GB2112851A

GB2112851A - Hinge fittings

Info

Publication number: GB2112851A
Application number: GB08233494A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Willi Schottker
Original assignee: Rentrop Hubbert & Wagner
Current assignee: Rentrop Hubbert & Wagner
Priority date: 1981-12-31
Filing date: 1982-11-24
Publication date: 1983-07-27
Also published as: SE8206465L; ES275560Y; SE8206465D0; AU9068682A; BR8207316A; ES275560U; IT1193112B; NL8204174A; ZA828394B; BE894934A; IT8285651A0; DE3152010A1; JPS58118714A; FR2519244A1

Abstract

A hinge fitting for a seat, particularly an automobile seat, with an adjustable back rest includes one hinge portion (1) attached to a seat and another hinge portion (2) attached to the back rest. Hinge portions (2) at either side of the back rest are interconnected by a tubular member (8). A rotatable adjustment member (5) determines the relative positions of the hinge portions (1, 2). The adjustment member is an eccentric (5) which holds a gear wheel (6) in a freely rotatable manner. Some teeth of the gear wheel (6) during its tumble movement engage in some teeth of an internal gear (7) provided on the back rest hinge portion (2). A pin (5a) attached to the eccentric (5) engages in the tubular member (8). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hinge fittings The invention relates to a hinge fitting for a seat with an adjustable back rest, in particular an automobile seat.

The disadvantage of prior art hinge fittings is that in the case of driving accidents, the side members of the back rest are so strongly stressed that the connection between them and an associated back rest hinge portion of the fitting, e.g. a welded joint, breaks and thus the passengers in the front seats are put in extreme danger.

The present invention includes a seat including a seat portion having a front edge, a back rest which is pivotally movable relative to said seat portion, about an axis defined between the seat portion and back rest, a hinge portion fixed to each side of said seat portion, an associated hinge portion fixed to each side of said back rest, such that the associated hinge portions at each side of the seat can pivot relative to one another about said axis, an adjustment device at each side of the seat, each adjustment device having a rotatable adjustment member which is provided for determining the relative position of the associated hinge portions to each other, a back rest side member fitted to each hinge portion of the back rest, a tube extending between and having an end adjacent each said back rest side members, said tube extending parallel to said front edge of the seat portion, and a pin disposed on each adjacent member and extending in the direction of the other adjustment member, said pin engaging in the adjacent said end of said tube.

The invention also provides a hinge fitting including a first hinge portion, a tube defining a pivot axis of the hinge fitting and having one end fixedly connected to said first hinge portion, a second fixed hinge portion, an adjustment device for determining the position of said first hinge portion relative to said second hinge portion, and a pin extending from said adjustment device into said end of said tube.

Figure 1 is a side view of a hinge fitting; Figure 2 is a section on the line Il-Il of Figure 1;and Figure 3 is a partial section through a modified hinge fitting.

The reference numeral 1 indicates a usually fixed hinge portion associated with the seat, whereas the reference numeral 2 indicates a hinge portion which can swivel relative to this latter and to which the associated side member of the back rest is connected, in the present case by means of a weld seam 4.

The back rest hinge portion 2 is swivelled relative to the fixed hinge portion 1 by means of an adjustment device. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, this adjustment device consists of a positioning element in the form of an eccentric 5, on which a gear wheel 6 is supported in a freely rotatably manner. During the tumble movement, some teeth of the gear wheel 6 engage in some teeth of internal toothing 7 disposed on the back rest hinge portion 2. Thus, if the eccentric 5 is rotated for example by means of a turning grip, not shown on the drawing, the tumble movement of the gear wheel 6 together with the engagement of some teeth thereof with some teeth of the internal toothing 7 results in a swivel movement of the back rest hinge portion 2, and consequently of the connected side member 3 of the back rest in the corresponding direction.

By correspondingly rotating the eccentric 5 in one of other direction, the back rest can be tilted either forwards or backwards.

