Set of adjustable components for a vehicle seat and its control mechanism

Abstract

Adjustable Element Assembly for a Vehicle Seat and Control Mechanism Therefore. The present invention relates to an adjustable element assembly for a vehicle seat. The adjustable element assembly includes a control mechanism (100) for operating a locking mechanism (400) for the adjustable element. The locking mechanism (400) engages and disengages the adjustable element from a support member (310) of the vehicle seat. The control mechanism (100) includes an actuating member (10) and a control member (20). The actuating member (10) is arranged to slide along the adjustable element, and the control member (20) is arranged between the actuating member (10) and the locking mechanism (400). During the sliding of the actuating member (10), the control member (20) moves linearly to a second control position to unlock the locking mechanism (400) to disengage the adjustable element from the support member (310).Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 4a.

Description

Title of the invention: Adjustable element assembly for a vehicle seat and control mechanism thereof Field of invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an adjustable element assembly for a vehicle seat such as a headrest or an armrest of the vehicle seat. The present invention relates more specifically to a control mechanism for controlling a locking mechanism of an adjustable element assembly of a vehicle seat. Background of the invention

[0002] Generally, a seat of a vehicle is provided with adjustable elements such as a headrest or an armrest attached to the vehicle seat. These adjustable elements are generally configured as assemblies. [Fig.1a] shows a perspective view of a headrest 200 arranged on an existing backrest 300 of a prior art vehicle seat 500. Generally, the backrest 300 includes at least one support member 310 extending from the backrest 300. In this prior art, two support members 310 and 320 are provided. The support members 310 and 320 are rods. The headrest 200 is slidably arranged on the support members 310 and 320.

[0003] The headrest 200 slides on the support members 310 and 320 away from and towards the backrest 300 of the vehicle seat 500. Furthermore, the headrest 200 is locked to the support members 310 and 320 in one position by a locking mechanism 400 of the headrest 200. In the embodiments shown, the locking mechanism 400 includes a piston 410 ([Fig.lb]). The piston 410 is connected to a control button P. By actuating the control button P, the locking mechanism 400 can be unlocked. Furthermore, the headrest 200 can be adjusted along the support members 310 and 320 and further locked to the support members 310 and 320 in another position.

[0004] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of an armrest 201 arranged on a existing seat base 301 of the prior art vehicle seat 500. Generally, the seat base 301 includes at least one support member 312 extending from the seat base 301. The support member 312 is a rod connected to the seat base 301. The armrest 201 is slidably arranged on the support member 312 using a push button P. The armrest 201 slides on the support member 312 away from and towards the seat base 301 of the vehicle seat 500.

[0005] The existing headrest 200 or armrest 201 assemblies are provided with different types of locking mechanisms comprising different construction elements such as pistons, locking pins, lock wires, locking ramps, surface locks and the like for locking the adjustable elements (200 or 201) to the support members (310, 312).

[0006] Generally, these locking mechanisms are controlled by different types of control mechanisms. Some of the control mechanisms include elements such as fixed point balances, a button arrangement, a rack arrangement, a lever arrangement and the like, for example as disclosed in FR3010951, DE102009053211. These control mechanisms are not intuitive for users to adjust the adjustable elements (200 or 201) into different positions.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to provide a control mechanism for a locking mechanism of an adjustable element of a vehicle seat which overcomes some or all of the disadvantages of the prior art. Objects of the invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a control mechanism for a locking mechanism of an adjustable element of a seat vehicle.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a control mechanism for a locking mechanism of an adjustable element of a vehicle seat, which unlocks the locking mechanism to disengage the adjustable element from a support member of the vehicle seat, thereby allowing position adjustments of the adjustable element relative to the backrest or seat cushion of the vehicle seat.

[0010] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a control mechanism for a locking mechanism of an adjustable element of a vehicle seat, which improves user comfort.

[0011] Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a control mechanism for a locking mechanism of an adjustable element of a vehicle seat, which has a simple construction and is easy and intuitive to use. Summary of the invention

[0012] According to the present invention, there is provided an adjustable element assembly for a vehicle seat comprising a control mechanism for controlling a locking mechanism of the adjustable element of a vehicle seat. The adjustable element may be a headrest or an armrest or a legrest or a backrest of the vehicle seat. The locking mechanism may engage or disengage the adjustable element from a support member arranged on a backrest or a seat cushion of the vehicle seat to adjust the adjustable element into different positions.

