Height adjustment device for a vehicle seat

• US 6,505,888 B1
• Filed: 04/13/2001
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Muhlberger, Joachim, Teufel, Ingo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDELL, JOSEPH F
• Application Number:
  US09/807,479
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 297/344.12, 297/344.15, 297/216.1
• US Class Current: 297/344.15
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1615 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42781 mechanical triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/43 Safety locks for back-rests B60N2/433

Abstract

In a height adjuster (11) for a vehicle seat, in particular an automobile seat, with a rocking arm (9) connected to a seat frame (10), the rocking arm mounting a toothed segment (15), and with a connector with a mounting point (28) for a belt lock arranged on the seat frame (10) for rotation about an axis of rotation (30) relative to the seat frame (10), wherein the connector (16,22) comprises an engagement mechanism which cooperates with the toothed segment (15) in the case of a crash, and the axis of rotation (30) is arranged between the engagement mechanism and the mounting point (28) for the belt lock.

Claims

1. A height adjuster for a vehicle seat that is equipped with a belt lock of a seat belt, the height adjuster comprising:

a rocking arm pivotably mounted to a seat frame for pivoting relative to the seat frame to adjust the height of the seat frame, with the rocking arm including a toothed segment; and

a connector including a lever and a pawl that are positioned on opposite sides of the seat frame and mounted to the seat frame so that the lever and the pawl move together with the seat frame relative to the rocking arm when the height of the seat frame is adjusted, wherein;

the lever and the pawl are connected to one another for corotating relative to the seat frame about an axis of rotation, with the axis of rotation being perpendicular to the seat frame,

the lever includes a mounting point for the belt lock,

the lever and the pawl corotate about the axis of rotation relative to the seat frame in response to a predetermined force being applied to the mounting point for the belt lock, so that an engagement mechanism of the pawl engages and transmits force to the toothed segment of the rocking arm,

the engagement mechanism engages a first section of the toothed segment when the seat frame is at a first adjusted height and the lever and the pawl corotate about the axis of rotation relative to the seat frame in response to the predetermined force being applied to the mounting point for the belt lock,

the engagement mechanism engages a second section of the toothed segment, which is different from the first section of the toothed segment, when the seat frame is at a second adjusted height, which is different from the first adjusted height, and the lever and the pawl corotate about the axis of rotation relative to the seat frame in response to the predetermined force being applied to the mounting point for the belt lock, and

the axis of rotation is arranged between the engagement mechanism and the mounting point for the belt lock.

2. A height adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the spacing between the engagement mechanism and the axis of rotation is greater than the spacing between the axis of rotation and the mounting point for the belt lock.

3. A height adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the seat frame includes a front and a rear, wherein the rear of the seat frame is for having a seat back mounted thereto, and the mounting point for the belt lock is positioned forward of the axis of rotation.

4. A height adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the mounting point for the belt lock and the axis of rotation are approximately at the same height.

5. A height adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism has at least two teeth.

6. A height adjuster according to claim 1, wherein each of the lever and the pawl includes a shoulder integral therewith for bearing upon the seat frame and thereby mounting the connector to the seat frame.

7. A height adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the lever and the pawl mesh with each other by way of a tooth engagement.

8. A height adjuster according to claim 6, wherein the lever and the pawl mesh with each other by way of a tooth engagement.

9. A height adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the lever and the pawl are fit together to form the connector so that the connector pivotably extends through an opening in the seat frame and is thereby pivotably mounted to the seat frame.

10. A height adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the lever is arranged on an outer side of the seat frame and the pawl is arranged on an inner side of the seat frame.

11. A height adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the toothed segment of the rocking is arcuate.

12. A height adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the seat frame is positioned between the engagement mechanism and the mounting point for the belt lock.

13. A height adjuster according to claim 12, wherein the spacing between the engagement mechanism and the axis of rotation is greater than the spacing between the axis of rotation and the mounting point for the belt lock.

14. A height adjuster according to claim 12, wherein the seat frame includes a front and a rear, wherein the rear of the seat frame is for having a seat back mounted thereto, and the mounting point for the belt lock is positioned forward of the axis of rotation of the connector.

15. A height adjuster according to claim 12, wherein the mounting point for the belt lock and the axis of rotation are approximately at the same height.

16. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a height adjuster including a rocking arm pivotably mounted to a seat frame for pivoting relative to the seat frame to adjust the height of the seat frame, with the rocking arm including a toothed segment; and

a connector including a lever and a pawl that are positioned on opposite sides of the seat frame and mounted to the seat frame so that the lever and the pawl move together with the seat frame relative to the rocking arm when the height of the seat frame is adjusted, wherein;

the lever and the pawl are connected to one another for corotating relative to the seat frame about an axis of rotation, with the axis of rotation being perpendicular to the seat frame,

the lever includes a mounting point to which a belt lock of a seat belt is mounted,

the lever and the pawl corotate about the axis of rotation relative to the seat frame in response to a predetermined force being applied to the belt lock, so that an engagement mechanism of the pawl engages and transmits force to the toothed segment of the rocking arm,

the engagement mechanism engages a first section of the toothed segment when the seat frame is at a first adjusted height and the lever and the pawl corotate about the axis of rotation relative to the seat frame in response to the predetermined force being applied to the belt lock,

the engagement mechanism engages a second section of the toothed segment, which is different from the first section of the toothed segment, when the seat frame is at a second adjusted height, which is different from the first adjusted height, and the lever and the pawl corotate about the axis of rotation relative to the seat frame in response to the predetermined force being applied to the belt lock, and

the axis of rotation is arranged between the engagement mechanism and the mounting point for the belt lock.

17. A vehicle seat according to claim 16, wherein the seat frame is positioned between the engagement mechanism and the mounting point to which the belt lock is mounted.

18. A vehicle seat according to claim 16, wherein the spacing between the engagement mechanism and the axis of rotation is greater than the spacing between the axis of rotation and the mounting point to which the belt lock is mounted.

19. A vehicle seat according to claim 16, further comprising a seat back mounted to a rear of the seat frame, wherein the mounting point to which the belt lock is mounted is positioned forward of the axis of rotation of the connector.

20. A vehicle seat according to claim 16, wherein the axis of rotation and the mounting point to which the belt lock is mounted are approximately at the same height.

21. A vehicle seat according to claim 16, wherein the lever and the pawl are fit together to form the connector so that the connector pivotably extends through a bore in the seat frame and is thereby pivotably mounted to the seat fame.

22. A vehicle seat according to claim 16, wherein the toothed segment of the rocking arm is arcuate.