Longitudinal adjuster and vehicle seat

Abstract

Longitudinal adjuster, in particular for a vehicle seat (1), with two spaced-apart pairs of rails (10), each consisting of a fixed upper rail (10a) and a structurally fixed lower rail (10b), with a first locking element (16a) and at least one second locking element (16b) which are held on the upper rail (10a) and, in a locking position, block movement of the upper rail (10a) relative to the lower rail (10b), wherein the lower rail (10b) has openings (14) and the upper rail (10a) has slot-like openings (12), wherein the first locking element (16a) and the at least one second locking element (16b) have tooth-like projections (18) on their two opposite longitudinal sides, which are guided in the slot-like openings (12), and which, in the locking position, lock both the slot-like openings (12) and the openings (14). take decisive actionwherein only the first locking element (16a) in the locking position engages only partially in the openings (14) to eliminate play in the rail pair, to the extent that one of the tooth-like projections (18) comes into contact with the lower rail (10b) and the upper rail (10a) in a play-free manner, while the at least one second locking element (16b) in the locking position is always fully inserted into the openings (14), wherein an insertion depth is limited by a tooth root of the tooth-like openings (14) of the lower rail (10b), characterized in that the tooth-like projections (18) of at least one locking element (16a, 16b) are conically formed parallel to the transverse direction (y) and wherein the openings (14) are conically formed.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a longitudinal adjuster having the features of the preamble of claim 1 and to a vehicle seat. State of the art

[0002] A vehicle seat or a locking device for a longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat is known, for example, from DE 100 50 957 A1. For longitudinal adjustment, the vehicle seat has a pair of seat rails consisting of an upper rail and a lower rail, both walls of which are penetrated by the teeth of a locking element on each side. This locking device has only one locking element that locks in a defined increment.

[0003] DE 10 2014 225 426 A1 discloses a longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat, comprising at least one lower rail, at least one upper rail that is longitudinally displaceable relative to the lower rail, and at least one locking unit for locking the upper rail relative to the lower rail. Furthermore, the locking unit comprises at least two locking elements that engage the upper rail and the lower rail in a stepwise locking manner to lock them together. In a pre-locking stage, at least one of the locking elements pre-locks the upper rail and the lower rail with a certain amount of play relative to one another, and in a locking stage, at least one of the locking elements locks the upper rail and the lower rail together without play.

[0004] DE 10 2008 028 688 A1 discloses a locking device for a vehicle seat, comprising at least one locking element that is movable relative to at least one counter-element, in particular in a direction of incidence, and cooperates with the counter-element to lock two components of the vehicle seat together. The locking element contacts the edge region of the counter-element with at least one tooth and is coated with at least one cover layer, at least on the surface of the tooth. The cover layer consists of an organic matrix with embedded, in particular inorganic, particles. DE 10 2008 056 683 A1 discloses another conventional longitudinal adjuster with two incident locking plates for locking the rails.

[0005] Other generic longitudinal adjusters are known from the documents DE 196 44 768 A1 and KR 10 2013 0 012 325 A. Task

[0006] The invention is based on the object of improving a longitudinal adjuster of the type mentioned at the outset, in particular increasing the load-bearing capacity, and providing a corresponding vehicle seat. Solution

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention by a longitudinal adjuster having the features according to patent claim 1.

[0008] Because only the first locking element partially engages the openings in the locking position to eliminate play in the pair of rails, while the at least one second locking element is always fully inserted into the openings in its locking position, the maximum possible load absorption by the locking elements can be ensured. A general mode of operation for locking seat rails of a vehicle seat using such locking elements is known, for example, from DE 100 50 957 A1, the relevant disclosure of which, in particular concerning the design, dimensioning, arrangement, and actuation of the locking elements, is expressly incorporated herein.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments, which can be used individually or in combination with one another, are the subject of the subclaims.

[0010] In addition, several additional locking elements can be provided to further increase the load-bearing capacity. Preferably, a total of two to five locking elements are used.

[0011] In a further advantageous manner, it can be provided that only a single locking element is used to eliminate play between the upper rail and the lower rail.

[0012] The external dimensions, in particular a length and a width, of the respective locking elements can be configured differently. Furthermore, the number of tooth-like projections on the respective locking elements can be configured differently. Likewise, the external shape of the tooth-like projections on the locking elements can be configured differently, with the tooth-like projections of at least one locking element being conical according to the invention. "Conical" in the sense of the invention generally refers to a tapering of a circumference, a width, or a radius.

