FR2527062A1 - ADJUSTABLE SEAT ASSEMBLY - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION CONCERNS AN ADJUSTABLE SEAT INTENDED IN PARTICULAR FOR A VEHICLE. THE SEAT 14 IS BASED ON A SUPPORT 12 WHICH, ITSELF, IS MOUNTED ON A BASE 10, BY MEANS OF LEVERS 20, 22, IN THE SHAPE OF SECTORS, TAKEN USING TEETH 30, 44, 36, 50 WITH LOCKING PLATES 40, 46 THAT CAN BE CONTROLLED BY A LINKAGE 52 AND THROUGH CAM PLATES 49, 51, THE LINKAGE 52 CAN ITSELF BE ACTUATED BY MEANS OF AN ELEMENT 66 IN A WAY TO ENABLE THEM. OCCUPYING THE SEAT 14 TO ADJUST IN HEIGHT, IN RELATION TO THE BASE 10, THE FRONT AND REAR PARTS OF THIS SEAT 14, INDEPENDENT OF ONE OF THE OTHER. FIELD OF APPLICATION: VEHICLE SEATS.

Description

The invention relates to car seats, and more particularly

  seats in which the front and rear parts of a seat support can be adjusted independently of one another, in height relative to the base. In the prior art, manually adjustable seat assemblies are described in which the front and rear parts of a seat support can be adjusted independently of each other in height relative to a base. No. 3,460,793 discloses an assembly in which a base and a seat support are interconnected by at least two lever arms which are hinged to both the base and

  on the seat support at longitudinally spaced

  nally, so that the angular arrangement of each lever arm adjusts the height between the front or rear part of the seat support and the base. The lever arms can be locked in

  desired angles by means of a locking mechanism

  comprising two substantially horizontal locking plates, which are pivotable about a substantially vertical axis, to selectively engage with notches in the inner ends of the lever arms. A control arm is connected to the locking plates to can be cleared

  selectively associated lever arms.

  Likewise, U.S. Patent No. 3,692,271 discloses a seat assembly having at least a pair of lever arms that are hinged between a base and a seat support and extend internally to each other. the other, as well as two locking plates which are hinged to the seat support so as to be rotatable on axes transverse to the base, and which can be selectively engaged with the ends, extending inwardly, arms The control rod is hinged to the seat support and is connected by means of lost-path connections to the locking plate so that a

  rotation of this control rod on the transaxle axis.

  Versal causes the pivoting of one or the other of the locking plates on the transverse axis so as to disengage one of the locking plates of the associated lever arm. The lever arms have notches or flared notches and each plate lock has a tooth which fits into the notches so that a rotation of the locking plate releases the

tooth of the flared cut.

  U.S. Patent No. 3,669,398 discloses an adjustable seat assembly having two sets of lever on each side of this assembly. Control links and locking plates are attached to opposite sides of the assembly. with seat to selectively allow the levers to pivot to thereby adjust the vertical position of seat support members A torsion bar is connected to the levers at the rear of the assembly The torsion bar tends to rotate the levers back so

  raise the rear part of the seat supports.

  Other seating assemblies of the general type to which the invention has been described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,662,984, 3,572,624, 3,109,622,

  Nos. 3,181,831, Nos. 3,405,900 and 3,055,627.

  The subject of the invention is a seat assembly

  an improved adjustable mechanism including a locking mechanism

  simple assembly, manufacture and operation, and which has a high frictional resistance when engaged and a low resistance to

friction when cleared.

  The invention also relates to an improved adjustable seat assembly comprising a lightweight locking mechanism and consisting of few movable legs, while at the same time having the strength and the blocking ability required to allow a

  effective operation of the seat assembly.

  Another object of the invention is an improved adjustable seat assembly comprising a mechanism for

  lock that is relatively easy to adjust.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives as well as other objectives, the adjustable seat assembly includes a base, a seat support, and first and second sector-shaped lever arms, each articulated by a first end on the base so as to be rotatable on an axis transverse to the base The second ends of the lever arms extend inwardly towards each other A transverse rod articulates each of the first and second lever arms at points located between their ends,

  on the seat support at longitudinally spaced

  nally on the latter, to allow independent adjustment of the height between the spaced points and the base, by rotation of the lever arm First and second locking plates are articulated on the seat support so as to be able to rotate on transverse axes respective, and they can be selectively engaged with the second ends of the first and second lever arms, respectively, to prevent

  their rotation in the interlocking position

  first and second cam plates are hinged to the seat support so as to be rotatable on respective transverse axes, at points between

  their ends, and they can be engaged se-.

