Locking device for locking a backrest of a vehicle seat and manufacturing method
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO KG
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-13
AI Technical Summary
Existing locking devices for vehicle seat backrests are complex and costly due to increased product complexity, and they often require elastic elements that restrict their use in applications where elasticity is not desired, while also having large packaging sizes that are not suitable for all vehicle types.
A locking device with a robust gearbox pivotably mounted on a mounting bracket, featuring a metal spindle nut and an elastic element that allows longer travel and resistance to lateral forces, enabling a compact design and simple structure with a small packaging size, and an elongate rod with a thread engaged with the gearbox for easy displacement.
The solution provides a robust, simple, and compact locking device that can handle various vehicle types without the need for elastic elements, offering strong returning forces and preventing unwanted displacement, especially during vehicle crashes.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024068864_16012025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] LOCKING DEVICE FOR LOCKING A BACKREST OF A VEHICLE SEAT AND
[0002] MANUFACTURING METHOD
[0003] Description
[0004] The invention relates to a locking device for a vehicle seat, to a vehicle seat and to a method for manufacturing a locking device.
[0005] Locking devices with a striker are regularly used to lock backrests of vehicle seats to a body of a vehicle or to a neighboring backrest. For this purpose, a locking device can be fixed, e.g., to the vehicle body. A hook or other latching element may be mounted on the backrest to engage with the striker of the locking device. When the vehicle seat is movable back and forth, e.g., to reduce or increase a trunk volume behind the vehicle seat, or when the backrest of the vehicle seat is pivotable, locking devices with a displaceable striker can be used.
[0006] Such a solution is described in DE 10 2018 127297 A1. This concept, however, uses two spindle nuts leading to an increased product complexity and cost.
[0007] By pivoting the backrest, not only the position of the hook is changed in a longitudinal (X) direction, but also in a height direction (Z) vertical to the longitudinal direction.
[0008] To maintain an engagement between a latch on the backrest and the striker on the vehicle body, US 11,505,096 B2 proposes to mount the latch rotatably on the backrest. This leads to a complicated design with movable parts both on the backrest and on the vehicle body.
[0009] CN 112977194 A describes a striker movable along a curved path. Such an approach is difficult to adapt for different vehicle types.
[0010] CN 204845609 U proposes to use elastic elements to allow a certain movement of the striker. This restricts use of such a locking device from applications where elasticity is not wanted. Further, according to this solution, both of two parallel rods pass through a gearbox, and this increases the packaging size on the vehicle body in the lateral direction (Y). However, a smaller Y packaging is needed in many power striker applications due to constraints in an available volume.
[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved locking device for a backrest of a vehicle.
[0012] This object is achieved with a device having the features of claim 1.
[0013] Accordingly, a locking device for locking a backrest of a vehicle seat (e.g., a rear seat) comprises a mount (e.g., in the shape of a mounting bracket), a striker and a drive unit. The drive unit is configured for displacing the striker relative to the mount. The drive unit comprises a gearbox in engagement with the striker. The gearbox is pivotably mounted on the mount about a pivot axis relative to the mount.
[0014] By this, elements of the gearbox, such as a spindle nut, can be made of metal, so that a high strength is possible. In comparison with known solutions which apply elastic spindle nuts, a longer travel is possible, because of a more robust gearbox having less play. Further, the gearbox is less sensitive to lateral forces, because its length in the direction along the striker can be designed compact compared to concepts with elastic gearbox elements. Thus, the described solution allows a robust, yet simple design and a small packaging size, hence, an improved locking device for a backrest of a vehicle.
[0015] The locking device may particularly comprise an elastic element. The elastic element (e.g., exactly one elastic element) may be arranged such that it is tensionable by the gearbox being pivoted relative to the mount about the pivot axis. This allows to urge the striker in a predefined position. The elastic element may be arranged on the striker. For example, the elastic element may be in contact with the striker. The elastic element may be an elastic guide. The elastic element may be an elastic guide for the striker.
[0016] The elastic element may be arranged outside of the gearbox. This allows a robust gearbox design and comparably strong returning forces due to a larger distance to the pivot axis.
[0017] The striker may comprise an elongate rod. The rod may extend through the gearbox. This allows a simple design. For example, the rod extends perpendicular to the pivot axis. In the installed condition, the pivot axis may extend parallel to the lateral vehicle direction (Y).
