Length adjustment device for seats, specially motor vehicle seats

• US 6,170,790 B1
• Filed: 07/13/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Schüler, Rolf, Flick, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US09/297,462
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 248/430, 248/429, 248/424, 297/341, 297/344.1
• US Class Current: 248/430
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0705 omega-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0715 C or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0818 inside the rail
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0875 in a vertical direction

Abstract

A longitudinal adjusting device for vehicle seats, whose backrest, which is adjustable in inclination positions which are selectable as the case may be, is swivelably connected with a seat part, has running rails and guide rails, wherein the seat part is fastened to the running rails. Each running rail is displaceable longitudinally in one of the guide rails fixed to the vehicle floor. A locking device secures at least one of the running rails to the respective guide rail in selectable longitudinal positions. A spring member supports at least one of the running rails at the guide rail for purposes of a forward displacement of the running rails, wherein the spring member is a spiral spring. A winding drum is rotatably supported on the running rail, wherein a first end of the spiral spring is associated with the running rail and a second end of the spiral spring is associated with the guide rail, wherein the second end of the spiral spring associated with the guide rail is held at the winding drum. A pull rope is fixed with one end to the winding drum and with the other end to the front area of the guide rail.

Claims

1. Longitudinal adjusting device for vehicle seats, whose backrest, which is adjustable in inclination positions which are selectable as the case may be, is swivelably connected with a seat part, wherein the longitudinal adjusting device comprises:

running rails (10) and guide rails (11), wherein the seat part is configured to be fastened to the running rails (10), wherein each running rail (10) is displaceable longitudinally in one of the guide rails (11) configured to be fixed to the vehicle floor,

a locking device (14) configured to secure at least one of the running rails (10) to the respective guide rail (11) in selectable longitudinal positions,

a spring member configured to support at least one of the running rails (10) at the respective guide rail (11) for purposes of a forward displacement of the running rails (10), wherein the spring member is a spiral spring (29),

a winding drum (26) configured to be rotatably supported on the running rail (10), wherein a first end of the spiral spring (29) is associated with the running rail (10) and a second end of the spiral spring (29) is associated with the guide rail (11), wherein the second end of the spiral spring (29) associated with the guide rail is held at the winding drum (26),

a pull rope (27) fixed with one end to the winding drum (26) and with the other end to a front area of the guide rail (11).

2. Longitudinal adjusting device according to claim 1, comprising a mandrel (25) connected to the running rail (10), wherein the winding drum (26) is rotatably mounted on the mandrel (25), wherein the spiral spring (29) is arranged in a hollow space (28) of the winding drum (26) having the winding diameter and is secured by the first end to the mandrel (25).

3. Longitudinal adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein the winding drum (26) does not have a constant winding diameter.

4. Longitudinal adjusting device according to claim 2, comprising a can-shaped housing configured to surround the winding drum (26), wherein the mandrel (25) is a stationary, centric component part of the housing, wherein the housing has, at its outer circumference, a slot (34) for the passage of the pull rope (27) fastened to the winding drum (26).

5. Longitudinal adjusting device according to claim 4, wherein the housing (22) has, at its side wall, a carrying arm (23) with catch projections (24), wherein the running rail (10) has a holding cheek (21), and wherein the catch projections (24) penetrate through bore holes in the holding cheek (21).

6. Longitudinal adjusting device according to claim 4 wherein the housing (22) is closable by means of a cover (36) covering the spiral spring (29) and the winding drum (26), wherein the housing (22), together with the spiral spring (29) and the winding drum (26), forms a constructional unit.

7. Longitudinal adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein the winding drum (26) has, at its inner circumference, a receptacle (32) configured to secure the second end of the spiral spring (29), wherein the first end has a bent portion configured to engage a slot (31) of the mandrel (25) enclosed by the spiral spring (29).

8. Longitudinal adjusting device according to claim 2, comprising an adjusting element which is mounted on the mandrel (25) or in the housing (22) so as to be rotatable but fixable, wherein the first end of the spiral spring (29) is fixed to the adjusting element.