FR2882539A1 - Storage lock and slide lock actuating device for vehicle front seat, has torsion spring with rod exerting force on storage lock along actuation direction during rotation of cam for displacing lock between rest position and actuated position - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a torsion spring (34) whose rolling axis is made distant from an axis of rotation of a cam (42), such that the rotation of the cam provokes a displacement of a rod (36) of the spring along an actuating direction normal to the rotation axis. The rod exerts a force on a storage lock (21) along the actuating direction during a rotation of the cam for displacing the lock between its rest position and an actuated position. An independent claim is also included for a vehicle front seat that is retracted to access rear places.

Description

DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY ACTING TWO ELEMENTS

  AND SEAT COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE

  The invention relates to a device for operating simultaneously two elements and in particular a vehicle seat equipped with such a device.

  There is already known a device comprising: a cam mounted on a support, said cam having an actuating surface, rotational guiding means for guiding the cam in a rotational movement about an axis of rotation relative to the support between a first position and a second position, rotational control means adapted to control the rotation of the cam about the axis of rotation in a direction of control from the first position to the second position, a torsion spring comprising: E a first end portion connected to the cam, É an intermediate portion wrapping around a winding axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, said torsion spring exerting a torque on the cam tending to rotate it around said axis of rotation in a direction opposite to the direction of control, É a second end portion cooperating with guide means connected to the support, said guide means oppose t the rotation of the second end portion relative to the support about the winding axis, a first movable element between a rest position and an actuated position, said actuating surface of the cam exerting a force on said first element in a first direction of operation perpendicular to the axis of rotation, so that the rotation of the cam causes the displacement of said first element between its rest position and its actuated position, a second element movable between a rest position and a position actuated.

  The object of the invention is to control the displacement of the second element between its rest position and its actuated position, in a simple, robust and inexpensive manner.

  To do this, according to the invention, the device has the following characteristics: the axis of winding of the spring is distant from the axis of rotation of the cam, so that the rotation of the cam causes a displacement of said second end portion of the spring in a second direction of actuation perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and said second end portion of the spring actuates said second member during rotation of the cam, so that said second end portion of the spring exerts a force on said second element in the second direction of actuation causing the displacement of said second element between its rest position and its actuated position.

  Thus, it takes advantage on the one hand of the rotation of the cam and the distance between the axis of rotation and the winding axis to induce movement and secondly the flexibility of the spring to direct this movement in the desired direction and transform it substantially into a translation.

  Since the control means only have to act in one direction because of the torsion spring, advantageously the rotational control means comprise a cable.

  The invention is more particularly applicable in a vehicle seat, in particular the front seat of a vehicle intended to retract to allow access to the rear seats. According to the invention, in addition to the device, the seat comprises: a seat slidably mounted in a longitudinal direction by means of at least one slideway comprising: a fixed profile, intended to be secured to the vehicle, said support forming movable section and 10 supporting the seat, said movable section being arranged parallel to the fixed profile and slidably mounted along said fixed profile, a storage pad displaceable in translation along the fixed profile in the longitudinal direction, in order to limit the movement of the profile movable in a direction along the fixed profile, thereby defining a stored position of the movable section, the adjustment means having an active state wherein said adjustment means allow a comfort adjustment of the seat cushion by sliding the movable section relative to the fixed profile in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the seat has the following characteristics.

    said first element defines a first latch having an active position in which it immobilizes the movable section relative to the fixed profile and an inactive position in which it leaves the movable section free to slide along the fixed profile, said second element defines a second latch having an active position in which it immobilizes the storage pad with respect to the fixed profile (6) and an inactive position in which it leaves the storage pad free to slide along the fixed profile, when the adjustment means are at the active state, the first latch is in its inactive position and the second latch is in its inactive position, the control device has an active state in which it controls the rotation of the cam about the axis of rotation in the direction of control to the second position, in order to move the seat cushion and facilitate access to the rear seats of the vee by sliding the movable section relative to the fixed profile in the longitudinal direction and leaving the storage pad stationary on the fixed profile, when the cam is in the second position, the first lock is in the inactive position and the second lock in the active position.

  Thus, the seat is simplified by reducing the number of parts required for the unlocking command for access to the rear seats.

  Advantageously, the seat further comprises: a first return spring tending to bring the first latch in its rest position, and a second return spring tending to bring the second latch in its rest position.

