PIVOTING FITTING, PIECE OF FURNITURE, AND MOTOR VEHICLE SEAT

Abstract

A pivoting fitting is formed with first pivoting lever that is movable about an axis of rotation in relation to a second pivoting lever, and a blocking device is provided to block a rotational motion of the first pivoting lever in relation to the second pivoting lever in a first direction of rotation and to enable rotational motion in an opposite second direction of rotation in a blocking position. In addition, a switching element enables infinitely variable adjustment of the blocking position to deactivate the blocking device for an adjusting process of the first pivoting lever relative to the second pivoting lever in the first direction of rotation.

Claims

1. A pivoting fitting, comprising: a first pivoting lever; a second pivoting lever, wherein the first pivoting lever is movable about an axis of rotation in relation to the second pivoting lever; a blocking device for blocking a rotational motion of the first pivoting lever relative to the second pivoting lever in a first direction of rotation and for enabling a rotational motion in an opposite, second direction of rotation in a blocking position; and a switching element for infinitely variable adjustment of the blocking position to deactivate the blocking device for an adjusting process of the first pivoting lever relative the second pivoting lever in the first direction of rotation.

2. The pivoting fitting according to claim 1, wherein the blocking device comprises a clamping axle surrounded by a loop and wherein the loop is placed in a clamping manner about the clamping axle.

3. The pivoting fitting according to claim 1, wherein the switching element is arranged on the loop and allows a clamping fixing of the loop bout the clamping axle in a first position and permits a twisting of the loop around the clamping axle in a second position.

4. The pivoting fitting according to claim 1, wherein one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pivoting lever is rotatably mounted on a first arm of the loop and is in engagement with a second arm of the loop to fix the loop in the first direction of rotation on the clamping axle and to release the loop in the second direction of rotation.

5. The pivoting fitting according to claim 1, wherein after an adjusting process, the switching element activates the blocking device to block a rotational motion of the first pivoting lever relative to the second pivoting lever.

6. The pivoting fitting according to claim 1, further comprising a control element to actuate the switching element.

7. The pivoting fitting according to claim 6, wherein the control element is rotatable at least in sections with the first or the second pivoting lever.

8. The pivoting fitting according to claim 6, wherein the control element is coupled via a coupling to one of the first and the second pivoting levers.

9. The pivoting fitting according to claim 8, wherein the control element is coupled to the first pivoting lever via the coupling, while the second pivoting lever is rotatably mounted on the loop.

10. The pivoting fitting according to claim 1, wherein the switching element is fixable in a clamping manner in a position for deactivating the blocking device.

11. The pivoting fitting according to claim 1, wherein the switching element is formed as a pin and wherein the pin is pretensioned by a spring in a position in which the blocking device is effective.

12. The pivoting fitting according to claim 6, wherein the control element comprises a guide bevel to actuate the switching element during a rotational motion.

13. The pivoting fitting according to claim 4, wherein in a projection is formed on the second pivoting lever for engaging in a receptacle on the second arm of the loop, and wherein during a rotational movement of the first pivoting lever in relation to the second pivoting lever in the first direction of rotation, the projection moves the second arm of the loop relative to the first arm to fix the loop in a clamping manner on the clamping axle.

14. The pivoting fitting according to claim 6, wherein a rotational range of the control element is limited by one or two stops.

15. The pivoting fitting according to claim 1, wherein the second pivoting lever is rotatably held in a slotted receptacle of the loop.

16. The pivoting fitting according to claim 14, wherein the control element is pretensioned by a spring in a direction of rotation.

17. The pivoting fitting according to claim 1, wherein the first lever is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner either on a pin or on a retaining section on the clamping axle.

18. A piece of furniture with at least one pivoting fitting, wherein the pivotal fitting comprises: a first pivoting lever; a second pivoting lever, wherein the first pivoting lever is movable about an axis of rotation in relation to the second pivoting lever; a blocking device for blocking a rotational motion of the first pivoting lever relative to the second pivoting lever in a first direction of rotation and for enabling a rotational motion in an opposite, second direction of rotation in a blocking position; and a switching element for infinitely variable adjustment of the blocking position to deactivate the blocking device for an adjusting process of the first pivoting lever relative the second pivoting lever in the first direction of rotation.