[0013] The control mechanism may include an actuating member and a control. The actuating member may be slidably arranged on the adjustable element. In one embodiment, the actuating member may be a sliding button arranged on the adjustable element of the vehicle seat. In an alternative embodiment, the actuating member may be a sliding side portion of the adjustable element of the vehicle seat.

[0014] Furthermore, the control member may be arranged between the actuating member and the locking mechanism.

[0015] Upon sliding the actuating member to a second actuating position, the control member moves linearly to a second control position to unlock the locking mechanism to disengage the adjustable element from the support member.

[0016] More specifically, when the actuating member is in a first actuating position, the control member is in the first control position to lock the locking mechanism to engage the adjustable element on the support member. A second actuating position may be reached by sliding the actuating member away from the first actuating position.

[0017] The support member may have a slot or notch for configuring different positions of the adjustable member by engaging the adjustable member with the support member arranged on a backrest or seat cushion of the vehicle seat. The locking mechanism may be a cable lock or a cable lock or a combination of cable lock with a rack system or a key lock or a pin lock or any obvious lock arrangement capable of locking the headrest within a slot of the support member.

[0018] Furthermore, the control member may be arranged in contact with a locking element of the locking mechanism. The locking element may lock the locking mechanism when the control member is in the first control position. Similarly, the locking element may unlock the locking mechanism when the control member is in a second control position.

[0019] Further, a cam profile may be configured on the actuator member. Similarly, the control member may include a follower extending toward the cam profile of the actuator member. Upon sliding of the actuator member by applying an external force thereto, the follower slides on the cam profile of the actuator member, thereby moving the control member linearly toward or away from the locking mechanism to unlock the adjustable element from the support member. More specifically, the control member may move linearly to the second control position to unlock rust the locking mechanism to disengage the adjustable element from the support member.

[0020] Further, the control member may be arranged with a first biasing member. In the absence of the external force on the actuating member. The biasing member may bias the control member toward the first control position. Further, the actuating member may be arranged with a second biasing member. In the absence of the external force on the actuating member, the second biasing member may bias the actuating member toward the first actuating position. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] The advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the adjustable element assembly and the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified by like symbols, and in which:

[0022] - [Fig.la], [Fig.la] represents a perspective view of a vehicle seat having an adjustable headrest arranged on a backrest of a vehicle seat of a prior art;

[0023] - [Fig.lb], [Fig.lb] represents a schematic view of the vehicle seat of the [Fig.1a] with a locking mechanism;

[0024] - [Fig.2], [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of an adjustable armrest arranged on a seat base of a vehicle seat of prior art;

[0025] - [Fig.3], [Fig.3] represents a headrest arranged on a back of a seat with a control mechanism according to the present invention;

[0026] - [Fig.4a], [Fig.4a] represents a schematic view of a control mechanism for controlling a locking mechanism of a headrest according to the present invention and the locking mechanism is in a locked position;

[0027] - [Fig.4b], [Fig.4b] represents a schematic view of the control mechanism shown in [Fig.4a] with the locking mechanism in an unlocked position;

[0028] - [Fig.4c], [Fig.4c] represents a schematic exploded view of the mechanism of order of figures 4a and 4b;

[0029] - [Fig.4d], [Fig.4d] represents a front view of support members of the mechanism locking shown in Figures 4a and 4b;

[0030] - [Fig.5a], [Fig.5a] represents a schematic view of a variant of the mode of rea embodiment of a control mechanism with a locking mechanism in a locked position according to the present invention;

[0031] - [Fig.5b], [Fig.5b] represents a schematic view of the control mechanism shown in [Fig.5a] with the locking mechanism in an unlocked position; and

[0032] - [Fig.6a][Fig.6b], Figures 6a and 6b show front views of a headrest with an alternative embodiment of an actuating element of the control mechanism shown in Figures 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b.

[0033] We will now describe in detail an embodiment of the invention, illustrating its features. The words "comprising", "having", "containing" and "including" and other forms thereof are considered to have an equivalent meaning and to be non-limiting in that one or more elements following any of these words is / are not intended to constitute an exhaustive list of said element(s) nor intended to be limited solely to the element(s) listed.

[0034] The terms "first," "second," and the like do not herein indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms "a" and "an" do not herein indicate a limitation in quantity, but rather indicate the presence of at least one of the referenced element.

