MOTOR VEHICLE WITH HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE SEAT

Abstract

A motor vehicle includes a vehicle body, a drive motor, particularly an electric motor and/or a combustion engine, a seat with a frame, and a mechanism for adjusting the height of the seat. The mechanism includes a front lever and a rear lever, each fixed in articulated manner to the frame via an upper articulated joint and to a retaining structure via a lower articulated joint so that swiveling of the front and rear levers causes a height adjustment of the seat. An actuator affects motorized adjustment of the seat height. An auxiliary mechanism supplements the front and rear levers such that a force, particularly a turning moment, applied to the auxiliary mechanism by the actuator adjust the height of the seat.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A motor vehicle comprising: a vehicle body; a seat with a frame supported within the vehicle body; a first mechanism operably coupled between the seat and the vehicle body, the first mechanism including a front lever and a rear lever, each fixed in articulated manner via an upper articulated joint to the frame and via a lower articulated joint to a retaining structure, a second mechanism operably coupled between the seat and the vehicle body; an actuator configured to apply a turning moment to at least one of the first and second mechanisms for adjusting a height of the seat relative to the vehicle body.

17. The motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the actuator is configured to apply the turning moment for adjusting the height of the seat exclusively to the second mechanism.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 16, further comprising a gearbox mechanically connected to the actuator, wherein the turning moment is transmitted from the actuator to the second mechanism via the gearbox.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the actuator and the gearbox are fixed on the second mechanism.

20. The motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the second mechanism comprises a first lever fixed to the frame via a second upper articulated joint, and a second lever is fixed to the retaining structure via a second lower articulated joint, wherein the first and second levers are connected in articulated manner to each other via a connecting articulated joint.

21. The motor vehicle according to claim 20, further comprising a gearbox mechanically connected to the actuator, wherein the turning moment is transmitted from the actuator to the second mechanism via the gearbox.

22. The motor vehicle according to claim 21, wherein the actuator and the gearbox are fixed on at least one of the first or second levers.

23. The motor vehicle according to claims 21, wherein the actuator and the gearbox are fixed on the first lever, and a toothed rack is fixed on the second lever, and a gearwheel on the gearbox meshes with the toothed rack to transmit the turning moment.

24. The motor vehicle according to claim 23, wherein the toothed rack comprises a curved toothed rack having a center point that is coaxial with a swivel axis of the connecting articulated joint.

25. The motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the seat further comprises an upholstery element and the kinematics of the second mechanism is configured such that a distance between the actuators and the upholstery element is substantially constant.

26. The motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the actuator is arranged in the area of an inner side of the frame.

27. The motor vehicle according to claim 26, wherein the frame comprises two side members and the actuator is arranged therebetween.

28. The motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor.

29. The motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the seat further comprises two rails and the retaining structure is supported on a carriage to be movable in a longitudinal direction in the rails.

30. The motor vehicle according to claim 16, further comprising a seatbelt for the seat and a belt buckle for the seatbelt releasably secured to the frame.

31. The motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the first mechanism comprises two front levers and two rear levers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a side view of a motor vehicle;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a lengthwise cross section through a front seat of the motor vehicle;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an auxiliary height adjustment mechanism of the seat and the fixing of the auxiliary mechanism to a frame;

[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an auxiliary height adjustment mechanism of the seat without the fixing of the auxiliary mechanism to the frame;

[0025] FIG. 5 is an exploded illustration of the auxiliary height adjustment mechanism of the seat; and

[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a part of the frame of the seat and a belt buckle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description.

[0028] A motor vehicle represented in FIG. 1 as a hybrid or electric motor vehicle 1 has a vehicle body 2 made of metal, particularly steel. Motor vehicle 1 is propelled by a drive motor 6, for example an electric motor 7 and/or a combustion engine 8. An electric motor vehicle 1 is only equipped with electric motor 7 and a hybrid motor vehicle 1 is equipped with both electric motor 7 and combustion engine 8 as the drive motor 3. A steel vehicle body 2 delimits an interior space, and two front seats 10 are arranged as seats 9 and three rear seats 11 as seats 9 in the interior space. The three rear seats 11 are also combined to form a bench seat.

