Backrest locking device and backrest assembly for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Backrest locking device (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising a pawl (12) for locking a rotary latch (16) in a closed position, wherein the pawl (12) is mechanically coupled to an actuating handle (18), wherein the mechanical coupling is designed to move the pawl (12) into a release position when the actuating handle (18) is actuated, in which the locking of the rotary latch (16) is released, wherein the backrest locking device (10) further comprises a drive element (30) which is coupled to an electric motor drive (32) and is designed to perform a movement by means of the activated electric motor drive (32) and thereby exert a mechanical force on an engagement area of ​​the pawl (12), which causes the pawl (12) to move into the release position, characterized in that the pawl (12) has at least three sections (22, 26, 42) shows,wherein a first section (22) is mechanically coupled to the actuating handle (18), a second section (42) provides the engagement area for the drive element (30), and a third section (26) can be engaged with the rotary latch (16), wherein both an adjustment of the first section (22) by a mechanical release chain and an adjustment of the second section (42) by an electrical release chain cause an adjustment of the third section (26) such that the third section (26) disengages from the rotary latch (16) and unlocks it.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a backrest locking device for a motor vehicle, in particular for locking or securing a backrest in a predetermined position, for example, on a body part of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a backrest assembly comprising a backrest and two backrest locking devices.

[0002] It is generally known that a backrest of a motor vehicle is designed to be pivotable or foldable in order to provide multiple seating positions or to increase the volume of a cargo space of the motor vehicle, for example, by folding down the backrest of a rear row of seats. To lock or secure the backrest in an upright position, a locking bar is usually provided that is fixedly attached to a body of the motor vehicle. A rotary latch of the backrest locking device can engage around the locking bar to lock the backrest or can detach from the locking bar to unlock the backrest.

[0003] Known backrest locking devices feature operating handles to mechanically unlock the rotary latch, allowing it to detach from the locking bar and allow the backrest to be adjusted. However, such operating handles are uncomfortable in that the user must exert a certain amount of manual force to operate the operating handle.

[0004] The document DE 10 2009 017 627 A1, for example, discloses a backrest locking device according to the preamble of claim 1. The documents DE 10 2010 045 207 A1, WO 2017 / 195 023 A1, DE 195 22 128 A1, DE 10 2011 054 990 A1, EP 2 195 189 B1 and DE 44 05 959 A1 disclose further related devices.

[0005] An object of the invention is therefore to provide a more reliable backrest locking device.

[0006] The object is achieved by a backrest locking device and by a backrest arrangement having the features of the independent claims.

[0007] The present invention is based on the finding that providing both a mechanical and an electrical release chain for unlocking a rotary latch and thus ultimately unlocking a backrest is particularly advantageous. This makes unlocking and adjusting a backrest not only convenient but also reliable, since, on the one hand, the electrical release chain minimizes the user's manual effort, and, on the other hand, in the event of a power failure, the backrest can still be unlocked using the mechanical release chain.

[0008] The backrest locking device according to the invention has a pawl for locking a rotary latch in a closed position. The locked rotary latch can engage a locking bar and thereby lock the backrest in a predetermined position. The pawl is mechanically coupled to an actuating handle, in particular a rotatable one, to implement the mechanical release chain. The mechanical coupling between the pawl and the actuating handle can be designed directly or indirectly. The mechanical coupling is designed such that when the actuating handle is actuated, the pawl is moved from a locked position to a released position. In the locked position of the pawl, the rotary latch is in the closed position, while in the released position, the locking of the rotary latch is released.The rotary latch can then rotate, detach from the locking bar, and thereby release the backrest from being locked. For example, an intermediate lever is provided to implement the mechanical coupling, which is connected to the operating handle on one side and to the locking pawl on the other, so that actuation of the operating handle causes an adjustment of the intermediate lever and, in turn, the adjustment of the locking pawl.

