WO2009140454A2 - Plaque-guide pour mécanisme de fauteuil inclinable - Google Patents

Plaque-guide pour mécanisme de fauteuil inclinable Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2009140454A2
WO2009140454A2 PCT/US2009/043888 US2009043888W WO2009140454A2 WO 2009140454 A2 WO2009140454 A2 WO 2009140454A2 US 2009043888 W US2009043888 W US 2009043888W WO 2009140454 A2 WO2009140454 A2 WO 2009140454A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
plate
guide plate
ratchet
recliner mechanism
seat assembly
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2009/043888
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2009140454A3 (fr
Inventor
John J. Berndtson
Original Assignee
Fisher Dynamics Corporation
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 Fisher Dynamics Corporation filed Critical Fisher Dynamics Corporation
Publication of WO2009140454A2 publication Critical patent/WO2009140454A2/fr
Publication of WO2009140454A3 publication Critical patent/WO2009140454A3/fr

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
    • B60N2/02—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable
    • B60N2/22—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the back-rest being adjustable
    • B60N2/235—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the back-rest being adjustable by gear-pawl type mechanisms
    • B60N2/2356—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the back-rest being adjustable by gear-pawl type mechanisms with internal pawls
    • B60N2/236—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the back-rest being adjustable by gear-pawl type mechanisms with internal pawls linearly movable

