GB2405328A

GB2405328A - Seat adjusting means with a position indicator or display

Info

Publication number: GB2405328A
Application number: GB0419100A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Williams; Andrew Scanlan; Simon Hewett; Alan Kennedy
Original assignee: Nissan Technical Centre Europe Ltd
Current assignee: Nissan Technical Centre Europe Ltd
Priority date: 2003-08-27
Filing date: 2004-08-27
Publication date: 2005-03-02
Also published as: GB0419100D0; GB0320086D0; WO2005021318A1; EP1663699A1

Abstract

A vehicle seat (10) has a means (50) of adjusting its position and a display device (70) to indicate the position of the seat. The display device may be mounted on the seat and may be visible to the occupant of the seat. The display device or indicator may take the form of a graduated dial or strip (90) having numbers thereon to indicate the position. The indicator may be used to show the inclination of the backrest, the vertical height of the seat or the fore and aft longitudinal position of the seat. The display may take the form of a window (95) with a pointer or finger included therein (see fig 5) the display device may be incorporated into a seat, which may be the drivers or the passengers seat. The seat positioning system may be operated mechanically, electrically or pneumatically. In alternative embodiments a vehicle rear view mirror or a steering column positioning system may be provided with a position indicator.

Description

A SEAT POSITIONING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a seat positioning system for a seat and more particularly but not exclusively to a seat positioning system for a vehicle seat.

Motor vehicle seats, particularly car seats, are typically adjustable in several directions using recliner knobs or levers connected to the seat. For example, the seat may be moved forwards or backwards, the height of the seat base may be adjusted and the back of the seat may be reclined. A driver or passenger entering the vehicle adjusts these settings to suit his own personal preference. If a second driver or passenger then uses the seats he may adjust the seat position to his own preferences. In this case, the first driver then usually needs to readjust the seat back to his original settings in order to be comfortable. The readjustment can be annoying, as the driver typically has to fiddle with the adjusters until he is comfortable and the adjustment takes time.

This can be a regular nuisance if two or more drivers regularly use the same car. For health and safety reasons, it is very important for a driver of a car to be comfortable in his driving seat and to be positioned so as to be able to drive the car safely.

More recently, power operated seats have been employed in vehicles.

These seats use several electric motors to position the seat through particular adjustment ranges. Switches allow the driver or passenger to adjust the seat as required. However, the driver or passenger must still guess or estimate his original seat position after a second user has changed the seat settings.

In order to solve this, some vehicles employ a memory to allow the driver to program one or more settings into the memory for future recall. A switch can be pressed to activate the user-programmed settings, causing the motors of the power seat to adjust to the recalled settings. Alternatively, the settings can be activated each time a personalised key is turned in the ignition. In many of these vehicles, two or more sets of settings can be stored, thus two or more drivers/passengers can store and recall their own settings.

However, electronic seat setting recall is costly and can be complex.

Whilst memory stored seat positioning solves the problem of different seat settings for different drivers in vehicles of a higher specification, the problem remains for less expensive vehicles. Many modern vehicles are designed and manufactured to a strict budget, which is governed by the market price of the vehicle amongst other considerations. Manufacturers are increasingly under pressure to introduce driver friendly features without incurring too great an expense during manufacture as this could diminish profits. There is thus a need to redress the relative difficulty of repositioning a vehicle seat after a change of settings in vehicles for which electronic seat position recall is not a viable option.

The present invention aims to alleviate the problem in a simple and cost effective manner.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a seat positioning system for a vehicle seat comprising a seat adjuster for adjusting the setting of a seat adjustment device with respect to a setting range, wherein a position indicator associated with the seat adjuster is provided for indicating the position of the seat adjustment device with respect to the setting range.

The position indicator thus allows the driver or passenger to see the position of the seat with respect to a setting range in each of a number of degrees of freedom of the seat at a relatively low manufacturing cost. The position indicator may significantly reduce the time taken to readjust the seat position after a second user has changed the settings. Similarly, the second user can also see and record his own seat position for his future reference. A seat position may be recorded in the user's own memory or stored in a storage device of the vehicle such as in a human machine interface storage device.

The position indicator may be disposed on the seat. The position indicator may be adapted to be visible to a driver or passenger sitting in the seat or standing near the seat. The user is thus able to look at the position indicator as he adjusts the seat adjuster or before he enters the vehicle and to quickly adjust the seat settings.