  According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the seat has the following characteristics: the rest position of the first element corresponds to its active position, the rest position of the second element corresponds to its active position, the actuated position of the first element corresponds to its inactive position, and the actuated position of the second element corresponds to its inactive position.

  Finally, according to yet another advantageous characteristic in accordance with the invention, the first and second actuation directions are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following description of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIGS. 6 to 10 represent, in a manner analogous to FIG. portion of the slide of Figures 1 to 5, in various configurations illustrating its operation, - Figure 11 is an enlarged view of the zone marked XI in Figure 5, - Figure 12 is a view along the arrow marked XII to FIG. 11 corresponding to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 6; FIG. 13 is a view along the arrow marked XII in FIG. 11 corresponding to the configuration illustrated in FIG.

  In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

  An exemplary embodiment of the slide according to the present invention is described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 13.

  FIG. 1 shows a seat 1, in particular a vehicle front seat, which comprises a backrest 2 pivotally mounted on a seat 3, this assembly being generally carried out by means of a hinge mechanism 65 which is substantially in the form of of a flattened circular housing and which has on the one hand a fixed flange 65a, rigidly fixed to the seat, and on the other hand a movable flange 65b fixed to the backrest 2. The fixed flange 65a has at its periphery a notch 65c or another housing in which can engage a locking hook 70 pivotally mounted on the backrest 2.

  This locking hook 70 is biased towards its locked position by a spring 71, and it is further connected by a cable 72 to a handle 40 which is accessible on the side of the backrest to allow a user to unlock the hook 70 by allowing and the pivoting forward of the backrest 2, to a folded position.

  In order to allow the user to simultaneously push the seat 3 of the seat forward, the flange 65b of the backrest is also attached to an end 74 of a wire rope 11 sliding in a flexible sheath, so as to exert a pulling on this cable 11 when the folder 3 is folded down.

  A cable 45 slides in a flexible sheath and is connected by one of its ends to a locking hook 81 which, when the backrest 3 is in the folded position and when the cable 45 is relaxed, engages in a notch 82 flange 5a of the backrest under the action of a spring 83.

  The hinge mechanism 65, which adjusts the inclination of the backrest, is a conventional mechanism that will not be described here. By way of non-limiting illustration, EP-A-0 505 229 describes an example of such a mechanism.

  Each slide 5 comprises, on the one hand, a fixed section 6 secured to the floor 4 of the vehicle by means of fastening means, an example of which is described below, and on the other hand, a movable section 7 which is secured to with the seat 3 of the seat and which is slidably mounted on the fixed profile 6, parallel to the longitudinal direction L. As shown in Figure 2, the fixed profile 6 of each of the slides 5 has a section in the form of U "open up with a horizontal bottom 14 and two vertical wings 15 which extend inward and downward by two reentrant troughs 16, which extend to a lower edge forming notches 17 facing the down (see also Figure 3).

  The movable section 7 of the slideway 5 according to the invention is not described further in this document, but reference may be made, for example, to the patent document FR 2 776 581 for a more complete description.

  The fixed and movable profiles 6, 7 of each slide 5 delimit between them a hollow interior space 8. In this hollow interior space 8, is partially housed a slide lock 9 may occupy two positions.

  - A locked position in which it blocks the movable section 7 relative to the fixed profile 6, and - an unlocked position in which it allows the longitudinal sliding of the fixed and movable profiles 6, 7 relative to each other, the along the longitudinal direction L. The slide locks 9 of the two slides 5 are biased to their locked position under the action of a spring or equivalent not shown. They can be unlocked by means of a rudder 10 or the cable 11. The rudder 10 is used to make a comfort adjustment of the position of the seat 1, with respect to the floor 4, along the longitudinal direction L. cable 11 also makes it possible to unlock the slide locks 9 when traction is exerted thereon. This traction can be exerted especially during the tilting of the backrest 2 relative to the seat 3, when is desired access to the rear seats. The notching of the slide locks 9 in the locked position adjusted for comfort reasons is not permanent since it must be removed when moving the seat 1 for access to a rear seat.

  A traction exerted on the spreader bar 10 or on the cable 11 controls the unlocking of the teeth 33 of a slide lock 9 (for example on the left side in FIG. 2) and is transmitted simultaneously to the other slide lock (right side 2) via a conjugation bar 30 to unlock its teeth. When the slide locks 9 are in the unlocked position, the user can adjust the position of the seat 1 relative to the floor 4, along the longitudinal direction L or move the seat 1 along the same longitudinal direction L to access a place located behind the seat 1.

