GB2498860A - Adjusting device for a motor vehicle seat - Google Patents

Abstract

A motor vehicle comprising a seat 200 having an adjusting device 100 for adjusting the seat 200, comprising at least two locking devices 110a, 110b, which can be actuated via at least one joint actuating device 120, wherein the locking devices 110 are connected in series with the actuating device 120.

Description

ADJUSTING DEVICE, MOTOR VEHICLE SEAT, MOTOR VEHICLE AND METHOD

THERETO

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to an adjusting device for adjusting a motor vehicle seat according to the preamble of Claim 1.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle seat according to the preamble of Claim 8.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle according to the preamble of Claim 9.

In addition, the invention relates to a method for adjusting a motor vehicle seat by means of an adjusting device having at least two locking devices according to the preamble of Claim 10.

From the prior art, motor vehicles having seats are known, with which a backrest part or the position of the backrest, in particular with respect to a seat part, is adjustable.

The adjustment is effected via a lever mechanism arranged on the seat or another actuating device fixed there. Here, stepless adjustments by means of actuators and discontinuous adjustment, i.e. step-by-step adjustment by means of mechanical solutions are known. With the mechanical adjustments, locking or arresting devices for locking or arresting are released or arrested. Conventionally, this is effected via a lever, via which a force is transmitted to an engagement fitting. Here, a force transmission is effected proportionally, i.e., a force to be transmitted increases with the lever distance or in the case of a rotary movement, the torque increases with the twisting angle.

Because of intermediate positions of the engagement fittings, an adjusting is possible even with the engagement fitting not fully unlocked. Upon an adjusting in intermediate positions, undesirable side effects such as noise development during the adjusting or increased wear can occur. Levers for unlocking the locking device and thus of the adjusting device are usually seated directly on a rotation axis of the adjusting device.

From DE 38 00 924 C2 a vehicle seat having an adjusting device for a backrest is known, consisting of a fixed-location bearing pedestal, a pivot arm pivotably mounted on the bearing pedestal, which is fastened to the backrest and can be fixed in selectable angular positions by means of a locking device, wherein the adjusting device is covered by a covering part in the direction of the seat user, characterized in that the bearing pedestal is fastened to the seat part and the remaining parts of the adjusting device are arranged within the backrest and connected with the latter, and in that the covering part is connected to a part of the adjusting device in a fixed manner and comprises a slit, into which a region of the bearing pedestal projecting upwards dips when the backrest is folded forward.

The actuating device for the known adjusting device is directly arranged on the seat to be adjusted on the rotation axis of the adjusting device. The arrangement of the actuation is relatively un-ergonomical and accessible only with difficulty in cramped conditions. In addition, an adjusting characteristic of the adjusting device is unfavorable for the user.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to create a solution which guarantees a simpler and more comfortable adjusting possibility. It is an object of the present invention, in particular, to create a motor vehicle, a motor vehicle seat, an adjusting device and a method thereto, with which the operating comfort for adjusting a seat is improved.

Starting put from an adjusting device according to Claim 1, a motor vehicle seat according to Claim 8, a motor vehicle according to Claim 9 and a method according to Claim 10, these and further objects are solved in conjunction with their features.

* Advantageous further developments of the invention are stated in the dependent claim.

The invention includes the technical teaching that with an adjusting device for adjusting a motor vehicle seat, in particular a discontinuous adjusting device for adjusting a backrest position of the motor vehicle seat or of a backrest part relative to a seat part of the motor vehicle seat, comprising at least two locking devices, which can be actuated by way of at least one joint actuating device, it is provided that the locking devices are connected in series with the operating unit.

The motor vehicle seat comprises a backrest or a backrest part and a seat part. The backrest part and the seat part are adjustably connected to each other via an adjusting device. Here, the adjusting device comprises a rotation axis, about which the backrest part can be pivoted or folded relative to the seat part, so that an angle can be adjusted between seat part and backrest part as desired by the user. In order to arrest the backrest part in a desired position, the adjusting device comprises at least one locking device. Preferably, a locking device each is provided on each side of the motor vehicle seat or the adjusting device.