The position indicator may be a graduated dial or strip, for demarcating seat positions within the setting range. Use of a dial or strip involves simple mechanical installation as part of the seat positioning system and is also easy for the driver to read as a means of displaying the seat position. The graduated dial or strip may include numbers for indicating the seat position. This will provide ease of reading of the seat position by the user. Furthermore, a numbered seat position setting is readily memorable by the user for recall when required.

In an embodiment, the setting range may extend over at least part of a range of movement of a back portion of the seat about an axis about which it is adapted to rotate. The position indicator may be disposed on the seat around a shaft about which the seat back portion rotates as it is reclined. Therefore, the seat does not need to be significantly redesigned to accommodate this embodiment of the invention.

In another embodiment, the setting range may extend over at least part of a range of height adjustment of a base portion of the seat. The position indicator may be affixed to a drive shaft of the seat adjustment device for co-rotation therewith during adjustment of the height of the base portion of the seat or part, e.g. front or back, of the base portion. The position indicator is thus easily incorporated into an existing height adjustment mechanism for the base of the seat.

In a further embodiment, the setting range may extend over at least part of, or all of a range of movement of the seat in a fore-aft axis of the vehicle. The position indicator may be aligned with the fore-aft axis of the vehicle for indication of the seat position with respect to the setting range in the fore-aft axis of the vehicle. Hence, the setting of the seat position in the fore-aft axis can be indicated simply and at no significant expense.

The seat adjuster may include a pointer for pointing to the graduations or numbers of the position indicator. This method of indication is cost effective and simple. Alternatively, the position indicator may be housed in a housing, the housing having a window formed therein, adapted such that the position indicator displays the current position of the seat through the window. Thus, the current seat position is visible to the driver or passenger. The remainder of the position indicator may be hidden from view behind the housing. In this embodiment, the housing may be a portion of trim of the seat. The advantage of this is that only minor alterations are required to the standard design of the seat and seat trim in order to incorporate the invention. The presentation of the position indicator is neat and does not significantly alter the styling of the seat.

The position indicator may display settings over a setting range of at least three positions or it may displays settings over a setting range of at least four positions.

The seat adjuster may be manually operated or it may be operated electrically.

The seat adjustment device may operate mechanically or it may operate pneumatically or in another way. The seat may be a driver's seat. The seat may be a passenger seat. The seat may be a motor car seat. s

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be explained in more detail by the following non-limiting description and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic showing a seat for a vehicle embodying first, third and fourth examples of a seat positioning system embodying the invention; Fig. 2a is a schematic view showing a second example of a seat positioning system; Fig. 2b is a close up view of the seat positioning system of Fig. 2a; Fig. 3a shows exploded schematic view of the third example of a seat positioning system; Fig. 3b is an exploded schematic view of the seat positioning system of Fig. 3a; Fig. 4 is a schematic of part of the mechanism of the third example of a seat positioning system of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of the position indicator of the third example of the seat positioning system of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing a fifth example of a seat positioning system.

Fig. 1 shows a side view schematic of a vehicle seat 1 having a base cushion 5 and a back portion 10, side panel 20 and a base 30 for affixing the seat 1 to a floor of a vehicle (not shown). Referenced from the perspective of a user of the seat, the seat 1 has a front side 7, a left side 8 and a right side 9 and includes seat adjustment devices 50, 110 and 200. Also shown is a seat belt socket 40.

The seat 1 is a conventional car seat in that the back portion 10, base cushion 5 s and side panel 20 are typical of a motor car. The base 30 comprises a generally rectangular cuboid metallic housing, inside which is housed typical mechanisms for the seat movement, suspension and other features such as safety features. s

The seat base cushion 5 is disposed substantially horizontally upon the base 30 such that the base cushion 5 overhangs the base 30 at a front side 7 of the seat 1. The side panel 20 comprises a plastic fascia panel adapted to cover the base at each of the left side 8 and the right side 9 such that a front edge 35 thereof faces the front side 7 of the seat 1. The side panel 20 covers the base 30 from substantially the floor of the car to the seat base cushion 5, along the length of the base 30. The side panel 20 is moulded to include a substantially horizontal top edge, which graduates into a rounded rear hump 15 at a rear end thereof such that when the seat is assembled, the rear hump 15 of the side panel 20 covers a lower section 12 of the seat back portion 10. A lower portion 21 (seen in Fig. 2a and Fig. 6) of the side panel 20 covers the guide rail 300 over which the seat 1 moves in a fore-aft degree of freedom.

