# US 10,245,978 B2 · Vehicle seat and method for fixing a seat element

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- Number: US 10,245,978 B2
- Document ID: US10245978B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/101,057
- Filed: 2014-11-06
- Published: 2016-10-20
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-04
- Assignees: Johnson Controls Components GmbH & Co. KG
- Applicants: Johnson Controls Components GmbH & Co. KG
- Inventors: Roman Ecker; Dirk Dubois; Jürgen Naßhan; Erik Weber
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245978B2

## CPC

- B60N 2/20: the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access (B60N2/04, B60N2/22 {, B60N2/3002} take precedence)
- B60N 2/3031: {in a longitudinal-vertical plane}
- B60N 2/305: {the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame}
- B60N 2/309: {rods}
- B60N 2/933: {rotatable}
- B60N 2002/971: {the locking system being an element distinct from articulation means, retaining the seat or seat part in its folded position, e.g. controlled by a wire}
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat (1) comprising a seat element (2) which can be pivoted from a use position into a stowed position. Said vehicle seat comprises locking means (14). Said locking means interact with the seat element (2) in a positive and/or friction fit in a fixed position adopted in the use position, along a first direction (F) and a second direction (G).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle seat having a seat element which is pivotally mounted to a front base part at a secondary axis for movement from a use position into a storage position,
wherein the vehicle seat has a locking means;
wherein, in a fixing position taken up in the use position, the locking means interacts with the seat element in a first direction or a second direction in a form-fitting manner or a force-fitting manner;
wherein the locking means has a pivotable locking catch pivotally supported on a rear base part of the vehicle seat;
wherein the locking catch interacts in the fixing position in the form-fitting or the force-fitting manner with a bolt fixed to the seat element;
wherein the locking catch is configured to be pivoted in order to leave the fixing position;
wherein the vehicle seat has an articulation system that is a four-bar linkage having a first link pivotally connected to each of the front base part and the rear base part and a second link pivotally connected to each of the front base part and the rear base part for folding up the seat element; and
wherein the seat element is connected to the rear base part via a third link that forms a scissor linkage with at least a portion of the seat element, wherein, in the use position, the rear base part is fixed in a positionally fixed manner, wherein the four-bar linkage and the scissor linkage are configured such that the base part is pivoted about the secondary axis in order to take up the storage position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle seat has a backrest element, wherein the backrest element is pivotable about a primary axis relative to the seat element, wherein the locking catch can be pivoted out of the fixing position by a pivoting movement of the backrest element.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means has a spring element with a restoring force, wherein the locking catch can be returned into the fixing position by the restoring force of the spring element.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat element can be pivoted about a secondary axis along a first direction of rotation into the use position, wherein the locking catch can be pivoted along a second direction of rotation into the fixing position, wherein the first direction of rotation coincides with the second direction of rotation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means has a stop, wherein, in the use position, the stop is arranged together with a part of the seat element in the form-fitting manner along the second direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the articulation system consists of a first link and a second link for folding up the seat element.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 2, wherein the backrest element is pivotally coupled to the rear base part.