Adjusting the backrest or the backrest part is effected through force applied to the backrest. Here, the backrest is preferably preloaded, so that a preload force acts in the direction of an upright sitting position and against a pivoted-back position. In order to pivot the backrest, a force is preferably exerted by a user seated on the seat, preferably by leaning or pushing against the backrest. To prevent an unintentional adjustment of the backrest, the adjusting device comprises the locking device as blocking device or arresting device, which prevents the unintentional adjusting. The locking device is preferably designed as engagement fitting unit, with which two engagement fitting parts act with one another. For adjusting, these have to be unlocked so that a seat adjustment can take place. The adjusting device comprises the engagement fitting unit. On locking, the two engagement filling parts are engaged. In order to make adjusting possible, the engagement filling parts are moved apart so that these are no longer engaged. The force or the movement required for this is transmitted via the force transmission device. During the relative movement of the two engagement fitting parts, there are different intermediate positions between the two end positions or end states -locking and release -during the moving-apart.

With some of these intermediate positions, adjusting is possible although the engagement fitting parts are still slightly engaged. In order to move the engagement filling parts apart, the force transmission device is provided, with which a force for locking and unlocking can be transmitted at least to the engagement filling unit. Here, the force correspondingly results iii a relative movement of the engagement filling parts. In order to employ a force which is transmitted to the engagement fitting unit via the force transmission device so that adjusting only takes place when the engagement filling parts are completely moved apart, a force step-up transmission device is provided. The force transmission device is designed to carry out the state in which the engagement filling parts are completely clear of each other and adjusting is to be carried out without contact of the engagement filling parts, faster and with a noticeable feedback to the operator.

The force transmission device and the force step-up transmission device are designed integrated in an embodiment. To this end, the transmitted force, which with the prior art is transmitted substantially proportional or linear to the distance is stepped-up by means of the force transmission device, in particular variably stepped up. Preferably, the step-up transmission is effected degressively, so that on reaching a decoupling point, i.e. a point or state in which the engagement fitting parts are completely no longer engaged, noticeably less force has to be exerted on the force transmission device, i.e. a corresponding feedback to the operator is provided. Here, the adjusting device is designed so that the force transmission device becomes easier to operate when the decoupling point or a decoupling state is reached. In an embodiment, a force transmission device is provided. In other embodiments, a plurality of force transmission devices is provided, for example two, three or more. In an embodiment, the plurality of force transmission devices is coupled, for example connected in series or connected in parallel.

A further embodiment provides a force step-up transmission device. Another embodiment provides a plurality of force step-up transmission devices.

In an embodiment, the plurality of force step-up transmission devices are coupled, for example connected in series or connected in parallel. The force step-up transmission device in an embodiment is designed as lever, gearing or the like, Le. the force transmission device comprises a step-up transmission portion, with which a force is stepped up. However, the force is stepped up independently of an angle or a distance of the force transmission device, so that a predetermined ratio is always present. The force step-up transmission device provides an additional step-up transmission. In particular, the force step-up transmission device is designed such that different step-up transmission ratios can be realized. To this end, the force step-up transmission device is variable relative to the force transmission device, in particular moveable, for example translatorically and/or rotatorically movable.

Preferably, the adjusting device comprises two locking devices, one on each side of the motor vehicle seat. The locking devices each comprise a separate locking mechanism.

In order for the locking devices to unlock the adjusting device synchronously, these are interconnected. Interconnection in an embodiment is carried out in parallel. Preferably, the locking devices are connected in series. In addition, a suitable synchronization is required for synchronous opening of the locking devices.

In an embodiment it is provided that each locking device comprises a lever unit, via which the locking device can be actuated. The lever unit is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on a rotation axis of the locking device. Upon actuation, i.. rotation of the lever unit, the rotation axis is co-rotated and the locking device unblocked, so that the backrest or the backrest part can be adjusted.

In a further embodiment it is provided that the lever units on different locking devices are designed differently to one another, so that each locking device has a different locking characteristic. In order for the individual locking devices which are connected in series to open synchronously, the individual lever units have to be designed differently.

In particular, the lever units have different lever arms.

