EP1334005A1

EP1334005A1 - Motor vehicle seat

Info

Publication number: EP1334005A1
Application number: EP01996478A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Rausch; Wolfgang Suck; Christina Schwerdtner
Original assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE and Co KG
Priority date: 2000-11-15
Filing date: 2001-11-13
Publication date: 2003-08-13
Also published as: DE10057724A1; WO2002040313A1; US20040051361A1; JP2004513823A; DE10057724B4

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat comprising: a seat frame; a seat back, which is pivotally mounted on the seat frame, and which can be tilted forward toward a sitting surface of the seat frame; a longitudinal guide (101, 102), with which the seat frame can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the seat in order to adjust the longitudinal position of the seat; a detent device (120) for locking the seat frame in a pre-adjusted longitudinal position of the seat; an actuating element for unlocking the detent device (120) so that the seat frame can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the seat, and; a coupling mechanism, which acts upon the actuating element and unlocks the detent device (120) when the seat back is tilted forward toward the seating surface. According to the invention, an actuation stop (183) is provided on a part (181) that can swivel together with the seat back and, when the seat back is tilted forward toward the sitting surface, the actuation stop acts upon a coupling element (187), which is rotatably mounted on the swivel axis (180) and which forms a component part of the coupling mechanism.

Description

Automotive seat

description

The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat according to the preamble of claim 1. This includes, for example, a seat frame, a seat provided on the seat frame and a backrest which is pivotally mounted on the seat frame and can be folded forward towards the seat surface.

Such seats are used as front seats in motor vehicles, the folding of the backrest to facilitate the boarding of a passenger or the insertion of an object into the rear of the motor vehicle. An additional relief when getting in, which is important in two-door motor vehicles, is achieved in that the seat can be moved forward after the backrest is folded forward. For this purpose, the motor vehicle seat also has the following:

- A longitudinal guide with which the seat frame is movable in the longitudinal direction of the seat to adjust the longitudinal position of the seat;

- A locking device for locking the seat frame in a previously adjusted longitudinal position;

- An actuator for unlocking the locking device so that the seat frame is movable in the longitudinal direction of the seat; - A coupling mechanism for coupling the locking device with the backrest, which acts on the actuating element and thereby unlocks the locking device when the backrest is folded towards the seat;

a memory device, by means of which the seat frame can be automatically stopped in a predeterminable longitudinal seat position defined as a memory position during a movement in the longitudinal direction of the seat, with a stop associated with the seat frame and movable in the longitudinal direction of the seat with a counter-stop of the memory

Device engages;

- Setting means of the memory device with which the memory position can be adjusted by moving the position of the counter-stop in the longitudinal direction of the seat;

- A locking device of the memory device for locking a set memory position and

- Switching means with which the locking device can be unlocked in order to be able to set the memory position.

Such a seat, known from WO 00/55002, on the one hand offers the possibility, after the backrest has been folded forward in the direction of the seat surface, to move the seat frame, and thus the entire vehicle seat, to the front so that a passenger can get into the rear facilitate (easy entry function). At the same time, the seat can then be moved very easily back into its original longitudinal position when this longitudinal position is stored as a memory position by means of the memory device provided for this purpose. In this case, the seat frame is automatically stopped in the memory position when the seat is pushed back, a stop assigned to the seat frame interacting with a counter-stop of the memory device.

The invention is based on the problem of creating a motor vehicle seat of the type mentioned at the outset which is distinguished by a simple and reliable coupling of the coupling mechanism to the pivotable backrest.

This problem is solved according to the invention by creating a motor vehicle seat with the features of claim 1. Thereafter, an actuating stop is provided on a component which can be pivoted together with the backrest, which acts when the backrest is folded forward onto the seat surface on a rotatably mounted coupling element which forms part of the coupling mechanism and thereby actuates the coupling mechanism such that it acts on the actuating element of the locking device acts.

The coupling element is preferably arranged in the region of the pivot axis of the backrest and in particular on this pivot axis itself. This has the advantage that the coupling mechanism provided for actuating the locking device can be arranged at its end facing away from the locking device in a simple manner in the area of or on the pivot axis of the backrest. As a result, the seat underframe (without backrest or with only part of the backrest, namely a backrest fitting) together with the unlocking mechanism for the locking device to fulfill the easy entry function can be manufactured and delivered as a completely pre-assembled unit, on which the backrest can then be delivered is attached.

In a preferred embodiment, the component which can be pivoted together with the backrest is designed as a backrest fitting.

The actuating stop can be formed, for example, by a section of the outer contour of the component which can be given away together with the backrest, or also by a projection projecting therefrom.

According to a variant of the invention, the coupling mechanism which couples the backrest to the locking device comprises a lever mechanism which extends from the component which can be given away together with the backrest to the locking device. In order to be able to compensate for a change in the height of the pivot axis of the backrest with respect to the longitudinal seat guide in the case of a height-adjustable seat, this lever mechanism can have a corresponding joint or a longitudinal guide. The component that can be pivoted together with the backrest can form part of the lever mechanism.

According to another variant of the invention, the coupling mechanism comprises a Bowden cable which extends from the component which can be pivoted together with the backrest to the locking device, the core of the Bowden cable being fixed directly or indirectly (via further elements) to the component mentioned.