[0035] The disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.

[0036] Referring now to Figures 3, 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d in which various views of a control mechanism 100 for controlling an adjustable element assembly of a vehicle seat 500 ([Fig.2]) according to the present invention are illustrated. The adjustable element 200 may be a headrest 200 or an armrest 201 or a legrest or a backrest of the vehicle seat 500. The adjustable element 200 is configured as an assembly or a single piece. If the adjustable element 200 is configured as an assembly, it may be referred to as an "adjustable element assembly". A position of the adjustable element 200 may be adjusted relative to an element of the vehicle seat 500. The element may be a backrest 300 or a seat base 301 ([Fig.2]) or any other functional element of the vehicle seat 500.

[0037] For the sake of brevity of the invention, the control mechanism 100 is explained by considering the adjustable element 200 as the headrest 200. The locking mechanism 400 disengages (or engages) the adjustable element 200 from (or with) a support member 310 arranged on the seat 500 to adjust the headrest 200 into different positions. The control mechanism 100 includes an actuating member 10 and a control member 20.

[0038] Furthermore, the actuating member 10 is slidably arranged on the adjustable element 200 or 201. The actuating member 10 is a sliding button arranged on the adjustable element 200 of the vehicle seat 500. In the embodiment re shown in [Fig. 3], the actuating member 10 can slide along a length 200a (“L”) of the headrest 200. In an alternative embodiment, the actuating member 10 can be configured to slide along a width 200b (“W”) or a depth 200c (“D”) of the headrest 200, which is obvious to those skilled in the art. The actuating member 10 is accessible to a user seated on the seat 500. The user here refers to a passenger seated on the seat 500 of the vehicle and resting his head on the headrest 200. The control member 20 is arranged between the actuating member 10 and the locking mechanism 400.

[0039] Referring now to [Fig. 4a] in which is illustrated a schematic view of the control mechanism 100 with the locking mechanism 400 in a locked position 400a. In the locked position 400a, the actuating member 10 is in a first actuating position 10a and the control member 20 is in a first control position 20a for locking the locking mechanism 400 to engage the headrest 200 with the support members 310, 320. The support members 310, 320 are provided with a plurality of slots (S) (not shown) for engaging the headrest 200 with the support members 310, 320 (refer to [Fig. 4d]). The locking mechanism 400 comprises a pair of locking members 450 connected by means of a metal cable. In the locked position 400a, the locking member 450 is locked in the slots (S) of the support members 310, 320.

[0040] Refer now to [Fig.4b] in which a schematic view of the control mechanism 100 with the locking mechanism 400 in an unlocked position 400b is illustrated. In the unlocked position 400b, the actuating member 10 has slid to a second actuating position 10b. The second actuating position 10b can be reached by sliding the actuating member 10 away from the first actuating position 10a. For example, the second actuating position 10b can be reached by sliding the actuating member 10 up or down or to the right or left relative to the first actuating position 10b.

[0041] In one embodiment, the second actuating position 10b can be reached by sliding the actuating member 10 below the first actuating position 10a. The actuating member 10 is moved manually (by a user) from the first actuating position 10a to the second actuating position 10b. When the actuating member 10 is moved manually from the first actuating position 10a to the second actuating position 10b, the control member 20 is pushed toward the locking mechanism 400 to configure a second control position 20b of the control member 20 such that the locking member 450 withdraws from the slot S of the support members 310, 320 for releasing or disengaging the headrest 200 from the support members 310, 320 and thus the user can adjust the headrest 200 into different positions. It may be obvious to those skilled in the art to design the actuating member 10 with a sliding arrangement to allow sliding movement of the actuating member 10 between the first actuating position 10a and the second actuating position 10b.

[0042] Furthermore, the control member 20 is arranged in contact with the locking member 450 of the locking mechanism 400. In the present embodiment, the control member 20 is configured to slide along the width 200b of the headrest 200. In an alternative embodiment, the control member 20 may be configured to slide along the length 200a or the depth 200c of the headrest 200, which is obvious to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the control member 20 moves transversely with respect to the movement of the actuating member 10. In an alternative embodiment, the actuating member 10 and the control member 20 may be configured to move in any obvious directions to achieve relative movement between them.