In yet another embodiment it is provided that the different lever units are coupled together by way of at least one pulling force element, in particular a control cable. For the serial connection of the locking devices connected in series, a pulling force element is preferentially provided. A pulling force element is to mean a cable-like element, which can be substantially subjected to tensile load, but not pressure. This can be employed in a space-saving manner in order to interconnect the locking devices in series. To this end, the control cable or any other cable-like element is connected to the respective lever of the locking device. The pulling force element is preferably arranged on a lever arm of the lever unit between rotation axis and end of the lever arm. In this way, different step-up transmission ratios can be adjusted via the selected lever arm.

A further embodiment of the invention provides that one of the lever units is coupled to the actuating device. In order to operate all locking devices via an actuating device or actuating unit, one of the locking devices is connected to the operating or actuating device, preferably via a lever unit. The operating device is preferentially connected with the lever unit via a pulling force element. The pulling force element is designed as cable-like element, in particular as a control cable. For connecting to the operating unit, the lever unit preferably comprises a further lever arm. By way of the second or further lever arm, a step-up transmission to the operating unit can be adjusted. Because of this, the operating unit can be arranged distant from the rotation axis of the locking device, so that the adjusting device is designed in a remotely operable manner.

Preferably, the adjusting device is arranged at least partially in an easily accessible location away from the rotation axis or the seat or the backrest. Preferably, the remote-controlled adjusting device is easily accessible in a region that is easily accessible to the user seated on the seat, in particular within reach. By way of the one operating unit, all locking devices can be actuated. Since the different locking devices are connected in series, a locking characteristic superimposed from the individual locking characteristics is formed. Here, the superimposition is designed such that the individual locking characteristics are designed so that on the operating unit a degressive force-distance curve is obtained.

The force-distance curve is in particular non-linear and/or non-proportional, but preferably degressive or progressive in design. Here, the individual lever units can be dimensioned such that at the time of the decoupling of the engagement fitting parts, a force-distance curve dips downwards, i.e. a force to be exerted for a further movement becomes lower so that an operating unit that can be more easily operated is realized.

A further embodiment provides that at least one of the lever units comprises at least one rotary lever which is rotatable about a rotation axis, with which a force, in particular a torque, can be transmitted. In this way, a simple force step-up transmission device or force transmission device is realized. In particular, a force transmission device and a force step-up transmission device are realized in one component. In particular, an embodiment provides that the force step-up transmission device is designed integrated in the force transmission device.

Furthermore, an embodiment provides that the part of the force transmission device that is near the engagement fitting comprises a lever unit that is rotatable about a rotation axis, with which the force can be transmitted to the engagement fitting unit.

The embodiment as rotatable lever unit is mall in construction. Preferably, the rotatable lever unit comprises a drum or winding portion, about which a wire of the force bridging device can be wrapped or wound. Preferably, the force bridging device is designed as control cable. Accordingly, a force is transmitted via a wire or another flexible, high tensile-strength material. Preferably, this wire is wound about the drum portion, in order to realize a suitable coupling to the rotatable lever near the engagement filling. The drum portion preferably comprises a constant or alternatively a non-constant radius.

Furthermore, the invention includes the technical teaching that with a motor vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat with a backrest that can be adjusted relative to a seat part, comprising at least one adjusting mechanism for adjusting the backrest, it is provided that the adjusting mechanism is designed as adjusting device as described above. In an embodiment, the motor vehicle seat is designed as individual seat. In another embodiment, the motor vehicle seat is designed as seat bench. In an embodiment, the seat bench comprises a split backrest, which can be individually and/or jointly adjusted by way of an adjusting device as described above.

Furthermore, the invention includes the technical teaching that with a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, comprising at least one seat device for a vehicle occupant, it is provided that the seat device is designed as a motor vehicle seat as described above. The motor vehicle is for example designed as sedan, van, coupe, off-road vehicle, (mini) bus or the like.

The invention, not least, includes the technical teaching that with a method for adjusting a motor vehicle seat by means of an adjusting device having at least two locking devices, in particular for adjusting a backrest position of the motor vehicle seat by means of a discontinuous adjusting device having two locking devices, comprising the step transmitting a force for locking and unlocking the adjisting device to the locking devices by means of a common actuating device, it is provided that the force transmission to the locking devices is carried out connected in series. Two locking devices of an adjusting device spaced from each other are interconnected via a control cable, so that these are connected in series. One of the locking devices is connected with an operating unit or actuating unit via a further control cable.