  In the case of unlocking the slide locks 9 when accessing the rear seats, it is generally desired not to lose the adjustment of the position of the seat 1 with respect to the floor 4. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 3, the slideway 5 according to the invention is provided with a storage bar 12 and a storage pad 13.

  The storage bar 12 extends longitudinally on the bottom 14 of the inner face of the fixed profile 6 and laterally, on the bottom 14, between the vertical wings 15. The storage bar 12 also has an upwardly open "U" shaped section with a horizontal bottom 18 and two wings or ramps 19 extending inwardly and upwardly from the bottom 18.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the ramps 19 comprise notches 20. The ramps 19 are parallel to the longitudinal direction L and each located respectively on either side of fastening means 26, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L Returning to FIG. 3, the storage pad 13 comprises a storage lock 21. The storage lock 21 is articulated, on the storage pad 13, around an axis of rotation Y, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L The storage pad 13 has, in section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L, a form of "U" open downwardly with two wings 22 extending downwards and outwards to free ends at each level of which is a longitudinal guide 23 which cooperates with a respective ramp 19 of the storage bar 12. More specifically, the ramps 19 maintain the longitudinal guides 23 in translation along longitudinal direction L. The storage latch 21 also has, in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, a form of "U" open downwards, with two wings 24 extending downwardly and outwardly up to free ends at each of which are teeth 25 adapted to cooperate with the notches 20 of the ramps 19 (see Figure 4). Note that in Figure 3, the teeth 25 do not cooperate with the ramps 19: the latch 21 is in the unlocked position. In FIG. 4, on the other hand, the teeth 25 are engaged in the notches 20 of the ramps 19: the storage lock 21 is in the locked position and the storage pad 13 can not be translated along the longitudinal direction L. As shown in FIG. 4, fastening means 26 pass through both the storage bar 12 and the fixed profile 6, in the middle part of their bottom 14, 18 respectively. These fixing means 26 consist essentially of a screw comprising a head 27 and a rod 28. The rod 28 is intended to be screwed into the floor 4. The head 27 holds the fixed profile 6 on the floor 4, the bar memory 12 being held on the fixed profile 6 by welding. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the storage pad 13 and the storage latch 21 are mounted in overlapping of the storage bar 12 while providing a space 29 for the passage of the protruding part of the fixing means 26 constituted here of the head 27. Thus, the length of the storage bar 12, as shown in FIG. 4, is not limited to the distance, in the longitudinal direction L, between the fixing means 26.

  The storage latch 21 is actuated, under certain conditions, via the slide latch 9, as described below in particular in connection with FIG. 5.

  For the so-called "comfort" setting, a user actuates, for example near the lower portion of the seat, the rudder 10. Thus, when a user raises the portion of the rudder 10 located near the lower portion of the seat the seat, the movement of the rudder 10 is transmitted to a rod 31 rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation Y1 and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. The rod 31 then rotates clockwise, downwards, for cooperate with pins 32 which control a downward movement of the corresponding slide lock 9. During this movement of the slide lock 9 downwards, the teeth 33 are disengaged from the notches 46 (see FIG. 4) formed on the lower edge of the fixed profile 6. The mobile section 7 can then be moved in the longitudinal direction L for allow a comfort setting. The rotational movement of the connecting rod 31 enabling the unlocking of one of the slide locks 9 is transmitted to the other (not shown in FIG. 5) via the conjugation bar 30.

  Furthermore, a cam 42 is pivotally mounted on the movable section 7 via a pivot 35 extending along an axis of rotation 47. A torsion spring 34 tends to rotate the cam 42 in a return direction 52 about the axis of rotation 47. The torsion spring 34 comprises an end rod 48 held on the cam 42, a winding 49 extending around a winding axis 50 (distant from the axis of rotation). rotation 47 relative to which it is parallel) on a pin 41 and a rod 36 extending downwardly in an actuating direction 55 by passing through a hole 53 formed in the movable section 7 (see Figure 11). The free end of the rod 36 comes to bear on the front end of the storage lock 21 on which it exerts a force in the direction of actuation 55 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and: to the axis of rotation 47, and parallel to the actuating direction 54. Thus, the rear portion 38 of the storage lock is held upwardly tilted, engaged with a hook 39 integral with the movable section 7. In this position, the teeth 25 of the storage lock 21 are not engaged with the notches 20 of the storage bar 12. The storage pad 13 can therefore be driven forwards or backwards along the storage bar 12 with the mobile section 7.

