Lifting device for the cushion of a vehicle seat

Claim 1

A lifting device for a vertically adjustable front cushion of a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat having a seat portion comprised of said vertically adjustable front cushion and a fixed rear cushion, said lifting device comprising: said vehicle seat comprising a support structure with two side portions, each said side portion having a first and a second vertically extending flange, each said first flange having a fixedly connected first pin and each said second flange having a fixedly connected bearing with a second pin rotatably supported in said bearing; said vertically adjustable front cushion having a cushion support armature with a forward and a rearward portion, said forward portion having on either side a third pin and said rearward portion on either side a fourth pin; first connecting rods pivotably connected with said first pins of said first flanges and with said third pins of said forward portion of said support armature, each said connecting rod having a fifth pin arranged between said first and said third pin; second connecting rods pivotably connected with said second pins of said second flanges and with said fourth pins of said rearward portion of said support armature; curved plates each having a front end and a rear end, said front end pivotably connected to said fifth pin and said rear end having a cutout; an essentially horizontally extending S-shaped lever with a rear end, a center portion, and a vertically extending front end, said S-shaped lever pivotably connected with said center portion to said support structure; a fork having a recessed central portion and a lug opposite said recessed central portion, said rear end of said S-shaped lever being connected to said lug; a stud connected to said support structure; arms fixedly connected with a first end to said second pins; a transverse stay connecting free ends of said arms; a control handle connected to one of said second pins; wherein, when said front cushion is lifted into a upper position, said cutouts engage said second pins and one of said rear ends of said curved plates engages said vertically extending front end of said S-shaped lever and pivots said S-shaped lever, thereby displacing said fork with said recessed central portion into locking engagement with said stud for latching said front cushion in said upper position; and wherein, for releasing said front cushion from said upper position, said control handle is turned such that said transverse stay is upwardly rotated to disengage said cutouts from said pins and release said recessed central portion from its locking engagement with said stud.