FIXING DEVICE FOR FIXING AN OBJECT IN A VEHICLE IN A MANNER ACTUATED BY EXTERNAL FORCE WITH THE AID OF AT LEAST ONE SEPARATELY ADJUSTABLE LOCKING ELEMENT

Abstract

A fixing device for fixing an object to a fixing surface in a vehicle, including at least one fixing element configured for fixing the object with a fixing portion that is provided for engagement in a fixing opening, the fixing portion can be introduced into the fixing opening along an adjustment axis. At least one adjustable locking element, separate from the fixing element, which by interaction with the fixing portion engaging in the fixing opening locks the fixing element on the fixing opening and blocks the fixing portion against removal from the fixing opening.

Claims

1. A fixing device configured to fix an object to a fixing surface in a vehicle, the fixing device comprising: at least one fixing element configured to fix the object to the fixing surface and provided with a fixing portion configured to be inserted into a fixing opening along an adjustment axis so that the fixing portion engages the fixing opening; and at least one locking element separate from the at least one fixing element and configured to lock the at least one fixing element within the fixing opening when the fixing portion engages the fixing opening and configured to block movement of the fixing portion from the fixing opening.

2. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one locking element is adjustable to a locking position in which the at least one locking element is positively connected to the fixing portion.

3. The fixing device of claim 2, wherein the at least one locking element is configured to move to engage an engagement area of the fixing portion, wherein the engagement area is formed radially inward from an area of the fixing portion disposed adjacent to the engagement area, with respect to the adjustment axis.

4. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one locking element is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation extending in a direction parallel or perpendicular to the adjustment axis of the fixing portion.

5. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one locking element is mounted to and configured to shift along an adjustment direction extending transversely to the adjustment axis of the fixing portion.

6. The fixing device of claim 5, wherein the at least one locking element includes a carriage configured to be shifted.

7. The fixing device of claim 6, wherein the carriage defines the locking opening.

8. The fixing device of claim 7, wherein the carriage is shiftable along the adjustment direction from a release position to a locking position and the locking opening defined by the carriage includes first and second opening portions, wherein when the carriage is in the release position, the fixing portion of the at least one fixing element is disposed in the first opening portion and is configured to be inserted into the locking opening, and subsequently into the second opening portion of the locking opening when the carriage is displaced along the adjustment direction so that the fixing portion of the at least one fixing element engages the second opening portion of the locking opening.

9. The fixing device of claim 6, wherein the carriage is elastically pretensioned towards the adjustment direction.

10. The fixing device of claim 9, further comprising: at least one spring element configured to elastically pretension the carriage, the at least one spring element is supported by a part of the carriage and by a support part, wherein the support part is adjustable in the adjustment direction.

11. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one locking element includes at least one clamping portion configured to displace the at least one fixing element so that the fixing portion inserted into the fixing opening is configured to be displaced along the adjustment axis to a tensioning position.

12. The fixing device of claim 11, wherein the clamping portion includes a ramp area extending along an inclination with respect to the adjustment axis of the at least one fixing element, wherein the ramp area is adjustable along an engagement area of the fixing portion of the at least one fixing element inserted into the fixing opening, and wherein during an adjustment of the locking element to a locking position, the ramp area displaces the at least one fixing element to the tensioning position by sliding along the engagement area.

13. The fixing device of claim 1, further comprising: a counter-element configured to be contacted by the fixing portion inserted into the fixing opening in order to produce an electrical connection.

14. The fixing device of claim 1, further comprising: an adjustably mounted counter-element configured to be adjusted to a closing position, in which the adjustably mounted counter-element at least partially closes the fixing opening, and configured to be displaced from the closed position by inserting the fixing portion into the fixing opening.

15. The fixing device of claim 14, wherein the counter-element is configured to be displaced by the fixing portion from the closed position along the adjustment axis to an adjustment position, when the fixing portion of the at least one fixing element is inserted into the fixing opening.

16. The fixing device of claim 13, wherein displacement of the counter-element from a closed position produces the electrical connection between the fixing portion and the counter-element.

17. The fixing device of claim 16, wherein the counter-element includes a contact element, wherein the contact element is accessible to produce the electrical connection when the counter-element is displaced from the closed position.

18. The fixing device of claim 17, wherein contact element is configured to be inserted into a sleeve-shaped portion of the fixing portion to produce the electrical connection.

19. A fixing device configured to fix an object to a fixing surface in a vehicle, the fixing device comprising: at least one fixing element configured to fix the object to the fixing surface and provided with a fixing portion configured to be inserted into a fixing opening along an adjustment axis; and at least one adjustable locking element separate from the at least one fixing element, wherein the at least one adjustable locking element is configured to engage the fixing portion, disposed in an intermediate position, and engage the fixing opening in order to displace the fixing portion from the intermediate position to a contacting position in which the fixing portion is connected to a counter-element to provide an electrical connection.

20. The fixing device of claim 19, wherein the at least one locking element is rotatably mounted about a pivot axis, wherein the pivot axis extends in a direction perpendicular to the adjustment axis of the at least one fixing element and includes a curved bracket portion configured positively engage the fixing portion.

21. The fixing device of claim 19, wherein the at least one locking element includes a first locking element and a second locking element forming a gap configured to receive and center the fixing portion to displace the fixing portion from the intermediate position to the contacting position.

22. A vehicle comprising: a body-mounted fixing surface; an object configured to be fixed to the body-mounted fixing surface; at least one fixing device configured to fix the object to the fixing surface, wherein the at least one fixing device includes, at least one fixing element configured to fix the object to the fixing surface and provided with a fixing portion configured to be inserted into a fixing opening along an adjustment axis so that the fixing portion engages the fixing opening, and at least one locking element separate from the at least one fixing element and configured to lock the at least one fixing element within the fixing opening when the fixing portion engages the fixing opening and configured to block movement of the fixing portion from the fixing opening.

23. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein the at least one fixing device is configured to be disposed on the fixing surface or on the object.

24. The vehicle of claim 22, further comprising: an electronic detection device, wherein the fixing surface is provided in a vehicle interior of the vehicle, and the electronic detection device is configured to detect a position of the object on an interior surface.

25. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein the at least one object includes at least one battery-operated motorized drive device configured to provide a non-mechanically guided displacement of the object on the interior surface of the vehicle, the at least one fixing element is configured to fix the object in a fixing position on the interior surface, and wherein the electronic detection device is configured to detect the object reaching the fixing position.

26. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein the at least one motorized drive device includes an omnidirectional drive.

27. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein the object includes a vehicle seat, a console, and/or a battery carrier.

28. The vehicle of claim 27, wherein the vehicle seat includes the at least one fixing device, and the at least one fixing device is configured to fix the vehicle seat to an interior surface of the vehicle.

29. The vehicle of claim 27, wherein the battery carrier includes at least one battery cell, configured to power a vehicle, and the at least one fixing device is configured to fix the battery carrier within the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] In the drawings:

[0055] FIG. 1 in a sectional top view of an interior surface shows a vehicle interior of a design variant of a proposed vehicle with a plurality of interior objects in the form of vehicle seats freely displaceable therein;

[0056] FIGS. 2A to 2C in side views show the interior surface of FIG. 1 with a vehicle seat in two different fixing positions and in different phases during a displacement from a first fixing position to a second fixing position and a subsequent rotation of the vehicle seat;

[0057] FIG. 3 in a perspective view shows an exemplary embodiment for an omniwheel for use in the vehicle seat of FIGS. 2A to 2C;

[0058] FIG. 4 in a top view shows another design variant of an omniwheel for use in a vehicle seat of FIGS. 2A to 2C;

[0059] FIG. 5 schematically and in a top view shows the interior surface of the vehicle of FIG. 1 by illustrating an electronic detection device that includes at least one component on the interior object in the form of the vehicle seat;

[0060] FIGS. 6A to 6D on an enlarged scale and each sectionally show a fixing device with a shiftable carriage of a locking unit for locking a fixing element in the form of a fixing bolt provided for the fixation;

[0061] FIG. 7A in a perspective view shows a development of the design variant of FIGS. 6A to 6D with a locking unit including the carriage, which is shiftably mounted on guide rails of the fixing device;

[0062] FIGS. 7B to 7F in various views show the fixing device of FIG. 7A with the fixing bolt in a position introduced into a fixing opening;

[0063] FIG. 8 shows the fixing device of FIGS. 7A to 7F with a sectional representation of an object-side fixing bolt prior to introduction into a fixing opening on the side of the fixing surface, which is still closed by a counter-element of the fixing device;

[0064] FIGS. 9A to 9C each in a sectional view show various phases during the introduction of the fixing bolt into the fixing opening and the subsequent locking via the shiftable carriage of the fixing device;

[0065] FIGS. 10A to 10D in various views show a design variant of a proposed fixing device comprising a longitudinally shiftable locking unit that includes a coupling area for an electrical connection to a bolt-side coupling area;

[0066] FIG. 11 in an individual view shows the fixing bolt of the design variant of FIGS. 10A to 10D including a coupling area;

[0067] FIGS. 12A to 12C in various phases sectionally show a design variant in which via vehicle-side locking elements having bracket portions a fixing portion introduced into a fixing opening is displaced in a power-operated way from an intermediate position into a contacting position in which an electrically conductive connection to a vehicle-side counter-element forming a plug connection is produced via the fixing portion;

[0068] FIGS. 13 and 14 show possible developments of the design variant of FIGS. 12A to 12C comprising a lever mechanism for the adjustment of a locking element;

[0069] FIG. 15 shows a development on the basis of the design variant of FIGS. 12A to 12C comprising a spring-mounted vehicle-side counter-element;

[0070] FIG. 16 sectionally shows an alternative adjusting mechanism for the adjustment of a locking element corresponding to the design variant of FIGS. 12A to 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0071] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

[0072] As an example, a known vehicle interior, in which interior objects so as to be adjustable on an interior surface in a non-mechanically guided way is described in DE 10 2017 210 608 A1. In this connection, DE 10 2017 210 608 A1 for example proposes to provide for an adjustment of an interior object via an air cushion or via a rolling device. It remains open, however, at what points a proper fixation of such an interior object shall be made possible and how such a fixing position possibly is specified.

[0073] From DE 10 2004 046 070 A1 there is furthermore known a fixing device for the fixation of interior objects to a fixing surface defined by a floor plate in a vehicle. Pin-shaped fixing elements in the form of locking pins here engage in holes of the fixing surface and can be locked thereon in order to fix the interior object to the fixing surface. The locking elements are longitudinally shiftably mounted on an interior object and, after positioning of the interior object, can be manually introduced into appropriate holes and be locked thereon in the current position of the interior object. For positioning an interior object in different positions, a plurality of holes are provided as fixing openings for the fixing elements, wherein the holes are arranged in a grid on the floor plate.

[0074] FIG. 1 by way of example shows a vehicle F which in its interior defines a planar interior surface I having a length L and a width B, which extends from a dashboard of the vehicle F to a rear-side loading sill LF. The length L for example lies in the range of 5 to 7.5 m, and the width B lies in the range of 1.5 to 2 m. On the interior surface I a plurality of anchor points A are provided, which serve as fixing positions for fixing different interior objects. The anchor points A here are provided as corner points of a virtual grid distributed on the interior surface I.