The use of a lever arrangement as an integral part of the Coupling mechanism has the advantage that the danger of the cable pull tearing in a Bowden cable is avoided.

According to a further development of the motor vehicle seat according to the invention, a memory device is provided, by means of which the seat frame can be automatically stopped in a predeterminable longitudinal position of the seat when it is moved in the longitudinal direction of the seat, a stop associated with the seat frame and movable in the longitudinal direction of the seat having a counterstop the memory device engages.

Furthermore, setting means of the memory device are provided with which the memory position can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the seat, a locking device of the memory device serving to lock the set memory position and switching means for unlocking the locking device being provided.

It can further be provided that the coupling mechanism, which acts on the actuating element of the locking device and unlocks it when the backrest is folded forwards towards the seat surface, only acts on the actuating element as long as the backrest is folded forward. Thus, the seat frame can be locked at any time by locking the locking device when the backrest is no longer folded forward, that is, it has been folded back into its functional position. This means in particular that when the backrest is folded up, the lockability of the seat frame in a current longitudinal position is independent of whether the respective longitudinal position corresponds to the memory position.

On the one hand, this leads to an increase in ease of use, since the variability with regard to the longitudinal seat positions that can be adjusted and locked after the Easy Entry function has been carried out is increased. At the same time, functional safety is improved, since the seat can be locked even when it is not in the memory position, so that no safety risk can arise as a result of an insufficiently secured seat.

In the present case, the seat frame is understood to mean all components of the load-bearing seat structure that are movable in the direction of the seat catch, in particular also those components of the longitudinal seat guide, such as a seat rail (top rail), which are moved in the longitudinal direction when the seat longitudinal position is adjusted.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, blocking means are furthermore provided, which are coupled to the backrest and which act in such a way on the switching means provided for unlocking the locking device of the memory device when the backrest is folded forwards that an unlocking of the locking device is prevented when the backrest is folded forward. This means that when the backrest is folded forwards, the locking device of the memory device is always locked, so that the memory position cannot be changed.

The locking means can, for example, be coupled to the backrest via a pushing means or a traction means, in particular in the form of a rope. However, a lever arrangement or another gear can also be used for the coupling. It is only necessary that the means used for the coupling are suitable for converting a pivoting movement of the backrest into a movement of a locking element and bringing it into a position in which it blocks an unlocking of the locking device of the memory device.

The locking means can be coupled to the backrest via the same coupling mechanism as the actuating element, which causes the locking device of the longitudinal seat guide to be unlocked when the backrest is folded forwards.

In order to engage a locking element of the locking means with the switching means, e.g. be provided that the locking element is moved in the longitudinal direction of the seat when folding the backrest. Alternatively, a pivoting movement of the locking element when folding the backrest forward or another form of movement can be provided.

The locking element has e.g. a stop, which comes into operative connection when the backrest is folded forwards, thereby blocking an unlocking of the locking device of the memory device. Alternatively, the locking element can also be connected to the switching means and, when the backrest is folded forward, act on the switching means in such a way that an unlocking of the locking device is thereby prevented.

The switching means provided for unlocking the locking device of the memory device can be formed, for example, by a switching lever or by a switching spring, the former being pivoted to unlock the locking device and the latter being deformed for this purpose. A movable switching means can also be used.

The switching means are preferably mounted on the seat frame and are such arranged that they can only act to unlock the locking device when the seat frame is in the memory position. This means that a change in the memory position, which requires an unlocking of the locking device, can only be made if the seat frame is in the current memory position.

In an advantageous development, the switching means are elastically biased in the direction of a first switching position and can be switched into a second switching position counter to the effect of this biasing, the locking device being locked in one of the two switching positions and the locking device being unlocked in the other switching position.

In one embodiment of the invention, the switching means are coupled to the locking device of the longitudinal seat guide when the seat frame is in the memory position and can therefore be switched simultaneously when the locking device is actuated.

According to a variant, the switching means are switched when the locking device is unlocked in such a way that the locking device is unlocked. This means that when the locking device of the longitudinal seat guide in the memory position is unlocked, the locking device of the memory device is also unlocked, so that a new memory position can be set. Here, however, can be ensured by the above-mentioned locking means that this is only possible if the backrest is not in the folded position. Because when the seat is moved for the purpose of facilitating entry into the motor vehicle, no change in the memory position should generally be made.

According to another variant, when the locking device of the longitudinal seat guide is locked, the switching means are switched such that the locking device of the memory device is unlocked. In this variant, the setting means of the memory device provided for changing the memory position are automatically activated when the locking device of the longitudinal seat guide is locked. If the locking device is then unlocked again in order to be able to move the seat frame in the longitudinal direction of the seat, a correction of the memory position can also take place at the same time. Of course, the blocking means mentioned above can also be used to activate the setting means of the memory device only when the backrest is not folded forward. It can further be provided that in the memory position of the seat frame with the backrest not folded forward and with the locking device of the memory device unlocked, the switching means are supported in such a way that the switching means are not switched when the locking device is unlocked. For this purpose, the switching means can be supported, for example, on a support surface or can also be prestressed into a specific position by means of an elastic element.