[0018] The rod may have a thread, e.g., an eternal thread. The thread may be engaged with a spindle nut of the gearbox. This allows a simple and robust design. The spindle and / or the spindle nut may be made of metal, e.g., steel.
[0019] Optionally, the rod has opposite flat surfaces, i.e., flat surfaces on opposite sides of the rod. The opposite flat surfaces may be parallel to one another. The opposite flat surfaces may extend along a longitudinal extension of the elongate rod. The rod may extend through an opening of a guide bush fixedly mounted with respect to the drive unit. The opening of the guide bush may be formed mating with the opposite flat surfaces of the rod. This allows to prevent a rotation of the rod around its longitudinal axis in a simple manner that only needs little space.
[0020] Optionally, the rod is a first rod and the striker comprises a second rod. Optionally, at least a part of the first rod and a part of the second rod extend parallel to one another. This allows a high strength of the striker and a prevention of a rotation around the displacement axis of the striker.
[0021] The striker (e.g., the second rod of the striker) may be connected with the mount via and by means of an elastic element, e.g., the elastic element described above. The elastic element may allow to pivot the striker, and to pretension the striker into a rest position.
[0022] The second rod may extend through at least one hole of the mount (e.g., through two holes). The hole has opposite ends. The hole may be elongate and the opposite ends may be the opposite longitudinal ends. The elastic element may be configured to urge the second rod into a position (e.g., a center position) between the opposite ends of the hole and to allow a deflection of the second rod from the position between the opposite ends towards at least one of the opposite ends. This allows to hold the second rod in a rest position from which it can be pivoted in two opposite directions.
[0023] Optionally, the first rod and the second rod both extend through the elastic element. This allows a high strength with a simple design. The elastic element may be pretensioned against the striker on at least two opposite sides of the striker. This allows to hold the striker in a rest position from which it can be pivoted in two opposite directions.
[0024] Optionally, a sliding joint is provided at a location displaced from the pivot axis. The sliding joint my be configured to allow a movement of the drive unit relative to the mount. In this manner, simple and robust end stops of the pivoting motion of the striker may be provided.
[0025] Optionally, the sliding joint comprises a mounting element fixed to one of the mount and the drive unit, the mounting element may be engaged with a receptacle. The receptacle may be formed in a part mounted in the drive unit. This is a particularly simple solution.
[0026] The receptacle may be elongate. This allows a substantial pivoting motion.
[0027] Optionally, an elastic element (e.g., the elastic element described above) is arranged in the receptacle. This may be provided to urge the striker in a center position. Without a need for an additional elastic element. By this a particularly simple design is possible.
[0028] The gearbox may be pivotable about the pivot axis with respect to the mount by 0,5° to 1°, in particular by 0.6° or by at least 0,6°. This allows to effectively compensate for height changes due to the arc movement of the backrest.
[0029] Optionally, the striker has teeth. The teeth may be engageable with (a part of) the mount such as to block a further displacement of the striker with respect to the mount. Thereby, an unwanted displacement of the striker in the case of a vehicle crash may be prevented.
[0030] Particularly the (entire) drive unit, including the gearbox, is pivotably mounted on the mount about the pivot axis, what allows a simple design.
[0031] According to an aspect, a vehicle seat is provided. The vehicle seat comprises the locking device according to any embodiment described herein. Regarding the advantages, reference is made to the above description of the locking device to avoid repetition. The locking device may be fixed to the vehicle body or to the backrest of the vehicle seat, and a corresponding latch for engagement with the striker may be fixed on the backrest or the vehicle body, respectively. According to an aspect, a method for manufacturing a locking device (e.g., the locking device of any embodiment described herein) is provided. The method comprises mounting a drive unit on a mount so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis relative to the mount, the drive unit including a gearbox. The method further comprises engaging a striker with the gearbox to be displaceable by the drive unit relative to the mount. Regarding the advantages, reference is made to the above description of the locking device to avoid repetition.