[0075] In the present case, for example different vehicle seats 1, 1a to 1c can be fixed at the anchor points A as interior objects. The vehicle seats 1, 1a to 1c here are configured as freely adjustable units that can be displaced on the interior surface I in a non-mechanically guided way, for example, in a non-mechanically track-guided way. When a vehicle seat 1, 1a to 1c is properly arranged at an anchor point A and arranged with a base 12 of the seat 1, 1a to 1c (cf. in particular FIGS. 2A to 2C), the respective vehicle seat 1, 1a to 1c can be fixed to the interior surface I in a crash-proof way. For example, a vehicle seat 1, 1a to 1c in this way can be placed on the interior surface I via a rear loading sill LF (when the liftgate of the vehicle F is open) and can then, in an electronically controlled way, be displaced by a user to a desired anchor point A on the interior surface I and be fixed there. The arrangement of various interior objects like the vehicle seats 1, 1a to 1c thus is extremely variable and can be designed by a user in almost any way.

[0076] The side views of FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C by way of example illustrate a vehicle seat 1 in more detail. The vehicle seat 1 includes a base 12 with a battery-operated motorized drive device 12A. The base 12 displaceable via the motorized drive device 12A carries a seat part 11 and a backrest 10 of the vehicle seat 1. The backrest 10 can be adjustable in its inclination with respect to the seat part 11. Alternatively or additionally, the seat depth can be adjustable via an adjustment of the seat part 11 on the base 12.

[0077] The base 12 is freely displaceable on the interior surface I via an omniwheel or a plurality of omniwheels 2.1, 2.2. A torque for displacing the vehicle seat here is applied via a drive motor 120 that is accommodated within the base 12. This drive motor 120 is supplied with power via a battery 121 as an energy accumulator accommodated within the base 12. The battery 121 here can be charged independently of the vehicle via a terminal provided by a connector 122 on the base 12. The vehicle seat 1 thus can be charged on an electric power supply separately from the vehicle F. For this purpose, a vehicle-independent charging station is provided, for example.

[0078] When the vehicle seat 1 is provided at one of the anchor points A1, A2 shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, the vehicle seat 1 can be fixed via a vehicle-side fixing element in the form of a fixing bolt 31. The fixing bolt 31, which is part of a fixing device 3, therefor is turned upwards into a coupling portion 123 of the base 12 at the anchor point A1, which coupling portion defines a fixing opening for the fixing bolt 31, 32. In addition to the fixing bolt 31 shown by way of example, further fixing elements and for example, fixing bolts 31 can be provided in order to fix the base 12 and hence the vehicle seat 1 at the anchor point A1 of the interior surface I in a crash-proof way.

[0079] Via the fixing bolt 31 engaging in the base 12 and hence present in a fixing position, a connection to a vehicle-side energy source, hence to a vehicle-side battery, can also be provided in the present case. Via the electrical connection, for example the battery 121 then can be charged (for example, when the vehicle is traveling).

[0080] Alternatively or additionally, via the coupling to the electric energy supply of the vehicle F at least one additional electromotive drive of the vehicle seat 1 can be supplied with power in order to for example adjust the backrest 10 or the seat part 11 in a power-operated way. For example, the seat part 11 on the base 12 can be rotatable in a power-operated way about a vertical axis extending parallel to a spatial direction z by more than 90°, for example, by up to 180° or even by 360°, at least when the base 12 is properly fixed at an anchor point A1 (or A2; cf. FIG. 2C).

[0081] In response to a user request for operation, the vehicle seat 1 can be displaced along the interior surface I from the anchor point A1 to another anchor point A2. For this purpose, the fixing bolt 31 initially is retracted into a starting position on the interior surface I and the base 12 thereby is released. The vehicle seat 1 then can motorically be displaced along a direction of displacement R from the anchor point A1 to the anchor point A2 by means of the omniwheels 2.1, 2.2. This power-operated displacement of the vehicle seat 1 is controlled via an electronic detection device D, which in the present case includes a detection element 4 provided on the base 12. For example, this is a tag 4 which in cooperation with at least one vehicle-side sensor element of the detection device D provides for an electronic detection of the position of the seat 1 on the interior surface I.

[0082] In this way, it is possible for example to electronically detect when the vehicle seat 1 has reached the (second) anchor point A2, namely in such a way that a vehicle-side fixing bolt 32 can engage in the coupling portion 123 of the base 12 at this (second) anchor point A2 in order to fix the vehicle seat 1 at the anchor point A2. Thereafter, the vehicle seat 1 for example can be rotated about the vertical axis by 180°.

[0083] FIGS. 3 and 4 by way of example illustrate possible design variants for an omniwheel 2.1, 2.2 on the base 12 of the vehicle seat 1. FIG. 3 for example shows a perspective view of an omniwheel 2.1, 2.2 with a disk-shaped roller support 20 on whose circumference a plurality of rollers 21 are rotatably mounted. In the design variant of an omniwheel 2.1, 2.2 of FIG. 4, merely four rollers 21 each are rotatably arranged on a disk-shaped roller support 20 offset from each other by 90° each around a center of the roller support 20. Via each of the roller supports of FIGS. 3 and 4 an adjustment is possible in each spatial direction along a plane.

[0084] FIG. 5 in a top view by way of example illustrates a possible design of a detection device D, via which the position of a vehicle seat 1 can be detected during a displacement on the interior surface I. In the illustrated design variant, four sensor elements 5.1-5.4 are provided at defined positions of the vehicle interior and possibly on the interior surface I of the vehicle F (e.g. at its corner points).

