Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 03101474 2020-11-24
WO 2019/227094
PCT/US2019/034141
MANUAL PITCH. EASY-ENTRY SEAT WITH POWER RETURN
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS.
[0001} This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application
No.
62/676,374, filed May 25, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Patent .Application No.
62/817,127,
filed March 12, 2019, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
reference in their
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
100021 The invention .relates to vehicle seat which is manually movable from a
seating
position to .an easy-entry position to permit entry to an additional row of
seating, and more
particularly, to a vehicle seat having a power return device for automatically
returning the
seat assembly from the easy-entry position to the seating position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[pool Automotive vehicles typically include one or more seat assemblies having
a seat
cushion and a seat back for supporting passengers above a vehicle floor. In a
vehicle with
three rows of seating, the second row seats are often configured. to be
movable from a seating
position to an easy-entry position to allow for occupant ingress and egress to
the third row of
= seating in the. vehicle. There are several commonly known second row seat
assemblies with.
various funetionalities to achieve different easy-entry positions. These known
functionalities
include fold. and tumble, tip slide, stand up; and pitch forward, all as are
commonly known in
the art. Once example of a second row seat assembly with pitch forward easy-
entry.
functionality is shown in U.S. Pa tent No. 8,4241,969,
= [00041 in a typical easy-entry seat .assembly, the seat is mounted to the
floor of the vehicle by
a seat track assembly for providing fore and aft sliding. adjustment of the
seat. The seat
cushion. is pivotally connected to the seat track assembly by a. plurality of
pitch legs. The seat
hack is pivotally connected to the seat cushion by a recliner mechanism for
providing
selective pivotal movement of .the seat back relative to the seat cushion
between the seating
position and a fold. flat position overlying the seat cushion. The seat
assembly is manually
= movable -from the seating position to a pitch easy-entry position by
tilting or pitching the seat
upwardly and .forwardly via the pitch legs and sliding the seat forward via
the seat track
assent*. The recliner mechanism remains locked to prevent pivotal movement of
the seat
back relative to the seat cushion. further, movement of the seat assembly from
the seating
position to the easy-entry position is typically assisted by a one or more
counterbalance
CA 03101474 2020-11-24
WO 2019/227094
PCT/US2019/034141
springs to Obias the seat assembly towards the easy-entry position, and .2)
lift the weight of
the seat during the pitch. forward movement. However, when it is desirable to
return the seat
assembly from the easy-entry position back to the seating position, the
occupant must
overcome both the weight of the seat and the biasing forces of the
counterbalance springs.
[0005] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a pitch easy-entry seat with a
power- return device
for automatically moving the seat from the pitch easy-entry position to the
seating position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
100061 A power return device is provided for returning .a seat assembly for a
vehicle from an
easy-entry position position to a seating position. The seat assembly is
movable forwardly
and rearwardly through slide and pitch movements to slide and pitch forwardly
When moved
from the seating. position to said easy-entry position and to automatically
slide and pitch
rearwardly when returned to said seating position by the power return device.
The power
return device comprises a gear rack which is stationary during forward and
rearward seat
movement and a drive assembly mountable to the seat. assembly and movable
along the gear
rack during the slide and pitch movements of the seat assembly. The drive
assembly
comprises a motor, at least a first pitch link drivingly connectable to the
seat assembly so as
to rotate during the pitch movements of the seat assembly, and a gear set
assembly driven by
the motor and drivingly connected to the first pitch link to rearwardly drive
a return pitch of
the seat assembly .from the easy-entry position to the seating position and to
rearwardly drive
a...return. slide of the seat assembly from. the easy-entry position to the
seating position. The
motor is releasably engagable with the gear set assembly wherein the motor is
disengaged
during forward slide and pitch movements of the seat a$sembly. The motor is
drivingly
engaged with the gear set assembly during return of the seat assembly from the
easy-entry
position to the seating position wherein the motor drives the return slide
along the gear rack
and the return pitch by controlled rotation of the first pitch link..
