DEVICE FOR RAPIDLY ROTATING A VEHICLE SEAT ASSEMBLY

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for rapidly rotating a rotatable assembly of a vehicle seat, wherein the rotatable assembly is a backrest or a seat surface of the vehicle seat, and in which a locking element is secured by means of a cam and unlocked by means of another cam. The rotation of the driving shaft on which the cams are arranged is also transmitted to a toothed element, thereby achieving rotation of the assembly. The invention also relates to a vehicle seat with such a device in at least two arrangements and to a vehicle with at least one such device.

[0002] Adjustable vehicle seats are designed to automatically and as quickly as possible adjust to an upright and crash-safe position in dangerous situations such as an impending accident. This is intended to better protect vehicle occupants from injury. This process not only raises the backrests of the seats but also corrects the orientation of seat cushions that are tilted backwards in a reclining position.

[0003] For example, rotary fittings are known for raising the backrests of vehicle seats. These fittings are crash-resistant in any position, but their efficiency when adjusting the backrest is very low, meaning rapid adjustment in a crash is not possible. To achieve the desired efficiency, these fittings must be combined with larger and / or multiple motors. Two-door fittings are also known that can be unlocked, but are not crash-resistant in the forward, upright position.

[0004] They are therefore unsuitable for their intended use in quickly adjusting a backrest into a crash-safe position. A device for quickly rotating a rotatable assembly of a vehicle seat, comprising a first cam, a second cam, a drive shaft, and a pinion, is known from DE202011052357U1.

[0005] The invention is based on the task of providing a solution for the rapid rotation of

[0006] To propose backrests and / or seat surfaces for a vehicle seat that require little installation space and, above all, are crash-resistant.

[0007] The object of the invention is achieved with a device according to claim 1, a vehicle seat according to claim 9 and a vehicle according to claim 10. Further preferred embodiments of the invention result from the remaining features mentioned in the dependent claims.

[0008] The device according to the invention for quickly rotating a rotatable assembly of a vehicle seat, wherein the rotatable assembly is a backrest or a seat surface, is formed with a first cam, a second cam, a drive shaft and a pinion, wherein the first cam and the pinion are arranged non-rotatably and the second cam is rotatably mounted on the drive shaft, the drive shaft is mounted rotatably fixed to the assembly, the first cam is coupled to the second cam by means of a spring element so that the second cam rotates with the drive shaft when it rotates, and the second cam has a first and a second locking contour, a locking element with a locking area and an unlocking area which is mounted rotatably fixed to the assembly, a stationary detent element, and a tooth element rotatable about the assembly's axis of rotation, where these elements are designed and arranged so that In a first locking position, the locking element is engaged with the detent element, and the first locking contour of the second cam is in contact with the locking area of ​​the locking element, securing it in its position. During rotation of the drive shaft, the first cam encounters the unlocking area of ​​the locking element, causing it to rotate out of engagement with the detent element, while the first locking contour of the second cam rotates out of the locking area of ​​the locking element. The pinion transmits the rotation to the toothed element, with the toothed element rotating about the assembly's axis of rotation and thus relative to the detent element, until engagement with the detent element limits the rotational movement. Further meshing of the pinion with the toothed element results in a rotation of the rotatable assembly about the assembly's axis of rotation.until the second locking contour of the second cam engages the locking area of ​​the locking element, which is designed to prevent further rotation of the second cam, until the locking element engages with the detent element for a second locking position, and the rotation of the second cam is followed by the spring force of the spring element, thus rotating the second locking contour to the locking area of ​​the locking element to secure it in its position.

[0009] The device according to the invention, through the interaction of the existing components or elements, causes a rotatable assembly of a vehicle seat to rotate rapidly. Such an assembly is intended to be a backrest or a seat surface of a vehicle seat. The backrest refers to an adjustable backrest of a vehicle seat. The seat surface is also rotatably mounted as an assembly; it can therefore be tilted, particularly backwards, by rotation to align the seat surface appropriately for a reclining position of the vehicle seat. This rotation is preferably carried out by means of a toggle lever kinematic system. A vehicle can be any vehicle that has a vehicle seat with a backrest and / or a seat surface that can be adjusted by rotation. This includes not only passenger cars but also trucks and buses.