[0085] The vehicle seat 1 furthermore includes a tag 4 and possibly an additional tag 4a. The tags 4, 4a here can be detected via the sensor elements 5.1-5.4, for example by the tags 4, 4a actively emitting signals that can be received by the sensor elements 5.1-5.4, or by the sensor elements 5.1-5.4 being read out in the manner of an RFID label. In this way, a position of the vehicle seat 1 within a spatial detection field on the interior surface I defined or monitored by the sensor elements 5.1-5.4 can be detected by means of the detection device D. Via an electronic evaluation unit AE of the detection device D coupled to the sensor elements 5.1-5.4, a position of the vehicle seat 1 on the interior surface I then can be determined from generated sensor signals, e.g. by means of triangulation.

[0086] To improve the detection of a position of the vehicle seat 1 and avoid wrong detections, different measurement principles for example are combined with each other so that the position of the vehicle seat 1 on the interior surface I is monitored via sensor elements 5.1-5.4 utilizing different measurement principles. For example, a Lidar system, a radio-based tracking, based for example on electromagnetic waves, such as radar waves, UWB, Bluetooth, a searching wire in the floor or on the ceiling, a detection on the basis of infrared signals and/or ultrasonic signals can be provided.

[0087] In the design variant of FIG. 5, the detection device D additionally includes a transmitter unit 65 which with reference to the position of the vehicle seat 1 on the interior surface I determined by the electronic evaluation unit AE sends control signals to the motorized drive device 12 of the vehicle seat 1. Here, the vehicle seat 1, for example likewise on the base 12, includes a receiver unit 61 that is adapted to receive the control signals of the transmitter unit 65. The receiver unit 61 is coupled to the drive motor 120 of the base 12 in order to displace the vehicle seat 1 corresponding to the control signals 65 and hence for example, in dependence on the detected position of the vehicle seat 1 on the interior surface Ito a desired anchor point A, A1 or A2.

[0088] The displacement of the vehicle seat 1 here can be controllable for example by a user by means of a control application, for example, a control application installed on a mobile phone. Alternatively or additionally, a particular position of a vehicle seat 1 on the interior surface I can be preconfigured, possibly also in combination with specified positions for further interior objects, such as for example a center arm console or a table. In this way, a user for example can select a particular preconfiguration and cause the vehicle seat 1—and possibly further interior objects—to be automatically moved into position via the detection device D. A corresponding control for the displacement of a vehicle seat 1 (or further interior objects) on the interior surface I alternatively or additionally can be integrated into the vehicle F. This may include the setting and future execution of one or more preconfigurations on a vehicle-side operating unit for the arrangement of one or more interior objects.

[0089] In an exemplary method for displacing a vehicle seat 1 by means of the detection device D, the same for example is initially switched on. This can be followed by the fact that the sensor elements 5.1-5.4 initially are synchronized and checked for operability. Then, one of the tags 4, 4a, for example a first tag 4, is queried by means of one of the sensor elements 5.1. This first tag 4 sends a response signal that is received by all sensor elements 5.1-5.4. Via the electronic evaluation unit AE, the runtime differences then are evaluated, which result from querying the tag 4 and from the (response) signal of the tag 4 received in response thereto at the individual sensor elements 5.1-5.4. Then, a position value representative of the position of the tag 4 and hence of the vehicle seat 1 can be calculated therefrom.

[0090] Via an analogous procedure for the further tag 4a a further position value is obtained for the vehicle seat 1. This further position value can be used for a (plausibility) check of the position value determined by means of the first tag 4 and/or for a determination of an orientation of the vehicle seat 1 with respect to the sensor elements 5.1-5.4 on the interior surface I. With reference to the position of two tags 4, 4a, which are arranged on the vehicle seat 1 in a particular, fixed position relative to each other, it can not only be determined at what point the vehicle seat 1 is located, but also how the vehicle seat 1 or its base 12 is oriented on the interior surface I. On the basis of the determined position(s) of the vehicle seat 1 the displacement of the vehicle seat 1 then is effected, until the same has reached a desired fixing position at which the vehicle seat 1 is fixed and hence can be secured in its reached fixing position at an anchor point A, A1 or A2.

[0091] FIGS. 6A to 6D sectionally show further details of a fixing device 3, as it can be used for example, for a vehicle seat 1 of FIGS. 2A to 2C. In principle, however, a design variant of a proposed fixing device 3 can also be employed in other objects, for example, in objects that are manually transferred into a desired fixing position, i.e. for example are put down by a user at a fixing position.

[0092] FIGS. 6A to 6D in different views illustrate a power-operated fixation by means of a shiftable locking unit 33 of the fixing device 3.

[0093] In the design variant shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D a fixing bolt 31 each is rigidly formed to protrude from an underside of the vehicle seat 1. For introducing the fixing bolt 31 into a fixing opening on the interior surface I, the vehicle seat 1 or at least a component of the vehicle seat 1 carrying the fixing bolt 31, such as the base 12, consequently has to be lowered to such an extent that a fixing portion 310 of the fixing bolt 31 can dip into the fixing opening. This can be achieved for example via lowerable wheels of the vehicle seat 1.

[0094] The fixing portion 310 of the fixing bolt 31 here protrudes from a through opening on the vehicle seat 1, at whose end an introduction cone 310A is formed for easier introduction into a fixing opening O1 (cf. FIG. 9A) on the fixing surface, here the interior surface I.

[0095] For fixing the fixing bolt 31 to the interior surface I, a shiftable locking unit 33 in the present case is provided as part of the fixing device 3. Below the interior surface I, the locking unit 33 is shiftably mounted via at least one guide rail 35 along mutually opposite adjustment directions V1 and V2. The adjustment directions V1 and V2 each extend transversely to an adjustment axis, along which the fixing bolt 31 can be introduced into a respective fixing opening O1 on the interior surface I.