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
100071 The present disclosure will be readily appreciated as the same becomes
better
understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered
in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0008.] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seat assembly,. which is adapted
to he slidably
mounted by a seat track. assembly to a vehicle and includes a power return
device according
to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the power return device;
2
CA 03101474 2020-11-24
WO 2019/227094
PCT/US2019/034141
[0010] 'Figure 3 is .a fragmentary side view of the seat assembly and power
return .device in
the seating position;
[00111 Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view of the seat assembly and power
return .device in
the pitch easy-entry position;
[00121 Figure 5 is .a side perspective view of the power return device taken
from the rear
wherein the power return device is configured with the seat assembly in the
seating position;
[00131 Figure 6 is a side perspective view of the power return device of
Figure 5. with a first
bracket and a front pitch link removed and further including a drive pinion, a
rack pinion, a
pitch link drive .gear, and a rack pinion drive gear mounted on a second
bracket;
[0014] Figure 7 is a side perspective view of the second bracket of the power
return device;
[0015] Figure 8 is a .side perspective view of the second bracket including a
helical .drive
shaft and the drive pinion and rack pinion;
[0016] Figure 9 is a. side perspective view of the second bracket of Figure. 8
and further
including several shafts and a. rack pinion friction pad supported thereon;
[0017] Figure 10 is a fragmentary front perspective. view .of the rack pinion
in meshing
engagement with a gear rack and drivingly engaged with the rack pinion drive
gear by an
axial Joint preferably defined by the rack pinion friction pad disposed
axially therebetween;
[0018] Figure 11 is an end view of the powerretura device with the drive
pinion in a first
position .decoupled from the rack pinion drive gear and the pitch link drive
gear;
[0019] Figure 12 is an end view of the power return device with the drive
pinion in a second
position engaged with the rack pinion drive gear and the pitch link drive
gear;
100201 Figure 13 is a side view of the power return device when displaced
forewardly with
the seat assembly in the easy-entry position toward the front of vehicle
[00211 Figure 14 is a. side view of the power return device moving rearwardly
toward the rear
of vehicle wherein the drive pinion is engaged with the return gears comprised
of the rack
pinion drive gear and pitch link drive gear;
[00221 Figure 15 is a side view of the power return device moved to its
rearward position
wherein the drive pinion has driven the rack pinion drive gear rearwardly and
rotated the
pitch link drive gear to rotate the pitch link and .return the seat assembly
to the seating
position;
100231 Figure 16 is a front top perspective view showing the power
return.device with the
drive pinion in the first position;
[0024] Figure 1.7 is a front top perspective view showing the power return
device with the
drive pinion moving between the first position and the second position;
100251 Figure 18 is a front top perspective view showing the power return
device with the
drive pinion almost in the second. position;
3
CA 03101474 2020-11-24
WO 2019/227094
PCT/US2019/034141
100261 'Figure 19 is a front top perspective view showing. the power return
device with the
drive pinion fully displaced to the second position to displace the power
return device
rearwardly .and return the seat assembly to the seating position;
(00271 Figure 20 is a .front top perspective view showing the power return
device with the
drive pinion moving the power return device and the pitch link rearwardly;
[0028] Figure 21 is a front top perspective view showing the power return
device after the
drive pinion moves the power return device and the pitch link rearwardly;
[0029] Figure 22 is a front top perspective view showing the power return
device with the.
drive pinion in the second position and a motor reversing to move the drive
pinion back to the.
first position;
[00301 Figure 23 is afront top perspective view showing the power return
device with the.
drive pinion in the first position;
[00311 Figure. 24 is a rear perspective view of the motor of the first
embodiment;
[0032] Figure 25 is a rear perspective view of a motor according to a second
embodiment of
the present invention;
[00331 Figure 26 is a rear perspective view of a helical drive shaft used in
the motor of the
first embodiment; and
[00341 Figure 27 is a rear perspective view of a variation of .a helical drive
shaft used in the
motor of the second embodiment.