[0029] FIG. 2 represents a lengthwise cross section through front seat 10. Front seat 10 includes a seat part 12 and a back part 13. Seat part 12 and back part 13 each have a frame 20 to which an upholstery element 14 and a seat cover 15 are fastened. In addition, a headrest 23 is mounted on back part 13, and back part 13 is pivotable about a swivel axis 16. Frame 20 of back part 10 is connected to frame 20 of seat part 9 via connecting elements, so that when front seat 10 undergoes a horizontal and/or vertical movement this also causes both seat part 9 and back part 10 to undergo the same horizontal and/or vertical movement together. Front seat 10 is fixed on vehicle body 2 via two rails 40.

[0030] Seat 9 includes a mechanism 3 for adjusting the height of seat 9. Mechanism 3 includes two front levers 4 and two rear levers 5. The two front levers 4 are each fixed to the frame 20, that is to say a side member 21 of frame 20, by an upper articulated joint 24. The two front levers 4 are fixed on a carriage 41 via a lower articulated joint 25 by a lower end area of front levers 4, and carriage 41 forms a retaining structure 17. The two side members 21 of frame 20 are each connected to each other in the rear and front areas via a cross member 22 in each case. FIGS. 3 and 4 only show the rear cross member 22, front cross member 22 is not represented. Each rear lever 8 is connected in articulated manner to side member 21 in a rear and area of both side members 21 via an upper articulated joint 24 and in articulated manner to carriage 41 via a lower articulated joint 25. In this context, front and rear levers 4, 5 are aligned at an acute angle in the range from about 20 to 70 relative to a notional horizontal plane. Accordingly, swiveling front and levers 4, 5 thus causes seat 9 to move in a vertical direction 64 and also brings about a movement of seat 9 in a lengthwise direction 63 and a horizontal direction. In a transverse direction 65 of motor vehicle 1, movement or swiveling of the two front levers 4 and the two rear levers 5 does not cause any movement of the seat 9 in transverse direction 65. Only one of the two front levers 4 and only one of the two rear levers 5 is shown in FIG. 2. Levers 4, 5 are thus connected in jointed manner to frame 20 via upper articulated joint 24 for swiveling about a swivel axis and are connected to in jointed manner to carriage 41 via lower articulated joint 25 for swiveling about a swivel axis. Frame 20 is constructed from metal, particularly steel and/or aluminum.

[0031] Mechanism 3 functions solely as the kinematics for the vertical movement of seat 9. A force may be applied to move seat 9 in vertical direction 64 by an auxiliary mechanism 19 and an electric motor 27 as an actuator 26 and a gearbox 28. Auxiliary mechanism 19 includes a first auxiliary lever 29 and a second auxiliary lever 30. First auxiliary lever 29 is connected in articulated manner to side member 21 via an upper auxiliary articulated joint 31, and second auxiliary lever 30 is connected in articulated manner to carriage 41 via a lower auxiliary articulated joint 32. First and second auxiliary levers 29, 30 are also connected to each other in articulated manner via a connecting articulated joint 33. First and second auxiliary levers 29, 30 are thus configured in the manner of a shearing structure, and the angle between the first and the second auxiliary levers 29, 30 may be changed by swiveling first and second auxiliary levers 29, 30 relative to each other about a swivel axis 34 at connecting articulated joint 33. For this purpose, a toothed rack 35 with teeth 36 is fixed on first auxiliary lever 29. Toothed rack 35 is curved in shape, and is also arranged coaxially with swivel axis 34, so that when first and second auxiliary levers 29, 30 are swiveled towards each other the radial distance between teeth 36 and swivel axis 34 remains constant. Electric motor 27 and gearbox 28 are fixed on second auxiliary lever 30.

[0032] Upper auxiliary articulated joint 31 is created by a screw 45, a through hole 46 in first auxiliary lever 29 and a through hole 47 in frame 20 as side member 21. Lower auxiliary articulated joint 32 is created by a screw 48, a through hole 49 in second auxiliary lever 30 and a through hole 50 in retaining structure 17. Upper auxiliary articulated joint 31 is also formed by a plate 51 and a through hole 52 in plate 51. Connecting articulated joint 33 is created by a through hole 53 in first auxiliary lever 29, a through hole 54 in second auxiliary lever 30 and a rivet 55. A connecting rod 56 also has a through hole 57 for connecting articulated joint 57 and a through hole 60 for an axle 61 on a gearwheel 37 of gearbox 28. Gearwheel 37 has teeth. A kidney-shaped slot 59 is formed in first auxiliary lever 29, and kidney-shaped slot 59 is aligned coaxially with swivel axis 34. A through hole 58 is created on second auxiliary lever 30, and gearwheel 37 is mounted on gearbox 28 through through hole 58 during assembly.

