FR2780353A1 - Fastening fixture for back rest of vehicle bench seat - Google Patents

Abstract

The fastening fixture has a moving pin (17) that is arranged to locate in the corresponding fastening of the seat back. A lock is provided to hold the moving pin with respect to parts of the vehicle chassis in predetermined positions. The pin is rigidly attached to a slider (18) located in a slide way (22) and mounted on a part of the vehicle chassis. The lock holds the sliding pin in predetermined positions with respect to the slide way.

Description

LOCKING DEVICE IN POSITION OF A BACK OF A

VEHICLE BENCH

  The present invention relates to a device for locking in position a folder of a vehicle seat, in particular of a road vehicle, this seat also comprising a seat linked to this file, said seat being supported by bodywork elements of the vehicle and the backrest being provided with at least one lock. Locking devices are already known as defined above. Locking devices commonly used in the automotive field make it possible to lock a reclining backrest in a single position, for example

  in a position of the backrest substantially close to the vertical.

  American patent US-A-4,068,890 describes a multi-position locking device for a reclining backrest of a rear bench seat of a road vehicle, this backrest being arranged to pivot about a fixed axis relative to the bodywork elements . The backrest has a lock on each of its two opposite sides, substantially in the upper part thereof. Each lock is arranged to be locked in a multitude of strikes fixed on the vehicle body elements and distributed regularly along an arc corresponding to the path of the lock. The lock

  is special and has a very large number of components.

  The locking device of the prior art described above has various drawbacks. It is necessary to have a keeper for each desired locking position. The strikes which are not engaged with the lock are numerous and protrude from the body, which is unsightly and dangerous for a user. In addition, the mounting of the strikes is tedious because they have to be fixed one by one to the body parts of the vehicle. The lock is very complex, the number of its components is very high and its assembly is long and difficult. This locking device offers a particularly expensive and unsuitable technical solution

  to the requirements of car manufacturers.

  The object of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks by providing a device which makes it possible to lock a backrest of a vehicle seat in several positions, which is simple, secure, and which can be easily and quickly mounted.

in the vehicle.

  This object is achieved by a locking device as described in the preamble, characterized in that it comprises a movable keeper arranged to be engaged with said latch of said backrest, as well as at least one blocking member arranged to block so selective said strike with respect to the vehicle body elements

  o10 in predetermined positions.

  Said keeper is preferably rigidly linked to a slide arranged to slide in a slide mounted on said vehicle body elements, said blocking member being arranged to selectively block said slide with respect to said slide in said predetermined positions. Said slide has, advantageously, an open profile defining a lateral longitudinal groove on the side corresponding to said backrest, said keeper projecting from said slide through said lateral longitudinal groove. Said blocking member can be coupled to a

actuating element.

  According to a particular embodiment, the locking device is associated with a backrest arranged to pivot about an axis of rotation fixed relative to the bodywork elements of the vehicle, said slide and said slide having shapes and dimensions arranged to allow moving said slide in said slide. Said slide may have a width less than the interior width of said slide, defining a clearance between at least one of the upper and lower longitudinal faces of the slide and the corresponding longitudinal faces of the slide. Said slide can be curved in the form of an arc of a circle centered on the axis of rotation of said backrest. Said blocking member preferably comprises at least one pin cooperating with a hole made in said slide and arranged to be selectively engaged in housings formed in said slide. The locking device advantageously comprises pushing means arranged to urge said pin in the direction of said housings of the slide and said

  actuating element may include a lever.