100351 Certain terminology will be used in the following description for
convenience and
reference only,. and will not be limiting. For example, the. words "upwardly',
"downwardly",
"rightwardly" and "lef.twardly" will refer to directions in the drawings to
which reference is.
made. The words "inwardly". and "outwardly" will refer to directions. toward
.and away from,
respectively, the geometric center of the arrangement and designated parts
thereof Said
-terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives
thereof, and words of
similar import.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(0036) Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or
corresponding parts
throughout the several views, a seat assembly for use in an automotive vehicle
is generally
shown at 10. Referring to Figures 1-4, the seat assembly 10 includes a
generally horizontal
seat cushion 12 and. a generally upright seat back 14 operatively coupled to
the seat cushion
12. Each of the seat cushion 12 and seat baek. 14 include a structural frame
for supporting a
cellular foam pad encased in a textile trim cover -as is commonly known in the
.art. Further,
the seat back 14 is -typically operatively coupled to the seat cushion 12 by
.a recliner
mechanism 18 for providing selectively pivotal movement of the seat back 14
relative to the
4
CA 03101474 2020-11-24
WO 2019/227094
PCT/US2019/034141
seat cushion 12 between an upright seating position, a plurality of reclined
positions, and a
fold flat position overlying the seat cushion 12. The seat assembly 10 is
adapted to be
mounted toa floor of the vehicle by a seat track assembly 16 for providing
fore and aft
sliding movement of the seat assembly 10 along the vehicle floor, The .seat
cushion 12
includes a pair of spaced apart seat cushion brackets 19 operatively coupled
to the seat back
14 by the recliner mechanism 18 and also operatively coupled to the seat track
assembly 16.
[00371 The seat track assembly 14 includes a pair of 'spaced apart and
parallel upper rails
20 extending between opposite forward and rearward ends 22, 24 and slidably
coupled to a
corresponding pair of spaced apart and parallel lower rails 30 extending
between
.corresponding forward and rearward ends 32, 34. The lower rails 30 are
adapted to be
fixedly secured to the vehicle floor by mounting brackets and/or bolts.
Referring to Figures
3 and 4, a generally hook-shaped striker latch 26 is pivotally coupled to the
seat cushion
bracket 19 for releasable engagement with .a transverse striker bar 28 -
fixedly secured to the.
rearward end 34 of the lower rail 30 for selectively locking the seat assembly
10 in the
seating position. A pair of easy-entry rear pitch legs 36 spaced laterally
along opposite sides.
of the seat cushion 1.2 extends between a first end .pivotally coupled to the
seat track assembly
16 at pivot 38 and an opposite second end pivotally coupled to the seat
cushion bracket 19 at
pivot 40. A pair of easy-entry front pitch legs. 3.7 are also spaced laterally
along opposite
sides of the seat cushion 12 and pivotally extend between the forward ends of
the seat track
assembly 16 and the seat cushion 12.
[00381 The seat assembly 10 may further include an easy-entry release
mechanism 42, such
as a release strap or handle, coupled to the striker latch .26 for releasing
the striker latch 2.6'
from the striker bar 28 thereby allowing .manual forward movement of the seat
assembly 10
between the seating position (Figures 1 and 3) and the .easy-entry position
.(Figure 4). More
specifically, actuation of the release mechanism 42 pivotally releases the
striker latch 26 from
engagement with the striker bar 28. The seat assembly 10 is then manually
slidable via the.
seat track assembly 16 .as the upper rails .20 slide longitudinally forward
along the lower rails
30 towards the front of the vehicle, When the seat assembly 10 reaches it
forward-most
position along the track assembly 1.6, the seat assembly 10 then also pitches
or tilts upwardly.
