CN215244453U - Carrier seat - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model provides a vehicle seat (1), including support portion (4), the seat portion of injecing seat support (2) or back and be used for adjusting the adjusting device (6) of the position of seat portion relative to support portion (4), adjusting device (6) include adjusting element (12) and actuating element (14), the actuation to actuating element (14) leads to adjusting element (12) along relative displacement direction (D) displacement so that the seat portion according to adjusting the removal (H) displacement for the support portion relative to actuating element (14). The seat comprises a friction device (34), the adjustment element (12) being displaceable towards an impact position in which the adjustment element (12) cooperates with the friction device (34) when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied.

Description

Carrier seat

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat of the type comprising a supporting portion, a seat portion defining a seat or backrest, and an adjustment device for adjusting the position of the seat portion with respect to the supporting portion, the adjustment device comprising an adjustment element integral with one of the seat portion and the supporting portion; and an actuating element mounted on the other of the support portion and the seat portion, actuation of the actuating element causing displacement of the adjustment element relative to the actuating element in a relative displacement direction to adjust the seat portion relative to the support portion in accordance with the adjustment movement.

Background

In seats of vehicles, such as motor vehicles, it is known to provide an adjustment device which allows the position of the seat, in particular the height of the seat or the inclination of the seat, to be adjusted in order to adapt the position of the seat to the preferences of the seat occupant.

Such adjustment means comprise an actuation element, for example a toothed pinion, the actuation of which causes a relative displacement of the adjustment element, which in turn causes a height displacement or a tilt displacement of the seat of the chair. The actuating element is subjected to external forces, both in operation and when at rest, which are caused by the setting of the seat and the loading of the seat.

However, in the event of a vehicle collision, the force exerted on the seat may be such that it causes the actuation element to break or at least an inadvertent actuation of the actuation element. This results in a loosening of the maintenance of the seat and a malfunction, sometimes severe, in the position of the seat. Such aberrations may cause injury to the seat occupant and result in non-optimal operation of safety devices, such as airbags, due to changes in the position of the seat occupant.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

It is an object of the present invention to provide a carrier seat comprising an adjustable seat, the position of which is maintained in the event of a carrier collision.

To this end, the invention relates to a vehicle seat of the aforementioned type comprising a support portion, a seat portion defining a seat or backrest, and an adjustment device for adjusting the position of the seat portion relative to the support portion, the adjustment device comprising an adjustment element integral with one of the seat portion and the support portion and an actuation element mounted on the other of the support portion and the seat portion, actuation of the actuation element causing displacement of the adjustment element relative to the actuation element in a relative displacement direction to displace the seat portion relative to the support portion in accordance with an adjustment movement, characterized in that the vehicle seat comprises friction means, the adjustment element being displaceable between a normal use position, in which the adjustment element is spaced from the friction means in normal use conditions of the seat, and in the impact position, the adjustment element cooperates with the friction means to prevent displacement of the seat part relative to the support part according to the adjustment movement when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied between the adjustment element and the actuation element.

Thus, in the event that a collision causes a force to be exerted on the seat that exceeds a certain threshold, the friction means prevent the seat from being displaced relative to the base. In other words, the seat rest maintains its adjustment, for example in terms of height and/or inclination, even in the event of a collision of the vehicle and thus protects the occupant of the seat by keeping the seat rest in position during the collision.

According to other features of the seat of the present invention, these other features are adopted, alone or in any technically feasible combination:

the seat comprises a deformable or breakable retaining element which retains the adjusting element in the normal position of use, said retaining element being deformed or broken by the adjusting element when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied between the adjusting element and the actuating element, so that the adjusting member is displaced up to the striking position after the deformation or breakage of the retaining member.

The adjustment element has a toothed rack, the actuation element is a toothed pinion which is rotationally movable and cooperates with the toothed rack, the rotation of the pinion causing a relative translational displacement of the toothed rack which results in a displacement of the seat part relative to the support part according to the adjustment movement;

the adjustment element is a toothed sector and the actuation element is a toothed pinion which is rotationally movable and cooperates with the toothed sector, the rotation of the pinion causing a relative rotational displacement of the toothed sector which results in a displacement of the seat part relative to the support part according to the adjustment movement;