[0096] The locking unit 33 is shiftably held on the guide rail 35 via a base 330. On this base 330, a sliding carriage 34 in turn is longitudinally shiftably mounted. For the longitudinal shiftability of the carriage 34 on the base 330 a carriage guide 331 is provided on the base 330. This carriage guide 331 is carried by a guide part 330A of the base 330, via which the base 330 is shiftably held on the guide rail 35. From the base 330 hence L-shaped in cross-section, the support part 330B protrudes substantially perpendicularly to this guide part 330A.

[0097] Via a spring element in the form of a compression spring 34B, the carriage 34 is elastically pretensioned in the adjustment direction V1 against a base-side support part 330B. For this purpose, the compression spring 34B on the one hand is supported on the support part 330B and on the other hand on a carriage-side support sleeve 34A. In this way, the carriage 34 with the base 330 can be shifted along the adjustment directions V1 and V2. At the same time, the carriage 34 itself can additionally be displaced on the base 330 and is elastically pretensioned in the adjustment direction V1. At the support part 330B, the compression spring 34B is put onto a bearing pin 330.3B protruding therefrom.

[0098] The locking unit 33 and hence for example, the carriage 34 is shifted into the adjustment direction V1 when the fixing bolt 31 has been properly introduced into a fixing opening O1 associated to the carriage 34 and correspondingly the fixing bolt 31 and hence the respective object, here for example the vehicle seat 1, shall be fixed to the interior surface I. The carriage 34 therefor includes a locking plate 340 with a locking opening 341 facing the underside of the interior surface I. The locking opening 341 of the carriage-side locking plate 340 is arranged below the fixing opening O1 on the side of the interior surface, namely initially in a release position in which a first opening portion 341A of the locking opening 341 is brought into coincidence with the fixing opening O1. At this first opening portion 341A, the locking opening 341 has sufficiently large dimensions so that the fixing bolt 31 with its fixing portion 310 including the introduction cone 310A can engage through the fixing opening O1 into the locking opening 341 of the carriage 34. At the fixing portion of the fixing bolt 31 an engagement area in the form of an annular groove 310B is formed, in the present case adjacent to the introduction cone 310A.

[0099] When the carriage 34 is in its release position below the fixing opening O1, the fixing bolt 31 can reach through the locking opening 341 at the first opening portion 341A to such an extent that the annular groove 310B protrudes below a release area 342.1 of a clamping portion 342 of the carriage 34, which is formed on two long sides of the locking plate 340. When the carriage 34, subsequent to the introduction of the fixing bolt 31 into the fixing opening O1 and hence into the locking opening 341 of the carriage 34, is shifted in the adjustment direction V1 transversely to the direction of introduction of the fixing bolt 31, a second opening portion 341B of the locking opening 341 gets in engagement with the fixing bolt 31 at its annular groove 310B. The second opening portion 341B has distinctly smaller dimensions so that a shoulder of the annular groove 310B adjoining in the direction of the introduction cone 310A prevents the fixing bolt 31 from being withdrawn from the locking opening 341. In the present case, the locking opening 341 with its opening portions 341A, 341B has a keyhole-shaped contour in a top view. In the locking position of the carriage 34 taken due to the displacement in the adjustment direction V1, the carriage 34 as a locking element of the fixing device 3 consequently is positively locked to the fixing bolt 31 at the fixing opening O1 and blocks the same against being withdrawn from the locking opening 341.

[0100] To furthermore tension the fixing bolt 31 and hence the object carrying the fixing bolt 31 against the interior surface I by displacing the carriage 34 into its locking position, the clamping portion 342 of the carriage 34 forms a ramp area 342.2 adjacent to the release area 342.1 in the adjustment direction V2. This ramp area 342.2 extends with an inclination to the adjustment axis of the fixing bolt 31 and hence with an inclination to the original direction of introduction of the fixing bolt 31. On displacement of the carriage 34 along the adjustment direction V1, the carriage 34 with its locking plate 340 slides over the ramp area 342.2 along the shoulder of the annular groove 310B and—as a result of the inclination of the ramp area 342.2—thereby urges the fixing bolt 31 further in the original direction of introduction (e.g. downwards in the representation of FIG. 6D). When the carriage 34 is in its locking position in which a pretensioning force is applied to the same via the compression spring 34B, the fixing bolt 31 consequently has been displaced into a tensioning position via the ramp area 342.2 of the clamping portion 342 and is arrested in such a tensioning position, in which a shoulder of the annular groove 310B engages behind the clamping portion 342 at a clamping area 342.3 adjoining the ramp area 342.2 in the adjustment direction V2. The ramp area 342.2 of the clamping portion 342 at the carriage 34 thus ensures an arrestment of the fixing bolt 31 under tension at the carriage 34. The compression spring 34B, which pretensions the carriage 34 in the adjustment direction V1, supports the taking of the locking position by the carriage 34.

[0101] To release the locking of the fixing bolt 31 at the locking unit 33 and again unlock the fixing bolt 31, so that the vehicle seat 1 can again be displaced on the interior surface I, the locking unit 33 and hence the carriage 34 is moved back in the adjustment direction V along the guide rail 35. Then, the fixing bolt 31 no longer is in the position 31′ shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 6A to 6D, but again is in the area of the first opening portion 341A (of larger dimension) of the locking opening 341. In this way, the fixing bolt 31 can again be withdrawn from the locking unit 33 and hence from the fixing opening O1 on the side of the interior surface.

[0102] In the development of a fixing device 3 with a shiftably mounted locking unit 33, which is shown in FIGS. 7A to 7F, 8 and 9A to 9C, elements corresponding with the design variant of FIGS. 6A to 6D are designated with identical reference numerals.