and forwardly via the front and rear pitch legs 36, 37 lifting the rear
portion of the seat
assembly 10 upwardly away from the vehicle floor to the pitch easy-entry
position to provide
more space for ingress and egress. to .the third row of seating positioned
within the vehicle
behind the seat assembly 10. The seat. assembly 10 also includes one or more
counterbalance
springs 44 operatively coupled between the seat track assembly 16 .and the
rear pitch legs .36,
for biasing the seat assembly 10 toward the easy-entry position and for
lifting. and
counterbalancing the weight of the seat assembly 10. One or more
counterbalance springs
CA 03101474 2020-11-24
WO 2019/227094
PCT/US2019/034141
may also be operatively coupled between the upper rails 20 and lower rails 30
of the seat
track assembly 16 for biasing the seat assembly 10 fbrwardly along the seat
track assembly
16 towards the front of the vehicle to the easy-entry position.
[0039] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the seat assembly 1.0 also includes a
power return device
50 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.. The power return
device or
mechanism 50 preferably. is .a module that may be added onto the existing
manual seat
assembly 10 of a vehicle to automatically return the seat assembly 10 from the
pitch easy-
entry position to the seating position. That is, the power return .device 50
overcomes the bias
of the counterbalance springs 44 and the weight of the seat assembly 10 to
automatically.
return the .seat assembly 10 from the easy-entry position back to the seating
position. During
regular operations of the seat assembly 10, the power return device 50 is not
engaged or.
-actuated but moves with and permits the manual fore and aft sliding and pitch
forward
movement of the seat assembly 10. Once the power return device 50 is actuated,
as described
herein, it operates to automatically return the seat assembly 10 to the
seating position.
[00401 Referring to Figures 2 and 5, the power return device 50 is shown
separate from the
seat assembly 50 but is mountable to the seat. assembly 10 as shown in.
Figures 1, 3 and 4. In
particular, the power .return device 50 includes a guide rail formed as a gear
rack 5.1 that is
mountable to the stationary components of the seat assembly 1.0 such as the
lower rails 30 of
the seat track assembly 16, The power return device .50 also includes a
movable drive
assembly 52 that is mountable to the movable components of the seat assembly
10 suet-1 as the.
seat cushion bracket 19 .so as to slide forwardly and rearwardly with the seat
cushion 12, and
articulate during forward pitching- of the seat assembly. 10 from the seating
position to the
pitch easy-entry position.
[0041] The drive assembly 52 comprises a motor 53, a gear set. assembly 54,.
and front and
rear pitch links 56 and 57.. The pitch links 56 and 57 have respective lower
link ends 56.A
and 57A,. which rotatably engage the gear set assembly 54, and upper link ends
56B and 57B,
which rotatably connect to the seat cushion bracket 19 to travel with the scat
cushion 12
during articulating of the seat .assembly TO between the seating position and
easy-entry
position. As .seen in Figure 3, the .pitch links 56 and 57 are rotated and
oriented to the rear
and downwardly toward. the floor when the seat assembly 10 is in the seating
position. As
seen in Figure 4, the pitch links 56 .and 57 have their lower ends 56A and 57B
connected to
the gear set assembly 54 while the upper ends 5613 and 5713 displace with the
seat cushion. 12
so as to rotate upwardly and .forwardly when the seat assembly 10 is displaced
to the pitch
easy-entry position. During this movement, the drive assembly 52 moves
forwardly and
rearwardly with the seat assembly 1.0 relative to the gear rack 5.1.