  with the first and second locking plates to firmly lock them on the first and second lever arms respectively A single control rod is hinged to the seat support and is connected by lost-path joints to the first and second hinge plates. cam An actuator or control element is connected to the control rod to rotate it to selectively release the two lever arm locking plates Several first teeth are Lmces Jui 'The second ends of the lever arms and several second teeth are formed

  on the locking plates and can be switched

  selectively with any group of teeth of the associated lever arm Each of the first and second

  lever arm can be locked in several thirds

  angular layouts. Preferably, the first and second lever arms are arranged in close proximity to one side of the base, and the third and fourth lever arms are disposed in close proximity to the other side of the base, in a laterally corresponding arrangement. to her

  first and second lever Each of the three

  sth and fourth lever arm is hinged at one end to the base so as to be rotatable about a transverse axis First and second preloaded torsion elements connect the first and second lever arms to the third and fourth lever arms, respectively,

to synchronize the rotation.

  Balancing springs are also preferably connected to the second torsion element so as to

balance the rotation.

  The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of non-limiting example and in which Figure 1 is an elevation of an embodiment of the seat assembly according to the invention, shown in the lowered position. ; Figure 2 is an elevation of the assembly of Figure 1 in the raised position; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the assembly

seat according to the invention.

  The adjustable seat assembly shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises a base or base portion 10 which

  is intended to be mounted on the floor 11 of a vehicle.

  A seat support 12 carries a seat 14 having a backrest 16 The height between the front and rear portions of the support 12 and the base 10 can be adjusted by means of a setting mechanism 18 which is arranged

  between the base 10 and the seat support 12.

  The adjustment mechanism 18 comprises two sector-shaped lever arms 20 and 22. The lever arm has a narrow outer end, connected to the base 10 by an axis or rivet 23 passing through a folded mounting flange 24 in which is formed a oblong hole

  which receives the axis 23 to allow an angular displacement

  the lever arm 20 relative to the base 10, about an axis transverse to the latter The lever arm is articulated independently, at 28, by means of an axis 29, as shown in FIG. on the seat support 12 The curved end, turned inwards,

  lever arm 20 has a plurality of teeth 30,

  number of fifteen, formed on this end and allowing the lever arm 20 to be locked in any one of several angular arrangements

compared to the base 10.

  Similarly, the lever arm 22 is articulated by its outer end to the base 10 by means of an axis or rivet 31 passing through a folded mounting flange 32 in which an oblong hole 33 is formed.

  receiving the axis 31 The lever arm 22 is likewise

  independently tilted on the seat support 12, at 35, by means of a pivot or pin 34, as shown in Figure 3 Several teeth 36, which correspond to the teeth 30 of the lever arm, are formed on the end

  inward curve of the lever arm 22.

  Each of the lever arms 20 and 22 carries, between its pivot 28 or 35 and its curved end, facing inward, an axis 37 which extends through the lever arm 20 or 22 and which can move in a curved groove (not shown) formed in the side of the support 12 to stabilize and limit the movement of the lever arms 20 and 22 relative to the locking plates

  associated, which will be described in more detail below.

  The joints between the lever arms 20

  and 22 and the seat support 12 are spaced longitudinally

  Therefore, the lever arm 20 controls the height of the front portion of the seat support 12 and the lever arm 22 controls the height of the portion.

back of the seat support 12.

  To lock the lever arm 20 in a

  desired angular arrangement, a lock plate 40

  The lage is connected by a rivet 42 to the seat support 12 in order to be able to perform angular rotation according to

  an axis that is also transverse to the base 10 Plu-

  sieurs 44, preferably five in number, are formed on the locking plate 40 and are intended

  to engage or engage with a group

  conque, in equal number, of teeth of the lever arm 20.

  A similar locking plate 46 is

  45 abutment on the seat support 12 in order to be able to perform angular rotation on a transverse horizontal axis The locking plate 46 carries five teeth

  that are meant to engage with a group some-

  tooth cover 36 of the lever arm 20 to prevent the latter from rotating when this engagement is made The teeth 30 and 36 preferably have a profile angle of about 55 ', and the angle of the space between the teeth is about 600 in order to allow the teeth 44 and 50 to be easily removed from the teeth 30 and 36, respectively, when it is desired to make the clearance between a lever arm and a plate of

  locking a particular set.

  The fact that five locking teeth are

  made on the locking plates increases sensi-

  the extent of the surface assuming the locking function, which ensures a firm lock

  locking plates and lever arms.