In order to unlock the two locking devices for adjusting the backrest part, the actuating device is actuated, preferentially rotated about a rotation axis. The generated torque or the generated force and/or movement is/are transmitted to a rotation axis of the first locking device via a first force transmission unit with integrated step-up transmission unit, preferentially via a rotary lever with lever arms. Furthermore, because of the serial linking, the torque or the force and/or the movement are transmitted to the further locking devices. Each locking device has an individual force transmission device. Via these, the respective locking device is actuated so that the force transmission device, preferentially in the form of a lever unit, which is seated on the respective rotation axis of the locking device in a rotationally fixed manner, realizes a synchronous unlocking of the individual locking devices and thus of the adjusting device.

According to an embodiment it is provided that the force transmission comprises a stepping-up of the force. The stepping up of the force takes place individually set for each locking device so that a synchronous unlocking of all locking devices is ensured.

In yet another embodiment it is provided that the locking devices are actuated differently to one another, in particular are subjected to a different torque. This means that based on the different transmission ratios, the different locking devices rotate at different speed. Here, the transmission ratio is adjusted so that all locking devices open synchronously.

Accordingly, an embodiment provides that an opening of the plurality of locking devices takes place synchronously, i,e coordinated with one another. The coordination is carried out by means of the lever units and their shape.

In addition, a further embodiment provides that the stepping-up transmission comprises a superimposition of the transmission ratios of the locking devices, so that the actuating device has a non-progressive characteristic. The locking units without lever unit all have a progressive adjusting characteristic. By way of the lever units, an individual adjusting characteristic.

Through the superimposition of the different adjusting characteristics, a desired adjusting characteristic on the operating lever can be adjusted.

Transmission, for a pad, is effected via levers, which have fixed force-distance characteristics and with which a force transmission takes place dependent on a distance according to a fixed force-distance curve. In order to configure a time of a complete decoupling of the engagement fitting part clearly perceptibly to an operator it is provided, at least in the meantime, to step-up the force transmission so that at least one change occurs in a force-distance curve. It is provided, in particular, that the force to be generated for releasing the adjusting device noticeably diminishes at the time of the complete decoupling of the engagement fitting parts. Accordingly, the transmission ratio is embodied so that a resistance is perceptibly diminished as soon as the deep coupling time is reached.

For this reason, an embodiment therefore provides in particular that the stepping-up comprises a degressive stepping-up at least partially. Because of this, a liner force-distance curve or a rising force-distance curve has a descending curve on commencement of the degressive transmission.

Further measures improving the invention are stated in the subclaims or are obtained from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are schematically shown in the Figures. For same or similar components or features, uniform reference characters are used here. Features or components of different embodiments can be combined so as to obtain further embodiments. All features and/or advantages including constructional details, spatial arrangement and method steps arising from the claims of the description or drawings can thus be substantial to the invention individually as well as in any combinations.

It shows: Fig. 1 schematically in a perspective view an embodiment of an adjusting device having two locking devices, Fig. 2 schematically in a lateral view a detail of a motor vehicle seat with the adjusting device according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3a schematically in a perspective view a side of the adjusting device with a first locking device, Fig. 3b schematically in a perspective view another side of the adjusting device with a second locking device, Fig. 4 schematically, a basic sketch of the adjusting device with different force-distance characteristics, Fig. 5a schematically in a diagram different force-distance curves of different components of the adjusting device and Fig. 5b schematically in a diagram a force-distance curve of the operating unit of the adjusting device.

Fig. 1 to 4 shèw an embodiment of an adjusting device 100 according to the invention in different views and different degrees of detail. Fig. 5a and Sb show force-distance curves on certain components of the adjusting device 100.

