Sliding device for a vehicle seat

Abstract

A sliding device for a vehicle seat is provided. The sliding device includes a pair of parallel slideways, each of which comprises a lower rail, an upper rail slidably mounted to the lower rail and a latch for allowing/preventing a movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail. A releasing member is provided for driving the latches to a position in which the upper rails are free to move relative to the lower rails. Each latch has a rear portion which is bent into a “U”-like shape and comprises a lower leg carrying latching elements configured to cooperate with corresponding latching elements provided in the lower rail and an upper leg configured to engage the releasing member. The design of the latches improves the reliability of the sliding device.

Claims

1. A sliding device for a vehicle seat, which sliding device comprises a pair of parallel slideways, each comprising a lower rail, an upper rail, that is slidably mounted to the lower rail, and a latch, which is arranged between the lower rail and the upper rail and selectively allows/prevents movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail, wherein in a rest condition the latches of both parallel slideways are in a locking position, in which they prevent the movement of the upper rails relative to the lower rails, and wherein the sliding device comprises a releasing member for driving the latches to an unlocking position in which they allow the movement of the upper rails relative to the lower rails, wherein the releasing member is made as a “U”-shaped releasing handle comprising a middle gripping portion and two substantially parallel arms, wherein each of the latches comprises a front portion and a rear portion joined by an intermediate portion, wherein the front portion of each latch is fixed to a respective one of the upper rails and the rear portion of each latch is bent into a “U” shape comprising a lower leg and un upper leg, joined by a curved, vertically oriented section, wherein latching elements configured to cooperate with corresponding latching elements provided in respective lower rails are provided in the lower legs of the rear portions of the latches, and wherein the lower legs of the rear portions of the latches comprise a prolongation extending towards the intermediate portions of the latches and carrying an upwardly projecting rib and wherein the bottom surfaces of the arms of the releasing handle are provided with a groove into which the upwardly projecting rib of a respective one of the latches is arranged to penetrate.

2. The sliding device according to claim 1, wherein the upwardly projecting ribs have a tapered shape, the height of the ribs increasing going from the intermediate portion towards the rear portion of the latches.

3. The sliding device according to claim 1, wherein the curved, vertically oriented sections of the rear portions of the latches are provided with two parallel slits defining two side portions joining the lower and upper legs of the rear portions of the latches and a middle portion extending in a substantially vertical direction and ending with a rearwardly bent free end, which is configured to protrude through the upper rails.

4. The sliding device according to claim 1, wherein each of the lower rails has cross-section having the shape of an upwardly open “U” and comprises a lower wall and a pair of parallel, upwardly oriented vertical walls, ending with respective inwardly and downwardly bent edges, and each of the upper rails has a cross-section having the shape of a downwardly open “U” and comprises an upper wall and a pair of parallel, downwardly oriented vertical walls, ending with respective outwardly and upwardly bent edges, the outwardly and upwardly bent edges of the upper rails being engaged under the inwardly and downwardly bent edges of the lower rails.

5. The sliding device according to claim 4, wherein the latching elements provided in the lower rails comprise a plurality of downwardly extending teeth provided along the inwardly and downwardly bent edges and the latching elements of the latches comprise a plurality of through-holes arranged in lateral wings extending on both sides of the lower leg of the rear portion of each latch.

6. The sliding device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion of each latch includes a substantially vertically oriented section that is provided with an opening for the passage of one of the arms of the releasing handle, an edge of each of the openings of the intermediate portions of the latches serving as fulcrum for the rotation of one of the arms of the releasing handle.

7. The sliding device according to claim 1, wherein each of the upper rails has a longitudinal axis and wherein the front portions of the latches are provided with at least two bosses that are aligned along the longitudinal axes of the upper rails and are spaced apart from each other along the direction of the longitudinal axes, the bosses being received in holes provided in the upper rails.

8. The sliding device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion of each of the latches has a shaped profile comprising indentations for positive locking to a respective one of the upper rails.

9. The sliding device according to claim 8, wherein each aim of the releasing handle comprises a collar having a diameter larger than a diameter of openings in the intermediate portions of the latches.

10. The sliding device according to claim 1, wherein a dome-shaped, upwardly oriented projection is provided on the lower leg of the rear portion of each of the latches, at a longitudinal axis of the lower leg or close to a longitudinal axis of the lower leg.

11. The sliding device according to claim 1, wherein an outwardly extending safety tab is provided on either sides of the intermediate portion of each of the latches, each of the safety tabs being received in and engaging a slot provided in a respective one of the upper rails.