[0032] Embodiments will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the
[0033] Figures, in which:
[0034] Fig. 1 shows perspective view of a locking device for locking a backrest of a vehicle seat;
[0035] Fig. 2 shows the locking device of Fig. 1 mounted on a vehicle body, and a latch mounted on a backrest of a vehicle seat;
[0036] Fig. 3 shows a back side of the locking device of Fig. 1 ;
[0037] Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along the plane A-A indicated in Fig. 3;
[0038] Figs. 5A-5C show different states of construction of the locking device of Fig. 1 ;
[0039] Figs. 6A and 6B show different states of construction of a striker of the locking device of Fig. 1;
[0040] Fig. 7 shows a mount and a drive unit pivotably connected with the mount, and a striker before engagement with a gearbox of the drive unit to form the locking device of Fig. 1 ;
[0041] Fig. 8 shows the locking device of Fig. 1 with teeth formed on the striker;
[0042] Fig. 9 shows the striker in accordance with Fig. 8;
[0043] Figs. 10-12 show different views of a locking device for locking a backrest of a vehicle seat; Fig. 13 shows a cross-sectional view along the plane B-B indicated in Fig.
[0044] 12;
[0045] Figs. 14A and 14B show different states of construction of the locking device of Fig. 10;
[0046] Fig. 15 shows the locking device of Fig. 10 with teeth formed on the striker;
[0047] Fig. 16 shows the striker in accordance with Fig. 15;
[0048] Fig. 17 shows an enlarged view of the striker in accordance with Fig. 15 with a part of a mount of the locking device;
[0049] Figs. 18 and 19 show different views of a locking device for locking a backrest of a vehicle seat;
[0050] Fig. 20 shows a guide bush of the locking device of Fig. 18;
[0051] Fig. 21 shows an elastic element of the locking device of Fig. 18;
[0052] Fig. 22 shows a striker of the locking device of Fig. 18; and
[0053] Fig. 23 shows the elastic element of Fig. 21 in a mounted condition.
[0054] Figs. 1 and 2 show a locking device 1A for locking a backrest 20 of a vehicle seat 2 relative to a vehicle part 3 of a vehicle. The locking device 1A can also be referred to as a straight-ling power striker device. As shown in Fig. 2, the locking device 1A is fixed to the vehicle part 3 which in the present example is a vehicle body. A latch 21 to be locked with the locking device 1A is mounted on the backrest 20. The locking device 1A may also be referred to as adjustment mechanism.
[0055] The locking device 1A comprises a mount 10A. In the present example, the mount 10A is formed as a mounting bracket. The mount 10A is made of metal, e.g., steel, and it is made in one piece. The mount 10A comprises mounting holes, via which the mount 10A can be mounted to the vehicle part 3, e.g., by screws or rivets.
[0056] The locking device 1A further comprises a striker 11 A. The striker 11A comprises a first rod 110A and a second rod 111 A extending parallel to one another. Each of the first rod 110A and the second rod 111 A is elongate. First and second rods 110A, 111 A are fixedly connected to one another via a loop 115. The loop 115 is engageable by the latch 21 to lock the backrest 20 relative to the vehicle part 3. In this example, the second rod 111A is made in one piece with the loop 115, and welded to the first rod 110A. In addition, a reinforcement bracket 114 is fixed, more specifically welded, to the fist rod 110A and to the second rod 111 A. The reinforcement bracket 114 reinforces the first and second rods 110A, 111A in their parallel arrangement relative to one another.
[0057] The locking device 1A further comprises a drive unit 12. The drive unit 12 is configured for displacing the striker 11A relative to the mount 10A. The drive unit 12 comprises a motor 121 and a gearbox 120. The gearbox 120 is in engagement with the striker 11A, more specifically, with the first rod 110A of the striker 11A. The first rod 110A extends through the gearbox 120. For this purpose, the first rod 110A has an outer thread 113 which is in threaded engagement with a spindle nut 128 (see, e.g., Fig. 5B). When the electric motor 121 is activated, the elements of the gearbox 120 are rotated, including the spindle nut 128. The rotation of the spindle nut 128 leads to a linear displacement of the first rod 110A and, thus, of the entire striker 11A. The locking device 1A can also be referred to as a straight-line power striker device. The spindle nut 128 is made of metal, e.g., steel, and thereby allows a high strength. Also the first rod 110A, particularly the whole striker 11A is made of metal, such as steel. This allows to form the spindle nut 128 and thereby the gearbox 120 relatively short.
[0058] When the vehicle seat 2 is displaced along a longitudinal axis X or when the inclination of the backrest 20 is changed, the locking device 1A can adjust the position of the striker 11A along the longitudinal axis X accordingly.
