Vehicle seat comprising an adjustment device

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising an operator device arranged at the side for operating vehicle seat and/or vehicle functions, and an adjustment device for adjusting a vertical position and/or a tilt level of the operator device with respect to the rest of the vehicle seat, wherein the adjustment device comprises an axis of rotation extending in the seat width direction, and a shaft which is connected to the operator device, is spaced apart from the axis of rotation and arranged so as to be pivotable about said axis together with the operator device.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising: an operator device arranged at a side for operating at least one of a vehicle seat or vehicle functions; and an adjustment device for adjusting at least one of a vertical position (z) or a tilt level of the operator device with respect to the rest of the vehicle seat, wherein the adjustment device comprises: an axis of rotation extending in a seat width direction; a shaft which is connected to the operator device, is spaced apart from the axis of rotation and is arranged so as to be pivotable about the axis of rotation; and a link element comprising a guide link and a guide element, wherein the guide element: is arranued in the direction of a central axis of the shaft, is fixedly connected to the shaft, and is configured to move within the guide link between a first axial orientation and a second axial orientation, wherein the guide element engages with one of a plurality of locked surfaces when in the first axial orientation, wherein the guide element disengages with the one of the plurality of locked surfaces, enters an unlocked position and is free to move along an arc-shaped path within the guide link and about the axis of rotation when in the second axial orientation, wherein the guide link comprises at least one first part that extends along a portion of the arc-shaped path, and wherein the arc-shaped path extends concentrically about the axis of rotation and is constrained by the guide link.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein a distance (L) between the axis of rotation and the shaft is permanently fixed and the axis of rotation is arranged behind the shaft in a seat longitudinal direction.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the guide link further comprises second parts which are arranged so as to adjoin the at least one first part and are substantially triangular.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the guide link further comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the guide element is pivotable at least about the central axis of the shaft within the first and second parts of the guide link, and wherein the plurality of locked positions comprise at least two locked positions.

5. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the locked positions of the guide element are defined by outer surfaces of the guide element directly contacting outer surfaces of the guide link that are at an angle to the arc.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein a threaded nut interacts with an external thread of the shaft, and wherein the external thread is arranged adjacently to the guide element, and is fixed against a first outer surface of the guide link with a washer.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein a driving disc is arranged between a second outer surface of the guide link and a flanged disc in a non-rotational manner with respect to the shaft, the driving disc having a handle element on at least one circumferential point.

8. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein a flanged disc is arranged in the direction of the central axis of the shaft and is fixedly connected to the guide element.

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the operator device is arranged at a side for operating vehicle seat functions.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the operator device is arranged at a side for operating vehicle functions.

11. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the operator device is arranged at a side for operating vehicle seat functions and for operating vehicle functions.

12. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment device is for adjusting a vertical position of the operator device.

13. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment device is for adjusting a tilt level of the operator device.

14. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment device is for adjusting a vertical position and a tilt level of the operator device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Additional advantages, aims and characteristics of the present invention will be explained on the basis of the accompanying drawings and following description, which show and describe a vehicle seat comprising an adjustment device according to the invention by way of example. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1a-c are various schematic views of a vehicle seat comprising an operator device and an adjustment device;

(3) FIG. 2a-e are various schematic detailed or cross-sectional views of the adjustment device from FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3a-f are schematic views of the adjustment device from FIG. 1 with the operator device hidden and showing a number of adjustment positions of said adjustment device;

(5) FIG. 4a-c are schematic perspective views of the adjustment device from FIG. 1 with the operator device hidden;

(6) FIGS. 5a and b are further schematic perspective views of the adjustment device from FIG. 4a-c;

(7) FIG. 5c is a schematic view of the relative position between the guide element and the handle element;

(8) FIG. 6a is a detailed view of a cross section of the guide element; and

(9) FIG. 6b is a detailed view of the second part of the guide link.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) FIG. 1a to 1c show a possible embodiment of the vehicle seat according to the invention. The coordinate system shown illustrates the seat longitudinal direction 1x, the seat width direction 1y and the seat vertical direction 1z.

(11) By way of example, the vehicle seat 1 comprises a seat part 2 and a backrest part 3. On both sides of the vehicle seat 1, there is an operator device 4 for operating vehicle seat and/or vehicle functions (in this case in the form of a joystick) and an adjustment device 5 or adjusting a vertical position and/or a tilt level of the operator device 4.