19. A piece of furniture with at least first and second pivoting fittings, the first and second pivotal fittings comprising: a first pivoting lever; a second pivoting lever, wherein the first pivoting lever is movable about an axis of rotation in relation to the second pivoting lever; a blocking device for blocking a rotational motion of the first pivoting lever relative to the second pivoting lever in a first direction of rotation and for enabling a rotational motion in an opposite, second direction of rotation in a blocking position; and a switching element for infinitely variable adjustment of the blocking position to deactivate the blocking device for an adjusting process of the first pivoting lever relative the second pivoting lever in the first direction of rotation, wherein in the first pivoting fitting, the first lever is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the pin of the clamping axle and in the second pivoting fitting the first lever is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the holding section of the clamping axle.

20. The piece of furniture of claim 19, configured as a motor vehicle seat.

Description

[0017] The invention will be explained below in closer detail by reference to an embodiment shown in the enclosed drawings, wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a pivoting fitting in accordance with the invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a perspective exploded view of the pivoting fitting of FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the loop of the pivoting fitting of FIG. 2;

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the pivoting fitting of FIG. 1 under load in the first direction of rotation;

[0022] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the pivoting fitting of FIG. 1 under load in the second direction of rotation;

[0023] FIGS. 6A and 6B show two views of the switching element in the blocking position;

[0024] FIGS. 7A and 7B show two views of the switching element in the adjusting position;

[0025] FIGS. 8 to 11 show several views of a second embodiment of a pivoting fitting in accordance with the invention;

[0026] FIG. 12 shows a perspective exploded view of the pivoting fitting of FIGS. 8 to 11;

[0027] FIG. 13 shows a sectional view of the pivoting fitting of FIG. 12 in the blocking position;

[0028] FIG. 14 shows a sectional view of the pivoting fitting of FIG. 12 in the adjusting position, and

[0029] FIG. 15 shows a piece of furniture with several fittings in accordance with the invention.

[0030] A pivoting fitting 1 comprises a first pivoting lever 2 and a second pivoting lever 3, which are pivotable in relation to each other about a rotational axis. Such a pivoting fitting 1 can be used for example in furniture, for the adjustable fixing of armrests, headrests or other components.

[0031] The second pivoting lever 3 is fixed on a loop 4, which surrounds a clamping axle 5. The first pivoting lever 2 is fixed to the clamping axle 5. The second pivoting lever 3 is rotatably mounted about a pivot 6 on the loop 4. The pivoting range of the second pivoting lever 3 can be limited relative to the loop 4 by a pin 8 in form of a journal. The pivoting range of the second pivot lever 3 relative to the loop 4 can be a few degrees, e.g. 1° to 8°, especially 2° to 5°. A projection 7 is integrally attached to an inner end of the second pivoting lever 3, which projection is arranged adjacent to the pivot 6.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows the pivoting fitting 1 in an exploded view. The first pivoting lever 2 comprises a jagged receptacle 20 which is inserted into a similarly jagged pin 52 of the clamping axle 5, so that the first pivoting lever 2 and the clamping axle 5 are connected in a rotationally fixed manner to each other. Furthermore, several openings 21 for mounting further components are provided on the first pivoting lever 2. FIG. 2 further shows a washer 9 which rests on the loop 4.

[0033] The clamping axle 5 comprises a cylindrical section 50 which is surrounded by a circular receptacle 40 on the loop 4. A retaining section 51 for a switching mechanism is further formed between the cylindrical section 50 and the jagged pin 52.

[0034] The second pivoting lever 3 comprises a bearing opening 30, which is placed on the pivot 6 on the loop 4. An upwardly protruding pin 8 is further arranged on the loop 4, which is inserted into an opening 31 in form of an oblong hole or an opening formed with play in relation to the pin 8. As a result, the second pivoting lever 3 can be pivoted relative to the loop 4 in a predetermined angular range. The second pivoting lever 3 further comprises openings 32 for mounting further components.