The adjusting device 100 connects a backrest part 10 of a motor vehicle seat 200 with a seat part 20 of the motor vehicle seat 200. Here, the backrest part 10 and the seat part 20 are foldably connected to or relative to each other via the adjusting device 100. -10-

The backrest part 10 and the seat part 20 are designed in two parts, wherein the backrest part 10 comprises two laterally spaced backrest pad portions 11 and the seat part 20 to corresponding laterally spaced seat part portions 21. In the embodiment shown here, the backrest part 10 additionally comprises a backrest adaptor part 12 on each lateral portion 11. Accordingly, the seat part 20 comprises a seat adaptor part 22 on each lateral portion 21. In the embodiment shown here, the seat adaptor parts 22 are integrated in the lateral portions 21, i.e. unitarily formed with these. On each side, the adjusting device 100 comprises a locking device 110. On a first side A, a first locking device llOa is formed. On a second side B a second locking device lOOb is formed.

The locking devices 110 each comprise two engagement fitting units, which upon a blocking through the locking devices 110, are engaged with each other and accordingly are not engaged for an unlocking of the locking devices 110. A detailed description of the adjusting device 100 is made in the following in connection with the Figures ito Sb.

Same or similar components are designated with same reference characters. A comprehensive description of already described components is omitted for the sake of better clarity.

Fig. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of adjusting device 100 with two locking devices 110 in a perspective view. The two laterally spaced locking devices iiOa and 1 lOb are designed differently from one another. In order to actuate both locking devices 110 jointly via a joint actuating unit or operating unit 120 and thus actuate the entire adjusting device 100 via the one common operating unit 120, the two locking devices 110 are coupled to each other. Here, the locking devices 110 are connected in series. This means, the locking device ii Ob is coupled to the locking device 11 Oa via a pulling force element 130, which in this case is embodied as control cable 131.

The locking device 1 ba is coupled to the operating unit 120. Coupling the operating unit 120 to the locking device llOa in this case is likewise effected via a pulling force element 130, which in this case is likewise embodied as control cable 132.

For actuating the locking devices 110, each of the locking devices 110 comprises a lever unit 140, of which in this case bnly the lever unit i4Oa on the A side is noticeable.

The first locking device 1 ba comprises a first lever unit 140a. The second locking device blOb comprises a second lever unit 140b. The respective lever units 140 are each arranged on a rotation axis 150 of the respective locking device 110. Here, the first lever unit 140a is connected to a first axis of rotation 150 in rotationally fixed manner. The second lever unit 140b is connected to a second rotation axis 150b in a rotationally fixed manner. The two rotation axes 1 SOa, 1 SOb are not connected to each other. When the respective lever unit 140 is now rotated, the corresponding rotation axis 150 is likewise co-rotated with the former, as a result of which the corresponding locking device 110 is unlocked or blocked Here, the respective engagement fitting of the locking device 110 has a progressive force-distance characteristic, as is described further back in connection with Fig 5a.

The lever units 140 each comprises at least one lever arm, via which a force step-up transmission can be realized. Through the lever unit 140 simultaneously ads as force step-up transmission unit and force transmission unit, any force-distance characteristic can be adjusted on the respective locking device 110. According to Fig. 1, the two lever units 110 of the two locking devices 110 are interconnected via the control cable 131, so that a movement of a lever unit 140 is transmitted to the other lever unit 140. The first lever unit 140a is furthermore connected to a third lever unit 140c of the operating unit 120 via the control cable 132. As with both the other lever units 140a and 140b, the lever unit 140c is designed as rotatable lever unit 140.

While the two rotation axes 150 of the lever units 140a and 140b are arranged aligned with each other in the shown exemplary embodiment, wherein in other embodiments other arrangements such as non-aligned arrangements are conceivable, the third lever unit 140c is rotatable about another, third rotation axis lSOc. The rotation axis 150c is formed on the lateral part 20. The third lever unit 140c sits rotatably on the rotation axis 150c. Via the control cable 132, the operating unit 120 can be arranged at any point.

