VEHICLE SEAT WITH A ROLLER GUIDE

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat with a roller guide, wherein the roller guide has at least one at least partially laterally open guide rail and at least one running roller rolling in the guide rail and connected to parts of the vehicle seat by means of at least one axle, wherein the guide rail comprises a roller bottom-side inner wall arranged parallel to a central axis of the running roller, extending parallel thereto a roller top-side inner wall and a roller outer-side inner wall arranged perpendicularly to the central axis, wherein at least one lower transition inner wall is arranged between the roller bottom-side inner wall and the roller outer-side inner wall and at least one upper transition inner wall is arranged between the roller top-side inner wall and the roller outer-side inner wall, wherein the transition inner walls are configured free from a right-angled portion and in directions from the roller top-side inner wall and the roller bottom-side inner wall towards the roller outer-side inner wall are configured with a continuously reducing spacing from the central axis of the running roller, wherein on an axial loading of the roller guide in the direction of the central axis of the running roller, a lower portion of an outer end portion at a first end of the running roller configured to face the roller outer-side inner wall lies with contact against the lower transition inner wall.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat with a roller guide, wherein the roller guide has at least one at least partially laterally open guide rail and at least one running roller rolling in the guide rail and connected to parts of the vehicle seat by means of at least one axle, wherein the guide rail comprises a roller bottom-side inner wall arranged parallel to a central axis of the running roller, extending parallel thereto a roller top-side inner wall and a roller outer-side inner wall arranged perpendicularly to the central axis, wherein at least one lower transition inner wall is arranged between the roller bottom-side inner wall and the roller outer-side inner wall and at least one upper transition inner wall is arranged between the roller top-side inner wall and the roller outer-side inner wall, wherein the transition inner walls are configured free from a right-angled portion and in directions from the roller top-side inner wall and the roller bottom-side inner wall towards the roller outer-side inner wall are configured with a continuously reducing spacing from the central axis of the running roller, and wherein on an axial loading (FA) of the roller guide in the direction of the central axis of the running roller, a lower portion of an outer end portion at a first end of the running roller configured to face the roller outer-side inner wall lies with contact against the lower transition inner wall.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the outer end portion is configured, at least in a relaxed state (A) of the running roller, to be rotationally symmetrical, preferably annular, in relation to the central axis of the running roller.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein a shape of the lower transition inner wall and/or the upper transition inner wall is designed to be straight and/or arc-shaped.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein a roller cover of the running roller is rollable along the roller bottom-side inner wall of the guide rail, wherein the roller cover of the running roller is configured at least into a first cover surface functional region which forms the first end of the running roller and has the outer end portion, and a second cover surface functional region arranged therebehind in the direction of the axis of the running roller, said functional region forming a second end of the running roller facing away from the roller outer-side inner wall.

5. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the first functional region is configured to be funnel-shaped and the second functional region is configured to be cylindrical.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein an outer diameter of the second functional region has an undersize (y) in relation to a spacing between the roller top-side inner wall and the roller bottom-side inner wall.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the first functional region of the roller cover of the roller is deformable by means of a radial loading of the roller guide due to seat occupancy of the vehicle seat and without the radial loading (FR) and the axial loading (FA) of the roller guide, presses so strongly against the roller bottom-side inner wall and the roller top-side inner wall of the guide rail that the roller is blocked within the guide rail.

8. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein on axial loading (FA) of the roller guide and without the radial loading (FR), an upper portion of the outer end portion lies with contact against the upper transition inner wall.

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein on radial loading (FR) and without the axial loading (FA), the first and the second functional region lie with contact against the lower inner wall and without contact on the upper inner wall, wherein the outer end portion is arranged without contact on both transition inner walls.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein on radial loading (FR) and axial loading (FA), the first and the second functional region lie with contact against the lower inner wall and without contact on the upper inner wall.

11. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the first functional region is arranged surrounding a portion of the running roller lying inwardly in the radial direction of the roller, wherein in the radial direction of the roller, a hollow cylindrically-formed cavity is arranged between the first functional region and the cylindrical portion.