-the adjustment element is translationally displaced on the tooth of the pinion, the adjustment element being translationally displaced on the tooth of the pinion when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied between the adjustment element and the actuating element, the adjustment element engaging the tooth of the pinion towards the outside of the tooth and towards the striking position;

the adjustment element is mounted on the support portion of the seat and the actuation element is mounted on the seat portion of the seat;

the friction means comprise at least one series of teeth, the adjustment element comprises complementary friction means comprising a series of teeth complementary to the teeth of said friction means;

-comprising a deformable holding element which holds the adjusting element in the normal position of use, the adjusting element deforming the holding element when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied between the adjusting element and the actuating element, so that the adjusting element is displaced after the deformation of the holding element up to the impact position, at least two friction means being provided which extend on both sides of the deformable holding element;

the friction means comprise at least one series of teeth having a hardness greater than the hardness of the adjustment element, said teeth being arranged to penetrate into the adjustment element at the impact location; and

-the predetermined force is between 3000N and 4000N.

Drawings

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic partial perspective view of a chair comprising an adjustment device for adjusting the position of the seat of the chair according to an embodiment of the invention,

figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the adjustment device of figure 1 from the outside,

figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the adjustment device of figure 1 from the inside,

figure 4 is a schematic side view of the adjustment device of figure 1 in a normal position of use,

figure 5 is a schematic side view of the adjustment device of figure 1 in an impact position,

figure 6 is a schematic side view of an adjusting device according to another embodiment of the invention,

figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the axis VII-VII of figure 6,

figure 8 is a partial side view schematic of a seat including an adjustment device according to another embodiment of the present invention,

figure 9 is a partial schematic view of a seat comprising an adjustment device according to another embodiment of the present invention,

figure 10 is a partial schematic view of a seat including an adjustment device according to another embodiment of the present invention,

fig. 11 is a partial schematic view of a seat including an adjustment device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

With reference to fig. 1, a vehicle seat 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention is described, comprising at least one seat 2, a base 4 and an adjustment device 6. The seat also includes a backrest (not shown). The seat 1 is conventional and will not be described in detail herein, except for the adjustment device 6 and its mounting on the seat 1. The seat 1 is for example intended to be mounted in a motor vehicle or any other type of vehicle, such as a rail vehicle, a marine vehicle or other type of vehicle.

In a known manner, the seat 2 comprises a cushion mounted, for example, on the frame 8 or on a support.

The base 4 is intended to be mounted on the floor of a vehicle. The base 4 is for example mounted on at least one rail 10 integral with the floor of the vehicle, so as to enable the seat 1 to move in translation with respect to the floor and thus allow, in a known manner, the adjustment of the position of the seat 1 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

The adjustment device 6 is arranged between the seat 2 and the base 4 and allows the height of the seat 2 to be adjusted, i.e. the distance separating the seat 2 from the base 4 in an adjustment direction H corresponding to the elevation or height direction of the vehicle.

The adjustment device 6 comprises at least one adjustment element 12 and an actuation element 14, actuation of which causes a relative displacement of the adjustment element 12 with respect to the actuation element 14 in a relative displacement direction D, so as to displace the seat 2 with respect to the base 4 in an adjustment direction H.

According to the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 7, the adjustment element 12 is formed by a toothed rack integral with the base 4 and the actuation element 14 is formed by a toothed pinion integral with the seat 2.

According to this embodiment, the actuating element 14 is mounted so as to be movable in rotation with respect to the seat 2 and in particular with respect to a mounting plate 16 integral with the frame 8 about a rotation axis R substantially perpendicular to the adjustment direction H and in a relative displacement direction D of the adjustment element 12.

The mounting plate 16 serves to hold the actuating element 14 on the frame 8 of the seat 2.

According to the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 7, the actuating element 14 is mounted between the frame 8 and a mounting plate 16, the mounting plate 16 being fixed to the frame 8 by means of one or more mounting lugs 18, the one or more mounting lugs 18 abutting against the frame 8 and being fixed to the frame 8 by means of a fixing element 20 shown in fig. 2. According to the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 5, mounting plate 16 comprises a receiving region 22 of actuating element 14, which receiving region 22 is spaced apart from frame 8 by one or more shoulders 24 connecting receiving region 22 to one or more mounting lugs 18.

The adjustment element 12 extends in a relative displacement direction D and comprises a plurality of teeth 26, which teeth 26 are each oriented substantially perpendicularly to the relative displacement direction D and extend continuously in the relative displacement direction D to form a toothed path. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the toothed path passes between the frame 8 and the receiving area 22 of the mounting plate 16. According to the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 5, a part of the surface 28 of the adjusting element 12 opposite the toothed path thus extends facing the at least one shoulder 24 of the mounting plate 16, as can be seen in particular in fig. 3. In normal use conditions of the carrier, the face 28 is spaced from the shoulder 24 in the adjustment direction H, as will be described in more detail later.