  The engagement between the locking plates 46 and the corresponding lever arms 20 and 22, respectively, is controlled bluntly by cam plates 49 and 51, respectively. The cam plate 49 is hinged at 53 to the support. In a similar manner, the cam plate 51 is hinged at 55 to the seat support 12 so as to be rotatable about a transverse axis spaced from the transverse axis of the seat.

the articulation 53.

  Each of the locking plates 40 and 46 has two spaced apart fingers 57 and 59 for receiving an end of the corresponding cam plate. Sliding engagement of the cam plates 49 and 51

  with the corresponding fingers 57 causes an unlocking

  while sliding engagement of the plates

  49 and 51 with the corresponding fingers 59

than a lock.

  Engagement between the locking plates 46, the lever arms 20 and 22 and the cam plates 49 and 51, respectively, is controlled by means of a flat control rod 52 which is hinged at 54.

  on the seat support 12 so also to be able to

  on a transverse axis Two elongate arms 56 and 58, -

  extending outwardly, are formed on the control rod 52 in order to engage with the cam plates 49 and 51, respectively the rod 52 of

  command carries a rivet 60 for producing a joint

  tion between this link 52 and a first end of an actuating arm 66, which will be described in more detail below. As best seen in Figure 3, the cam plates 49 and 51 have folded arms 63 and 65, respectively, which extend upwardly.

  and inwardly corresponding pivots 53 and 55.

  A pulling spring 64 is connected at its ends to the arms 63 and 65 to tend to engage the cam plates with the corresponding fingers 59 of the locking plates 40 and 46. Therefore, the locking plates 40 and 46 tend to be spaced apart. from each other and to be engaged with the associated lever arms A rotation of the rod 52 control in a first direction on the pivot 54 tends to rotate one of the cam plates on its transverse axis and acts by cone effect on the finger 57 da Its associated locking plate to release, in turn, the associated lever arm At the same time, the other cam plate remains engaged with the finger 59 of its locking plate for that the latter remains, itself, engaged with the associated lever arm The pivoting movement of the rod 52 control

  depends on the action, by an operator, on the action arm-

  66 which is also articulated by means of the rivet

  42 on the seat support 12 and which extends outwards

  and upward of the adjustment mechanism 18 for

  allow an occupant of the seat 14 to access the latter.

  The inner end of the actuating arm 66 alternately rotates the control rod 52 in opposite directions on the pivot 54 as a result of pivotal movement of the arm 66 on the joint

formed by the rivet 42.

  During the operation of the set

  in FIGS. 1 to 3, the adjustment mechanism 18 makes it possible to independently adjust the height of the front parts

  and rear of the seat support 12 relative to the base 10.

  The seat support 12 can be adjusted between the lowered position shown in Fig. 1 and the raised position shown in Fig. 2. To enable this adjustment, the actuating arm 66 may first be turned counterclockwise. a watch on the rivet 42, for example, rotating the control rod 52 clockwise on the pivot 54 to thereby disengage the biased cam plate 49, thereby acting on the finger 57 of the locking plate 40 to rotate the latter so as to disengage it from the lever arm by removing the teeth

  44 of an upper group of teeth 30 of the lever arm.

  The latter can then pivot freely on the mounting lug 24, by means of the hinge constituted by the axis and the oblong hole, which makes it possible to raise the front part of the seat support 12 with the assistance of a front bar 70 torsion which will be described in more detail below The occupant of the seat can also facilitate this operation by simply leaning back on

the file 16.

  After the seat support 12 has been placed at the desired height relative to the base 10, the actuating arm 66 is released and the spring 64 recalls the cam plate 49 against the finger 59 and, therefore, the plate 40 lock is shifted outwardly to engage with the duly selected group of teeth of the lever arm, and mechanism 18 is again

  locked, for example as shown in Figure 2.

  A rotation of the arm 66 actuating counterclockwise, on the rivet 42, does not perform the engagement between the plate 46 of

  locking and the lever arm 22 due to the

  crawling between the control rod 52

  and the cam plate 51 A rotation of the arm 66 of action-

  in a clockwise direction causes -

  performing a corresponding function to allow the rear portion of the seat support 12 to be raised or lowered as desired, with the help of a bar

  rearward torsion 72 which will be described in more detail below

  The occupant of the seat can also facilitate this operation by leaning forward on the

seat 14.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a second adjustment mechanism 18 'is disposed on the side of the seat support 12 opposite laterally to that comprising the adjustment mechanism 18 The adjustment mechanism 18'