[0010] The rotation of the rotatable assembly, as defined by the device, refers to the forward rotation of the backrest or seat surface until the backrest reaches a nearly upright position or the seat surface is almost horizontal. The starting position is any reclined position of the vehicle seat, up to and including a lying position. Rapid rotation is intended to enable the rotation to be completed within a very short timeframe, such as between the detection of an impending accident and its occurrence.

[0011] The starting point of the rotation is a drive shaft with two cams and a pinion. Its arrangement and specific design are chosen so that all of the aforementioned components or elements functionally interlock and / or interact in the manner described below.

[0012] The drive shaft is mounted in a fixed, rotatable bearing within the assembly. This means that, depending on the design variant, it is positioned within a backrest or seat surface at a specific location and remains there, but can rotate as intended. This location could, for example, be a frame of the backrest or seat surface. A first cam is mounted on the drive shaft, which, due to its function, can also be referred to as a release cam, as will be shown later. This first cam is fixed to the drive shaft and therefore rotates with it.

[0013] The second cam, also known as the locking cam, is rotatably mounted on the drive shaft. It can therefore rotate independently of the drive shaft. To ensure that it also follows the rotation of the drive shaft, it is coupled to the first cam by means of a spring element. This spring element engages and couples the two cams, so that when the drive shaft rotates, the second cam follows and rotates along with the drive shaft and the first cam.

[0014] Furthermore, the second cam has a first locking contour and a second locking contour. These are understood to be specific configurations or shapes of the second cam's contour that are suitable for holding or securing another object in a locked state when interacting with it. The size and shape of the locking contours are determined by the specific arrangement of the other object.

[0015] In the case of the device according to the invention, this is the locking element, which also has a locking area and an unlocking area. The locking element is mounted to the assembly in a rotatable manner, i.e., it has a fixed pivot point on the assembly. Here, too, the fixed point can preferably be provided on the frame of the backrest or the seat surface. The locking element has a locking area. This is the area in which the locking element interacts with the first and subsequently the second locking contour of the second cam to secure the locking element in a locked position.When the first locking contour of the second cam and the locking area of ​​the locking element interact, the initial condition for a first locking position is obtained; when the second locking contour of the second cam interacts with the locking area of ​​the locking element, the initial condition for the second locking position is obtained. The locking area of ​​the locking element is preferably designed as a projection or protrusion in the contour of the locking element facing the second cam.

[0016] The locking element also has a release area where it can interact with the first cam during rotation of the drive shaft. The contour of the locking element is designed accordingly, in this case corresponding to the first cam.

[0017] The device also features a stationary locking element. "Stationary" in this context means that the locking element does not shift or rotate during the rotation of the assembly. For example, the locking element for rapid rotation of the backrest can be rigidly connected to the support structure of the seat. While the locking element can also be designed for movement and / or rotation, it is essential that it does not change its position or orientation during the rotation of the assembly.

[0018] In its initial position, the locking element engages with the detent element (first engagement area). This position is secured by the interaction of the first locking contour of the second cam and the locking area of ​​the locking element, as these are in contact within the specified areas and, in particular, prevent rotation of the locking element. This combination results in the first locking position, which is also the starting position for rapid rotation of the assembly.

[0019] To enable rotation of the rotatable assembly, the device according to the invention includes a toothed element that is rotatably mounted about the assembly's axis of rotation. This toothed element can therefore rotate about an axis that is identical to the assembly's axis of rotation. However, this rotation is limited by an engagement between the toothed element and the detent element, which allows rotation of the toothed element only to the specified extent, as will be shown below.

[0020] The rotation of the toothed segment and the rotation of the rotatable assembly are achieved because the pinion mounted on the drive shaft transmits its rotational movement to the toothed element. The toothed element then rotates until it reaches the aforementioned stop relative to the detent element. This stop, or engagement point, can be implemented, for example, with a recess in the detent element and a corresponding pin on the toothed segment, thus limiting the rotation when the pin reaches the end of the recess.