The actuating element 14 includes a plurality of teeth 30, the plurality of teeth 30 extending radially about the axis of rotation R and being rotationally displaced about the axis when the actuating element 14 is actuated.

The adjustment element 12 cooperates with the actuating element 14 such that the teeth 30 of the actuating element 14 mesh with the teeth 26 of the adjustment element 12. Thus, a rotation of the actuating element 14 about the rotational axis R causes a relative displacement of the adjusting element 12 in the direction of the relative displacement direction D. According to an embodiment in which the actuation element 14 is mounted on the seat 2 and the adjustment element 12 is fixed to the base 4, the adjustment element 12 is fixed and the actuation element 14 is displaced along a toothed path along a displacement direction D to cause a movement of the seat 2 with respect to the base 4. The displacement of the seat, for example, causes a rotation of the link 32, which link 32 guides the displacement of the seat 2 relative to the base 4 in the adjustment direction H. Thus, depending on the direction of rotation of the actuating element 14, the seat 2 approaches the base 4 to reduce its height in the vehicle or moves away from the base 4 to increase it. The actuation of the actuation element 14 may be manual, for example by providing a gripping wheel integrally connected to the actuation element 14; or may be automated, for example by connecting the motor 31 to the actuating member 14, for example as shown in figures 6 and 7.

It will be appreciated that, according to another embodiment, the adjustment member 12 may be integral with the seat 2 and the actuation member 14 may be integral with the base 4, such that rotation of the actuation member causes displacement of the adjustment member 12 and the seat 2 relative to the base 4. In this case, for example, the mounting plate 16 is provided on the base 4.

According to another embodiment, shown in fig. 8, the adjustment element 12 carries an arc-shaped rack in the form of a toothed sector, the adjustment element 12 being movable in rotation with respect to the base 4 when the actuation element 14 is mounted on the seat 2. The axis of rotation of the adjusting element 12 is, for example, substantially parallel to the axis of rotation R of the actuating element 14 and towards which the teeth 26 of the toothed sector of the adjusting element 12 are radially oriented to cooperate with the teeth 30 of the actuating element 14, the teeth 30 of the actuating element 14 being radially oriented away from the axis of rotation R. In this case, rotation of the actuating element 14 causes a corresponding rotation of the adjusting element 12. In this case, the relative displacement direction D corresponds to the direction of rotation of the adjusting element 12. In contrast to the teeth of the toothed sector, the face 28 of the adjustment element 12 extends along the central distance between the adjustment element 12 and the actuating element 14 against the retaining element 33, as shown in fig. 8. The retaining element 33 ensures that the fit between the adjustment element 12 and the actuation element 14 is maintained by preventing the adjustment element 12 from moving away from the actuation element 14 in the radial direction. The holding element 33 is formed for example in one piece with the mounting plate 16 or is fixed to the mounting plate 16.

When the actuating element 14 is not actuated, the adjusting element 12 and the actuating element 14 cooperate integrally such that a holding moment is applied between the adjusting element 12 and the actuating element 14, which moment is such that the adjusting element 12 and the actuating element 14 cannot be displaced relative to one another without active actuation of the actuating element 14. In other words, when the actuating element 14 is not actuated, the retention moment is such that the seat 2 is held in the position in which the seat 2 is placed with respect to the base 4.

According to the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 5, the friction device 34 is arranged to cooperate with a complementary friction device 36 arranged on the adjustment element 12 in the event of a collision against the vehicle, as will be described below.

According to this exemplary embodiment, the friction device 34 is arranged, for example, on the mounting plate 16 and extends over one or more shoulders 24 of the mounting plate 16 facing the surface 28 of the adjusting element 12.

The complementary friction means 36 extend on a face 28 of the adjustment element 12, which face 28 is opposite the tooth 26 and extends facing the shoulder or shoulders 24 of the mounting plate 16 carrying the friction means 34.

Thus, in the normal position of use, in which a clearance is present between the adjusting element 12 and the shoulder 24 of the mounting plate 16, the friction means 34 are distanced from the complementary friction means 36, so that these friction means 34 and complementary friction means 36 do not cooperate with each other and so that the adjusting element 12 and the actuating element 14 are free to displace relative to each other when the actuating element 14 is actuated.

