The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 16, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 24, 1997
Eric Partington, Troy, MI (US);
Andrew Massara, Southfield, MI (US);
James Masters, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
David Fu, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Lear Corporation, Southfield, MI (US);
Abstract
An adjustable seat assembly for an automobile comprises a seat portion which is slidably mounted for movement between fore and aft adjusted positions within a passenger compartment of the automobile. A pair of elongated power screws under the seat portion adjust the fore and aft position of the seat assembly in response to a reversible rotary input from a universal motor. The seat portion includes a pair of internal air bladders which independently inflate and deflate to adjust the height and tilt of the seat portion. A backrest portion extends upwardly from the seat portion, and may include a pneumatic lumbar adjustment device and other contour-adjusting air bladders. The universal motor operates both the power screws and the pneumatic adjustment devices. A transmission is operatively connected to the universal motor for selectively transmitting reversible rotary input to the power screws and pressurized fluid to any one of the pneumatic adjustment devices. The transmission includes a pinion sidably disposed along the spline of the universal motor output shaft, and a pair of spur gears disposed one each on a pneumatic pump and a rotary power take-off. A shuttle forces the pinion between alternating engagement with the spur gears. Every other tooth of the pinion is relieved at its ends to facilitate running engagement without an intermediate clutch. In an alternative embodiment of the transmission, an intermediate clutch is stationed between the output shaft of the universal motor and the pinion, and the pneumatic pump is continuously engaged with the universal motor but vents to atmosphere when the clutch is engaged.