[0035] The loop 4 and the clamping axle 5 form a blocking device, by means of which a rotational motion of the first pivoting lever 2 in relation to the second pivoting lever 3 is blocked in a first direction of rotation and is enabled in a second direction of rotation. The blocking device can be deactivated for an adjusting process via a switching element 10. The switching element 10 is arranged adjacent to a control element 14, which is connected via a coupling in form of a corrugated spring 15 to the first pivoting lever 2. The coupling can also be realised in a different way, e.g. as a friction coupling. The corrugated spring 15 is clampingly inserted between a retaining ring 16, which is adjacent to the clamping axle 5, and the control element 14, so that during a rotational motion of the clamping axle 5 the control element 14 is moved by frictional forces with the clamping axle 5 and the first pivoting lever 2 until a further rotational motion is prevented, e.g. by a stop. In addition, a cover 17 is present so that the pivoting mechanism does not come into contact with other components such as fillings of upholstered pieces of furniture for example.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows the loop 4 in detail. The loop 4 comprises a first arm 41 which is formed in an L-shaped manner and on the outer leg of which the pivot 6 and the pin 8 are arranged. The first arm 41 further surrounds a first part of the clamping axle 5, wherein a second arm 42 is connected to the first arm 41. A receptacle 46 is provided on the second arm 42, into which the projection 7 of the second pivoting lever 3 is inserted. The first arm 41 and the second arm 42 of the loop 4 are movable relative to each other, wherein a radial gap 44 is formed adjacent to the receptacle 40 between the arms 41 and 42. Furthermore, a gap 43 formed in an angular and preferably rectangular manner is provided between the arms 41 and 42, so that a movement of the arms 41 and 42 is possible in a specific angular range, e.g. between 0.5° and 5°.

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a loading of the second pivoting lever 3 relative to the first pivoting lever 3 in the clamping direction. When the force F.sub.1 is applied to the left in FIG. 4, the second pivoting lever 3 is slightly twisted about the pivot 6, so that the projection 7 in the receptacle 46 on the loop 4 acts on the second arm 42 of the loop 4 with the force F.sub.2. The second arm 42 is thus pressed to the first arm 41 of the loop, and the radial gap 44 between the arms 41 and 42 is reduced to the width b. By compressing the arms 41 and 42, the loop 4 engages around the cylindrical section 50 of the clamping axle 5 in a clamping fashion, so that a relative movement between the loop 4 and the clamping axle 5 is prevented. The loading with the force F.sub.1 thus prevents a rotational motion of the second pivoting lever 3 relative to the first pivoting lever 2.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a loading of the second pivoting lever 3 against the first direction of rotation, i.e. in the second direction of rotation. The force F.sub.1* presses to the right in FIG. 5, so that the second pivoting lever 3 is slightly twisted about the pivot 6 and the projection acts with a force F.sub.2* on the second arm 42 of the loop 4. The second arm 42 is slightly pressed away from the first arm 41 by the force F.sub.2*, so that the gap 44 broadens to the width B. By spreading the first arm 41 in relation to the second arm 42, a rotational motion between the loop 4 and the clamping axle 5 is enabled. The rotational motion can occur at any desired angle, e.g. also by more than 360°.

[0039] The function of the switching element 10 is explained in closer detail by reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIGS. 6A and 6B show the switching element 10 in an inactive position, in which blocking of the rotational motion of the first pivoting lever 2 in relation to the second pivoting lever 3 in the first direction of rotation is enabled and no blocking occurs in the second direction of rotation, as explained in FIGS. 4 and 5. The switching element 10 is pretensioned by a spring 13 to this inactive position, wherein the spring 13 is supported on a base 47 of the arm 41 of the loop 4. The switching element 10 is situated adjacent to the radial gap 44 between the first arm 41 and the second arm 42. Furthermore, the switching element comprises a tubular receptacle 12 for the spring 13 and a middle section which protrudes into the gap 44. An upper pin 11 of the switching element 10 protrudes upwardly beyond the loop 4 and rests on a web 18 of the control element 14. A limit stop 19 is integrally attached to the web 18, which limits a rotational motion of the control element 14 relative to the switching element 10.