CA 03101474 2020-11-24
WO 2019/227094
PCT/US2019/034141
[0042] Generally, the power return device 50 is disengaged or decoupled from
the manual
slide and pitch systems. (i.e. the track assembly 16 and pitch legs 36, 37)
when the seat
assembly is manually moved to the easy-entry position. When disengaged, the
gear set
assembly 54 freely moves along the gear rack 5.1 and the links 56 and 57 may
freely rotate.
with the movement of the: seat cushion 12. However, upon demand by an operator
to return
the seat assembly 10 to the .seating position, the power return device 50
actuates to an.
engaged position which effectively engages the power return device 50 with the
slide and
pitch systems by selective engagement of the gear set assembly 54. When the
motor 52 and
gear set assembly 54 are engaged, operation of the motor 52 drives the gear
set assembly 54
along the gear rack 51 to drive the seat assembly 10 rearwardly and drives the
pitch links 56
and 57 rearwardly to drive the seat cushion 12 back to the seating position..
As such, the
power return device 50 is disengaged during forward sliding .and pitching of
the: seat
assembly 1G to the easy-entry position,. but .may then be actuated by vehicle
controls and the.
motor 52 to automatically drive and return the seat assembly 10 to the seating
position.
Operation of the power return device 50 may be achieved through controlled
operation of the
motor 52 through suitable switching and control circuits.
[0043] Referring now to Figures 5-12, the motor 52 is operatively connected to
the gear set
assembly 54. The gear set assembly 54 comprises first and second support
brackets 61 and
62, which are joined in spaced relation to define an interior gear space.
[0044] The second support bracket 62 is disposed adjacent to the motor. 5.2
and rotatably
.receives a drive shaft 63 through drive shaft bushing 64 .(Figure. 7). The
drive shaft 63 is
preferably formed as ahelical drive shaft having a helical drive slot 63A, the
function of
which will be more fully appreciated -below. The drive shaft 63 also
operatively supports a
drive pinion 65 formed with drive teeth on an outer circumference thereof, The
drive. pinion
65 has an inner bore that Operatively mates with the drive slot 63A so that
rotation of the
drive shaft 63 causes the drive pinion 65 to travel axially along the length
of the drive slot
63A (as generally seen in Figures 11 and 12) and eventually causes the drive
pinion 65 to
rotate. The drive pinion 65 is located in an inactive first position (Figure
11) but is movable
to. an active second position (Figure 12).
[0045] The outer end of the drive shaft 63 has a .shaft bushing 67 (Figure 9)
to stop axial
travel of the drive pinion. 65 and thereby engage the motor 52 with the
remaining components
of the gear set assembly 54. Once axial travel is stopped by the shaft bushing
67., the drive
pinion 65 then rotates with the drive shaft 63 to engage and drive the
remainder of the gear
set assembly 54, Reverse rotation of the drive shaft 63 causes the drive
pinion. 65 to travel
axially back toward the motor 52 to thereby disengage the gear set assembly 54
from the
motor 52. To prevent rotation of the drive pinion 65 during this axial travel
between the first
7
CA 03101474 2020-11-24
WO 2019/227094
PCT/US2019/034141
and second positions, the drive pinion 65 includes an outer hub. 65.A coupled
to a tensioner
spring 99 (Figures 16-.18); Which biases the drive pinion radially 65 relative
to the shaft 63 so
that shaft 63 rotation causes the drive pinion 65 to travel along the slot 63A
between the first
and second position rather than rotate. When the drive pinion 65 is stopped at
the bushing 67
in the second position, a rotative driving force of the shaft 63 overcomes the
axial driving
force so that the drive pinion. 65 now rotates with the drive. shaft 63. When
the drive pinion
65 is moved back toward the motor 52, .the axial driving force from the
.tensioner spring 99'
acting on the outer hub 65A .overcomes the rotative driving. force during
reverse motor
rotation to transfer the drive pinion 65 axial along the drive shaft 63 to the
first position.
[0046] To control or drive the return sliding movement of the seat assembly
10, the: support
bracket 62 includes a rack pinion 68 (Figures .8 and .1.0) that ineshingly
engages with the gear
rack 51 as seen in Figure 10, The rack pinion 68 is rotatably supported on a
pinion shaft 69
supported. on the support bracket 62 by a gear shaft bearing 70 (Figure 7).
