Vehicle seat having a driving device and a method for attaching a driving device in a play-free manner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016325643-A1
Application number	US-201515109901-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 5, 2015
Priority date	Jan 7, 2014
Publication date	Nov 10, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle seat ( 1 ) has a driving device ( 20 ), including a pinion ( 25 ) in tooth engagement with a set of teeth ( 95 ) of an adjustment system, is fastened to a structural part ( 100 ) of the vehicle seat ( 1 ). At least one spring element ( 110 ) applies a force to the driving device ( 20 ) in the direction of the tooth engagement. A method for play-free attaching a driving device ( 20 ) to a structural part ( 100 ) of a vehicle seat ( 1 ) provides the driving device ( 20 ) as a drive of a height adjustment kinematic system ( 5 ). A force is applied to the driving device ( 20 ) in a direction of the tooth engagement by at least one spring element ( 110 ) such that a possible play between the pinion ( 25 ) and the set of teeth ( 95 ) is eliminated. The position of the driving device ( 20 ) in relation to the structural part ( 100 ) is secured.

First claim

1 . A vehicle seat comprising:
a structural component; a drive device comprising:
a tooth arrangement of an adjustment kinematic of the vehicle seat; and
a pinion in toothed engagement with the tooth arrangement in a direction of the toothed engagement, wherein the drive device is secured to the structural component of the vehicle seat; and
at least one resilient means for acting on the drive device in the direction of the toothed engagement with a force.

2 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the drive device drives a height adjustment kinematic of the vehicle seat.

3 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient means is secured to the structural component.

4 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient means is constructed integrally with the structural component.

5 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient means is constructed from sheet metal.

6 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient means is constructed from sheet steel.

7 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient means is a flap.

8 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the structural component is a seat frame side portion of a seat frame of the vehicle seat.

9 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein precisely two resilient means act on the drive device

10 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , 9 , wherein the at least one resilient means acts on a housing of the drive device with a resultant resilient force which acts in the direction of the tooth arrangement.

11 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , r wherein the drive device comprises a housing and a portion of the housing extends through an opening in the structural component.

12 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11 , wherein dimensions of the opening and the portion of the housing which extends through the opening are adapted to each other in such that the drive device can be moved in the direction of the toothed engagement before the drive device is fixed to the structural component.

13 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the at least one resilient means is constructed as a flap which extends from an edge region of the opening in a direction of a center of the opening, which abuts the housing and which acts on the housing with a force.

14 . A method for play-free connection of a drive device to a structural component of a vehicle seat, wherein the drive device comprises a pinion which is in toothed engagement with a tooth arrangement of an adjustment kinematic of the vehicle seat, that the method comprising the steps of:
acting on the drive device with a force by means of at least one resilient means in the direction of the toothed engagement in such that any potential play between the pinion and the tooth arrangement is eliminated; and securing a position of the drive device relative to the structural component.

15 . The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the position of the drive device relative to the structural component is secured by means of at least one screw connection during said step of acting on the drive device.

16 . The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the drive device drives a height adjustment kinematic of the vehicle seat.

17 . The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the at least one resilient means fixed to the structural component.

18 . The method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the structural component is a seat frame side portion of a seat frame of the vehicle seat.

19 . The method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein:
the drive device comprises a housing and a portion of the housing extends through an opening in the structural component; the at least one resilient means acts on the housing of the drive device with a resultant resilient force which acts in the direction of the tooth arrangement; the portion of the housing which extends through the opening are adapted to each other in such a manner that the drive device is moved in the direction of the toothed engagement before the drive device is fixed to the structural component.

20 . The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the at least one resilient means is constructed as a flap which extends from an edge region of the opening in a direction of a center of the opening, which abuts the housing and which acts on the housing with a force.

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Gmbh

Inventors

• Klein-Hitpass Thorsten
• Wahlen Hilmar
• Genutt Ulli

Classifications

• F16H2057/127

  using springs · CPC title

• B60N3/001

  of tables or trays · CPC title

• B60N2/929

  linear · CPC title

• F16H2057/125

  Adjustment of backlash during mounting or assembly of gearing · CPC title

• B60N2205/20

  Measures for elimination or compensation of play or backlash · CPC title