FR2882975A1 - Motor vehicle seat slide, has nut and screw forming adjustment mechanism to slide two sliding units, and support device fixed to one sliding unit by fastening lateral wings of sliding unit on longitudinal edges of device through stampings - Google Patents

Abstract

The slide has a sliding unit (6) integrated to a rigid support device (35) which carries a nut engaged on a screw (12) integrated to a sliding unit (7). The nut and the screw form an adjustment mechanism to slide the units (6, 7) relative to each other in a longitudinal direction (X). The device is fixed to the unit (6) by fastening lateral wings (48) of the unit (6) on the longitudinal edges (39) of the device through stampings. An independent claim is also included for a vehicle seat comprising a slide.

Description

Slide for vehicle seat and seat with such a slide.

  The present invention relates to slides 5 for vehicle seats and seats with such slides.

  More particularly, the invention relates to a slide for a vehicle seat comprising first and second slide members, the first slide element being integral with at least one rigid support device which carries a nut engaged on a screw secured to the second element. slide, the nut and the screw forming a setting mechanism adapted to slide the first and second slide members relative to each other in a longitudinal direction.

  EP-A-1 068 093 discloses an example of such a slide, which has the disadvantage that the support device is attached to the first slide member by a screw mount which involves the use of a relatively large number of parts and which is of an expensive industrial implementation.

  The present invention is intended to overcome this disadvantage.

  For this purpose, according to the invention, a slide of the kind in question is characterized in that the support device is fixed to the first slide element by crimping said first slide element on said support device.

  With these provisions, it limits the number of parts of the slide and greatly simplifies its manufacturing process.

  In preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more of the following provisions may be used in addition: the first slide element comprises a U-section section which has at least a web and two lateral wings, which lateral wings of the first slide member are crimped onto said support device; the support device comprises at least one first lug disposed under the web of the first slide element, said first lug having two longitudinal edges arranged against the lateral wings of said first slide element, said lateral wings of the first slide element being crimped; on the longitudinal edges of the first leg; each lateral wing of the first slide element is crimped on the corresponding longitudinal edge of the first tab by at least one local punching formed in said lateral wing of the first slide element and projecting below the tab while maintaining said tab against the soul of the first slide element; - Each longitudinal edge of the first leg 20 has an indentation into which penetrates said punching; - The first leg of the support device further comprises a protruding pin which is fitted into a recess in the web of the first slide member; the support device comprises at least a first bracket which comprises the first bracket and a first transverse wing extending between the lateral wings of the first rail element opposite the web of the first rail element; the support device further comprises a second bracket comprising a second tab and a second transverse wing, the second tab being disposed under the web of the first slide element and having two longitudinal edges arranged against the lateral wings of said first slide element, said lateral wings being crimped on the longitudinal edges of the second tab, and the second transverse wing extending between the lateral wings of the first slide member opposite the web of the first slide member; - The nut is rotatably mounted in a housing around the screw, the screw being immobilized relative to the second slide member, said housing being framed, in the longitudinal direction, by the transverse wings of the first and second brackets; - The transverse wings of the first and second brackets are interconnected by a rigid connecting wall extending along one of the lateral wings of the first slide member; - The support device is formed of a single piece of folded and cut sheet comprising the first and second brackets and the connecting wall; - The connecting wall comprises a rigid tongue projecting towards the web of the first slide member and penetrating into a window cut in one of the lateral wings of said first slide member; the second slide element comprises a U-section profile which has a bottom substantially parallel to the web of the first slide element and two lateral wings which surround the lateral wings of the first slide element, said lateral wings of the second slide element; slide being extended towards each other and towards the bottom by two re-entrant troughs, the lateral wings of the first slide element extending towards the bottom to ends which are extended respectively by two flaps penetrating into the re-entrant troughs the second slide member, one side wing of the first slide member being shorter than the other and the connecting wall being disposed between said shorter side wing of the first slide member and the bottom of the second slide member. ; said window is formed in the shorter lateral wing of the first slide element and opens towards the bottom of the second slide element at the end of said shorter lateral wing, the rigid tongue of the connecting wall extending parallel to said shorter side wing and penetrating into said window by the end of said shorter side wing; the first and second brackets are two separate pieces; - The transverse wing of the first bracket is extended in the longitudinal direction, opposite the nut, by a flap which enters a managed opening in one of the lateral wings of the first slide member; said flap of the first bracket comprises a longitudinal edge adapted to abut against the corresponding lateral wing of the first slide element towards the web of said first slide element, and a front edge adapted to abut in the longitudinal direction, to the opposite the nut, against the corresponding side wing of the first slide member; - said opening comprises a puncture which projects inwardly of the first slide member, said leading edge being adapted to abut against said puncture in the longitudinal direction, opposite the nut.