The pinion shaft
69 is formed as 4 bolt secured between the brackets 61 and 62 and having a
cylindrical spacer
71 which rotatably supports the rack pinion 68. The spacer 71 in turn supports
a rack pinion
drive gear 72 on the outer end thereof which is mated to the. rack .pinion 68
by a high pressure
axial joint 73 preferably formed by a friction pad 74 (Figures 9:and 10) or in
the alternative a
slip bushing. The friction pad 74 is in contact with and. compressed between
the rack pinion.
drive gear 72 and rack pinion 68 to normally form a. friction interface
whereby rotation of the.
rack pinion drive gear 72 causes rotation of the rack pinion 68 to thereby
drive the seat
assembly 10 along .the gear rack 51. This assembly stack further includes
needle type roller
bearings 76 to allow free rotation .under high axial loading applied by the
bolt and nuts
forming the pinion shaft 69.
100471 To drive the rack pinion 68, the outer teeth of the rack pinion drive
gear 72 meshingly
engage with the teeth of the drive pinion 65 when the drive pinion 65 is
axially moved to the
second drive position of Figure 12. This engagement drives the return sliding
movement of
the seat assembly 10 during operation of the motor 52. However, the diameter
of the rack
pinion drive :gear 72 is greater than the rack pinion 68 and the drive pinion
65 does not
directly engage with the rack pinion 68. As such, when the drive pillion 65 is
axially moved
to the: initial first position (Figure 11), the drive pinion 65 is radially
spaced apart from and
cannot .drive the rack pinion 68. In this in-operative condition, drive pinion
65 is deeonpled
from the gear rack 51 and thus the power return device 50 is disengaged .from
the: slide
system, i.e. track .assembly 16. When disengaged, the seat assembly 1.0 can
slide fully
forward to the easy-entry position while the power return device 50 remains
disengaged from
such sliding movement. When. engaged,. rotation of the motor 52 drives
rearward sliding or
return movement of the seat assembly 10 to the seating position. =
8
CA 03101474 2020-11-24
WO 2019/227094
PCT/US2019/034141
P00481 If sliding movement of the seat assembly 10 is blocked or obstructed in
any manner
so that the seat assembly 10 hits a hard stop, such as end .of travel or an
object blocking
travel, the friction pad interface defined by the friction pad 74 allows
.slippage between the
rack pinion 68 and rack pinion drive gear 72 to stop .sliding of the seat
assembly 10. In
effect, the power return device 50 is. disconnected .from the slide system of
the seat assembly
10. This .slippage continues until the. motor 52 is stopped such as by
suitable control sensors
or at the end of travel, or .else the obstruction is removed. During such
slippage, the.
operation of the remaining components of the power return device 50 can
continue by.
continued operation of the motor 52. Therefore, .the axial joint 73 and
friction pad 74 is
normally connected bat is intermittently released, similar .to a clutch, when
a hard stop is
.encountered.
[0049] Next, the axial movement of the drive pinion 65 also engages and
disengages the
power return device .50 from the pitch system. As such, the power return
device 50 is
decoupled or disengaged from the seat assembly It) during articulated or pitch
movement to
the easy-entry position, and. then is engaged to automatically drive return of
the seat assembly
to the seating position.
100501 In more .detail as to Figures 5-9, the pitch links 56 and 57 are
rotatably connected to
the gear set assembly 54. First, as to the pitch link 56, the bracket 62
includes a first pivot
shaft 81 formed with a bolt 82 supported on a bracket bore 83 and an outer
cylindrical spacer
84. The spacer 84 is stepped on the outer end to rotatably support the, pitch
link 56, wherein
the pitch link 56 rotates freely in response to pitching movement of the seat
assembly 10.
