Actuating module for a vehicle seat

• US 10,232,745 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2018
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC (Forvia SE)
• Original Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC (Forvia SE)
• Inventors: Ferre, Ludovic
• Primary Examiner(s): White, Rodney B
• Application Number:
  US15/901,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20180244177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 29736211, 29737812, 29737814, 29734417, 2973442
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02253 characterised by the transmission between the electric motor and the seat or seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0881 Activation of the latches by the control mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/12 slidable and tiltable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/20 the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/04, B60N2/22 , B60N2/3002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2213 Gear wheel driven mechanism B60N2/2231, B60N2/225 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/06 with parallel axes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/16 comprising worm and worm-wheel
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 19/08 for interconverting rotary motion and oscillating motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2019/085 by using flexible members

Abstract

A module for a vehicle seat comprises a drive cable, an actuator, and a transmission assembly. The actuator is coupled to the transmission assembly to drive the transmission assembly. The drive cable is coupled to the transmission assembly and moves as a result of the actuator being activated.

Claims

1. A module for a vehicle seat, the module comprising:

a first drive cable that is mounted so as to be movable between a first locking position configured to block movement of a first seat element with respect to a second seat element and a first unlocking position configured to allow the movement of the first seat element with respect to the second seat element,

a second drive cable that is mounted so as to be movable between a second locking position configured to block movement of a third seat element with respect to a fourth seat element and a second unlocking position configured to allow movement of the third seat element with respect to the fourth seat element, and

an actuating device comprising an actuator and a transmission assembly that is actuated by the actuator and acts selectively on the first drive cable or the second drive cable,

wherein the transmission assembly comprises a transmission member that is able to rotate about a central transmission axis in a first direction of rotation in order to drive the first drive cable from the first locking position to the first unlocking position and in a second direction of rotation, opposite to the first direction of rotation, in order to drive the second drive cable from the second locking position to the second unlocking position.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein the transmission assembly also comprises an elastic springback device that urges elastically the first drive cable toward the first locking position and the second drive cable toward the second locking position.

3. The module of claim 2, wherein the elastic springback device comprises a spiral spring and the spiral spring urges elastically the first drive cable toward the first locking position and the second drive cable toward the second locking position.

4. The module of claim 3, wherein the transmission member is a rocking component that is driven by the actuator in the first direction of rotation in order to drive the first drive cable from the first locking position to the first unlocking position and in the second direction of rotation in order to drive the second drive cable from the second locking position to the second unlocking position.

5. The module of claim 1, wherein the transmission member is a rocking component that is driven by the actuator in the first direction of rotation in order to drive the first drive cable from the first locking position to the first unlocking position and in the second direction of rotation in order to drive the second drive cable from the second locking position to the second unlocking position.

6. The module of claim 5, wherein the actuating device comprises an actuating stem that is driven in rotation by the actuator and the transmission assembly further comprises an actuating gear wheel with which the actuating stem engages.

7. The module of claim 6, wherein the transmission assembly further comprises an actuating pinion fastened to the actuating gear wheel, the transmission member includes a toothed portion, and the actuating pinion and the toothed portion engage so as to transmit a movement from the actuator to the transmission member and to drive the transmission member in the first direction of rotation or in the second direction of rotation.

8. The module of claim 1, wherein the actuating device comprises an actuating stem that is driven in rotation by the actuator and the transmission assembly further comprises an actuating gear wheel with which the actuating stem engages.

9. The module of claim 8, wherein the transmission assembly further comprises an actuating pinion fastened to the actuating gear wheel, the transmission member includes a toothed portion, and the actuating pinion and the toothed portion engage so as to transmit a movement from the actuator to the transmission member and to drive the transmission member in the first direction of rotation or in the second direction of rotation.

10. The module of claim 8, wherein the transmission assembly comprises an actuating pinion fastened to the actuating gear wheel, the transmission member includes a toothed portion, the transmission assembly comprises an intermediate member that is disposed between the actuating pinion and the toothed portion and engages with the actuating pinion and the toothed portion so as to transmit a movement from the actuator to the transmission member and to drive the transmission member in the first direction of rotation or in the second direction of rotation.

11. The module of claim 10, wherein the first drive cable and the second drive cable each have a first end, the transmission member has a retaining part for retaining the first ends of the first and second drive cables, wherein the retaining part has a first retaining portion for retaining the first end of the first drive cable and a second retaining portion for retaining the first end of the second drive cable, and the first and second retaining portions are spaced apart from one another.