  Furthermore, the invention also relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat carried by at least one slide as defined above.

  Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of two of its embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a seat that can include slides according to a first embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a view from above of the slides of the seat of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the slides of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the slideway without the first slide element; FIG. longitudinal section of a portion of the slide of Figure 3, - Figure 6 is a partial sectional view along line VI-VI of Figure 5, - Figure 7 is an exploded view showing the screw-nut assembly 3 to 5, with the support of this screw-nut assembly, FIG. 8 is a detail view of two bearings belonging to the screw-nut assembly of FIG. 7; FIG. a perspective view showing the first element of the slide of FIG. 3 with the screw-nut assembly and FIGS. 10 and 11 are cross-sectional views respectively along lines X-X and XI-XI of FIG. 5; FIG. 12 is a perspective cutaway view of the slideway of FIG. 3; FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 7, in a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 14 is a view in longitudinal section similar to FIG. 5, in the second embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 8, for the second embodiment of the invention.

  In the various figures, the same references denote identical or similar elements.

  Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle seat 1 which comprises a backrest 2 carried by a seat 3 itself slidably mounted on the floor 4 of the vehicle in a longitudinal direction X substantially horizontal.

  The seat 3 is connected to the floor 4 by two parallel rails 5, clearly visible in Figure 2. Each of these rails has first and second slide members 6, 7, respectively connected to the seat 3 and the floor 4, which slide one over the other in the direction X. The adjustment of the slides 5 is motorized, and controlled for example by means of a push button 8 which controls the operation of an electric motor 9 visible in FIG. 2, fixed for example to the structure of the seat 3. The electric motor 9 rotates for example two hoses 10 (Figures 2 and 3), the ends themselves drive respectively two reducers 11 carried by the first elements 6 of the two slides 5.

  The reducers 11 each rotate a nut 14 which is also carried by the first member 6 of each slide, which nut is screwed onto a screw 12 secured to the second member 7 of each slide. Each screw 12 extends along a central axis X0 parallel to the longitudinal direction X, and the nut 14 is rotatably mounted around the central axis XO of the screw 12.

  As shown in Figures 4, 5, 7 and 11, the gear 11 may comprise a worm wheel 13 and an external toothing of the nut 14, the worm wheel 13 being engaged with said external toothing. The worm wheel 13 is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation parallel to a transverse direction Y substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. As shown in more detail in Figure 7, the screw wheel 13 and the nut 14 are contained in a housing 15 which may be made for example in two light alloy molded parts 15a, 15b each forming substantially one half of the housing 15, the two parts 15a, 15b of the housing being separated from one of the other by a vertical median plane (X, Z), where Z is a vertical direction perpendicular to the aforementioned X, Y directions.

  Each of the parts 15a, 15b of the housing may comprise a bore 16 in which the screw wheel 13 (FIGS. 7 and 11) is journalled, and the housing 15 delimits furthermore two circular openings 17 centered on the axis X0 for the passage of the screw 12 (Figures 5 and 7), each of the openings 17 being formed in a transverse wall 18 of the housing which extends parallel to the plane (Y, Z). the transverse walls 18 are disposed axially on either side of the nut 14 and said transverse walls 18, as well as the openings 17, are each formed half in the two parts 15a, 15b of the housing.

  The housing 15 may further comprise stops 19 projecting axially in the longitudinal direction X, in two opposite directions, from the transverse walls 18. In the example shown in the drawings, the stops 19 are 4 in number and are half formed on each of the parts 15a, 15b of the housing.

  In addition, the housing 15 may further comprise a head 20 projecting upwards, this head 20 may for example be formed in two halves 20a, 20b respectively belonging to the two parts 15a, 15b of the housing.

  The housing 15 may be covered externally, at least partially, by an elastomer liner 21, clearly visible in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7. This elastomer liner may comprise, for example, a substantially horizontal upper wall 22 which covers the housing 15 towards the upper, this upper wall 22 itself being extended upward in its center by a chimney 23 through which the projecting head 20 of the housing.

  The liner 21 further comprises two transverse walls 24 which extend parallel to the plane (Y, Z) and frame the transverse walls 18 of the housing. Each of the transverse walls 24 of the jacket 21 is traversed by: - an opening 24a facing the corresponding opening 17 of the housing, for the passage of the screw 12, the opening 24 being for example delimited downwards by a planar horizontal face 24a and upwards by an arch 24b, - and two openings 25 in which are fitted the corresponding stops 19.