[0059] To allow variations of the height of the latch 21 on the backrest 20 along a height axis Z due to a change of the inclination of the backrest 20, the motor unit 12, including the gearbox 120, is pivotably mounted on the mount 10A about a pivot axis A (see, e.g., Figs. 3 and 5C). The first rod 110A (and the second rod 111A) extends perpendicular to the pivot axis A.
[0060] The height axis Z is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and to a lateral axis Y. The lateral axis Y is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z.
[0061] The locking device 1A comprises an elastic element 13A. The elastic element 13A is an elastic guide for the striker 11 A in this example. The mount 10A forms a cage 101 with two holes 100. Therein, the second rod 111A extends through the two holes 100 of the cage 101. Inside the cage 101 the elastic element 13A is arranged which will be described in greater detail below. The second rod 111 A extends through the elastic element 13A. Further, the holes 100 of the cage 101 are elongate and allow a displacement of the second rod 111 A in a direction vertical to the longitudinal axis X, more specifically, along the height direction Z. The holes 100 and the elastic element 13A are arranged displaced with respect to the gearbox element engaged with the first rod 110A, i.e., the spindle nut 128 in the present example, along the height direction Z. In this example, the holes 100 and the elastic element 13A are arranged (also) displaced with respect to the gearbox element engaged with the first rod 110A, i.e., the spindle nut 128 in the present example, along the lateral direction Y. Here, the cage 101 and the elastic element 13A are arranged at the same location along the longitudinal direction. This allows a small packaging size of the fixed parts of the locking device 1A in the longitudinal direction. The elastic element 13A is held in the cage 101 between walls of the cage 101 having the holes 100. The striker 11A is connected with the mount 10A by the elastic element 13A. The elastic element 13A serves as a guide for the striker 11 A. The hole 100 of the cage 101 facing towards the loop 115 provides hard end stops for a maximum pivot range of the striker 11A, thereby allowing to prevent a misuse of the locking device 1A.
[0062] At the end of the first rod 110A facing away from the loop 115 an end stop 116 is fixed. The end stop 116 defines a maximum travel of the striker 11A with respect to the gearbox 120 by abutting against the gearbox 120.
[0063] To release or lock the latch 21 with the striker 11 A, the latch 21 is movably mounted on the backrest 20, e.g., pivotable. The latch 21 may be manually movable, or a motor may be provided to selectively release or lock the latch 21 with the striker 11A by grasping behind the loop 115.
[0064] With reference to Figs. 3 and 5A-5B, the pivotable mounting of the drive unit 12 on the mount 10A will now be described.
[0065] To allow a pivoting motion the drive unit 12 is mounted on the mount 10A by means of a pivot bearing P. Specifically, the mount 10A comprises a base plate in which a hole 102 and a screw hole 103 are formed. In the hole 102 a bush 17 is arranged that rotatably receives a protruding portion of the motor unit 12. A screw 14 is screwed into a screw hole 127 in the protruding portion an thereby retains the protruding portion inside the bush 17.
[0066] For increased stability, in the present example, the drive unit 12 is also mounted to the mount 10A by means of a slide bearing S. For this purpose, here, a bracket 126 of the drive unit 12 with a receptacle 122 larger than an external diameter of a screw 15 is provided. The screw 15 is screwed into the screw hole 103 in the mount 10A. In the present example, the bracket 126 extends through an opening of the mount and along a surface of the mount 10A facing away from the gearbox 120. The opening of the mount 10A is larger than the hole 102. Since the screw 15 has play in the receptacle 122 of the bracket 126, the sliding joint S allows the pivoting motion of the drive unit 12 with respect to the mount 10A of about + / -1 degrees. A screw head of the screw 15 has a larger diameter than the receptacle 122 of the bracket 126 and thereby secures the bracket 126 on the mount 10A. The sliding joint S is arranged at a location displaced from the pivot axis A and allows a movement of the drive unit 12 relative to the mount 10A.