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to recliner mechanisms and more particularly to an improved guide plate for a recliner mechanism.
  • Recliner mechanisms are conventionally used in seat assemblies to permit selective adjustment of a seatback relative to a seat bottom.
  • One such recliner mechanism is a round-recliner mechanism, which typically includes an upper plate associated with a seatback and a lower plate associated with a seat bottom. Movement of the upper plate relative to the bottom plate allows for adjustment of the seatback relative to the seat bottom.
  • a conventional round-recliner mechanism A includes a ratchet plate B, a guide plate C, and a locking mechanism D.
  • the locking mechanism D selectively prevents movement of the ratchet plate B relative to the guide plate C to permit selective adjustment of a seatback E relative to a seat bottom G.
  • the ratchet plate B is fixedly attached to the seatback E via attachment apertures F while the guide plate C is fixedly attached to the seat bottom G by a series of attachment apertures H.
  • the locking mechanism D is in a locked state, the ratchet plate B and seatback E are prevented from moving relative to the guide plate C and seat bottom G.
  • the round-recliner mechanism A adequately allows for selective movement of the ratchet plate B and seatback E relative to the guide plate C and seat bottom G
  • the round-recliner mechanism A requires a large and generally thick extension J extending from the guide plate C to facilitate attachment of the guide plate C to the seat bottom G.
  • the overall size and thickness of the extension J adds to the overall size of the round-recliner mechanism A and, as such, increases the overall weight and cost of the round- recliner mechanism A.
  • a recliner mechanism may include a ratchet plate and a guide plate.
  • the guide plate may be rotatably attached to the ratchet plate and may include a first plate and a second plate.
  • a locking mechanism may be disposed between the ratchet plate and the guide plate and may selectively prevent movement of the ratchet plate relative to the guide plate.
  • At least one of the first plate and the second plate may include a projection in slidable engagement with the ratchet plate.
  • the first plate may cooperate with the second plate to define at least one recess.
  • the locking mechanism may be at least partially disposed within the at least one recess.
  • the locking mechanism may include at least one pawl slidably disposed within the at least one recess for selective engagement with the ratchet plate.
  • the first plate may be fixedly attached to the second plate.
  • At least one of the first plate and the second plate may include at least one locking feature matingly received by the other of the first plate and the second plate.
  • At least one of the first plate and the second plate may include a substantially C-shape.
  • the guide plate may be substantially symmetric.
  • a seat assembly is provided and may include a seat bottom and a seatback rotatably supported by the seat bottom.
  • a recliner mechanism may be disposed between the seatback and the seat bottom and may selectively prevent rotation of the seatback relative to the seat bottom.
  • the recliner mechanism may include a ratchet plate and a guide plate.
  • the guide plate may be rotatably attached to the ratchet plate and may include a first plate and a second plate.
  • a locking mechanism may be disposed between the ratchet plate and the guide plate and may selectively prevent movement of the ratchet plate relative to the guide plate.
  • At least one of the first plate and the second plate may include a projection in slidable engagement with the ratchet plate.
  • the first plate may cooperate with the second plate to define at least one recess.
  • the locking mechanism may be at least partially disposed within the at least one recess.
  • the locking mechanism may include at least one pawl slidably disposed within the at least one recess for selective engagement with the ratchet plate.
  • the first plate may be fixedly attached to the second plate.
  • At least one of the first plate and the second plate may include at least one locking feature matingly received by the other of the first plate and the second plate.
  • At least one of the first plate and the second plate may include a substantially C-shape.
  • the guide plate may be substantially symmetric.
  • the seat assembly may further include a lower mounting bracket fixedly attached to the seat bottom.
  • the lower mounting bracket may include at least one mounting feature matingly receiving the mounting bracket.
  • the guide plate may be fixedly attached to the lower mounting bracket by capacitor discharge welding.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional recliner mechanism incorporated into a seat assembly
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the recliner mechanism of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of the recliner mechanism of FIG. 1 in a locked state;
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of the recliner mechanism of FIG. 1 in an unlocked state;
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a recliner mechanism in accordance with the principles of the present teachings
  • FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the recliner mechanism of FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the recliner mechanism of FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a recliner mechanism in accordance with the principles of the present teachings.
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the recliner mechanism of FIG. 8 with part of a housing removed to show internal components of the recliner mechanism;
  • FIG. 10 is a side view of a recliner mechanism in accordance with the principles of the present teachings incorporated into a seat assembly and in a locked state;
  • FIG. 1 1 is a side view of the recliner mechanism of FIG. 10 incorporated into a seat assembly and in an unlocked state.
  • a recliner mechanism 10 is provided and includes a ratchet plate 12, a guide plate 14, and a locking mechanism 16.
  • the locking mechanism 16 is disposed generally between the ratchet plate 12 and the guide plate 14 and selectively prevents rotation of the ratchet plate 12 relative to the guide plate 14.
  • the ratchet plate 12 includes a main body 18 and an extension 20.
  • the main body 18 includes a recess 22 having a central aperture 24, an upper plurality of teeth 26, a lower plurality of teeth 28, and a guide surface 29.
  • the extension 20 may be integrally formed with the main body 18 and may include at least one attachment aperture 30.
  • the attachment apertures may receive a fastener such as a rivet (not shown) for fixedly attaching the ratchet plate 12 to an external structure.