[00511 Next, as to the pitch link 57, the bracket 62 also includes a second
pivot shaft 86 .
formed with aboit 87 supported .on a bracket bore .88 and an outer cylindrical
spacer 89. The
outer end of the spacer 89 rotatably supports the pitch link 57, wherein the
pitch link 56 is
driven by the motor 54 to drive the return pitch function during return of the
seat assembly. 10
from the easy-entry position to the seating position. Referring to Figures. 11
and 12, the pivot
shaft 86 also includes a pitch link drive gear 91. which rotationally drives
the pitch link 57 by.
an intermediate friction pad 92 axially compressed between the pitch link
drive gear 91 and.
pitch link 57. The friction pad 92 essentially operates similar to the
friction pad 74 by
defining a high pressure axial joint between said pitch link 57 and the pitch
link drive. gear
91, wherein the axial joint and friction pad 92 is normally connected but is
intermittently
released,. similar to a clutch,. when a hard stop is encountered.
[0052] To drive the pitch link 57, the pitch link drive .gear 91 is aligned
next to but spaced.
radially from the rack pinion drive gear 72 so that the drive pinion 65 fits
therebetweemand
can move into and out of engagement with both of the drive gears 72 and 91 at
the same time.
When meshingly disengaged as seen in Figure 11, the drive gears. 72 and 91
.are free to rotate
9
=
CA 03101474 2020-11-24
WO 2019/227094
PCT/US2019/034141
in response to manual forward slide and pitch of the seat assembly la to
the.easy-entry
position; When meshingly engaged as seen in Figure 12, the drive gears 72 and
91 rotate: in
response to motor operation .of the drive pinion 65 so thatthe motor 52
controls the return
slide and pitch of the seat assembly 10 to the seating position. Since the
friction pad 92
essentially operates similar to the friction pad 74, slippage will occur
between the friction pad
92 and rear pitch link 57 if seat assembly 10 .encounters an obstruction or
hard stop that
prevents rearward movement of the seat assembly 10 to the seating position.
100531 With this improved design, the power return device .50 is disengaged or
decoupled
from the manual slide and pitch systems when the seat assembly 10 is manually
moved to the
easy-entry. position. However, upon demand by an operator to return the seat
assembly 10 to
the seating position, the motor 5.2 is turned on and rotates the shaft 63 to
axially move the
drive pinion 65 in a cross car direction into meshed driving engagement with
the rack pinion
drive gear 72 and pitch link drive. gear 91 .(Figure. 12) so that the power
return. device 50.
essentially moves to an engaged position with the slide and pitch systems.
Further, motor
rotation may be reversed to reverse rotate the Shaft 63 and move the drive
pinion 65 back to
the inactive or decoupied position of Figure 11. As such, the power return
device .50 is
disengaged during forward slide and pitch of the seat assembly 10 to the easy-
entry position,
but may then be .actuated to automatically .control the return slide and
return pitch of the seat
assembly 10 to the seating position. If either of the .return slide or return
pitch systems is
blocked or obstructed, the power return device 50 may allow release of the
obstructed system
by slippage permitted by one of the, other of the friction pads 74 and 92 and
allow the
remaining unobstructed system to continue operating until such time as the
blockage or
obstruction is removed,
[00541 Referring to Figures 13,45, Figure 13 shows the power return device 50
when.
.displaced forewardly with the .seat assembly 10 toward the front of vehicle
(FOY) in the
easy-entry position.
10055] When return seat movement is desired as shown by Figure 14, the power
return
device 50 is operated by turning on the motor 52 which engages the drive
pinion 65 with the
return gears defined by the rack pinion drive gear 7.2 and pitch link drive
gear 91, which
causes the power return device 50 and interconnected .seat assembly 10 to move
rearwardly;
100561 Figure 15 shows the power return device 50 moved to its rearward
position wherein
the drive pinion 65 has driven the rack pinion drive :gear 72 and rotated the
pitch link drive
gear 91 to rotate the pitch link 57 rearwardly Which also pulls the front
pitch link 56
rearwardly and returns the seat assembly: 10 to the seating position..