In a collision position, which will be described later, reached when the vehicle has collided, the adjusting element 12 is displaced against the mounting plate 16, so that the friction means 34 cooperate with the complementary friction means 36. The engagement means that the friction means 34 is brought against the complementary friction means 36 to generate a friction force therebetween which opposes the displacement of the adjusting element 12 and the actuating element 14 relative to each other in the relative displacement direction D.

According to the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 5, the friction means 34 are formed by a series of teeth 38 and the complementary friction means 36 are formed by a series of complementary teeth 40 of the series of teeth 38. More specifically, the teeth 38 and complementary teeth 40 are "microteeth," that is, the teeth are of a much smaller size than the teeth 26 and 30 of the adjustment element 12 and the actuation element 14.

The teeth 38 are oriented in the adjustment direction H and project in the relative displacement direction D from the one or more shoulders 24 toward the adjustment element 12 adjacent to one another. The complementary teeth 40 are oriented in the adjustment direction H and are adjacent to each other on the face 28 of the adjustment element 12 in the relative displacement direction D. Thus, when the adjustment element 12 abuts one or more of the shoulders 24, the teeth 38 engage the complementary teeth 40 to prevent relative displacement of the adjustment element 12 with respect to the support plate 16 and, thus, with respect to the actuation element 14.

As a variant, the friction means 34 and the complementary friction means 36 may have different properties, as long as their interaction allows to generate sufficient force to prevent the adjustment element 12 from being displaced with respect to the support plate 16 when the adjustment element 12 abuts against the support plate 16.

According to one embodiment, here also shown in fig. 1 to 5, the seat 1 comprises, in the normal use position, a deformable holding element 42 of the adjustment element 12. The deformable retaining element 42 is carried, for example, by the mounting plate 16 and is in particular formed by an additional shoulder of the mounting plate 16 which does not comprise complementary friction means as described above. The additional shoulder thus comprises a substantially smooth surface which extends facing the surface 28 of the adjusting element 12 opposite the tooth 26. In the normal position of use, this face of the additional shoulder abuts against the face 28 of the adjusting element 12 and, despite the presence of the complementary friction means 36 on the face 28, allows the adjusting element 12 to slide relatively with respect to the support plate 16 and therefore with respect to the actuating element 14 when the actuating element 14 is actuated, as shown in fig. 3 and 4. The deformable holding element 42 thus allows guiding the relative displacement of the adjustment element 12 with respect to the actuation element 14 and also allows preventing an undesired engagement of the friction means 34 with the complementary friction means 36 during normal use of the seat. In fact, such undesired engagement, which may occur for example after intense vibrations, would prevent the user from adjusting the height of the seat 2. Thus, the present invention not only allows to prevent the displacement of the seat with respect to the base in the event of a carrier, it also allows, partly by means of the deformable retaining element 42, to adjust the seat precisely and easily during the normal use of the chair.

The holding element 42 is arranged to deform when a force greater than a certain threshold value is applied to the holding element 42 by the adjustment element 12, which force is directed towards the friction means 34, as indicated by arrow F in fig. 5. The deformation of the holding element 42 is arranged to allow the adjustment element 12 to be displaced up to the shoulder 24 carrying the friction means 34, so that the friction means 34 can interact with the complementary friction means 36 after the deformation of the holding element 42, as shown in fig. 5.

According to the embodiment shown in fig. 4 and 5, the seat 1 comprises at least two friction devices 34, which extend in the relative displacement direction D on both sides of the deformable holding element 42. More generally, the chair 1 comprises as many friction means 34 or one or more friction means 34 as possible of sufficient length so that the complementary friction means 36 of the adjustment element 12 extend at least partially facing at least one friction means 34 in all positions of the actuation element 14 relative to the adjustment element 12, i.e. in all positions of the seat 2 relative to the base 4. The friction device 34 is carried by the mounting plate 16, for example, as shown herein.

With reference to fig. 4 and 5, the operation of the seat 1 according to the invention during normal use of the vehicle (fig. 4) and during a collision of the vehicle (fig. 5) will now be described.

Normal use of the vehicle is to be understood as the normal use of the vehicle when stopped or driving, that is to say in addition to the occurrence of an accident or impact with the vehicle. During such normal use, the adjustment element 12 is in a normal use position in which the friction means 34 are distanced from the complementary friction means 36 and, if necessary, are kept distanced from the complementary friction means 36 by the deformable holding means 42. Thus, in the normal position of use, when the actuation element 14 is actuated by a user wishing to adjust the height of the seat 2 relative to the base 4, the adjustment element 12 and the actuation element 14 can be displaced relative to each other in the relative displacement direction D.