In order to prevent the setting means of the memory device from being automatically activated when the memory position is approached, with the result that the memory position would also be changed when the longitudinal seat position is subsequently adjusted, the switching means can be provided when moving to the memory position with the backrest not folded forward, are initially deactivated and this blocks an immediate unlocking of the locking device of the memory device. When the locking device is subsequently locked, the switching means can then be actuated in such a way that they can act on the locking device of the memory device again for unlocking. This can be brought about in particular in that the locking device is automatically unlocked when the locking device is subsequently unlocked.

To deactivate the switching means when moving to the memory position with the backrest not folded forward, it can be provided that the switching means is assigned a guide surface of the memory device and that this guide surface is designed such that the switching means when moving to the memory position along the Guide surface are guided and can not act on the locking device. When the locking device is subsequently locked, the switching means can then be actuated automatically in such a way that they are lifted off the guide surface again. When the locking device is subsequently unlocked again (with the backrest not folded forward), the switching means can then act again on the locking device of the memory device in order to unlock its setting means.

In another embodiment, the switching means is assigned a stop surface of the memory device, which is arranged in such a way that it acts on the switching means when the memory position is approached with the backrest not folded forward, in order to prevent the locking device from unlocking the locking device. When the locking device is subsequently locked, the switching means are actuated in such a way that they are lifted off the stop surface again. In a preferred development of the invention, the locking device of the memory device is elastically biased towards its locked position and the switching means can act in the memory position with the backrest not folded forward in such a way that the locking device is unlocked against the elastic bias.

The locking device of the memory device preferably consists of a locking unit which can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the seat together with the counter-stop of the memory device and a locking device which is assigned to the locking unit and which has locking points arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the seat, at which the locking unit with respect to the locking device for fixing the memory position can be locked.

The locking unit can, for example, comprise a pivotably mounted pawl which has a latching element which can be latched into the latching points of the latching device, the latching pawl being provided with an actuating section, on which the switching means can act, in order to latch the latching element into or out of the latching device to let it snap.

In order to also be able to make an adjustment of the memory position when the longitudinal seat position is adjusted, the memory device has a driver which can be brought into engagement with the seat frame, so that the counter-stop and the locking unit of the memory device together with the Seat frame can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the seat. For this purpose, the driver is assigned an engagement area of the seat frame and the driver is connected to the engagement area e.g. can be brought into engagement in that the driver and the engagement area are pivoted relative to one another.

The driver and the engagement area can preferably only be brought into engagement with one another when the seat frame is in the memory position and when the locking device of the memory device is unlocked. The driver itself can for example be arranged on the pawl.

The setting means with which the memory position can be set can advantageously be formed by a slider which is movably mounted in the longitudinal direction of the seat and on which the locking unit and the counter-stop of the memory device are arranged.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following Description of an embodiment will become apparent from the figures.

Show it:

Fig. 1a is a perspective view of a seat frame with a

Backrest, a longitudinal seat guide, a fixing device for the longitudinal seat guide and a coupling mechanism which unlocks the fixing device when the backrest is folded forward onto the seat surface;

1b shows a detail from FIG. 1a in the region of the pivot axis of the backrest;

2 shows an exploded view of part of the seat frame from FIG. 1a;

3a shows a further perspective illustration of a part of a seat frame in the region of the pivot axis of the backrest in a state in which the backrest is folded forward onto the seat surface;

3b shows a representation according to FIG. 3a in a state in which the backrest is in a position of use;

4a shows a perspective illustration of a first modification of the exemplary embodiment from FIGS. 1a to 3b;

4b shows a second perspective illustration according to FIG. 4a;

5a shows a perspective view of a second modification of the exemplary embodiment from FIGS. 1a to 3b;

5b shows a second perspective illustration according to FIG. 4a;

6 shows a perspective illustration of a part of a seat frame known from the prior art with a longitudinal seat guide, a locking device for the longitudinal seat guide, a seat side part on which a backrest can be pivoted, and with a programmable memory device for automatically finding a predefinable longitudinal seat position; 6a shows a rear view of the illustration from FIG. 6; ^'

7 shows a representation according to FIG. 6 in a state in which the backrest is folded forward in order to be able to move the seat with the backrest folded forwards;

FIG. 8 shows a representation according to FIG. 6 in a state in which an operating lever was actuated in the memory position when the backrest was folded up in order to reset the memory position;

9 shows a representation according to FIG. 6 in a state in which the memory position of the seat is approached with the backrest folded up;

10 shows a representation according to FIG. 6 in a state in which the memory position of the seat is reached with the backrest folded up;

Fig. 11 is a schematic representation of a seat frame.

The seat frame G (seat base frame) shown in a side view in FIG. 11 comprises a seat rail 2 which is movably supported in the longitudinal direction L of the seat on a lower rail 1 to be fastened to the vehicle body, and a seat side part 8 which is height-adjustable on the seat rail 2 via front and rear articulated levers is articulated. On its other longitudinal side, which cannot be seen in FIG. 11, the seat frame G has a corresponding arrangement. Between the two seat side parts of the seat frame G extends a seat that receives a seat cushion on which a vehicle occupant can take a seat.

Furthermore, the side parts 8 of the seat frame G each have a bearing point 80 for the pivotable mounting of a backrest R indicated by dashed lines in FIG.