  According to another particular embodiment, the locking device is associated with a backrest arranged to move in translation relative to the bodywork elements of the vehicle in association with the seat of said seat, said keeper being coupled to the seat by a coupling element so that it follows the displacement thereof. Said coupling element may comprise a cable, the ends of which are coupled, respectively, to the slide and to the seat, the locking device comprising pushing means arranged to urge said slide so as to keep said cable taut. The blocking member preferably comprises several blocking notches arranged to cooperate with said slide and define said predetermined positions. The distance separating two consecutive locking notches can be substantially equal to the length of the slide. The slide can be arranged to move between two extreme positions delimited by a rear axial stop and a front axial stop secured to the slide, the blocking member comprising at least one blocking notch cooperating with said slide when the latter is in contact with one of the two axial stops. The blocking member can be arranged to slide inside a guide housing integral with said slide or pivot around a fixed axis of rotation linked to said slide. The locking device advantageously comprises pushing means arranged to place said blocking member in a blocking position. Said actuating element is preferably mounted on the seat, said blocking member being

  coupled to this actuating element by a connecting member which may be a cable.

  The present invention and its advantages will appear better in the following description

  of different embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of part of a seat of a vehicle and of the locking device of the invention , - Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the locking device of the invention, - Figure 3 is a bottom view in section of the locking device of Figure 2 in the locked position, - Figure 4 is a bottom view in section of the locking device in the unlocked position, - Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the locking device of the invention, - Figure 6 is a view front view of the locking device of Figure 5, - Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the locking device of Figures and 6, and - Figure 8 is a front view of a variant of the second embodiment of the invention. With reference to FIG. 1, the locking device 10 of the invention makes it possible to lock in position a tilting backrest 11 of a bench seat 12 of a vehicle, in particular of a road vehicle (not shown), also comprising a seat

  13. This bench seat is supported by bodywork elements 14 of the vehicle.

  The seat 13 is approximately horizontal and is integral with the bodywork elements 14. The backrest 11 is in one piece in this variant and is arranged to pivot around an axis of rotation 15 fixed relative to the bodywork elements 14 and disposed near the lower edge of the backrest 11. The bench seat 12 can form the

  rear seat of a light road vehicle, such as an automobile for example.

  The folder 11 comprises two conventional locks 16 (only one of which is shown), known per se to those skilled in the art, each arranged on a lateral face of said folder, substantially in the upper part. The locking device 10 is mounted on the bodywork elements 14 of the vehicle opposite each of the locks

  16 of the backrest 11, for the position of the backrest illustrated in FIG. 1.

  Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the locking device 10 comprises a movable keeper 17 having an elongated substantially cylindrical shape. This keeper is arranged to be engaged with the latch 16 of the backrest 11 (represented by FIG. 1). It is rigidly linked to a slide 18 of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, by a screw 19 for example. The keeper 17 is arranged in a front region of the slide 18. The slide 18 is formed, for example, of an approximately flat metal plate 20 fixed, snapped for example, to a piece 21 of material

  thermoformable synthetic (illustrated in Figure 3).

  The slide 18 is mounted in a straight slide 22 fixed to the bodywork elements 14 of the vehicle by two screws 23 for example. It could be welded or riveted to these bodywork elements. The slide 22 has an open profile defining a longitudinal longitudinal groove 24 on the side corresponding to the file 11. The keeper

  mobile 17 protrudes from slide 22 through this groove 24.

  The slide 18 and the slide 22 have shapes and dimensions arranged to allow movement of the slide in the slide. The slide 18 has a width less than the internal width of the slide 22, this in order to define a clearance between at least one of the upper 25 and lower 26 longitudinal faces of the slide 22 and the corresponding longitudinal faces of the slide 18. The piece 21 in thermoformable synthetic material of the slide 18 allows the latter to. slide silently in the slide 22, the metal plate 20 ensuring its mechanical strength. The locking device 10 comprises two housings 27 formed in the bottom of the slide 22, opposite the lateral longitudinal groove 24. It also comprises a locking member 28 forming a substantially cylindrical and preferably metallic pin. The pin 28 cooperates with a hole 29, substantially cylindrical and of diameter substantially equal to that of the pin 28, produced in the slider 18. This pin is arranged to slide in this cylindrical hole and be selectively engaged inside the housings 27 of the slide 22. The locking device 10 comprises thrust means 30 such as a leaf spring. This spring 30 has one end which is coupled to the slide 18 and its other end which is supported on the flat head 31 of the pin 28. It biases the pin 28 in

  direction of the housings 27 of the slide 22.