[0013] The openings in the lower rail can be tooth-like, for example in the form of a locking comb, with downward-facing openings or in the form of locking holes.

[0014] The object is further achieved by a vehicle seat, in particular a vehicle rear seat, comprising a seat part, a backrest hinged to the seat part and a previously described longitudinal adjuster.

[0015] In summary, locking is achieved using two independent locking elements. The first locking element can be designed as described in the prior art according to DE 100 50 957 A1, whereby the two profiles are fixed to one another without any play after locking. The depth of engagement can depend on the current individual part tolerances, which to a certain extent also influences the locking strength of the locking elements. The second locking element can be designed so that it engages completely into the tooth gaps in the lower rail during locking, i.e. right down to the bottom of the tooth gaps. The second locking element can therefore preferably be free from the influences of a tolerance chain and always be fully engaged. The strength of the two locking elements thus adds up to the overall strength of the locking mechanism. The number of teeth of the two locking elements can be selected almost freely according to requirements (required locking strength).The two locking plates can be unlocked using an unlocking system such as that described in DE 10 2015 220 262 A1, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Figures and embodiments of the invention

[0016] The invention is explained in more detail below using an advantageous embodiment illustrated in the figures. They show: Fig. 1: a schematic representation of a vehicle seat, Fig. 2: a perspective view of a pair of rails, Fig. 3: a schematic cross-sectional view of the rail pair of Fig. 2, Fig. 4: a partial sectional view of the pair of rails of Fig. 2 in unlocked position, and Fig. 5: a partial sectional view of the pair of rails of Fig. 2 in locked position.

[0017] The Fig. A vehicle seat 1 schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, in this case a rear seat, is described below using three spatial directions running perpendicular to one another. In a vehicle seat 1 installed in the vehicle, a longitudinal direction x runs largely horizontally and preferably parallel to a vehicle longitudinal direction that corresponds to the normal direction of travel of the vehicle. A transverse direction y running perpendicular to the longitudinal direction x is also oriented horizontally in the vehicle and runs parallel to a vehicle transverse direction. A vertical direction z runs perpendicular to the longitudinal direction x and perpendicular to the transverse direction y. In a vehicle seat 1 installed in the vehicle, the vertical direction z runs parallel to the vehicle's vertical axis.

[0018] The position and direction information used, such as front, rear, top, and bottom, refer to the viewing direction of an occupant sitting in the vehicle seat 1 in a normal seating position, with the vehicle seat 1 installed in the vehicle, in a position suitable for passenger transport with the backrest 5 upright and oriented in the direction of travel as usual. However, the vehicle seat 1 according to the invention can also be installed in a different orientation, for example, transverse to the direction of travel.

[0019] The Fig. The vehicle seat 1 shown in Figure 1 is divided into two sections, a first part 1a and a second part 1b. The second part 1b comprises two seats, while the first part 1a provides only one seat. A typical division of the total seat width into a first part 1a with a width of 40% of the total seat width and a second part 1b with a width of 60% of the total seat width corresponds to the overall seat width. Each of the two parts 1a, 1b has a seat part 3 and a backrest 5 hinged to the respective seat part 3.

[0020] The present longitudinal adjuster according to the invention is preferably used in conjunction with the second part 1b, since this part must withstand greater loads in the event of a crash due to its greater width. Accordingly, the two pairs of rails 10, arranged parallel to one another and spaced apart, each comprise an upper rail 10a and a lower rail 10b, which alternately engage around one another and are mounted for relative movement.

[0021] The Fig. The longitudinal adjuster shown in Figure 2 comprises the seat-mounted upper rail 10a and the structurally fixed lower rail 10b. Fig. 3, a pair of rails 10 of the longitudinal adjuster is shown in further detail in a cross-sectional view. The pair of rails 10 has a first locking element 16a, which is held on the upper rail 10a, and a second locking element 16b offset in the longitudinal direction x to the first locking element 16a - in Fig. 3 (not shown for illustrative reasons), which is also held on the upper rail 10a. The two locking elements 16a, 16b have tooth-like projections 18 on their two opposite longitudinal sides, extending parallel to the transverse direction y. The upper rail 10a has slot-like openings 12 in which the tooth-like projections 18 of the two locking elements 16a, 16b are guided.

[0022] The lower rail 10b has tooth-like openings 14 into which the tooth-like projections 18 of the two locking elements 16a, 16b at least partially engage when the two locking elements 16a, 16b are transferred into a locking position in which movement of the upper rail 10a relative to the lower rail 10b is blocked. According to the invention, the openings 14 are conical to facilitate the insertion of the projections 18 and to allow for play relief between the upper rail 10a and the lower rail 10b.