12. The vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein a first spacing between the roller outer-side inner wall and the outer end portion is less than a second spacing between the roller outer-side inner wall and an end face of the cylindrical portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Further advantages and functionalities may be derived from the following description in conjunction with the drawings.

[0050] In the drawings:

[0051] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle seat;

[0052] FIG. 2 is a perspective partial view of a portion of the vehicle seat according to the present invention with parts of the roller guide;

[0053] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the running roller according to the invention in a relaxed state;

[0054] FIG. 4 is a cross section of a guide rail and an embodiment of the running roller according to the invention;

[0055] FIG. 5a is a cross section of a first embodiment of the roller guide according to the invention;

[0056] FIG. 5b is a cross section of a second embodiment of the roller guide according

[0057] FIG. 6a is a cross section of the roller guide according to the invention without radial and axial loading;

[0058] FIG. 6b is a cross section of the roller guide according to the invention without radial loading and with axial loading;

[0059] FIG. 6c is a cross section of the roller guide according to the invention with radial loading and without axial loading;

[0060] FIG. 6d is a cross section of the roller guide according to the invention with radial and axial loading.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat 1 with a seat part 2, a backrest 3 and an armrest 4. A lower part 5 of the vehicle seat 1 is connected to an upper part 6 by means of scissor arms 7, wherein the lower part 5 and the upper part 6 can move towards one another, in the form that the upper part 6 is mounted such that it can pivot relative to the lower part 5. Such scissor frames and their functioning are well known from the prior art.

[0062] In order to be able to allow the scissor arms to pivot up and down, they must be arranged to be movable at least in part, including at their lower ends, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, that is in forward and rearward directions. For this purpose, roller guides 31 are provided, wherein FIG. 2 shows one roller guide 31. Shown in FIG. 2 is a partially laterally open guide rail 8 which is preferably configured to be substantially C-shaped or U-shaped in cross section and within which rollers 11, in this case one roller 11, is/are rollably mounted. The roller 11 is arranged on an axle 37 to which in turn parts of the vehicle seat 1 are fastened, for example, a damper 10 which is to exert a damping influence on the upward and downward movement of the vehicle seat 1, that is, the upper part 6 relative to the lower part 5.

[0063] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the running roller 11 according to the invention in a relaxed state A, that is, not installed in a guide rail 8. This roller 11 has a roller cover 22 which is subdivided into a first cover surface functional region 23 with an outer surface 23a and a second cover surface functional region 24 with an outer surface 24a. The second functional region 24 is arranged in the direction 9a of the axis 9 of the running roller 11 behind the first functional region 23.

[0064] As shown here, the first functional region 23 is configured to be substantially funnel-shaped and also forms a first end 11b of the running roller 11 and comprises an outer end portion 50. This outer end portion 50 is configured to be rotationally symmetrical at least in this relaxed state A of the running roller 11 in relation to the central axis 9 of the running roller 11 and in this case is annular.

[0065] Furthermore, the second cover surface functional region 24 is configured to be cylindrical and forms a second end 11a of the running roller 11.

[0066] In FIG. 4, in a perspective drawing, a U-shaped guide profile or a guide rail 8 is shown with a roller top-side inner wall 8a, a roller bottom-side inner wall 8b and a roller outer-side inner wall 8c. Furthermore, transition inner walls 41, 42 are arranged between the inner walls 8a, 8c and 8b, 8c.

[0067] It can be seen from this drawing that the roller 11, when it moves leftwards—viewed in the image plane—that is, carries out a rolling movement as per the curved arrow 13, rolls by means of its roller cover 22 along the underside inner wall 8b. The axis 9 naturally moves together with the roller 11 in this direction.

[0068] FIGS. 5a and 5b show a first and a second embodiment of the present roller guide 31 wherein components configured identically or substantially identically are provided with identical reference signs.

