Crash locking mechanism for an adjustment device of an automobile seat

• US 6,666,508 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Coburg
• Original Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Coburg
• Inventors: Hofmann, Jochen, Kroener, Gregor
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edell, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US09/913,178
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.1, 297/330, 297/344.15, 297/344.17, 248/424, 248/429, 248/419
• US Class Current: 297/216.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4214 longitudinal
• 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

The invention relates to a crash locking mechanism for an adjustment device of an automobile seat, with a triggering body having a triggering mechanism mounted for swivel movement on a part of the seat frame and which when a predetermined crash load is exceeded leaves the rest position as a result of its inertial energy, whereby a positive fit locking of the adjustment device is made possible by means of at least one locking element, and is characterised in that the triggering mechanism (4) when the predetermined crash load is exceeded can be uncoupled from the at least one locking element (44a, 44b) which is spring elastically pretensioned in the locking direction. A retaining element (412a, 412b) which is associated with the locking element (44a, 44b) can be controlled by the triggering body (41) to which the spring force of the pretensioned locking element is applied. Furthermore a connecting link (410) and spring-loaded holding element (42) acting thereon is provided interacting with the triggering body (41) in order to be able to adapt the triggering energy and the triggering time exactly to the different requirements.

Claims

1. A crash locking mechanism for an adjustment device of an automobile seat comprising:

a seat having a frame and an adjustment device;

at least one locking element for locking of the adjustment device, the at least one locking element elastically pretensioned in the locking direction;

a triggering mechanism having a triggering body mounted for swivel movement on the seat frame; and

a retaining element controlled by the triggering body and to which spring force of the pretensioned locking element is applied,

wherein when a predetermined crash load is exceeded the triggering body is movable, as a result of inertial energy of the triggering body, from a coupled to an uncoupled position with the at least one locking element and the at least one locking element engages in positive fit locking with the adjustment device.

2. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the retaining element is connected in positive locking engagement to the locking element and wherein the positive locking connection can be released by the triggering body.

3. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the triggering mechanism and a connection of the triggering mechanism with the retaining element is formed so that triggering conditions are variable in dependence on a site of impact.

4. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the triggering mechanism includes a connecting link which has, in relation to an axis of rotation of the triggering body, areas with a radially changing distance wherein the connecting link has a rest area adjoined by one of an area of lesser and greater distance from the axis of rotation of the triggering body.

5. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 4, further comprising a resiliently mounted holding element associated with the connecting link,

wherein when the triggering body is in a rest position, the holding element engages in the rest area of the connecting link, and

wherein in the event of a swivel movement of the triggering body, the holding element can be moved over the adjoining area of the connecting link through an increase in spring force acting on the triggering body.

6. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting link associated with the triggering body, the connecting link having a rest area;

and

a resilient holding element associated with the connecting link,

wherein the triggering body is mounted for swivel movement in two directions, and

wherein the connecting link has adjoining areas on either side of the rest area over which the resilient holding element can be guided in dependence on the direction of the crash load.

7. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting link associated with the triggering body, the connecting link having a rest area that is adjoined by an area of one of a lesser and greater distance from an axis of rotation of the triggering body, wherein the connecting link is formed symmetrical relative to the rest area.

8. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting link associated with the triggering body, the connecting link having a rest area and formed asymmetrical relative to the rest area whereby the design of the connecting link takes into consideration the different conditions of a front impact crash and a rear impact crash.

9. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the dimensioning of the triggering mechanism for a rear impact crash is such that the triggering energy is increased compared to a front impact crash and the triggering time is shortened.

10. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1 including a connecting link which has in relation to an axis of rotation of the triggering body, areas with a radially changing distance, the connecting link having a rest area that is adjoined by one of an area of one lesser and greater distance from the axis of rotation, wherein the length of the area adjoining the rest area and the retaining element are matched with each other so that, on overstepping a free end of the connecting link, detent movement of the at least one locking element is triggered.

11. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting link associated with the triggering body, the connecting link having a rest area that is adjoined by an area of one of a lesser and greater distance from the axis of rotation, wherein pitch of the area adjoining the rest area is selected steeper the greater the required triggering energy of the triggering mechanism.

12. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting link associated with the triggering body, the connecting link having a rest area that is adjoined by an area of one of a lesser and greater distance from an axis of rotation of the triggering body, wherein a length of the area adjoining the rest area is selected greater the longer the time span from the beginning of a crash to the release of detent movement of the at least one locking element.

13. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connecting link formed as a constituent part of the triggering body; and

a resilient holding element mounted on the seat frame.

14. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the seat frame further includes a side part, the crash locking mechanism further comprising:

a connecting link associated with the triggering body and mounted on the side part; and

a resilient holding element mounted on or in the triggering body.

15. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1 further comprising:

a connecting link associated with the triggering body;

a resilient holding element; and

a spring element to produce spring tension between the resilient holding element and the connecting link.

16. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the seat frame includes a side part, the crash locking mechanism further comprising:

a connecting link associated with the triggering body;

a resilient holding element; and

a spring clip to produce spring tension between the resilient holding element and the connecting link, the spring clip forming the connecting link and connected to at least one of the triggering body and the side part.

17. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the at least one locking element is formed as an axially displaceable bolt with a collar, and wherein the collar in the coupled position of the triggering body engages with a spring on one side and with the retaining element on the other.

18. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the retaining element and the triggering body are mutually lockable through at least one of a positive locking connection and a force locking connection, and the mutual locking is lifted when the predetermined crash load is exceeded.

19. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 18 further comprising a detent element between the retaining element and the triggering body, the detent element able to swivel about a detent element axis and having a first contact area bearing with an end face on the triggering body, and a second contact area which forms a locking mechanism with the retaining element.

20. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 19 wherein the detent element is spring loaded in the swivel direction about the detent element axis.

21. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 20, wherein the retaining element is able to swivel about a retaining element axis running substantially parallel to the detent element axis, the retaining element having at least one shoulder adjoining a collar of the at least one locking element and a web which bears with spring tension against a nose of the detent element.

22. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 21 further comprising a tension lever mounted on one side of the retaining element axis, wherein the shoulder and the web of the retaining element are mounted on the other side of the retaining element axis.

23. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 21 wherein the nose of the detent element and of the web of the retaining element abut each other with force-locking engagement in the tensioned state of the crash locking mechanism.

24. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 19, wherein the triggering body includes an inertia element which is able to swivel about a rotary axis and which has a mass element remote from the axis and a bearing area mounted about the rotary axis.

25. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 24 wherein, in a tensioned state of the crash locking mechanism, the end face of the first contact area of the detent element adjoins an end face of the bearing area of the inertia element, and the position of the detent element in relation to the rotary axis of the inertia element can be changed.

26. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 24, wherein the rotary axis of the inertia element is mounted symmetrical relative to the end face of the first contact area of the detent element.

27. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 24, wherein the rotary axis of the inertia element is mounted asymmetric to the end face of the first contact area of the detent element.

28. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 18 wherein the at least one locking element includes two locking elements mounted side by side, and wherein the retaining element has two shoulders of the retaining element, wherein a web of the retaining element is mounted between the shoulders.

29. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the seat adjustment device includes a lever gearing for adjusting at least one of the height and incline of the seat.

30. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the seat adjustment device has a gearing which has at least one gear element of plastics.

31. A crash locking mechanism for an adjustment device of an automobile seat comprising:

a seat having a frame and an adjustment device;

at least one locking element for locking of the adjustment device, the at least one locking element elastically pretensioned in the locking direction; and

a triggering mechanism having a triggering body mounted for swivel movement on the seat frame,

wherein when a predetermined crash load is exceeded the triggering body is movable, as a result of inertial energy of the triggering body, from a coupled to an uncoupled position with the at least one locking element and the at least one socking element engages in positive fit locking with the adjustment device;

wherein the at least one locking element is formed as a swivel lever arm with detent fingers.

32. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 31, the lever arm is mounted to swivel about a rotary axis and is connected to one of a separate spring element and an integrated spring to produce an elastic pretensioning in a locking direction.

33. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 31, wherein the lever arm is fixedly tensioned and elastically curved at an end opposite the detent finger so that the lever arm can function as a compression spring.

34. A crash locking mechanism for an adjustment device of an automobile seat comprising:

a seat having a frame and an adjustment device;

at least one locking element for locking of the adjustment device, the at least one locking element elastically pretensioned in the locking direction; and

a triggering mechanism having a triggering body mounted for swivel movement on the seat frame,

wherein when a predetermined crash load is exceeded the triggering body is movable, as a result of inertial energy of the triggering body, from a coupled to an uncoupled position with the at least one locking element and the at least one locking element engages in positive fit locking with the adjustment device,

wherein the seat frame includes a detent opening and a top rail, the crash locking mechanism further comprising;

a support plate connected to the seat frame, the support plate having a detent opening; and

a detent lever coupled to the top rail and having a detent opening,

wherein the at least one locking element in a crash-locked state passes through the detent opening in the seat frame, the detent opening in a support plate, and the detent opening in the detent lever, so that the at least one locking element in the event of a crash is shear-stressed.

35. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 34, wherein the detent lever has several detent openings which are arranged along a path over which the at least one locking element travels in the displacement path of the seat adjustment device.

36. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 35, wherein the detent openings of the detent lever are substantially larger than the detent opening in the seat frame in relation to the path of the at least one locking element.

37. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 35, wherein the at least one locking element includes several locking elements whose division differs from the division of the detent lever so that in any adjusted position of the seat adjustment device at least one locking element can engage in a detent opening of the detent lever.

38. A crash locking mechanism according to claim 35, wherein the free end of the detent lever is provided with an end stop which restricts the displacement of the corresponding adjustment device in the corresponding direction.