US 12,459,404 B2
Seat with power pitch easy entry having lower disc actuator
David M. Runde, Ortonville, MI (US)
Assigned to Magna Seating Inc., Aurora (CA)
Appl. No. 18/277,103
Filed by Magna Seating Inc., Aurora (CA)
PCT Filed Feb. 14, 2022, PCT No. PCT/US2022/016322
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 14, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/174147, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 18, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,674, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0123873 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. B60N 2/12 (2006.01); B60N 2/02 (2006.01)
CPC B60N 2/12 (2013.01) [B60N 2/02253 (2023.08)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pitch assembly for a vehicle seat that includes a seat cushion pivotably coupled to a seat base, a pitch sector operatively coupled to the seat cushion and configured to pivot the seat cushion relative to the seat base, a disc mechanism operatively coupled between the seat cushion and the seat base and configured to be repositionable between a locked condition preventing pivoting of the seat cushion relative to the seat base and an unlocked condition wherein the seat cushion is pivotable relative to the seat base between a first position and a second position, the pitch assembly comprising:
a drive pinion meshingly engaged to the pitch sector and including a slot, the slot including a slot wall;
a pinion actuator including a key extending therefrom, the pinion actuator extending at least partially through the slot in the drive pinion with the key positioned within the slot, the pinion actuator rotatable within the slot between an engaged condition wherein the key frictionally engages with the slot wall causing the drive pinion to rotate with the pinion actuator and a disengaged condition wherein the key is spaced apart from the slot wall decoupling the drive pinion from the pinion actuator such that the pinion actuator is rotatable relative to the drive pinion;
a cam having a cam profile;
a drive shaft fixedly coupled to the pinion actuator and fixedly coupled to the cam such that the pinion actuator, the drive shaft, and the cam have a common axis of rotation;
a drive motor operatively coupled to the drive shaft and configured to selectively rotate the drive shaft in a forward direction;
an actuator lever having a cam follower, the cam follower being retained in frictional engagement with the cam profile, the actuator lever rotatable between an unactuated position corresponding to the cam follower being frictionally engaged with a first portion of the cam profile and an actuated position corresponding to the cam follower being frictionally engaged with a second portion of the cam profile, the actuator lever operatively coupled to the disc mechanism such that the disc mechanism is in the unlocked condition when the actuator lever is in the actuated position and wherein the disc mechanism is repositionable towards the locked condition when the actuator lever is in the unactuated position;
wherein when the seat cushion is in the first position and the drive motor rotates the drive shaft in the forward direction, the cam is rotated in the forward direction causing the actuator lever to pivot to the actuated position and causing the disc mechanism to be repositioned to the unlocked condition prior to the key engaging with the slot in the drive pinion; and
wherein additional rotation of the drive shaft in the forward direction after the key frictionally engages with the slot wall rotates the drive pinion causing the pitch sector to pivot the seat cushion between the first position and the second position.