Actuator and hardware system for a vehicle seat

• US 9,290,116 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2012
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keiper Seating Mechanisms Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Company KG (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Teufel, Ingo, Kmmerer, Joachim, Recktenwald, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Giacoman, Jody
• Application Number:
  US13/983,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20130320736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0292 Multiple configuration seats, e.g. for spacious vehicles or mini-buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0296 Central command actuator to selectively switch on or engage one of several special purpose circuits or mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/12 slidable and tiltable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2356 with internal pawls
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/236 linearly movable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3013 the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3065 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/366 characterised by the locking device
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/948 the actuation of the positioning or locking mechanism for one seat part being dependent on the position of another seat part, e.g. the seats floor lock being unlocked when the back-rest is inclined or the backrest can be tilted only when the seat is in its rear position
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/015 Arrangements for indicating the position of a controlling member means for continuously detecting pedal position G05G1/38; means for detecting position through tactile feedback G05G5/03

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuator (71) for a vehicle seat, comprising a handle (41) for jointly actuating two locks (23), a force transfer between the handle and each lock, a first indicator (51) associated with the first force transfer, and a second indicator associated with the second force transfer, wherein the two indicators each indicate the respective locking status of the associated lock, and the two indicators actuate an overall indicator (61) by means of a logical OR function in order to visibly indicate the unlocked state. The force transfer is preferably formed from Bowden cables (43).

Claims

1. An actuation unit for a vehicle seat, having a handle for the common actuation of two locking systems, a force transmission between the handle and each locking system, a first indicator which is associated with a first force transmission, a second indicator which is associated with a second force transmission, wherein the two indicators each indicate the locking state of the associated locking system, and the two indicators control a general indicator whereby either the first, second or both indicators control the general indicator in order to display the unlocked state in a visible manner.

2. The actuation unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the force transmission is formed by Bowden cables between the handle and the locking system at least in a partial region.

3. The actuation unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the indicators are rotatable relative to an axis and are connected to cores of the Bowden cables.

4. The actuation unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two indicators or portions thereof are arranged spatially beside each other and both act on the general indicator.

5. The actuation unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a force can be applied to the indicators from a first direction by the handle and an opposing force can be applied by the force transmission from a second direction different from the first direction.

6. The actuation unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the general indicator cooperates with the indicators in a region in which the force transmission acts on the indicators.

7. The actuation unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicators carry out a pivot movement and the general indicator carries out a linear movement.

8. The actuation unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicators can be pivoted about the same pivot axis as an actuation lever of the handle.

9. The actuation unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the handle has a single actuation arm which cooperates with the indicators.

10. A vehicle seat which has a seat member and a backrest and which can be moved into a flat floor position and/or entry position, comprising an actuation unit as claimed in claim 1.