[0009] Furthermore, the backrest locking device according to the invention has a drive element for implementing the electrical release chain, which is coupled to an electric motor drive. The drive element can be, for example, an eccentric. The coupling between the drive element and the electric motor drive can be established, for example, via a worm gear and / or a gear and / or a gear shaft. The electric motor drive can be switched on by at least one switching device. For example, the at least one switching device is designed as a microswitch. The microswitch can be arranged such that it can be actuated by the operating handle.For this purpose, the actuating handle can, for example, execute an idle stroke such that, starting from its rest position, the actuating handle can initially be rotated by an angle of less than 20°, and in particular less than 10°, before the intermediate lever is adjusted. Within this idle stroke, the actuating handle can actuate the microswitch.

[0010] The drive element is designed to execute a movement, e.g., a rotational movement, by means of the activated electric motor drive, thereby exerting a mechanical force on an area of ​​action of the pawl. This mechanical force causes an adjustment, e.g., a rotation, of the pawl into the release position. In other words, the drive element acts on the pawl when executing its movement. For example, the drive element and the area of ​​action of the pawl are arranged relative to one another in such a way that, in a predetermined position of the drive element, it comes into contact with the area of ​​action of the pawl.

[0011] In other words, the locking pawl of the backrest locking device is adjustable both mechanically via the operating handle and electrically via the drive element. The mechanical release chain and the electrical release chain are designed to be triggered independently of each other and to move the locking pawl to the release position independently of each other. This advantageously provides a backrest locking device that can be used both conveniently via the electrical release chain and safely via the mechanical release chain in the event of a power failure.

[0012] The pawl has at least three, in particular arm-like, sections. A first section is mechanically coupled to the operating handle. The first section can be directly mechanically coupled to the intermediate lever. A second section of the pawl forms the area of ​​action for the drive element. A third section of the pawl engages with the rotary latch. Adjusting each section can cause the entire pawl to rotate about a rotation axis of the pawl. Adjusting the first section by the mechanical release chain as well as adjusting the second section by the electrical release chain thus causes the third section to adjust such that the third section detaches from the rotary latch and unlocks it. This allows the rotary latch to rotate and release the striker, allowing the backrest to be adjusted.

[0013] Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawings.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the operating handle and the pawl are mechanically coupled to one another by means of the intermediate lever. The intermediate lever can also be mechanically coupled to an indicator element, so that rotating the pawl into the release position causes the indicator element to be adjusted to a display position for indicating that the rotary latch is no longer locked. The indicator element can be adjusted regardless of whether the pawl is actuated by means of the mechanical release chain or by means of the electrical release chain. In both cases, the indicator element is adjusted by the mechanical coupling of the pawl to the intermediate lever. Advantageously, the backrest locking device is arranged on the backrest in such a way that a portion of the adjusted indicator element protrudes from the backrest, i.e. when the pawl is in the release position.This adjustment of the indicator element advantageously shows the user that the pawl is in the release position and thus the rotary latch is in the open position and therefore the backrest is not locked.

[0015] According to a further embodiment, the action area of ​​the pawl is provided by a roller rotatably mounted on the pawl. For example, the second section of the pawl has a recess in which the roller is accommodated. During its movement, the drive element strikes the roller and runs along it. This advantageously reduces wear and material fatigue of both the drive element and the pawl.

[0016] According to a further embodiment, the backrest locking device has a relief element which, when the locking pawl is in the locked position, allows movement of the drive element and, when the locking pawl is in the released position, forms a stop point for the drive element to stop and, if necessary, reverse the movement of the drive element. When the locking pawl is in the released position, the drive element is therefore not supported directly on the locking pawl, but instead on the relief element, thereby relieving the locking pawl and reducing mechanical stress on the locking pawl and the associated material fatigue.

[0017] The relief element is preferably designed as a lever, in particular one which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis of the pawl. The relief element can generally be designed to be rotationally fixed and, in particular, to be formed integrally with the pawl, particularly if the worm gear of the electrical release chain is not self-locking. If, however, the worm gear is self-locking, it is advantageous if the pawl can rotate within a certain range relative to the relief element in order to enable rotation of the pawl into the locked position even when the drive element is in contact with the relief element when the rotary latch is rotated into the closed position upon receiving a striker.