Preferably, the operating unit 120 is arranged on the motor vehicle seat. By actuating the operating unit 120, the lever unit 140c is rotated. The movement or the rotational force is transmitted via the control cable 132 to the first lever unit 140a and from there to the second lever unit 140b via the control cable 131. The respective lever units realize the corresponding force step-up transmission. In this way, a series connection of the two lacking devices 11 Oa and 11 Ob is realized.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a detail of a motor vehicle seat 200 in a lateral view with the adjusting device 100 according to Fig. 1. In this view, the motor vehicle seat 200 is folded, i.e. the backrest part 10 is folded or pivoted in the direction of the seat part 20 about the two rotation axes 1 50a and 1 SOb of the two locking devices 110. To this end, the operating unit 120 designed as operating lever 121 has to be moved from a starting position PU into an operating position P1. Moving is effected by pivoting about the third rotation axis 150c. Through a resetting mechanism, the operating lever 121 is pivoted back into its starting position P0. The further construction from Fig. I is not shown here because of the panel 30.

Fig. 3a schematically shows a first side A of the adjusting device 100 with the first locking device llOa in a perspective view.

Fig. 3b schematically shows another side B of the adjusting device 100 with a second locking device 1 lOb in a perspective view.

Fig. 4 schematically shows a function diagram of the adjusting device 100 with different force-distance characteristics of individual components.

The two locking devices 110 are constructed substantially equal, even if constructed in mirror image. The difference between the two locking devices 11 O lies in the different lever units 140a, 140b, by which the originally same distance-force characteristic of the locking devices 110 is distinguished. On the second side B the lever unit 140b is designed as rotary lever 141b. The rotary lever 141b is arranged on the rotation axis 150b of the locking device 1 lOb in a rotationally fixed manner. A lever arm 142b projects radially to the outside. At an outer end of the lever arm 142b, the control cable 131 is fastened. Depending on the position of the lever arm 142b, it transmits a torque to the rotation axis 15Db via the force introduced by the control cable 131. The locking device 110 is unlocked and/or blocked via this.

On the first side A, the lever unit 140a is likewise designed as rotary lever 141a. The rotary lever 141a is arranged on the rotation axis 150a of the locking device 1 ba in a rotationally fixed manner. A lever arm 142a and a lever arm 143a radially project to the outside. On the lever arm 142a, the control cable 131 is fastened. On the lever arm 143a, the control cable 132 is fastened. Depending on the position of the lever arm 143a, the latter transmits a torque to the rotation axis 150a via the force introduced by the control cable 132. Stepped up by the lever ann 142a, the torque is passed on to the locking device 11 Ob via the control cable 131.

Fig. 4 exemplarily shows the force step-up transmission and the resultant force-distance characteristic KW by means of a position of the lever arms 142a, 142b, 143a, which also includes a torque-angle characteristic.

In the shown position, Ti constitutes a torque on the second side B, T2 constitutes a torque on the first side A. The torque Ti is the non-stepped-up torque of the locking device liOb, which has a progressive force-distance characteristic. Because of the lever arm 142a, a stepped-up torque Ta is transmitted to the locking device 1 ba.

Here, Ta is obtained as product of the pulling force Fa transmitted by the control cable 131 and the distance of the force introduced at the end of the lever arm 142a in force introduction direction Ra to Ta = Fa x Ra. The force Fa, which is transmitted via the control cable 131, is equal to the sum of the force Fb and the friction force of the control cable Ef. The force Fb is thus transmitted to the locking device 110b In addition, the force acting on the side B is obtained as Fb = T2/Rb, wherein Rb corresponds to the distance of the force introduction of Fb at the end of the lever arm

i42b in force introduction direction.

For the torque on the side A, this produces: Ta = ((T2IRb) + FF) x Ra. From this it follows that the torque Ta = T2 x Ra/Rb + FF x Ra. Via the ratio of the distances Ra and Rb or of the length of the lever arms 142a, 142b, 143 and the arrangement of the control cable ends thereon, the force step-up transmission can be adjusted. Here, Ra and Rb change because of the rotation of the lever arms 142, since the control cable 131 is locationally fixed and the lever arms 142 accordingly rotate about the rotation axes 150.

Because of the step-up transmission and the serial arrangement and the superimposition of the individual force-distance characteristics for the operating unit 120 resulting from this, a torque Ttotal with degressive force-distance characteristic KW is present on the operating unit 120. In order to limit the torque Ttotal on the operating unit 120 to a comfortable dimension, the second lever arm 143a and a further lever arm 144 are provided on the operating lever. The lever arms have the distance to the force introduction of Rc and Rd respectively. By way of the ratio Rc/Rd, the resultant torque on the operating unit can be adjusted. Preferentially, the torque Ttotal on the operating unit is below 3.5 Nm, preferably below 3 Nm1 in the present case at 2.5 Nm.