In the event of a collision of the vehicle, in particular when the collision causes a sufficiently large force to be exerted between the adjusting element 12 and the actuating element 14 in the relative displacement direction D to overcome the holding moment between the adjusting element 12 and the actuating element 14 or to separate the actuating element 14 from the seat 2, a force in the adjustment direction H is exerted on the adjusting element 12, tending to bring the friction means 34 close to the complementary friction means 36. The force directed in the adjustment direction H is caused by the sliding of the tooth 26 of the adjustment element 12 on the tooth 30 of the actuating element 14 cooperating with the tooth 26 of the adjustment element 12, which sliding is caused by the impact by the application of a force in the relative displacement direction D. Thus, in the event of a crash, the adjustment element 12 tends to be displaced in translation on the tooth 30 of the pinion towards the outside of this tooth 30, the adjustment element 12 cooperating with this tooth 30, as shown in fig. 5.

In other words, when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied to the seat in the relative displacement direction D, the adjustment element 12 is displaced in the adjustment direction H towards the one or more friction devices 36. The predetermined force is for example between 3000N (newton) and 4000N. If the applied force is less than the predetermined force, that is, if the force is insufficient to overcome the holding moment, the deformable holding element 42 does not deform and prevents the adjustment member 12 from being displaced in the adjustment direction H. When the applied force is greater than the predetermined force, the adjustment member 12 applies a force to the retaining member 42 such that the force causes the retaining member 42 to deform, which allows the adjustment member 12 to be displaced toward the one or more friction devices 34, as shown in FIG. 5.

Thus, the adjusting element 12 reaches an impact position in which the friction means 34 cooperate with the complementary friction means 36, which prevents the adjusting element 12 from being displaced further in the relative displacement direction D with respect to the actuating element 14.

Thus, in the event of a crash, the seat 2 remains in its position relative to the base 4, which protects the occupant of the seat and also allows to ensure the possible deployment of safety measures towards the occupant, such as the deployment of an airbag cushion.

The embodiment shown in fig. 6 and 7 differs from the embodiment described with reference to fig. 1 to 5 in that the friction means 34 are arranged to penetrate into the face 28 of the adjustment element 12 in the impact position. In other words, the adjustment element 12 has no complementary friction means and the cooperation between the friction means 34 and the adjustment element 12 is obtained by inserting the tooth 44 of the friction means 34 into the face 28 of the adjustment element 12. For this purpose, the friction device 34 is made of a material having a hardness greater than the hardness of the material of the adjustment element 12 in order to ensure that the friction device 34 penetrates into the adjustment element 12 under the action of the force exerted by the adjustment element 12 on the friction device 34. The friction means 34 are for example made of a material with a vickers hardness between 500 and 700 HV. The teeth 44 of the friction device 34 are larger in size than the teeth 38 described with reference to the embodiment of fig. 1 to 5 to ensure that the relative movement of the adjustment element 12 with respect to the actuation element 14 is effectively prevented when the teeth 44 are anchored in the adjustment element 12 in the impact position.

Such friction means 34 are for example provided on a component 46 attached between the mounting plate 16 and the frame 8 of the seat. The component 46 is fixed to the mounting plate 16 and the frame 8 of the seat, for example by screws. The part 46 has, for example, two friction devices 34 symmetrical to each other with respect to an axis passing between the two friction devices 34, so as to allow the same attachment part to be used indifferently for the right or left seat of the vehicle.

As in the previous embodiment, in the normal position of use, the friction means 34 are distanced from the face 28 of the adjustment element 12. For example, the separation is held by a breakable holding element 48, against which the face 28 of the adjusting element 12 abuts in the normal position of use. Such a breakable holding element 48 thus fulfils the same function as the deformable holding element 42 described above. Unlike the deformable holding element 42, the breakable holding element 48 is arranged to break upon application of a force greater than a certain threshold value on the breakable holding element 48 by the adjustment element 12, which force is directed towards the friction device 34. After the breakable holding element 48 is broken, the breakable holding element 48 no longer forms an obstacle between the adjusting element 12 and the friction device 34, which adjusting element 12 and friction device 34 can be engaged in the impact position. The breakable holding element 48 is for example provided on a sheet 50, the attachment part 46 being mounted on the sheet 50 and fixed to the frame, for example by screws.