[0040] In the inactive position, the middle section of the switching element 10 is situated with a wall 60 adjacent to a wall 48 on the second arm 42. The wall 48 is formed in a setback manner, so that the gap 44 in the region of the wall 48 is greater than in the remaining area. The wall 48 is connected via a step 49 to a wall 55 of the arm 42. If the wall 48 and the wall 60 are situated opposite each other, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, the first arm 41 and the second arm 42 of the loop can be moved, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In particular, the loop 4 can tightly clamp the clamping axle 5 when the arms 41 and 42 are moved towards each other.

[0041] In FIGS. 7A and 7B, the first pivoting lever 2 was twisted in the second direction of rotation, by means of which the control element 14 was co-rotated with the annular section as a result of the coupling by the corrugated spring 15. The switching element 10 is moved along the web 18 by twisting of the control element 14 and pressed by a guide bevel 25 on the web 18 into a receptacle 45 of the first arm 41 against the force of the spring 13. The rotational motion of the control element 14 is terminated when a limit stop 26 adjacent to the guide bevel 25 reaches the pin 11 of the switching element 10. The first pivoting lever 2 can then be moved relative to the second pivoting lever 3 further in the second direction of rotation, wherein the coupling with the control element 14 ensures that the control element 14 can remain in the fixed position.

[0042] FIG. 7B shows that by pressing down the switching pin the wall 60 no longer rests on the widened wall 48 of the arm 42, but was moved at least partly in the downward direction over the step 49, so that the wall 60 now rests on the wall 55. The switching element 10 is now fixed in a clamped fashion between the first arm 41 and the second arm 42, and prevents that the first arm 41 and the second arm 42 are moved towards each other in order to produce a clamping connection between the loop 4 and the clamping axle 5. If the first pivoting lever 2 is now moved relative to the second pivoting lever 3 in the first direction of rotation, there is no tight clamping of the loop 4 relative to the clamping axle, although according to FIG. 4 a force of the second pivoting lever 3 is applied by the projection 7 onto the second arm 42 since the second arm 42 is blocked by the switching element 10. As a result of the arrangement of the switching element 10 in the clamping position, a movement in the first direction of rotation can thus also occur because the blocking device is deactivated.

[0043] If the first pivoting lever 2 is now moved relative to the second pivoting lever 3 in the first direction of rotation, the switching element 10 remains fixed in a clamping fashion between the first arm 41 and the second arm 42 until the user moves the first pivoting lever 2 relative to the second pivoting lever 3 slightly in the second direction of rotation. The clamping of the switching elements 10 in the clamping gap 44 is then released by the expansion of the clamping gap 44 by the action of the force F1 on the projection 7 and the arms 41 and 42 can spread apart slightly, which releases the wall 60 from the clamped fixing with the wall 55, and the switching elements 10 can now be pressed upwardly out of the receptacle 45 as a result of the force of the spring 13. As a result, the first arm 41 can now be compressed again relative to the second arm 42 under loading in the first direction of rotation and block the loop 4 on the clamping axle 5.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, a corrugated spring 15 is used for coupling the control element 14 to the first pivoting lever 2 and the clamping axle 5. It is obvious that other coupling elements can also be provided.

[0045] Furthermore, a different switching mechanism can be used instead of the illustrated switching element in order to block or deactivate a clamping effect of the loop 4 for an adjusting process.

[0046] FIGS. 8 to 14 show a second embodiment of a pivoting fitting 1′ in accordance with the invention. The pivoting fitting 1′ comprises a first pivoting lever 2 and a second pivoting lever 3, which can be arranged in different angular positions relative to each other, as is shown in FIGS. 8 to 11. Other than in the first embodiment, the adjustment path of the pivoting levers 2 and 3 relative to each other is predetermined by limit stops in this pivoting fitting 1′.