(12) It should be noted first that FIGS. 1a and 1c show both sides of the vehicle seat 1. FIG. 1b, 2b, 2d, 2e, 3a-3f, 4a, 4c and 5b show the left side of the vehicle seat 1 from the viewpoint of the seat occupant. FIGS. 2a, 2c, 4b and 5a show the right side of the vehicle seat 1 from the viewpoint of the seat occupant.

(13) In the figures, a distance z is illustrated between a highest point of the operator device 4 and a horizontal reference surface 14 that is fixed with respect to the seat substructure, as well as an angle between a central axis of the operator device 4 and a reference plane 15, which is parallel to the reference surface 14 and can be used as a reference for the vertical position and/or tilt level of the operator device 4.

(14) In the present case, the link element 10 is rigidly arranged on a seat substructure 20 and cannot move or pivot together with the adjustment device 5. In addition, the operator device 4 and the shaft 7 are connected by means of an intermediate element 19, this intermediate element 19 being formed as a housing part in this case. Within this housing part, for example, additional elements (not shown) such as the electronic components, the power supply or a control unit assigned to the operator device 4 are arranged.

(15) According to the invention, the adjustment device 5 comprises an axis of rotation 6 extending in the seat width direction 1y, and a shaft 7 which is connected to the operator device 4, is spaced apart from the axis of rotation 6 and arranged so as to be pivotable about this axis together with the operator device 4. In the present case, the axis of rotation 6 is formed by means of a central axis of a second shaft and is mounted in a retaining part 21. The retaining part 21 is rigidly connected to the seat substructure 20. The axis of rotation 6 is thus arranged so as to be rotatable about itself with respect to the rest of the vehicle seat 1 but to otherwise not be displaceable in any direction.

(16) In the process, a distance L (see FIG. 1b) between the axis of rotation 6 and the shaft 7 is permanently fixed and the axis of rotation 6 is arranged behind the shaft 7 in the seat longitudinal direction lx and above the shaft 7 in the seat vertical direction 1z.

(17) FIG. 1b shows a virtual arc B, which is arranged so as to extend concentrically about the axis of rotation 6 and represents the guide arc.

(18) It is clear from FIGS. 2e and 3a to 3f in particular that a guide element 9, arranged in the direction of a central axis 7a of the shaft 7 and fixedly connected to the shaft 7, can move within a guide link 8 of a link element 10 with respect to the shaft 7 pivoting about the axis of rotation 6, the guide link 8 having a first part 8a shaped so as to extend along a portion of the arc B (see also FIG. 3e). A circumferential direction UB of the arc B is also illustrated.

(19) According to the embodiment shown, the guide link 8 also has second parts 8b, which are arranged so as to adjoin the at least one first part 8a and are substantially triangular (see in particular FIG. 3e).

(20) In the present case, the guide element 9 can be pivoted at least about the central axis 7a of the shaft 7 within the first 8a and second parts 8b of the guide link 8, three locked positions of the guide element 9 being defined within the guide link 8. These are illustrated according to FIGS. 3b, 3d and 3f and defined by outer surfaces 9a, 9b of the guide element 9 (see FIG. 3c) being in direct contact with outer surfaces v of the guide element 8 that are at an angle to the arc B (see FIG. 3b and FIG. 6b).

(21) For reasons of clarity, the outer surfaces 9a, 9b and v are not illustrated in each figure. When the guide element 9 rotates by 180, the outer surfaces 9a and 9b shown are interchangeable in terms of their stop function.

(22) In the present case, a cross section of the guide element 9 perpendicular to the central axis 7a of the shaft 7 (according to FIGS. 3a to 3f) is shaped substantially as a double trapezium T (see in particular the detailed view according to FIG. 6a). Accordingly, two trapeziums T1, T2 are joined together at their respective first baselines b1, b2 (in this case at their respective bases, i.e. the longer baseline of the two baselines) and thus form the double trapezium. The two trapeziums T1, T2 are congruent with one another. In addition, the two trapeziums T1, T2 are each isosceles trapeziums; the lateral edges formed by the outer surfaces 9a and 9c and the lateral edges formed by the outer surfaces 9d and 9b are the same length as one another, respectively. In addition, the two trapeziums T1, T2 are free of a right angle.

(23) In the present case, the second baseline of the trapeziums T1, T2, which is formed by the outer surfaces 9e, 9f, is the smaller of the two baselines 9e, 9f, b1, b2. In this case, this second baseline is not linear, but rather is formed as an arcuate segment, the two arcuate segments formed by the two second baselines being positioned on a common virtual circle K1, the center point K1M of which is preferably positioned on the common first baseline b1, b2 of the two trapeziums T1, T2.

