Abstract:
A vehicle seat (10) includes a seat cushion assembly (12) for supporting an occupant seated thereon and a seat back cushion assembly (14) for supporting the back of an occupant seated on the seat cushion assembly (12). A first mounting assembly (18) is constructed and arranged to mount the seat cushion assembly (12) on a vehicle floor (20) and a second mounting assembly (13) is provided which is constructed and arranged to mount the seat back cushion assembly (14) on the seat cushion assembly (12). An adjusting mechanism (28) is operatively embodied in one of the first and second mounting assemblies (18, 13) and is constructed and arranged to enable the cushion assembly (12, 14) mounted by the one mounting assembly (18, 13) to be moved in opposite directions through a range of adjustable positions with respect to the assembly on which the one mounting assembly mounts the cushion assembly. The adjusting mechanism includes a locking and releasing device (42) constructed and arranged to be moved between (A) a locking position to lock the adjusting mechanism (28) to prevent movement in either direction of the cushion assembly (12, 14) enabled to be moved thereby, and (B) a releasing position to release the adjusting mechanism (28) to permit the cushion assembly (12, 14) enabled to be moved thereby to be manually moved in relatively unrestricted fashion in one direction and returned in relatively unrestricted fashion in the opposite direction. A vehicle crash sensing system (62) is operatively connected with the adjusting mechanism (28) and is constructed and arranged to provide control of the movement of the cushion assembly (12, 14) mounted by the one mounting assembly in response to the sensing of a crash condition which occurs while said locking device (42) is in the releasing position.
Abstract:
A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat frame structure having a riser and a movable portion movable in fore and aft directions with respect to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle. A seat cushion assembly including an open-cell foam seat cushion is mounted on the movable portion. The seat cushion includes a plurality of air channels therein extending from a bottom surface to a top surface thereof. The seat cushion assembly includes a seat cushion cover material constructed and arranged to permit air to pass therethrough. A seat back frame is coupled to the movable portion of the frame structure. A seat back pad assembly is mounted on the seat back frame. Air flow directing structure is adapted to be coupled to a source of forced air and has a portion constructed and arranged to be mounted on the floor of the vehicle. The air flow directing structure is operatively associated with the seat cushion assembly so as to direct forced air (1) throught the open cells of the seat cushion so as to change a temperature of said seat cushion, and (2) through the channels in the seat cushion and through the seat cushion cover material.
Abstract:
A vehicle seat (10) comprising a memory carriage assembly (90) having a connector mechanism (100) mounted thereon for movement between first and second positions, and an actuator mechanism (108) mounted thereon for movement between first and second positions. The memory carriage assembly is arranged with respect to the releasable locking assembly (20) and both the manual and seat back actuated releasing mechanisms (50 and 56) of the seat so that (1) when the releasable locking assembly is in locked position thereof the actuator mechanism is in the first position thereof and the connector mechanism is in the first position thereof, (2) when the releasable locking assembly is released by the seat back actuated releasing mechanism, the actuator mechanism is moved from the first position thereof into the second position thereof to enable the connector mechanism to retain the memory carriage assembly in a stationary position while the seat is moved forwardly and returned with the return causing the actuator mechanism to enable the releasable locking assembly to return to its locking position which, in turn, moves the actuator mechanism from the second position thereof into the first position thereof, and (3) when the releasable locking assembly is released by the manually actuated releasing mechanism, the actuator mechanism will be retained in the first position thereof to enable the memory carriage assembly to be moved by the connector mechanism with the seat.
Abstract:
A door cartridge assembly (10) is provided to be installed into a vehicle door. The assembly includes a door hardwave mounting panel (12) having door components mounted thereon and being constructed and arranged to be fixedly mounted to a vehicle door; coupling structure carried by the mounting panel; and a door latch assembly (38) constructed and arranged to be secured to a vehicle door to provide a latch for the vehicle door. The door latch assembly includes a latching member constructed and arranged to be movable between a latching position and a releasing position. The coupling structure is constructed and arranged to receive the latching member in latching relation therewith when the latching member is in the latching position thereof, thereby permitting the mounting panel to be transported with the door latch assembly connected thereto. The door latch assembly (38) is operable to move the latch member from the latching position to the releasing position permitting the latch assembly to be removed from latching relation with the coupling structure and to be subsequently secured to the vehicle door.
Abstract:
An electrical circuit for a switch having a lockout feature is described. The circuit permits both a primary operator and an auxiliary operator to operate a bi-directional motor (30) by activating separate low-current switches (SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4). The circuitry enables the primary operator to disable the auxiliary operator's ability to operate the motor by activating a lockout switch (L/O). With the lockout switch activated, the primary operator can operate the motor without interference from the auxiliary operator. High-current power switches (50, 52), activated via logic circuitry (70, 90) rather than by the operators, are used to complete a power circuit for energizing the motor.