[0018] According to a further embodiment, the backrest locking device comprises a control unit configured to communicate with the control unit of at least one further backrest locking device. In particular, the control unit can be configured to receive an unlocking signal from the at least one further control unit and / or to send it to the at least one further control unit, wherein the unlocking signal comprises the control instruction to activate the electric motor drive to release the locking of the rotary latch. Upon receipt of the unlocking signal, the control unit thus switches on the switching device of the electric motor drive, thereby triggering the electrical triggering chain to release the locking of the rotary latch.

[0019] By communicating with each other between the control units of the various backrest locking devices, a second backrest locking device can, for example, be unlocked by unlocking a first backrest locking device. Therefore, two backrest locking devices of a rear seat bench do not need to be manually unlocked simultaneously or one after the other; it is sufficient for the user to simply actuate one of the backrest locking devices.

[0020] The backrest locking device preferably comprises a luggage net detection device designed to detect a luggage net mounted on the backrest locking device. For example, the luggage net is designed as a trunk luggage net. When retracted, the luggage net can be rolled up in the form of a roller blind and unrolled to secure a load. The luggage net is preferably mounted on two spaced-apart backrest locking devices by means of locking brackets formed correspondingly on the luggage net, which can be received by the rotary latches of the backrest locking devices, as described above.

[0021] Preferably, the luggage net detection device comprises a luggage net switch which is actuated when a locking bracket of the luggage net is received in the rotary latch.

[0022] If the backrest locking device has such a luggage net detection device, the control unit can be designed to send an unlocking signal to the control unit of a second backrest locking device in the event of an actuation of the actuating handle and activation of the electric motor drive only if a mounted luggage net has been detected.

[0023] The present invention further relates to a backrest arrangement for a motor vehicle. The backrest arrangement according to the invention comprises a backrest, for example a foldable one, and two backrest locking devices arranged thereon for locking a respective partial region of the backrest. The backrest can be a split backrest, e.g. of a rear seat bench. Each backrest locking device can be unlocked by means of an electrically driven release chain to cancel the respective lock, wherein each backrest locking device has a control unit which is designed to communicate with the respective other control unit and, upon activation of the release chain, to send an release signal to the respective other control unit, wherein the release signal comprises the control instruction to activate the release chain of the respective other backrest locking device.Thus, unlocking one backrest locking mechanism automatically unlocks the other. The user no longer needs to control or operate both backrest locking mechanisms separately.

[0024] At least one of the backrest locking devices is a backrest locking device according to the invention. The features and advantages described with reference to the backrest locking device according to the invention also apply mutatis mutandis to the backrest assembly according to the invention.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the backrest assembly, at least one of the backrest locking devices has a luggage net detection device designed to detect a luggage net mounted on the backrest locking devices. In particular, the luggage net detection device has a luggage net switch, which is actuated when a locking bar of the luggage net is received in the rotary latch.

[0026] The invention is described below purely by way of example using an advantageous embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a backrest locking device in a locked state; Fig. 1B is a perspective view of the backrest locking device of Fig. 1A in a mechanically unlocked state; Fig. 2 the backrest locking device of Fig. 1A in a further perspective view and only partially shown; Fig. 3 the backrest locking device of Fig. 1A in yet another perspective view and only partially shown; Fig. 4 a detailed view of a partially shown pawl and an intermediate lever of the backrest locking device of Fig. 1A; Fig. 5A is another perspective view of the backrest locking device of Fig. 1A in locked state; Fig. 5B is a perspective view of the backrest locking device in an electrically unlocked state; Fig. 6A is a detailed view of a relief lever of the backrest locking device in the locked state; Fig. 6B is a detailed view of the relief lever and the backrest locking device in the electrically unlocked state; Fig. 7 a detailed view of a partially shown locking pawl, a luggage net lever and a luggage net switch of the backrest locking device; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a partially illustrated luggage net with a locking bracket for securing the luggage net to the backrest locking device; and Fig. 9 a side view of the locking bracket of Fig. 8 and the luggage net lever from Fig. 7.