The two side members 3 of the back rest are joined together by means of a tube 8, which extends parallel to the front edge of the seat, i.e.

transverse to the direction of travel.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, on each eccentric 5 there is provided a pin 5a which engages in the adjacent end of the tube 8. As illustrated, both the pin 5a and the tube 8 are of circular cross-section, however, other sections would be possible.

In the case of a driving accident, a proportion of the occurring stresses is absorbed by the weld seams 4, while the remainder of the forces arising are taken up by virtue of the fact that the two pins 5a of the eccentric 5 lie against the inner surface of the tube 8.

The embodiment of Figure 3 differs from that of Figure 2 substantially only in that a toroidal ring 5b is provided on the pin 5a of the eccentric 5, and lies against the inner surface of the tube 8.

The toroidal ring 5b acts as a joint, so that unrestricted engagement of the pin 5a in the tube 8 is also ensured if the central axis of the pin 5a is not aligned with that of the tube 8.

It will be appreciated that with the described hinge fittings the stresses which arise during driving accidents are reduced to a considerable extent, relative to prior art designs, in the connections between the side members of the back rest and the back rest hinge portions.

The present hinge fittings reduce stressing of the connection between the back rest side members and the back rest hinge portions because the torque acting on the back rest side members is partly absorbed by the pin which engages in the tube, the total stress being approximately halved. The result of this is that the total stresses which arise are reduced to a tolerable level.

1. A seat including a seat portion having a front edge a back rest which is pivotally movable relative to said seat portion about an axis defined between the seat portion and the back rest, a hinge portion fixed to each side of said seat portion, an associated hinge portion fixed to each side of said back rest, such that the associated hinge portions at each side of the seat can pivot relative to one another about said axis, an adjustment device at each side of the seat,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Hinge fittings The invention relates to a hinge fitting for a seat with an adjustable back rest, in particular an automobile seat. The disadvantage of prior art hinge fittings is that in the case of driving accidents, the side members of the back rest are so strongly stressed that the connection between them and an associated back rest hinge portion of the fitting, e.g. a welded joint, breaks and thus the passengers in the front seats are put in extreme danger. The present invention includes a seat including a seat portion having a front edge, a back rest which is pivotally movable relative to said seat portion, about an axis defined between the seat portion and back rest, a hinge portion fixed to each side of said seat portion, an associated hinge portion fixed to each side of said back rest, such that the associated hinge portions at each side of the seat can pivot relative to one another about said axis, an adjustment device at each side of the seat, each adjustment device having a rotatable adjustment member which is provided for determining the relative position of the associated hinge portions to each other, a back rest side member fitted to each hinge portion of the back rest, a tube extending between and having an end adjacent each said back rest side members, said tube extending parallel to said front edge of the seat portion, and a pin disposed on each adjacent member and extending in the direction of the other adjustment member, said pin engaging in the adjacent said end of said tube. The invention also provides a hinge fitting including a first hinge portion, a tube defining a pivot axis of the hinge fitting and having one end fixedly connected to said first hinge portion, a second fixed hinge portion, an adjustment device for determining the position of said first hinge portion relative to said second hinge portion, and a pin extending from said adjustment device into said end of said tube. Figure 1 is a side view of a hinge fitting; Figure 2 is a section on the line Il-Il of Figure 1;and Figure 3 is a partial section through a modified hinge fitting. The reference numeral 1 indicates a usually fixed hinge portion associated with the seat, whereas the reference numeral 2 indicates a hinge portion which can swivel relative to this latter and to which the associated side member of the back rest is connected, in the present case by means of a weld seam 4. The back rest hinge portion 2 is swivelled relative to the fixed hinge portion 1 by means of an adjustment device. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, this adjustment device consists of a positioning element in the form of an eccentric 5, on which a gear wheel 6 is supported in a freely rotatably manner. During the tumble movement, some teeth of the gear wheel 6 engage in some teeth of internal toothing 7 disposed on the back rest hinge portion 2. Thus, if the eccentric 5 is rotated for example by means of a turning grip, not shown on the drawing, the tumble movement of the gear wheel 6 together with the engagement of some teeth thereof with some teeth of the internal toothing 7 results in a swivel movement of the back rest hinge portion 2, and consequently of the connected side member 3 of the back rest in the corresponding direction. By correspondingly rotating the eccentric 5 in one of other direction, the back rest can be tilted either forwards or backwards. The two side members 3 of the back rest are joined together by means of a tube 8, which extends parallel to the front edge of the seat, i.e. transverse to the direction of travel. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, on each eccentric 5 there is provided a pin 5a which engages in the adjacent end of the tube 8. As illustrated, both the pin 5a and the tube 8 are of circular cross-section, however, other sections would be possible. In the case of a driving accident, a proportion of the occurring stresses is absorbed by the weld seams 4, while the remainder of the forces arising are taken up by virtue of the fact that the two pins 5a of the eccentric 5 lie against the inner surface of the tube 8. The embodiment of Figure 3 differs from that of Figure 2 substantially only in that a toroidal ring 5b is provided on the pin 5a of the eccentric 5, and lies against the inner surface of the tube 8. The toroidal ring 5b acts as a joint, so that unrestricted engagement of the pin 5a in the tube 8 is also ensured if the central axis of the pin 5a is not aligned with that of the tube 8. It will be appreciated that with the described hinge fittings the stresses which arise during driving accidents are reduced to a considerable extent, relative to prior art designs, in the connections between the side members of the back rest and the back rest hinge portions. The present hinge fittings reduce stressing of the connection between the back rest side members and the back rest hinge portions because the torque acting on the back rest side members is partly absorbed by the pin which engages in the tube, the total stress being approximately halved. The result of this is that the total stresses which arise are reduced to a tolerable level. CLAIMS

