Emergency locking mechanism with orientation control
AssigneeTRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
InventorsGary M. Ray, Gene L. Scofield
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus (10) includes a vehicle seat (12) with an upper frame (28) supported to tilt on a lower frame (18). An emergency locking mechanism (60) is supported on the upper frame (28). The apparatus (10) further includes an orientation mechanism (106) including an elongated flexible driving member (114). The orientation mechanism (106) moves the driving member (114) longitudinally in one direction upon tilting of the upper frame (28), and moves the driving member (114) longitudinally in an opposite direction upon opposite tilting of the upper frame (28). The orientation mechanism (106) tilts the emergency locking mechanism (60) a controlled amount relative to the upper frame (28) in response to longitudinal movement of the driving member (114).
Claims16
Apparatus comprising:
- a vehicle seat with an upper frame supported to tilt on a lower frame;
- an emergency locking mechanism on said upper frame;
- and
- orientation means for maintaining a predetermined orientation of said emergency locking mechanism relative to said lower frame independently of the force of gravity when said upper frame tilts on said lower frame, said orientation means including an elongated flexible driving member extending between said upper and lower frames;
- said orientation means moving said driving member longitudinally in one direction in response to tilting of said upper frame, and moving said driving member longitudinally in an opposite direction in response to opposite tilting of said upper frame;
- said orientation means tilting said emergency locking mechanism a controlled amount relative to said upper frame in response to said longitudinal movement of said driving member.
Apparatus comprising:
- a vehicle seat with an upper frame supported to tilt on a lower frame;
- a lower pulley structure fixed relative to said lower frame;
- an upper pulley structure rotatably supported on said upper frame;
- an emergency locking mechanism connected to said upper pulley structure for rotation with said upper pulley structure;
- a spring biasing said upper pulley structure to rotate;
- and
- a flexible driving member extending between said pulley structures under tension induced by said spring;
- said driving member rotating said upper pulley structure against the bias of said spring upon tilting of said upper frame, said spring rotating said upper pulley structure oppositely upon opposite tilting of said upper frame, whereby said driving member, said spring and said pulley structures cooperate independently of the force of gravity to maintain a predetermined orientation of said emergency locking mechanism relative to said lower frame when said upper frame tilts on said lower frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.