  • the guide plate 14 rotatably supports the ratchet plate 12 and includes a main body 32, a series of projections 34, and an attachment mechanism 36.
  • the main body 32 includes a generally circular shape having a first surface 38 from which the projections 34 extend and a second surface 40 disposed on an opposite side of the main body 32 from the first surface 38.
  • the main body 32 also includes a first recess 42 having a pair of sidewalls 44 and a second recess 46 having a pair of sidewalls 48.
  • the main body 32 may have a unitary construction such that the projections 34, attachment mechanism 36, recess 42, and recess 46 are formed from a single piece of material.
  • the unitary main body 32 may be formed of a suitable process such as stamping, fine blanking, or powdered metal. While the main body 32 may have a unitary construction, the main body 32 may alternatively include a multi-piece construction.
  • the main body 32 may include a first plate or half 32a and a second plate or half 32b that are fixedly attached to one another to form the generally circular shape of the guide plate 14. If the main body 32 of the guide plate 14 includes a two-piece construction, the respective halves 32a, 32b may include a locking feature that allows the halves 32a, 32b to be properly aligned and joined.
  • the first half 32a of the main body 32 may include at least one tab 50 that is matingly received within at least one slot 52 of the second half 32b. While the first half 32a is described as including at least one tab 50 and the second half 32b is described as including at least one slot 52, the first half 32a and second half 32b may include any number of tabs 50 and slots 52 that adequately align, position, and/or lock together the first half 32a and second half 32b to form the generally circular shape of the main body 32. As shown in FIG.
  • the first half 32a may include one tab 50 and one slot 52, while the second half 32b includes one tab 50 and one slot 52, whereby the tab 50 of the first half 32a is matingly received by a slot 52 formed in the second half 32b and the tab 50 of the second half 32b is matingly received within a slot 52 of the first half 32a.
  • Each of the first half 32a and the second half 32b may include a substantially C-shape, as shown in FIG. 6.
  • an axis along which the main body 32 is joined is generally perpendicular to an axis extending through both recesses 42, 46. Positioning the axis of separation between the first half 32a and the second half 32b substantially perpendicular to an axis extending through the recesses 42, 46 provides the recliner mechanism 10 with an improved performance when the locking mechanism 16 is in a locked state.
  • the multi-piece construction of the main body 32 allows various manufacturing processes to be used to form the respective halves 32a, 32b such as, for example, fine blanking. Such processes provide good dimensional control of the recesses 42, 46 and therefore improve the performance of the locking mechanism 10.
  • the recesses 42, 46 are described and shown as being generally perpendicular to an axis along which the first half 32a and the second half 32b of the main body 32 are joined, the recesses 42, 46 may be poisoned at any angle relative to such axis.
  • the recliner mechanism 10 may include a guide plate 14 having a unitary construction or a multi-piece construction, providing the recliner mechanism 10 with a guide plate 14 having a two-piece construction may allow the recliner mechanism 10 to be manufactured at a lower cost when compared to a similar recliner mechanism 10 having a guide plate 14 including a unitary construction.
  • a guide plate 14 having a two-piece construction includes a first half 32a and a second half 32b
  • the first half 32a and second half 32b may be nestled in a fine blanking strip, for example, to reduce scrap during manufacturing of the first half 32a and second half 32b.
  • the guide plate 14 of the recliner mechanism 10 is manufactured using a fine blanking process, providing the guide plate 14 with a two-piece construction reduces scrap associated with manufacture of the guide plate 14 and, therefore, reduces costs associated with manufacturing the guide plate 14 and, thus, the recliner mechanism 10.
  • the projections 34 extend from the first surface 38 of the main body 32 and each include an engagement surface 54 for interaction with the guide surface 29 of the ratchet plate 12.
  • the projections 34 extend from the first surface 38 of the main body 32 a sufficient distance such that the engagement surface 54 may slidably engage the guide surface 29 of the ratchet plate 12.
  • Engagement between the projections 34 of the guide plate 14 and the guide surface 29 of the ratchet plate 12 defines the relative movement of the ratchet plate 12 relative to the guide plate 14 when the locking mechanism 16 is in an unlocked state.
  • the attachment mechanism 36 may include a series of posts 56 that extend from the second surface 40 of the main body 32.
  • the attachment mechanism 36 may further include a pair of tabs 58 that extend from the second surface 40 of the main body 32 generally at each recess 42, 46. Cooperation between the posts 56 and tabs 58 aids in positioning and attaching the guide plate 14 to an external structure once the recliner mechanism 10 is fully assembled.
  • the locking mechanism 16 is disposed generally within the guide plate 14 and includes a pair of pawls 60 and a cam 62. While the locking mechanism 16 is described as including a pair of pawls 60, the locking mechanism 16 could alternatively include more than two pawls 60.
  • Each pawl 60 includes an arm 64 having a release projection 66, a locking projection 67, and an extension 68 having a series of teeth disposed on a distal end thereof.
  • the pawls 60 are slidably received within the guide plate 14 such that each extension 68 is respectively slidably received within the recesses 42, 46.
  • the respective sidewalls 44, 48 of the recesses 42, 46 cooperate with the respective extensions 68 of the pawls 60 to confine movement of the pawls 60 generally along an axis extending through each recess 42, 46.
  • vibration of the pawls 60 during operation of the recliner mechanism 10 is reduced, thereby reducing noise associated with the recliner mechanism 10 and improving the overall operation thereof.
  • the cam 62 is disposed within the guide plate 14 generally between each arm 64 of the pawls 60.
  • the cam 62 includes a keyed aperture 72, release projections 74, 75, and a pair of locking projections 76.
  • the keyed aperture 72 may receive a cross rod (not shown) that selectively applies a rotational force to the cam 62 to rotate the cam 62 relative to the guide plate 14. While a keyed aperture 72 is disclosed, the cam 62 may include any feature that allows the cam 62 to be fixedly attached to a cross rod such that the cam 62 is fixed for rotation with the cross rod.
