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US6460934B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electric adjusting device for a front seat of a motor vehicle

Assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
•
Filing: 2000-08-04
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Granted: 2002-10-08
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Expires: 2020-08-04
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Abstract

Abstract An electric adjusting device for a front seat of a motor vehicle, with which the front seat can be displaced at least in the longitudinal direction by means of an electric motor is provided. In the present invention, a forwards displacement of the front seat is requested by folding the seat back forwards (entry assistance). According to the invention, a changeover switch which is coupled to the release lever is provided. The changeover switch having to be actuated at the same time as the seat back is folded forwards, if it is intended for the seat to be displaced by means of an electric motor in order to facilitate entry.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jochen Langer
  • 👤 Peter Maly
  • 👤 Frank Rauscher

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 21:10
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/02; B60N2/0224; B60N2/0226; B60N2/0228

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 207 words
An electric adjusting device for a front seat of a motor vehicle, with which the front seat can be displaced at least in the longitudinal direction by means of an electric motor, comprising: a control unit which can be set, by a seat-back switch which is actuable by folding the seat back forwards, into an entry-assisting operating mode in which the front seat is displaced forwards into an entry position, a release lever being provided on the seat back, which is used, in a release position, to release the seat back mechanically and enable it to fold forwards, a changeover switch having at least one forwards-displacement position V and a neutral position N, wherein the changeover switch is coupled to the release lever in such a manner that the release lever is in the release position, the changeover switch is located in the forwards-displacement position V, and wherein the control unit can be additionally activated by the changeover switch and wherein not only the seat-back switch has to be actuated, by folding the seat back forwards, but also the changeover switch has to be located in the forwards-displacement position V, in order to displace the front seat into the entry position by means of the electric motor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 207 words
An electric adjusting device for a front seat of a motor vehicle, with which the front seat can be displaced at least in the longitudinal direction by means of an electric motor, comprising: a control unit which can be set, by a seat-back switch which is actuable by folding the seat back forwards, into an entry-assisting operating mode in which the front seat is displaced forwards into an entry position, a release lever being provided on the seat back, which is used, in a release position, to release the seat back mechanically and enable it to fold forwards, a changeover switch having at least one forwards-displacement position V and a neutral position N, wherein the changeover switch is coupled to the release lever in such a manner that the release lever is in the release position, the changeover switch is located in the forwards-displacement position V, and wherein the control unit can be additionally activated by the changeover switch and wherein not only the seat-back switch has to be actuated, by folding the seat back forwards, but also the changeover switch has to be located in the forwards-displacement position V, in order to displace the front seat into the entry position by means of the electric motor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
An electric adjusting device, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the seat-back switch is arranged in such a manner that the seat-back switch is only actuated if the seat back has been folded forwards near an end position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 62 words
An electric adjusting device, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the changeover switch also has a rearwards-displacement position R into which the changeover switch can be brought by pressing down the release lever beyond the neutral position N, at least the changeover switch having to be located in the rearwards-displacement position R in order to displace the front seat rearwards.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
An electric adjusting device, as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the seat back additionally has to be folded back in order to displace the front seat rearwards.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 54 words
An electric adjusting device, as set forth in claim 3 , wherein if a longitudinal adjustment of the front seat is requested, by actuating the release lever, the electric motor is activated in such a manner that this adjustment of the front seat takes place at a higher speed than the normal comfort speed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 33 words
An electric adjusting device, as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the adjustment at an increased speed only takes place if at the same time a door-contact switch indicates an opened door.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 88 words
An electric adjusting device for adjusting a front seat of a motor vehicle by means of an electric motor, the front seat having a seat back, the electric adjusting device comprising: a seat-back switch that can be actuated by folding the seat back forward; and a release lever having a release position and a neutral position, wherein the front seat is moved forward when the release lever is placed and held in the release position and when the seat-back switch is actuated by folding the seat back forward.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 88 words
An electric adjusting device for adjusting a front seat of a motor vehicle by means of an electric motor, the front seat having a seat back, the electric adjusting device comprising: a seat-back switch that can be actuated by folding the seat back forward; and a release lever having a release position and a neutral position, wherein the front seat is moved forward when the release lever is placed and held in the release position and when the seat-back switch is actuated by folding the seat back forward.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 32 words
The device of claim 7 , wherein the release lever has a rearward-displacement position, and in order to move the front seat rearwards, the release lever must be in the rearward-displacement position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 33 words
The device of claim 8 , wherein the front seat is moved rearwards when the seat back is folded back and when the release lever is placed and held in the rearward-displacement position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 42 words
The device of claim 9 , wherein the front seat is moved rearwards at a speed higher than a normal comfort speed when the seat back is folded back and when the release lever is placed and held in the rearward-displacement position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 34 words
The device of claim 10 , wherein the front seat is moved rearwards at a speed higher than a normal comfort speed only when a door-contact switch indicates the driver-side front door is open.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 47 words
The device of claim 7 , wherein the front seat is moved forward at a speed higher than a normal comfort speed when the release lever is placed and held in the release position and when the seat-back switch is actuated by folding the seat back forward.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 34 words
The device of claim 12 , wherein the front seat is moved forward at a speed higher than a normal comfort speed only when a door-contact switch indicates the driver-side front door is open.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 55 words
A method for adjusting a front seat of a motor vehicle by means of an electric motor, the front seat having a seat back, the method comprising: moving the front seat forward by folding the seat back forward to actuate a seat-back switch and by placing and holding a release lever in a release position.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 55 words
A method for adjusting a front seat of a motor vehicle by means of an electric motor, the front seat having a seat back, the method comprising: moving the front seat forward by folding the seat back forward to actuate a seat-back switch and by placing and holding a release lever in a release position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising: moving the front seat rearwards by folding the seat back back and by placing and holding a release lever in a rearward-displacement position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein moving the front seat rearwards includes moving the front seat rearwards at a speed higher than a normal comfort speed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 32 words
The device of claim 16 , wherein moving the front seat rearwards at a speed higher than a normal comfort speed when a door-contact switch indicates the driver-side front door is open.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein moving the front seat forward includes moving the front seat forward at a speed higher than a normal comfort speed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein moving the front seat forward at a speed higher than a normal comfort speed when a door-contact switch indicates the driver-side front door is open.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2005-10-07 2006-04-08 2006-10-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2009-10-07 2010-04-08 2010-10-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2013-10-07 2014-04-08 2014-10-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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