Abstract:
A vehicle seat track assembly (10) includes an elongated fixed track structure (12) constructed and arranged to be fixed to a vehicle floor and movable track structure (14) cooperable with the fixed track structure (12). A plurality of rolling elements (16) are engaged between track structures for rollingly supporting the movable track structure (14) on the fixed track structure (12) to enable the movable track structure (14) to be moved in opposite directions through a range of adjusting movements with respect to the fixed track structure (12). An adjusting mechanism (40) is operatively associated with the track structures and is constructed and arranged to permit the movable track structure (14) to be moved through the adjusting movements. The adjusting mechanism (40) includes a locking and releasing device (42) constructed and arranged to be moved between (A) a locking position preventing the adjusting movements from being affected and (B) a releasing position wherein the locking and releasing device (42) is operable to release the adjusting mechanism (40) to permit the adjusting movements. A lock and release system (58) is operatively associated with the track structures and includes locking structure (89) movable between a released position permitting the adjusting movements and a locked position preventing the adjusting movements from being affected. The lock and release system (58) includes shock responsive structure (60) constructed and arranged to move the locking structure (89) to the locked position thereof in response to a crash condition which occurs while the locking and releasing device (42) is in the releasing position thereof.
Abstract:
A hydraulic closure system and method is disclosed for a motor vehicle (10) that enables automatic opening and closing, as well as manual closing, of a closure (16) pivotally mounted to an opening frame (14) defining a closure opening in the motor vehicle. The system includes at least one hydraulic actuator assembly (20) attached at opposite ends thereof to the closure (16) and the opening frame (14), respectively. A motorized hydraulic pump (32) inputs energy to the actuator (20) by creating hydraulic fluid flow with respect to the actuator to move the closure (16) from the opened position to the closed position, and a biased energy storage system (140) inputs energy to the actuator (20) to move the closure (16) from the closed position to the opened position. In a preferred embodiment, the pump (32) is activated by manually generated movement of the closure (16) from the opened position toward the closed position for a prescribed distance in more than a prescribed time. Also disclosed is an obstacle detection mechanism (110) which detects obstacles interfering with closing of the closure based on monitored pressure in the system caused by the pump created fluid flow. A level detection (210) and compensation feature adjusts the amount of energy stored in the biased energy storage system (140) for opening the closure (16) based on the detected inclination or declination of the vehicle (10) so that the amount of energy stored is commensurate with the amount required to open the closure (16). An energy monitoring and control system (156) maintains the amount of energy stored in the biased energy storage system (140) for opening the closure (16) within a predetermined range.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a multiplicity of door module assemblies for a motor vehicle comprising forming a plurality of outer door panels (12); forming a plurality of inner door panels (14) and a plurality of door hardware mounting panels (16) from sheet metal, wherein i) the inner door panels (12) are each constructed from a portion of sheet metal formed to have a peripheral shape generally matching that of the outer door panels (12) and to define an area which is to constitute a major opening (18) in the inner door panel (14), and ii) each of said door hardware mounting panels (16) are simultaneously stamped with an associated one of said inner door (14) panels from a portion of sheet metal occupying at least a portion of the area which is to constitute the major opening (18) in an associated one of said inner door panels (14); separating the portions of sheet metal forming the door hardware mounting panels (16) from the associated portions of sheet metal forming the inner door panels (14) after the door hardware mounting panels (16) and the inner door panels have been stamped into their respective peripheral shapes; fixing each of the inner door panel (14) to a respective one of the outer door panels (12); mounting door hardware on said door hardware mounting panels (16); and mounting each of the door hardware mounting panels (16) on a respective one of the inner door panels (14) after the door hardware has been mounted on the door hardware mounting panels (16).
Abstract:
An integrated child seat assembly (12) for a motor vehicle includes a child's seat belt assembly (60) having a pair of shoulder belts (62) each extending from respective take-up reels (64) connected with an upper portion of a seat back frame (20) forwardly of the cushioned child's seat back (44). The belts each have upper portions thereof wound on the respective take-up reels in such a fashion that the belts pay-out generally from bottom portions of the reels when the belts are extended forwardly of the cushioned child's seat back. The child's seat belt assembly also includes a single controlling mechanism (110) operatively connected with each of the take-up reels constructed and arranged to control the pay-out and take-up of the belts.
Abstract:
A vehicle door (40) is provided including a latching mechanism (46) carried by the door constructed and arranged to move between an unlatched relation with a door opening catch and a latched relation with the door opening catch. The latching mechanism (46) includes a movable releasing component (48) constructed and arranged to be in a latching position within the door structure when the latching mechanism (46) is in latched relation with the door opening catch and to be moved from the latching position in a generally downward direction into a releasing position to move the latching mechanism (46) into unlatched relation with the door opening catch. A motion-transmitting assembly (64) is disposed within a space defined by the door to transmit a manual motion of an external door handle (56) to downward motion of the movable releasing component (48). The motion transmitting assembly (64) is constructed and arranged so that an accidental forward deformation of the door (40) defining the space, sufficient to displace the motion-transmitting assembly (64), will displace an interconnection with the movable releasing component (48) generally upwardly so that the latching mechanism (46) remains in its latched relation with the door opening catch.