Vehicle backrest tilt adjustment mechanism

• US 6,010,191 A
• Filed: 03/27/1998
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bertrand Faure Equipements SA
• Original Assignee: Bertrand Faure Equipements SA
• Inventors: Loreau, Jean-Yves, Calinaud, Jean-Claude, Chaillou, Ludovic
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US09/049,380
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 297/367, 297/348.12, 297/369, 297/364, 297/365
• US Class Current: 297/367.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/236 linearly movable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/682 Joining means

Abstract

The seat for automobile vehicles includes a seat frame and a backrest frame installed so as to pivot on the seat frame. A mechanism locking the backrest in position. The mechanism includes two half-housings which can rotate in relation to each other around a pivoting axis and attached to a flange of the seat frame and to a flange of the backrest frame respectively. At least one of the two half-housings includes studs inserted into holes formed in the corresponding seat frame flange and a space is then made between at least one stud and the corresponding hole into which a weld mass is deposited. The weld mass joins the seat frame half-housing to the seat frame flange.

Claims

1. A lockable adjusting device for allowing a backrest frame of a vehicle seat to selectively pivot relative to a seat frame, the device comprising:

two housing sections mounted in coaxial and rotational relation to one another about an axis;

a plurality of studs extending outwardly in parallel relation to the axis, from at least one of the housing sections, for insertion into respective holes in a flange of at least one of the frames;

the other housing section for attachment to a flange of the remaining frame;

the holes receiving the studs being larger than the studs;

a weld mass, existing in a space, between a wall of each of holes and a surface of an encircled corresponding stud for welding the stud to a respective flange;

means located between the housing sections for normally maintaining the sections in rotationally locked relation;

means for selectively releasing the locking means and allowing pivotal adjustment; and

wherein the stud is cylindrical and the hole receiving the stud has a dimension, in at least one direction, that is greater than a diameter of the stud;

and further wherein the means for locking the housing sections includes housing;

(a) at least one guide groove formed in the at least one housing section;

(b) a corresponding plate slidable in the guide groove; and

further

wherein

each of said studs is positioned in offset relation to each of said guide grooves.

2. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein a width of the hole is substantially the same as a diameter of the stud and further wherein the hole has a length that is greater that the diameter of the stud.

3. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein the hole is oblong.

4. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein the hole is configured at one end to encircle the stud and is in the shape of a semi-circle;

and further wherein an opposite end of the hole is in the shape of a rectangle.

5. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein the hole is circular and has a diameter greater than that of the stud for creating the weld mass space, and further wherein at least one additional adjacent stud exists that is received within a hole that is not sufficiently large to create a space for a weld mass therein.

6. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein the hole is circular having a diameter substantially the same as the stud, and further wherein the stud has a flat surface formed along a longitudinal surface of the stud that is encircled within the space.

7. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the means for locking the housing sections includes;

(a) at least one guide groove formed in the at least one section;

(b) a corresponding plate slidable in the guide groove; and

further

wherein

each welded stud is positioned in offset relation to each guide groove.

8. A lockable adjusting device for allowing a backrest frame of a vehicle seat to selectively pivot relative to a seat frame, the device comprising:

two housing sections mounted in coaxial and rotational relation to one another about an axis;

a plurality of studs extending outwardly in parallel relation to the axis, from at least one of the housing sections, for insertion into respective holes in a flange of at least one of the frames;

the other housing section for attachement to a flange of the remaining frame;

the holes receiving the studs being larger than the studs;

a weld mass, existing in a space, between a wall of each of holes and a surface of an encircled corresponding stud for welding the stud to a respective flange;

means located between the housing sections for normally maintaining the sections in rotationally locked relation;

means for selectively releasing the locking means and allowing pivotal adjustment; and

wherein the stud is cylindrical and the hole receiving the stud has a dimension, in at least one direction, that is greater than a diameter of the stud;

and further wherein the means for locking the housing sections includes;

(a) at least one guide groove formed in the at least one housing section;

(b) a corresponding plate slidable in the guide groove; and

further

wherein

each of said studs is positioned in offset relation to each of said guide grooves;

and still further wherein projections extend from the at least one housing section and are received within mating holes formed in the flange of the at least one frame for ensuring correct positioning of the studs in said respective holes.