  • the release projections 75 are disposed generally on opposite sides of the cam 62 and are in selective engagement with the projections 66 of the pawls 60 to move the pawls 60 from a locked state to an unlocked state.
  • the locking projections 76 are disposed on opposite ends of the cam 62 from one another and are in selective engagement with the locking projections 67 of the pawls 60 to urge the pawls from an unlocked state to a locked state.
  • the mounting bracket 78 may be formed of a high-strength steel or an ultra-high strength steel and may include a series of mounting apertures 80 for attachment of the mounting bracket 78 to an external structure such as, for example, a seat assembly.
  • the mounting bracket 78 may also include an extension 82 having a central aperture 84, a series of locating apertures 86, and a pair of slots 88.
  • the central aperture 84 may receive the cross rod to permit the cross rod to pass therethrough for interaction with the keyed aperture 72 of the cam 62.
  • the locating apertures 86 are positioned generally around the central aperture 84 and matingly receive the posts 56 of the guide plate 14 to position the guide plate 14 relative to the mounting bracket 78.
  • the slots 88 are formed generally on opposite sides of the extension 82 and matingly receive the tabs 58 of the guide plate 14 to attach and locate the guide plate 14 relative to the mounting bracket 78.
  • the guide plate 14 may be fixedly attached to the mounting bracket 78 by a suitable process such as, for example, capacitor-discharge welding. While the guide plate 14 is described as being welded to the mounting bracket 78 via a welding process, the guide plate 14 could be attached to the mounting bracket 78 by any suitable process that fixedly attaches the guide plate 14 to the mounting bracket 78 such as, for example, press fit and/or via mechanical fasteners (not shown).
  • the mounting bracket 78 may also include at least one flange 90 that cooperates with one of the locating apertures 86 and slots 88 to support and position the guide plate 14 relative to the mounting bracket 78.
  • the guide plate 14 could alternatively include a series of pie-shaped plates or wedges 100 (FIG. 8) that are individually attached to a mounting bracket 102 (FIG. 9).
  • the wedges 100 may be formed from any suitable process such as stamping, fine blanking, or powdered metal. Once formed, the wedges 100 may be fixedly attached to the guide plate 14 via a suitable process such as welding or laser welding.
  • the wedges 100 may be positioned relative to the guide plate mounting bracket 102 such that the recesses 42, 46 are defined between side surfaces 104 of each wedge 100 and a surface 106 of the mounting bracket 102. As described above, such recesses 42, 46 slidably receive pawls 60 therein to allow the pawls 60 to selectively move into and out of engagement with the ratchet plate 12.
  • the recliner mechanism 10 is shown incorporated into a seat assembly 92 including a seat bottom 94 and a seatback 96.
  • the recliner mechanism 10 is disposed generally between the seat bottom 94 and seatback 96 and selectively prevents rotation of the seatback 96 relative to the seat bottom 94.
  • the recliner mechanism 10 could incorporate a guide plate 14 including halves 32a, 32b or wedges 100, the recliner mechanism 100 will be described hereinafter as including halves 32a, 32b.
  • the ratchet plate 12 may be fixedly attached to the seatback 96 via attachment apertures 30 formed in the extension 20 of the ratchet plate 12.
  • the guide plate 14 may be fixedly attached to the seat bottom 94 via the mounting bracket 78.
  • the mounting bracket 78 may be fixedly attached to the seat bottom 94 via mounting apertures 80 or, alternatively, the mounting bracket 78 may be integrally formed with the seat bottom 94 such that once the guide plate 14 is attached to the mounting bracket 78, the guide plate 14 is similarly fixedly attached to the seat bottom 94.
  • the cam 62 may be rotated such that the locking projections 76 contact the respective pawls 60 and translate each pawl 60 relative to the ratchet plate 12 and guide plate 14. Sufficient translation of the pawls 60 relative to the ratchet plate 12 and guide plate 14 causes the teeth 70 of each pawl 60 to engage the upper plurality of teeth 26 and lower plurality of teeth 28, respectively, of the ratchet plate 12 and guide plate 14.
  • the torque (i.e., force) applied to the cam 62 in the clockwise direction relative to the view shown in FIG. 10 may be released, thereby permitting the cam 62 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction relative to the view shown in FIG. 10 and return the locking mechanism 16 to the locked state.
  • Returning the locking mechanism 16 to the locked state once again prevents rotation of the ratchet plate 12 relative to the guide plate 14 and therefore locks the seatback 96 in a desired angular position relative to the seat bottom 94 by restricting further rotation of the seatback 96 relative to the seat bottom 94 until the locking mechanism 16 is returned to the unlocked state.
  • Rotation of the cam 62 in the counterclockwise direction relative to the view shown in FIG. 10 may be accomplished by incorporating a biasing member (not shown) such as a coil spring or linear spring into the seat assembly 92 and/or recliner mechanism 10.
  • the biasing member may impart a rotational force on the cam 62 and/or cross rod to bias the cam 62 in the counterclockwise direction relative to the view shown in FIG. 10. Biasing the cam 62 in the locked position biases the locking mechanism 16 in the locked state and therefore biases the recliner mechanism 10 in the locked state. Therefore, absent a force being applied to the cam 62 in the clockwise direction relative to the view shown in FIG. 10, the biasing member will urge the cam 62 into the counterclockwise direction relative to the view shown in FIG. 10 to bias the locking mechanism 16 into the locked state.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chairs For Special Purposes, Such As Reclining Chairs (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un mécanisme de fauteuil inclinable. Ledit mécanisme peut comprendre une plaque d'encliquetage et une plaque-guide. La plaque-guide peut être fixée rotative à la plaque d'encliquetage et peut comprendre une première plaque et une seconde plaque. Un mécanisme de verrouillage peut être disposé entre la plaque d'encliquetage et la plaque-guide et peut sélectivement empêcher le déplacement de la plaque d'encliquetage relativement à la plaque-guide.
PCT/US2009/043888 2008-05-15 2009-05-14 Plaque-guide pour mécanisme de fauteuil inclinable WO2009140454A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US5325108P 2008-05-15 2008-05-15
US61/053,251 2008-05-15