Riveting and/or welding of these elements on the frame 8 may also be provided in order to ensure a robust assembly of the attachment part 46 and/or the plate 50.

The operation of the seat in the normal use position is similar to that described with reference to figures 1 to 5.

When the impact causes a sufficiently large force to be exerted in the relative displacement direction D between the adjusting element 12 and the actuating element 14, overcoming the holding moment between the adjusting element 12 and the actuating element 14 or separating the actuating element 14 from the seat 2, a force in the adjustment direction H is exerted on the adjusting element 12, tending to bring the friction element 34 close to the adjusting element 12, as described previously. Thus, the adjusting element 12 is displaced in the adjusting direction H towards the friction device 34. When the applied force is greater than the predetermined force, the adjustment member 12 applies a force to the breakable holding element 48 such that the force breaks the holding element 48, which allows the adjustment member 12 to be displaced towards the friction device 34.

Thus, the adjustment element reaches an impact position in which the friction means 34 penetrate into the face 28 of the adjustment element 12, which prevents any additional displacement of the adjustment element 12 relative to the actuating element 14 in the relative displacement direction D.

It should be appreciated that the above embodiments may be combined with the previous embodiments. For example, in embodiments where the friction means cooperates with complementary friction means, the retaining element may be breakable. In contrast, in embodiments where the friction element penetrates into the adjustment element, the retaining element may be deformable.

In the embodiment in which the adjustment element 12 is a toothed sector, the friction means 34 are arranged on the holding element 33, for example along a central distance, to extend against the face 28 of the toothed sector without preventing its movement in the normal position of use. The friction means 34 are for example of the same type as in the previous embodiment, i.e. the friction means 34 are arranged to penetrate into the face 28 of the adjustment element 12 in the impact position. Thus, according to this example, the friction element 34 comprises a series of teeth 44, the hardness of the series of teeth 44 being greater than the hardness of the retaining element 12 to be anchored in the adjustment element 12 when a force greater than a predetermined threshold is exerted by the adjustment element 12 on the friction means 24. The stiffness of the teeth 44 is set to ensure that the teeth 44 do not penetrate into the adjustment element 12 before a force greater than a predetermined force is applied, so that in the normal use position the teeth 44 do not interfere with the displacement of the adjustment element 12 relative to the actuation element 14, even if these teeth 44 abut against the adjustment element 12.

It will be appreciated that, according to another example, the friction means 34 may be of the same type as described in the embodiment of fig. 1 to 5, that is to say arranged to cooperate with complementary friction means provided on the adjustment element.

The friction element 34 extends, for example, substantially perpendicularly to a line passing through the axis of rotation of the actuating element 14 and the adjusting element 12. Thus, in the event of a collision, the adjustment element 12 pushes against the friction element 34, which friction element 34 penetrates into the adjustment element 12 to prevent any additional displacement of the adjustment element 12 relative to the actuation element 14.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and other embodiments are possible.

For example, the friction means 34 need not be carried by the mounting plate 16 of the adjustment element 12 or the actuation element 14 integral with the seat 2 or the base 4. The friction means 34 may be carried by another part of the seat 1, relative to which the elements of the adjusting element 12 and the actuating element 14 intended to cooperate with the friction means 34 are movable upon modification of the adjustment.

Furthermore, the adjustment device 6 is not necessarily an adjustment device for adjusting the height of the seat 2.

In another embodiment, the adjustment means 6 are adjustment means for adjusting the inclination of the seat 2, i.e. adjustment means allowing to vary the inclination of the seat 2 with respect to the base 4.

Fig. 9, in which reference numerals are repeated for elements similar to fig. 1 to 8, shows an embodiment example in which the adjustment device is configured to adjust the inclination of the seat 2 relative to the base 4 of the chair 1.

The adjustment movement is a rotational movement of the seat 2 relative to the base 4 of the chair 1 that changes the inclination of the seat 2.

The adjustment element 12 is mounted on the base 4 so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation C1 and on the seat 2 so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation C2, and carries the teeth 26 which mesh with the teeth 30 of an actuation element 14, which actuation element 14 is mounted on the base 4 so as to be movable in rotation about an axis of rotation R.

The adjustment member 12 is connected to the front end of the seat 2. The seat 2 is also mounted to the seat 2 at its rear end for rotational movement relative to the base 4.