1. A seat including a seat portion having a front edge a back rest which is pivotally movable relative to said seat portion about an axis defined between the seat portion and the back rest, a hinge portion fixed to each side of said seat portion, an associated hinge portion fixed to each side of said back rest, such that the associated hinge portions at each side of the seat can pivot relative to one another about said axis, an adjustment device at each side of the seat, each adjustment device having a rotatable adjustment member which is provided for determining the relative position of the associated hinge portions to each other, a back rest side member fitted to each hinge portion of the back rest, a tube extending between and having an end adjacent each said back rest side members, said tube extending parallel to said front edge of the seat portion, and a pin disposed on each adjustment member and extending in the direction of the other adjustment member, said pin engaging in the adjacent said end of said tube.

2. A seat according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment member includes an eccentric, a gear wheel freely rotatably mounted to said eccentric, and internal toothing provided on said back rest hinge portion, some teeth of said gear wheel engaging in some teeth of said internal toothing during tumble movement of said gear wheel on rotation of the adjustment member.

3. A seat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pins and the tube are of circular cross-section.

4. A seat according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a toroidal ring is disposed on each pin and lies against an inner surface of the tube.

5. A hinge fitting including a first hinge portion, a tube defining a pivot axis of the hinge fitting and having one end fixedly connected to said first hinge portion, a second fixed hinge portion, an adjustment device for determining the position of said first hinge portion relative to said second hinge portion, and a pin extending from said adjustment device into said end of said tube.

6. A hinge fitting for a seat with a back rest, in particular an automobile seat, in which a hinge portion associated with the seat and a hinge portion associated with the back rest are connected together on a swivel axis, an adjustment device with a rotatable adjustment member being provided for determining the relative position of the two hinge portions to each other, and to each hinge portion of the back rest there being fitted a back rest side member, these being connected together by a tube extending parallel to the front edge of the seat, and on each adjustment member there being disposed a pin extending in the direction of the opposing adjustment member, characterised in that the pin engages in the adjacent end of the tube.

7. A hinge fitting substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings

8. A seat incorporating a pair of hinge fittings as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7.