[0047] The mechanical details of the pivoting fitting 1′ are shown in FIG. 12.

[0048] The first pivoting lever 2 comprises a hexagonal receptacle 20′, which can be inserted onto a hexagonal pin 52′ of the clamping axle 5′, so that the first pivoting lever 2 and the clamping axle 5′ are connected to each other in a rotationally fixed manner. Furthermore, a similarly hexagonal holding section 51′ is provided at the bottom end of the clamping axle 5′.

[0049] The second pivoting lever 3 is fixed to a loop 4′, which encloses with a cylindrical receptacle 40 a similarly cylindrical section 50′ of a clamping axle 5′. The second pivoting lever 3 is inserted into a slotted receptacle 62 on the loop 4′ and is rotatably mounted there. A bearing opening 30 is formed on the second pivoting lever 3 for this purpose, which is penetrated by a pivot 6, which is inserted into an opening 61 on the loop 4′ and rotatably mounts the second pivoting lever 3. The pivot 6 can be secured by a nut 64 with a washer 63 against axial displacement. Openings 32 for mounting further attachment parts are further formed on the second pivoting lever 3, and a projection 7 is formed in the region into which the loop 4′ protrudes.

[0050] The loop 4′ and the clamping axle 5′ form a blocking device for the pivoting levers 2 and 3, which blocks in a first direction of rotation and allows a rotation in a second direction of rotation, wherein the blocking device can be deactivated via a switching element 10′ for an adjusting process. The switching element 10′ is formed as a pin which is pretensioned by a spring 13 towards a control element 14′. The switching element 10′ is arranged in a receptacle 45 adjacent to a gap 44 between two arms 41 and 42 of the loop 4′.

[0051] The control element 14′ is rotatably mounted on the clamping axle 5′ and comprises an opening for this purpose, which is penetrated by a section 54 of the clamping axle 5′. The control element 14′ comprises two stops 56 and 57 on an annular section, which can rest on a projection 53 on the clamping axle 5′, so that the rotational range between the control element 14′ and the clamping axle 5′ is limited. As in the preceding embodiment, the control element 14′ comprises a web 18′ extending perpendicularly to the rotational axis of the clamping axle 5′, on which a guide bevel 25′ is integrally attached. The web 18′ and the guide bevel 25′ are used for switching the pretensioned switching element 10′ on the loop 4′. In order to avoid an axial displacement of the control element 14′, a retaining ring 16 is mounted adjacent to the control element 14′ on the section 54 of the clamping axle 5′. Furthermore, a spring 58 is arranged between two retaining rings 16, wherein the spring 58 pretensions the control element 14′ in a direction of rotation. For this purpose, a bent end section 59 of the spring 58, which is made of wire, is inserted into an opening on the web 18′, and an opposite end of the spring 58 is retained on a receptacle 46′ of the loop 4.

[0052] In order to pretension the loop 4′ towards the first pivoting lever 2, a corrugated spring 15 is provided on the loop 4′ on the side facing away from the pivoting lever 2, which corrugated spring is arranged between two washers 9′. A retaining ring 16 is provided again on the axially outer side on a retaining section 51′ of the clamping axle 5′.