[0067] Turning now to Fig. 4, the elastic element 13A will be further described. The elastic element 13A is made of an elastically deformable material, e.g., a plastics material. The elastic element 13A comprises circular portions 131 , each describing a half circle, that grasp around the second rod 111A. Arms 130 connect the circular portions 131 with an outer wall that rests against the cage 101. When the second rod 111A is inserted into the elastic element 13A, the arms 130 are pretensioned against the second rod 111A. The elastic element 13A is formed with two halved connected with one another by a film hinge. The elastic element 13A urges the second rod 111 A into a position (approximately at the center) between two opposing ends of each of the elongate holes 100. Thereby, the elastic element 13A urges the striker 11A into a rest position that allows the striker 11A to be pivoted both upwards and downwards. The elastic element 13A is pretensioned against the striker 11A on at least two opposite sides of the striker 11 A. Thereby, the elastic element 13A hole size will itself adapt according to the size of the second rod 111 A, so there will not be a play even after wear.
[0068] For manufacturing the locking device 1A, the mount 10A is produced, here, by punching and bending a sheet metal. Further, the bearing bush 17 is mounted in the hole 102, cf. Figs. 5A and 5B. Further, the elastic element 13A is inserted into the cage 101 , see Figs. 5B and 5C. Next, the drive unit 12 is mounted on the mount 10A. Here, the bracket 126 is inserted through the opening in the mount 10A, the screw 14 is screwed into the drive unit 12, and the screw 15 is moved through the receptacle 122 of the bracket 126 of the drive unit 12 and screwed into the screw hole 103 of the mount 10A. Thereby, the drive unit 12 is pivotably mounted on the mount 10A, see Fig. 5C.
[0069] Before or after, the striker 11A is manufactured by welding the first rod 110A to the second rod 111 A and the reinforcement bracket 114 to both of the first and second rods 110A, 111A, cf. Figs. 6A and 6B.
[0070] Then, the first rod 110A of the striker 11A is screwed through the gearbox 120 and, at the same time, the second rod 111A is pushed through the elastic element 13A. Further, the end stop 116 is mounted at the end of the first rod 110A.
[0071] Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9, the striker 11 A, e.g., at the second rod 111A, is optionally provided with teeth 112. The teeth 112 are formed by a row of depressions on one side of the second rod 111 A. The teeth 112 are engageable with the mount 10A, namely at least with an edge of one of the holes 100 of the cage 101 , for blocking a displacement of the striker 11A with respect to the mount 10A. In a normal operation the teeth 112 are spaces apart from the edge of the hole 100. However, if exceptional forces act, e.g., during a vehicle crash, the striker 11A may be bent laterally. Thereby, the teeth 112 engage with the edge of the hole 100. By this engagement a further longitudinal displacement of the striker 11A is prevented.
[0072] Figs. 10 to 14B show a locking device 1B that is similar to the locking device 10A described above. Therefore, mainly the differences will be described in the following.
[0073] According to Figs. 10-14B, the locking device 1B also comprises an elastic element 13B, however, in this case the elastic element 13B is arranged at a location spaced apart from the gearbox 120 along the longitudinal axis X.
[0074] The first rod 110B of the striker 11 B extends through the gearbox 120 as described above with reference to Figs. 1-9, and in this example also extends through the elastic element 13B. Furthermore, also the second rod 111 B extends through the elastic element 13B. The second rod 111 B extends parallel to the first rod 110B and is welded thereto. However, the second rod 111 B ends before the gearbox 120. Thereby, the end of the second rod 111 B can act as an end stop. Therefore, no additional end stop to limit a retracting movement of the striker 11 B is necessary what further simplifies the construction. Since the elastic element 13B is not displaced with respect to the gearbox 120 in the lateral and height directions Y, Z, the locking device 1 B can be made with a particularly small packaging size in these two directions. The pivotable bearing of the drive unit 12 with the striker 11B is as described above with reference to Figs. 1-9.
[0075] The elastic element 13B is mounted on a plate portion 104 of the mount 10B. The plate portion 104 extends at an angle with respect to the base portion of the mount 10B, specifically, perpendicularly thereto.
[0076] Turning now to Fig. 13, the elastic element 13B comprises an outer frame 133. The frame 133 is substantially rectangular. In this example, the frame 133 comprises latching elements that snap into slots in the plate portion 104 to retain the elastic element 13B thereon. The elastic element 13B further comprises two walls 132. Between the two walls 132 the rods 11 OB, 111 B are held and extend through the elastic element 13B and an opening in the plate portion 104. By holding the two rods 110B, 111 B between the two walls, a rotation of the striker 11 B is prevented.
