GB2410057A - Inertia controlled seat track locking mechanism - Google Patents

Inertia controlled seat track locking mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2410057A
GB2410057A GB0401043A GB0401043A GB2410057A GB 2410057 A GB2410057 A GB 2410057A GB 0401043 A GB0401043 A GB 0401043A GB 0401043 A GB0401043 A GB 0401043A GB 2410057 A GB2410057 A GB 2410057A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
track
lock
locking mechanism
support
control lever
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0401043A
Other versions
GB0401043D0 (en
GB2410057B (en
Inventor
Samuel Robert Dilworth
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Adient Seating UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Johnson Controls Automotive UK Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Johnson Controls Automotive UK Ltd filed Critical Johnson Controls Automotive UK Ltd
Priority to GB0401043A priority Critical patent/GB2410057B/en
Publication of GB0401043D0 publication Critical patent/GB0401043D0/en
Publication of GB2410057A publication Critical patent/GB2410057A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2410057B publication Critical patent/GB2410057B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
    • B60N2/42—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats
    • B60N2/43—Safety locks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/02—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable
    • B60N2/04—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable
    • B60N2/06—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable slidable
    • B60N2/08—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable slidable characterised by the locking device
    • B60N2/0812—Location of the latch
    • B60N2/0825—Location of the latch outside the rail
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/02—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable
    • B60N2/04—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable
    • B60N2/06—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable slidable
    • B60N2/08—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable slidable characterised by the locking device
    • B60N2/0831—Movement of the latch
    • B60N2/0862—Movement of the latch sliding
    • B60N2/0875—Movement of the latch sliding in a vertical direction
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/02—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable
    • B60N2/04—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable
    • B60N2/06—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable slidable
    • B60N2/08—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable slidable characterised by the locking device
    • B60N2/0881—Activation of the latches by the control mechanism
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
    • B60N2/42—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats
    • B60N2/4207—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats characterised by the direction of the g-forces
    • B60N2/4214—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats characterised by the direction of the g-forces longitudinal

Abstract

A seat track locking device which is mounted to a seat support 18 that is movable along a track 16 comprises a lock 30 that can be moved from a track engaged position to a track released position; a movable control member 40, mounted to the support, for moving the lock between the locked and released positions, and inertia means 80, connected to the control means, for displacing the control member from a position in which it is able to move the lock [Figures 5a,b], to a position in which is prevented from moving the lock [Figures 5c,d]. Preferably the inertia means 80 is an operating handle 81 coupled to the control member 40 which, under normal conditions, enables an occupant of the seat to lock or unlock the locking device.