  Finally, in the example shown in the drawings, the elastomer liner 21 further comprises side walls 26 parallel to the (X, Z) plane, which connect the lateral edges of each transverse wall 23 to the lateral edges of the upper wall 22. These side walls 26 each have a central notch 27 substantially V-shaped, open downwards, allowing in particular the passage of the aforementioned hoses 10.

  Furthermore, as can be seen in detail in Figures 5, 7 and 8, the screw-nut assembly 12, 14 of each slide further comprises two identical or similar bearings 28, made of plastic, for example polyamide 6-6 if necessary reinforced with glass fibers or others.

  The bearings 28 are integral with the housing 15 and disposed on either side of the nut 14, and said bearings 28 are traversed by the screw 12 substantially without radial play. Each bearing 28 has an axial length, in the longitudinal direction X, at least equal to two to three times the pitch of the screw 12, or a significantly greater length as in the example shown here.

  Each bearing 28 has a cylindrical tubular wall 29 which delimits a central bore 30 and which is nested without play in one of the circular openings 17 of the housing 15. The tubular wall 29 may comprise an inner end 31 which penetrates into a cylindrical housing 32 arranged at the corresponding axial end of the nut 14.

  The tubular wall 29 further comprises an outer collar 33 which is axially interposed, in the longitudinal direction X, between the nut 14 and the corresponding transverse wall 20, substantially free of play. The collar 33 has an outer shape (including in particular edges vertical straight opposed 33a) adapted to cooperate with the housing 15 to immobilize the bearing 28 in rotation about the axis X0.

  Finally, each bearing 28 may comprise an outer collar 34 which extends radially outwardly from the outer end of the bearing 28. The collar 34 is disposed against the outer face of the corresponding transverse wall 20 of the housing, and it is engaged in the corresponding opening 24 of the elastomeric sleeve 21. The collar 34 advantageously has an outer shape substantially identical to the shape of the opening 24, with a substantially straight and horizontal lower edge 34a and an upper edge 34b substantially in the form of a vault which joins the two ends of the lower edge 34a forming two corners 34c.

  As can be seen in FIG. 5, when no force is applied to the screw-nut assembly 12, 14, the transverse walls 23 of the elastomer jacket have a thickness slightly greater than the thickness of the collar 34 and stops 19 in the longitudinal direction X, the collar 34 also having substantially the same thickness as the abutments 19 in this direction.

  As shown in Figures 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, the housing 15 is mounted in the slide 5 by means of a support device 35 which can be made for example of folded sheet and cut. The support device 35 has first and second brackets 36, each of which includes a substantially horizontal lug 37 which extends in the plane (X, Y) and a transverse wing 38 which extends the horizontal lug 37 substantially 90 degrees downwards. and which extends parallel to the plane (X, Z).

  The horizontal legs 37 extend away from each other, and each have two longitudinal edges 39 which may optionally be chamfered. Each longitudinal edge 39 may comprise at least one indentation 40 whose utility will be seen later. Each horizontal leg 37 may further comprise a pin 41, made for example by semi-cutting (fine stamping) which protrudes upwards.

  Each transverse wing 38 also has a circular opening 42 which is traversed with clearance by the screw 12.

  Each transverse wing 38 may optionally be extended, over part of its height, by a lower flap 43 which extends parallel to the plane (X, Z) from one of the vertical lateral edges 38a of said transverse wing. The flaps 43 extend away from each other to a vertical front edge 43a, also delimiting a horizontal upper edge 43b. The flaps 43 are slightly offset laterally towards the outside of the slide relative to the vertical edges 38a of the transverse wings 38.

  Furthermore, the other vertical edge 38b of each transverse wing 38 is extended by a connecting wall 44 which extends parallel to the longitudinal direction X and substantially vertically (or slightly obliquely to the vertical direction Z, as in FIG. the example shown) by connecting the lower portions of the edges 38b of the transverse wings 38. The connecting wall 44 is slightly offset laterally outwardly relative to the transverse walls 38, and it defines an upper edge 45 which can be extended locally. upwards by a rigid tongue 46 protruding, this tongue 46 possibly being slightly offset laterally inwardly relative to the connecting wall 44.

  As can be seen in Figure 10, the first slide member 6 has a substantially U-shaped section, with a substantially horizontal upper core 47, parallel to the plane (X, Y), and two lateral wings 48 which extend downwardly from the upper core 47. Each lateral flange 48 extends to a lower end which is extended, at an angle outward and upward, by a flap 49. The lower end one of the side wings 48 is located closer to the bottom 50 of the second slide member than the other.