[0103] As is illustrated for example in the perspective view of FIG. 7A, the locking unit 33 of this development here is shiftably mounted on two guide rails 35A and 35B extending parallel to each other along the adjustment directions V1 and V2. Instead of a base jointly carrying the carriage 34 and the support part 330B, the carriage 34 and the support part 330B here are shiftably held directly on the guide rails 35A and 35B as separate components of the locking unit 33. To again pressurize the carriage 34 via the compression spring 34B in the adjustment direction V1, the compression spring 34B on the one hand is supported on the carriage 34 and on the other hand on the support part 330B. A driving force applied by a motor for shifting the locking unit 33 here is applied onto the support part 330B, relative to which the carriage 34 is longitudinally shiftably mounted.

[0104] To limit the displaceability of the carriage 34 and of the support part 330B relative to each other along the guide rails 35A, 35B, there are provided two connecting arms 330.1B and 330.2B extending parallel to each other. These connecting arms 330.1B and 330.2B are fixed to the support part 330B and each engage the carriage 34 via an oblong hole connection. Via this oblong hole connection, a limited displaceability of the carriage 34 relative to the support part 330B is given and it is ensured that the carriage 34 not only is displaced along with a displacement of the support part 330, but remains additionally pretensioned with respect to the support part 330B via the compression spring 34B also during an adjustment in the adjustment direction V1.

[0105] As can be taken in particular from the perspective representations of FIGS. 7B and 7C, the locking unit 33 of FIGS. 7A to 9C also includes a locking plate 340 with a keyhole-shaped locking opening 341 and a clamping portion 342 with an inclined ramp area 342.2, in order to ensure locking of the fixing bolt 31 at the locking unit 33 via a displacement of the carriage 34 in the adjustment direction V1.

[0106] As can be taken from the sectional and partly sectional representations of FIGS. 7D, 7E and 7F, the fixing device 3 here additionally includes an adjustably mounted counter-element 7. This counter-element 7, which here is pin-shaped, protrudes through the locking unit 33 and is pretensioned in the direction of the fixing opening O1 via a compression spring 71. Against the action of the compression spring 71, the counter-element 7 is displaced on introduction of the fixing bolt 31. As is illustrated in the perspective detail representation of FIG. 8 and in the sectional representation of FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C, the counter-element 8 here is pretensioned via the compression spring 71 into a closed position in which the counter-element 7 closes the fixing opening O1 on the interior surface I by means of a closure portion 70, when no fixing bolt 31 is inserted into said fixing opening. When an object, such as for example the vehicle seat 1, is to be fixed to the fixing opening O1, the fixing bolt 31 displaces the counter-element 7 against the action of the compression spring 71 so that the fixing bolt 31, as explained above, can reach through the fixing opening O1 and engage in the locking opening 341 of the carriage 34. To facilitate the displacement of the counter-element 7, the closure portion 70 of the counter-element 7 includes a conical receptacle as a counter-contour to the introduction cone 310A of the fixing bolt 31, in which the introduction cone 310A can be inserted.

[0107] As is illustrated for example, in FIGS. 8 and 9A to 9C, the counter-element 8 in the illustrated design variant is longitudinally shiftably mounted (namely along the adjustment axis of the fixing bolt 31) on a holder in the form of a plug pin 8. This immovably fixed plug pin 8 is fixed via an arrestment base 81, for example on the body side, so that the carriage 34 is adjustable relative thereto. The plug pin 8 extends through a base plate P present between the guide rails 35A and 35B. In the present case, for example, the counter-element 7 enclosing the plug pin 8 in a sleeve-shaped manner can at least partly be shiftable through a through opening on this base plate P in order to switch between its closing position and an adjustment position displaced by the fixing bolt 31.

[0108] The plug pin 8 furthermore carries a contact element in the form of a contact head 80, relative to which the counter-element 7 is shiftable. The contact head 80 therefor is centrally received in a sleeve-shaped portion of the counter-element 7.

[0109] The contact head 80 is accessible within the carriage 34 by displacing the counter-element 7, when the fixing bolt 31 has been sufficiently introduced into the fixing opening O1 (by displacing the counter-element 7). When the fixing bolt 31 is in its tensioning position after the longitudinal displacement of the carriage 34 in the adjustment direction V1 (and the carriage 34 hence is in its locking position), the contact head 80 protrudes from the closure portion 70 of the counter-element 7 and protrudes into the fixing bolt 31 through an opening formed on the introduction cone 310A. In the interior of the fixing bolt 31 a contact/plug sleeve 310 is provided, with which the contact head 80 plugged in produces an electrical connection when the fixing bolt 31 has been properly locked in place on the carriage 31 corresponding to FIG. 9C. In this way, by locking the fixing bolt 31 at the locking unit 33 an electrical connection between the object to be fixed and a vehicle-side voltage source and/or superordinate electronic control unit can also be provided, namely especially via the fixing element utilized for fixation, here in the form of the fixing bolt 31.

[0110] Via the illustrated fixing device 3, the fixation of another object—e.g. in the form of a battery carrier—to a fixing surface I* can also be effected. For example, a fixation of the battery carrier to an underside of a vehicle floor as a fixing surface is possible. On the battery carrier a plurality of battery cells for an electric vehicle, such as an electric car, can be arranged. Via a fixing device 3 comprising a locking unit 33 and at least one fixing element 31 (of correspondingly stable design) or a plurality of fixing elements 31 such a battery carrier carrying a plurality of battery cells thus can be easily fixed to a vehicle floor in an electronically controlled and power-operated way.

[0111] In principle, a plurality of locking units 33 with a plurality of fixing elements can also be provided for fixing an individual object at a fixing position on the object side or vehicle side.

[0112] Furthermore, alternatively or additionally the locking carriage 34 (alone) can be utilized for producing an electrical connection instead of the contacting between the fixing bolt 31 and the vehicle-side counter-element 7 illustrated for example, with FIGS. 9A to 9C. The locking carriage 34 for example can include an electrically conductive coupling area which upon adjustment of the locking carriage 34 into its locking position is brought in contact with a corresponding coupling area on the fixing portion 310 of the fixing bolt 31. Correspondingly, an electrical connection here is not realized via the (here vertical) adjusting movement of the fixing bolt 31, but via a perpendicularly extending (typically horizontal) adjusting movement of the locking means 34.

