APPARATUS FOR QUICKLY ROTATING AN ASSEMBLY OF A VEHICLE SEAT

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for quickly rotating an assembly (100) of a vehicle seat, a locking element (40) being secured by means of a cam (30) and being unlocked by means of another cam (20). Furthermore, the rotation of the driving shaft (12) on which the cams (20, 30) are arranged is transmitted to a toothed element (60), resulting in acceleration of the rotatable assembly (100). The invention further relates to a vehicle seat having an arrangement of two apparatuses (10) of this kind, and to a vehicle having at least one apparatus (10) of this kind.

Claims

1. An apparatus (10) for quickly rotating a rotatable assembly (100) of a vehicle seat, the rotatable assembly (100) being a rest or seat, comprising a first cam (20), a second cam (30), a drive shaft (12) and a sprocket (14), the first cam (20) and the sprocket (14) being non-rotatably arranged on the drive shaft (12) and the second cam (30) being rotatably arranged thereon, the drive shaft (12) being rotatably mounted on the assembly, the first cam (20) being coupled to the second cam (30) by means of a spring element (25) such that, when the drive shaft (12) rotates, the second cam (30) also rotates, the second cam (30) having a first locking contour (32) and a second locking contour (34), a locking element (40) having a locking region (42) and an unlocking region (44) that is rotatably fixed to the assembly, a stationary latching element (50), and a toothed element (60) which is rotatable about the assembly axis of rotation (110), these elements being formed and arranged such that, in a first locking position, the locking element (40) is engaged with the latch element (50), and the first locking contour (32) of the second cam (30) is in physical contact with the locking region (42) of the locking element and secures said locking element in position, and while the drive shaft (12) is rotated, the first cam (20) hits the unlocking region (44) of the locking element (40) and thus rotates said locking element out of the engagement with the locking element (50), while the first locking contour (32) of the second cam (30) is rotated out of the locking region (42) of the locking element (40), and the sprocket (14) transfers the rotation to the toothed element (60), the toothed element (60) being rotated about the assembly axis of rotation (110) and thus relative to the latching element (50) until an engagement (54) with the latching element (50) limits the rotational movement, and upon further meshing of the sprocket (14) with the toothed element (60), the rotatable assembly (100) rotates about the assembly axis of rotation (110) until the second locking contour (34) of the second cam (30) meets the locking region (42) of the locking element (40), said locking region being formed to stop further rotation of the second cam (30) until the locking element (40) engages with the latching element (50) for a second locking position, and the rotation of the second cam (30) is tracked by means of the spring force of the spring element (25) and thus the second locking contour (34) rotates towards the locking region (42) of the locking element (40) in order to secure said locking element in position.

2. The apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive shaft (12) can be driven by means of a motor, a gas generator or a spring device (70).

3. The apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the toothed element (60) has an engagement having a component fixedly mounted on the assembly in order to limit the relative movement of the rotatable assembly (100) relative to the toothed element (60).

4. The apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the latching element (50) has a stop (52) and/or has chamfered edges in the region of the engagement for the second locking position in order to guide the locking element (40) into the second locking position.

5. The apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the footprint of the sprocket (14) is formed as a circle segment, the opening angle of the circle segment being reduced to such an extent that only necessary movement is transferred to the toothed element (60).

6. The apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is connected to a control device of the vehicle in order to be triggered in the event of an imminent accident.

7. The apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotation of the rotatable assembly (100) is able to be reset, in particular by a motor.

8. The apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the rotatable assembly (100) is rotated, the speed and/or the expended force is able to be adjusted depending on the weight of the person located on the vehicle seat.

9. A vehicle seat having an assembly (100) which is adjustable by rotation and is formed to have at least two apparatuses (10) according to claim 1.

10. A vehicle having at least one device (10) for quickly rotating a rotatable assembly (100) according to claim 1.

Description

[0055] FIG. 1 shows an example of an apparatus for setting a rest upright,

[0056] FIG. 2 shows the apparatus from FIG. 1 from a different direction,

[0057] FIGS. 3 to 9 show the interaction of the components or elements of the apparatus from FIG. 1,

[0058] FIG. 10 shows the apparatus according to the invention from FIG. 1 in the context of a rest.