  The second slide element, meanwhile, also has a shape substantially U which includes the bottom 50, substantially horizontal, parallel to the X, Y directions and two lateral wings 51 which surround the lateral wings 48 of the first slide member and are extended by reentrant troughs 52 which respectively include the flaps 49.

  The support device 35 is fixed to the first slide member 6 by crimping said first slide member on said support device 35, which limits the number of pieces of the slide 5 and significantly simplifies its manufacturing process.

  More particularly, as can be seen in particular in Figures 5, 6 and 10, the side wings 48 of the first slide member 6 are crimped on the longitudinal edges 39 of the horizontal legs 37 of said support device. This crimping can be obtained by means of punchings 53 which are made locally facing each indentation 40. Each punch 53 projects inwardly of the slideway 5 penetrating into the corresponding indentation 40 and under the horizontal tab 37. Punchings 53 thus hold the tabs 37 against the underside of the core 47 of the first slide member, immobilizing said tabs 37 with respect to the first slide member 6 at a time along the X, Y and Z directions. The pin 41 each horizontal tab 37 is furthermore fitted into a recess 54 formed in the core 47 of the first slide element (FIGS. 5, 9, 10, 12), which further contributes to immobilizing the support 35 with respect to the first element of FIG. slide in the direction X. It will also be noted that the head 20 of the housing and the chimney 23 of the elastomer liner pass through an opening 55 formed in the core 47 of the first lement rail.

  Furthermore, the immobilization of the support 35 with respect to the first slide element in the X direction is further improved by the fact that the tongue 46 enters a window 56 cut in the shorter side wing 48 of the first slide element. (Figures 9, 10, 11), this window 56 opening down from the lower end of the lateral flange 48.

  The upper edge 45 of the connecting wall 44 is further adapted to abut against the lower end of said shorter lateral wing 48, which also contributes to immobilizing the support 35 relative to the first slide element in the Z direction Finally, the flap 43 of each transverse wing penetrates into an opening 57 maneuvered in the corresponding lateral wing 48 of the first slide element. Thus, the upper edge 43b of the flap is adapted to abut against the corresponding lateral flange 48 upwards when the slide undergoes a significant effort. The front edge 43a of the flap 43 is adapted to abut in the longitudinal direction X, said lateral flange 48. In particular, the opening 57 which receives the flap 43 facing the front of the seat 1, has a flat 58 which protrudes inwardly of the first slide member 6, and the front edge 43a of this flap is adapted to abut against said puncture 58 in the longitudinal direction X towards the front of the seat, which provides a particularly effective stop.

  Furthermore, during the operation of the screw-nut assembly 12, 14, the stops 19 limit the crushing of the transverse walls 18 of the elastomer sleeve against the transverse wings 38. These stops 19 also protect the bearings 28 against a axial collapse under the effect of excessive axial force in the longitudinal direction X. the collars 34 of these bearings, and in particular the wedges 34c formed by these collars, further participate in the recovery of these axial forces, because of the free stop provided by these collars 34 against the inner face of each transverse wing 38.

  Moreover, and above all, the bearings 38 keep the nut 14 aligned and centered on the axis X0 during the operation of the screw-nut assembly, which avoids squeal or squeak noises during this operation and which also limits the wear of the screw 12 and the nut 14. It will be noted that the sliding of the bearings 28 on the screw 12 does not generate noise or significant wear of the bearings 28, particularly in view of the fact that the screw 12 is fixed.

  The second embodiment, shown in Figures 13 to 15, is similar to the first embodiment and will not be described again in detail. This second embodiment differs from the first embodiment by the following points: - the support device 35 is made in two parts 36, the connecting wall 44 being removed, - the bearings 28 do not have any projecting portion 31 nested in the nut 14, and said nut 14 does not include the corresponding housing 32; on the contrary, the nut 14 may optionally have two projecting parts 14a which penetrate respectively into the bores 30 of the bearings 28.