[0053] The actuation of the second pivoting lever 3 makes the projection 7 selectively compressing or widening the loop 4′, wherein the pivoting levers 2 and 3 are blocked relative to each other by the compression of the loop 4′. Only when the second pivoting lever 3 is pivoted in the opposite direction will the projection 7 press on the arm 42 of the loop 4′, so that it widens slightly and permits a pivoting movement. If the second pivoting lever 3 is now pivoted in the unblocked direction of rotation, then this can occur to such an extent until the control element 14′ moves with the stop 56 against the projection 53. The control element 14′ is then no longer co-rotated under a further pivoting movement of the second pivoting lever 3, but remains rigidly on the clamping axle 5′. The guide bevel 25′ thus comes into engagement with the switching element 10′, which is pressed downwardly, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. The switching element 10′ is pressed against the force of the spring 13 into the receptacle 45 on that the loop 4′. The arms 41 and 42 are held in the widened position as a result of the downward pressing of the switching element 10′, as was already explained for the first embodiment with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B. A return process can then be initiated until the control element 14′ moves with the second stop 57 against the projection 53. The switching element 10′ is then displaced along the guide bevel 25′ during a further return movement of the second pivoting lever 3 and can reach the protruding position again as a result of the force of the spring 13, so that the blocking effect is lifted. The second pivoting lever 3 can then be twisted in the opposite direction of rotation again while it is blocked in the direction of rotation for the return process. The adjustment range can be set individually by the stops 56 and 57 by using different control elements 14′. For the user the pivoting up to a stop is simpler in the handling than if no stop were present.

[0054] In FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14 the first lever 2 is connected by the holding section 51′ to the clamping axle 5′. FIG. 12 shows the receptacle 20′ of the first lever 2 above the pin 52′ of the clamping axle 5′ and can be connected thereto in a rotationally fixed manner. As a result, the pivoting fitting 1′ in FIG. 12 can be used for the one side of the piece of furniture, e.g. in a backrest, or of the motor vehicle seat, and the pivoting fitting in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14 for the other side of the piece of furniture or the motor vehicle seat. The same applies to the pivoting fitting 1 of the first embodiment. It is only relevant that the respective receptacle 20, 20′ and the pin 52, 52′ or the retaining section 51, 51′ are fixed to each other in a rotationally fixed manner, especially by an interlocking connection.

[0055] FIG. 15 shows a piece of furniture 100 with several substantially identical pivoting fittings 1. Two pivoting fittings 1 mount a headrest 101, two pivoting fittings 1 an armrest 102, and two pivoting fittings 1 a leg rest 103. In order to avoid the use of right and left pivoting fittings, the first lever 2 can be arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the pin 52 of the clamping axle 5 in a first pivoting fitting 1, and in the second pivoting fitting 1 the first lever 2 can be arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the opposite side of the clamping axle 5, namely on the retaining section 51 of the clamping axle 5.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0056] 1, 1′ Pivoting fitting [0057] 2 Pivoting lever [0058] 3 Pivoting lever [0059] 4, 4′ Loop [0060] 5, 5′ Clamping axle [0061] 6 Pivot [0062] 7 Projection [0063] 8 Pin [0064] 9 Washer [0065] 9′ Washer [0066] 10, 10′ Switching element [0067] 11 Pin [0068] 12 Receptacle [0069] 13 Spring [0070] 14, 14′ Control element [0071] 15 Corrugated spring [0072] 16 Retaining ring [0073] 17 Cover [0074] 18, 18′ Web [0075] 19 Stop [0076] 20, 20′ Receptacle [0077] 21 Opening [0078] 25, 25′ Guide bevel [0079] 26 Stop [0080] 30 Bearing opening [0081] 31 Opening [0082] 32 Opening [0083] 40 Receptacle [0084] 41 Arm [0085] 42 Arm [0086] 43 Gap [0087] 44 Gap [0088] 45 Receptacle [0089] 46, 46′ Receptacle [0090] 47 Base [0091] 48 Wall [0092] 49 Step [0093] 50, 50′ Section [0094] 51, 51′ Retaining section [0095] 52, 52′ Pin [0096] 53 Projection [0097] 54 Section [0098] 55 Wall [0099] 56 Stop [0100] 57 Stop [0101] 58 Spring [0102] 59 End section [0103] 60 Wall [0104] 61 Opening [0105] 62 Receptacle [0106] 63 Washer [0107] 64 Nut [0108] 100 Piece of furniture [0109] 101 Headrest [0110] 102 Armrest [0111] 103 Leg rest [0112] F.sub.1 Force [0113] F.sub.2 Force [0114] F.sub.1* Force [0115] F.sub.2* Force [0116] b Width [0117] B Width