(24) In total, the double trapezium T thus preferably has six corners e1, e2, e3, e4, e5, e6, two first corners e3, e4 bordering the common first baseline b1, b2 and two second corners e1, e2; e5, e6 forming one of the two baselines (see outer surfaces 9e, 9f). Said double trapezium also has six lateral edges, which are formed by the outer surfaces 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, a first lateral edge (outer surfaces 9e, 9f) forming a second baseline and two second lateral edges (outer surfaces 9a, 9d; 9c, 9b) being arranged between each end of the two first lateral edges or each corner e1, e2; e5, e6 in each case. It follows from the above description that one end of the common baseline b1, b2 is arranged on each of the two common ends e3, e4 of the two second lateral edges.

(25) Within the first part 8a, therefore, the guide element 9 can be pivoted about a particular angle in a mechanically securely guided manner. In this case, the common first baseline b1, b2 of the two trapeziums T1, T2 can be arranged perpendicularly to the guide arc B during each pivot process of the shaft 7 about the axis of rotation 6.

(26) According to FIG. 3e, it is shown that three second parts 8b are arranged on both boundary sides of the first part 8a, the two boundary sides being based on a position radially in front of the guide arc B and a position radially behind the guide arc, which is illustrated by means of two virtual arcs hB, vB in this case. The arcs hB, vB and thus the boundary sides of the first part 8a each extend concentrically with the arc B.

(27) A plurality of second parts 8b are thus arranged one after the other in a circumferential direction UB of the guide arc B on both sides of the first part 8a, the number of second parts 8b being the same on both sides of the first part 8a and preferably being three. The number of second parts 8b on one side of the first part 8a thus corresponds to the number of locked positions of the guide element 9.

(28) The present adjustment device 5 is thus formed having steps and in this case has three steps. Logically, therefore, the device does not have a step-free design.

(29) FIG. 6b shows an enlarged view of a transition between one of the second parts 8b and the first part 8a according to FIGS. 3a to 3f. In this case, a first side u of the substantially triangular second part 8b is formed directly adjoining the first part 8a; in the process, the boundary is formed by a portion of the virtual arc hB. A second side (formed by means of the outer surface v) of the second part 8b is linear. A third side (formed by means of the outer surface w) of the second part 8b is arcuate. The second and third side of the second part 8b are connected by means of an edge 16 in the shape of a circular arc portion. If the guide link 8 is advantageously produced by means of a laser cut in the link element 10, providing this edge 16 helps prevent the formation of defects in the transition between the second and third side. In this respect, particularly relevant flaws are unwanted protrusions on the edging of the guide link 8, which could hamper the movement of the guide element 9 within the guide link 8.

(30) It is clear from FIGS. 3a to 3f and FIG. 6b that the second parts 8b are arranged such that, when viewed in the circumferential direction UB of the guide arc B in each case, the second side of the second part 8b is arranged on a first hB of the boundary sides hB, vB first, followed by the third side of the second part 8b, and the third side of the second part 8b is arranged on a second vB of the boundary sides hB, vB first, followed by the second side of the second part 8b. It can also be seen that the second parts 8b are spaced apart from one another.

(31) In cooperation with the first part 8a, the guide element 9 can be rotated and/or mounted within said second parts 8b. In the process, the mounting of the guide element 9 is formed by means of a stop between at least one of the second sides (formed by outer surfaces v) of the second part 8b of the guide link 8 and one of the second lateral edges (formed by outer surfaces 9a, 9b) of the double trapezium T of the guide element 9 (see in particular FIG. 3d).

(32) A third part 8c of the guide link 8 is provided, said part being circular and formed so as to overlap the first 8a and/or second parts 8b. This third part 8c (illustrated according to FIG. 3f in the form of a hashed circular area) is used to simplify the assembly of the adjustment device 5 since the shaft 7 can be guided through the guide link 8, and in particular through the third part 8c of the guide link 8, from the side of the link element 10.

(33) In the present case, the guide element 9 can be arranged within the guide link 8 such that at least one second baseline, formed as an arcuate segment (see outer surfaces 9e, 9f), of the double trapezium T is concentric with one of the arcuate third sides w of the second part 8b (see in particular FIG. 3d).

(34) According to FIGS. 2e, 4b and 4c in particular, it is shown that a threaded nut M1 can interact with an external thread M2 of the shaft 7, which thread is arranged adjacently to the guide element 9 (see FIG. 2e), and can be fixed against a first outer surface 10a of the guide link 10 by means of a washer 15.

