EP1813169A1 - Multi-directional adjustment device for a seating component and/or cable winch - Google Patents

Abstract

Multi-way adjusting device for a seat component comprises a holder (1), an adjusting element (7) connected to the seat component, and an adjusting unit (6). The adjusting element is connected to a mechanical energy-storage unit (5) so that the energy-storage unit absorbs mechanical energy on adjustment in a first adjusting direction (A) relative to the holder and releases this mechanical energy on adjustment in a second adjusting direction (B) relative to the holder. Independent claims are also included for: (1) Seat comprising the above multi-way adjusting device; (2) Adjusting device for a cable control; (3) Lordosis support; and (4) Use of an adjusting device for a cable control for adjusting a lordosis support.

Description

The present invention relates to a reusable adjustment device for a seat component, for. B. a backrest or headrest. In particular, the present invention relates to a reusable adjustment device for a seat component in which a lower energy must be applied for an adjustment of the corresponding seat component in a first adjustment than for an adjustment in a (in particular opposite) second adjustment. Moreover, the present invention relates to a reusable adjustment device for a cable, in particular a Bowden cable, in order to reduce the energy to be applied in an adjustment direction.

Current systems for adjusting the backrest width of seats, so-called bolster systems, are extremely unilaterally loaded. Such systems for backrest width adjustment comprise a slidably mounted in a housing or a holder slider or slide, which is coupled to a corresponding backrest portion. To reduce the backrest width, a significantly greater energy must be applied than for increasing the backrest width, since the slider must compress a corresponding upholstery section of the respective backrest. This has the consequence that a provided for adjusting the slider drive unit must be designed specifically for that load or adjustment, which requires more energy, which in turn leads to oversizing of the drive unit, which in electric drive units, these must be able to provide correspondingly high currents ,

This problem occurs in principle not only in systems for backrest width adjustment, but in all seat components, which can be adjusted in two or more adjustment directions, wherein an adjustment in at least one adjustment requires more energy than an adjustment in at least one other adjustment. Likewise, this problem also occurs in a system for adjusting a cable, such as a Bowden cable, on. Bowden cables are often used for example for the adjustment of lumbar supports and adjusted by so-called actuators. In this case, a corresponding adjusting force must be applied via the corresponding actuator in order, for example, to be able to adjust the curvature of the lumbar support in the desired manner. If the curvature of the lumbar support is adjusted against a user who leans against the lumbar support, a correspondingly high adjustment force must be applied via the actuator, and this applies equally to both manually and electrically operated actuators.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide an improved multi-way adjustment device for a seat component, which overcomes this problem and over-dimensioning provided for adjusting the seat component drive or adjustment can be prevented. Furthermore, the present invention has the object to provide an improved multi-way adjustment device for a cable of the type described above, in which the energy required for adjusting the cable in one of the adjustment directions can be reduced.

This object is achieved by a multi-way adjustment for a seat component with the features of claim 1 and an adjusting device for a cable with the features of claim 17. The subclaims define preferred or advantageous embodiments of the present invention.

The reusable adjusting device according to the invention comprises a holder with an adjusting part adjustably mounted relative to the holder, which is to be coupled with the corresponding seat component to be adjusted. In addition, an adjusting unit for adjusting the adjusting member relative to the holder is provided. The adjustment is coupled with mechanical energy storage means such that when adjusting the adjustment in at least a first adjustment of the mechanical energy storage means mechanical energy is absorbed, while at an adjustment of the adjustment in at least a second adjustment of this adjustment process is supported by the mechanical energy storage means by delivery of previously recorded mechanical energy.

With the help of the mechanical energy storage means, which may comprise at least one resilient element, such as a technical spiral spring, the adjusting device is indeed charged in an adjustment in the first adjustment, so that the mechanical energy storage means can absorb the mechanical energy. However, this mechanical energy is then released again when adjusting in the second adjustment direction, which preferably corresponds to the actual load direction of the adjustment and usually requires a greater force or energy than the adjustment in the first adjustment and thus supports the movement or adjustment of the adjustment in the second adjustment. This has the consequence that not only the adjustment, which is preferably designed electro-mechanically, but also the entire reusable adjustment can be designed smaller dimensions.

The present invention is suitable in principle for adjusting any seat components. In particular, however, the present invention is suitable for backrest width adjustment of a seat back or for adjusting headrests of a seat. In addition, the multi-way adjustment device according to the invention is preferably a two-way adjustment device, wherein the two adjustment directions may be substantially opposite to each other.