[0021] During this initial period of drive shaft rotation, until the rotation of the toothed element is limited, the locking element is unlocked and its locking mechanism is released almost simultaneously. To unlock the locking element, the locking mechanism must be released by the interaction of the locking contour of the second cam and the locking area of ​​the locking element. This is achieved because the second cam is carried along by the spring element during the rotation of the drive shaft and thus rotates out of the first locking position. During this rotation, the first cam is also moved and engages the unlocking area of ​​the locking element. Since its position is no longer secured by the second cam, the locking element can rotate about its axis of rotation and thus disengages from the detent element.

[0022] Since the rotational movement of the toothed element is now limited and its further rotation is prevented, but the pinion continues to transmit the rotation of the drive shaft to the toothed element, a rotation of the rotatable assembly results. The first and second cams also continue to rotate initially, and the first cam rotates out of the unlocking area of ​​the locking element.

[0023] The second cam continues to rotate until its second locking contour engages the locking area of ​​the locking element. Since the locking element has still rotated out of its initial position, the locking area acts as a barrier to the rotation of the second cam, while the drive shaft with the first cam continues to rotate.

[0024] Since the first and second cams are coupled by means of the spring element, this spring element is now tensioned. The rotation of the drive shaft is not significantly affected by this. The rotation of the rotating assembly continues. During this process, the locking element is moved towards a second engagement area of ​​the detent element, with which the locking element is to engage. Once the forward movement has progressed sufficiently, the locking element can reach the engagement position with the detent element by rotating back to its initial position, colloquially speaking, tilting or engaging into the target position. This position is the starting condition of the second locking position. The position of the locking area of ​​the locking element is also changed so that the spring force of the tensioned spring element is sufficient to continue or follow the rotation of the second cam.This brings the second locking contour into close proximity with the locking area of ​​the locking element, thus securing it in its position. While contact between the locking area of ​​the locking element and the second locking contour is possible, it is not strictly necessary for locking. In this configuration, the second locking position, the target position when the rotatable assembly rotates, is now achieved.

[0025] With the device according to the invention, an adjustable backrest or seat surface can now be quickly rotated forward from any rearward-tilted position. Due to the design of the device with cams and corresponding locking contours or locking areas, the device is also crash-proof; the position of the assembly is therefore maintained even under increased forces such as in an accident.

[0026] To derive the greatest benefit from the device according to the invention, it is intended that this device be arranged at least twice in or on a vehicle seat, preferably on the sides of the respective assembly and, more preferably, facing outwards with respect to the assembly. Thus, a vehicle seat can be provided with two of the described devices on the backrest and / or the seat surface. For example, on an adjustable backrest, a device of the described type, optionally in embodiments as described below, is provided on each of its sides. The drive shaft can be provided separately for each device, but a common drive shaft is also entirely within the scope of the invention.However, if the two devices have independent drive shafts, they should be driven simultaneously and to the same extent to prevent twisting and / or tilting of the assembly during rotation. This can be achieved, for example, by using a common drive for both drive shafts.

[0027] In a first preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the drive shaft is driven by a motor, a gas generator, or a spring assembly. A motor drive should be provided solely for driving the drive shaft in the device according to the invention and should be coupled to the vehicle's power supply. Preferably, such a motor drive is an electric motor, and more preferably, an actuator motor. Actuators allow not only the driving of the drive shaft but also the determination of the rotation already completed or the rotation angle of the motor shaft and thus of the drive shaft, so that an actuator motor can be switched off at the end of the rotation of the rotatable assembly in order to prevent any further rotation from being applied to the drive shaft.

[0028] A gas generator contains a solid propellant and an ignition unit. The latter is ignited by an electrical pulse when needed. The resulting hot gas can be used to drive and rotate the drive shaft via a suitable mechanism.

[0029] Independent of a connection to a vehicle's own energy source or energy storage device, a spring assembly drives the drive shaft. This spring assembly comprises at least one spring element that is held in a pre-tensioned position in its initial state. Such a spring can be, for example, a coil spring or a gas spring. The spring assembly also includes a release mechanism to release the pre-tensioned spring, allowing it to relax and thereby drive the drive shaft of the device according to the invention. Besides being independent of an energy supply, an embodiment with a spring assembly is also advantageous because it enables very rapid rotation of the assembly. The spring travel of the at least one spring provided in the spring assembly determines the rotation angle of the drive shaft and should be selected accordingly.