[0069] In both embodiments, there is an at least partially laterally open guide rail 8; 8′, which is in each case configured to be substantially C-shaped, and a running roller 11; 11′, wherein for reasons of clarity, the guide rail 8; 8′ and the running roller 11; 11′ are shown in the disassembled state and the running roller 11; 11′ in particular is shown in the relaxed state A. The running roller 11; 11′ and in particular the running roller 11 according to FIG. 5a are configured herein substantially in accordance with the running roller 11 of FIG. 3.

[0070] The aperture dimension of the guide rails 8; 8′ is the respective spacing 25 between the roller top-side inner wall 8a and the roller bottom-side inner wall 8b extending parallel thereto. In a comparison of the cross section of the running rollers 11, 11′ with the cross section of the guide rail 8, 8′, it is made clear that the outer diameter 38 of the first cover surface functional region 23 in relation to the spacing 25 has, at least in part, an oversize x and the outer diameter 39 of the second cover surface functional region 24 has an undersize y relative to the spacing 25. In FIG. 5a, this is illustrated by the distances x/2 and y/2 which correspond in each case to half of the actual oversize x or of the undersize y.

[0071] Advantageously, the portion which has the oversize x relative to the spacing 25 includes the outer end portion 50 at least in part, preferably entirely.

[0072] Since the spacing 25 and the outer diameters 38, 39 are the same in both embodiments, the description above relating to oversize x and undersize y applies to both embodiments, even if it is described only in accordance with FIG. 5a.

[0073] In both embodiments, the guide rail 8; 8′ has a roller bottom-side inner wall 8b arranged parallel to a central axis 9 of the running roller 11; 11′, a roller top-side inner wall 8a extending parallel thereto and a roller outer-side inner wall 8c arranged perpendicularly to the central axis 9, wherein arranged between the roller bottom-side inner wall 8b and the roller outer-side inner wall 8c is a lower transition inner wall 42; 42′ and arranged between the roller top-side inner wall 8a and the roller outer-side inner wall 8c is an upper transition inner wall 41; 41′.

[0074] In both embodiments, the transition inner walls 41, 42; 41′, 42′ are free from a perpendicular portion and in the directions 8y, 8′y from the roller top-side inner wall 8a and from the roller bottom-side inner wall 8b towards the roller outer-side inner wall 8c, are each configured with a continuously reducing spacing d41, d42; d41′, d42′ from the central axis 9 of the running roller 11; 11′. The spacings d41, d42; d41′, d42′ are in each case drawn in by way of example at a selected site in the direction 8y, 8′y. Since the central axis 9 of the running roller 11; 11′ is also arranged parallel to the roller top-side inner wall 8a and to the roller bottom-side inner wall 8b in the installed state (see in particular FIG. 6a-6d), the above description also applies for the disassembled state shown.

[0075] Furthermore, it can also be seen that in both embodiments, the first functional region 23 of the running roller 11; 11′ is arranged surrounding a portion 28; 28′ of the running roller 11; 11′ lying inwardly in the radial direction r11 of the roller 11; 11′, wherein in the radial direction r11 of the running roller 11; 11′ a hollow cylindrically-formed cavity 29; 29′ is arranged between the first functional region 23 and the cylindrical portion 28; 28′. The roller 11, 11′ has a cylindrical cavity 30 with a diameter 30c in the core region for accommodating a component which is to form the running axle 37 of the roller 11, 11′.

[0076] The first difference between these two embodiments is that in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5a, the shape h41, h42 of the lower 41 and the upper transition inner wall 42 is arc-shaped in each case. In contrast thereto, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5b, the shape h41′, h42′ of the lower 41′ and the upper transition inner wall 42′ is substantially straight. It is conceivable that the shape h41′, h42′ is provided only on the respective transition to the roller top-side inner wall 8a and to the roller bottom-side inner wall 8b is provided with a radius and thus in this portion would be arc-shaped.

