Vehicle seat control system and vehicle seat including the control system

Abstract

Control system (1) for motor vehicle seat (100) comprising a control device (10) having a control shaft (12) and a support plate (20) having at least one fixing hole (22), the control shaft (12) is configured to rotate about a control axis (15) relative to the support plate (20), at least one fixing element (50), the fixing element (50) includes a fixing head (52), an intermediate portion (54) and a rod portion (58), the fixing head (52) includes a rim (53), the intermediate portion (54) has a non-circular cross-section and the fixing hole (22) has a shape complementary to the intermediate portion (54), a flange (30) including a retaining hole (32), the rod portion (58) extending through the retaining hole (32), and a locking element (40) cooperating with the rod portion (58). Figure for the summary: Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle seat control system and vehicle seat comprising the control system Disclosure domain

[0001] This disclosure relates to a vehicle seat control system and a vehicle seat comprising the control system. The control system may, in particular, form a manual or electric height adjustment system. The vehicle seat is, in particular, a motor vehicle seat. State of the art

[0002] Document FR 3 009 244 Al describes a vehicle seat control system comprising

[0003] a control device comprising a control shaft and a support plate, The support plate has a first mounting face and a second mounting face; the support plate includes at least one mounting hole extending between the first mounting face and the second mounting face; the drive shaft is configured to rotate about a drive axis relative to the support plate.

[0004] at least one fastening element, the fastening element has a fastening axis parallel to the control axis, the fastening element comprises a fastening head and a portion of a rod,

[0005] a flange having a first retaining face and a second retaining face, the first retaining face extending opposite the second retaining face, the flange comprising a retaining hole, the retaining hole extending between the first retaining face and the second retaining face, the portion of the rod extending through the retaining hole,

[0006] a locking element cooperating with the portion of the rod to maintain the control device relative to the flange in translation along the axis of attachment.

[0007] The present disclosure aims to improve the attachment of the control device to the flange, in particular to facilitate its implementation, improve its robustness or improve the compactness of the system. Statement of Disclosure

[0008] To remedy the aforementioned problems, in accordance with this disclosure, the fastening head comprises a shoulder and a rim; the shoulder has a bearing face extending opposite the second fastening face (along the fastening axis), and the rim has a retaining face extending opposite the first fastening face (along the fastening axis), so that the fastening element is retained in translation along the fixing axis relative to the support plate between the edge and the shoulder

[0009] Thus, the fastening element is fixed to the support plate before the support plate is fixed to the flange. Furthermore, it is unnecessary to use a tool to prevent the fastening element from rotating around its axis. Under these conditions, the fastening head can be positioned closer to the control device, thereby reducing the overall size of the control system. This also facilitates the attachment of the control device to the flange.

[0010] According to another feature, the rim is preferably formed by a plurality of disjoint rim portions.

[0011] Thus, the ratio between the effort required to produce the rim and the rim's resistance to deformation is increased. In other words, for a given mechanical strength of the material and the machine power required to produce the rim, the rim's resistance to mechanical stresses can be improved.

[0012] According to a complementary or alternative feature, each portion of the rim has, perpendicular to the fixing axis, preferably a crescent moon shape.

[0013] A good ratio between the effort to make the rim and the resistance of the rim is thus obtained.

[0014] According to another feature, the rim is preferably made by stamping.

[0015] According to another feature, preferably the fixing head includes an intermediate portion, perpendicular to the fixing axis, the intermediate portion has a non-circular cross-section, the fixing hole has a shape complementary to the intermediate portion cooperating with the intermediate portion to maintain the fixing element in rotation around the fixing axis relative to the support plate.

[0016] Thus, the rotation of the fastening element around the fixing axis is firmly prevented, which eliminates the need to use a tool to stop the fastening element from rotating around the fixing axis.

[0017] According to a complementary feature, preferably the intermediate portion has, perpendicular to the fixing axis, a plurality of vertices and the fixing hole includes a first stop portion and a second stop portion on either side of each vertex forming a rotational stop of the intermediate portion around the fixing axis.

[0018] According to a complementary feature, preferably the intermediate portion has, perpendicular to the fixing axis, an elongated shape extending along an elongation direction between a first vertex and a second vertex.

[0019] Thus, a good compromise is found between resistance and cost of the control system.

[0020] According to another feature, the fastening element preferably includes a conical portion coming into contact with the retaining hole.

[0021] This reduces the clearance between the support plate and the flange. Given the clamping force, the displacements between the support plate and the flange are reduced. However, particularly when the control device operates by clamping, vibrations may cause displacements between the support plate and the flange, resulting in unexpected movements within the control device. These movements can be mitigated by the aforementioned feature.

[0022] According to a complementary feature, the retaining hole is preferably deformed by contact with the conical portion.

