Fitting system for a vehicle seat

• US 9,227,542 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2011
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keiper Seating Mechanisms Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Company KG (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Mayer, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brindley, Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US13/574,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20130001998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 297/361.1, 297/367.R, 297/367.P, 297/367.L, 297/368, 297/370, 297/362.12, 297/362.14
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2252 in which the central axis of the gearing lies inside the periphery of an orbital gear, e.g. one gear without sun gear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2356 with internal pawls
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/682 Joining means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/50 Interlocking shaft arrangements transmitting movement between hinge mechanisms on both sides of a seat
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/20 for bolts or shafts without holes, grooves, or notches for locking members by rings resilient in their plane F16B21/18

Abstract

A fitting system for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, with an axially extending shaft, which is rotatable in the circumferential direction, with at least one fitting which is provided with a rotatably supported driver which is axially secured by a securing element, for driving or for unlocking the fitting, wherein the shaft cooperates with the driver in the circumferential direction in a rotationally secure manner or mechanically connected, in order to rotate the driver, and with at least one quick fastener which is seated on the shaft in an axially non-displaceable manner, in order to secure the cooperation of shaft and driver axially in at least one direction, has the quick fastener connected with the driver and/or with its securing element.

Claims

1. A fitting system for a motor vehicle seat, comprising:

an axially extending shaft rotatable in the circumferential direction;

at least one fitting including a first fitting part and a second fitting part, wherein the first and second fitting parts are configured to be connected to a backrest and a seat part in such a manner that relative rotation of the first and second fitting parts will cause adjustment of inclination of the backrest;

a rotatably supported driver, wherein the driver drives or unlocks the fitting, wherein the shaft cooperates with the driver in the circumferential direction, wherein the shaft and the driver are rotationally secure or mechanically connected in order to rotate the driver;

a securing element that axially secures the driver and that is separate from the first and second fitting parts; and

at least one quick fastener seated on the shaft in an axially non-displaceable manner in order to secure the shaft and driver axially in at least one direction,

wherein the quick fastener includes a ring-shaped basic body that at least partially encloses the shaft,

wherein the quick fastener includes at least one finger which axially protrudes from the basic body and faces towards the fitting,

wherein the quick fastener is provided with tongues which protrude from the basic body radially inward, and which bear against the shaft under bias,

wherein the at least one finger is connected with and directly contacts the driver or the securing element,

wherein the at least one finger cooperates with and abuts the driver or the securing element in a form-fitting manner,

wherein the at least one finger axially fixes the shaft and the driver or the securing element relative to one another,

wherein the tongues prevent displacement of the quick fastener along the shaft in a first axial direction away from the fitting,

wherein the quick fastener bears against the fitting and exerts a force in a second axial direction that is opposite to the first axial direction, wherein the fitting prevents displacement of the quick fastener along the shaft in the second axial direction.

2. A fitting system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one finger is configured as at least one hook which engages behind the driver or the securing element.

3. A fitting system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one finger has a lug which faces radially inward.

4. A fitting system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one finger comprises a plurality of fingers, wherein the quick fastener is provided with segments between the fingers, such segments axially protruding from the basic body.

5. A fitting system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second fitting parts are in geared connection with one another by a toothed ring and a toothed wheel which meshes with it, which carry out a relative rolling movement due to a rotating eccentric which is driven by the driver, or wherein the first and second fitting parts can be locked with one another by radially displaceable locks which are guided by the one of the first and second fitting parts and upon which a spring-loaded, rotatably supported eccentric for cooperating with a toothed ring of the other fitting part can act, and which can be taken back by the rotation of the driver.

6. A motor vehicle seat having a fitting system according to claim 1.

7. A quick fastener for a fitting system for a motor vehicle seat that includes an axially extending shaft rotatable in the circumferential direction, at least one fitting including a first fitting part and a second fitting part, a rotatably supported driver that drives or unlocks the fitting, and a securing element that axially secures the driver and that is separate from the first and second fitting parts, the quick fastener comprising:

a ring-shaped basic body that is configured to at least partially enclose the shaft;

tongues which protrude from the basic body radially inward, and which are configured to bear against the shaft under bias; and

at least one finger which axially protrudes from the basic body and is configured to face toward the fitting,

wherein the at least one finger is configured to cooperate with and abut the driver or the securing element in a form-fitting manner,

wherein the at least one finger is configured to axially fix the shaft and the driver or securing element relative to one another,

wherein the quick fastener is configured to be seated on the shaft in an axially non-displaceable manner in order to secure the shaft and driver axially in at least one direction,

wherein the at least one finger is configured to be connected with and directly contact the driver or the securing element,

wherein the tongues prevent displacement of the quick fastener along the shaft in a first axial direction away from the fitting,

wherein the quick fastener bears against the fitting and exerts a force in a second axial direction that is opposite to the first axial direction, wherein the fitting prevents displacement of the quick fastener along the shaft in a second axial direction.