[0077] The second difference between these two embodiments is that in the first embodiment according to FIG. 5a, a first spacing d1 between the roller outer-side inner wall 8c and the outer end portion 50 is greater than a second spacing d2 between the roller outer-side inner wall 8c and an end face 28a of the cylindrical portion 28 of the running roller 11. Contrasted thereto is that in the second embodiment according to FIG. 5b, a first spacing d1′ between the roller outer-side inner wall 8c and the outer end portion 50 is less than a second spacing d2′ between the roller outer-side inner wall 8c and an end face 28′a of the cylindrical portion 28′ of the running roller 11′.

[0078] Since both the embodiments shown of the running roller 11; 11′ and both the embodiments shown of the guide rail 8; 8′ can be combined with one another as desired, overall, apart from the two combination possibilities shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b, at least two further combination possibilities exist.

[0079] FIG. 6a-6d each show the running roller 11 and the guide rail 8 of FIG. 5a in the assembled state, but form different loading cases of the roller guide 31 or states B, C1, C2 and C3 of the running roller 11. For better clarity, in FIG. 6a-6d, the portions of the guide rail which have the inner walls 8a, 8b, 8c are each separated by a dashed line from the portions of the guide rail which have the transition inner walls 41, 42.

[0080] In FIG. 6a, the running roller 11 is installed in the guide rail 8 and is thus deformed with respect to the first functional region 23, so that in contrast to the unloaded and relaxed state A according to FIG. 3, the running roller 11 is present here in an installed and distorted state B. However, apart from the installation conditions shown and the intrinsic weight of the roller guide, no further loading acts on the roller guide 31 in the form of an axial loading FA or a radial loading FR.

[0081] The first functional region 23 presses, as shown without the existence of a radial loading FR and an axial loading FA, so strongly against the roller bottom-side inner wall 8b and the roller top-side inner wall 8a of the guide rail 8 that the roller 11 is blocked within the guide rail 8. This is the case if the seat occupant leaves the seat 1 and there is therefore no longer a seat occupancy; accordingly also, a sufficient pressure application no longer exists for the roller 11 in order to deform it sufficiently on its underside in contact with the roller bottom-side inner wall 8b of the guide rail 8 (see FIG. 6c).

[0082] Therefore a contact of the upper side of the roller 11 with the roller top-side inner wall 8a of the guide rail 8 is formed, so that the movement of the roller 11 within the guide rail 8 is braked and the roller 11 lies in a play-free manner within the guide rail 8. In particular, in this loading case, the roller 11 is arranged without contact in relation to the transition inner walls 41, 42.

[0083] By means of such braking of the roller 11 within the guide rail 8, it is achieved that when the person occupying the seat leaves the seat, an upward movement of the seat is prevented and thus no trapping of the person between the steering wheel and the seat part front edge is possible.

[0084] In FIG. 6b, the running roller 11 is installed in the guide rail 8 and is thus deformed with respect to the first functional region 23. In addition, an axial loading FA acts on the roller guide 31 and therefore on the running roller 11, so that the running roller 11 is present here in an installed and distorted and axially loaded state C1.

[0085] As can be seen, in this loading case, that is, on axial loading FA of the roller guide 31 in the direction of the central axis 9 of the running roller 11 and without a radial loading FR of the roller guide 31 by seat occupancy of the vehicle seat 1, the outer end portion 50 configured on the first end 11b of the running roller 11 facing towards the roller outer-side inner wall 8c lies with contact against both transition inner walls 41, 42 by means of the portions 50a and 50b. Provision is therefore made for play compensation in the axial direction 9a.

[0086] In FIG. 6c, the running roller 11 is installed in the guide rail 8 and is thus deformed with respect to the first functional region 23. In addition, in the present case, a radial loading FR acts on the roller guide 31 and therefore on the running roller 11, so that the running roller 11 is present here in an installed and distorted and radially loaded state C2. Thus, this loading case corresponds to the state shown in FIG. 4 wherein a pressure application according to the arrow FR takes place, for example, by means of seat occupancy by a person. An axial loading FA, however, is not present.