Fig. 5a schematically shows in a diagram different force-distance curves KW of different components of the adjusting device 100 and Fig. Sb schematically shows in a diagram a force-distance curve of the operating unit 120 of the adjusting device 100. -14-

The farce-distance curves each characterize a torque characteristic of components of the adjusting device 110. 11 and T2 characterize the torque curve over the angle of the engagement fitting units, i.e. the lacking device 110 without lever step-up transmission.

Ta characterizes the torque curve on the locking device 11 Oa based on the lever step-up transmission. Ta + Ti characterizes the superimposed torque curve on the side A. The diagram shows on the abscissa the distance, which has to be generated upon an actuation of the adjusting device 100 for an adjustment, here in the form of a rotation angle with the unit degree. On the ordinate, the force to be generated over the distance is plotted, here plotted as torque with the unit Nm. The abscissa is divided into 5° steps with an auxiliary grid. The ordinate is divided into 1-Nm steps.

Up to a rotation angle of approximately 6-7°, the torques proceed almost with no force expenditure or in this case a force expenditure slightly rising to approximately 0.4 Nm.

The force curve over the distance is linearly rising. At approximately 6-7°, a kink in the force-distance curve occurs and the curve up to approximately 12° increases more sharply to approximately iNm for Ti and T2, approximately 1.3-1.4 Nm for Ta and to approximately 2.6 Nm for Ta + Ti, in particular substantially linearly. The force transmission to the engagement fitting units substantially commences here, wherein the engagement fitting parts are separated from each other. Up to approximately 12° to approximately 20°, a uniform force is noticeable for Ti and 12. At Ta and Ti, the force up to approximately 15° rises slightly flatter than previously to approximately 1.6 (Ta) and 2.8 (Ta + Ti). Thereafter, the force initially rises more sharply (up to approximately 17°) and thereafter flatter (up to approximately 20°) to a local maximum (Ta approximately 2.2 Nm1 and Ta + Ti approximately 3.6 Nm).

The engagement fitting parts move away from each other and are less and less in mutual engagement. At approximately 20°, the engagement fitting parts are completely no longer engaged, which constitutes the time or the location of an optimal adjusting.

From here, the force-distance curves that ran substantially equal up to that point now run differently. While at TI and 12 the force-distance curve continues to uniformly rise approximately linearly, up to approximately 42° more slightly, than from 42° more sharply, the force-distance curve according to the invention is subjected to a downward curve, i.e. the force over the distance drops up to approximately 36° to approximately 0.4 Nm (Ta) and 2.3 Nm (Ta + Ti). This drop is marked with D. The curve only rises slowly from approximately 35° -up to approximately 42°, then steeply. The force drop o is clearly noticeable to the user. As soon as this force drop D is perceptible, the user can adjust the backrest without problem.

Accordingly, the force-distance curve shown in Fig. Sb is obtained on the operating unit 120. Starting out from a rotation angle of -10°, the torque Itotal commences to slightly rise linearly from 0° to approximately 0.2 Nm even at -5° rotation to 2.5°. From 2.5°, the torque rises steeply and linearly to approximately 80 to approximately 8.8 Nm. There, the curve is subjected to a flattening and up to approximately 14°, rises more flatly linearly to approximately 1.9 Nm. From 14° to approximately 17°, a linear steeper curve to approximately 2.5 Nm occurs which remains almost constant in a range from 17° to approximately 23°. At 20°, a local maximum of the torque is reached with 2.5 Nm.