(35) FIGS. 5a and 5b in particular show that a driving disc 12 is arranged between a second outer surface 10b of the guide link 10 and a flanged disc 11, the driving disc 12 having a handle element 13 on at least one circumferential point. A connection (for example a featherkey and keyway connection), by means of which the driving disc 12 is arranged in a non-rotational manner relative to the shaft 6, is formed but is not shown in the figures.

(36) In the present case, the flanged disc 11 is arranged in the direction of the central axis 7a of the shaft 7 and is fixedly connected to the guide element 9.

(37) In this case, the handle element 13 is in the form of a substantially rectangular metal tab canted simply by an angle of 90. In the present case, said tab is also formed having rounded portions at the corners. In this case, the handle element 13 is arranged in direct contact with an outer circumference of the driving disc 12.

(38) In the present case, an additional shaft element 17 is arranged so as to adjoin the guide element 9 in the axial direction 7a of the shaft 7 and is fixedly connected to the guide element 9. In this case, the driving disc 12 is arranged on the additional shaft element 17 by means of a connection consisting of a featherkey and corresponding keyway.

(39) FIG. 5c shows that an angle between a virtual first plane E, spanned by the central axis 7a of the shaft 7 and by a central axis or axis of symmetry of the handle element 13, and a virtual second plane E, spanned by the central axis 7a of the shaft 7 and an axis perpendicular to the common first baseline b1, b2 of the two trapeziums T1, T2 of the double trapezium T, has a value of 45. To ensure clarity, FIG. 5c does not show all the elements of the adjustment device 5 in question, but rather only the axis 7a of the shaft 7, the driving disc 12, the handle element 13 and the guide element 9 together with the baseline b1, b2, in their relative positions to one another.

(40) FIGS. 2a to 2d show that, in this case, the user may not be able to see the guide element 9 directly when adjusting the adjustment device 5, i.e. when moving the guide element 9 within the guide link 8, since said element is arranged to be at least partly hidden.

(41) The mark 18 on the second outer surface 10b, formed as a laser mark, comprises a first marking line 18a, denoting the middle locked position, and a second marking line 18b, denoting the middle adjustment position. For the sake of simplicity, said marking line 18 is shown in FIG. 3c as a combination of two solid lines on the surface 10a. In reality, the shape of the mark is designed as shown, but rather as a projection on the second outer surface 10b and advantageously in the form of dashed lines.

(42) In the process, when the guide element 9 is located in the locked position according to the reference position A (first marking line 18a; see FIG. 3d) or in the adjustment position according to the reference position B (second marking line 18b; see FIG. 3c), said marking lines 18a, 18b each extend in parallel with the axis of the guide element 9 perpendicular to the common first baseline b1, b2 of the two trapeziums T1, T2 of the double trapezium T. In this case, the two lines 18a, 18b form an angle of 45 to one another.

(43) It goes without saying that the embodiment explained above is just a first design of the commercial vehicle seat according to the invention. In this respect, the design of the invention is not limited to this embodiment.

(44) All the features disclosed in the application documents are claimed as being essential to the invention wherever they are novel over the prior art when taken in isolation or in combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(45) 1 vehicle seat

(46) 1x seat longitudinal direction

(47) 1y seat width direction

(48) 1z seat vertical direction

(49) 2 seat part

(50) 3 backrest part

(51) 4 operator device

(52) 5 adjustment device

(53) 6 axis of rotation

(54) 7 shaft

(55) 7a central axis

(56) 8 guide link

(57) 8a, 8b, 8c part

(58) 8i, 8j, 8k, 8l outer surfaces

(59) 9 guide element

(60) 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d outer surfaces

(61) 10 link element

(62) 10a, 10b outer surface

(63) 11 flanged disc

(64) 12 driving disc

(65) 13 handle element

(66) 14 reference surface

(67) 15 washer

(68) 16 edge

(69) 17 shaft element

(70) 18 mark

(71) 18a, 18b marking line

(72) 19 intermediate element

(73) 20 seat substructure

(74) 21 retaining part

(75) B arc

(76) b1, b2 first baseline

(77) e1-e6 corner

(78) hB, vB position

(79) K1 virtual circle

(80) K1M center point

(81) M1 threaded nut

(82) M2 external thread

(83) SA1, SA2 axis of symmetry

(84) T double trapezium

(85) T1, T2 trapezium

(86) u, v, w sides

(87) UB circumferential direction

(88) , angle