[0087] In the loading case shown, the roller 11 is pressed downwards and experiences a deformation of its underside which represents the side of contact on the bottom-side inner wall 8b of the guide rail 8. Thus the roller 11 is freed at its upper side, that is, relative to the upper-side inner wall 8a of the guide rail 8.

[0088] At the same time, the roller 11 is compressed at its region of contact at the roller bottom-side inner wall 8b, so that it is pressed upwards in this region. Here, both the first functional region 23 and also the second functional region 24 lie, seen over their entire length in the axial direction 9a of the roller 11, against the bottom-side inner wall 8b of the guide rail 8, so that rolling of the roller 11 is allowed.

[0089] It is shown in FIG. 6c that on radial loading FR and without the axial loading FA, the first 23 and the second functional region 24 lie with contact against the lower inner wall 8b and without contact on the upper inner wall 8a, wherein the outer end portion 50 is arranged without contact on both transition inner walls 41, 42. It is further apparent that the first functional region 23 is deformable by the radial loading FR.

[0090] In FIG. 6d, the running roller 11 is installed in the guide rail 8 and is thus deformed with respect to the first functional region 23. In addition, the radial loading FR and the axial loading FA therefore act here on the roller guide 31 and therefore on the running roller 11, so that the running roller 11 is present here in an installed and distorted and radially loaded and axially loaded state C3.

[0091] As shown in the loading case of FIG. 6c, the roller 11 is pressed downwards by the radial loading FR and experiences the above-described deformation of its underside, so that finally, rolling of the roller 11 is allowed.

[0092] It is also apparent from FIG. 6d that on radial loading FR and axial loading FA, the first 23 and the second functional region 24 lie with contact against the lower inner wall 8b and without contact on the upper inner wall 8a, wherein the outer end portion 50 is arranged by means of the lower end portion 50b lying with contact against the lower transition inner wall 42. In relation to the upper transition inner wall 41, however, the outer end portion 50 is arranged without contact.

[0093] In particular, therefore, the application of the axial loading FA leads to a contact between at least the lower transition inner wall 42 and at least the lower portion 50b of the outer end portion 50, since the roller guide 31 as a whole is advantageously configured so that without the axial loading FA, the roller 11 lies against the roller bottom-side inner wall 8b and the roller top-side inner wall 8a and is arranged directly adjoining the transition inner walls 41, 42 (as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6c).

[0094] All the features disclosed in the application documents are claimed as essential to the invention, provided they are novel over the prior art individually or in combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0095] 1 Vehicle seat [0096] 2 Seat part [0097] 3 Backrest [0098] 4 Armrest [0099] 5 Lower part [0100] 6 Upper part [0101] 7 Scissor arms [0102] 8; 8′ Guide rail [0103] 8a Roller top-side inner wall [0104] 8b Roller bottom-side inner wall [0105] 8c Roller outer-side inner wall [0106] 8y; 8′y Direction [0107] 9 Central axis [0108] 9a Axial direction [0109] 10 Damper [0110] 11; 11′ Roller/running roller [0111] 11a, 11b End [0112] 12 Arrow/pressure application [0113] 13 Curved arrow [0114] 19 Running surface [0115] 22 Roller cover [0116] 23, 24 Functional region [0117] 23a Outer surface [0118] 24a Outer surface [0119] 25 Spacing [0120] 28; 28′ Portion [0121] 28a, 28′a End face [0122] 29, 29′ Cavity [0123] 30 Cavity [0124] 30c Diameter [0125] 31 Roller guide [0126] 37 Axle [0127] 38, 39 Outer diameter [0128] 41, 42, 41′, 42′ Transition inner wall [0129] 50 Outer end section [0130] 50a, 50b Portion [0131] d1, d2, d1′, d2′, d41, d42, d41′, d42′ Spacing [0132] FA Axial loading [0133] FR Radial loading [0134] h41, h42, h41′, h42′ Shape [0135] r11 Radial direction [0136] x Oversize [0137] x/2, y/2 Distance [0138] y Undersize