[0027] In the Fig. 1A is a backrest locking device 10 in a closed position and in Fig. 1B in an open position. The backrest locking device 10 has a pawl 12 for locking a rotary latch 16 in the closed position. In the closed position, the rotary latch 16 receives a locking bracket (not shown) to arrest or lock a backrest in a predetermined position, usually an upright position. The locking bracket is, for example, arranged in a fixed position on a body of a motor vehicle, while the backrest locking device 10 is arranged on a backrest of an individual seat or a seat bench of the motor vehicle. If the backrest locking device 10 is unlocked, the pawl 12 releases the rotary latch 16, so that it is moved by the force of a force applied to the Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B shown spring 17 can be turned into the open position and the locking bracket can be released from the rotary latch 16 ( Fig. 1B). In the open position of the rotary latch 16 or the backrest locking device 10, the backrest is movable, for example, foldable.

[0028] To fix the locking bracket received in the rotary latch 16, a fixing element 14 is provided which, when the rotary latch 16 is in the closed position, presses against the locking bracket received in the rotary latch 16 in a spring-loaded manner.

[0029] The pawl 12 is adjustable by means of both a mechanical release chain and an electrically driven release chain from a locking position, in which it locks the rotary latch 16 in the closed position, to a release position, in which it releases the rotary latch 16 into the open position. The mechanical release chain adjusts the pawl 12 upon manual actuation of a rotatable actuating handle 18, which is coupled to a first arm-like portion 22 of the pawl 12 by means of a likewise rotatable intermediate lever 20.

[0030] Specifically, the pawl 12 is mounted so that it can rotate about a rotation axis 24 for adjustment from the locked position to the released position and vice versa. When the pawl 12 rotates about the rotation axis 24, a second arm-like section 26 of the pawl is also adjusted about the rotation axis 24. In the locked position, the second section 26 blocks the rotary latch 16 and locks it in the closed position. Rotating the second section 26 releases this locking, allowing the rotary latch 16 to rotate to its open position.

[0031] The intermediate lever 20 is mechanically coupled not only to the first section 22 of the locking pawl 12, but also to an indicator element 28, so that when the intermediate lever 20 is rotated to unlock the rotary latch 16, the indicator element 28 is carried along by the latter and brought into an indicator position. In the indicator position, the indicator element 28 can, for example, be displaced in a vertical direction Z and protrude from the interior of the backrest, thus indicating to a user that the backrest locking device 10 is unlocked.

[0032] The electrical triggering chain is described below using Fig. 2 to 4, 5A and 5B. For its electrical unlocking, the backrest locking device 10 has a drive element driven by an electric motor 32, here in the form of a rotatably mounted eccentric 30. To activate the electric motor 32, a microswitch 34 ( Fig. 4) is provided, which can be actuated by rotating the actuating handle 18 through a predetermined angular range, starting from a rest position of the actuating handle 18, for example by less than 20° and preferably by less than 10°. During its rotation within this predetermined angular range, the actuating handle 18 executes an idle stroke, within which the intermediate lever 20 is not moved, i.e., only an adjustment of the actuating handle 18 beyond the idle stroke causes an adjustment of the intermediate lever 20 to mechanically unlock the pawl 12.

[0033] Activation of the electric motor 32 by the microswitch 34 causes rotation of a worm 36 coupled to the electric motor 32, which in turn drives a worm gear 38 engaging the worm 36. The rotation of the worm gear 38 causes rotation of a worm gear shaft 40, which causes the eccentric 30 to rotate.

[0034] When performing the rotation movement, the eccentric 30, as shown in Fig. 4, onto a third arm-like section 42 of the pawl 12, more precisely onto a roller 43 rotatably mounted on the third section 42. The eccentric 30 rolls on this roller 43 until an adjustment of the section 42 and thus of the pawl 12 as a whole into the release position is achieved.

[0035] Due to the resulting rotation of the pawl 12, the indicator element 28 coupled thereto is also adjusted and brought into the display position in the event of an electrical release via the first section 22 and the intermediate lever 20, i.e., to a certain extent via the mechanical drive chain.