[0023] To transfer the two locking elements 16a, 16b from the locking position to the unlocking position, a guide pin 20 is connected to each of the locking elements 16a, 16b. A return spring 22 is provided to transfer the two locking elements 16a, 16b from the unlocking position to the locking position.

[0024] In Fig. 4 is a partial view of a longitudinal section of the pair of rails of Fig. 2 in the unlocked position. The two locking elements 16a, 16b are moved downwards to their maximum extent, so that they rest against a bottom section of the slot-like openings 12 of the upper rail 10a. The tooth-like projections 18 of the two locking elements 16a, 16b are thus maximally spaced from the tooth-like openings 14 of the lower rail 10b and release the pair of rails 10 in the longitudinal direction.

[0025] In Fig. 5 is a partial view of a longitudinal section of the pair of rails of Fig.2 in the locked position. The first locking element 16a shown on the right in the figure has only partially entered the openings 14, namely until one of the tooth-like projections 18 comes into contact with the lower rail 10b and the upper rail 10a, eliminating play. The first locking element 16a now creates the play-relieving position, as described in DE 100 50 957 A1, the relevant disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference. The insertion depth thus depends on the tolerances of the play-relieving tooth-like projections 18, the slot-like opening 12 in the upper rail 10a, and the openings 14 in the lower rail 10b. The achievable locking strength depends to a certain extent on the depth of insertion of the tooth-like projections 18 of the locking element 16a, 16b into the tooth-like openings 14 of the lower rail 10b, which in turn depends on the angle of the side surfaces to one another.

[0026] The second locking element 16b shown on the left in the figure does not have a backlash-relieving function. The insertion depth is limited by the tooth base of the tooth-like openings 14 in the lower rail 10b. The second locking element 16b is thus designed to provide or achieve the maximum possible locking strength for the second locking element 16b at any time through the maximum possible insertion depth. List of reference symbols 1 vehicle seat 1a first part 1b second part 3 Seat part 5 backrest 10 pairs of rails 10a Top rail 10b Bottom rail 12 slot-like opening (of the top rail) 14 Breakthrough (of the lower rail) 16a first locking element 16b second locking element 18 tooth-like projection (of the locking element) 20 guide pin 22 Return spring x longitudinal direction y transverse direction z Vertical direction

Claims

[1] Longitudinal adjuster, in particular for a vehicle seat (1), with two spaced-apart rail pairs (10), each constructed from a seat-fixed upper rail (10a) and a structurally fixed lower rail (10b), with a first locking element (16a) and at least one second locking element (16b), which are held on the upper rail (10a) and, in a locking position, block a movement of the upper rail (10a) relative to the lower rail (10b), wherein the lower rail (10b) has openings (14) and the upper rail (10a) has slot-like openings (12), wherein the first locking element (16a) and the at least one second locking element (16b) have tooth-like projections (18) on their two opposite longitudinal sides, which are guided in the slot-like openings (12), and which, in the locking position, both the slot-like openings (12) and the breakthroughs (14) penetrate,wherein only the first locking element (16a) in the locking position engages only partially in the openings (14) to eliminate play in the pair of rails, namely until one of the tooth-like projections (18) comes into contact with the lower rail (10b) and the upper rail (10a) in a play-free manner, while the at least one second locking element (16b) in the locking position is always completely inserted into the openings (14), wherein an immersion depth is limited by a tooth base of the tooth-like openings (14) of the lower rail (10b), , characterized by that the tooth-like projections (18) of at least one locking element (16a, 16b) are conical in shape parallel to the transverse direction (y) and wherein the openings (14) are conical in shape. [2] Longitudinal adjuster according to claim 1, wherein further locking elements (16a, 16b) are provided. [3] Longitudinal adjuster according to claim 2, wherein the locking elements (16a, 16b) are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction (x). [4] Longitudinal adjuster according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein a total of two to five locking elements (16a, 16b) are used. [5] Longitudinal adjuster according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the outer dimension, in particular a length and a width, of the respective locking elements (16a, 16b) is designed differently. [6] Longitudinal adjuster according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the number of tooth-like projections (18) on the respective locking elements (16a, 16b) is designed differently. [7] Longitudinal adjuster according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the outer shape of the tooth-like projections (18) on the respective locking elements (16a, 16b) is different. [8] Vehicle seat (1), in particular a vehicle rear seat, comprising a seat part (3), a backrest (5) hinged to the seat part (3) and a longitudinal adjuster according to one of the preceding claims.

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