  When a user wishes to access the rear seats, he actuates the handle 40 located at the top of the backrest 2 to unlock the articulation mechanism 65 controlling the tilting of the backrest 2 towards the seat 3.

  In this tilting movement, the backrest 2 drives the cable 11. The cable 11 then exerts traction on the cam 42. The cam 42 is then rotated in the control direction 51 and cooperates with its operating surface 43 with the connecting rod 31 on which it exerts a force in an actuating direction 54 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and the axis of rotation 47 of the cam 42. The rod 31 in this movement exerts a pressure on the pins 32 thus causing the slide lock 9 in the unlocked position. The movable section 7 can then slide freely forward in the longitudinal direction L to move the seat 1 to an advanced position and free space for access to a rear seat.

  But, unlike the case of unlocking the slides for comfort adjustment, the cam 42 (which is not active in the case of a comfort adjustment) causes the spring 34 in its rotation in the control direction 51, opposite to the direction This has the effect of raising the rod 36 which then releases the latch 21 which returns to the notched position in the storage bar 12 under the effect of a spring not shown.

  Thus, the storage pad 13 stores the position of the comfort adjustment of the slides. When the movable section 7 returns to its initial position, after straightening the backrest 2 to its substantially vertical initial position, the slide lock 9 comes into abutment with the storage pad and recreates itself in the initially stored comfort position.

  In fact, it is advantageous for the backrest 2 not to be raised before the movable section 7 returns to the memorized position and therefore the hook 39 does not return opposite the storage lock of the storage pad 21, so as to avoid re-locking the slide before the seat is repositioned in its initial comfort position. To this end, a mechanism called "feedback" is provided to lock the backrest 2 in its forward tilted position during the entire phase of advancing and retreating the seat for access to the rear seats.

  This feedback mechanism comprises an information return rod 44 and the information feedback cable 45 connected at its end 79 to the hook 81 cooperating with the notch 82.

  In FIGS. 6 and 12, the slide lock 9 is shown in the rest position, that is to say in the locked position and in abutment with the storage pad 13, with the information return rod 44 inserted therebetween between the two.

  Io When a user tilts the back 2 forward and towards the seat 3, as explained above, pulling on the cable 11 causes rotation in the control direction 51 of the cam 42. This induces an unlocking storage locks 9 and an upward movement of the rod 36. The storage pad 13 is then notched on the storage bar 12 and the movable profile 7 can be moved longitudinally in the direction L towards the front.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the hook 39 moves away from the latch 21 of the storage pad 13, the information return rod 44 is rotated anti-clockwise with respect to a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, under the action of the return spring 83 of the hook 81. The hook 81 is then engaged in the notch 82, which locks the backrest 2 in the tilted position forward.

  Thus, the backrest 2 is locked forward and continues to pull on the cable 11 so as to maintain the slide locks 9 in the unlocked position. The unlocking of the slide locks 9 is maintained as long as the feedback rod 44 is not in contact with the storage pad 13.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the seat 1 is brought back to its initial comfort position, the information return rod 44 comes into contact with the storage pad 13, it undergoes: a rotation in the clockwise direction, causing the feedback cable 45. The feedback cable 45 then pulls hook 81, thus releasing it from the notch 82 which held the backrest 2 in the tilted position. The file 2 can then be raised manually or assisted by an unrepresented assistance spring.

  As represented in FIG. 10, the straightening of the backrest 2 makes it possible to release the traction on the cable 11. The cam 42, under the effect of the spring 34, is rotated in the return direction 52 and the rod 36 returns to press the front portion 37 of the storage lock 21.

  The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 10 differs from that illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13 only in the form of a cam 42 and information feedback rod 44 that is substantially different without affecting the object of the invention.

  The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 10 differs from that illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13 only in the form of a cam 42 and information feedback rod 44 that is substantially different without affecting the object of the invention. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 10, the feedback rod 44 cooperates with an abutment zone 56 belonging to the storage lock 21, while in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13, the return rod of information 44 cooperates with a stop zone 57 belonging to the storage pad 13.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments that are described by way of illustration. Thus, instead of bringing the storage bar 12 to the fixed profile 6 by welding, the bar could be integrated with the fixed profile, in particular by stamping.