12. The sliding device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portions of the latches are inclined with respect to the rear portions of the latches.

13. The sliding device according to claim 1, wherein the front portion of each of the latches is provided with an upwardly projecting hook, the hook being received in a cutout provided in a respective on of the upper rails.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages of the invention will become more evident from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of non limiting example, with reference to the attached drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a sliding device according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 1b is an exploded view of the sliding device of FIG. 1a

(4) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sliding device of FIG. 1a along the line II-II;

(5) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the latches of the sliding device of FIGS. 1a-1b;

(6) FIG. 4 shows a detail of the sliding device of FIGS. 1a-1b, illustrating the engagement of the releasing handle with the latches.

(7) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the latches of the sliding device of FIGS. 1a-1b according to a first variant;

(8) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the latches of the sliding device of FIGS. 1a-1b according to a second variant;

(9) FIG. 7 is a perspective of one of the latches of the sliding device of FIGS. 1a-1b according to a third variant;

(10) FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the sliding device of FIG. 1a along the line II-II, incorporating a latch according to the third variant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) With reference to FIGS. 1a and 1b, a sliding device 1 according to the invention is shown.

(12) In a per se known manner, the sliding device 1 comprises a pair of parallel slideways 3a, 3b, each comprising a lower rail 5a, 5b, intended to be attached to the vehicle floor (for instance by threaded fasteners 6a, 6b), and an upper rail 7a, 7b, intended to be attached to the frame of a vehicle seat.

(13) Each upper rail 7a, 7b is constrained to the respective lower rail. To this purpose, each lower rail has a cross-section having the shape of an upwardly open “U” and comprises a lower wall 9a, 9b and a pair of parallel, upwardly oriented vertical walls 11a, 11b, ending with respective inwardly and downwardly bent edges 13a, 13b; correspondingly, each upper rail has a cross-section having the shape of a downwardly open “U” and comprises an upper wall 15a, 15b and a pair of parallel, downwardly oriented vertical walls 17a, 17b, ending with respective outwardly and upwardly bent edges 19a, 19b: the outwardly and upwardly bent edges 19a, 19b of the upper rails 7a, 7b may become engaged under the inwardly and downwardly bent edges 13a, 13b of the respective lower rails 5a, 5b.

(14) As a result, said upper rails 7a, 7b are constrained to the lower rails 5a, 5b, but can slide relative to said lower rails.

(15) In order to selectively allow/prevent a relative sliding movement between the upper rails and the lower rails, each slideway 3a, 3b is provided with a latch 21a, 21b, which is received in the slideway, between the lower rail and the upper rail.

(16) The latches 21a, 21b according to the invention are shown in greater detail in FIG. 3.

(17) Each latch 21a, 21b has a front portion 23a, 23b and a rear portion 25a, 25b, joined by an intermediate portion 27a, 27, wherein said front portion 23a, 23 is fixed to the respective upper rail 7a, 7b and said rear portion 25a, 25b comprises latching elements configured to cooperate with corresponding latching elements provided in the respective lower rail 5a, 5b for preventing the upper rails from sliding relative to the lower rails, as will be explained in detail later.

(18) Under normal conditions, the latches 21a, 21b are in their locking position, in which they prevent the upper rails from sliding relative to the lower rails.

(19) In order to allow a user to adjust the position of the seat relative to the vehicle floor, the sliding device 1 further comprises a releasing member 29, arranged for driving the latches 21a, 21b to an unlocking position, in which they allow the upper rails to slide relative to the lower rails.

(20) The releasing member is made as a “U”-shaped releasing handle 29 comprising a middle gripping portion 29c and two substantially parallel arms 29a, 29b, the end portions of which are arranged to drive the respective latches 21a, 21b to their unlocking position, as will be described in detail later.

(21) According to the invention, the rear portion 25a, 25b of each latch 21a, 21b is bent into a “U” shape and comprises a lower leg 31a, 31b and un upper leg 33a, 33b, joined by a curved, vertically oriented section 35a, 35b.

(22) In the lower leg 31a, 31b, latching elements 37a, 37b are provided, which are configured to cooperate with corresponding latching elements 41a, 41b of the lower rails 5a, 5b for locking the upper rails relative to the lower rails.

(23) In the shown embodiment, the latching elements of the lower rails comprise a plurality of downwardly extending teeth 41a, 41b provided along the inwardly and downwardly bent edges 11a, 11b of the lower rails 5a, 5b.