In the present case, parts of the seat frame are understood to be all those components which can be moved on the body-fixed lower rail 1 in the longitudinal direction of the seat, that is to say in particular the seat rail 2, the seat side part 8 and the further seat components connected therewith. If such a vehicle seat adjustable in the longitudinal direction L is used for a two-door vehicle, it is known to couple the backrest to the seat longitudinal adjustment in order to facilitate entry into the rear of the vehicle, in such a way that when the backrest R is folded forwards in the direction of the a locking device assigned to the longitudinal seat guide 1, 2 is unlocked between the seat side parts 8 and the seat can be advanced with the backrest folded forward. This is a so-called easy entry function.

In the following, the basic principle of the easy entry function when using a programmable memory device for automatically finding a predeterminable longitudinal seat position is explained using a seat arrangement shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 and known from WO 00/55002. For further details, reference is made to WO 00/55002, which in this regard is expressly made the subject of the present description.

The perspective front view according to FIG. 6 and the associated rear view according to FIG. 6a show a rail 101 fixed to the body and a seat rail 102 movably guided thereon in the longitudinal direction L of the seat, with a locking rail 107 on the fixed rail 101 having a plurality of latching openings 170 arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction L of the seat is attached. The seat rail 102 carries the other components of the seat frame, see FIG. 11.

The seat rail 102 can be locked with respect to the rail 101 fixed to the body by means of a locking device 120. This can be a conventional locking device for a longitudinal adjustment of the seat. FIGS. 6 and 6a show the housing, a pivotably mounted actuating element 120b and a torsion spring acting on the actuating element 120b of a known locking device, the housing of which is fastened to the seat rail 2. The torsion spring serves among other things the removal of play from the arrangement to prevent rattling noises.

This locking device comprises, for example according to DE 299 10 720 U1, a plurality of locking teeth arranged inside the housing, which - by means of springs in the form of coil springs mounted in the housing - elastically fastened in the direction of a rail 1 on the body-side rail, in FIGS. 6 and 6a not recognizable, locking devices are biased. Due to the bias acting on the locking teeth, the locking teeth assigned to the seat rail 102 automatically snap into the body-fixed locking device, so that the longitudinal adjustment of the seat is locked if the locking teeth are not disengaged from the latching device by means of the actuating element 120b provided for this purpose.

Since the actuating element 120b of the locking device 120 is biased against the direction in which it is pivoted to unlock the locking device 120 by means of the spring arrangement 120a, which comprises the springs acting on the locking teeth arranged inside the housing and the torsion spring arranged outside the housing the locking device 120 can only be unlocked if a force is exerted on the actuating element 120b thereof against the action of the spring arrangement 120a.

To unlock the locking device 120, the actuating element 120b can on the one hand be actuated directly by a seat user by having an actuating handle 109 pivotally articulated on the seat frame and having a cross tube 190 on an actuating handle 190 provided for this purpose (not recognizable in FIGS. 6 and 6a) grips and pivots this counterclockwise, whereby the actuating element 120b moves against the bias of the spring assembly 120a down. On the other hand, the locking device 120 can also be unlocked by folding the seat back forwards, for which purpose the seat back is coupled to the actuating lever 109 via a Bowden cable which has a cable 121b and whose Bowden (not shown) is supported on a Bowden support 121. Furthermore, a gear part 122 is mounted on the pivot axis of the actuating lever 109 by means of an axle stub 124, which has a guide 122a and a suspension 122b for the cable 121b of the Bowden cable. This gear part 122 converts a tightening of the rope 121b into a pivoting movement when the backrest is folded forward, which in turn is transmitted to the latter by two arms 123 of the gearbox, which embrace the actuating lever 109. As a result, the actuating lever 109 pivots clockwise when the backrest is folded forward and unlocks the locking device 120 via the actuating element 120b.

On the cable 121b of the Bowden cable, a cable nipple 168 is also fastened, for example by squeezing, between the Bowden support 121, which is fastened to the seat rail by means of a fastening plate 121a, and the transmission 122. A switching element in the form of a switching lever 106 is assigned to the cable nipple 168, which is pivotably mounted by means of a bearing bush 165, a stepped bolt 165a and a screw 166 about an axis formed by the longitudinal axis of the stepped bolt 165a and at the same time on the seat frame or its seat rail 102 is attached. In an upper section 161, the shift lever 106 has a stop 162 which is arranged directly next to the cable nipple 168 and on which the cable nipple 168 acts in the longitudinal direction of the seat can, whereby the shift lever 106 is pivoted.

The second end section of the shift lever 106 arranged below the bearing bush 165 and the stepped bolt 165a forms an actuation section 160 to which an actuation section of a pawl 104 of the memory device is assigned. The actuating section of the pawl 104 is formed by an actuating surface 140 on the top of the pawl.

In the present case, the shift lever 106 is locked in the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 6a by an extension 191 of the actuating lever 109, on which the upper section 161 of the shift lever 106 is supported vertically (transversely to the longitudinal direction of the seat L) by a stop 163 whose actuating section 160 acts on the actuating surface 140 of the pawl 104. The torque required for this is applied by the spring arrangement 120a of the locking device 120, which acts on the lever extension -191 via the actuating element 120b and the actuating lever 109.

Alternatively or additionally, the vertical position of the shift lever 106 can also be supported by a spring arranged directly on the shift lever 106 or by the fact that the shift lever 106 is mounted with sufficient friction which cannot be overcome by the action of the compression spring 400 of the pawl 104.