[0030] In a second embodiment of the invention, the toothed element engages with a component fixed to the assembly in order to limit the relative movement of the rotatable assembly with respect to the toothed element. The aim here is to limit the rotational movement of the rotatable assembly to prevent over-rotation of the backrest or seat surface and rotation beyond the target dimension. This can be achieved by establishing an engagement between the toothed element and any component fixed to the assembly, which allows rotation only to the desired extent. The component fixed to the assembly can, for example, be the frame of the backrest or seat surface.In particular, the toothed element may be provided with a recess, and a pin or pin may be arranged on the component fixed to the assembly. This pin or pin engages in the recess and, upon reaching the maximum desired rotation, abuts the ends of the recess, thus limiting its rotation. This ensures that the rotatable assembly rotates only to the crash-safe position, in which the occupant protection devices can function optimally.

[0031] In a further embodiment of the invention, the locking element has a stop and / or chamfered edges in the engagement area for the second locking position to guide the locking element into the second locking position. To guide the locking element quickly and reliably into the second locking position and to reduce the risk of malfunction due to external influences, it can be advantageous to provide a stop on the locking element that prevents further forward movement and forces the locking element to rotate or engage in the second engagement area of ​​the locking element. The locking element thus cannot be pushed beyond the second engagement area.

[0032] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that, in the area of ​​engagement of the locking element in the detent element, chamfered or beveled edges are formed at least in certain areas, so that the locking element can slide into the second locking position. This is intended to facilitate engagement in the second engagement area. These chamfered or beveled edges can be straight or have one or more radii.

[0033] A further embodiment of the invention exists when the pinion is not designed as a full circle, but only as a circular sector whose opening angle is reduced to such an extent that only the necessary transmission of motion to the toothed element takes place. Since it is known how far the drive shaft must rotate to achieve the necessary rotation of the rotatable assembly, the number of teeth the pinion must have along its circumference and the required circumferential length can be determined in conjunction with the other geometric boundary conditions and the interaction of the device elements provided according to the invention. This yields the opening angle of the circular sector for the pinion. Such optimization of the pinion for the necessary transmission of motion saves installation space and also reduces material during the manufacturing of the pinion.

[0034] The device according to the invention can be connected to a vehicle control unit to be triggered in the event of an impending accident. Modern vehicles typically detect their surroundings and the surrounding traffic. From this, they can determine the probability of an impending accident (also called crash detection). This is generally done by means of a processing unit within the vehicle. If an unavoidable accident is detected, or if there is a sufficiently high probability of its occurrence, this processing unit triggers the safety devices directly or through interaction with other decentralized processing units of individual safety systems to protect the vehicle occupant(s).In this embodiment of the invention, it is provided that this operating mechanism also includes the device for the rapid rotation of a rotatable assembly of a vehicle seat, i.e., the device is connected to the control unit in order to trigger the rapid rotation of the backrest or the seat surface by means of the device according to the invention in the event of an impending accident.

[0035] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the rotation of the assembly can be reset. Situations may arise in which the device has rotated the assembly as intended, for example, because an accident was imminent. If this accident was avoided and / or only minor damage occurred that does not impair the vehicle seat and its functionality, it may be desirable to reset the assembly and thus return it from the second locking position (target position) to the first locking position (starting position). This requires reversing the rotation of the drive shaft. When the rotation is reversed, the previously described processes and the interaction of the device's elements are reversed, so that it returns to its starting position and is ready for operation again.

[0036] In the simplest case, this reset can be triggered manually, for example, when the vehicle is inspected in a workshop after one of the described events. However, it can also be designed for motorized reset, for example, by using an electric motor with a suitable gear ratio on the pinion to reverse the rotation of the drive shaft. If the drive shaft is already motorized, the seatbacks can also be reset using this motor and a reverse rotation.

[0037] A further embodiment of the device according to the invention consists in adjusting the speed and / or the force applied during rapid rotation of the rotatable assembly depending on the weight of the person sitting in the vehicle seat. The force required to rotate the assembly depends on the person sitting in the vehicle seat, in particular their weight. For example, a backrest or seat surface can be rotated with less force when a slender person uses the vehicle seat than when a tall, strong person sits on it. Conversely, this means that rotating the assembly with the same force may be perceived as unpleasant and too forceful for a lighter person, or may even lead to injuries and / or pain. To counteract this, the speed and / or the force applied during rotation of the assembly are to be adjusted to the person.