[0043] The locking member 450 locks the locking mechanism 400 when the control member 20 is in the first control position 20a. Similarly, the locking member 450 unlocks the locking mechanism 400 when the control member 20 is in the second control position 20b. In an alternative embodiment, the locking member 450 may be configured to unlock the locking mechanism 400 when the control member 20 is in the first control position 20a; and the locking member 450 locks the locking mechanism 400 when the control member 20 is in the second control position 20b, which is obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0044] Furthermore, a cam profile is configured on the actuator member 10. Similarly, the control member 20 comprises a follower extending towards the cam profile of the actuator member 10. When sliding the actuator member 10 by applying an external force thereto, the follower slides on the cam profile of the actuator member 10, thereby moving the control member 20 linearly towards or away from the locking mechanism 400 to unlock the adjustable element (headrest) 200 from the support member 310.

[0045] In the first embodiments shown in Figures 4a, 4b and 4c, the cam profile 12 of the actuating member 10 is configured according to a concave profile. The concave profile projects towards the follower 22 of the control member 20. When the actuating member 10 slides by applying an external force thereto, the follower 22 slides on the cam profile 12 of the member actuating member 10, thereby pushing the control member 20. The external force can be applied by the user manually or by any force applicator device (not shown).

[0046] More specifically, when sliding the actuating member 10 to the second actuating position 10b, the control member 20 is pushed to the second control position 20b to unlock (400b) the locking mechanism 400 to unlock the headrest 200 from the support member 310. In this embodiment, the control member 20 is pushed linearly toward the locking mechanism 400 to control the locking mechanism 400 to unlock the headrest from the support member 310.

[0047] Furthermore, the control member 20 is arranged with a first biasing member 26. In the absence of the external force on the actuating member 10 (when the user releases the force on the actuating member 10), the biasing member 26 biases the control member 20 into the first control position 20a. Furthermore, due to the sliding movements at the cam profile 12, the actuating member 10 moves from the second actuating position 10b to the first actuating position 10a, thereby locking (400a) the locking mechanism 400 to engage the headrest 200 with the support member 310.

[0048] Referring now to Figures 5a and 5b, in which are illustrated schematic views of an alternative embodiment of the control mechanism 110 with the locking mechanism 400 in a locking position 400a and an unlocking position 400b respectively. In the present embodiment, the cam profile 14 of the actuating member 10 is configured according to a convex profile. More specifically, the convex profile projects towards the control member 20. When the actuating member 10 is slid by applying an external force thereto, the follower 24 of the control member slides on the cam profile 14 of the actuating member 10, thereby moving the control member 20 towards the actuating member 10.

[0049] More specifically, upon sliding the actuating member 10 to the second actuating position 10b, the control member 20 moves by the cam profile 14 to the second control position 20b to unlock (400b) the locking mechanism 400 to disengage the headrest 200 from the support member 310. In the present embodiment, the control member 20 is pushed linearly away from the locking mechanism 400 to control the locking mechanism 400 to unlock the headrest from the support member 310.

[0050] Furthermore, the actuating member 10 is arranged with a second biasing member 18. In the absence of the external force on the actuating member 10, the second biasing member 18 biases the actuating member 10 toward the first actuating position 10a. Furthermore, by means of the sliding movements at the cam profile 14, the control member 20 moves from the second control position 20b to the first control position 20a, thereby locking (400a) the locking mechanism 400 to engage the headrest 200 with the support member 310.

[0051] It may be obvious to a person skilled in the art to design the actuating member 10, the control member 20, the cam profile 12 or 14, the follower 22 or 24 with various geometric shapes and dimensions to allow relative movements between the actuating member 10 and the control member 20 to lock and unlock the locking mechanism 400.

[0052] By sliding the actuating member 10 of the control mechanism 100 or 110 by the user to the second actuating position 10b, the headrest 200 can be disengaged from the support member 310. The user can adjust a position of the headrest 200 relative to the backrest 300 by sliding the headrest 200 along the support member 310. When the user places the headrest 200 in a desired position on the support member 310 and releasing the external force on the actuating member 10, the actuating member 10 slides back to the first actuating position 10a. Furthermore, the control member 20 moves to the first control position 20a. This engages the headrest 200 with the support member 310 through the use of the control mechanism 100 and the locking mechanism 400 in the desired position.