The pawl 104 itself, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 6a, is pivotably mounted on a bearing journal 155 of a slider 105, which is guided with a base body 150 in the longitudinal direction L of the seat next to the latching openings 170 of the latching rail 107. The slider has a recess 152 in its base body 150, in which a compression spring 400 is arranged, which acts on the pawl 104 below the actuating section 140 and thereby prestresses the pawl 104 in such a way that a latching hook 141 arranged at the other end of the pawl 104 has the tendency to engage in the locking rail 107. In the state shown in FIGS. 6 and 6a, in which the seat is locked in the memory position with the backrest not folded forwards, the pawl is prevented in that the actuating section 160 of the shift lever 106 is supported on the actuating surface 140 of the pawl 104 , so that it cannot pivot around the bearing pin 155 in order to bring the latching hook 141 into engagement with the latching rail 107.

In the state shown in FIGS. 6 and 6a, there is also a counter stop 144 of the pawl 104 in contact with a stop 132 of a stop element 103, which is fastened to the seat rail 102 with fastening screws 136. There is also a driver 143 of the pawl 104, which follows adjoins the stop 144 at the top, in engagement with an engagement region 134 of the stop element 103.

If, in the state of the seat shown in FIGS. 6 and 6a, in which it is locked in the memory position, the backrest is folded forward, the cable 121b of the Bowden cable tightens and moves in the direction of the rear (backrest-side ) Seated.

7, the actuating lever 109 is pivoted counterclockwise via the gear part 122 and the arms 123, whereby it acts on the actuating element 120b and unlocks the locking device 120. On the other hand, the cable nipple 168 squeezed with the cable 121b moves in the direction of the rear seat end and thereby acts on the stop 162 in the upper section 161 of the shift lever 106. The shift lever 106 is pivoted counterclockwise, its actuating section 160 being lifted off the associated actuating surface 140 of the pawl 104. This pivoting movement of the shift lever 106 is possible because it is no longer blocked by the lever extension 191, which was pivoted downward together with the actuating lever 109. Characterized in that the shift lever 106 has released the pawl 104, this now pivots due to the action of the compression spring 400 (see FIG. 6a) around the bearing pin 155 of the slider 105 until the latching hook 141 engages in an opening 170 of the latching rail 107. The pawl 104 and thus the memory device as a whole is locked.

The pivoting movement of the pawl 104 also has the consequence that the driver 143 of the pawl 104 and the engagement area 134 of the stop element 103 disengage. This is necessary in order to be able to move the seat frame, since otherwise a movement of the seat would be blocked by the locked memory device.

The cable nipple 168 serves here as a locking means, which acts on the shift lever 106 when the backrest is folded forwards so that the pawl 104 cannot be unlocked by means of the shift lever 106.

The arrangement is designed such that when the backrest of the latching hook 141 is folded forward under the action of the compression spring 400, it can already engage in a latching opening 170 before the locking device 120 is unlocked to such an extent that the seat rail 102 is displaceable with respect to the rail 101 fixed to the body. This ensures reliable storage of the current seat longitudinal position as a memory position guaranteed. If, however, the latching hook 141 cannot directly engage in a latching opening 170 because the seat is positioned in such a way that the latching hook 141 hits a web between two latching openings 170 under the action of the compression spring 400, the latching hook 141 only latches after one slight displacement of the seat frame in the longitudinal direction L in the next locking opening 170, which it passes. In such a case, there is a slight deviation between the longitudinal seat position when the backrest is folded forward and the memory position subsequently stored.

In the state shown in FIG. 7, which was achieved by folding the backrest forward, the seat frame can now be moved forward with the backrest folded forwards in the longitudinal direction L of the seat in order to facilitate the entry of a passenger or the insertion of an object into the rear of a motor vehicle ,

If the seat is then moved back again with the backrest folded forward, it is automatically stopped at the latest in the memory position defined by the pawl 104. Because when the memory position is reached, the stop 132 of the seat frame comes into contact with the stop 144 of the memory device, which prevents further movement of the seat frame to the rear.

If the backrest is then folded back into its functional position, the tension of the cable 121b is released, and the switching lever 106 and the actuating lever 109 with the extension 191 attached to them return to the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 6a. If the actuating lever 109 is then pivoted counterclockwise to unlock the locking device 120, the state shown in FIG. 8 is established.

When the actuating lever 109 is pivoted manually by means of an actuating handle provided for this purpose, the locking device 120 is unlocked via the actuating element 120b, so that the seat frame can be moved in the longitudinal direction L of the seat on the rail 101 fixed to the body; however, in contrast to folding the backrest forward, the shift lever 106 remains in its vertical position in which its actuating section 160 acts vertically on the actuating surface 140. This prevents the pawl 104 from being locked under the action of the compression spring 400.

Because of the lever extension 191 pivoted downward according to FIG. 8, which accordingly does not rest against the assigned stop 163 of the shift lever 106, the vertical position of the shift lever 106 must be made, for example, by a suitable design. tion of the actuating surface 140 of the pawl 104 are secured. For this purpose, the actuating surface 140 can be curved in such a way that it does not exert any moment under the action of the compression spring 400 of the pawl 104 on the actuating section 160 of the shift lever 106, which would result in a pivoting movement of the shift lever 106 counterclockwise. In other words, the interaction of the actuating surface 140 of the pawl 104 with the actuating section 160 of the shift lever 106 must be designed such that no pivoting movement of the shift lever 106 counterclockwise is triggered by the forces introduced by the compression spring 400 from the ratchet 104 becomes. In contrast, a pivoting movement of the shift lever 106 in the clockwise direction is blocked by the cable nipple 168.

