention system is disclosed for securing back and/or cushion seat components (14,16) to a seat frame (12) by a releasable retainer (20). Latches (18,22) are also used to secure both the seat back and cushion in the preferred embodiment. The back is secured to the frame by the latches and is engaged by the cushion such that securement of the cushion by the retainer maintains both the cushion and the back in place on the frame. Each latch includes a latch member (34,80) and a keeper surface that are engaged by relative movement between the associated seat component and the frame so as to provide the latched condition. The retainer includes a retainer member (44) having an intermediate bight section (46) secured to the frame and a pair of deflectable latch legs (48) extending in opposite directions from the bight section. A pair of keepers (50) on the seat cushion are engaged by the deflectable latch legs to secure the cushion to the frame. U-shaped ends (58) of the latch legs extend downwardly and provide handles for latching the legs.

Frame retention system for seat components

A seat recliner of the disclosure includes an adjustment mechanism that adjustably controls the angular orientation of a seat back relative to an associated seat cushion and also includes a latch that releases the seat back for forward tilting movement to an easy-enter position. Seat back and cushion arms are pivotally interconnected along the tilting axis about which the seat back moves and are positioned relative to each other thereabout by the cooperable action of the adjustment mechanism and the latch. A positioning member of the adjustment mechanism is pivotally located relative to the seat cushion arm about the axis by a locking dog that is moved between locking and nonlocking positions by the cooperable action of a cam and a cam actuator. Dog movement to a nonlocking position releases the positioning member to permit adjustment thereof and a consequent change in the angular orientation of the seat back. The latch is mounted on the seat back arm and engages the positioning member in a latching position to prevent forward tilting seat back movement. In a nonlatching position, the latch disengages the positioning member to permit the seat back to pivot forwardly independently of the adjustment mechanism to the forward easy-enter position. The construction and arrangement of the arms, the locking dog, a latch member of the latch, the positioning member, a shaft that connects the arms, a cover plate that positions the locking member in an opening of the positioning member, and a counterbalance spring provide cooperation enhancing the recliner operation.

Growing community of inventors

Morristown, TN, United States of America

Randall T Murphy