FASTENING DEVICE

• US 20120091177A1
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kinetix AG
• Original Assignee: Kinetix AG
• Inventors: Ackeret, Peter, Skott, Juergen Siegfried
• Granted Patent: US 8,851,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/275
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/905 the head-rest or seat used as an anchorage point, for an object not covered by groups in B60N, e.g. for a canvas
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/043 mounted on or under a seat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45524 including resiliently biased projection component or surface segment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45529 Requiring manual force applied against bias to interlock or disengage

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening device for connecting a unit (120) to two mutually spaced headrest bars (101b, 101c) of a vehicle seat (101), comprising a first coupling element (102, 102a) for receiving a second coupling element (103, 103a) arranged on the unit (120) as well as a first fastening element (105) arranged on the first coupling element (102, 102a) and a second fastening element (106) moveably connected to the first fastening element (105), by way of which fastening elements the first coupling element (102, 102a) can be fastened to the headrest bars (101b, 101c). The first fastening element (105) and the second fastening element (106) are supported on the headrest bars (101b, 101c) and can be moved relative to each other in parallel to a connecting line (100) extending approximately horizontally between the centers of the headrest bars (101b, 101c).

Claims

1. A fastening unit for connecting a device to two spaced-apart headrest rods of a vehicle seat, the fastening unit comprising:

a first coupling element for receiving a second coupling element arranged on the device, and with a first fastening element arranged on the first coupling element and a second fastening element connected movably to the first fastening element, with which fastening elements the first coupling element can be fastened to the headrest rods, wherein the first fastening element and the second fastening element are supported on the headrest rods and are movable relative to each other parallel to a connecting line running approximately horizontally between the centers of the headrest rods.

2. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein one coupling element, is designed as a receiving bushing and the other coupling element, is designed as a plug element.

3. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the receiving bushing is arranged in the interior of the first fastening element and is provided with an opening, which is arranged on a side wall of the first fastening element, for the insertion of the plug element.

4. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the receiving bushing is arranged between the two headrest rods, and the plug-in direction of the plug element into the receiving bushing runs approximately perpendicularly to the connecting line.

5. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plug-in direction of the plug element into the receiving bushing runs approximately horizontally.

6. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the receiving bushing and the first and the second fastening element are arranged laterally next to one another and are approximately identical in height.

7. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and the second fastening element are connected via a linear guide.

8. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second fastening element is guided in the first fastening element.

9. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first fastening element is guided in the second fastening element.

10. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second fastening element (106) engages around the first fastening element.

11. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second fastening element (106) is open in the region of the opening.

12. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outsides of the bottom walls, of the top walls, of the front side walls and of the rear side walls of the first and of the second fastening element are approximately aligned, and wherein the first fastening element and the second fastening element together form an elongate body approximately in the shape of a right-angled parallelepiped.

13. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 12, if referred back to claim 7, wherein parts of the bottom wall, of the top wall, of the front side wall and of the rear side wall of one of the two fastening elements are offset and form part of the linear guide.

14. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein those ends of the first fastening element and of the second fastening element which are directed toward the headrest rods have forked recesses for receiving the headrest rods.

15. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the limbs of the forked recesses open in a V-shaped manner in the direction of the headrest rods.

16. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fastening element and the second fastening element are movable toward each other to such an extent that the fastening unit can be pivoted about one of the headrest rods into an approximately horizontal position between the two headrest rods.

17. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tension spring is clamped between the first fastening element and the second fastening element, said tension spring pressing the two fastening elements apart in the direction toward the two headrest rods.

18. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fastening element and the second fastening element can be moved toward each other or apart via a threaded spindle, the longitudinal axis of which runs parallel to the connecting line.

19. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 18, wherein the threaded spindle or the spindle nut can be rotated with an adjusting wheel which is accessible through a housing opening arranged in the first or in the second fastening element.

20. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a latching device is provided, by means of which the relative movement between the first and the second fastening element can be blocked.

21. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 20, wherein the latching device is designed as a latching mechanism having a rack with a serration and having a spring-loaded pawl in engagement with the rack, said rack and pawl permitting a movement of the fastening elements apart from each other and blocking a movement of the fastening elements toward each other.

22. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 21, wherein the pawl can be brought out of engagement with the rack by means of an actuating element.

23. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 21, wherein the rack is arranged on the first fastening element and the pawl is arranged together with the actuating element on the second fastening element.

24. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 23, wherein the rack is arranged on a rear side wall of the first fastening element, which side wall is opposite the opening.

25. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 22, wherein the actuating element is designed as a pushbutton and is arranged on a rear side wall of the second fastening element, which side wall is opposite the opening.

26. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein a housing recess through which the actuating element protrudes is provided in the rear side wall.

27. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein a manually releasable locking device, with which the plug element can be locked in the receiving bush bushing, is provided.

28. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 27, wherein a guide element which is received by the receiving bushing is arranged on the plug element, and wherein the guide element has a step which is supported on the wall to the side of the opening.

29. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 28, wherein a guide web which engages in a corresponding recess on the guide element is arranged in the receiving bushing.

30. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 27, wherein spring arms are arranged on both sides of the guide element, with outwardly directed latching hooks being located at the front ends of said spring arms, said latching hooks hooking into recesses which are arranged on the side walls of the receiving bushing.

31. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 30, wherein outwardly directed actuating members are arranged on the two spring arms, said actuating members protruding through pushbutton openings on the two side walls of the plug element and being able to be used to press the spring arms toward each other in order to release the latching hooks.

32. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 30, wherein the spring arms are connected at the rear ends thereof to the plug element via joints and are pressed apart from each other by a locking spring.

33. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 1, for connecting a device to two spaced-apart headrest rods of a vehicle seat, with a first coupling element for receiving a second coupling element arranged on the device, and with fastening elements which are arranged on the first coupling element and with which the first coupling element can be fastened to the headrest rods, wherein the fastening elements comprise clamping elements which are moveable in opposite directions parallel to a connecting line of the headrest rods and are supported on the headrest rods.

34. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 33, wherein the first coupling element is designed as a receiving bushing and the second coupling element is designed as a plug element, wherein the receiving bushing is arranged approximately centrally between the two headrest rods, and wherein a manually releasable locking device is provided, the locking device locking the plug element in the receiving bushing.

35. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 34, wherein the receiving bushing and the fastening elements with the clamping elements are arranged laterally next to one another and are approximately identical in height.

36. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 34, wherein the receiving bushing is arranged between the fastening elements with the clamping elements.

37. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 34, wherein the receiving bushing and the fastening elements with the clamping elements are arranged in a plate-like housing, the lower and upper broad sides of which run approximately horizontally.

38. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 37, wherein rod openings for receiving the headrest rods are arranged on those sides of the housing which are directed toward the headrest rods.

39. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 33, wherein guides for the clamping elements are arranged on the fastening elements.

40. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 33, wherein the clamping elements at the ends directed toward the headrest rods are provided with U-shaped forks which diverge conically.

41. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 33, wherein the clamping elements are prestressed against the headrest rods by means of springs.

42. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 33, wherein latching devices are provided, by means of which the clamping elements in the housing can be blocked.

43. The fastening unit as claimed in claim 42, wherein the latching devices are designed as a latching mechanism having a rack and having a pawl which is pressed against the rack by a latching spring, said rack and pawl enabling a movement of the clamping elements in the direction of the headrest rods and blocking said movement in the direction of the receiving bushing, and wherein the pawls can be brought out of engagement with the racks counter to the force of the latching spring by means of actuating elements.

44. (canceled)

45. (canceled)

46. A device for suspending objects on a vehicle seat part, such as a backrest, headrest or headrest mount of a vehicle seat, comprising

a fastening member for connecting the device to the vehicle seat part, wherein the fastening member has a receiving bushing,

a plug element which can be coupled to the receiving bushing,

a locking mechanism for locking the plug element in the receiving bushing, and

a support arm for suspending the objects,

wherein the locking mechanism and the support arm for suspending the objects are arranged on the plug element, and

wherein the support arm can be moved between a non-use position, in which it substantially bears against the plug element or is entirely or partially accommodated therein, and a use position, in which the support arm is accessible for suspending the objects.

47. The device as claimed in claim 46, wherein a guide element is arranged on the plug element, said guide element being received by the receiving bushing, and wherein the guide element has a step which is supported to the side of the opening of the receiving bushing.

48. The device as claimed in claim 47, wherein spring arms are arranged on both sides of the guide element, with latching hooks which are directed outward being located at the front ends of said spring arms, said latching hooks hooking into corresponding recesses on the inside of the receiving bushing.

49. The device as claimed in claim 48, wherein outwardly directed actuating members are arranged on the two spring arms, said actuating members protruding through pushbutton openings on the two side walls of the plug element and being able to be used to press the spring arms toward each other in order to release the latching hooks.

50-65. -65. (canceled)