Alternatively, the vertical position of the shift lever 106 can - as already mentioned above - also be secured by means of a suitable spring element or by means of sufficiently large frictional forces.

In summary, the actuation of the actuating lever 109 in the memory position of the seat (with the backrest not folded forwards) means that on the one hand the locking device 120 is unlocked, while at the same time the pawl 104 and thus the memory device as a whole remain in the unlocked state, which is already existed before pivoting the actuating lever 109, see FIGS. 6 and 6a. In addition, the catch 143 of the memory device engages in the engagement area 134 of the stop element 103 on the seat rail side.

In this state, a movement of the seat frame in the longitudinal direction L leads to the fact that the pawl 140 is taken along at the same time, so that a new memory position is also set when the seat is moved. However, the newly set memory position, which corresponds to the longitudinal seat position newly set by displacing the seat frame, is not already locked when the actuating lever 109 is finally released. 6 and 6a, this initially only has the consequence that the locking device 120 is locked and thus the seat rail 102 is locked with respect to the rail 101 fixed to the body. In contrast, according to FIG. 7, the memory device is locked only when the seat back is folded forward in the new longitudinal position of the seat. Accordingly, in the present exemplary embodiment, the memory device is only ever locked when the seat is moved forward with the backrest folded forwards as part of the easy entry function.

In Fig. 9, the seat frame is shown after it is first with the backrest folded forward has been moved forward in the longitudinal direction L of the seat, with the pawl 104 being locked in the original sitting position, and after the backrest has subsequently been folded back into its functional position. In addition, the actuating lever 109 is pivoted such that the locking device 120 is unlocked and the seat frame can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the seat either forward or backward. In each longitudinal seat position that is reached here, the seat frame can be locked by means of the locking device 120 with respect to the rail 1 fixed to the body by releasing the actuating lever 109.

10 finally shows the state of the seat frame when it is moved back to the memory position with the backrest raised. Here, the shift lever 106 abuts with its actuating section 160 on a projection 140a, which projects vertically upward from the actuating surface 140 of the pawl 104. This is due to the fact that the pawl 104 is in the locked state in which it engages with its latching hook 141 (see FIG. 6a) in a latching opening 170 of the latching rail 107. As a result of the inclined position of the actuating surface 140 of the pawl 104, this exerts a torque on the actuating section 160 of the shift lever 106 with a component parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the seat. As a result, the shift lever 106 is pivoted counterclockwise and its operating portion 160 comes into abutment with the projection 140a of the pawl 104. This causes the pawl 104 to remain locked when the seat base frame has the memory shown in FIG. Position reached.

In summary, accordingly, the actuating surface 140 in the locked state of the pawl 104 interacts with the actuating section 160 of the shift lever 106 such that it is pivoted when the seat is pushed into the memory position with the backrest raised, thereby preventing the pawl 104 from being unlocked. (If the seat is pushed backwards into the memory position with the backrest folded forward, then the shift lever 106 is pivoted anyway due to the action of the cable nipple 168, see FIG. 7, so that in this case too there is no unlocking of the memory device On the other hand, the actuating surface 140 of the pawl 104 and the actuating section 160 of the shift lever 106 interact in the unlocked state of the pawl 104, see FIG. 6, in such a way that the pawl 104 remains unlocked, as explained in more detail above with reference to FIG. 6 has been.

Because of the locked state of the pawl 104, the seat frame is automatically stopped when the memory position is reached when the stop 132 of the stop element 103 on the seat frame side with the counter stop 144 of the memory Device (see Fig. 6a) moves on block.

If the actuating lever 109 is then released in the memory position, it is pivoted clockwise under the action of the spring arrangement 120a of the locking device 120 until the locking device 120 is locked again. At the same time, the extension 191 of the actuating lever 109, which acts on the angled stop 163 in the upper section 161 of the switching lever 106, pivots the switching lever 106 clockwise into its vertical position, the switching lever 106 with its actuating section 160 on the actuating surface 140 of the pawl 104 acts and unlocks (against the action of the compression spring 400) (which requires a corresponding design of the spring arrangement 120a). The seat is then again in the state explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 6a with the backrest folded up in the memory position.

1a to 5c, different exemplary embodiments are shown below, according to the present invention, how a pivoting movement of the backrest is transmitted to the seat surface of the seat frame on the coupling mechanism, which then unlocks the locking device of the longitudinal guide.

The following explanations relating to FIGS. 1a to 5b are essentially restricted to the interaction of the coupling mechanism with the backrest of the seat frame. On the other assemblies of the seating arrangement, e.g. the longitudinal rail guide, the locking device of the longitudinal rail guide, the memory device and the interaction of these assemblies are not discussed in more detail below. In this regard, reference is made to the above explanations for Figures 6 to 10.

FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2 show a seat frame G which comprises the following: a longitudinal seat guide 101, 102; a locking device 120 for locking the longitudinal guide in a preselected longitudinal position; a programmable memory device, not recognizable in the figures, assigned to the longitudinal guide 101, 102, with which a previously programmed longitudinal position of the seat can be found again; a pair of seat side parts 108 adjustable by means of suitable levers H; as well as a backrest R hinged on the side parts 108 about an axis 180.

The backrest R can be pivoted on the one hand between different positions of use, in which it serves in each case to support the back of a person sitting on the seat, the respective inclination of the backrest R being adaptable to the needs of the seat user. The inclination is set using a handwheel 180a mounted on the pivot axis 180.

In addition, this backrest (as indicated by an arrow P in FIG. 1a) can also be folded onto the seat surface of the corresponding seat frame G (not shown in FIG. 1a). As a result, as described above with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11, the locking device 120 of the longitudinal guide 101, 102 is unlocked at the same time, so that the seat can be moved in a simple manner with the backrest folded forward. This requires a coupling mechanism which, when the backrest is folded forwards beyond a certain angle (e.g. if the backrest R tilts forward by more than 60 ° from the vertical), unlocks the locking device. An example of such a coupling mechanism has already been described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10. In the present case, this coupling mechanism (not shown in FIGS. 6 to 10) is in particular coupled to the backrest R.

According to FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2, a section 182 of the outer contour of a component that can be pivoted together with the backrest R, namely a backrest fitting 181, serves as a stop to which a counter stop 186 of a coupling element 185 rotatably mounted on the pivot axis 180 is assigned. These two stops 182, 186 work together in such a way that when the backrest R is folded forwards in the direction P on the seat surface, the stop fitting-side stop 182 (actuating stop) brings about a pivoting of the coupling element 185 by acting on the associated counter-stop 186. On this coupling element 185 there is in turn a cable suspension 188 for a cable guided in a Bowden cable 121a, which is tightened when the coupling element 185 is pivoted. This leads to the locking of the locking device 120, as has already been explained above with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10. For this purpose, a gear part 122 is provided on the end of the Bowden cable 121a facing away from the backrest R, which is pivoted when the cable guided into the Bowden cable 121a is tightened in such a way that it acts on the actuating element 109 of the locking device 120 and unlocks it. The unlocking takes place at the moment when a defined tensioning of the rope has been achieved, corresponding to a defined pivoting movement of the backrest R and thus also of the coupling element 185 to the front.

FIG. 1b also shows a support 189 on the backrest side of the Bowden cable 121a.

In FIG. 3a, an enlarged representation of how the the backrest-side stop 182 interacts with the stop 186 provided on the coupling element 185, so that the coupling element 185 is pivoted forward when the backrest is folded forwards towards the seat, a cable attachment 188 provided on the coupling element 185 moving in such a way that a hooked therein and tensioned rope in a Bowden cable 121a, whereby - as explained above with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10 - the locking device 120 of the longitudinal seat guide can be unlocked. In addition, a memory device of the longitudinal guide can also be acted on via the Bowden cable 121a, as can also be seen from FIGS. 6 to 10.

Figure 3b shows the two stops 182, 186 in a position in which they are spaced apart. This corresponds to a backrest inclined backwards.

Figures 4a and 4b show a modification of the embodiment of Figures 1a to 3b. One difference is that, according to FIGS. 4a and 4b, the actuation stop 183 on the backrest side is not formed by a section of the outer contour of the backrest fitting 181, but by a projection projecting from the backrest fitting.

Furthermore, the coupling element 187, which is rotatably arranged on the pivot axis 180 of the backrest, is designed as a lever which forms part of a lever arrangement or lever mechanism which extends from the pivot axis 180 to a gear element 199 which, via an actuating lever 109, acts on the actuating element 120b the locking device 120 can act to unlock them. This lever arrangement, which forms the coupling mechanism between the backrest and the locking device 120 of the longitudinal seat guide 101, 102, includes, in addition to the coupling element 187, an articulatedly connected to the coupling element 187, curved, rigid lever 195, an articulatedly connected to it, extending in the longitudinal direction L of the seat further lever 198 and the gear element 199 articulated to the latter lever 198, which can act on the actuating lever 109 to unlock the locking device 120.

In the state shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the stop 183 provided on the backrest fitting 181 is a defined distance s away from the coupling element 187. When the seat back is folded forward in a direction P, this projection 183 pivots in the direction of the coupling element 187 and, with a certain inclination of the backrest, stops with it so that the coupling element 187 pivots together with the backrest about its pivot axis 180 becomes. This pivoting movement of the coupling element 187 is via the Transfer further lever 195, 198 of the coupling mechanism to the transmission part 199, which then moves the actuating lever 109 and thus the actuating element 120b of the locking device 120 downward, whereby this is unlocked.

Via a further lever 197, this lever arrangement can also act on the switching lever 106 of the memory device in order to control the locking and unlocking of the memory device, of which the pawl 104 can be seen in FIG. 4b, as described above with reference to the figures 6 to 10 was shown. Because of the plurality of joints 195a, 195b, 199a, by means of which the levers 187, 195, 198 and 199 are connected, in particular the joint 195b assigned to the further lever 197, changes in the height of the pivot axis 180 can also be made with this lever arrangement Backrest are compensated for, which occur as a result of an adjustment of the seat height by means of suitable adjusting levers H, so that the further lever 197 acts in a defined manner on the memory device via the shift lever 106 regardless of the adjustment of the seat height.