[0038] The weight of the person on the seat can be determined using appropriate sensors and / or by estimating it from images captured by an interior monitoring system of the vehicle, based on the person's stature and height. The determined weight can then be used to calculate the necessary force and / or the righting speed for erecting the assembly. This can be achieved, for example, using a control unit integrated into the device or with which it interacts. Adjusting the speed and / or force can be accomplished by modifying the drive shaft. For example, if a spring-driven drive is used, the spring action can be dampened to reduce the rotational speed and / or the force required. In the case of a motorized drive, the motor's speed can be regulated.

[0039] The invention also relates to a vehicle with at least one device of the type described above, such that at least one backrest or seat surface of an adjustable vehicle seat can be quickly rotated in accordance with the invention.

[0040] The device according to the invention allows a vehicle seat backrest to be quickly rotated into a crash-safe position when needed. The device is also suitable, for example, for quickly rotating the backrest of a so-called "easy-entry" seat backrest, where the backrest of a front seat in a two-door vehicle is quickly rotated forward to facilitate access to the rear seats. Due to its design with two cams and the interaction with the other elements provided in the device, the rotated assembly remains in its position even under significant external forces, allowing the vehicle's safety systems to fully function and protect the vehicle occupant(s).

[0041] Unless otherwise stated in individual cases, the various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can be advantageously combined with one another.

[0042] The invention is explained below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Figure 1 shows an exemplary device for raising a backrest; Figure 2 shows the device made of Figure 1 Viewed from another direction, Figures 3 to 9 show the interaction of the components or elements of the device. Figure 1 Figure 10 shows the device according to the invention. Figure 1 in the context of a backrest.

[0043] Figure 1 Figure 1 shows an exemplary assembly of the device 10 according to the invention for use in an assembly 100 in the form of a vehicle seat backrest. Figure 2The device is shown from the rear, and both figures are explained together. The device 10 is provided twice in an adjustable backrest of a vehicle seat in a vehicle. In principle, and in the same way, the device 10 can also be provided on a knee-lever mechanism of a vehicle seat surface and cause its rotation.

[0044] The device 10 comprises a drive shaft 12 and two cams 20 and 30 arranged on or against it. The drive shaft 12 is mounted in a non-rotating bearing. The first cam 30 is the release cam and is mounted non-rotatably on the drive shaft. The second cam 30 is the locking cam and is mounted rotatably. The first cam 20 and the second cam 30 are coupled to each other by means of a spring element 25, so that the second cam 30 rotates with the drive shaft.

[0045] The second cam 30 has a first locking contour 32 and a second locking contour 34, each of which is formed as a shaping of the otherwise uniformly curved contour of the second cam 30.

[0046] The device 10 further comprises a pinion 14, which transmits the rotation of the drive shaft 12 to a toothed element 60, also provided in the device 10. The pinion 14 is designed simply as a circular sector to save installation space and material. The opening angle of the circular sector is sufficient to transmit enough rotational movement of the drive shaft 12 to raise the backrest.

[0047] A locking element 40 is mounted in a fixed position within the assembly, in this embodiment therefore rotatably mounted in a backrest-fixed manner. Its axis of rotation is in Figure 1 marked with reference number 46.

[0048] The locking element 40 engages with the detent element 50, another element of the device 10, in the first engagement area 56. The detent element 50 engages with the tooth element 60, limiting the rotation of the tooth element 60 about the backrest rotation axis (corresponding to the assembly rotation axis, not shown here). The engagement 54 is exemplified by a recess in the detent element 50 and a pin arranged on the tooth element 60, the pin engaging with the recess and able to move within it when the tooth element 60 rotates. When the pin abuts the end of the recess in the detent element 50, the rotation of the tooth element 60 is limited and cannot continue.

[0049] The locking element 40 also has a locking area 42 and an unlocking area 44, the operation of which is illustrated by the following figures.