[0059] FIG. 1 shows an example of a structure of the apparatus 10 according to the invention for use in an assembly 100 in the form of a rest of a vehicle seat. In FIG. 2, the apparatus is shown from the rear side, and both figures will be explained together. Two instances of the apparatus 10 are provided in an adjustable backrest of a vehicle seat in a vehicle. In principle and in the same way, the apparatus 10 can also be provided on a toggle lever kinematic system of a seat of a vehicle and cause the same to rotate.

[0060] The apparatus 10 is formed having a drive shaft 12 and two cams 20, 30 arranged thereon. The drive shaft 12 is rotatably mounted on the rest. The first cam 30 is the unlocking cam and is arranged on the drive shaft for conjoint rotation. The second cam 30 is the securing cam and is rotatably mounted. The first cam 20 and the second cam 30 are coupled to one another by means of a spring element 25 such that, when the drive shaft rotates, the second cam 30 also rotates.

[0061] The second cam 30 has a first locking contour 32 and a second locking contour 34, which are each formed as shaped portions of the otherwise uniformly curved contour of the second cam 30.

[0062] The apparatus 10 further has a sprocket 14, by which the rotation of the drive shaft 12 is transferred to a toothed element 60 that is also provided in the apparatus 10. The sprocket 14 is configured merely as a circle segment in order to save installation space and material. The opening angle of the circle segment is enough to transfer enough rotational movement of the drive shaft 12 to set the rest upright.

[0063] A locking element 40 is rotatably mounted on the assembly, i.e. on the rest in this embodiment. The axis of rotation thereof is labeled with reference sign 46 in FIG. 1. In a first engagement region 56, the locking element 40 is meshed with the latching element 50, which is a further element of the apparatus 10. Together with the toothed element 60, the latching element 50 forms an engagement 54 that limits the rotation of the toothed element 60 about the axis of rotation of the rest (corresponds to the axis of rotation of the assembly, which is not shown here). The engagement 54 is formed, for example, having a cut-out in the latching element 50 and a pin arranged on the toothed element 60, the pin engaging with the cut-out and being able to move therein if the toothed element 60 is rotated. If the pin stops against the end of the cut-out in the latching element 50, the rotational movement of the toothed element 60 is limited and cannot be continued.

[0064] The locking element 40 further comprises a locking region 42 and an unlocking region 44, the action of which is illustrated in the following figures.

[0065] FIGS. 2 to 9 demonstrate the interaction of the elements or components of the apparatus 10 according to the invention when the rest 100 is set upright. The movement directions are each indicated by an arrow in the drawings.

[0066] FIGS. 1 and 2, the starting position of the apparatus 10. The first locking contour 32 of the second cam 30 is contact with the locking region 42 of the locking element 40 and secures the position of said locking element. Here, the locking element, as already mentioned, is meshed with the latching element 50 in the first engagement region 56 thereof.

[0067] The drive shaft 12 then begins to rotate. The sprocket 14 then rotates as well and transfers the rotation to the toothed element 60. Subsequently, said toothed element is rotated about the axis of rotation of the rest and moves to the left, in relation to FIG. 2. In the process, the pin also moves within the cut-out in the latching element 50 towards the stop therefor in the engagement 54.

[0068] As a result of the rotation of the drive shaft 12, the securing cam (second cam) 30 is also rotated by means of the spring element 25 during rotation of the first cam 20, thereby moves away from the locking region 42, and thus releases the locking element 40. FIG. 4 shows how, almost simultaneously, the first cam 20 meets the unlocking region 44 of the locking element 40 and, upon further rotation, rotates the unsecured locking element 40 outwards about the axis of rotation 46 thereof such that said locking element is no longer meshed with the latching element 50.