12. The module of claim 11, wherein the first end of the first drive cable engages with the first retaining portion by way of a push-only mechanical connection which transmits the movement of the transmission member to the first drive cable only in the direction of the push when the transmission member turns in the first direction of rotation and the first end of the second drive cable engages with the second retaining portion by way of a push-only mechanical connection which transmits the movement of the transmission member to the second drive cable only in the direction of the push when the transmission member turns in the second direction of rotation.

13. The module of claim 12, wherein the retaining part has a wrapping zone, the first retaining portion and the second retaining portion being situated on either side of the wrapping zone, wherein the rotation of the transmission member in the first direction of rotation causes the first drive cable to be wrapped around the wrapping zone and the first drive cable to be moved from the locking position to the unlocking position, and the rotation of the transmission member in the second direction of rotation causes the second drive cable to be wrapped around the wrapping zone and the second drive cable to be moved from the locking position to the unlocking position.

14. The module of claim 11, wherein the retaining part has a wrapping zone, the first retaining portion and the second retaining portion being situated on either side of the wrapping zone, wherein the rotation of the transmission member in the first direction of rotation causes the first drive cable to be wrapped around the wrapping zone and the first drive cable to be moved from the locking position to the unlocking position, and the rotation of the transmission member in the second direction of rotation causes the second drive cable to be wrapped around the wrapping zone and the second drive cable to be moved from the locking position to the unlocking position.

15. The module of claim 1, wherein the first drive cable and the second drive cable each have a first end, the transmission member has a retaining part for retaining the first ends of the first and second drive cables, wherein the retaining part has a first retaining portion for retaining the first end of the first drive cable and a second retaining portion for retaining the first end of the second drive cable, and the first and second retaining portions are spaced apart from one another.

16. The module of claim 15, wherein the first end of the first drive cable engages with the first retaining portion by way of a push-only mechanical connection which transmits the movement of the transmission member to the first drive cable only in the direction of the push when the transmission member turns in the first direction of rotation and the first end of the second drive cable engages with the second retaining portion by way of a push-only mechanical connection which transmits the movement of the transmission member to the second drive cable only in the direction of the push when the transmission member turns in the second direction of rotation.

17. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat cushion, a backrest mounted in a pivotable manner on the seat cushion, a hinge mechanism that is configured to adjust the angular position of the backrest with respect to the seat cushion and has a first strength member intended to be fastened to the seat cushion and a second strength member intended to be fastened to the backrest, a guide mechanism including a track comprising a first profiled element and a second profiled element that extend in a longitudinal direction and are mounted so as to slide in the longitudinal direction with respect to one another, a module including a first drive cable that is mounted so as to be movable between a first locking position configured to block movement of a first seat element with respect to a second seat element and a first unlocking position configured to allow the movement of the first seat element with respect to the second seat element, a second drive cable that is mounted so as to be movable between a second locking position configured to block movement of a third seat element with respect to a fourth seat element and a second unlocking position configured to allow movement of the third seat element with respect to the fourth seat element, and an actuating device comprising an actuator and a transmission assembly that is actuated by the actuator and acts selectively on the first drive cable or the second drive cable, wherein the transmission assembly comprises a transmission member that is able to rotate about a central transmission axis in a first direction of rotation in order to drive the first drive cable from the first locking position to the first unlocking position and in a second direction of rotation, opposite to the first direction of rotation, in order to drive the second drive cable from the second locking position to the second unlocking position.

18. The vehicle seat of claim 17, wherein the first drive cable engages with a device for fixing the angular position of the second strength member with respect to the first strength member, the angular position of the second strength member with respect to the first strength member is fixed when the first drive cable is in the first locking position and the second strength member is able to move with respect to the first strength member when the first drive cable is in the first unlocking position and the second drive cable engages with a locking device of the track, the position of the second profiled element with respect to the first profiled element being locked when the second drive cable is in the second locking position and the second profiled element can move with respect to the first profiled element when the second drive cable is in the second unlocking position.

19. The vehicle seat of claim 18, further comprising a frame and the actuating device of the module is coupled to the frame of the vehicle seat by snap-fastening.

20. An actuating device for a vehicle seat, the actuating device comprising:

an actuator and

a transmission assembly that is actuated by the actuator and is configured to act selectively on a first drive cable or a second drive cable,

wherein the transmission assembly comprises a transmission member that is able to rotate about a central transmission axis in a first direction of rotation in which it is configured to drive the first drive cable and in a second direction of rotation, opposite to the first direction of rotation, in which it is configured to drive the second drive cable.