The rotation of the adjusting element 12 controlled by the actuating element 14 causes, depending on the direction of rotation, a raising or lowering of the front end of the seat 2, while the rear end remains substantially stationary in the vertical direction, so that the inclination of the seat 2 increases or decreases, respectively.

The adjustment device 6 has a friction device 34, the adjustment element 12 being spaced apart from the friction device 34 in normal use conditions of the chair, and the adjustment element 12 being in contact with the friction device 34 when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied between the adjustment element 12 and the actuation element 14 to prevent the seat 2 from being displaced relative to the base 4 along the adjustment movement.

The friction means 34 are here received in a slot 52 of the adjusting element 12, which friction means slide in this slot 52 without interfering with the edges of the slot 52 in the normal position of use.

Fig. 10, which retains reference numerals for similar elements, shows a chair 1, which chair 1 is equipped with an adjustment device 6 for orienting the seat 2 of the chair 1 about a substantially vertical axis of rotation O, and a friction device 34.

The adjustment device 6 comprises a support 54 for rigid fixation to the floor of the vehicle, the seat 2 being mounted so as to be able to move in rotation about the rotation axis O with respect to the support 52.

The seat 2 is mounted on a support 54, for example, by means of a base 4, which base 4 is guided in rotation about a rotation axis O relative to the support 54 by means of a slide 56 extending in the shape of a circular arc and centered on the rotation axis.

The adjustment device comprises an adjustment element 12 and an actuation element 14. The adjustment element 12 is here mounted on a support 54 and comprises a rack of circular arc centred on the rotation axis O, formed with teeth 26, and meshing with the teeth 28 of the actuation element 14, which actuation element 14 is carried, for example, by the base 4 and is provided in the form of a pinion mounted so as to be rotatable with respect to the support 54 about a rotation axis R parallel to the rotation axis O of the seat 2.

The adjustment means 6 comprise friction means 34, the adjustment element 12 being spaced apart from the friction means 34 in normal conditions of use of the seat 1, and when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied between the adjustment element 12 and the actuation means 14, the adjustment element 12 is in contact with the friction means 34 to prevent the base 4, and therefore the seat 2, from rotating relative to the support 54 and therefore relative to the vehicle.

Thus, the adjustment means 6 equipped with the friction means 34 can be, for example, an adjustment means 6 for adjusting the height of the seat 2, an adjustment means for adjusting the inclination of the seat 2 or an adjustment means for adjusting the orientation of the seat 2 when the chair 1 can be pivoted about a substantially vertical orientation axis O.

The adjustment device 6 is not necessarily an adjustment device for adjusting the position of the seat 2. As a variant, it is an adjustment device for adjusting the position of the backrest of the seat.

The adjusting device 6 for adjusting the position of the backrest of the seat can be arranged between the backrest of the seat and the base of the seat, between the backrest of the seat and the seat, or between the backrest and the underframe of the vehicle.

Fig. 11, which retains reference numerals for similar elements, shows an adjusting device 6 for adjusting the inclination of the backrest 62 of the seat 1.

The adjustment device 6 allows the position of the backrest 62 to be adjusted. The lower end of the backrest 62 is mounted so as to be pivotable about a rotational axis E.

The adjustment device 6 comprises an adjustment element 12 mounted slidably with respect to a fixed part 64, the adjustment element 12 being fixed to the backrest 62 such that displacement of the adjustment element 12 causes a change in the inclination of the backrest 62.

The adjustment element 12 is mounted, for example, slidably with respect to the fixed part 64 along a circular arc trajectory T centered on the axis of rotation of the backrest 62. The adjusting element 12 is, for example, rigidly fixed to the backrest 62.

The adjusting element 12 has teeth 26 which mesh with teeth 28 of the actuating element 14. The actuating element 14 is, for example, a pinion, which is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation R.

The displacement of the actuating element 14, in particular the rotation of the actuating element 14, controls a corresponding displacement of the adjusting element 12 relative to the fixed part 64, for example along a circular arc shaped trajectory.

The adjustment means 6 comprise friction means 34, the adjustment element 12 being spaced apart from the friction means 34 in normal conditions of use of the seat 1, and the adjustment element 12 being in contact with the friction means 34 when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied between the adjustment element 12 and the actuation element 14, so as to prevent the seat 2 from being displaced relative to the base 4 according to the adjustment movement.

The friction device 34 is fixed to the fixing part 64, for example on the side of the adjusting element 12 opposite the actuating element 14, so that the adjusting element 12 is displaced between the actuating element 14 and the friction device 34.