(24) Correspondingly, the lower leg 31a, 31b of the rear portion of each latch comprises, on both sides thereof, lateral wings 39a, 39b, which extend through openings arranged in vertical walls 17a, 17b of the upper rails 7a, 7b, and one or more through-holes 37a, 37b are provided in each lateral wing, said through-holes 37a, 37b being configured to receive respective teeth 41a, 41b of the lower rails 5a, 5b, thus acting as latching elements of the latch.

(25) In the upper leg 33a, 33b, an engaging element 43a, 43b is provided, which is configured to cooperate with a corresponding engaging element 45a, 45b arranged at the end portion of a respective arm 29a, 29b of the releasing handle for achieving the engagement between said releasing handle and the latches.

(26) As can be seen in FIG. 4, in the shown embodiment, the end portion of each arm 29a, 29b of the releasing handle 29 is provided with a notch 45a, 45b as engaging element for the engagement with the respective latch.

(27) Correspondingly, the upper leg 33a, 33b of the rear portion 25a, 25b of each latch is provided with a corresponding window 43a, 43b as engaging element, the edge of said window being arranged to become engaged in the corresponding notch 45a, 45b.

(28) FIG. 4 also shows that each latch 21a, 21b also comprises an intermediate portion 27a, 27b, arranged between the front portion 23a, 23b and the rear portion 25a, 25b, which intermediate portion is substantially vertically oriented and is provided with an opening 47a, 47b for the passage of the respective arm 29a, 29b of the releasing handle.

(29) As can be seen in FIG. 4, said arm 29a, 29b of the releasing handle is provided with a collar 49a, 49b, having a diameter larger than the diameter of the opening 47a, 47b, so that the arm cannot project further towards the rear portion of the latch and the notch 45a, 45b cannot become disengaged from the edge of the window 43, 43b.

(30) Always with reference to FIG. 4, it is to be noted that the end portions of the arms 29a, 29b of the releasing handle, beyond the notches 45a, 45b, are preferably tapered, so as to make the engagement with the respective latch easier.

(31) With reference now to FIG. 5, a latch 21a, 21b according to a first variant of the latch of FIG. 3 is shown.

(32) Also, according to the variant of FIG. 5, the latch 21a, 21b has a front portion 23a, 23b and a rear portion 25a, 25b, joined by an intermediate portion 27a, 27b, said front portion 23a, 23b being intended to be fixed to the respective upper rail 7a, 7b and said rear portion 25a, 25b being intended to exert a latching effect on the respective lower rail 5a, 5b.

(33) Furthermore, also according to the variant of FIG. 5, the rear portion 25a, 25b of each latch 21a, 21b is bent into a “U” shape and comprises a lower leg 31a, 31b and un upper leg 33a, 33b, joined by a curved, vertically oriented section 35a, 35b, said lower leg 31a, 31b carrying latching elements 37a, 37b configured to cooperate with corresponding latching elements of the lower rails and said upper leg 33a, 33b being intended to engage the end portion of a respective arm of the releasing handle 29.

(34) The latch 21a, 21b of FIG. 5 differs from the latch shown in FIG. 3 in that the lower leg 31a, 31b comprises a prolongation 55a, 55b extending towards the intermediate portion 27a, 27b and an upwardly projecting rib 57a, 57b is provided on said prolongation 55a, 55b.

(35) The upwardly projecting rib 57a, 57b is arranged to penetrate into a corresponding groove provided in the bottom surface of the corresponding arm 29a, 29b of the releasing handle 29. Said upwardly projecting rib 57a, 57b allows to ensure a positive engagement between the latch 21a, 21b and the corresponding arm of the releasing handle.

(36) Thanks to the provision of the upwardly projecting rib 57a, 57b, the coupling between the lower surface of the upper leg 33a, 33b of the latch 21a, 21b and the upper surface of the corresponding arm of the releasing handle can be sufficient for obtaining the engagement between said latch and said arm of said releasing handle.

(37) As can be seen in FIG. 5, the upwardly projecting rib 57a, 57b preferably has a tapered shape, the height of said rib increasing going from the intermediate portion 27a, 27b of the latch towards the rear portion thereof. This tapered shape allows to obtain a progressively positive engagement between the latch 21a, 21b and the corresponding arm of the releasing handle.

(38) With reference now to FIG. 6, a latch 21a, 21b according to a second variant of the latch of FIG. 3 is shown.

(39) Also, according to the variant of FIG. 6, the latch 21a, 21b has a front portion 23a, 23b and a rear portion 25a, 25b, joined by an intermediate portion 27a, 27b, said front portion 23a, 23b being intended to be fixed to the respective upper rail 7a, 7b and said rear portion 25a, 25b being intended to exert a latching effect on the respective lower rail 5a, 5b.