[0036] In Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B shows a relief lever 44 of the backrest locking device 10 in more detail. The relief lever 44 serves to relieve the load on the locking pawl 12 in its release position by the eccentric 30 coming into contact with the relief lever 44 at the end of its rotational movement intended to unlock the backrest locking device 10. Specifically, the eccentric 30 strikes a stop point 46 of the relief lever 44. This stops the rotational movement of the eccentric 30 and / or the eccentric 30 changes its direction of rotation. The relief lever 44 thus forms a start and / or end position for the rotation of the eccentric 30. Without the relief lever 44, when the backrest locking device 10 is unlocked, the eccentric 30 would come to a stop on the locking pawl 12 and would load the locking pawl 12 as long as the pawl is in its release position.

[0037] If the worm gear of the electrical release chain formed by the worm 36 and the worm wheel 38 is a non-self-locking gear, the release lever 44 can be firmly connected to the pawl 12 or even formed integrally with it. If, however, the worm gear is self-locking, it is advantageous if the release lever 44 can be arranged as shown in Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B can rotate by a certain amount relative to the pawl 12 so that the pawl 12 can rotate from its release position back into the locking position even when the eccentric 30 is on the release lever 44.

[0038] The backrest locking device 10 further comprises a luggage net detection device for detecting a luggage net 52 mounted thereon ( Fig. 7 to 9). The luggage net detection device comprises a luggage net switch 48 and a luggage net lever 50 for actuating the luggage net switch 48.

[0039] The luggage net 52 is rolled up into a roll in a non-use state, as shown in Fig. 8. For mounting on the backrest locking device 10, the luggage net 52 has a locking bracket 54 provided on a support section 55 of the luggage net 52, which can be received by the rotary latch 16. The locking bracket 54 comprises a control element 56, which is designed to press against the luggage net lever 50 when the locking bracket 54 is received in the rotary latch 16 and to adjust it, as shown in Fig.9. The adjusted luggage net lever 50 in turn actuates the luggage net switch 48, indicating that the luggage net 52 is securely mounted. As soon as the locking bracket 54 releases from the rotary latch 16, the control element 56 also releases from the luggage net lever 50 and the luggage net switch 48 is deactivated.

[0040] Typically, two spaced-apart backrest locking devices 10 are arranged in the backrest of a motor vehicle, particularly when this is the backrest of a rear row of seats or a bench seat. Accordingly, the luggage net 52 is also equipped with two correspondingly positioned locking brackets 54, which engage with the backrest locking devices 10 to secure the luggage net 52 to the backrest. The luggage net 52 is mounted on the backrest by inserting the locking brackets 54 into the respective rotary latches 16 and pressing the luggage net 52 against the backrest until the rotary latches 16 are rotated into their closed positions and locked by the respective locking pawls 12.

[0041] To remove the luggage net 52 from the backrest, both backrest locking devices 10 must be unlocked. This can be done either by mechanically unlocking both backrest locking devices 10 or by simultaneously unlocking them electrically. In the latter case, the backrest locking devices 10 communicate with each other via respective control units (not shown), so that the actuating handle 18 of only one of the backrest locking devices 10 needs to be actuated to activate the respective electric motor 32, and this actuated backrest locking device 10 also sends a corresponding activation signal to the other backrest locking device 10.

[0042] It is understood that this principle of remote-controlled electrical unlocking of the respective other backrest locking device 10 can also be applied to the case in which the backrest is locked to a body of a vehicle in an upright state. List of reference symbols 10 Backrest locking device 12 pawl 14 Fixing element 16 rotary latch 17 spring 18 Operating handle 20 intermediate levers 22 first section of the pawl 24 axis of rotation 26 second section of the pawl 28 Indicator element 30 eccentric 32 electric motor 34 microswitches 36 snail 38 Worm gear 40 Worm gear shaft 42 third section of the pawl 43 roll 44 relief lever 46 anchor point 48 luggage net switch 50 luggage net levers 52 Luggage net 54 locking brackets 55 support section 56 Control Z vertical axis