[0033] In order to adjust the height of seat 9, electric motor 27 is switched on by a control unit (not shown). A drive shaft (not shown) from electric motor 27 applies a turning moment to gearbox 28. Gearbox 28 has a very large reduction ratio, so a fast rotation by the drive shaft from electric motor 27 with very low turning moment is converted into a very slow rotating movement of gearwheel 37 with a very high turning moment. As toothed rack 35 is fixed on first auxiliary lever 29 and gearbox 28 with electric motor 27 is fixed on second auxiliary lever 30 and because the teeth of gearwheel 37 mesh with the teeth 36 of toothed rack 35, the rotating movement of gearwheel 37 has the effect of changing the angle between first and second auxiliary levers 29, 30. During this swiveling, axle 61 of gearwheel 37 also performs a rotating movement in kidney-shaped slot 59 with an axis of rotation that corresponds to swivel axis 34. This change in angle between first and second auxiliary levers 29, 30 and the corresponding kinematic synchronization of first and second auxiliary levers 29, 30 as auxiliary mechanism 19 for mechanism 3 with both front levers 4 and both rear levers 5 causes a change in the vertical positions of seat 9, that is to say a movement of seat 9 in vertical direction 64. Because of the aligning of levers 4, 5 and auxiliary lever 29, 30, this movement of seat 9 in vertical direction 64 also causes a slight movement of seat 9 in lengthwise direction 63.

[0034] Each of the two side members 21 has an inner side 66 and an outer side 67. Auxiliary mechanism 19 with electric motor 27 and gearbox 28 are arranged in the area of the inner side 66 of side member 21. In this context, this is the side member 21 close to the center console. A belt buckle 43 is also fixed on this side member 21 close to the center console of motor vehicle 1 via a rod 44 with a fixing device 62. Belt buckle 43 serves to fasten a seatbelt 42 to motor vehicle 1. Rod 44 is thus fastened via a rear lever 5 and auxiliary mechanism 19 to the outer side 67 of side member 21 approximately opposite inner side 66. If the motor vehicle is involved in an accident, powerful forces are transferred from belt buckle 43 to side member 21 via rod 44. Rear lever 5 and auxiliary mechanism 19 are fastened to the inner side 66 in the rear end area of side member 21, and fixing device 62 is fastened to the outer side 67 in the area of the rear end area of side member 21. These strong forces which are transmitted from belt buckle 43 to side member 21 may thus be reliably directed to retaining structure 17 by rear lever 5 and auxiliary mechanism 19.

[0035] Retaining structure 17 is constructed in the form of a carriage 41, and seat 9 is movable in lengthwise direction 63 within a rail 40 by four carriages 41, one of which is located at each of the corners of seat 9. Seat 9 is thus displaced lengthwise by mans of a movement of carriages 41 in two rails 40. Two carriages 41 are supported movably in each rail 40, and the two rails 40 are fixed to vehicle body 2. Carriages 41 and therewith also seat 9 can be fixed in the lengthwise direction 63 by a fixing device.

[0036] Taken altogether, substantial advantages are associated with the motor vehicle 1 according to the present disclosure. Auxiliary mechanism 19 guarantees that seat 9 may be moved reliably in vertical direction 64 and also enables belt buckle 43 to be fixed on frame 20, so that belt buckle 43 also follows a movement of seat 9 in vertical direction 64. The assembly consisting of the electric motor 27, gearbox 28 and auxiliary mechanism 19 with first and second auxiliary levers 29, 30 is only attached to frame 20 and carriage 41 by the two screws 45, 48.

[0037] Accordingly, this assembly may easily be mounted on frame 20 and retaining structure 17 when motor vehicle 1 is being built. If this assembly is damaged while motor vehicle 1 is in operation, for example if the electric motor 7 is damaged, the assembly may easily be replaced in a workshop. In this way, damage to this assembly may easily be repaired in the course of a normal servicing operation in a workshop.

[0038] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.