[0069] The drive shaft 12 and thus the elements arranged thereon continue to rotate. Since the pin has reached its stop in the engagement 54 in FIG. 5, the toothed element 60 can no longer rotate relative to the latching element 50. The transfer of rotation by means of the sprocket 14 thus drives the rest forwards along the now stationary toothed element 60, labeled by the arrow pointing to the right in FIG. 5.

[0070] In FIG. 6, the drive shaft 12 continues to rotate, while the forward movement of the rest continues. In the process, the first cam 20 rotates from the unlocking region 44 of the locking element 40. Moreover, the second locking contour 34 of the second cam 40 meets the locking region 42 of the locking element 40. Said locking element has moved towards the second engagement region 58 on the latching element 50, but is not yet meshing therewith. Therefore, the angle of rotation of the locking element 40 is not yet reset, and the locking region 42 forms an obstacle for the second locking contour 34 of the second cam 30. The spring force of the spring element 25 between the first cam 20 and the second cam 30 is not enough to continue the rotation of the second cam 30.

[0071] FIG. 7 shows how the drive shaft 12, the sprocket 14 and the first cam 20 continue to rotate, while the second cam 30 remains in position, thereby tensioning the spring element 25. The locking element 40 has almost reached the second engagement region 58 with the latching element 50.

[0072] In FIG. 8, the sprocket rotates into its end position. In the process, the relative position between the locking element 40 and the latching element 50 is reached, as is required for the meshing with the second engagement region 58, which then takes place in FIG. 9. As a result of the meshing of the latching element 50 and the locking element 40, the locking element 40 rotates back to its starting position. The spring force of the spring element 25 is enough to continue the rotation of the second cam 30, such that the second locking contour 34 thereof moves over the locking region of the locking element 40 and thus secures said locking element in the second locking position.

[0073] FIG. 10 shows part of the apparatus 10 according to the invention when installed in a vehicle rest 100. In comparison with the preceding figures, the upright direction of the rest is now directed to the left.

[0074] The rest 100 rotates about the axis of rotation 110 thereof. The apparatus 10 is intended to be triggered when an accident is imminent in order to protect the vehicle occupant(s). In the process, the drive shaft 12 is driven by means of a spring device 120 which is tensioned in the starting position in FIG. 10a and is largely relieved of tension just short of the end position in FIG. 10b. The spring device 120 is formed having a trigger mechanism (not shown), which can be actuated by a control device that detects the imminent accident in order to trigger to said trigger mechanism. By means of a spring device 120 of this kind, the rest can be set upright in under 200 ms, which corresponds to the advance time for detecting the immediately imminent accident.

[0075] So that the locking element 40 is not moved beyond the second locking region 58 during the forward rotation of the rest 100, a stop 140 is provided on the latching element 50. As a result, the locking element 40 is guided to the second locking position. For the same reason, i.e. the limitation of the forward rotation of the rest 100, the engagement 82 between the frame 80 of the rest and the toothed element 60 is provided by means of a cut-out and a pin.

[0076] If, after the rest 100 is set upright, it is desired to reset the apparatus 10, this can be done by means of the resetting device 130, which is shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b, by way of example. Said resetting device is implemented by means of an electric motor (not shown) and a speed change system for the sprocket 14 such that said sprocket rotates backwards and thus resets the apparatus 10 to the starting position thereof.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0077] 10 Apparatus [0078] 12 Drive shaft [0079] 14 Sprocket [0080] 20 First cam (unlocking cam) [0081] 25 Spring element [0082] 30 Second cam (securing cam) [0083] 32 First locking contour [0084] 34 Second locking contour [0085] 40 Locking element [0086] 42 Locking region [0087] 44 Unlocking region [0088] 46 Axis of rotation of the locking element [0089] 50 Latching element [0090] 52 Stop for latching element [0091] 54 Engagement of latching element with toothed element [0092] 56 First engagement region [0093] 58 Second engagement region [0094] 60 Toothed element [0095] 70 Spring device [0096] 80 Rest frame [0097] 82 Engagement of toothed element with rest frame [0098] 100 Rotatable assembly [0099] 110 Axis of rotation of assembly [0100] 120 Spring device [0101] 130 Resetting device [0102] 140 Stop for the latching element 50