Claims (19)

  A slider for a vehicle seat comprising first and second slider members (6, 7), the first slider member (6) being integral with at least one rigid support device (35) which carries a nut (14) engaged on a screw (12) secured to the second slide member (7), the nut (14) and the screw (12) forming a setting mechanism adapted to slide the first and second slide members (6, 7). relative to each other in a longitudinal direction (X), characterized in that the support device (35) is fixed to the first slide member (6) by crimping said first slide member on said support device .   2. Slide according to claim 1, wherein the first slide member (6) comprises a U-section section which has at least one web (47) and two lateral wings (48), which lateral wings (48) of the first slide element are crimped onto said support device (35).   3. Slide according to claim 2, wherein the support device (35) comprises at least one first lug (37) disposed under the web (47) of the first slide element, said first lug (37) having two longitudinal edges. (39) disposed against the side wings (48) of said first slide member, said side wings (48) of the first slide member being crimped to the longitudinal edges (39) of the first tab.   4. Slide according to claim 3, wherein each lateral flange (48) of the first slide member is crimped on the corresponding longitudinal edge (39) of the first tab (37) by at least one local punch (53) formed in said lateral flange (48) of the first slide member and projecting below the tab (37) maintaining said tab against the web (47) of the first slide member.   5. Slide according to claim 4, wherein each longitudinal edge (39) of the first tab (37) has an indentation (40) into which penetrates said punching (53).   6. Slide according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the first leg (37) of the support device (35) further comprises a projecting pin (41) which is engaged in a recess (54) in the core (47) of the first slide element.   7. Slide according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the support device (35) comprises at least a first bracket (36) which comprises the first tab (37) and a first transverse wing (38) s' extending between the side wings (48) of the first slide member (6) opposite the web (47) of the first slide member.   8. Slide according to claim 7, wherein the support device (35) further comprises a second bracket (36) comprising a second lug (37) and a second transverse wing (38), the second lug (37) being arranged under the web (47) of the first slide element and having two longitudinal edges (39) arranged against the lateral wings (48) of said first slide element, said lateral wings (48) being crimped on the longitudinal edges (39) of the second leg, and the second transverse wing (38) extending between the side wings (48) of the first slide member (6) opposite the web (47) of the first slide member.   9. Slide according to claim 8, wherein the nut (14) is rotatably mounted in a housing (15) around the screw (12), the screw being immobilized relative to the second slide member (7), said housing (15) being framed, in the longitudinal direction (X), by the transverse wings (38) of the first and second brackets (36).   A slide according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the transverse wings (38) of the first and second brackets (36) are interconnected by a rigid connecting wall (44) extending along one of the side wings (48) of the first slide member.   11. Slide according to claim 10, wherein the support device (35) is formed of a single piece of folded and cut sheet comprising the first and second brackets (36) and the connecting wall (44).   12. Slide according to any one of claims 10 and 11, wherein the connecting wall (44) comprises a rigid tongue (46) projecting towards the web (47) of the first slide member and penetrating into a window ( 56) cut in one of the side wings (48) of said first slide member.   A slide as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second slide member (7) has a U-section profile which has a bottom (50) substantially parallel to the web (47) of the first slide member (6) and two lateral wings (51) which frame the lateral wings (48) of the first slide element (6), said lateral wings (51) of the second slide element being extended towards each other and towards the bottom (50) by two re-entrant troughs (52), the lateral wings (48) of the first slide member extending towards the bottom (50) to ends which are extended respectively by two flaps (49) penetrating the re-entrant troughs (52). ) of the second slide member (7), one of the side wings (48) of the first slide member being shorter than the other and the connecting wall (44) being disposed between said shorter side wing (48). of the first slide element and the bottom (50) of the second slide member.   14. Slide according to any one of claims 12 and 13, wherein said window (56) is formed in the shorter side wing (48) of the first slide member (6) and opens to the bottom (50) of the second slide member (7) at the end of said shorter side wing, the rigid tongue (46) of the connecting wall (44) extending parallel to said shorter side wing (48) and penetrating into said window (56) through the end of said shorter side wing.   A slide as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the first and second brackets (36) are two separate pieces.   16. Slide according to any one of claims 7 to 15, wherein the transverse flange (38) of the first bracket (36) is extended in the longitudinal direction (X), opposite the nut (14). ), by a flap (43) which enters an opening (57) managed in one of the side wings (48) of the first slide member.   17. Slide according to claim 16, wherein said flap (43) of the first bracket has a longitudinal edge (43b) adapted to abut against the corresponding lateral flange (48) of the first slide element (6) towards the core. (47) of said first slide member, and a leading edge (43a) adapted to abut in the longitudinal direction (X), opposite the nut (14), against the corresponding lateral wing (48) of the first slide element.   A slide as claimed in claim 17, wherein said opening (57) has a puncture (58) projecting inwardly from the first slide member (6), said leading edge (43a) being adapted to abut against said puncture (58) in the longitudinal direction (X), opposite the nut.   19. Vehicle seat comprising a seat (3) carried by at least one slide (5) according to any one of the preceding claims.