Device for varying the vertical separation and the relative longitudinal inclination

• US 3,917,211 A
• Filed: 01/16/1974
• Issued: 11/04/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heinz Daunderer, Hermann Meiller
• Original Assignee: Heinz Daunderer, Hermann Meiller
• Inventors: Meiller, Hermann, Daunderer, Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, James C.
• Application Number:
  US05/433,725
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 248/394,396,371,419,421 297/325,330,345-347 108/7-10,145
• US Class Current: 248/421
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/161 Rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/164 Linear actuator, e.g. screw mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/181 Rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1835 pivoting about an axis located in the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1853 Linear actuator, e.g. screw mechanism

Abstract

A device for varying the vertical separation and relative inclination of two plate members, especially for the seat of an automotive vehicle, in which the two plate members have tandem pairs of bell crank levers pivotally interconnecting the plate members, the lower plate member having the pivot of the bell crank mounted thereon, and the upper plate member having the end of the one of the arms of the bell crank. The other arm of each bell crank of one of the tandem pairs is interconnected by an adjustment means which is secured to the first plate member. The adjustment means comprises a mechanism for effecting both relative closure and separation of the points of connection of the levers and the adjustment means can cause pivoting of the levers of a tandem pair relative to the lower plate member, whilst maintaining a fixed separation between the points of connection of the levers and adjustment means. Thus, one can raise and lower the upper plate member on which the seat surface is mounted and/or cause tilting of the upper plate member.

Claims

1. A device for varying the vertical separation and relative inclination of two plate members, comprising in combination:

a. first and second plate members;

b. pivotal levers interconnecting said first and second plate members, said levers being mounted in tandem pairs;

c. adjustment means connecting said pivotal levers at connection points thereof one of said tendem pairs; and

d. attachment means attaching said adjustment means to said first plate member, said adjustment means comprising a first mechanism for effecting relative closure and separation of the connection points, and a second mechanism operable independently of said first mechanism and in combination with said attachment means for effecting pivoting of the levers of said pair relative to the first plate member whilst maintaining a fixed separation between said connection points.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotal levers are pivoted to fixed points on said first plate member, one lever of each pair being in addition pivoted at a fixed location on said second plate member, the other lever of each pair further comprising an engagement surface at its connection with the second plate member, and said second plate member further comprising slot means within which said engagement surface may slide.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotal levers are in the form of bell cranks having first and second arms joining at an elbow thereof to the first plate member and being operatively connected by means of the first of said arms to the second plate member and said adjustment means comprising a spindle interconnecting the second arms of the bell cranks of each pair.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustment means comprises a spindle, said spindle having formed thereon first and second axially spaced threaded portions, a first of said threaded portions having a left-hand thread and the second threaded portion having a right-hand thread, a first lever of said pair further comprising a threaded orifice for receiving said first threaded portion of the adjustment means, and the other of said pair further comprising a threaded orifice for receiving the second threaded portion of said spindle such that rotation of said spindle will vary the mutual separation of said two threaded orifices.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second mechanism of the adjustment means comprises a threaded shaft, means attaching the threaded shaft between the two levers of said pair with a fixed length of shaft therebetween and a shaft securing arrangement disposed on the shaft and engageable with the attachment means to form therewith a shaft regulating assembly for regulating the axial position of the shaft with respect to the first plate member.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the threaded shaft has first and second axially spaced threaded portions, the first of said portions having a left-handed thread and the second portion having a right-handed thread, one lever of said pair being proviDed with a first threaded orifice with which said first threaded portion of the shaft may engage, and the second lever of said pair being provided with an associated second threaded orifice engageable with the second threaded portion of the shaft.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said shaft securing arrangement comprises an internally threaded sleeve mating with the thread on one threaded portion of said shaft and having a first externally threaded end portion dimensioned to pass through the orifice in said attachment means, and a second externally faceted annular end portion dimensioned not to pass through the said orifice, said sleeve being threaded onto the shaft such that a length of said one threaded portion thereof projects entirely through said sleeve and further comprising a nut engaging the externally threaded end portion of the sleeve on the side of the attachment means remote from the faceted portion of the sleeve.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 and including means for rotating said internally threaded sleeve firstly in register with said shaft, and secondly independently of said shaft.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 and including a bolt head portion to the length of the threaded portion of the shaft projecting through the threaded sleeve, and wherein the means for rotating the shaft securing arrangement comprises a handle displaceable between a first position in which it engages both the faceted head of the sleeve and the bolt portion of the shaft so as to permit simultaneous rotation of said sleeve and said shaft, and a second position in which it engages with the faceted portion of the sleeve alone so as to permit independent rotation of the sleeve relative to the shaft, and a spring biasing said handle into said first position.

10. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said shaft securing arrangement comprises an externally threaded sleeve disposed about said shaft so as to be freely rotatable thereabout but axially secured with respect thereto, and said attachment means further comprising a threaded orifice engageable with the externally threaded sleeve.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, and including means for rotating firstly said externally threaded sleeve independently of said shaft and secondly said shaft independently of said externally threaded sleeve.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second plate member supports a contoured seat surface for a vehicle.

13. A device for varying the vertical separation and relative inclination of two plate members, comprising in combination;

a. first and second plate members;

b. pivotal levers interconnecting said first and second plate members, said levers being mounted in tandem pairs;

c. adjustment means connecting said pivotal levers of one of said tendem pairs; and

d. attachment means attaching said adjustment means to said first plate member, the adjustment means comprising a double-acting piston and cylinder arrangement having a cylinder supported by said attachment means adjacent said first plate member, and two pistons having associated piston rods and being drivable in opposition to one another, and means connecting said piston rods to respective ones of said pair of levers, such that by selective operation of said pistons both the vertical separation and relative inclination of said two plate members may be varied.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second plate member supports a contoured seat surface for a vehicle.