Longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat

Abstract

Longitudinal, adjuster (27) having an outer and an Inner rail (50, 51), characterized in that the outer rail (50) has a structural element (53) which absorbs vertical forces and has a flexible element which biases a rolling body (52) against the inner rail (51).

Claims

1. A longitudinal adjuster having an outer rail and an inner rail, wherein the outer rail has a structural element which is made of a stiff material and which absorbs vertical forces, wherein the outer rail has an elastic element which biases a rolling body against the inner rail, wherein the elastic element is provided as a separate component of the outer rail, wherein the inner rail is realized in a rigid manner, and wherein the outer rail and the inner rail are produced from plastic, fiber reinforced plastic, plastic composite materials, or a combination thereof.

2. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the inner rail, the outer rail, or both the inner rail and the outer rail, is produced from a lightweight building material.

3. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 1, including a rolling or sliding body cage which is comprised of flexible material and arranged in between the inner rail and the outer rail, wherein the rolling or sliding body cage is formed in a resilient manner.

4. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 3, wherein the rolling or sliding body cage is connected to the inner rail, wherein one end of the rolling or sliding body cage has zero degrees of freedom relative to the inner rail, and wherein an other end of the rolling or sliding body cage has at least one degree of freedom.

5. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 4, wherein the other end is reversibly fixed to the inner rail after assembly of the inner rail and the outer rail.

6. A longitudinal adjuster having an outer rail and an inner rail and at least one rolling or sliding body cage, wherein the at least one rolling or sliding body cage is made out of flexible material and arranged in between the inner rail and the outer rail, and wherein the longitudinal adjuster further includes a lock which prevents the at least one rolling or sliding body cage from moving relative to the inner rail.

7. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 6, wherein the inner rail, the outer rail, or both the inner rail and the outer rail, is produced from aluminium, plastic, fiber reinforced plastic, plastic composite materials, or a combination thereof.

8. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 6, which includes two or more rolling or sliding body cages.

Description

(1) In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a vehicle seat.

(3) FIGS. 2-5 schematically show the longitudinal adjuster according to the invention.

(4) FIG. 1 schematically shows a perspective illustration of a vehicle seat 1. The vehicle seat 1 is in the form of a conventional vehicle seat and comprises at least a seat part 2 and a backrest 3. Furthermore, the vehicle seat 1 has a conventional longitudinal adjuster 4, by means of which the vehicle seat 1 is coupled to a bodywork structure of a vehicle (not illustrated).

(5) FIGS. 2 and 3 show the cross-section of a longitudinal adjuster having an outer rail 50 and an inner rail 51. Rolling bodies 52 are arranged between the rails 50, 51, in each case in the upper and lower region. According to the invention, the outer rail 50 has a structural element 53 which interacts with a structural element, which is arranged preferably integrally on the inner rail, and as a result absorbs vertical and/or lateral forces. The structural element 53 has a high rigidity and does not deform during the assembly of the inner- and outer rail. Preferably, the structural element 53 provides a contact surface for the rolling bodies. Furthermore, according to the invention, the outer rail has an elastic region 54 which interacts with the rolling bodies 52, in particular the rolling bodies arranged in the upper region of the rail according to the invention, and biases them against the inner rail 51. Preferably, the elastic element deforms elastically during the assembly of the inner- and the outer rail. In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the elastic regions 54 are provided in each case integrally with the outer rail 50, it can be seen that the structural element 53 an be provided in different regions of the outer rail. Preferably, the elastic region 54 comprises an area 68 with reduces material material thickness and or an arm like region 68, which deforms at comparatively little forces. Preferably, the outer and the inner rail are produced in each case from a lightweight material, in particular aluminium, plastic, fiber reinforced plastic and/or plastic composite materials or the like, preferably as an extruded component.

(6) In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3, reference can be made essentially to the statements as per FIG. 2, although in the present case the elastic element 54 is not provided integrally with the outer rail. In the present case, the rail has an additional element 54 which biases the rolling bodies 52 against the inner rail.

(7) In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, a rolling and/or sliding body cage 55 is provided between the outer rail 50 and the inner rail 51 and is connected preferably to the inner rail, in particular in a displaceable manner, and is configured such that it biases the inner rail against the outer rail both in the vertical and in the horizontal direction. The rolling/sliding body cage (spring cage) made out of flexible material tor example spring steel) installed on the inner rail, one end is fixed and another is free to deflect. Having one end free allows to generate relatively low normal forces, which means low slide effort. After rails are assembled, then the other end should be fixed, which provide required rigidity for whole system and at the same time low sliding effort. Preferably, the cage comprises at least one region 67 with a reduced friction. Preferably, the inner rail comprises indetations 64. The cage is preferably fixed to the resulting convexities 65. Preferably, the cage 55 is designed to absorb forces in two directions, which are perpendicular to each other.

(8) As can be seen particular from FIG. 5, the longitudinal adjuster according to the invention has preferably a locking element 56. FIG. 5a illustrates the locking element in its locking state. FIG. 5b shows the unlocked state of the locking element 56.

(9) The inner rail is pre assembled, in the present case with two rolling and/or sliding body cages (spring cages) made out of flexible material, preferably spring steel. Each has one end free and another fixed to inner rail. The fixed end of one of the spring cage is, in the present case, located at the front of the rail and another spring cage has a fixed end on the rear of the rail. The free ends of the both spring cages are located toward the middle of the rail. Also, the rail has a locking element 56, which can lock/fix (prevent movement) of the free ends of both spring cages. This looking element is preferably synchronized with the main latching device (which handles the structural load and prevents the inner rail from moving relative to outer rail). Which means, when the longitudinal adjuster requires an adjustment, the main latch is released and preferably, each spring cage locking element is released as well, which means ends of the spring cages are again free and as function of it, the sliding effort is low, which allows to adjust the track with low sliding effort. As soon, as required adjustment completed, then the main latch and preferably the spring cage locking element return to locking mode, which provide required system rigidity and prevent relative movement between inner and outer rails.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(10) Vehicle seat

(11) Seat part

(12) Backrest

(13) Longitudinal adjusting device

(14) Inclination adjusting apparatus

(15) Adjusting lever

(16) 27 Longitudinal adjustment rail

(17) Deformation region

(18) Outer rail

(19) Inner rail

(20) Rolling body

(21) Structural element

(22) Flexible element

(23) Rolling body cage

(24) Lock

(25) Cable pull, Bowden cable

(26) Guide

(27) Height adjuster

(28) Force transmission means

(29) Lock of the two rails

(30) Indentation 64

(31) Convexity

(32) Upper end of the inner rail

(33) Low friction region

(34) Reduced material thickness; arm-like area