Description

The present invention relates, in particular, to an inertia controlled
vehicle seat track locking mechanism and a vehicle seat including such a mechanism.
Inertia controlled vehicle seat track locking mechanisms are known which, in the event of a vehicle crash, act to lock the seat sliding mechanism in order to prevent the seat sliding on its track and thereby causing possible injury to the vehicle's occupants.
Known mechanisms can be unreliable in operation and a general aim of the present invention is to provide such a mechanism which is more reliable in a crash situation.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an inertia controlled vehicle seat track locking mechanism, the mechanism including a support movable along a track, a lock mounted on the support, the lock being actuatable to reside in a locked condition whereat the lock co-operates with the track to prevent movement of the support along the track and an so unlocked condition whereat the lock co-operates with the track to permit movement of the support along the track, a lock actuation means operable on the lock to actuate the lock to its locked or unlocked condition, the actuation means including a control member movably mounted on the support for movement between an active position and a non-active position, the control member when at said active position being operable to actuate the lock to its locked or unlocked condition and when at its inactive position being operable to maintain the lock at its locked condition, and inertia means operatively conuccted to the control member to cause the member to move from its operative to its in-operative position.
Various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view, partly broken away, of a vehicle having vehicle seats according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the vehicle shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view, from one side, of an inertia controlled vehicle seat track locking mechanism according to a preferred embodiment to of the present invention; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the mechanism shown in Figure 3; Figures 5a to 5d are part perspective views of the mechanism of Figure 3 shown in different operating modes.
In Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a vehicle 10 having a rear row of seats 12 and a pair of front vehicle seats 14.
Each front seat 14 is mounted on a pair of tracks 16 (only one being visible no in Figure 2) secured to the floor of the vehicle. The pair of tracks 16 are located either side of the seat 14 and extend longitudinally fore and aft of the vehicle so as to enable the seats forward/rearward position to be adjusted.
A single track assembly 20 is illustrated in Figure 3 and certain parts thereof are illustrated in Figures 4 to 5.
The track assembly 20 includes a track 16 which is secured to the floor of the vehicle preferably by fixing means such as bolts.
Slidably mounted within the track 16 is a seat support 18 which is fixedly secured to the frame of the vehicle seat in a conventional manner, for example by suitable bolts. The seat support 18 is typically an elongate member pressed from a suitable metal sheet.
The track 16 is generally of channel-like form having a bottom wall 16_ and opposed upstanding side walls 16_.
The support 18 has mounted thereon a lock 30 which has projections 31 lo which co-operate with apertures or recesses (not shown) in the bottom wall of the track 16. The projections 31 extend from a support body 32 which is movably mounted in a bracket 33 secured to the seat support 18.
The support body 32 is biased by springs 36 to a lowermost position (as seen in Figures 4, 5a, Sc, Sd) whereat the projections 31 project beyond the bracket 33 to engage within the apertures/recesses in the bottom wall of the track 16 and so prevent the seat support 18 from moving along the track 16.
This corresponds to the locked condition or mode of the lock 30.
The support body 32 is movable against the bias of springs 36 to a raised position (as seen in Figure Sb) whereat the projections 31 are retracted from the apertures/recesses in track 16 and so permit the seat support 18 to move along the track 16. This corresponds to the un-locked condition or mode of lock 30.
Movement of the lock 30 from its locked mode to its un-locked mode is achieved by a control member, preferably in the form of a lever 40 which is movably mounted on the seat support 18.
The control lever 40 is preferably pivotally mounted on the seat support 18 by a pivot pin 42 which projects from the lever 40 and is slidably received in a slot 44 formed in the seat support 18.
The slot 44 extends longitudinally in the longitudinal direction of the track 16 and so the positional location of the pivotal connection can be changed in the longitudinal direction ofthe track 16.
The width of the slot 44 is substantially the same as the diameter of the pin lo 42 so that the slot 44 and pin 42 co-operate to provide a positive pivotal connection.
The control lever 40 also carries a locking pin 50 which extends through a locking slot 52 formed in the seat support 18 and into an actuating slot 38 formed in support body 32.
The locking slot 52 includes a horizontal slot portion 53 and a vertical slot portion 54. The horizontal slot portion 53 is preferably of the same length and width as slot 38.
Preferably resilient biasing means 60 are provided which locate the position of pivotal connection of control lever 40 at a location (namely the active position of control lever 40) such that the pin 50 is located at a position whereat it is able to enter into the vertical slot portion 54. Accordingly, as when the control lever 40 is at its active position (as seen in Figures 5a, 5b) it is possible for the control lever 40 to be raised about its pivotal connection to its uppermost position to cause the lock 30 to be moved to its un-locked condition (Figure 5b) and thereby enable the longitudinal position of the seat to be adjusted along track 16. The control lever 40 is biased to its lowermost position (Figure Sa) by springs 36 interacting via pin and slot 38.
The resilient biasing means 60 is preferably in the form of a bifurcated leaf spring 62 Corned from as strip of a suitable resilient material such as spring steel. The strip is preferably formed into a generally U-shape having arms 67 extending from a lower body part 68.
The body part 68 is mounted on a boss 65 fixedly mounted on the seat lo support 18 with arms 67 being located on either side of the pivot pin 42.
The arms 67 engage opposed sides of pin 42 and retain it at a position intermediate the ends of slot 44.
Inertia means 80, preferably defined by an operating handle 81, are connected to the control lever 40 such that in the event of a crash the inertia means 80 causes the control lever 40 to move, due to inertia imparted by the inertia means, in one or other longitudinal direction relative to track 16 and so cause the locking pin SO to travel along the horizontal slot portion 53 (Figures Sc, 5d). Whilst the locking pin 50 is located in the horizontal slot portion 53, the lock 30 is maintained in its locked mode since the pin SO acts to prevent raising of the body support.
After the inertia imparted by a sudden impact on the vehicle has dissipated, the spring 60 may operate to return the lever 40 to its active condition.

Claims (11)

1. An inertia controlled vehicle seat track locking mechanism, the mechanism including a support movable along a track, a lock mounted on the support, the lock being actuatable to reside in a locked condition whereat the lock co-operates with the track to prevent movement of the support along the track and an unlocked condition whereat the lock co- operates with the track to permit movement of the support along the track, a lock actuation means operable on the lock to actuate the lock to its locked or lo unlocked condition, the actuation means including a control member movably mounted on the support for movement between an active position and a non-active position, the control member when at said active position being operable to actuate the lock to its locked or unlocked condition and when at its inactive position being operable to maintain the lock at its locked condition, and inertia means operatively connected to the control member to cause the member to move from its operative to its in-operative position.
2. A track locking mechanism according to Claim 1 wherein the control to member is a lever pivotally connected to the support.
3. A track locking mechanism according to Claim 2 including resilient biasing means which act to bias the control lever to its active position.
4. A track locking mechanism according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein the control lever is movable to two inactive positions, said active position being located between said two inactive positions.
5. A track locking mechanism according to any of Claims 2 to 4, the so pivotal position of the control lever is changeable in the direction of the \ track so as to enable the control lever to be moved between its active and inactive positions.
6. A track locking mechanism according to Claim 5 wherein the pivotal connection is deemed by a pivot pin and an elongate slot, the pin being mounted on the control lever and the slot being formed on the support, or vice versa.
7. A track locking mechanism according to Claim 5 or 6 wherein the lo lever includes a locking pin slidably mounted in a locking slot formed in the support, the locking slot having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, the locking pin being located for movement along the vertical portion when the control lever is at its active position and being located in the horizontal portion when the control lever is at its inactive position.
8. A track locking mechanism according to Claim 7 wherein the locking slot is formed on the control lever and the locking pin is mounted on the support.
so
9. A track locking mechanism according to any preceding claim wherein the inertia means is formed by an operating handle mounted on the control lever.
10. An inertia controlled vehicle seat track locking mechanism substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
11. A vehicle seat including an inertia controlled seat track locking mechanism according to any preceding claim.
GB0401043A 2004-01-16 2004-01-16 A track locking mechanism Expired - Fee Related GB2410057B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0401043A GB2410057B (en) 2004-01-16 2004-01-16 A track locking mechanism

