Longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat

• US 7,726,741 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keiper Seating Mechanisms Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Company KG (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Klahold, Wolfgang, Mitulla, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEX, JAMES S
• Application Number:
  US11/286,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20060113829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 297/341, 297/378.12, 248/429, 248/430
• US Class Current: 297/341
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0818 inside the rail
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/123 and provided with memory locks

Abstract

In a longitudinal adjuster (3) for a vehicle seat having a backrest that can pivot freely, a first seat rail (13), and a second seat rail (15) relative to which the first seat rail (13) can be displaced longitudinally, a locking device (16) for locking the longitudinal adjuster (3), a memory device assigned to the first seat rail (13) and interacting with the second seat rail (15), said memory device memorizing a set longitudinal seat position which is relinquished when the vehicle seat (1) is longitudinally displaced during the free pivoting of the backrest (5) and is then re-assumed once the seat is displaced back again, and an actuation device (101) assigned to the first seat rail (13), which actuation device actuates the resetting of the memory device and the unlocking of the locking device (16), the actuation device (101) is arranged with limited movement capability in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail (13).

Claims

1. A longitudinal adjuster that is for a vehicle seat and that is capable of being responsive to predetermined pivoting of the seat'"'"'s backrest, the longitudinal adjuster comprising:

a first seat rail;

a second seat rail that extends in a longitudinal direction, wherein the first seat rail is mounted for moving in the longitudinal direction relative to the second seat rail;

a locking device for locking the longitudinal adjuster and thereby restricting the first seat rail from moving in the longitudinal direction relative to the second seat rail;

a memory device mounted for moving in the longitudinal direction with the first seat rail relative to the second seat rail, wherein the memory device interacts with the second seat rail for remembering a longitudinal position of the first seat rail with respect to the second seat rail so that the first seat rail can be moved in the longitudinal direction back to the remembered longitudinal position after the first seat rail has been moved in the longitudinal direction out of the remembered longitudinal position, wherein the first seat rail having been moved in the longitudinal direction out of the remembered longitudinal position is at least partially in response to the predetermined pivoting of the seat'"'"'s backrest; and

an actuation device adapted for actuating both

resetting of the memory device'"'"'s remembered longitudinal position, and

the locking device for unlocking the longitudinal adjuster, wherein

the actuation device includes an adapter and a plurality of components,

the plurality of components of the actuation device are supported by and movable relative to the adapter of the actuation device,

the plurality of components of the actuation device includes a pivotable member that is mounted for being pivoted relative to the adapter to actuate the actuation device, and

the actuation device, as a whole, is mounted for both

moving in the longitudinal direction with the first seat rail relative to the second seat rail, so that each of the adapter of the actuation device, the plurality of components of the actuation device and the pivotable member of the actuation device is for moving in the longitudinal direction with the first seat rail relative to the second seat rail, and

being movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail, so that the adapter of the actuation device, the plurality of components of the actuation device and the pivotable member of the actuation device are all together movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail.

2. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the actuation device is positioned on the first seat rail.

3. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the memory device is fastened to the actuation device so that the memory device, as a whole, is for moving in the longitudinal direction with the actuation device relative to the first seat rail.

4. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 3, further comprising a spring that is operatively connected to the adapter of the actuation device for biasing the actuation device, as a whole, in the longitudinal direction toward a predetermined position, wherein the actuation device, as a whole, being movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail comprises the actuation device, as a whole being movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the predetermined position.

5. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 3, further comprising a cable that is operatively connected to the pivotable member of the actuation device so that a pull on the cable can cause the actuation device, as a whole, to longitudinally move in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail.

6. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 3, further comprising a cable and a spring, wherein:

the actuation device, as a whole, being movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail comprises the actuation device, as a whole, being movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail between a first position and a second position;

the cable is operatively connected to the pivotable member of the actuation device so that a pull on the cable can cause the actuation device, as a whole, to move in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail from the first position to the second position; and

the spring is operatively connected to the adapter of the actuation device for moving the actuation device, as a whole, in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail from the second position to the first position.

7. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 3, wherein the memory device includes at least one pivotable locking element for making locking contact against the second seat rail in response to the first seat rail having been moved in the longitudinal direction back to the remembered longitudinal position.

8. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 6, wherein the memory device includes at least one pivotable locking element for:

making locking contact against the second seat rail in response to the first seat rail having been moved in the longitudinal direction back to the remembered longitudinal position, and

detaching from the second seat rail in response to the actuation device, as a whole, moving in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail from the second position to the first position.

9. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 3, wherein the memory device includes:

a displacement measuring device that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and that can be brought into cooperative interaction with the second seat rail; and

a control signal generator mounted for moving relative to the displacement measuring device, with the moving of the control signal generator relative to the displacement measuring device corresponding to how far the first seat rail has moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the remembered longitudinal position,

wherein the control signal generator is operative for

experiencing, at the latest when the first seat rail has been moved in the longitudinal direction back to the remembered longitudinal position, a control torque, and

then actuating at least one pivotable locking element so that the locking element makes locking contact against the second seat rail, and

wherein the actuating of the pivotable locking element is by way of a control spring.

10. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 3 in combination with the vehicle seat having the backrest, wherein:

the predetermined pivoting comprises pivoting the backrest to a predetermined position;

a backrest fitting of the backrest secures the backrest in the predetermined position; and

the combination further comprises a release device for releasing the backrest, so that the backrest can be pivoted out of the predetermined position, in response to relative movement between the actuation device and the first seat rail.

11. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 1 in combination with the vehicle seat having the backrest.

12. The combination according to claim 11, further comprising a spring and a cable, wherein:

the predetermined pivoting of the seat'"'"'s backrest is a first predetermined pivoting of the seat'"'"'s backrest;

a second predetermined pivoting of the seat'"'"'s backrest is in a direction opposite to the first predetermined pivoting of the seat'"'"'s backrest;

the actuation device, as a whole, being movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail comprises the actuation device, as a whole, being movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail between a first position and a second position;

the spring is operatively connected to the adapter of the actuation device, and the cable is operatively connected between the seat'"'"'s backrest and the pivotable member of the actuation device, so that

(a) the first predetermined pivoting of the seat'"'"'s backrest causes the actuation device, as a whole, to move in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail from the first position to the second position, and

(b) a second predetermined pivoting the seat'"'"'s backrest results in the actuation device, as a whole, moving in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail from the second position to the first position; and

the actuation device, as a whole, moving in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail from the second position to the first position is at least partially caused by the spring.

13. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 4, wherein the memory device includes:

a displacement measuring device that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and that can be brought into cooperative interaction with the second seat rail; and

a control signal generator mounted for moving relative to the displacement measuring device, with the moving of the control signal generator relative to the displacement measuring device corresponding to how far the first seat rail has moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the remembered longitudinal position,

wherein the control signal generator is operative for

experiencing, at the latest when the first seat rail has been moved in the longitudinal direction back to the remembered longitudinal position, a control torque, and

then actuating at least one pivotable locking element so that the locking element makes locking contact against the second seat rail, and

wherein the actuating of the pivotable locking element is by way of a control spring.

14. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 5, wherein the memory device includes:

a displacement measuring device that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and that can be brought into cooperative interaction with the second seat rail; and

a control signal generator mounted for moving relative to the displacement measuring device, with the moving of the control signal generator relative to the displacement measuring device corresponding to how far the first seat rail has moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the remembered longitudinal position,

wherein the control signal generator is operative for

experiencing, at the latest when the first seat rail has been moved in the longitudinal direction back to the remembered longitudinal position, a control torque, and

then actuating at least one pivotable locking element so that the locking element makes locking contact against the second seat rail, and

wherein the actuating of the pivotable locking element is by way of a control spring.

15. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 6, wherein the memory device includes:

a displacement measuring device that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and that can be brought into cooperative interaction with the second seat rail; and

a control signal generator mounted for moving relative to the displacement measuring device, with the moving of the control signal generator relative to the displacement measuring device corresponding to how far the first seat rail has moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the remembered longitudinal position,

wherein the control signal generator is operative for

experiencing, at the latest when the first seat rail has been moved in the longitudinal direction back to the remembered longitudinal position, a control torque, and

then actuating at least one pivotable locking element so that the locking element makes locking contact against the second seat rail, and

wherein the actuating of the pivotable locking element is by way of a control spring.

16. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 11, wherein the memory device includes:

a displacement measuring device that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and that can be brought into cooperative interaction with the second seat rail; and

a control signal generator mounted for moving relative to the displacement measuring device, with the moving of the control signal generator relative to the displacement measuring device corresponding to how far the first seat rail has moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the remembered longitudinal position,

wherein the control signal generator is operative for

experiencing, at the latest when the first seat rail has been moved in the longitudinal direction back to the remembered longitudinal position, a control torque, and

then actuating at least one pivotable locking element so that the locking element makes locking contact against the second seat rail, and

wherein the actuating of the pivotable locking element is by way of a control spring.

17. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 3, comprising:

a support bracket fixedly connected to the first seat rail, and

a support spring that is operatively connected to both the support bracket and the adapter of the actuation device for urging the actuation device, as a whole, to move in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail.

18. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 17, wherein the support spring is positioned between the support bracket and the actuation device.

19. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the actuation device, as a whole, being mounted for being movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail comprises:

the actuation device, as a whole, being mounted for being movable in the longitudinal direction, to a limited extent, relative to the first seat rail.

20. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 19, wherein the memory device is fastened to the actuation device for moving in the longitudinal direction with the actuation device relative to the first seat rail, whereby the memory device is movable in the longitudinal direction, to the limited extent, relative to the first seat rail.

21. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 20, further comprising a cable and a spring, wherein:

the actuation device, as a whole, being movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail comprises the actuation device, as a whole, being movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail between a first position and a second position;

the cable is operatively connected to the pivotable member of the actuation device so that a pull on the cable can cause the actuation device, as a whole, to move in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail from the first position to the second position; and

the spring is operatively connected to the adapter of the actuation device for moving the actuation device, as a whole, in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail from the second position to the first position.

22. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 21, wherein the memory device includes at least one pivotable locking element for:

making locking contact against the second seat rail in response to the first seat rail having been moved in the longitudinal direction back to the remembered longitudinal position, and

detaching from the second seat rail in response to the actuation device, as a whole, moving in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail from the second position to the first position.

23. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 20, wherein the memory device includes:

a displacement measuring device that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and that can be brought into cooperative interaction with the second seat rail; and

a control signal generator mounted for moving relative to the displacement measuring device, with the moving of the control signal generator relative to the displacement measuring device corresponding to how far the first seat rail has moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the remembered longitudinal position,

wherein the control signal generator is operative for

experiencing, at the latest when the first seat rail has been moved in the longitudinal direction back to the remembered longitudinal position, a control torque, and

then actuating at least one pivotable locking element so that the locking element makes locking contact against the second seat rail, and

wherein the actuating of the pivotable locking element is by way of a control spring.

24. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the pivotable member of the actuation device is for actuating the actuation device so that the longitudinal adjuster is unlocked without resetting the memory device'"'"'s remembered longitudinal position.

25. A longitudinal adjuster that is for a vehicle seat and that is capable of being responsive to predetermined pivoting of the seat'"'"'s backrest, the longitudinal adjuster comprising:

a first seat rail;

a second seat rail that extends in a longitudinal direction, wherein the first seat rail is mounted for moving in the longitudinal direction relative to the second seat rail;

a locking device for locking the longitudinal adjuster and thereby restricting the first seat rail from moving in the longitudinal direction relative to the second seat rail;

a memory device, wherein

the memory device, as a whole, is mounted for both moving in the longitudinal direction with the

first seat rail relative to the second seat rail, and being movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail,

the memory device interacts with the second seat rail for remembering a longitudinal position of the first seat rail with respect to the second seat rail so that the first seat rail can be moved in the longitudinal direction back to the remembered longitudinal position after the first seat rail has been moved in the longitudinal direction out of the remembered longitudinal position, and

the first seat rail having been moved in the longitudinal direction out of the remembered longitudinal position is at least partially in response to the predetermined pivoting of the seat'"'"'s backrest; and

an actuation device adapted for actuating both resetting of the memory device'"'"'s remembered longitudinal position, and the locking device for unlocking the longitudinal adjuster,

wherein

the actuation device includes an adapter and a plurality of components,

the plurality of components of the actuation device are supported by and movable relative to the adapter of the actuation device,

the plurality of components of the actuation device includes a pivotable member that is mounted for being pivoted relative to the adapter to actuate the actuation device,

the actuation device, as a whole, is mounted for both moving in the longitudinal direction with the first seat rail relative to the second seat rail, so that each of the adapter of the actuation device, the plurality of components of the actuation device and the pivotable member of the actuation device is for moving in the longitudinal direction with the first seat rail relative to the second seat rail, and

being movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail, so that the adapter of the actuation device, the plurality of components of the actuation device and the pivotable member of the actuation device are all together movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail, and

the adapter of the actuation device is fastened to the memory device so that the memory device, as a whole, and the actuation device, as a whole, are together movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail.

26. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 25, wherein:

the actuation device, as a whole, being movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail comprises the actuation device, as a whole, being movable in the longitudinal direction, to a limited extent, relative to the first seat rail, and

the memory device, as a whole, being movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first seat rail comprises the memory device, as a whole, being movable in the longitudinal direction, to a limited extent, relative to the first seat rail.