[0113] FIGS. 10A to 10D and 11 show a design variant of a proposed fixing device in which an electrical connection between a coupling area 317 of a fixing bolt 31 and a carriage-side coupling area 73 is realized via an adjusting movement of the locking carriage 34, which extends perpendicularly to an adjusting movement of the fixing bolt 31.

[0114] For this purpose, a counter-element 7 is fixed to the locking carriage 34 carrying the locking plate 340 with the locking opening 341, which includes the coupling area 73. The coupling area 73 for example is configured as a connector. When the fixing bolt of the design variant of FIGS. 10A to 10D, which in FIG. 11 is shown in an individual view, is introduced into the through opening O1 to such an extent that the locking carriage 34 can clampingly engage in the annular groove 310B of the fixing bolt 31 via the locking opening 341, the bolt-side coupling area 317 is present below the locking plate 340 and disposed opposite the carriage-side coupling area 73. By a translational adjustment of the locking carriage 34, the carriage-side coupling area 73 then can be plugged to the bolt-side coupling area 371, when the fixing bolt 31 is locked on the locking carriage 34.

[0115] For the translational adjustment of the locking carriage 34, the locking unit 33 of the design variant of FIGS. 10A to 10D includes an electromotive drive 36. The drive 36 may include an electric motor unit 36A via which a (drive) spindle 36B can be driven. A spindle nut of the locking carriage 34 meshes with the spindle 36B so that due to the electromotively driven rotation of the spindle 36B the locking carriage 34 can be translationally adjusted along the spindle axis. Due to this adjustment, the locking plate 340 can lock or unlock the fixing bolt 31.

[0116] In the design variant shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D and 11, the fixing bolt 31 has a drive portion 31A above the annular groove 310B (and hence at the end opposite to the introduction cone 310A). At this drive portion 31A, a drive movement is introduced into the fixing bolt 31 in order to introduce the same into the through opening O1 or withdraw the same from the through opening O1. For example, the drive portion 31A therefor includes an external thread.

[0117] In the design variant of FIGS. 10A to 10D and 11, it is furthermore provided that the through opening O1 is closed on the fixing surface I, I*—when the fixing bolt 31 is not introduced—by a separate closure element 9. This closure element 9 is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 91 between a closed position and an open position, in the present case on the locking carriage alternatively e.g. on an underside of the fixing surface I, I*. In the closed position, the closure element 9 protrudes into the through opening O1 with a closure portion 90 and closes said opening completely. By introducing the fixing bolt 31 into the through opening O1, the closure portion 90 elastically pretensioned into the closed position, for example via a spring element, is displaced in the direction of the open position.

[0118] In the design variant of FIGS. 10A to 10D and 11 the closure portion 90 for example is pivotable about the pivot axis 91 by more than 70°, for example, by 90°, from the closed position into the open position. The closure portion 90 is held in the open position via the properly introduced fixing bolt 31 so that only by withdrawing the fixing bolt 31 from the through opening O1 is the closure portion 90 again moved back into the closed position and closes the through opening O1. The closure element 9 here is fixed to the locking carriage 34 and hence firmly mounted to the carriage. In the present case, the guide element 9 is provided at the edge in the region of the opening portion 341A of the locking opening 341, e.g. attached to the locking plate 340. Furthermore, the closure portion 90 of the closure element 9 is dimensioned such that during a swivel movement from its closed position into the open position the closure portion 90 can be displaced through the locking opening 341 in the locking plate 340.

[0119] FIGS. 12A-12C and 13 to 16 illustrate further design variants of the present disclosure, in which a fixing bolt 31 introduced into the fixing opening O1 is blocked against removal from the fixing opening O1 via at least one additional locking element 34.1, 34.2, and in addition an electrical connection to a vehicle-side energy source and/or a vehicle-side electronic control unit, and hence to the on-board network of the vehicle F, is produced via the fixing bolt 31.

[0120] In the design variant of FIGS. 12A to 12C, two locking elements 34.1 and 34.2 are provided below the interior surface I, I*, which between themselves define a gap for the fixing portion 310 of the fixing bolt 31 to be introduced. In the present case, each locking element 34.1 and 34.2 is rotatably mounted about a pivot axis S1 or S2 and forms a curved bracket portion 34.11 or 34.21. The two locking elements 34.1 and 34.2 jointly form a clamp or plier unit, which with the fixing bolt 31 introduced between its locking elements 34.1, 34.2 engage into the annular groove 310B and thereby subsequently arrest the fixing bolt 31 in its fixing position.

[0121] The locking elements 34.1 and 34.2 are configured and arranged in such a way that the introduction cone 310A of the fixing bolt 31 below the interior surface I, I* initially abuts against stops 34.12 and 34.22 of the locking elements 34.1 and 34.2 and thereby pivots the locking elements 34.1 and 34.2 from a zero position into an engagement position in which the ends of the bracket portions 34.11 and 34.21 each engage in the annular groove 310B. In an intermediate position of the fixing bolt 31 taken in this way, the locking elements 34.1, 34.2 thus are in engagement with the fixing bolt 31 and center the same between themselves, as this is illustrated in FIG. 12B. This intermediate position was taken by the fixing bolt 31 for example via a power-operated or manually performed lowering of the interior object, such as the vehicle seat 1, in the direction of the interior surface (fixing surface) I, I*. In this intermediate position, a connector 310D provided at the end of the fixing bolt 31 is not yet in electrically conductive contact with a socket-shaped counter-element 7* arranged below the interior surface I, I*.