Seat adjustment device 50 comprises a recliner for adjusting the angle of reclination of the back portion 10. Seat adjustment device 110 comprises a height adjuster for the base cushion 5. Seat adjustment device 200 comprises a fore-aft movement adjuster for moving the seat 1 in a foreaft degree of freedom along the floor of the car (not shown).

In Fig. 1, the recliner 50 is operated manually by adjustment of a recliner knob 60, which can be rotated back and forth to alter the angle of reclination of the back portion 10 about a pivot axis 55. The recliner knob 60 comprises a generally circular plastic knob that is mounted to a shaft (not shown) extending the width of the chair along the pivot axis 55, for co-rotation therewith. The l shaft protrudes through a small aperture in the rear hump 15 of the side panel and the recliner knob 60 is fitted over the shaft end at the side of the seat.

The recliner knob 60 includes a pointer 65 that points radially outward towards the circumference. A position indicator 70 comprises a numbered strip affixed to the side panel 20 adjacent and tangential to the recliner knob 60 such that the pointer 65 is arranged to point to each of the numbers on the position indicator 70. The position indicator 70 shown has four or more numbers extending the length of the strip, each number denoting a reclination position of the seat back portion 1. However, the position indicator 70 can contain any amount of I numbers or other form of position identification such as letters or colours, each denoting a position of reclination of the seat back portion. The numbers or other indicators on the position indicator 70 are calibrated against a range of recliner movement such that rotation of the recliner knob 60 through a certain number of degrees corresponds to a change in position as indicated on the position indicator 70.

In use, the user of the seat 1 can adjust the angle of reclination of the back portion 10 whilst he is sitting in the seat 1, by rotating the recliner knob 60 through the positions until he is satisfied with his position. The pointer 65 points to the position indicator 70 to indicate the current reclination of the seat back portion 10. The number or other indication can be memorised and later recalled such that when repositioning of the seat to this position is necessary, the user can quickly rotate the recliner knob 60 to the desired setting as shown by the position indicator 70.

In Fig. 2a and 2b, an alternative embodiment of the recliner 50 and position indicator 70 is shown. In Fig.2a, the recliner knob 60 is located on the side panel 20 below the rear hump 15 and forwards of the seat back portion 10. The location of the recliner knob 60 is thus arranged to be easy for the driver or passenger to reach whilst he is occupying the seat.

The recliner knob 60 is affixed to a left side 8 end of a shaft 78 for corotation therewith. A wheel 80 is also mounted to the shaft for corotation therewith and is located a small distance behind the recliner knob 60 such that when assembled, the wheel 80 is hidden behind the side panel 20 whilst the recliner knob 60 lies externally of the side panel 20. A shaft 85 extends through the lower section 12 of the seat back portion 10. A cog 75 is affixed to a left side 8 end of the shaft 85 for corotation therewith. The cog 75 lies adjacent the seat back portion 10 such that it is aligned in the same plane as the wheel 80 and such that both are covered by the side panel 20 when the seat 1 is assembled.

The wheel 80 and the cog 75 are connected by a belt 90 held under tension.

The belt 90 comprises a flat ribbon having an upper surface 92 upon which numbers are equidistantly printed or stamped on the belt 90. In Fig. 2b, the belt shows five numerals (the number 1 is hidden behind the cog 75) for indicating five reclination positions of the seat back portion. In an embodiment, the wheel 80 and cog 75 include teeth, and the belt 90 is toothed for interaction with the teeth of the wheel 80 and cog 75.

The side panel 20 includes a flange 25 extending substantially perpendicularly to a top edge and front edge thereof. The flange 25 extends inwardly toward the seat 1 when assembled. The flange 25 is deeper than that of either the wheel 80 or the cog 75 such that when the seat l is assembled, the wheel 80 and cog 75 are fully housed inside the side panel 20, the cog 75 being housed behind the rear hump 15 of the side panel 20. A window 95 is formed in the flange 25 at the rear hump 15. The window 95 is rectangular and has approximately the same width dimension as the width of the belt 90. As shown schematically in Fig. 2b, the window 95 is arranged such that the number or other indicator on the belt 90 that corresponds to the current position of reclination of the seat 1 is visible through the window 95.