[0053] In one embodiment, the actuating member 10 may be a sliding side portion of the adjustable element 200 of the vehicle seat 500, as shown in Figures 6a and 6b. In said embodiments, the adjustable element is a headrest 200 of the seat 500 and a sliding side portion 220 of the headrest 200 is the actuating member 10.

[0054] Similarly, using the actuating member 10 of the control mechanism 100 or 110, an adjustable element 200 or 201 of the vehicle seat 500 may be unlocked from a support member 310 or 312 of the vehicle seat 500. In the embodiment shown, the support member 310 is a rod of a vehicle seat or the support member 312 of the armrest 201. In alternative embodiments, the support member 310 may be any arrangement capable of providing support to an adjustable element of the vehicle seat 500.

[0055] Therefore, the present invention has the advantage that it provides the control mechanism 100, 110 for controlling the locking mechanism 400 of the adjustable element 200 or 201 of the vehicle seat 500. The control mechanism 100, 110 unlocks the locking mechanism 400 to disengage the adjustable element 200 or 201 of the backrest 300 or the seat cushion 301 of the vehicle seat 500, thereby enabling position adjustments of the adjustable element 200 or 201 relative to the backrest 300 or the seat cushion 301. The control mechanism 100, 110 improves user comfort. The control mechanism 100, 110 has a simple construction and is easy and intuitive to use.

[0056] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for illustrative and descriptive purposes. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and it is obvious that numerous modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments have been selected and described so as to better explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and thereby to enable others skilled in the art to better utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as adapted to the particular use contemplated.It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or make expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or practice without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. An adjustable element assembly (200, 201) for a vehicle seat (500), the adjustable element assembly (200, 201) comprising an operating mechanism (100) for a locking mechanism (400) of the adjustable element (200, 201), the locking mechanism (400) engages and disengages the adjustable element (200, 201) from a support member (310, 312) arranged on a backrest (300) or a seat cushion (301) of the vehicle seat (500) to adjust the adjustable element (200) into different positions, wherein the operating mechanism (100) comprises: - an actuating member (10) slidably arranged on the adjustable element (200);- a control member (20) arranged between the actuating member (10) and the locking mechanism (400), characterized in that a cam profile (12, 14) is configured on the actuating member (10) and the control member (20) comprises a follower (22, 24) extending towards the cam profile (12, 14) of the actuating member (10), and in that, when sliding the actuating member (10) by applying an external force thereto towards a second actuating position (10b), the follower (22, 24) slides on the cam profile (12, 14) of the actuating member (10), thereby moving the control member (20) linearly towards a second actuating position (20b) by moving it towards or away from the locking mechanism (400) to unlock the locking mechanism (400) to disengage the adjustable element (200, 201) from the support member (310, 312).;

2. The adjustable member assembly (200) of claim 1, wherein when the actuating member (10) is in a first actuating position (10a), the control member (20) is in a first control position (20a) for locking the locking mechanism (400) to engage the adjustable member (200) with the support member (310).

3. An adjustable element assembly (200) according to claims 1 and 2, wherein the second actuating position (10b) can be reached by sliding the actuating member (10) away from the first actuation position (10a).

4. An adjustable member assembly (200) according to claim 1, wherein the actuating member (10) is a sliding button arranged on the adjustable member (200) of the vehicle seat (500).

5. An adjustable element assembly (200) according to claim 1, wherein the actuating member (10) is a sliding side portion (220) of the adjustable element (200) of the vehicle seat (500).

6. An adjustable element assembly (200) according to claims 1 and 2, wherein the control member (20) is arranged in contact with a locking member (450) of the locking mechanism (400), the locking member (450) locks the locking mechanism (400) when the control member (20) is in the first control position (20a) and the locking member (450) unlocks the locking mechanism (400) when the control member (20) is in the second control position (20b).

7. An adjustable element assembly (200) according to claims 1, 2 and 6, wherein the control member (20) is arranged with a first biasing member (26), in the absence of the external force on the actuating member (10), the first biasing member (26) biases the control member (20) towards the first control position (20a).

8. An adjustable element assembly (200) according to claims 1, 2 and 6, wherein the actuating member (10) is arranged with a second biasing member (18), in the absence of the external force on the actuating member (10), the second biasing member (18) biases the actuating member (10) towards the first actuating position (10a).

9. An adjustable member assembly (200) according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable member (200) is a headrest or an armrest or a legrest or a backrest of the vehicle seat (500).

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