  The locking device 10 comprises an actuating element 32, such as a handle, directly coupled to the pin 28. The latter extends through a light 33 formed in the handle 32. The flat head 31 of the pin 28 is supported on a shoulder 34 of the lever 32 disposed around the light 33, under the action of the

leaf spring 30.

  The cylindrical hole 29 is disposed at the rear of the keeper 17 so that when the latch 16 is engaged with this keeper, the lever 32 is placed behind the

  reclining back 11 of the seat 12 (as shown in Figure 1).

  Figure 3 shows the locking device 10 of the invention in position

  locked. The pin 28 is engaged in the rear housing 27 of the slide 22.

  The slide 18 is locked relative to the slide 22.

  To unlock the locking device 10 of the invention, a user actuates the lever 32 by pulling it in the direction indicated by the arrow T, as shown in FIG. 4. The movement of the lever 32 causes the pin to be withdrawn 28 of the housing 27 in which it is engaged. The keeper 17 secured to the slide 18 is then free to move in the slide 22. The user moves

  then the slide towards the front of the slide.

  When the lever 32 is released by the user, the leaf spring 30 pressing on the flat head 31 of the pin 28 pushes the latter towards the bottom of the slide 22. The pin 28 slides until it is opposite the other housing 27 before in which it engages automatically. The slide 18 and the keeper 17 are locked in a position different from the previous position. The adjustment in position of the backrest 11 is obtained by actuating each locking device 10 so as to adjust the angular inclination of the backrest relative to

  the seat 13 by modifying identically the position of the two strikes 17.

  The embodiment illustrated above has two different adjustment positions. It is obvious that the number of predetermined positions can be increased by providing more housings 27 at the bottom of the slide 22. These housings can be spaced regularly from one another to provide a

  regular backrest tilt adjustment 11.

  It is important, whatever the position of the keeper 17 relative to the slide 22, that the latter can be engaged with the corresponding lock 16 of the backrest 11 which has a circular trajectory. This is why, if it is desired to have an adjustment in position of the backrest over a relatively large angular range, the slide 22 can be

  curved in the shape of an arc centered on the fixed axis of rotation 15 of the backrest 11.

  The backrest 11 comprising two latches 16 on its two opposite lateral faces, the two corresponding pins 28 of the locking device 10 can be coupled to the same actuating element, by a cable system for example, to have a command for unlocking the locking device 10

centralized and simultaneous.

  The locking device 10 of the invention also makes it possible to lock a bench seat comprising a reclining backrest in two parts, of the "2/3, 1/3" type for example. Each of the two adjacent reclining files then comprises a lock 16 on the side corresponding to the body elements 14 of the vehicle arranged to cooperate with a locking device 10 as described above. The two backrests can then be folded down or tilted angularly independently of each other. We will describe another embodiment of the locking device of

  the invention with reference to Figures 5 to 7.

  The locking device 40 of the invention makes it possible to lock in position the back 11 of the seat 12 of a road vehicle also comprising the seat 13 (represented by FIG. 1). The backrest 11 is rigid relative to the seat 13 which is arranged to move in front-rear translation relative to the body elements 14 of the vehicle. The seat 13 can be mounted on two guide rails

  substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle for example.

  The monobloc file 11, for example, comprises the two latches 16, each disposed at a lateral face of the latter, substantially in the upper part. The locking device 40 is mounted on the bodywork elements 14 opposite each of the bolts 16 of the backrest 11, substantially in the same place as the locking device.

lock 10 (figure 1).

