Locking device for a vehicle seat, and vehicle seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9440564-B2
Application number	US-201314418668-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2013
Priority date	Jul 31, 2012
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

A locking device ( 10 ), for a vehicle seat ( 1 ), includes an indicating device ( 8 ) for indicating the locking state of the locking device ( 10 ). The indicating device ( 8 ) has a locking indicator ( 31, 32 ), which is visible when the locking device ( 10 ) is locked, and a release indicator ( 33, 34 ), which is visible when the locking device ( 10 ) is released. The indicating device ( 8 ) has at least one indicator arm ( 30 ), which is in the locking position when the locking device ( 10 ) is locked and which is in the release position when the locking device ( 10 ) is released. The indicator arm ( 30 ) includes an indicating area ( 39 ), which has a first locking indicator ( 31 ) and a first release indicator ( 33 ). A second release indicator ( 34 ), which is concealed by the indicator arm ( 30 ) when the indicator arm is in the locking position, is provided on a retaining plate ( 20 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A locking device for a vehicle seat, the locking device comprising a display device for indicating a locking state of the locking device, wherein the display device comprises:
an indicator arm, which is located in a locking position when the locking device is locked and which is located in an unlocking position when the locking device is unlocked, wherein the indicator arm comprises a display region comprising a locking indicator, which is arranged to be visible from outside the seat when the locking device is locked and an first unlocking indicator, which is arranged to be visible from outside the seat when the locking device is unlocked; and
a metal retention sheet with a second unlocking indicator, the second unlocking indicator being arranged on the retention sheet to be covered by the indicator arm with the indicator arm in the locking position.

2. The locking device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the locking indicator is arranged on the indicator arm to be covered when the locking device is unlocked.

3. The locking device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first unlocking indicator is arranged on the indicator arm and the second unlocking indicator is arranged on the retention sheet, to be covered when the locking device is locked.

4. The locking device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the indicator arm is pivotally connected to the locking device to pivot from the locking position into the unlocking position thereof.

5. The locking device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the locking indicator is a first locking indicator; and
the metal retention sheet further is provided with a second locking indicator, which is arranged on the retention sheet to be covered by the indicator arm with the indicator arm in the unlocking position.

6. The locking device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the second locking indicator and the second unlocking indicator are arranged at opposing sides of the metal retention sheet.

7. The locking device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the locking indicator is arranged on the indicator arm to be covered by the metal retention sheet when the indicator arm is located in the unlocking position.

8. The locking device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first unlocking indicator is arranged on the indicator arm to be covered by the metal retention sheet when the indicator arm is located in the locking position.

9. The locking device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the locking indicator and the first unlocking indicator are arranged at opposing sides of the display region.

10. The locking device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the metal retention sheet has a through-opening formed therein, the through-opening being aligned with the display region.

11. The locking device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the indicator arm, with the indicator arm located in the locking position, is located outside of the through-opening.

12. The locking device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the indicator arm with the indicator arm located in the unlocking position, protrudes through the through-opening.

13. The locking device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an unlocking lever coupled to the indicator arm so as to be operatively connected, the unlocking lever for unlocking the locking device.

14. The locking device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the indicator arm and the unlocking lever pivot about respective axes which extend in a parallel manner.

15. A vehicle seat comprising:
a seat member;
a backrest connected to the seat member; and
a locking device comprising a display device for indicating a locking state of the locking device, wherein the display device comprises
an indicator arm, which is located in a locking position when the locking device is locked and which is located in an unlocking position when the locking device is unlocked, wherein the indicator arm comprises a display region comprising a locking indicator, which is visible when the locking device is locked and an first unlocking indicator, which is visible when the locking device is unlocked; and
a metal retention sheet with a second unlocking indicator, the second unlocking indicator being arranged on the retention sheet to be covered by the indicator arm with the indicator arm in the locking position;
the locking indicator being arranged on the indicator arm and relative to the retention sheet to be uncovered by the retention sheet and visible from outside the seat when the indicator arm is in the locking position, the first unlocking locking indicator being arranged on the indicator arm and relative to the retention sheet to be uncovered by the retention sheet and visible from outside the seat when the indicator arm is in the unlocking locking position.

16. The locking device as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the locking indicator is arranged on the indicator arm to be covered and not visible from outside the seat when the locking device is unlocked.

17. The locking device as claimed in claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first unlocking indicator is arranged on the indicator arm and the second unlocking indicator is arranged on the retention sheet, to be covered and not visible from outside the seat when the locking device is locked.

18. The locking device as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the indicator arm is pivotally connected to the locking device to pivot from the locking position into the unlocking position thereof.

19. The locking device as claimed in claim 15 , wherein:
the locking indicator is a first locking indicator; and
the metal retention sheet further is provided with a second locking indicator, which is arranged on the retention sheet to be covered by the indicator arm and not visible from outside the seat with the indicator arm in the unlocking position.

20. The locking device as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the second locking indicator and the second unlocking indicator are arranged at opposing sides of the metal retention sheet.

21. A locking vehicle seat arrangement, the display device comprising:
a seat member;
a backrest connected to the seat member;
a locking device locking the vehicle seat;
a retention sheet;
an indicator arm movable relative to said retention sheet, said indicator arm being movable into a locking position when said locking device locks the vehicle seat, said indicator arm being movable into an unlocking position when said locking device unlocks the vehicle seat;
a locking indicator arranged on said indicator arm to be covered by said retention sheet when said indicator arm is in said unlocking position, said locking indicator also being arranged on said indicator arm to be uncovered by said retention sheet when said indicator arm is in said locking position;
a first unlocking indicator arranged on said indicator arm to be covered by said retention sheet when said indicator arm is in said locking position, said first unlocking indicator also being arranged on said indicator arm to be uncovered by said retention sheet when said indicator arm is in said unlocking position;
a second unlocking indicator arranged on said retention sheet to be covered by said indicator arm in said locking position of said indicator arm.

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Gmbh

Inventors

• Crossley Mark
• Gowli Ramakant K
• Mulay Ashish D
• Pushparajan Prasanth M
• Singh Raminder
• Sudke Vinay K
• Uezek Halil
• Wayal Vikas

Classifications

• B60N2002/952

  characterised by details of the locking system · CPC title

• B60N2/919

  Positioning and locking mechanisms (B60N2/16, B60N2/18, B60N2/22, B60N2/225 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/366

  characterised by the locking device · CPC title

• B60N2002/981

  Warning systems, e.g. the seat or seat parts vibrates to warn the passenger when facing a danger · CPC title

• B60N2/3011

  the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement" · CPC title