US 12,275,338 B2
Seat assembly with return interlock element
Michael Kapusky, South Lyon, MI (US); and Ronald A Zimmerman, II, White Lake, MI (US)
Assigned to Magna Seating Inc., Aurora (CA)
Appl. No. 17/784,747
Filed by Magna Seating Inc., Aurora (CA)
PCT Filed Dec. 14, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/064778
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 13, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/119576, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 17, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/947,734, filed on Dec. 13, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0018025 A1, Jan. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. B60N 2/30 (2006.01); B60N 2/12 (2006.01); B60N 2/14 (2006.01); B60N 2/16 (2006.01)
CPC B60N 2/3011 (2013.01) [B60N 2/123 (2013.01); B60N 2/14 (2013.01); B60N 2/1615 (2013.01); B60N 2/3065 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A seat assembly adapted to be mounted to a floor of an automotive vehicle for movement between a plurality of positions, the seat assembly comprising:
a seat cushion for supporting an occupant in the automotive vehicle;
a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion;
a seat track assembly for sliding movement of the seat assembly between a forward position and a rearward position along the floor of the automotive vehicle, the seat track assembly including a sliding track repositionable along a fixed track;
at least one link extending longitudinally between the seat cushion and the sliding track, the at least one link rotatable for moving the seat cushion between an easy entry position in which the seat cushion tilts forwardly and downwardly toward the floor of the automotive vehicle and a design position in which the seat cushion is spaced from the floor of the automotive vehicle to support an occupant;
an interlock element pivotally coupled to the sliding track, the interlock element extending longitudinally between a first end having an interlock hook and a second end having an interlock leg,
wherein movement of the seat assembly from the forward position to the rearward position pivots the interlock element from a locked condition in which the interlock hook is engaged with one of the seat cushion or the at least one link for holding the seat cushion in the easy entry position to an unlocked condition in which the interlock hook is disengaged from the one of the seat cushion or the at least one link for allowing movement of the seat cushion to the design position; and
a return plate fixedly coupled to the fixed track,
wherein the return plate is arranged on the fixed track such that the interlock leg of the interlock element rests on the return plate when the seat cushion is in the design position, thereby retaining the interlock element in the unlocked condition for allowing movement of the seat cushion.