(40) Furthermore, also according to the variant of FIG. 6, the rear portion 25a, 25b of each latch 21a, 21b is bent into a “U” shape and comprises a lower leg 31a, 31b and un upper leg 33a, 33b, joined by a curved, vertically oriented section 35a, 35b, said lower leg 31a, 31b carrying latching elements 37a, 37b configured to cooperate with corresponding latching elements of the lower rails and said upper leg 33a, 33b being intended to engage the end portion of a respective arm of the releasing handle 29.

(41) The latch 21a, 21b of FIG. 6 differs from the latch shown in FIG. 3 in that the curved, vertically oriented section 35a, 35b of the rear portion of the latch is provided with two parallel slits defining two side portions 59a, 59b joining the lower and upper legs of the rear portion of the latch and a middle portion 61a, 61b extending in a substantially vertical direction and ending with a rearwardly bent free end 63a, 63b.

(42) The rearwardly bent free end 63a, 63b of said middle portion is configured to protrude through the corresponding upper rail 7a, 7b and can be advantageously used for adjusting the upper and lower rails relative to each other before assembly of the releasing handle.

(43) This arrangement provides for an improved flexibility in the assembly sequence and reduces the complexity of said assembly sequence.

(44) Referring again to FIG. 3, as mentioned above, each latch 21a, 21b has a front portion 23a, 23b, which is fixed to the respective upper rail 7a, 7b.

(45) As can be seen in FIG. 3, said front portion 23a, 23b may be provided with at least two bosses 51a, 51b which are aligned along the longitudinal axes of the upper rails and are spaced apart from each other along the direction of said longitudinal axes.

(46) Said bosses are configured to protrude through corresponding holes provided in the upper wall 15a, 15b of the corresponding “U”-shaped upper rail 7a, 7b.

(47) Thanks to the presence of said aligned and spaced apart bosses 51a, 51b, any relative rotation between the latch and the corresponding upper rail can be prevented.

(48) The latches 21a, 21b may be fixed to the upper rails also at their intermediate portions 27a, 27b.

(49) As shown in FIG. 3, the walls of said intermediate portions 27a, 27b have a shaped profile comprising indentations 53a, 53b, through which a positive lock with the lateral walls 17a, 17b of the “U”-shaped upper rail 7a, 7b can be obtained.

(50) With reference now to FIG. 7, a latch 21a, 21b according to a third variant of the latch of FIG. 3 is shown.

(51) Also, according to the variant of FIG. 7, the latch 21a, 21b has a front portion 23a, 23b and a rear portion 25a, 25b, joined by an intermediate portion 27a, 27b, said front portion 23a, 23b being intended to be fixed to the respective upper rail 7a, 7b and said rear portion 25a, 25b being intended to exert a latching effect on the respective lower rail 5a, 5b.

(52) Furthermore, also according to the variant of FIG. 7, the rear portion 25a, 25b of each latch 21a, 21b is bent into a “U” shape and comprises a lower leg 31a, 31b and un upper leg 33a, 33b, joined by a curved, vertically oriented section 35a, 35b, said lower leg 31a, 31b carrying latching elements 37a, 37b configured to cooperate with corresponding latching elements of the lower rails and said upper leg 33a, 33b being intended to engage the end portion of a respective arm of the releasing handle 29.

(53) First of all, the latch 21a, 21b of FIG. 7 differs from the latch shown in FIG. 3 in that a dome-shaped, upwardly oriented projection 65a, 65b is provided on the lower leg 31a, 31b of the rear portion of the latch, at the longitudinal axis of said lower leg or close to such longitudinal axis.

(54) Thanks to the provision of such dome-shaped projection 65a, 65b, the lower leg of the latch will always contact the corresponding arm of the releasing member at the position of said dome-shaped projection (see also FIG. 8). Accordingly, the transmission of forces between the latch and the releasing member will also occur at said dome-shaped projection, with little or no contribution from the other surrounding surfaces.

(55) Advantageously, as the point at which forces are transmitted is fixed and known, the design of the latch 21a, 21b according to this third variants helps to achieve a consistent release effort of the releasing member.

(56) Secondly, the latch 21a, 21b of FIG. 7 differs from the latch shown in FIG. 3 in that an outwardly extending safety tab 67a, 67b is provided on either sides of the intermediate portion 27a, 27b of the latch 21a, 21b.

(57) Each of said safety tabs 67a, 67b engages a corresponding slot 69a, 69b provided in the upper rail (see FIG. 8).