In use, the occupier of the seat can adjust the angle of reclination of the back portion 10 whilst he is sitting in the seat 1, by rotating the recliner knob 60 through the positions until he is satisfied with his position. The rotation of the recliner knob 60 causes corresponding rotation of the wheel 80 and of the tensioned belt 90. The interaction between the belt 90 and the cog 75 causes the cog 75 to rotate, producing corresponding rotation of the back portion 10. The current position of the back portion 10 is indicated by the number or other indicator on the belt 90 that is visible through the window 95. The position indicator 70 of this embodiment is calibrated in a similar manner to that of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

In practice, each embodiment of the recliner adjustment mechanism 50 can be used with each embodiment of the position indicator 70.

The height adjuster is operated manually using the lever 110 shown in Fig. 1 and also shown in Figs. 3a and 3b. As shown schematically in the exploded view of Figs. 3a and 3b, the height adjustment mechanism comprises the lever 110, outer disc 120 and a central shaft 130. The lever 110 comprises a moulded plastic circular body 115 with an elongate handle extending away from the body toward the front side 7 of the seat 1. The lever 110 is fixedly connected, by small screws or otherwise, to the outer disc 120, which comprises a circular disc of approximately the same size as the circular body 115 of the lever 110.

The shaft 130 extends through an aperture at the centre of outer disc 120 but is not connected directly to the lever 110. The outer disc 130 is fastened to the base 30 of the seat 1 such that it can rotate with rotation of the lever 110. The position indicator disc 150 is mounted centrally over the shaft 130 for co rotation therewith, such that it lies between the circular body 115 of the lever and the outer disc 120. The position indicator disc 150 has a smaller diameter than the outer disc to allow the lever 110 to be fixed to the outer disc with screws or suchlike at radial positions beyond the circumference of the position indicator disc 150, toward the circumference of the outer disc 120. In Fig. 3a, the indicator numerals or other indicators are printed, cut-out or stamped in a radial distribution onto a circular face of the position indicator disc 150, such that the indications face the lever 110 when the height adjustment mechanism is assembled. In Fig. 3b, the indicators are displayed around the circumference of the position indicator disc 150.

The lever 110 includes a window 160, through which a portion of the position indicator disc 150 is visible. In the embodiment of Fig. 3a, the window 160 is formed through the circular body 115 of the lever 110 such that an indicator printed or stamped on the circular face of the position indicator disc 150 is visible through it.

Within the seat base 30, a small cog 133 (shown only partially and schematically in Fig. 3a) is mounted on the shaft 130 for co-rotation therewith.

The teeth of the small cog engage a large cog plate 140, shown schematically in Fig. 3a and Fig. 4 that is mounted in the same plane as the small cog such that rotation of the central shaft 130 (and the small cog 133) in a clockwise direction produces anti-clockwise rotation of the large toothed plate 140 as shown in Fig. 3a. The large cog plate 140 is pivotally connected to the base 30 at a pivot point 145 such that rotation of the shaft 130 causes the large cog plate to rotate about the pivot point 145. Pivotally connected to the large cog plate 140 is a proximate end 170 of an elongate metal bar 175, the distal end of which is pivotally linked (not shown) to the base cushion 5 towards the rear of the base 30. A ratchet mechanism (not shown) operates between the outer disc 120 and the central shaft 130 to restrict the direction of movement of the central shaft 130.

In use, the height of the base cushion 5 is raised by pulling the handle of the lever 110 upward. The circular body 115 of the lever 110 rotates clockwise, causing the outer disc 120 to rotate. Rotation of the outer disc 120 activates the ratchet to rotate the central shaft 130 clockwise, which causes the small cog to rotate clockwise and the large toothed plate 140 to rotate anti-clockwise. Each complete upward movement of the lever 110 handle causes rotation of the large toothed plate 140 by a fixed amount. The large cog plate 140 rotates about its pivot point 145, causing the pivoted proximate end 170 of the elongate metal bar 175 to be rotated, raising the base cushion 5 by a certain amount. I The lever 110 handle is spring-biased (spring not shown) towards its original after each movement upwards, returning the outer disc 120 also to its original position. However, the central shaft 130 remains in its rotated position and thus the position indicator disc 150 also remains in its rotated position. Thus, the current position of the base cushion 5 with respect to the range of movement covered by the indicator is displayed through the window 160 of the lever 110 once the lever 110 is returned to its original rest position. The remaining indications are hidden from view behind the circular body 115 of the lever 110. I As with the recliner position indicator, the indications of the position indicator disc 150 are calibrated against movement of the seat base cushion 5 and in this case are distributed radially around the disc such that each indicator corresponds to a certain seat height position.