100571 To illustrate the engagement of the drive pinion 65: Figure 16 shows
the drive pinion
65 in the first position; Figure 17 shows the drive pinion 65 moving between
the first
CA 03101474 2020-11-24
WO 2019/227094
PCT/US2019/034141
position and the second position; and Figure 18 shows the drive pinion 65
almost in the
second position, although some axial space remains between the drive pinion 65
and drive
shaft bushing -67. Notably, the tensioner spring 99 is shown connected between
drive pinion
65 and an anchor preferably defined by shaft 81 to bias the drive pinion 65
radially as
described above forcing the drive pinion 65 to move axial along the drive
shaft 63 between
the -first and second positions
100581 Figure. 19 shows the drive pinion 65 fully displaced to the second
position to displace
the power return device 50 rearwardly by engagement with the rack pinion drive
gear 72
which drives the rack pinion 68 to return the seat assembly '10 to the seating
position. Once
fully seated in the second position, the drive pinion 65 also engages with and
drives the pitch
link drive gear 91 and interconnected pitch link 57 rearwardly as seen in
Figures 20 and 21.
(00591 Figure 22 shows the power return device 50 with the drive. pinion in
the second
position wherein motor reversing moves, the drive pinion 65 axially back to
the first position
(Figure 23). Figures 22 and 23 also show the pitch link 57 in the forward
position and
remaining stationary which illustrates that the power return device 50 may be
disengaged
even if the pitch link .57 remains stationary such as by obstruction, wherein
this feature is
provided, by the friction pad 92.
(00601 With this design, all electrical functions (engagement, system lock,
automatic
disengagement, .etc.) preferably will be initiated with a one-touch button and
controlled via.
micro switch / relay .components or may be controlled via one-touch, switch
and an IC
controller to accommodate high current draw requirements which may be
experienced.
100611 While the drive pinion 65 is axially movable due to movement of the
drive pinion 65
along the drive shaft 63, the drive pinion 65 also may move together with a
movable shalt in
an alternate configuration. Figures 24 and 26 shows the drive pinion 65 on the
shaft 63
which includes the drive slot 63A to thereby define a helix Shaft In this
design, the shaft 63
includes a keyed shank 6313- that fits into the motor. 52 and is axially fixed
in position during.
operation of the motor 52 so that the shaft 63 does not axially translate left
and right relative
to the fixed motor 52, Rather, it is the drive pillion 65 that translates left
and right dependent
upon the clockwise or counterclockwise motor rotation..
[0062] Figures. 25 and 27 Show an alternate configuration wherein the drive
shaft 63-1 is.
rotatably engaged with the motor 52-1 and includes a drive pinion 65-.1 on one
end of the
drive. shaft 63-1.. In this design, the motor 52-1 is still in a fixed
location but the shaft. 63-1
has a..centrat shaft axle 1.09, which is fixed at opposite ends and rotates by
the motor 52-1.
The. shaft 634 also has an outer shaft sleeve or helix tube 110, which is
slidable on the shaft
axle 109 in left and right directions relative to the motor 52.1.. The drive
pillion 65.-1 is
rigidly affixed to the shaft sleeve 110 so .as to move axially therewith. The
motor input drives
11
CA 03101474 2020-11-24
WO 2019/227094
PCT/US2019/034141
the shaft 63-1 clockwise and counterclockwise during motor operations. The
shaft sleeve 110
has a helical drive slot 111 .which engages with a drive slot key in the motor
housing 112 and
is driven axially by shaft rotation to thereby move the drive pinion 65-1
axially during motor
operation. In this design, the drive pinion 65-1 still moves axially between
first .and second
positions so as to function the same as drive pinion 65.
[00631 The invention has been described in an illustrative manner,: and it is
to be understood
that the terminology,. which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of
words of
description rather than of limitation. Many modifications .and variations of
the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. it is, therefore, to
be understood that
within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other
than as
specifically. described..
12
