Adjusting device for a seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9365134-B2
Application number	US-201214356848-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2012
Priority date	Nov 8, 2011
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

A device for adjusting the position of a seat, in particular of a vehicle seat, has at least one fixing device for securing the position of the seat, which device has at least one locking element, each of which, in the locking position thereof locks at least two guide parts of the device to each other, which are held such that they can move in relation to each other, wherein at least one traction mechanism, with which the locking element can be moved out of the locking position thereof, is coupled to the locking element. A preloading element is associated with the traction mechanism, which preloading element acts directly on a section of the traction mechanism and preloads the traction mechanism without play.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for adjusting the position of a seat, comprising:
at least two guide parts held so that the at least two guide parts can move relative to each other to guide adjustment of the seat;
at least one fixing device including at least one locking element that in a locking position respectively locks together the at least two guide parts to secure the position of the seat;
at least one traction mechanism coupled to the locking element, with which traction mechanism the locking element can be moved out of its locking position; and
a preloading element connected to the traction mechanism, wherein the preloading element acts directly on a section of the traction mechanism and preloads the traction mechanism free of play,
wherein the preloading element includes at least one spring element, the spring force of which deflects at least sections of the traction mechanism coupled with the locking element roughly transverse to its direction of extension,
wherein the traction mechanism includes at least one section divided into a first partial strand and a second partial strand, and the traction mechanism also includes a remaining traction section,
wherein the traction mechanism includes a first connection point disposed at an end point of the traction mechanism and a second connection point disposed at an end point of the remaining traction section, wherein the end point of the traction mechanism and the end point of the remaining traction section are separate,
wherein the first and second partial strands each extend between and directly connect to both the first connection point and the second connection point,
wherein a first nodal point is positioned along the first partial strand between the first connection point and the second connection point,
wherein a second nodal point is positioned along the second partial strand between the first connection point and the second connection point,
wherein the spring element is connected to and extends between the first nodal point and the second nodal point, and
wherein the first and second partial strands extend at specific angles relative to each other from each of the first and second connection points so as to transfer force.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the preloading element includes a guide structure that accommodates the traction mechanism via a section on which the spring element acts.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the preloading element includes a spring element designed as a compression spring.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the preloading element is a spring element, which joins the free end of the traction mechanism with the locking element being released from its locking position so as to transfer forces.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the respective end sections of the spring element are coupled with the traction mechanism and locking element.

6. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the spring element is a spiral spring situated in a housing, and the traction mechanism is designed as a Bowden cable, wherein the Bowden cable is equipped with at least one sheath section that is supported against the housing.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the locking element is coupled with the periphery of the housing.

8. A seat comprising:
at least one movably held seat section,
wherein the seat section includes at least one adjusting device for adjusting the position of the seat, wherein the adjusting device includes
at least two guide parts held so that the at least two guide parts can move relative to each other to guide adjustment of the seat,
at least one fixing device including at least one locking element that in a locking position respectively locks together the at least two guide parts to secure the position of the seat,
at least one traction mechanism coupled to the locking element, with which traction mechanism the locking element can be moved out of its locking position, and
a preloading element connected to the traction mechanism, wherein the preloading element acts directly on a section of the traction mechanism and preloads the traction mechanism free of play,
wherein the preloading element includes at least one spring element, the spring force of which deflects at least sections of the traction mechanism coupled with the locking element roughly transverse to its direction of extension,
wherein the traction mechanism includes at least one section divided into a first partial strand and a second partial strand, and the traction mechanism also includes a remaining traction section,
wherein the traction mechanism includes a first connection point disposed at an end point of the traction mechanism and a second connection point disposed at an end point of the remaining traction section, wherein the end point of the traction mechanism and the end point of the remaining traction section are separate,
wherein the first and second partial strands each extend between and directly connect to both the first connection point and the second connection point,
wherein a first nodal point is positioned along the first partial strand between the first connection point and the second connection point,
wherein a second nodal point is positioned along the second partial strand between the first connection point and the second connection point,
wherein the spring element is connected to and extends between the first nodal point and the second nodal point, and
wherein the first and second partial strands extend at specific angles relative to each other from each of the first and second connection points so as to transfer force.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the spring element extends between the first and second partial strands in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of extension of the remaining traction section.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein a first end of the spring element is connected to the first nodal point in the first partial strand and a second end of the spring element is connected to the second nodal point in the second partial strand such that the spring element extends between and separates the first nodal point and the second nodal point.

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Gmbh

Inventors

• Heinrich Andreas
• Ruckriegel Thomas

Classifications

• F16C1/223

  by adjusting the effective length of the flexible member · CPC title

• B60N2/123

  and provided with memory locks · CPC title

• B60N2/12

  slidable and tiltable · CPC title

• B60N2/08 Primary

  characterised by the locking device · CPC title

• F16C1/22

  Adjusting; Compensating length · CPC title