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0401043A GB2410057B (en) 2004-01-16 2004-01-16 A track locking mechanism

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0401043D0 GB0401043D0 (en) 2004-02-18
GB2410057A true GB2410057A (en) 2005-07-20
GB2410057B GB2410057B (en) 2006-08-16

Family

ID=31726350

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0401043A Expired - Fee Related GB2410057B (en) 2004-01-16 2004-01-16 A track locking mechanism

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2410057B (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202007006446U1 (en) * 2007-05-05 2008-09-18 Brose Fahrzeugteile Gmbh & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Coburg Locking device for a motor vehicle seat
DE102011014333A1 (en) * 2011-03-18 2012-09-20 GM Global Technology Operations LLC (n. d. Gesetzen des Staates Delaware) Locking device, Sitzverfahrvorrichtung, vehicle seat, motor vehicle and method for this purpose
DE102011109763A1 (en) * 2011-08-09 2013-02-14 GM Global Technology Operations LLC (n. d. Gesetzen des Staates Delaware) Blocking device for releasing and inhibiting longitudinal movement of vehicle seat triggered by locking device in motor vehicle, has actuating unit for actuating blocking device, and blocking unit for blocking or releasing locking device
WO2017081004A1 (en) * 2015-11-09 2017-05-18 Accuride International Gmbh Crash locking device

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10131251B2 (en) 2012-06-04 2018-11-20 Lear Corporation Seat adjuster assembly
US9855868B2 (en) 2012-06-04 2018-01-02 Lear Corporation Seat adjuster assembly

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0648229A (en) * 1992-07-31 1994-02-22 Suzuki Motor Corp Seat adjuster
US5799920A (en) * 1995-07-19 1998-09-01 Keiper Recaro Gmbh & Co. Device for the longitudinal adjustment of a motor vehicle seat
DE10064475A1 (en) * 2000-12-22 2002-07-04 Keiper Gmbh & Co Locking device for vehicle seat adjuster has securing element which secures locking element in a form-locking manner against opening and on action of unlocking force disengages locking element from rail
DE10201092A1 (en) * 2002-01-12 2003-07-31 Johnson Controls Gmbh Safety device for motor vehicle seat benches has inertia body adjusted in position by acceleration or deceleration forces, and acting with locking element to lock into securing rail under seat

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0648229A (en) * 1992-07-31 1994-02-22 Suzuki Motor Corp Seat adjuster
US5799920A (en) * 1995-07-19 1998-09-01 Keiper Recaro Gmbh & Co. Device for the longitudinal adjustment of a motor vehicle seat
DE10064475A1 (en) * 2000-12-22 2002-07-04 Keiper Gmbh & Co Locking device for vehicle seat adjuster has securing element which secures locking element in a form-locking manner against opening and on action of unlocking force disengages locking element from rail
DE10201092A1 (en) * 2002-01-12 2003-07-31 Johnson Controls Gmbh Safety device for motor vehicle seat benches has inertia body adjusted in position by acceleration or deceleration forces, and acting with locking element to lock into securing rail under seat

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202007006446U1 (en) * 2007-05-05 2008-09-18 Brose Fahrzeugteile Gmbh & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Coburg Locking device for a motor vehicle seat
DE102011014333A1 (en) * 2011-03-18 2012-09-20 GM Global Technology Operations LLC (n. d. Gesetzen des Staates Delaware) Locking device, Sitzverfahrvorrichtung, vehicle seat, motor vehicle and method for this purpose
DE102011109763A1 (en) * 2011-08-09 2013-02-14 GM Global Technology Operations LLC (n. d. Gesetzen des Staates Delaware) Blocking device for releasing and inhibiting longitudinal movement of vehicle seat triggered by locking device in motor vehicle, has actuating unit for actuating blocking device, and blocking unit for blocking or releasing locking device
WO2017081004A1 (en) * 2015-11-09 2017-05-18 Accuride International Gmbh Crash locking device
US10647229B2 (en) 2015-11-09 2020-05-12 Accuride International Gmbh Crash locking device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0401043D0 (en) 2004-02-18
GB2410057B (en) 2006-08-16

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20090116