FR2895707A1 - Vehicle seat`s continuous or discontinuous type articulation locking ring, has annular portions with respective diameters and separated from each other by S shaped portion, where ring is provided in shape of pressed annular metallic band - Google Patents

Abstract

The ring (4) has an annular portion (4c) with a small diameter and an annular portion (4d) with a large diameter, where the annular portions are separated from each other by an S shaped portion (4e). The ring is provided in the shape of a pressed annular metallic band. The metallic band has ends that are fixed by welding.

Description

Hinge fastening ring for a vehicle seat and its method of

manufacturing

  The present invention relates to a hinge closure ring for a vehicle seat and its method of manufacture. More particularly and in a known manner, this hinge ring for a vehicle seat is made generally from a sheet 10 in the form of a disc made of sheet steel which is perforated and then stamped to to provide a hinge closure ring for a vehicle seat. The existence of this disk steel sheet therefore requires a perforation operation and then stamping 15 which slows the production and increases the cost of production of the hinge ring. The present invention aims to achieve a hinge ring which is less expensive while having an equivalent performance. For this purpose, according to the invention, the closure ring is in the form of a stamped metal annular strip. Thus, the manufacturing cost of the hinge ring is reduced and the falls in material are greatly reduced. According to another characteristic according to the invention, the closure ring has two annular portions respectively having a small diameter and a large diameter, said annular portions being separated from each other by a substantially S-shaped portion. According to another characteristic according to the invention, the metal strip has two ends fixed by welding. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing the hinge closure ring for a vehicle seat. According to the invention, one stamps

  2 a metal annular band. According to other features and advantages of the invention, provision may furthermore be made for other embodiments, namely: to produce the annular band, a band is rolled on itself until its ends are brought to close proximity. one of the other, then we fix together the ends of the rolled strip; the strip is cut in a strip; to produce the annular band, a tube is cut; during the stamping of the metal strip, two annular portions having respectively a small diameter and a large diameter are formed, as well as a substantially S-shaped portion interconnecting said annular portions. Furthermore, the subject of the invention is also a hinge for a vehicle seat comprising a closure ring as defined above.

  In addition, the invention also relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat and a backrest which are interconnected by at least one hinge as defined above. Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear in the following description of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 represents a first step of a method according to the invention; ; FIG. 2 represents a second step of the method; FIG. 3 represents a third step of the method; FIG. 4 represents a closure ring

  3 for a vehicle seat articulation according to the invention obtained after a last step of the method; - Figure 5 shows an alternative to the process steps illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

  In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements. Figure 1 shows a metal strip 2 which extends between a first end 2a and a second end 2b. This metal bank is cut in a strip 3 and extends firstly on a flat plane as shown in FIG. 1. In a second step, this strip 2 is wound on itself, so that its ends 2a and 2b are face to face together, as shown in Figure 2. In a third step, the two ends 2a and 2b of the wound strip 2 are welded to form an annular strip 1 which is then stamped, such as shown in FIG. 4, to form a hinge ring 4 for a vehicle seat. As shown in FIG. 4, the closure ring 4 has a cylindrical annular portion 4c of small diameter and a cylindrical annular portion 4d of large diameter which are separated from each other by an S-shaped portion 4e. FIG. illustrates an alternative method in which an annular bank 11 is made by cutting sections 12 from a cylindrical tube 13 and of circular section.

  This closure ring thus formed serves to constitute a closure ring for a vehicle seat articulation and in particular for a discontinuous joint as described in particular in application FR-2,578,602 or for a continuous joint such as

  4 described in application FR-2 578 601. Such a ring is then crimped around a fixed flange integral with the seat and a movable flange secured to the backrest, to maintain and allow only a rotation between them.

Claims (10)

  Hinge ring (4) for a vehicle seat, characterized in that the closing ring (4) is in the form of a stamped metal annular strip (1, 11).   2. Closure ring according to claim 1, having two annular portions (4c, 4d) respectively having a small diameter and a large diameter, said annular portions (4c, 4d) being separated from each other by a portion (4e) substantially in shape of S.   3. Closure ring according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the metal strip (1) has two ends (la, lb) fixed by welding. 15   4. A method of manufacturing a hinge closure ring for a vehicle seat, characterized in that a metal annular band (1) is pressed.   5. The manufacturing method according to claim 4, wherein for producing the annular strip (1) a strip is rolled on itself until its ends are brought close to one another, and then the ends are fixed together. of the rolled strip.   The method of claim 5 wherein the web is cut in a strip (3).   7. The manufacturing method according to claim 4, wherein for producing the annular band (1), a tube (13) is cut.   8. Manufacturing process according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein during the stamping of the metal strip two annular portions (4c, 4d) are formed respectively having a small diameter and a large diameter, as well as a substantially S-shaped portion (4e) interconnecting said annular portions.   9. Articulation for vehicle seat comprising a closure ring according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   Vehicle seat comprising a seat and a backrest which are connected by at least one articulation according to claim 9.