RELEASE LEVER COUNTERWEIGHT

Abstract

A counterweighted release lever for a vehicle seat back release mechanism is described. The release lever includes a counterweight providing sufficient weight to move a center of mass of the release lever towards a release lever pivot point disposed adjacent to the counterweight. The counterweight may be integral to or attached to the release lever, or may be operatively connected to a release lever shaft. Vehicle seat back release mechanisms and vehicle seat assemblies including the counterweighted release lever as described above are described.

Claims

1. A counterweighted release lever for a vehicle seat back release mechanism.

2. The release lever of claim 1, wherein the release lever includes a counterweight providing sufficient weight to move a center of mass of the release lever towards a release lever pivot point disposed adjacent to the counterweight.

3. The release lever of claim 2, wherein the counterweight is formed as a portion of the release lever and disposed adjacent to the release lever pivot point.

4. The release lever of claim 2, wherein the counterweight comprises a bracket portion configured for attaching to a portion of the release lever disposed adjacent to the release lever pivot point.

5. The release lever of claim 2, wherein the counterweight is attached to a latch release shaft that is operatively connected to the release lever at the release lever pivot point.

6. The release lever of claim 1, wherein the counterweight is fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of a powdered or sintered metal, a plastic or other polymer, a plastic-overmolded metal, a metal die casting, and a metal stamping.

7. A vehicle seat back release mechanism, comprising: a release lever pivotally mounted to a vehicle seat assembly for movement in a first direction to actuate one or more vehicle seat functions by one or more cables; and a counterweight disposed to bias the release lever in a second direction counteracting the release lever movement in the first direction.

8. The seat back release mechanism of claim 7, wherein the counterweight provides sufficient weight to move a center of mass of the release lever towards a release lever pivot point disposed adjacent to the counterweight.

9. The seat back release mechanism of claim 8, wherein the counterweight is formed as a portion of the release lever and disposed adjacent to the release lever pivot point.

10. The seat back release mechanism of claim 8, wherein the counterweight comprises a bracket portion configured for attaching to a portion of the release lever disposed adjacent to the release lever pivot point.

11. The seat back release mechanism of claim 8, wherein the counterweight is attached to a latch release shaft that is operatively connected to the release lever at the release lever pivot point.

12. The seat back release mechanism of claim 7, wherein the counterweight is fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of a powdered or sintered metal, a plastic or other polymer, a plastic-overmolded metal, a metal die casting, and a metal stamping.

13. A seat assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a seat portion comprising a seat bottom and a reclinable seat back; a seat back release lever pivotally mounted to the seat assembly for movement in a first direction to actuate one or more vehicle seat functions by a one or more cables; and a counterweight disposed to bias the release lever in a second direction counteracting the movement of the release lever in the first direction.

14. The seat assembly of claim 13, wherein the counterweight provides sufficient weight to move a center of mass of the release lever towards a release lever pivot point disposed adjacent to the counterweight.

15. The seat assembly of claim 14, wherein the counterweight is disposed in an exterior portion of the seat assembly and formed as a portion of the release lever and disposed adjacent to the release lever pivot point.

16. The seat assembly of claim 14, wherein the counterweight is disposed in an exterior portion of the seat assembly and comprises a bracket portion configured for attaching to a portion of the release lever disposed adjacent to the release lever pivot point.

17. The seat assembly of claim 14, wherein the counterweight is disposed in an interior portion of the seat assembly and attached to a latch release shaft that is operatively connected to the release lever at the release lever pivot point.

18. The seat assembly of claim 13, wherein the counterweight is fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of a powdered or sintered metal, a plastic or other polymer, a plastic-overmolded metal, a metal die casting, and a metal stamping.