Moreover, the present invention relates to a reusable adjusting device, in particular a two-way adjusting device, for a cable, in particular a Bowden cable, wherein the cable, which corresponds with respect to the aforementioned embodiment in terms of its function to the adjustment, is adjustably mounted in a housing of the adjusting device , About a manually or electrically actuated adjusting unit, which is coupled to the cable or wire of the cable in a suitable manner, is a Adjusting force for adjusting the wire or rope generated and applied to the wire or the rope. In this case, the wire or the rope with mechanical energy storage means of the type described above is coupled such that upon adjustment of the wire or rope in a first adjustment relative to the housing of the mechanical energy storage means mechanical energy is absorbed while adjusting the wire or Rope is supported in a second adjustment direction relative to the housing by delivery of previously recorded mechanical energy of the mechanical energy storage means.

The mechanical energy storage means are preferably coupled both to the wire or rope and to the housing, wherein the mechanical energy storage means may be at least one resilient element, which is tensioned in adjusting the wire or rope in the first adjustment to to relax when adjusting the wire or rope in the second adjustment.

This embodiment of the present invention is preferably suitable for use in so-called actuators for Bowden cables, with which the Bowden cable can be either tensioned or relaxed. Also preferably, the invention is suitable for use in actuators in lumbar supports, to adjust over a respective Bowden example, the curvature of the lumbar support, the aforementioned first adjustment corresponds to a reduction of the curvature, while the second adjustment corresponds to an increase in the curvature of the spine support , In general, however, any function of a lumbar support, for example the height, etc., can be adjusted with the aid of the invention.

The common underlying principle of the two embodiments mentioned above can be seen in that each mechanical energy storage means are used to facilitate an adjustment in a particular adjustment direction, each less by the energy output of the mechanical energy storage means in an adjustment in said adjustment Energy must be applied by the corresponding adjustment for adjusting in the adjustment.

• Figur 1 zeigt eine Draufsicht auf eine Vorrichtung zur Lehnenbreitenverstellung gemäß einem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung,
• Figur 2 zeigt eine Seitenansicht der in Figur 1 dargestellten Vorrichtung, und
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Verstellen eines Seilzugs gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to preferred embodiments, but without being limited thereto.

• FIG. 1 shows a top view of a backrest width adjustment device according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
• Figure 2 shows a side view of the device shown in Figure 1, and
• Fig. 3 shows a side view of an apparatus for adjusting a cable according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The adjusting device shown in Figure 1 comprises a holder 1 in the form of a slider housing and a relative to the holder 1 adjustably mounted and to be coupled with a corresponding backrest portion of a seat adjusting part 7 in the form of a slider. The position of the adjusting part 7 relative to the holder 1 can be adjusted by means of an adjusting or drive unit 6, which may be, for example, an electro-mechanical adjusting unit. After the manner of adjustment of the adjustment 7 by the adjustment 6 in the context of the present invention does not play a significant role, will not be discussed in more detail below. For this purpose, a known adjustment mechanism can be used.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the adjusting part has two end sections 2, 4 and a central section 3 connecting these two end sections to one another. The two end portions 2, 4 each have a greater width than the central portion 3. The adjusting part 7 is slidably mounted with its central portion 3 in the holder 1.

As can also be seen from FIG. 1, the displacement or adjustment of the adjusting part 7 takes place essentially in two adjustment directions, which are indicated by A and B are designated. To reduce the backrest width, the adjustment part 7 is to be displaced in the adjustment direction B, while the adjustment part 7 has to be displaced in the adjustment direction A in order to increase the backrest width. After pushed to reduce the backrest width usually a corresponding pad portion of the seat back, ie compressed, must be, requires adjusting the adjustment 7 in the adjustment B in conventional devices for backrest width adjustment a greater energy or effort than an adjustment in the adjustment direction A. ,

To avoid this problem, a mechanical energy store is provided in the illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2 for backrest width adjustment, which comprises two technical springs 5 in the illustrated embodiment, which are provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the central portion 3 of the adjustment 7 and on the one hand with the end portion 4 and on the other hand are coupled to the holder 1. In particular, the design and arrangement of the springs 5 is such that they are tensioned in an adjustment of the adjustment 7 in the adjustment A and thus absorb mechanical energy, while they can relax in an adjustment of the adjustment 7 in the adjustment B, the case Released mechanical energy of the springs 5 supports the adjustment of the adjustment 7 in the adjustment B and thus makes a lower power or energy expenditure for the adjustment 6 required. In addition, a more harmonious power or energy consumption of the electro-mechanical adjustment unit 6 is achieved.

Figure 3 shows a side view of an apparatus for adjusting a cable, in particular a Bowden cable, according to another embodiment of the present invention. In particular, in the adjusting device shown in Figure 3 is a so-called actuator for a Bowden cable whose shell 11 is supported on the housing 7 of the actuator, during the displaceably mounted in the shell 11 wire 12 of the Bowden cable into the interior of the housing. 7 is guided.