  The locking device 40 comprises a movable keeper 41 (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) having approximately the shape of a C, the cross section of which is substantially circular. This keeper 41 is arranged to be engaged with the corresponding lock 16 of the backrest 11 via its cylindrical front section 41 '. It is rigidly linked at its two ends, screwed for example, to a slide 42 of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape. This form of keeper 41 has no other function than to improve its rigidity and its mechanical strength,

  for safety reasons during an impact for example.

  With reference to FIG. 7, this slide 42 comprises at each of its longitudinal ends a lower inclined plane face 43, 43 ′ and an upper inclined face

44, 44 'respectively.

  The slide 42 is mounted in a rectilinear slide 45 fixed to the bodywork elements 14 of the vehicle, by two screws (not shown) inserted in two holes 46 formed at the bottom of the slideway 45. The latter is disposed on the bodywork elements 14 of so that its longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the guide rails of the seat 13. The slide 45 has an open profile defining a longitudinal longitudinal groove 47 on the side corresponding to the file 11. The movable keeper 41 makes

  projection of the slide 45 through this groove 47.

  The slide 42 is arranged to slide in the slide 45 between two extreme positions delimited by a rear axial stop 48 and a front axial stop 49 secured to the slide 45. These two stops are formed by the edges of the groove 47

  folded inwards at the two end sections of the slide 45.

  This slide 42 is formed, for example, of a metal plate overmolded with a layer of thermoformable synthetic material so that it slides correctly and

quietly in the slide 45.

  The slide 42 is coupled to the seat 13 by a coupling element 50, such as a

  cable, so that it follows the movement of the movable seat 13.

  The slide 45 has a tab 51 projecting towards the rear of the bottom of the slide 45 and extending substantially parallel to its axis. This tab 51 has a flange 52 at a right angle, extending in the extension of the interior of the groove 45. This flange 52 comprises a tubular cylindrical stud 52 'disposed on its front face. A cable passage 53, such as a hole, concentric with the stud 52 'is

  formed in the rim 52. This passage 53 is centered on the axis of the slide 45.

  The end strand of the cable 50, on the side corresponding to the slide 42, passes through the cable passage 53 and extends substantially parallel to the axis of the slide 45

to slide 42.

  The locking device 40 comprises pushing means 54, such as a compression spring, disposed between the flange 52 of the tab 51 and the rear end of the slide 42, around the cable 50. The front end section of the spring 54 is held by the periphery of a cylindrical sleeve 55 integral with the slider 42 and disposed at the rear thereof, its rear end section being held by the

periphery of the nipple 52 '.

  The end of the cable 50 is coupled to the cylindrical sleeve 55. The spring 54 urges the slide 42 so that the end strand of the cable 50 is kept taut,

  0o thus guaranteeing a rigid coupling between the slide 42 and the seat 13.

  The locking device 40 comprises a locking member 56 arranged to selectively lock the slide 42 relative to the slide 45 in three positions

different predetermined.

  The blocking member 56 comprises a straight bar 57 substantially parallel to the slide 45. The latter is provided with two blocking notches 58, 59 arranged at its ends and projecting upwards substantially perpendicularly. These two notches 58, 59 are identical and have a substantially triangular shape defining two inclined plane faces 58 ', 58 "and 59', 59" respectively (shown

by figure 7).

  The inclination of the faces 58 "and 59" is substantially identical to the inclination of the face 43 'of the slide 42. The inclination of the faces 58' and 59 'is substantially identical to the inclination of the face 43 of the slide. The distance separating these two locking notches 58, 59 is substantially equal to the length of the slide 42 at its

inclined plane faces 43, 43 '.

  The two notches 58, 59 of the blocking member 56 are arranged to be engaged through two respective orifices 62, 63, formed in the bottom wall of the slide

(represented by figure 6).

  The locking member 56 is arranged to slide, substantially perpendicular to the axis of the slide 45, inside the guide housings 60 provided on a support.

  61 fixed to the slide 45, crimped for example.