[0077] Figs. 14A and 14B illustrate a method of manufacturing the locking device 1B. As described above, first the drive unit 12 is pivotably mounted on the mount 10B, then the striker 11 B is inserted through the elastic element 13B and through the gearbox 120.
[0078] Similar as described with reference to Fig. 8 and 9, the striker 11 B may be provided with a row of teeth 112 for locking the longitudinal position of the striker 11 B in case of a vehicle crash. As shown in Figs. 15-17, in this example the teeth 112 are formed on the second rod 111 B and are arranged to engage with an edge of the opening in the plate portion 104 by a sligt lateral movement, see particularly Fig. 17. The teeth 112 are formed on a side o the second rod 111 B facing away from the first rod 110B. As can also be seen in Fig. 17, the loop 115 is arranged asymmetric with respect to the rods 110B, 111 B. Specifically, the loop 115 protrudes beyond the second rod 111 B, but it does not protrude beyond the first rod 110B.
[0079] Turning now to Figs. 18-23 a locking device 1C will be described which is similar to the locking device of Figs. 10-17, so below it will be focused on the differences thereto.
[0080] As can be seen in Fig. 18, the striker 11C does not extend through an elastic element. Thereby, the packaging size is also reduced in the X direction. To pretension the striker 11C into a rest position from which it can be pivoted both upwards and downwards, an elastic element 13C is mounted in the receptacle 122 of the bracket 126 of the drive unit 12, as shown in Fig. 23. With reference to Figs. 21 and 23, it can be seen that the receptacle 122 is elongate. The elastic element 13C has an outer shape that is mating with the receptacle 122. Further, as can be seen in Fig. 23, the elastic element 13C has a through hole aligned with the screw hole 103 of the mount 10C. This arrangement of the elastic element 13C allows a particularly small form factor of the locking device 1C. Therefore, also a low weight and low production costs are possible.
[0081] The striker 11C with the first and second rods 110C, 111C is shaped similar as described above with reference to Figs. 10-17. However, the first rod 110C has flat surfaces 117 on opposite sides thereof and extending along the length of the first rod 110C, see Figs. 18 and 22. The first rod 110C extends through an opening 180 of a guide bush 18 fixedly mounted with respect to the drive unit 12, specifically, on the gearbox 120. The opening 180 is elongate and mates with the opposite flat surfaces 114 of the rod 110C. By the mating engagement of the flat surfaces 117 with the opening 180 of the guide bush 18 having mating flat surfaces, a rotation of the striker 11C is prevented.
[0082] Optionally, the mount 10A-10C is mounted using only two mounting locations, e.g., with screws or rivets, which may be arranged diagonally with respect to the gearbox 120. Only one single elastic element 13A, 13B, 13C is necessary. The elastic element 13A, 13B, 13C is arranged outside of the gearbox 120.
[0083] The idea underlying the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but can be realized in a different way.
[0084] For example, the locking device 1A-1C could alternatively be mounted on the backrest 20, and the latch 21 be mounted on the vehicle body, or the locking device 1A-1C could be mounted on the backrest 20 and the latch is mounted on another, neighboring backrest. List of Reference Numerals
[0085] 1A-1C locking device
[0086] 10A-10C mount
[0087] 100 hole
[0088] 101 cage
[0089] 102 hole
[0090] 103 screw hole
[0091] 104 plate portion
[0092] 11A-11C striker
[0093] 110A-110C first rod
[0094] 111A-111C second rod
[0095] 112 tooth
[0096] 113 thread
[0097] 114 reinforcement bracket
[0098] 115 loop
[0099] 116 end stop
[0100] 117 flat surface
[0101] 12 drive unit
[0102] 120 gearbox
[0103] 121 motor
[0104] 122 receptacle
[0105] 126 bracket
[0106] 127 screw hole
[0107] 128 spindle nut
[0108] 13A-13C elastic element
[0109] 130 arm
[0110] 131 circular portion
[0111] 132 wall
[0112] 133 frame
[0113] 14 screw
[0114] 15 screw
[0115] 17 bush
[0116] 18 guide bush
[0117] 180 opening
[0118] 2 vehicle seat
[0119] 20 backrest 21 latch
[0120] 3 vehicle part
[0121] A pivot axis
[0122] P pivot bearing S sliding joint
[0123] X, Y, Z axes
Claims
WE CLAIM:
1. A locking device (1 A-1C) for locking a backrest (20) of a vehicle seat (2), comprising: a mount (10A-10C), a striker (11 A-11C) and a drive unit (12) for displacing the striker (11A-11C) relative to the mount (10A- 10C) and comprising a gearbox (120) in engagement with the striker (11A-11C), wherein the gearbox (120) is pivotably mounted on the mount (10A-10C) about a pivot axis (A).
