US 2004/0104590 A1 · Vehicle seat

Abstract

A vehicle seat of fold-down type which allows simultaneous flipping over of both seat back and seat cushion to their respective positions via an interlocking mechanism. The interlocking mechanism is operatively connected between the seat back and seat cushion, so that, for instance, upon folding the seat back down to a horizontal storage position, the seat cushion is automatically flipped over upwardly to an upright use position, without contact and interference therebetween. A seat cushion lock mechanism may be provided in such interlocking element so as to permit automatic locking and unlocking of the seat cushion to and from a vehicle body by folding the seat back downwardly and upwardly. In that fold-down seat, a headrest lock mechanism may be provided such that operation of a seat back lock mechanism causes quick operation of the headrest lock mechanism to unlock the headrest prior to the seat back being folded down.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A vehicle seat in combination with a vehicle body, comprising:

a seat cushion rotatably provided so as to be able to be rotated or flipped over between a horizontal use position and an upright storage position;
a seat back rotatably provided so as to be able to be rotated or flipped over between an upright use position and a horizontal storage position;
a lock means for locking and unlocking said seat cushion to and from said horizontal use position, said lock means being provided between said seat cushion and said vehicle body at a point below the seat cushion;
and
an interlocking means operatively connected with said seat back and said seat cushion, said interlocking means including a biasing means for biasingly cause said seat cushion to flip over to said upright storage position, with such an arrangement that, upon folding said seat back from said upright use position down to said horizontal storage position, said lock means is automatically operated by said interlocking means to unlock said seat cushion from the horizontal use position, and thus, said seat cushion is automatically caused by said biasing means to flip over from said horizontal use position to said upright storage position.

2 more elements

A vehicle seat in combination with a vehicle body, comprising:

a seat cushion rotatably provided so as to be able to be rotated or flipped over between a horizontal use position and an upright storage position;
a seat back rotatably with said vehicle body so as to be able to be rotated or flipped over between an upright use position and a horizontal storage position;
and
an interlocking means operatively connected with said seat back and said seat cushion, said interlocking means including:
a biasing means for biasingly causing said seat cushion to flip over to said upright storage position, said basing means being so workable as to resiliently contract and extend in a direction;
a link means having one end pivotally connected with said seat back and another end pivotally connected with said biasing means;
and
a guide means for guiding said biasing means so as to insure that the biasing means works in said direction,
with such an arrangement that, upon folding said seat back from the upright use position down to the horizontal storage position, both said link means and said biasing means are moved via said guide means, thereby automatically rotating or flipping over said seat cushion from said horizontal use position to said upright storage position.

6 more elements

A vehicle seat in combination with a vehicle body, comprising:

a seat back rotatably provided so as to be able to be rotated or flipped over between an upright use position and a horizontal storage position;
a striker fixed on said vehicle body at a point corresponding to said upright use position associated with said seat back;
a seat back lock means for locking and unlocking said seat back to and from said striker, said seat back lock means comprising;
an operation lever means movable in one of a locking direction to lock said seat back to said striker and an unlocking direction to unlock said seat back from said striker;
a latch workable for engagement with said striker;
a lock bracket having one end portion rotatably supported in said seat back and another end portion connected via a connecting rod with said operation lever means, wherein said one end portion is disposed above said latch;
and
a biasing means connected between said latch and said another end portion of said lock bracket so as to not only biasingly cause said lock bracket to engage said latch, but also bias said operation lever means in said locking direction;
a headrest rotatably provided on said seat back;
a headrest lock means for locking and unlocking said headrest to and from a locked position, said headrest lock means comprising:
a lock piece provided with said headrest;
and
a hook-like latch member biased by a spring in a direction to engage said lock piece, and
an interlocking means operatively connected between said operation lever means of said seat back lock means and said hook-like latch member of said headrest lock means.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vehicle seat

Life of this patent

Vehicle seat

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20