Vehicle seat

Abstract

A vehicle seat includes a seat back frame with an upper subframe pivot. A seat back subframe is pivotably connected to the seat back frame at the upper subframe pivot. An actuation assembly pivotably moves the seat back subframe relative to the seat back frame about the upper subframe pivot, between a seat back subframe design position and a subframe recline position. In the recline position a lower edge of the seat back subframe is positioned outwardly relative to the seat back frame with the seat back subframe pivoted to an angle relative to the seat back frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle seat comprising:
 a seat back frame with an upper subframe pivot;   a seat back subframe pivotably connected to the seat back frame at the upper subframe pivot; and   an actuation assembly pivotably moving the seat back subframe relative to the seat back frame about the upper subframe pivot between a seat back subframe design position and a subframe recline position wherein in the recline position a lower edge of the seat back subframe is positioned outwardly relative to the seat back frame with the seat back subframe pivoted to an angle relative to the seat back frame.   
     
     
         2 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuation assembly comprises an actuator drive and an actuator drive to seat back subframe pivot movement transmission transferring motion of the actuator drive to pivoting movement of the seat back subframe. 
     
     
         3 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the actuator drive comprises an actuation lever connected to the seat back subframe and rotatable about a drive axis;   the actuator drive to seat back subframe pivot transmission comprises:   a pivot lever connected to the seat back subframe and rotatable by the actuation lever about the drive axis;   a cam with a cam slot, the cam being connected to one of the pivot lever and the seat back subframe; and   a cam follower connected to another of the pivot lever and the seat back subframe, the cam follower moving along the cam slot between a cam design position and a cam subframe recline position, whereby the lower edge of the seat back subframe is moved outwardly relative to the seat back frame as the cam follower moving along the cam slot between a cam design position and a cam subframe recline position.   
     
     
         4 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the actuator drive comprises a drive motor;   the actuator drive to seat back subframe pivot transmission comprises:   a pivot lever connected to the seat back subframe and rotatable by the drive motor about the drive axis;   a cam with a cam slot, the cam being connected to one of the pivot lever and the seat back subframe; and   a cam follower connected to another of the pivot lever and the seat back subframe, the cam follower moving along the cam slot between a cam design position and a cam subframe recline position, whereby the lower edge of the seat back subframe is moved outwardly relative to the seat back frame as the cam follower moving along the cam slot between a cam design position and a cam subframe recline position.   
     
     
         5 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat back is pivotable forward from a design position to a stowage or easy entry position. 
     
     
         6 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 5 , further comprising a seat base, wherein the seat base is pivotable rearward from a design position to a stowage or stadium position. 
     
     
         7 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 6 , further comprising bracket supports for connection of the vehicle seat to at least one of a vehicle rear bulkhead and a vehicle floor, wherein:
 the seat back is pivotably connected to the bracket supports for the pivotable movement forward of the seat back from the design position to the stowage or easy entry position; and   the seat base is pivotably connected to the bracket supports for the pivotable movement rearward of the seat base from the design position to the stowage or stadium position.   
     
     
         8 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 5 , further comprising a seat base, wherein the seat back is pivotable forward with the subframe in the subframe recline position to a load floor position, whereby an angle of a load floor surface, comprised of a rear surface of the seat back, is changed relative to angle of a load floor surface with the subframe in the subframe design position and the seat back in the load floor position. 
     
     
         9 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle seat is supported at a vehicle floor. 
     
     
         10 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle seat is supported at a vehicle bulkhead. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle seat according to  claim 1 , further comprising trim covering the seat back frame and the subframe, wherein the trim comprises an elastic portion, a gusset portion or a pleated portion to allow movement of the subframe relative to the seat back frame within the trim covering the seat back frame and the subframe. 
     
     
         12 . A seat back of a vehicle seat, the seat back comprising:
 a seat back frame with an upper frame pivot; and   an actuation assembly pivotably moving the seat back about the upper frame pivot, to move the seat back from a design position to a recline position.   
     
     
         13 . A seat back according to  claim 12 , wherein the actuation assembly comprises an actuator drive connected to a vehicle bulkhead and connected to the seat back to pivot the seat back about the upper frame pivot and move the seat back relative to the vehicle bulkhead. 
     
     
         14 . A seat back according to  claim 13 , in combination with a seat base connected to the seat back wherein the seat base moves with the seat back as the seat back pivots about the upper frame pivot and move the seat back relative to the vehicle bulkhead. 
     
     
         15 . A seat back according to  claim 14 , wherein the seat back and the seat base are supported at the upper frame pivot without an further support below the seat base. 
     
     
         16 . A vehicle seat back assembly comprising:
 a seat back frame with an upper subframe pivot;   a seat back subframe pivotably connected to the seat back frame at the upper subframe pivot; and   an actuation assembly pivotably moving the seat back subframe relative to the seat back frame about the upper subframe pivot between a seat back subframe design position and a subframe recline position wherein in the recline position a lower edge of the seat back subframe is positioned outwardly relative to the seat back frame with the seat back subframe pivoted to an angle relative to the seat back frame.   
     
     
         17 . A vehicle seat back assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuation assembly comprises an actuator drive and an actuator drive to seat back subframe pivot movement transmission transferring motion of the actuator drive to pivoting movement of the seat back subframe. 
     
     
         18 . A vehicle seat back assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the actuator drive comprises an actuation lever connected to the seat back subframe and rotatable about a drive axis;   the actuator drive to seat back subframe pivot transmission comprises:   a pivot lever connected to the seat back subframe and rotatable by the actuation lever about the drive axis;   a cam with a cam slot, the cam being connected to one of the pivot lever and the seat back subframe; and   a cam follower connected to another of the pivot lever and the seat back subframe, the cam follower moving along the cam slot between a cam design position and a cam subframe recline position, whereby the lower edge of the seat back subframe is moved outwardly relative to the seat back frame as the cam follower moving along the cam slot between a cam design position and a cam subframe recline position.   
     
     
         19 . A vehicle seat back assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the actuator drive comprises a drive motor;   the actuator drive to seat back subframe pivot transmission comprises:   a pivot lever connected to the seat back subframe and rotatable by the drive motor about the drive axis;   a cam with a cam slot, the cam being connected to one of the pivot lever and the seat back subframe; and   a cam follower connected to another of the pivot lever and the seat back subframe, the cam follower moving along the cam slot between a cam design position and a cam subframe recline position, whereby the lower edge of the seat back subframe is moved outwardly relative to the seat back frame as the cam follower moving along the cam slot between a cam design position and a cam subframe recline position.