  comprises a second pair of lever arms 20 'and 22' -

  the outer ends of which are hinged to a base portion 10 'by means of mounting tabs 24' and 32 'The middle portion of the lever arms 20' and 22 'is hinged to the opposite side of the seat support 12 by means of Axles 29 'and 34' To synchronize the operations of the adjusting mechanisms 18 and 18 ', the lever arms 20 and 20' are interconnected by a twisting member similar to a rod or bar before 70 torsion which s' extends transversely between the lever bars 20 and 20 'The torsion bar 70 may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the lever arms 20 and 20' and is pivotally mounted on the pins 28 and 28 'for allow articulation 28, as previously described, on both sides of the seat support 12. Similarly, the lever arms 22 and 22 'and the pins 34 and 34' are connected together in a similar manner by means of a similar torsion member or

72 rear torsion bar.

  Consequently, a rotation of the action arm 66

  In order to rotate the control rod 52, it acts on the cam plates 49 and 51 to disengage their corresponding locking plates and, consequently, the lever arms on both sides of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 turn The torsion bar 72, which is preloaded, helps the lever arms 22 and 22 'to rotate

to the top.

  Two tabs or elements 74 and 76 of attachment of springs are mounted at a distance from each other on

  the torsion bar 72 The opposite ends of the

  spinnings 78 and 80 are mounted on the hook tabs 74 and 76 and mounting tabs 75 and 77 attached to opposite sides of the seat support 12,

  near the front part of the seat The springs 78-

  and 80 balance the rotation of the torsion bar 72 so that the seat assembly, and in particular the rear portion thereof, can be adjusted vertically

in a gentle and efficient way.

  Although not shown, the base portions 10 and 10 'may be provided with rails for longitudinal adjustment of the seat support 12 with respect to the floor 11 of the vehicle on which it is mounted. low friction, can be arranged between the upper rails

  and lower in order to facilitate their longitudinal

  nal. In summary, the invention has been described with reference to a seat assembly for a motor vehicle, in which the front and rear parts of a seat support can be adjusted independently of one another at a certain height. relative to a seat base, by a selected maneuver of a single actuating arm which serves to lock and unlock the mechanisms

  by means of which the seat rests on a base.

  the seat assembly can be adjusted longitudinally

  means of rails mounted on a vehicle seat.

  It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the seat assembly described and