Here, the complete unblocking of the locking devices 110 takes place. From 23°, the torque Ttotal drops slightly linearly to approximately 1.7 Nm at 38°, from where the torque Ttotal initially rises slightly linearly to 1.9 Nm at 45° and thereafter steeply linearly. -16-

List of reference characters Backrest part 11 Backrest part portion 12 Backrest adapter part Seat part 21 Seat part portion 22 Seat adapter part Panel 100 Adjusting device Locking device 1 lOa First locking device (side A) 1 lOb Second locking device (side B) Operating unit 121 Operating lever Pulling force element 131 Control cable 132 Control cable Lever unit 140a First lever unit (side A) 140b Second lever unit (side B) 140c Third lever unit (operating unit) 141a Rotary lever (side A) 141b Rotary lever (side B) 142a Leverarm(sideA) 142b Lever arm (side B) 143a Lever arm (side A) Rotation axis 1 50a First rotation axis (side A) 15Db Second rotation axis (side B) 150c Third rotation axis (operating unit) 220 Motor vehicle seat P0 Starting position (operating unit) P1 Operating position (operating unit) KW Force-distance characteristic, locking characteristic D Force drop (torque drop) Ti Torque without step-up transmission (side B) T2 Torque without step-up transmission (side A) Ta Torque with step-up transmission (side A) Ra Distance/lever travel (side A) Rb Distance/lever travel (side A) Rc Distance/lever travel (side A, second lever arm) Rd Distance/lever travel (side A, operating unit) Fa (Pulling) force (side A) Fb (Pulling) force (side B) Friction force (control cable) Ttotal Torque (operating unit, stepped up)

Claims (1)

1. <claim-text>PATENT CLAIMS1. An adjusting device (100) for adjusting a motor vehicle seat (200), in particular a discontinuous adjusting device (100) for adjusting a backrest position of the motor vehicle seat (200), comprising at least two locking device (llOa, hUb), which can be actuated via at least one joint actuating device (120), wherein the locking devices (110) are connected in series with the operating unit (120).</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The adjusting device (100) according to Claim 1, wherein each locking device (110) comprises a lever unit (140), via which the locking device (110) can be actuated.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The adjusting device (100) according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the lever units (140) on different locking devices (110) are designed differently to each other, so that each locking device (110) has a different locking characteristic (KW).</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The adjusting device (100) according to any one of the preceding Claims ito 3, wherein the different lever units (140) are coupled to one another via at least one pulling force element (130), in particular a control cable (131).</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The adjusting device (100) according to any one of the preceding Claims ito 4, wherein one of the lever units (140) is coupled to the actuating device (12).</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The adjusting device (100) according to any one of the preceding Claims ito 5, wherein the lever units (140) are matched to one another so that because of the lever ratios the actuating device (120) has a non-progressive force-distance ratio (KW).</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The adjusting device (100) according to any one of the preceding Claims ito 6, wherein at least one of the lever units (140) comprises a rotary lever (141) that is rotatable about a rotation axis (150), with which a force, in particular a torque, can be transmitted.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A motor vehicle seat (200), in particular a motor vehicle seat (200) with a backrest (10) adjustable with respect to a seat part (20), comprising at least one adjusting mechanism for adjusting the backrest (10), wherein the adjusting mechanism is designed as adjusting device (100) according to any one of the Claims ito 7.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A motor vehicle, in particular a passenger motor vehicle, comprising at least one seat for a vehicle occupant, wherein the seat is designed as a motor vehicle seat (200) according to Claim 8.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A method for adjusting a motor vehicle seat (200) by means of an adjusting device (100) having at least two locking devices (110), in particular for adjusting a backrest position of the motor vehicle seat (200), by means of a discontinuous adjusting device (100) having at least two locking devices (110), comprising the step transmitting a force for locking and unlocking the adjusting device (100) to the locking devices (110) by means of a joint actuating device (120), wherein the force transmission to the locking devices (110) is carried out connected in series.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. The method according to Claim 10, wherein the force transmission comprises a stepping-up of the force.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. The method according to Claim 10 or 11, wherein the locking devices (110) are actuated differently with respect to one another, in particular are subjected to a different torque.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. The method according to any one of the preceding Claims 10 to 12, wherein an opening of the plurality of locking devices (110) is effected synchronously, i.e. matched to one another.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. The method according to any one of the preceding Claims 10 to 13, wherein the stepping-up comprises a superimposing of the stepped-up transmissions of the locking devices (110), so that the actuating device (120) has a non-progressive characteristic.</claim-text>