If the seat base cushion is to be lowered, the user pushes the lever 110 handle downwards from its rest position to switch the ratchet mechanism such that the central shaft 130 is able to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction. The large cog; plate 140 is thus rotated in a clockwise direction, lowering the base cushion 5.

Thus the position indicator 150 rotates with the central shaft 130 and is therefore able to show the current lowered seat position through the window in the lever 110 once the lever 110 is returned to its original rest position.

In Fig.3a and 3b, the shaft 130 is shown to be elongate for the purpose of the exploded illustration only. In practice, the shaft 130 need only be as long as is required for each of the mechanism components to be accommodated along it.

The seat adjustment mechanism for fore-aft movement of the seat is not shown in detail, for clarity of the drawings but is briefly described here. The seat 1 moves fore and aft along a slotted guide rail 300, shown schematically in Fig. I 6l fixed to or near the floor of the vehicle. The seat is normally held in place by a lock that engages a slot of the guide rail to prevent movement of the seat 1 in the fore-aft direction. Returning to Fig. 1, an adjustment lever 210 operates to selectively release the lock from the guide rail slot, allowing fore-aft movement of the seat 1. The user pulls up the lever 210 to release the seat 1 for movement. The seat moves in a fore-aft movement relative to the fixed guide rail or rails.

In this embodiment, the position indicator comprises a thin, elongate film or I tape 250 that is fixed at each end thereof to the vehicle floor, close to the foremost and aftmost ends of the guide rail. The tape or film 250 is held to the floor by seat mounting bolts 220a, 220b at the foremost and aftmost ends of a platen 245. Guide rollers 225, 230, 235 and 240 extend perpendicularly from the left side 8 of seat base 30 in order to guide the tape/film 250 between the bolts 220a, 220b. Roller 225 is located adjacent the floor, toward the front side 7 of the seat base 30. Roller 230 is located adjacent to roller 225 but at the top of base 30 as viewed by an occupier of the seat 1 in normal use of the seat 1. ; Roller 235 is located in spaced relation from roller 230 at the same height elevation as roller 230 and roller 235 is located adjacent roller 230 but at the same height elevation as roller 225. The tape or film 250 is fed from seat mounting bolt 220a along the platen 245, where it is passed underneath guide S roller 225 and fed vertically upwards to pass over guide roller 230. The tape/film 250 is then fed horizontally over guide roller 235 before being guided vertically downwards to pass underneath guide roller 240 and onwards along the floor to seat mounting bolt 220b.

As the seat 1 moves fore and aft in relation to the fixed tape/film 250, the tape is passed through the guide rollers 225, 230, 235 and 240. The tape/film 250 includes numbers or other indicators of position as in previous embodiments, I distributed equidistantly along it for denoting the seat 1 position relative to the fore-aft range of movement. As seen in Fig. 5, the flange 25 of side panel 20 includes a window 260, located to coincide with the portion of tape/film 250 passing between guide rollers 230 and 235. The indications face vertically upwards such that the current position of the seat in the fore-aft degree of freedom is displayed through the window 260.

In an alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the fore-aft position indicator or scale 350 is affixed to an upper surface of the guide rail 300 and a window 360 1 is formed in an upper surface of the lower portion 21 of side panel 20. The indications on the position indicator 350 are displayed through the window 360 such that the indications can be viewed from above.

The windows 95, 160, 260 and 360 may be formed of Perspex or other suitable transparent material, or it may be a cut-out. The windows 95, 160, 260 and 360 may have a magnifying quality such that the indications on the position indicators 70, 90, 150, 250 and 350 viewed through the windows 95, 160, 260 and 360 appear larger than they actually are.

The tape/film and position indicator strip may be manufactured from plastic, metal or any other suitable material.

It is envisaged that the position indicators 70, 90, 150, 250 and 350 may include colour-coded indications in addition to numerical or other indications, the colour coded indications to guide the user of the seat as to ideal settings for different body shapes.

It is envisaged that the invention could also be applied to steering column I adjustment and wing mirror or rear view mirror adjustment as well as to pneumatically operated lumbar cushion adjustment, adjusters for the rear passenger seat or other similar adjustment device.