Claims (6)

  1. A device for simultaneously actuating two elements, said device comprising: a cam (42) mounted on a support (7), said cam (42) having an actuating surface (43), rotation guiding means (35) ) to guide the cam (42) in a rotational movement about an axis of rotation (47) relative to the support (7) between a first position and a second position, rotational control means (11) adapted to controlling the rotation of the cam (42) about the axis of rotation (47) in a control direction (51) from the first position to the second position, a torsion spring (34) comprising: E a first portion ( 48) end connected to the cam, E an intermediate portion (49) wrapping around a winding axis (50) substantially parallel to the axis of rotation (47), said torsion spring (34) exerting a torque on the cam (42) tending to rotate about said axis of rotation in a direction (52) opposite to the control direction (51), É a second end portion (36) cooperating with guide means (53) connected to the support (7), said guide means (53) opposing the rotation of the second end portion ( 36) relative to the support (7) around the winding axis (50), a first element (9) movable between a rest position and an actuated position, said actuating surface (43) of the cam (42). ) exerting a force on said first member (9) in a first operating direction 30: 16 (51) perpendicular to the axis of rotation (47), so that the rotation of the cam (42) causes the displacement said first element (9) between its rest position and its actuated position, a second movable element (21) between a rest position and an actuated position, characterized in that: the winding axis (50) of the spring (34) is remote from the axis of rotation (47) of the cam (42), so that the rotation of the cam (42) causes a displacement. said second end portion (36) of the spring (34) in a second direction of operation (55) perpendicular to the axis of rotation (47), and said second end portion (36) of the spring (34) actuates said second member (21) during rotation of the cam (42), so that said second end portion (36) of the spring (34) exerts a force on said second member (21) in the second direction of operation ( 55) causing said second member (21) to move between its rest position and its actuated position.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotating control means comprise a cable (11).   3. Vehicle seat (1), in particular front seat of a vehicle intended to be retracted to allow access to the rear seats, said seat comprising: a device according to claim 1 or 2, a seat (3) slidably mounted next a longitudinal direction (L) by means of at least one slide (5) comprising: E a fixed profile (6), intended to be secured to the vehicle (4), E said support forming a movable section (7) and supporting the seat (3), said movable section being arranged parallel to the fixed profile and slidably mounted along said fixed profile, - a storage pad (13) displaceable in translation along the fixed profile (6) in the longitudinal direction (L ), in order to limit the movement of the movable section (7) in one direction along the fixed profile (6), thereby defining a stored position of the movable section, - setting means (10, 30, 31) having a state active in which said means for r adjustment allow a comfort adjustment of the seat (3) of the seat by sliding the movable profile (7) relative to the fixed profile (6) in the longitudinal direction (L) by driving the storage pad (13), in which seat: - said first element defines a first latch (9) having an active position in which it immobilizes the movable section (7) relative to the fixed section (6) and an inactive position in which it leaves the free movable section (7). ) to slide along the fixed profile (6), -said second element defines a second latch (21) having an active position in which it immobilizes the storage pad (13) relative to the fixed profile (6) and an inactive position in which it leaves the storage pad (13) free to slide along the fixed profile (6), - when the adjustment means (10, 30, 31) are in the active state, the first lock (9) is in its inactive position and the second or (21) is in its inactive position, the control means (11) have an active state in which they control the rotation of the cam (42) about the axis of rotation in the control direction (51) towards the second position, to move the seat (3) of the seat and facilitate access to the rear seats of the vehicle by sliding the movable section (7) relative to the fixed profile (6) in the longitudinal direction (L) and in leaving the storage pad (13) stationary on the fixed profile (6), when the cam (42) is in the second position, the first latch (21) is in the inactive position and the second latch (9) in the position active.   4. Seat according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises: a first return spring tending to bring the first latch (9) in its rest position, and a second return spring tending to bring the second latch ( 21) in its rest position.   5. Seat according to claim 4, characterized in that: the rest position of the first latch (9) corresponds to its active position, the rest position of the second latch (21) corresponds to its active position, the actuated position of the first latch ( 9) corresponds to its inactive position, and the actuated position of the second lock (21) corresponds to its inactive position.   6. Seat according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the first actuating direction (54) and the second actuating direction (55) are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L).