In general, therefore, the present invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a supporting portion (base 4, support 54, fixing part 64), a seat portion defining a seat 2 or backrest 62, and an adjusting device 6 for adjusting the position of the seat portion relative to the supporting portion 4, the adjusting device 6 comprising an adjusting element 12 integral with one of the seat portion and the supporting portion and an actuating element 14 mounted on the other of the supporting portion and the seat portion, actuation of the actuating element 14 causing a displacement of the adjusting element 12 relative to the actuating element 14 in a relative displacement direction D to displace the seat portion relative to the supporting portion according to an adjustment movement H, the seat comprising a friction device 34, the adjusting element 12 being displaceable between a normal use position, in which the adjusting element 12 is spaced from the friction device 34 in normal use conditions of the seat, and in which the adjusting element 12 cooperates with the friction means 34 to prevent the seat part 2 from being displaced relative to the support part according to the adjusting movement H when a force greater than a predetermined force is exerted between the adjusting element 12 and the actuating element 14.

As shown in the above examples, the adjustment movement is, for example, an adjustment movement for adjusting the height of the seat, an adjustment movement for adjusting the inclination of the seat, a movement for adjusting the orientation of the seat about a substantially vertical axis of rotation, or a movement of the inclination of the backrest of the chair.

Claims (10)

1. Vehicle seat (1) comprising a supporting portion (4), a seat portion defining a seat (2) or a backrest, and an adjustment device (6) for adjusting the position of the seat portion relative to the supporting portion (4), the adjustment device (6) comprising an adjustment element (12) integral with one of the seat portion and the supporting portion and an actuation element (14) mounted on the other of the supporting portion and the seat portion, actuation of the actuation element (14) causing a displacement of the adjustment element (12) relative to the actuation element (14) in a relative displacement direction (D) to displace the seat portion relative to the supporting portion according to an adjustment movement (H),

characterized in that the vehicle seat comprises a friction device (34), the adjustment element (12) being displaceable between a normal use position in which the adjustment element (12) is spaced from the friction device (34) under normal use conditions of the seat and an impact position in which the adjustment element (12) cooperates with the friction device (34) to prevent displacement of the seat part (2) relative to the support part (4) according to the adjustment movement (H) when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied between the adjustment element (12) and the actuation element (14).

2. Vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized by comprising a deformable or breakable holding element (42) which holds the adjustment element (12) in the normal use position, the adjustment element (12) deforming or breaking the holding element (42) when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied between the adjustment element (12) and the actuation element (14), such that the adjustment element (12) is displaced after the deformation or breaking of the holding element (42) up to the impact position.

3. Vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adjustment element (12) has a toothed rack, the actuation element (14) being a toothed pinion which is rotatably movable and cooperates with the toothed rack, the rotation of the pinion causing a relative translational displacement of the toothed rack which results in a displacement of the seat part relative to the support part (4) according to the adjustment movement (H).

4. Vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adjustment element (12) is a toothed sector and the actuation element (14) is a toothed pinion which is rotatably movable and cooperates with the toothed sector, the rotation of the pinion causing a relative rotational displacement of the toothed sector which causes a displacement of the seat part relative to the support part (4) according to the adjustment movement (H).

5. Vehicle seat according to claim 3, characterized in that said adjustment element (12) is translationally displaced on the teeth (30) of said pinion, said adjustment element (12) cooperating with said teeth (30) of said pinion towards the outside of said teeth (30) and towards said impact position when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied between said adjustment element (12) and said actuation element (14).

6. Vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adjustment element (12) is mounted on the support part of the seat and the actuation element (14) is mounted on the seat part of the seat.

7. Vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the friction device (34) comprises at least a series of teeth (38) and the adjustment element (12) comprises a complementary friction device comprising a series of complementary teeth (40) complementary to the teeth (38) of the friction device (34).

8. Vehicle seat according to claim 6, characterized by comprising a deformable holding element (42) which holds the adjusting element (12) in the normal use position, the adjusting element (12) deforming the holding element (42) when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied between the adjusting element (12) and the actuating element (14) such that the adjusting element (12) is displaced after the deformation of the holding element (42) up to the impact position, at least two friction means (34) being provided which extend on both sides of the deformable holding element (42).

9. Vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the friction means (34) comprise at least one series of teeth having a hardness greater than the hardness of the adjustment element (12), which teeth are arranged to penetrate into the adjustment element (12) in the impact position.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined force is between 3000N and 4000N.

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