(58) Thanks to the engagement of the safety tabs 67a, 67b in the corresponding slots 69a, 69b, it is possible to prevent the rear portion of the latch from excessively moving downwards when a high load is applied. Therefore, the rear portion of the latch is prevented from hitting the lower rail in case of high loads.

(59) Moreover, the engagement of the safety tabs 67a, 67b in the corresponding slots 69a, 69b helps in correctly guiding the movement rear portion of the latch in the up-down direction, thus avoiding misalignments.

(60) Thirdly, the latch 21a, 21b of FIG. 7 differs from the latch shown in FIG. 3 in that the intermediate portion 27a, 27b and the rear portion 25a, 25b of the latch 21a, 21b are not aligned to each other, i.e., they do not lie on the same plane.

(61) This configuration helps to improve the strength of the locking system as the intermediate portion 27a, 27b and the rear portion 25a, 25b of the latch 21a, 21b can be inclined relative to each other in such a way that said rear portion of said latch is as close as possible to be parallel to the lower rail (i.e., horizontal), which improves the engagement between the latching elements of the upper and lower rails, thus allowing to achieve a stronger locking effect.

(62) Furthermore, the latch 21a, 21b of FIG. 7, too, includes means for preventing any relative rotation between the latch and the corresponding upper rail, as in the latch shown in FIG. 3.

(63) However, in this variant the anti-rotation bosses provided in the latch of FIG. 3 are replaced by a hook 71a, 71b upwardly projecting from the front portion 23a, 23b of the latch 21a, 21b. Such hook 71a, 71b is intended to engage a corresponding cutout 73a, 73b in the corresponding upper rail (see FIG. 8).

(64) The operation of the sliding device 1 according to the invention will be briefly disclosed with reference to FIG. 2.

(65) The latches 21a, 21b are shaped in such a way that when they are in a rest condition, i.e., in the absence of any stresses acting on them, the latching elements (i.e., the through-holes 37a, 37b) on their rear portion 25a, 25b engage the respective latching elements (i.e., the teeth 41a, 41b) of the lower rails 5a, 5b, thus locking the upper rails relative to the lower rails.

(66) With the latches in this locking position, the displacement of the upper rails 7a, 7b relative to the lower rails 5a, 5b of the slideways 3a, 3b is effectively prevented.

(67) In order to adjust the position of the vehicle seat relative to the vehicle floor, the latches 21a, 21b can be driven to the unlocking position by pulling the gripping portion 29c of the releasing handle 29 upwardly (see arrow F1 in FIG. 2).

(68) As a consequence, the arms 29a, 29b of the releasing handle will rotate, the edge of the opening 47a, 47b in the intermediate portion 27a, 27b of the latches serving as fulcrum for such rotation (see arrow F2 in FIG. 2).

(69) As a result of such rotation, the end portions of the arms 29a, 29b of the releasing handle 29 will pull the rear portions 25a, 25b of the latches 21a, 21b downwardly, thus disengaging the latching elements (i.e., the through-holes 37a, 37b) of said latches from the respective latching elements (i.e., the teeth 41a, 41b) of the lower rails and allowing the upper rails to be displaced relative to the lower rails.

(70) Once the user releases the gripping portion 29c of the handle 29, the latches 21a, 21b return to their rest position, in which they lock the upper rails 7a, 7b relative to the lower rails 5a, 5b in the new set position.

(71) From the above disclosure, the advantages of the invention will be evident.

(72) The shape of the rear portion of the latches allows to provide a firm engagement between the upper leg of said rear portion of said latches and the end portion of the arms of the releasing handle.

(73) The axial displacement of the arms of the handle relative to the latches is prevented both by the engagement with the engaging elements provided at the rear portion of the latches and by the provision on said arms of the collars with a diameter larger than the diameter of the opening in the intermediate portion of said latches.

(74) By providing the latching elements in the rear portion of the latches in the form of through-holes, a very firm engagement with the latching elements of the lower rails against displacement in any direction can be obtained.

(75) Due to the fact that the arms of the releasing handle pivot about the intermediate portions of latches (i.e., closer to the rear portion of said latches when compared to prior art solutions), slight, accidental movements of the releasing handle are not sufficient for causing an undesired disengagement of the latching elements of the latches from the latching elements of the lower rails.

(76) The above description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been given merely by way of example and several variants and modifications within the reach of the person skilled in the art can be envisaged, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

(77) More particularly, it will be evident to the person skilled in the art that individual features of the different variants of the latch of the sliding device according to the invention shown in the present disclosure could be associated to each other according to any possible combination, thus resulting in new, advantageous variants of the invention.