By selecting the distance s between the projection 183 serving as an actuating stop on the backrest fitting 181 and the coupling element 187 when the backrest is in an upright (vertical) position, it is determined how far (by what angle) the backrest must be folded forward until the Acting stop 183 acts on the coupling element 187 and thus triggers an actuation of the locking device 120 via the coupling mechanism provided for this purpose.

FIGS. 5a to 5b show a further modification of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a to 3b, a lever arrangement for transmitting the pivoting movement of the backrest when folding forward onto the seat surface onto the actuating element 120b, as in FIGS. 4a and 4b the locking device 120 is used.

According to FIGS. 5a and 5b, the coupling element 187 designed as a lever is provided with a longitudinal guide 187a, in which one end 196a of a straight lever 196 is mounted in an articulated and longitudinally displaceable manner. This lever 196 replaces the curved lever 195 from FIGS. 4a and 4b and is also articulated at its end facing away from the backrest via a joint 196b with a lever 198 extending essentially in the longitudinal direction L of the seat. Changes in the height of the pivot axis 180 of the backrest with respect to the longitudinal guide 101, 102 can be compensated for by means of the longitudinal guide 187a, the distance s between the stop 183 provided on the backrest fitting 181 and the coupling element 187 in the case of a defined inclination of the backrest R. regardless of the setting of the height of the backrest axis 180 remains constant.

For the rest, this embodiment corresponds with regard to the coupling mechanism to that explained with reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b, so that reference is made to the above explanations for further details.

In the exemplary embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1a to 5b, the locking device 120 is unlocked preferably against the action of elastic elements, which are attached to the locking device 120 itself, to the actuating lever 109 or to suitable elements of the respective coupling mechanism, which connects the backrest with the actuating lever 109 couples, can be provided. As a result, the respective backrest-side stop 182 or 183 acts against the force of the corresponding elastic elements on the respective coupling element 185, 187, which thus has the tendency to return to its original position when the corresponding stop 182 or 183 after the backrest is folded up again from the seat surface no longer acts on the coupling element.

* * * * *

Claims

claims

1. Motor vehicle seat with

- a seat frame (G),

a backrest (R) which is pivotably mounted on the seat frame (G) and can be folded forward in the direction of a seat surface of the seat frame (G),

a longitudinal guide (101, 102) with which the seat frame (G) can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the seat (L) to adjust the longitudinal position of the seat,

- A locking device (120) for locking the seat frame in a previously adjusted longitudinal position,

- An actuating element (120b) for unlocking the locking device (120) so that the seat frame (G) can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the seat (L),

a coupling mechanism which acts on the actuating element (120b) and unlocks the locking device (120) when the backrest (R) is folded forwards towards the seat surface,

characterized,

that an actuating stop (182, 183) is provided on a component (181) which can be pivoted together with the backrest (R) and which, when the backrest (R) is folded forward onto the seat surface, is rotatably mounted

Coupling element (185, 187) acts, which forms part of the coupling mechanism.

2. Motor vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Coupling element (185, 187) is mounted on the swivel axis (180) of the backrest (R).

3. Motor vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuating stop (182, 183) acts on the rotatably mounted coupling element (185, 187) from a predeterminable inclination of the backrest.

Motor vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the component (181) which can be pivoted together with the backrest (R) is formed by a backrest fitting.

Motor vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating stop (182) is formed by a section of the outer contour of the component (181) which can be pivoted together with the backrest (R).

Motor vehicle seat according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the actuating stop (183) projects from the component (181) which can be pivoted together with the backrest (R).

7. Motor vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling mechanism comprises a lever arrangement (195, 196, 198, 199) which extends from the component (187) which can be pivoted together with the backrest (R) to the fixing device (120). extends.

8. Motor vehicle seat according to claim 7, characterized in that the

Lever arrangement comprises at least one joint (195a, 195b; 196a, 196b) in order to compensate for a change in the height of the pivot axis (180) of the backrest (R) with respect to the longitudinal guide (101, 102).

9. Motor vehicle seat according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the lever mechanism has at least one longitudinal guide (187a) to a

Compensate for changing the height of the pivot axis (180) of the backrest (R) with respect to the longitudinal guide (101, 102).

10. Motor vehicle seat according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the coupling element (187) forms part of the lever arrangement.

11. Motor vehicle seat according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the coupling mechanism comprises a Bowden cable (121a) which extends from the component (185) which can be pivoted together with the backrest (R) to the locking device (120).

12. Motor vehicle seat according to claim 11, characterized in that the core of the Bowden cable (121a) is connected to the component (185) which can be pivoted together with the backrest (R).

13. Motor vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a memory device (104, 105, 107) by means of which the seat frame (G) can be stopped automatically in a predetermined longitudinal position defined as a memory position when moving in the longitudinal direction of the seat.

14. Motor vehicle seat according to claim 13, characterized by adjusting means (105) of the memory device (104, 105, 107) with which the memory position can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the seat (L); a locking device (104, 107) of the memory device (104, 105, 107) for locking a set memory

Position; and switching means (106) with which the locking device (104, 107) can be unlocked in order to be able to set the memory position.