  shown without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

  1 adjustable seat seat, characterized in that it comprises a base (10), a support (12) seat, first and second lever arm (20, 22), sector-shaped, each articulated by a first end on the base in order to turn on an axis transverse to the   base, the second ends of the lever arms extend   internally to each other, transpor-   versales (29, 34) articulating each of the first and second   lever at points between their ends.   on the seat support, at longitudinally spaced points thereon, to allow independent adjustment of the height between said spaced points and the base, by rotation of the lever arms, first and second locking plates (40). , 46)   articulated on the seat support in order to be able to turn- =.   on respective transverse axes and to be able to engage selectively with the second ends of the first and second lever arms, respectively,   to prevent rotation in this position of   latching, first and second cam plates   (49, 51) hinged to the seat support to   see rotating on respective transverse axes, at points between their ends, and selectively engageable with the first and second locking plates, respectively, to firmly lock these first and second locking plates   on the first and second lever arms, respectively   a single link (52) of articulated control   on the seat support and connected so as to be able to   smooth to the first and second cam plates, and an actuating mechanism (66) connected to the link rod   command to rotate it to selectively release   the two lever arm locking plates, a plurality of first teeth (30, 36) being formed on the second ends of the lever arms and a plurality of second teeth (44, 50) being formed on the locking plates and selectively engageable with any group of teeth lever arms so that each of the first and second lever arms   can be locked in several   lar. 2 assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a spring element (64) tending to return the cam plates in engagement position with the locking plates to firmly lock them on the lever arms 3 together according to claim 1, characterized in that the control rod pivots on a transverse axis and in that the transverse axes of the cam plates are arranged in a plane situated at a distance above the transverse axis of the connecting rod. control.   Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that each cam plate comprises an arm (63 or   ) which protrudes, these arms being spaced apart and the   Spring-loaded spring-loaded linkage of the cam plate arms to engage the cam plates so that the teeth of the locking plates engage with   the teeth of the first and second lever arms.   An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the first and second locking plates has two spaced apart fingers (57, 59) for receiving an end of the corresponding cam plate, said cam plates acting on   the locking plates during their rotation.   Assembly according to any of the claims   1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, characterized in that the lever arms are arranged near a first side of the base and in that the assembly further comprises third and fourth lever arms (20 '). , 22 ') adjacent to the other side (10') of the base, in positions corresponding laterally to those of the first and second lever arms, each of the third and fourth lever arms being hinged by a first etrmxta on the base in order to rotate on a transverse axis, the second ends of the lever arms extending internally towards each other, members (29 ', 34') articulating the third and fourth lever arms   on the seat support, at longitudinally spaced   on the latter, to allow independent adjustment of the height between said spaced points and the base by rotation of the lever arms, first and second torsion elements (70, 72) connecting the first and second lever arms. to the third and fourth lever arms, respectively, to synchronize the rotation.   7 assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises balancing springs (78, 80) connected to the second torsion element in order to balance the rotation   8 Adjustable seat assembly, characterized in -   it comprises a base (10), a seat support (12), first and second sector-shaped lever arms (20, 22), each articulated by a first end on the base so as to be rotatable on an axis transverse to the latter, the second ends of the lever arms extending inwardly towards each other, transverse rods (29, 34) articulating each of the first and second lever arms, at points between their ends, on the seat support at longitudinally spaced points thereon, to allow independent adjustment of the height between said spaced apart points and the base, by rotation of the lever arms, first and second locking plates (40). 46) articulated on the seat support so as to be rotatable on respective transverse axes, and selectively engageable with the second ends of the first and second lever arms, respectively, to prevent rotation in the engagement position, first and second cam plates (49,51) hinged to the seat support for rotation on respective axes at points between their ends, and selectively engageable with the first and second locking plates, respectively, for   firmly block these first and second plates of   rusting on the first and second lever arms, respectively, each cam plate having an arm (63 or 65) projecting therefrom, the arms of the cam plates being spaced from one another, a single link (52). ) being articulated on the seat support and slidably connected to the first and   second cam plates, and a mechanism (66) for actuating   being pivotally connected to selectively release the two lever arm locking plates, a plurality of first teeth (30, 36) being formed on the second ends of the lever arms and a plurality of second teeth (44). , 50) being formed on the locking plates so as to be selectively engageable with any one of the teeth of the associated lever arms so that each of the first and second lever arms   can be locked in several   a spring return member (64) connecting the arms of the cam plates to bias these cam plates so that the teeth of the locking plates engage firmly with the teeth of the first and second lever arms; adjustable seat, characterized in that it comprises a base (10), a support (12) seat, first and second lever arm (20, 22) in   form of sectors, each articulated by a first   tremity on the base in order to rotate on a transverse axis at the base, the second ends of the lever arms extending inwardly towards each other, these lever arms being adjacent to a first side of the base, third and fourth lever arms (20 ', 22') adjacent to the other side of the base, in positions corresponding laterally to those of the first and second lever arms, the third and fourth lever arms being each hinged by a first end on the base so as to be able to rotate on the transverse axes, the second ends of these lever arms extending internally towards each other,   organs (29 ', 34') articulating the third and fourth   third lever arm on the seat support, at longitudinally spaced points thereon, to allow independent adjustment of the height between said spaced points and the base, by rotation of the lever arms, torsion elements (70, 72) connecting the first and second lever arms to the third and fourth lever arms, respectively, to synchronize rotation, transverse rods (29, 34) articulating the first and second lever arms at points between their ends, on the seat support, at longitudinally spaced points on said support, to allow independent adjustment of the height between said spaced points and the base, by rotation of the first and second lever arms, first and second plates latch (40, 46) being hinged to the seat support so as to be rotatable on respective transverse axes and selectively engageable with ec the second ends of the first and second lever arms, respectively,   to prevent rotation in this engaged position.   first and second cam plates (49,51) being hinged to the seat support so as to be rotatable on respective transverse axes at points between their ends and selectively engageable with the first and second plates; respectively to firmly lock them on the first and second lever arms, respectively, a spring (64) tending to   engage the cam plates with the cover plates   ratching to firmly lock them on the first and second lever arms, a single control link (52) being hinged to the seat support and slidably connected to the first and second cam plates, and a mechanism (66) actuating means being pivotally connected to the control rod for selectively disengaging the two locking plates of the first and second lever arms, with a plurality of first teeth (30, 36) being formed on the second ends of the first and second arms lever and a plurality of second teeth (44, 50) being formed   on the locking plates and which can be   selectively with any group of teeth of the associated lever arms so that each of the first and second lever arms can be locked into several angular arrangements.   Assembly according to claim 9, characterized   in that it also includes springs   libration (78, 80) connected to the second torsion element so to balance the rotation.