[0050] The Figures 2 to 9The figures show the interaction of the elements or components of the device 10 according to the invention when raising the backrest 100. The directions of movement are indicated by arrows in the figures.

[0051] In the Figure 1 and 2 The initial position of the device 10 is shown. The first locking contour 32 of the second cam 30 is in contact with the locking area 42 of the locking element 40 and thus secures its position. As already mentioned, the locking element is engaged with the detent element 50 in its first engagement area 56.

[0052] Now the drive shaft 12 begins to rotate. The pinion 14 moves with it and transmits the rotation to the toothed element 60. This is subsequently rotated around the backrest's axis of rotation and moves relative to Figure 2, to the left. The pin also moves within the recess in the locking element 50 towards its stop in engagement 54.

[0053] The rotation of the drive shaft 12 causes the locking cam (second cam) 30 to rotate with the help of the spring element 25 during the movement of the first cam 20, thereby moving it away from the locking area 42 and releasing the locking element 40. Figure 4 shows how the first cam 20 hits the unlocking area 44 of the locking element 40 almost simultaneously and, with further rotation, the unlocked locking element 40 rotates outwards around its axis of rotation 46, so that the engagement with the detent element 50 is lifted.

[0054] The drive shaft 12 and thus the elements arranged on it continue to rotate. Since in Figure 5When the pin is engaged in the engagement 54, rotation of the tooth element 60 relative to the detent element 50 is no longer possible. The rotational transmission via the pinion 14 thus leads to a forward movement of the backrest along the now stationary tooth element 60, indicated by the right-pointing arrow in Figure 5 .

[0055] In Figure 6The drive shaft 12 continues to rotate, and the forward movement of the backrest continues. During this movement, the first cam 20 rotates out of the unlocking area 44 of the locking element 40. Simultaneously, the second locking contour 34 of the second cam 40 engages the locking area 42 of the locking element 40. Although the locking element 40 has moved towards the second engagement area 58 on the detent element 50, it has not yet engaged with it. Therefore, the rotation angle of the locking element 40 has not yet been reset, and the locking area 42 obstructs the second locking contour 34 of the second cam 30. The spring force of the spring element 25 between the first cam 20 and the second cam 30 is insufficient to allow the second cam 30 to continue rotating.

[0056] In Figure 7It can be seen how the drive shaft 12, pinion 14 and first cam 20 continue to rotate, while the second cam 30 remains in its position, thus tensioning the spring element 25. The locking element 40 has almost reached the second engagement area 58 with the detent element 50.

[0057] The pinion rotates in Figure 8 into its final position. This also achieves the necessary relative position of locking element 40 and detent element 50 to engage in the second engagement area 58, which in Figure 9 This also occurs. Through the engagement of the detent element 50 and the locking element 40, the locking element 40 rotates back to its initial position. Now the spring force of the spring element 25 is sufficient to continue the rotation of the second cam 30, so that its second locking contour 34 slides over the locking area of ​​the locking element 40 and thus secures it in the second locking position.

[0058] Figure 10 Figure 10 shows a section of the device 10 according to the invention in an installation situation in a vehicle backrest 100. In comparison to the previous figures, the uprighting direction of the backrest is now directed to the left.

[0059] The backrest 100 rotates around the backrest pivot axis 110. The device 10 is designed to be triggered when an accident is imminent in order to protect the vehicle occupant(s). The drive shaft 12 is driven by a spring assembly 120, which in its initial position is Figure 10a excited and in Figure 10bThe spring assembly 120 is largely relaxed shortly before reaching its final position. It is equipped with a release mechanism (not shown) that can be activated by a control unit that detects the impending accident. Using such a spring assembly 120, the backrest can be raised in less than 200 ms, which corresponds to the lead time required to detect an imminent accident.

[0060] To prevent the locking element 40 from moving beyond the second locking area 58 during the forward rotation of the backrest 100, a stop 140 is provided on the detent element 50. This guides the locking element 40 into the second locking position. For the same reason, namely to limit the forward rotation of the backrest 100, the engagement 82 between the frame 80 of the backrest and the toothed element 60 is provided by means of a recess and pin.