[0122] A plug connection between the counter-element 7* and the fixing bolt 31 corresponding to FIG. 12C then is reached only by transferring the fixing bolt 31 from the intermediate position into a contacting position. To further lower the fixing bolt 31 for this purpose, the locking elements 34.1 and 34.2 can be driven towards each other via a motor drive 36 for a further adjustment about their pivot axes S1 and S2. At the same time, the pivot axes S1 and S2 of the locking elements 34.1 and 34.2 are shiftably mounted, for example via corresponding slotted link guides, so that the locking elements 34.1 and 34.2 with their bracket portions 34.11 and 34.21 engaging the annular groove 310B can further lower the fixing bolt 31 in a power-operated way and plug the same to the counter-element 7*—by shifting the pivot axes 51, S2 radially to the outside (with respect to the adjustment axis of the fixing bolt 31). Due to being centered via the locking elements 34.1 and 34.2, plug contacts of the fixing bolt 31 and of the counter-element 7* already are aligned with each other. Thus, a tolerance compensation within the plug connection can be kept to a minimum.

[0123] In the present case, a permitted pivot angle of the locking elements 34.1 and 34.2 about their respective pivot axis S1 and S2 or an adjustment path realized thereby can be chosen larger than a maximum required path in order to tension the respective interior object in the direction of the interior surface I, I*. In this way, a tolerance compensation is possible for the interior object with a plurality of fixing bolts 31.

[0124] In the design variants of FIGS. 13 and 14, an individual locking element 34.1 each does not engage an annular groove 310B of the fixing bolt 31, but a radially protruding adjusting pin 310E of the fixing bolt 31, in order to displace the fixing bolt 31 from the intermediate position into the contacting position. In the design variant of FIG. 13, the drive 36 is configured with a toothed rack 360 and a lever mechanism 361 for the adjustment of the locking element 34.2. In the design variant of FIG. 14, there is in turn provided a lever mechanism 361 guided by a slotted link for the adjustment of the locking element 34.2.

[0125] The design variant of FIG. 15 provides that the counter-element 7* with its connector is shiftably mounted in a socket 72* and pretensioned in the direction of the fixing bolt 31 via a compression spring 71*. This can be used to further support the production of the plug connection.

[0126] In the sectionally shown design variant of FIG. 16, a locking element 34.1 is pretensioned via a tension spring 362 in that swivel direction opposite to which the locking element 34.1 is brought in engagement with the fixing portion 310 by action of the fixing bolt 31. Via the tension spring 362, the locking element 34.2 automatically can again be disengaged from the fixing bolt 31 when no more counteracting adjusting force is applied onto the locking element 34.2 via the drive 36 and the fixing bolt 31 shall be removed from the fixing opening O1.

[0127] The following is a list of reference numbers shown in the Figures. However, it should be understood that the use of these terms is for illustrative purposes only with respect to one embodiment. And, use of reference numbers correlating a certain term that is both illustrated in the Figures and present in the claims is not intended to limit the claims to only cover the illustrated embodiment.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0128] 1, 1a, 1b, 1c vehicle seat (interior object)

[0129] 10 backrest (adjustment part)

[0130] 11 seat part (adjustment part)

[0131] 12 base

[0132] 120 drive motor

[0133] 121 battery

[0134] 122 connector

[0135] 123 coupling portion

[0136] 12A drive device

[0137] 2.1, 2.2 omniwheel

[0138] 20 roller support

[0139] 21 roller

[0140] 3 fixing device

[0141] 31, 31′ fixing bolt (fixing element)

[0142] 31A drive portion

[0143] 310A introduction cone

[0144] 310B annular groove (engagement area)

[0145] 310C contact/plug sleeve

[0146] 310D connector

[0147] 310E adjusting pin

[0148] 317 coupling area

[0149] 32 fixing bolt (fixing element)

[0150] 33 locking unit

[0151] 330 base

[0152] 330.1B, 330.2B connecting arm

[0153] 330.3B bearing pin

[0154] 330A guide part

[0155] 330B support part

[0156] 331 carriage guide

[0157] 34 locking carriage (locking element)

[0158] 34.1, 34.2 locking element

[0159] 34.11, 34.21 bracket portion

[0160] 34.12, 34.22 stop

[0161] 340 locking plate

[0162] 341 locking opening

[0163] 341A, 341B opening portion

[0164] 342 clamping portion

[0165] 342.1 release area

[0166] 342.2 ramp area

[0167] 342.3 clamping area

[0168] 34A support sleeve

[0169] 34B compression spring (spring element)

[0170] 35, 35A, 35B guide rail

[0171] 36 drive

[0172] 36A electric motor unit

[0173] 36B spindle

[0174] 360 toothed rack

[0175] 361 lever mechanism

[0176] 362 tension spring

[0177] 4, 4a tag (detection element)

[0178] 5.1-5.4 sensor element

[0179] 61 receiver unit

[0180] 65 transmitter unit

[0181] 7, 7* counter-element

[0182] 70 closure portion

[0183] 71, 71* compression spring

[0184] 72* socket

[0185] 73 coupling area

[0186] 8 plug pin (holder)

[0187] 80 contact head (contact element)

[0188] 81 arresting base

[0189] 9 closure element

[0190] 90 closure portion

[0191] 91 pivot axis

[0192] A, A1, A2 anchor point (fixing position)

[0193] AE electronic evaluation unit

[0194] B width

[0195] D detection device

[0196] F vehicle

[0197] I, I* interior surface (fixing surface)

[0198] L length

[0199] LF loading sill

[0200] O1 fixing opening

[0201] P base plate

[0202] R direction of displacement

[0203] S1, S2 pivot axis

[0204] V1, V2 adjustment direction

[0205] While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.