2. The locking device (1A-1C) according to claim 1 , characterized by an elastic element (13A-13C) arranged to be tensioned when the gearbox (120) is pivoted relative to the mount (10A-10C) about the pivot axis (A).
3. The locking device (1A-1C) according to claim 2, characterized in that the elastic element (13A-13C) is arranged outside of the gearbox (120).
4. The locking device (1A-1C) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the striker (11) comprises an elongate rod (110A-110C) extending through the gearbox (120).
5. The locking device (1A-1C) according to claim 4, characterized in that the rod (110A-110C) extends perpendicular to the pivot axis (A).
6. The locking device (1A-1C) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the rod (110A-110C) has a thread (113) engaged with a spindle nut (128) of the gearbox (120).
7. The locking device (1C) according to any of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the rod (110C) has opposite flat surfaces (117) extending along a longitudinal extension of the rod (110C), the rod (110C) extending through an opening (180) of a guide bush (18) fixedly mounted with respect to the drive unit (12), the opening (180) mating with the opposite flat surfaces (114) of the rod (110C).
8. The locking device (1A-1C) according to any of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the rod (110A-110C) is a first rod (110A-110C) and the striker (11A-11C) comprises asecond rod (111A-111C), wherein at least parts of the first rod (110A-100C) and the second rod (111A-111C) extend parallel to one another.
9. The locking device (1A, 1B) according to claim 2 or any of claims 3-8 when referring to claim 2, characterized in that the striker (11 A, 11 B) is connected with the mount (10A, 10B) by the elastic element (13A, 13B).
10. The locking device (1A, 1B) according to claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the second rod (111 A, 111 B) extends through at least one hole (100) of the mount (10A, 10B), the hole (100) having opposite ends, wherein the elastic element (13A, 13B) is configured to urge the second rod (111 A, 111 B) into a position between the opposite ends of the hole (100) and to allow a deflection of the second rod (111 A, 111 B) from the position between the opposite ends towards at least one of the opposite ends.
11. The locking device (1 B) according to claim 8 and according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the first rod (110B) and the second rod (111B) both extend through the elastic element (13B).
12. The locking device (1A, 1B) according to any of claims 9 to 11 , characterized in that the elastic element (13A, 13B) is pretensioned against the striker (11 A, 11 B) on at least two opposite sides of the striker (11 A, 11 B).
13. The locking device (1A-1C) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sliding joint (S) is provided at a location displaced from the pivot axis (A) allowing a movement of the drive unit (12) relative to the mount (10A-10C).
14. The locking device (1A-1C) according to claim 13, characterized in that the sliding joint (S) comprises a mounting element (14) fixed to one of the mount (10A-10C) and the drive unit (12), the mounting element (14) being engaged with a receptacle (122).
15. The locking device (1A-1C) according to claim 14, characterized in that the receptacle (122) is elongate.
16. The locking device (1C) according to claim 2 and according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the elastic element (13C) is arranged in the receptacle (122).
17. The locking device (1A-1C) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gearbox (120) is pivotable about the pivot axis (A) with respect to the mount (10A-10C) by at least 0,6°.
18. The locking device (1A, 1B) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the striker (11 A, 11 B) has teeth (112) engageable with the mount (10A, 10B) for blocking a displacement of the striker (11 A, 11 B) with respect to the mount (10A, 10B).
19. The locking device (1A-1C) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive unit (12), including the gearbox (120), is pivotably mounted on the mount (10A-10C) about the pivot axis (A).
20. A vehicle seat (2), characterized by the locking device (1A-1C) according to any of the preceding claims.
21. A method for manufacturing a locking device (1A-1C), the method comprising: mounting a drive unit (12) on a mount (10A-10C) pivotable about a pivot axis (A), the drive unit (12) including a gearbox (120), engaging a striker (11A-11C) with the gearbox (120) to be displaceable by the drive unit (12) relative to the mount (10A-10C).