The adjusters and side panel could be made of any appropriate material such as plastic, wood or similar. The indications may be affixed to the position indicators using any appropriate means such as printing on the indicators or stamping out the indications from a top surface of the position indicator to reveal a differently coloured lower surface, by cutting the indicators out from I the position indicator or any other means. Any number of indications could be affixed to the indicators. The indications need not be equidistant and could be arranged in any appropriate manner. The seat adjustment mechanisms described are for illustration purposes and the invention could be put into effect in any appropriate seat adjustment mechanism. It is furthermore envisaged that the invention can be used in conjunction with electrically operated seat adjustment devices, pneumatically operated seat adjustment devices or seat adjustment devices operated by any other means.

The seat may be a motor vehicle seat, such as a motor car, truck, van or lorry seat.

Various modifications may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A seat positioning system for a vehicle seat, comprising a seat adjuster for adjusting the setting of a seat adjustment device with respect to a setting range, wherein a position indicator associated with the seat adjuster is provided for indicating the position of the seat adjustment device with respect to the setting range.

2. A seat positioning system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the position indicator is disposed on a vehicle seat.

3. A seat positioning system as claimed in claim 2 in which the position indicator is adapted to be visible to an occupant sitting in the seat.

4. A seat positioning system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 in which the position indicator is a graduated dial or strip.

5. A seat positioning system as claimed in claim 4 in which the graduated dial or strip includes numbers for indicating the position of the seat adjustment device.

6. A seat positioning system as claimed in any of claims 1-5 in which the setting range extends over at least part of a range of movement of a back portion of a vehicle seat about an axis about which it is adapted to rotate.

7. A seat positioning system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the position indicator is disposed on the seat about a shaft about which the back portion of the seat rotates as it is reclined.

8. A seat positioning system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 in which the setting range extends over at least part of a range of height adjustment of a base portion of a vehicle seat.

9. A seat positioning system as claimed in claim 8 in which the position indicator is affixed to a drive shaft of the seat adjustment device for co rotation therewith during adjustment of the height of the base portion of the seat.

10.A seat positioning system as claimed in claim 10 in which the position indicator is aligned with the fore-aft axis of the vehicle for indication of the seat position with respect to the fore-aft axis of the vehicle.

11.A seat positioning system as claimed in claims 4 to 11 in which the seat adjuster includes a pointer for pointing to the graduations of the graduation dial or strip.

12.A seat positioning system as claimed in any of claims 1-12 in which the position indicator is housed in a housing, the housing having a window formed therein, adapted such that the position indicator displays the current position of the seat adjustment device through the window.

13. A seat positioning system as claimed in any claim 13 in which the remainder of the position indicator is substantially hidden from view.

14. A seat positioning system as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 in which the housing is a portion of a trim of a vehicle seat.

15.A seat positioning system as claimed in any previous claim wherein the position indicator displays settings over a setting range of at least three positions.

16.A seat positioning system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the position indicator displays settings over a setting range of at least four positions.

17.A seat positioning system as claimed in any previous claim in which the adjustment device is manually operated.

18.A seat positioning system as claimed in any previous claim in which the seat adjustment device is arranged to operate mechanically.

l9.A seat positioning system as claimed in any previous claim in which the seat adjustment device is arranged to operate pneumatically.

20.A seat positioning system as claimed in any previous claim in which the adjustment device is arranged to operate electrically.

21.A seat for a vehicle having a seat positioning system as claimed in any previous claim.

22. A seat as claimed in claim 22 in which the seat is a driver's seat.

23. A seat as claimed in claim 22 in which the seat is a passenger seat.

24.A seat as claimed in any of claims 22 to 24 wherein the seat is a motor vehicle seat.

25.A seat as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 25 having a said seat positioning system for fore-aft seat position indication.

26.A seat as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 26 having a seat positioning S system for up/down seat position indication.

27.A seat as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 27 having a said seat positioning system for backrest recline indication.

28.A seat positioning system substantially as described herein and by the accompanying drawings.

29. A seat for a vehicle substantially as described herein and by the accompanying drawings.

30. A steering column positioning system for a vehicle steering column, comprising an adjuster for adjusting the setting of a steering column adjustment device with respect to a setting range, wherein a position I indicator associated with the adjuster is provided for indicating the position of the adjustment device with respect to the setting range.

31.A mirror positioning system for a vehicle mirror, comprising an adjuster for adjusting the setting of a mirror adjustment device with respect to a setting range, wherein a position indicator associated with the adjuster is provided for indicating the position of the adjustment device with respect to the setting range.