Seat adjustment and dumping system with memory

Abstract

A system for adjusting and dumping the position of a seat, such as a vehicle passenger or driver's seat, utilizes simultaneously translating master and slave adjustment rods to pivot the seat back frame about a pivot point. Each adjustment rod is locked in a passenger pre-set position by a corresponding locking mechanism. This preset position is “remembered” by way of a marker selectively engaged to the master adjustment rod, and is restored when the marker resides within a marker dock affixed to the locking mechanism. A user adjustment input is operable to release the two locking mechanisms and the marker from the corresponding rods so that the rods can freely translate as the passenger adjusts the angle of inclination of the seat back. When the adjustment input is released, the locking mechanisms and marker re-engage to provide the memory function for the system. A passenger operated dump input is operable to release only the locking mechanisms, but not the marker so that the pre-set angle is remembered. The system contemplates a dual output from the user-operated adjustment input, one output activating the marker and the other fed as a first input to a transfer mechanism. A second input to the transfer mechanism is from the passenger-operated dump input. The transfer mechanism includes a pivoting lever that is connected to the first and second inputs and to two outputs, one connected to the master locking mechanism and the other connected to the slave locking mechanism. Activation of either of the two inputs actuates both outputs to release the corresponding locking mechanisms, allowing translation of the corresponding adjustment rods. The transfer mechanism has a stop feature that holds the pivoting lever in its activated state during the entirety of the dump cycle. The stop feature is activated through a reset gear and rack based on the movement of the marker with the master adjustment rod.