[0023] Thus, it is not necessary to have very small dimensional tolerances to prevent the conical portion from substantially reducing the pressure exerted along the fixing axis.

[0024] According to a complementary or alternative feature, the locking element is a nut.

[0025] In the case where this characteristic and the previous one are complementary, the deformation of the retaining hole can be obtained by tightening the nut, in particular between the support plate and the flange.

[0026] To achieve this, the fastening element preferably has a hardness greater than the hardness of the flange.

[0027] According to another feature, the conical portion is preferably in contact with the retaining hole in a plurality of disjoint contact zones.

[0028] The resistance to deformation of the retaining hole is thus very significantly reduced compared to the case where the contact between the fixing element and the retaining hole is continuous, because a closed (continuous) annular bead would then be formed.

[0029] Preferably, the conical portion is in contact with the retaining hole in two diametrically opposed contact zones perpendicular to the fixing axis.

[0030] According to a complementary or alternative feature, preferably the flange includes a bore through which the control shaft extends, and the support plate includes an annular portion, the annular portion having an outer surface cooperating with the bore of the flange.

[0031] Thus, the fixing axis can only move relative to the control axis by rotation around the control axis and a single fixing element comprising a conical portion will be sufficient to oppose this movement.

[0032] According to another feature, preferably the control system further comprises a guide plate, the guide plate having a guide hole and a bearing hole, the fixing element extends into the guide hole and the guide plate is held along the fixing axis between the flange and the nut, the bearing hole forms a bearing for the drive shaft.

[0033] Thus, the control system does not require any additional operation to guide the control tree.

[0034] This disclosure further relates to a vehicle seat including the control system.

[0035] According to another feature, preferably the vehicle seat further comprises a pinion integral with the control shaft and the seat further comprises a connecting rod and a toothed portion, the connecting rod is articulated in rotation relative to the flange around an articulation axis and the toothed portion is integral with the connecting rod and cooperates with the pinion.

[0036] According to a supplementary feature, preferably the vehicle seat includes a seat frame comprising the flange and the control device in the form of a riser allowing adjustment of the height of the seat frame. Brief description of the figures

[0037] Other features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0038] [Fig-1] schematically represents a vehicle seat comprising a seat cushion, the seat comprising a frame and equipped with a control system according to a first embodiment,

[0039] [Fig.2] schematically represents the vehicle seat whose seat frame is equipped with a control system according to a second embodiment,

[0040] [Fig.3] represents in perspective the seat frame equipped with the control system according to the first embodiment,

[0041] [Fig.4] represents the control system according to the first embodiment in fragmented perspective,

[0042] [Fig.5] represents the control system along the arrow marked V in [Fig.3],

[0043] [Fig.6] represents the control system in cross-section along the line marked VLVI to the [Fig.5],

[0044] [Fig.7] represents the control system in cross-section along the line marked VILVII at [Fig.6],

[0045] [Fig.8] represents the control system in cross-section along the line marked VIIL VIII in [Fig.6],

[0046] [Fig.9] illustrates an operation to implement the control system. Detailed description of the disclosure

[0047] The drawings and description below contain, essentially, elements of a definite nature. They may therefore not only serve to better understand this disclosure, but also contribute to its definition, if necessary.

[0048] Also, the present disclosure relates to a seat 100 comprising a seat 102 and a backrest 104. The seat 100 rests on a vehicle floor 80.

[0049] As illustrated in particular in [Fig.2], the seat 102 includes a control system 1 allowing the height of the seat 102 to be adjusted relative to the vehicle floor 80.

[0050] As illustrated in particular in [Fig. 3], the seat 102 comprises a seat frame 70 and a control system 1. The seat frame 70 comprises a flange 30, connected to an opposing flange 79 by a front cross member 77 and a rear cross member 78. The front cross member 77 and the rear cross member 78 extend along an axial direction Z. The flange 30 and the opposing flange 79 are formed by shaped plates extending substantially perpendicularly to the axial direction Z. The seat 100 further comprises a connecting rod 71 and three other connecting rods 72, 73, 74 supporting the seat frame 70. A toothed portion 76 is connected to the connecting rod 71.The connecting rods 71, 72, 73, 74 each have an upper end articulated for rotation relative to the seat frame 70 about a respective upper axis extending along the axial direction Z, and a lower end articulated for rotation relative to the vehicle floor 80 about a respective lower axis extending along the axial direction Z. In the first embodiment, the toothed portion 76 has a circular shape centered on the upper articulation axis of the connecting rod 71. Alternatively, the toothed portion 76 could be straight and form a rack. In the illustrated embodiments, the seat 100 further includes slides 90 arranged between the vehicle floor 80 and the connecting rods 71, 72, 73, 74.