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009140454A2 true WO2009140454A2 (fr) 2009-11-19
WO2009140454A3 WO2009140454A3 (fr) 2010-01-07

Family

ID=41319330

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2009/043888 WO2009140454A2 (fr) 2008-05-15 2009-05-14 Plaque-guide pour mécanisme de fauteuil inclinable

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2009140454A2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2984249A1 (fr) * 2011-12-19 2013-06-21 Faurecia Sieges Automobile Mecanisme d'articulation compact pour siege de vehicule automobile.

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2003245152A (ja) * 2002-02-26 2003-09-02 Toyo Seat Co Ltd 車両用シートのナックル装置
US20040195889A1 (en) * 2003-04-01 2004-10-07 Tyrone Secord Recliner clutch mechanism for vehicle seat
KR20050007914A (ko) * 2003-07-12 2005-01-21 주식회사다스 자동차용 시트의 리클라이닝장치
JP2005312891A (ja) * 2003-08-22 2005-11-10 Toyota Boshoku Corp リクライニング装置

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2003245152A (ja) * 2002-02-26 2003-09-02 Toyo Seat Co Ltd 車両用シートのナックル装置
US20040195889A1 (en) * 2003-04-01 2004-10-07 Tyrone Secord Recliner clutch mechanism for vehicle seat
KR20050007914A (ko) * 2003-07-12 2005-01-21 주식회사다스 자동차용 시트의 리클라이닝장치
JP2005312891A (ja) * 2003-08-22 2005-11-10 Toyota Boshoku Corp リクライニング装置

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2984249A1 (fr) * 2011-12-19 2013-06-21 Faurecia Sieges Automobile Mecanisme d'articulation compact pour siege de vehicule automobile.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2009140454A3 (fr) 2010-01-07

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