19. A vehicle including the seat assembly of claim 13.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the disclosed counterweighted seat back release mechanism, and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing:

[0012] FIG. 1A shows a prior art seat back release lever;

[0013] FIG. 1B shows a prior art seat back release mechanism including a return spring;

[0014] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a counterweighted seat back release mechanism according to the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a counterweighted seat back release mechanism according to the present disclosure; and

[0016] FIG. 4 shows another alternative embodiment of a counterweighted seat back release mechanism according to the present disclosure.

[0017] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosed counterweighted seat back release mechanism, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] With reference to FIG. 2 there is shown an embodiment of a counterweighted seat back release mechanism 200 according to the present disclosure. As depicted, the release mechanism 200 is disposed outboard of a seat back recliner assembly (not shown). The release mechanism 200 includes a release lever 202, substantially similar in configuration to the prior art release lever described above and operationally connected to various cables 107 as described above for actuating seat functions.

[0019] In the depicted embodiment, a counterweight 204 is disposed substantially at a pivot point 108 of the release lever 202. As will be appreciated, the described counterweight 204 replaces the function of the above-described return spring, having sufficient weight to provide a biasing force (arrow B) to the release lever 202 sufficient to overcome the inertia effects of the release lever, i.e. to decrease the moment arm of the lever.

[0020] As depicted, the counterweight 204 is defined by a bracket portion 206 and a head portion 208. In the depicted embodiment, the head portion 208 includes an offset portion 210 comprising a sufficient amount of the weight of the counterweight 204 to move the center of mass of the lever 202 towards the lever pivot point 108 and decrease the moment arm of the lever. As will be appreciated, providing the weight of the counterweight 204 including the offset portion 210 as described provides the desired counteracting effect (arrow B) of the counterweight against the lever-actuating inertial force of an impact (arrow A). This occurs because the weight of the counterweight 204 is sufficient to move the lever 202 center of mass towards the lever pivot point 108. It will be appreciated that the offset portion 210 is provided primarily for convenience, i.e. to reduce the vertical “footprint” of the counterweight while still providing the needed biasing force as described above.

[0021] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a counterweighted seat back release mechanism 300 according to the present disclosure. As shown, the release mechanism 300 is disposed outboard of a seat back recliner assembly 302, which in the depicted embodiment includes a torsion spring 304 for assisting in folding the seat back 112 towards a flat configuration. A counterweight 306 is provided, attached to a latch release shaft 308 by a bracket portion 310, which latch release shaft in turn is operatively attached to the release lever 202. Again, as shown the counterweight 306 is configured such that a sufficient portion of the weight of the counterweight is positioned to one side of the counterweight at an offset portion 312 to move the vehicle seat back release lever's (not shown in this view) center of mass towards the lever pivot point 108. Thus, the counterweight 306 applies a biasing force (arrow C) to the release lever 202 by the counterweight's biasing force imposed on the spindle 308. The biasing force is sufficient to overcome the inertia effects of the release lever 202.

[0022] As will be appreciated, the counterweights 204, 306 should comprise sufficient weight to move the vehicle seat back release lever's respective centers of mass towards the lever pivot point 108 and in a direction opposite the inertial force of an impact tending to actuate the seat back release mechanisms.

[0023] A variety of materials are contemplated for fabricating the described counterweights 204, 306, including without intending any limitation powdered or sintered metal, plastic, plastic-overmolded metal, metal stamping, die casting, and others.

[0024] Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, as depicted the described counterweights 204, 306 are configured for attaching to a portion of a vehicle seat back release mechanism. However, as will be readily appreciated the counterweights could be integrally formed as part of the release mechanism, for example as an integral portion of a release lever 400 as shown in FIG. 4. As depicted, the release lever 400 includes a lever arm 402 including a counterweight 404 provided as an integral element of the lever arm, and disposed substantially at a pivot point 108 of the lever arm. As described above, the counterweight 404 includes an offset portion 406 comprising a sufficient portion of the weight of the counterweight 404 to move the move the vehicle seat back release lever 400's center of mass towards the lever pivot point 108.

[0025] All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.