  The locking member 40 comprises pushing means 64, such as two compression springs, placed inside the guide housings 60 of the support 61 under the straight bar 57. The springs 64 urge the locking member 56 in a locking position, that is to say that the two notches 58, 59 pass through the orifices

  62, 63 respective and extend inside the slide 45.

  In the intermediate locking position of the locking device 40 illustrated by FIGS. 5 and 6, the faces 58 "and 59 'of the locking notches 58 and 59 bear on the faces 43' and 43, respectively, of the slide 42 the blocking with respect to the slide 45. The blocking member 56 is coupled to an actuating element, such as a control handle (not shown) mounted for example on the seat 13 of the bench seat 12, by a member 65, such as a cable. Cable 65 is coupled to a socket

  attachment 57 ′ secured to the straight bar 57.

  To unlock the locking device 40, a user actuates the control handle mounted on the seat 13 so as to cause the withdrawal of the two locking notches 58 and 59 of the inclined plane faces 43 ′, 43 of the slide 42, for each of the locking devices 40 cooperating with the two locks 16 of the backrest 11. The slider 42 is then free to be moved forward or backward

  in the slide 45 as a function of the movement of the seat 13.

  When the control handle is released, the locking member 56, under the action of the springs 64 rises in the locking position, the two locking notches 58, 59

  returning to position in their respective orifices 62, 63.

  If the slide 42 has been moved so that it is in contact with the rear axial stop 48, the face 58 ′ of the notch 58 rests on the face 43 of the slide 42. This

  position corresponds to the rear locking position.

  If the slider 42 has been moved so that it is in contact with the front axial stop 49, the face 59 "of the notch 59 rests on the face 43 'of the slider 42. This position

  corresponds to the front locking position.

  The adjustment in position of the slide 42 relative to the slide 45 can be done with the two latches 16 of the backrest 11 engaged or not with their respective keeper 41. The locking members 56 arranged on either side of the backrest 11 can be coupled to

  the same control handle on the seat 13.

  The locking device 40 therefore makes it possible to move the entire seat 12

  in translation, the back 11 being angularly rigid relative to the seat 13.

  The exemplary embodiment of the locking device 40 described here has three predetermined positions. It suffices to increase the number of locking notches to obtain a greater number of positions. We could have only one blocking notch,

  there would therefore be only two predetermined blocking positions.

  We will describe a variant of the locking device 40 relating more particularly to the locking member 56. With reference to FIG. 8, the locking member 56 comprises, as before, the bar 57 provided with the two locking notches 58, 59. This blocking member is arranged to pivot about an axis of rotation 66

  fixed relative to a protuberance 67 secured to the slide 45.

  The locking device 40 also comprises a compression spring 64, disposed between the protuberance 67 and an arm 68 integral with the locking member 56. The spring 64 is arranged to automatically place the locking member 56 in the locking position. The connecting cable 65 has one end coupled to the control handle

  mounted on the seat 13 and the other end coupled to the arm 68 of the locking member 56.

  The operation of this variant embodiment of the locking device 40 is

  identical to the operation of the embodiment described above.

  The locking device of the invention allows adjustment of the angular inclination of a backrest of a vehicle seat relative to the seat or an adjustment of the position of a vehicle seat arranged to slide. The device of the invention is very well suited to benches comprising files in two parts. It offers a modular boot space and user space. The device comprises a single movable strike, in addition the locks are conventional locks commonly used. The inventive locking device is simple, secure and can be easily and quickly mounted in the vehicle. It offers a technical solution adapted to the requirements of users and manufacturers, especially in the field

of the automobile.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but extends to all obvious modifications and variants for

the skilled person.