[0061] If, after raising the backrest 100, it is desired to reset the device 10, this can be done using the reset device 130, which is located in Figure 10a and 10b This is shown as an example. Here it is implemented by means of an electric motor (not shown) and a transmission to the pinion 14, so that this rotates backwards and thereby returns the device 10 to its starting position. List of reference symbols

[0062] 10 Device 12 Drive shaft 14 Pinion 20 First cam (release cam) 25 Spring element 30 Second cam (safety cam) 32 First locking contour 34 Second locking contour 40 Locking element 42 Locking area 44 Release area 46 Rotation axis of locking element 50 Detent element 52 Detent element stop 54 Detent element engagement with toothed element 56 First engagement area 58 Second engagement area 60 Toothed element 70 Spring device 80 Backrest frame 82 Toothed element engagement with backrest frame 100 Rotating assembly 110 Assembly rotation axis 120 Spring device 130 Return device 140 Detent element stop 50

Claims

1. A device (10) for quickly rotating a rotatable assembly (100) of a vehicle seat, the rotatable assembly (100) being a rest or seat, comprising - a first cam (20), a second cam (30), a drive shaft (12) and a sprocket (14), the first cam (20) and the sprocket (14) being non-rotatably arranged on the drive shaft (12) and the second cam (30) being rotatably arranged thereon, the drive shaft (12) being rotatably mounted on the assembly, the first cam (20) being coupled to the second cam (30) by means of a spring element (25) such that, when the drive shaft (12) rotates, the second cam (30) also rotates, the second cam (30) having a first locking contour (32) and a second locking contour (34), - a locking element (40) having a locking region (42) and an unlocking region (44) that can be rotatably fixed to the assembly, - a stationary latching element (50), and - a toothed element (60) which is rotatable about the assembly axis of rotation (110), these elements being formed and arranged such that, • in a first locking position, - the locking element (40) is engaged with the latch element (50), and - the first locking contour (32) of the second cam (30) is in physical contact with the locking region (42) of the locking element and secures said locking element in position, and • while the drive shaft (12) is rotated, - the first cam (20) hits the unlocking region (44) of the locking element (40) and thus rotates said locking element out of the engagement with the locking element (50), while - the first locking contour (32) of the second cam (30) is rotated out of the locking region (42) of the locking element (40), and - the sprocket (14) transfers the rotation to the toothed element (60), the toothed element (60) being rotatable about the assembly axis of rotation (110) and thus relative to the latching element (50) until an engagement (54) with the latching element (50) limits the rotational movement, and • upon further meshing of the sprocket (14) with the toothed element (60), - the rotatable assembly (100) can, as a result, rotate about the assembly axis of rotation (110) until the second locking contour (34) of the second cam (30) meets the locking region (42) of the locking element (40), said locking region being formed to stop further rotation of the second cam (30) until the locking element (40) engages with the latching element (50) for a second locking position, and - the rotation of the second cam (30) is tracked by means of the spring force of the spring element (25) and thus the second locking contour (34) rotates towards the locking region (42) of the locking element (40) in order to secure said locking element in position.

2. The apparatus (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the drive shaft (12) can be driven by means of a motor, a gas generator or a spring device (70).

3. The apparatus (10) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the toothed element (60) has an engagement having a component fixedly mounted on the assembly in order to limit the relative movement of the rotatable assembly (100) relative to the toothed element (60).

4. The apparatus (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching element (50) has a stop (52) and / or has chamfered edges in the region of the engagement for the second locking position in order to guide the locking element (40) into the second locking position.

5. The apparatus (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the footprint of the sprocket (14) is formed as a circle segment, the opening angle of the circle segment being reduced to such an extent that only necessary movement is transferred to the toothed element (60).

6. The apparatus (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is connected to a control device of the vehicle in order to be triggered in the event of an imminent accident.

7. The apparatus (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotation of the rotatable assembly (100) is able to be reset, in particular by a motor.

8. The apparatus (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when the rotatable assembly (100) is rotated, the speed and / or the expended force is able to be adjusted depending on the weight of the person located on the vehicle seat.

9. A vehicle seat having an assembly (100) which is adjustable by rotation and is formed to have at least two apparatuses (10) according to any of the preceding claims.

10. A vehicle having at least one device (10) for quickly rotating a rotatable assembly (100) according to any of Claims 1 to 8.