Actuating lever for a longitudinal adjustment device of a motor vehicle seat

• US 8,408,511 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2009
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Semenchenko, Valerii
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Nkeisha
• Application Number:
  US12/634,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20100140438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 248/419, 248/424, 248/429, 248/430, 248/425, 297/344.11, 164/23, 164/44, 296/65.13, 296/65.14, 296/65.15, 296/65.12, 296/65.07
• US Class Current: 248/424
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20612 Hand

Abstract

An actuation lever according is provided for a longitudinal adjustment device of a car seat, and includes, but is not limited to a gripping section, which a person uses to grab the actuation lever, and at least one attachment section for mechanically coupling the lever with a locking unit of the longitudinal adjustment device. The actuation lever is at least section ally, but preferably completely, made out of an injection molded plastic part.

Claims

1. An actuation lever for a longitudinal adjustment device of a car seat, comprising:

a gripping section; and

an attachment section for mechanically coupling the actuation lever with a locking unit of the longitudinal adjustment device,

wherein at least one of the attachment section and the gripping section is at least partially an injection molded plastic part, and wherein the attachment section comprises a reinforcing rib that runs inclined to a longitudinal extension of the attachment section and forms a part of a multi-sided hollow section, wherein the hollow section extends essentially parallel to a swiveling motion of the actuation lever, and

wherein the attachment section comprises at least two positive-fit elements spaced radially apart relative to a swiveling axis, which in an assembled state on the longitudinal adjustment device that interacts with corresponding positive-fit elements of the locking unit to form a positive connection between the actuation lever and the longitudinal adjustment device.

2. The actuation lever according to claim 1, wherein the gripping section and the attachment section are both at least partially the injection molded plastic part.

3. The actuation lever according to claim 1, wherein the actuation lever is a one-piece injection molded plastic part.

4. The actuation lever according to claim 2, wherein the injection molded plastic part is fabricated with an internal gas pressure injection molding process.

5. The actuation lever according to claim 1, wherein at least the gripping section is designed with a hollow profile in cross section.

6. The actuation lever according to claim 1, wherein at least the attachment section comprises a fiber-reinforced plastic.

7. The actuation lever according to claim 1, wherein the attachment section comprises at least one latching element that in an assembled state at least sectionally grips the locking unit.

8. The actuation lever according to claim 1, wherein the actuation lever is sectionally provided with a reinforcement element that connects spaced apart sections of the actuation lever by way of a strut.

9. An actuation lever for a longitudinal adjustment device of a car seat, comprising:

a gripping section; and

an attachment section for mechanically coupling the actuation lever with a locking unit of the longitudinal adjustment device,

wherein the attachment section comprises a reinforcing rib that runs inclined to a longitudinal extension of the attachment section and forms a part of a multi-sided hollow section,

wherein the attachment section comprises at least one latching element that in an assembled state at least sectionally grips the locking unit and at least two positive-fit elements spaced radially apart relative to a swiveling axis, which in an assembled state on the longitudinal adjustment device that interacts with corresponding positive-fit elements of the locking unit to form a positive connection between the actuation lever and the longitudinal adjustment device, and

wherein the gripping section and the attachment section are at least partially the injection molded plastic part.

10. The actuation lever according to claim 9, wherein the actuation lever is a one-piece injection molded plastic part.

11. The actuation lever according to claim 9, wherein at least the attachment section comprises a fiber-reinforced plastic.

12. The actuation lever according to claim 9, wherein the actuation lever is sectionally provided with a reinforcement element that connects spaced apart sections of the actuation lever by way of a strut.

13. An actuation lever for a longitudinal adjustment device of a car seat, comprising:

a gripping section; and

an attachment section for mechanically coupling the actuation lever with a locking unit of the longitudinal adjustment device,

wherein at least one of the attachment section and the gripping section is at least partially an injection molded plastic part, and wherein the attachment section comprises a reinforcing rib that runs inclined to a longitudinal extension of the attachment section and forms a part of a multi-sided hollow section, wherein the hollow section extends essentially parallel to a swiveling motion of the actuation lever, and

wherein the actuation lever is sectionally provided with a reinforcement element that connects spaced apart sections of the actuation lever by way of a strut.

14. The actuation lever according to claim 13, wherein the gripping section and the attachment section are both at least partially the injection molded plastic part.

15. The actuation lever according to claim 13, wherein at least the gripping section is designed with a hollow profile in cross section.

16. The actuation lever according to claim 13, wherein the attachment section comprises at least one latching element that in an assembled state at least sectionally grips the locking unit.

17. The actuation lever according to claim 13, wherein the reinforcement element is connected as one piece with the actuation lever, and comprises a flat, plate-like outer contour.