Claims (19)

Claims   1. Device for locking in position a folder of a vehicle seat, in particular of a road vehicle, this seat also comprising a seat linked to this file, said seat being supported by bodywork elements of the vehicle, and the backrest being provided with at least one lock, characterized in that it comprises a movable strike (17; 41) arranged to be engaged with said lock (16) of said backrest (11), as well as at least one locking member (28; 56) arranged to selectively lock said keeper (17; 41) relative to the elements of   vehicle body (14) in predetermined positions.   2. Locking device (10; 40) according to claim 1, characterized in that said keeper (17; 41) is rigidly connected to a slide (18; 42) arranged to slide in a slide (22; 45) mounted on said vehicle body elements (14), said blocking member (28; 56) being arranged to selectively block said slide (18; 42) relative to said slide (22; 45) in said predetermined positions. 3. Locking device (10; 40) according to claim 2, characterized in that said slide (22; 45) has an open profile defining a lateral longitudinal groove (24; 47) on the side corresponding to said backrest (11), said keeper (17; 41) making   projection of said slide (22; 45) through said lateral longitudinal groove (24; 47).   4. Locking device (10; 40) according to claim 1, characterized in that   that said blocking member (28; 56) is coupled to an actuating element.   5. Locking device (10) according to claim 2 associated with a backrest (11) arranged to pivot about an axis of rotation (15) fixed relative to the body elements (14) of the vehicle, characterized in that said slide (18) and said slide (22) have shapes and dimensions arranged to allow the   displacement of said slide in said slide.   6. Locking device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that said slide (18) has a width less than the internal width of said slide, defining a slight clearance between at least one of the upper longitudinal faces (25) and lower (26) of the slide (22) and the corresponding longitudinal faces of the slide (18). 7. Locking device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that said slide (22) is curved in the form of an arc of a circle centered on the axis of rotation. (15) of said file (11).   8. Locking device (10) according to claims 2 and 5, characterized in   that said blocking member (28) comprises at least one pin cooperating with a hole (29) made in said slide and arranged to be engaged selectively   in housings (27) formed in said slide (22).   9. Locking device (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises pushing means (30) arranged to urge said pin (28) in   direction of said housings (27) of the slide (22).   10. Locking device (10) according to claims 4 and 8, characterized in that   that said actuating element comprises a lever (32).   11. Locking device (40) according to claim 1 associated with a backrest (11) arranged to move in translation relative to the body elements (14) of the vehicle in association with the seat (13) of said seat (12 ), characterized in that said keeper (41) is coupled to the seat (13) by a coupling element of   so that it follows the movement of the latter.   12. Locking device (40) according to claims 2 and 11, characterized in   that said coupling element comprises a cable (50) the ends of which are coupled, respectively, to the slide (42) and to the seat (13), the locking device (40) comprising pushing means (54) arranged to solicit said   slide (42) so as to keep said cable (50) taut.   13. Locking device (40) according to claims 2 and 11, characterized in   that said blocking member (56) comprises several blocking notches (58, 59) arranged to cooperate with said slide (18) and defining said predetermined positions. 14. Locking device (40) according to claim 13, characterized in that the distance separating two consecutive locking notches (58, 59) is substantially equal to the length of the slide (42).   15. Locking device (40) according to claim 13, characterized in that the slide (42) is arranged to move between two extreme positions delimited by a rear axial stop (48) and a front axial stop (49) integral with the slide (45), at least one locking notch being arranged to cooperate with said slide   (42) when the latter is in contact with one of the two axial stops (48, 49).   16. Locking device (40) according to claim 13, characterized in that the locking member (56) is arranged to slide vertically inside a   guide housing (60) integral with said slide (45).   17. Locking device (40) according to claim 13, characterized in that the locking member (56) is arranged to pivot about a fixed axis of rotation (66) linked to said slide (45).   18. Locking device (40) according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises pushing means (64) arranged to place said blocking member. (56) in a locking position.   19. Locking device (40) according to claims 4 and 11, characterized in   that said actuating element is mounted on the seat (13), said blocking member   (56) being coupled to this actuating element by a connecting member (65).