Claims

[1] A backrest locking device (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising a pawl (12) for locking a rotary latch (16) in a closed position, wherein the pawl (12) is mechanically coupled to an actuating handle (18), wherein the mechanical coupling is designed to adjust the pawl (12) into a release position upon actuation of the actuating handle (18), in which the locking of the rotary latch (16) is released, wherein the backrest locking device (10) further comprises a drive element (30) coupled to an electric motor drive (32) and designed to execute a movement by means of the activated electric motor drive (32) and thereby exert a mechanical force on an area of ​​action of the pawl (12), which causes an adjustment of the pawl (12) into the release position, characterized byin that the pawl (12) has at least three sections (22, 26, 42), wherein a first section (22) is mechanically coupled to the actuating handle (18), a second section (42) provides the area of ​​action for the drive element (30), and a third section (26) can be brought into engagement with the rotary latch (16), wherein both an adjustment of the first section (22) by a mechanical triggering chain and an adjustment of the second section (42) by an electrical triggering chain causes an adjustment of the third section (26) in such a way that the third section (26) is released from the rotary latch (16) and unlocks it. [2] Backrest locking device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the operating handle (18) and the locking pawl (12) are mechanically coupled to one another by means of an intermediate lever (20), in particular wherein the intermediate lever (20) is mechanically coupled to an indicator element (28) so that the adjustment of the locking pawl (12) into the release position causes an adjustment of the indicator element (28) into an indicator position for indicating the released locking of the rotary latch (16). [3] Backrest locking device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking pawl (12) comprises a rotatably mounted roller (43) in the area of ​​action, in particular which defines the area of ​​action. [4] Backrest locking device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the backrest locking device (10) has a relief element (44) which, when the locking pawl (12) is in a locked position, allows a movement of the drive element (30) and, when the locking pawl (12) is in the release position, forms a stop point (46) for the drive element (30) for stopping the rotational movement of the drive element (30). [5] Backrest locking device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the relief element (44) is designed as a lever, in particular which is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis (24) of the locking pawl (12). [6] Backrest locking device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling between the drive element (30) and the electric motor drive (32) is effected indirectly by one or a combination of the following transmission elements: a worm gear (36), a gear (38), a gear shaft (40). [7] Backrest locking device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electric motor drive (32) can be activated by at least one switching device (34), in particular at least one microswitch. [8] Backrest locking device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the backrest locking device (10) comprises a control unit which is designed to communicate with a control unit of at least one further backrest locking device, in particular to receive an unlocking signal from it and / or to send it to it, which unlocking signal comprises the control instruction to activate the electric motor drive (32) to release the locking of the rotary latch (16). [9] Backrest locking device (10) according to claim 8, further comprising a luggage net detection device which is designed to detect a luggage net (52) mounted on the backrest locking device (10), in particular wherein the luggage net detection device comprises a luggage net switch (48) which is actuated when a locking bracket (54) of the luggage net (52) is received in the rotary latch (16). [10] Backrest locking device (10) according to claims 8 and 9, wherein the control unit is designed to send an unlocking signal to the control unit of the further backrest locking device in the event of an actuation of the actuating handle (18) or activation of the electric motor drive (32) only if a mounted luggage net (52) has been detected. [11] Backrest arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising a backrest and two backrest locking devices (10) arranged thereon for locking a respective partial region of the backrest, wherein at least one of the backrest locking devices (10) is a backrest locking device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein each backrest locking device (10) can be unlocked by means of an electrically driven trigger chain to cancel the respective locking, wherein each backrest locking device (10) has a control unit which is designed to communicate with the respective other control unit and to send an unlocking signal to the respective other control unit upon activation of the trigger chain, wherein the unlocking signal comprises the control instruction to trigger the trigger chain of the respective other backrest locking device (10). [12] Backrest arrangement according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the backrest locking devices (10) comprises a luggage net detection device which is designed to detect a luggage net (52) mounted on the backrest locking devices (10), in particular wherein the luggage net detection device comprises a luggage net switch (48) which is actuated when a locking bracket (54) of the luggage net (52) is received in the rotary latch (16).

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