The wire 12 is coupled or secured in the housing 7 to a gear 10, which in turn is engaged with a gear shaft 9. The gear shaft 9 is driven by a mechanical and / or electrical adjusting or drive unit 6, so that 9 depending on the direction of rotation of the gear shaft, the gear 10 is rotated in Figure 3 either in the clockwise or counterclockwise. Due to the coupling of the wire 12 of the Bowden cable with the gear 10 thus the wire 12 is pulled more or less far from the shell 11 in the housing 7, which can be used, for example, to a coupled with the Bowden cable (not shown) lumbar support more or less bulging, as is well known in the art. The manner of transmission of the adjustment force from the adjusting unit 6 to the wire 12 of the Bowden cable does not matter in the context of the present invention, so that FIG. 3 is to be understood merely as an example.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the wire end of the Bowden cable located in the housing 7 is coupled to a spiral spring 5 whose other end is coupled to or attached to the inside of the housing 7. The spring 5 fulfills in principle the same function as the springs explained with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, so that reference may be made to the preceding description relating to FIG. 1 and FIG. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3 too, the spring 5 is tensioned when the wire 12 is adjusted in the adjustment direction A shown in FIG. 3, ie when the Bowden cable is released, and thus absorbs mechanical energy, so that when the wire is adjusted of the Bowden cable in the adjustment direction B, that is, when the Bowden cable is tensioned, less energy must be applied by the adjusting unit 6 due to the resulting energy release of the spring 5, since the adjustment in the adjustment direction B is supported by the energy output of the spring 5. This has the consequence that in principle for tensioning the Bowden cable, ie for adjusting in the adjustment direction B, of the adjusting 6 only an adjusting force must be applied, which corresponds to the difference between the usually applied adjusting force and the force exerted by the spring 5 restoring force. The adjustment unit 6 can thus be manufactured with smaller, lighter and cheaper electric motors, wherein moreover the energy consumption can be significantly reduced. A further advantage consists in the fact that in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the Bowden cable can be adjusted with more uniform adjusting forces in the two adjustment directions A and B, which is particularly advantageous when using a manual adjustment 6, since the user then no jerking or the like when adjusting the Bowden notes.

Of course - depending on the particular application - also conceivable to modify the arrangement shown in Figure 3 such that the spring 5 absorbs energy during a tensioning of the Bowden cable to facilitate by releasing the previously absorbed mechanical energy relaxation of the Bowden cable.

Claims (11)

Adjusting device for a cable,
with a housing (7), wherein the cable (11, 12) relative to the housing (7) is adjustably mounted, and
with an adjusting unit (6) for adjusting the cable pull (11, 12) relative to the housing (7),
characterized,
in that the cable (11, 12) is coupled to mechanical energy storage means (5) in such a way that mechanical energy is absorbed by the mechanical energy storage means (5) during a displacement of the cable (11, 12) in a first adjustment direction (A) Adjusting the cable (11, 12) in a second adjustment direction (B) supported by delivery of previously recorded mechanical energy of the mechanical energy storage means (5). Adjusting device according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the cable pull is designed as a Bowden cable and in a sheath (11) slidably mounted wire (12), wherein the wire (12) with the mechanical energy storage means (5) is coupled. Adjusting device according to claim 2,
characterized,
in that the sheath (11) is supported on the housing (7) of the adjusting device, the wire (12) being guided into the interior of the housing (7) and being coupled there to the mechanical energy storage means (5). Adjusting device according to claim 2 or 3,
characterized,
in that the first adjustment direction (A) corresponds to a relaxation of the Bowden cable and the second adjustment direction (B) corresponds to a tensioning of the Bowden cable. Adjusting device according to one of claims 1-4,
characterized,
that the adjusting unit (6) is designed electrically. Adjusting device according to one of claims 1-4,
characterized,
that the adjustment unit (6) is manually operable. Adjusting device according to one of claims 1-6,
characterized,
in that the mechanical energy storage means are coupled to the housing (7) of the adjusting device. Adjusting device according to one of claims 1-7,
characterized,
in that the mechanical energy storage means comprise at least one spring-elastic element (5) which absorbs mechanical energy during the adjustment of the cable pull (11, 12) in the first adjustment direction (A) and during the adjustment of the adjustment part (7) in the second adjustment direction (B). gives off mechanical energy. Adjusting device according to claim 8,
characterized,
the at least one resilient element (5) is designed and arranged such that it at the adjustment of the cable pull (11, 12) in the first adjustment direction (A) is tensioned and in which the adjustment of the cable itself (11, 12) in the second adjustment (B) relaxes. Lumbar support with a Bowden cable coupled thereto and an adjusting device coupled to the Bowden cable according to one of claims 1-9 for adjusting the lumbar support by adjusting the Bowden cable. Use of an adjusting device according to any one of claims 1-9 for adjusting a lumbar support.

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