[0051] The control system 1 comprises a control device 10, the flange 30, at least one fastening element 50, and a locking element. In the illustrated embodiments, the locking element is a nut 40. Alternatively, the locking element could be a pin or a similar device. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiments, there are three fastening elements 50 and nuts 40 each. The control device 10 comprises a drive shaft 12, a pinion 14, a drive device 18, and a support plate 20. The drive shaft 12 can be rotated about the control shaft 15 relative to the support plate 20 by the drive device 18 to act on the connecting rod 71. The control shaft 15 extends along the axial direction Z.

[0052] In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 1], the drive device 18 is manually operated and includes a control handle 16 that can be operated by a user. The drive device 18 includes a first stage that prevents rotation. The control shaft 12 rotates around the control axis 15 relative to the support plate 20, and a second, optional stage is actuated by the control handle 16. The control handle 16 is elastically forced by the second stage towards a neutral position N relative to the support plate 20. When the control handle 16 is moved away from the neutral position N by rotation around the control axis 15 in a first direction SI relative to the support plate 20, the control handle 16 causes the control shaft 12 to rotate around the control axis 15 in the first direction SL. When the control handle 16 is moved away from the neutral position N by rotation around the control axis 15 in a second direction S2, opposite to the first direction SI, relative to the support plate 20, the control handle 16 causes the control shaft 12 to rotate around the control axis 15 in the second direction S2 relative to the support plate. 20.When the control handle 16 returns to the neutral position N, the control shaft 12 is held immobilized in rotation relative to the support plate 20 by the first stage of the drive device 18.

[0053] For readability reasons, the control handle 16 is illustrated only in [Fig.1].

[0054] Such a training device 18 being well known, in particular in document FR 2 809 355 Al, it will not be described in more detail.

[0055] Figure 2 illustrates an alternative drive device 18 comprising a geared motor M. The geared motor M comprises an electric motor and an irreversible reduction gear, such as a worm gear system, connecting the electric motor to the drive shaft 12. The drive device 18 further comprises a first control and a second control (not shown), of the type of switch or well-known analogous control, controlling the electric motor, in order to rotate the drive shaft 12 in the first direction SI and in the second direction S2.

[0056] In the following, the disclosure will be described in particular with regard to Figures 4 and 5 illustrating the drive device 18 of the first embodiment. However, the remainder of the disclosure would apply similarly with regard to the drive device according to the second embodiment.

[0057] The support plate 20 supports the drive device 18. The pinion 14 is rigidly fixed to the drive shaft 12 and cooperates with the toothed portion 76. The rotation of the drive shaft 12 consequently drives the connecting rod 71 in rotation. The connecting rods 71, 72, 73, 74, the flange 30, the opposite flange 79 and the slides 90 form two deformable parallelograms transforming the rotation of the connecting rod 71 into a vertical displacement of the seat 102.

[0058] The support plate 20 has a first fixing face 20a and a second fixing face 20b, opposite the first fixing face 20a. The device The drive 18 is held on the first mounting face 20a and rigidly fixed to the support plate 20. The support plate 20 includes three mounting holes 22 passing through the support plate 20 from the first mounting face 20a to the second mounting face 20b. The support plate 20 includes an annular portion 24 coaxial with the drive shaft 15. The annular portion 24 has an outer surface 24b.

[0059] The flange 30 has a first retaining face 30a and a second retaining face 30b, opposite the first retaining face 30a. The first retaining face 30a extends opposite the second retaining face 20b. The flange 30 further includes a bore 34 having an inner surface 34a. The annular portion 24 of the support plate 20 extends into the bore 34 of the flange 30 and the outer surface 24b of the annular portion 24 cooperates with the inner surface 34a of the bore 34, so that the bore 34 of the flange 30 is centered with respect to the control axis 15. The flange 30 further includes three retaining holes 32 extending through the flange 30 between the first retaining face 30a and the second retaining face 30b.

[0060] The fastening elements 50 each extend along a fastening axis 55 parallel to the axial direction Z between a first end 50a and a second end 50b. The fastening elements 50 comprise successively along the axial direction Z, from the first end 50a to the second end 50b, a fastening head 52, an intermediate portion 54, a shoulder 56, a conical portion 57 and a stem portion 58.

[0061] The fixing head 52 comprises successively along the axial direction Z, from the first end 50a to the second end 50b, an end portion 51, a rim 53 and an intermediate portion 54.

[0062] As illustrated in particular in Figures 6 and 9, the portion of the rod 58 has a rod diameter <e>and is threaded at least in part to cooperate with nut 40.

[0063] Perpendicular to the fixing axis 55, the intermediate portion 54 of each fixing element 50 has a non-circular cross-section, and each fixing hole 22 of the support plate 20 has a complementary cross-section that prevents the fixing element 50 from rotating about the fixing axis 55 relative to the support plate 20. More specifically, as illustrated in particular in [Fig. 7], the intermediate portion 54 has a plurality of vertices 59', 59" and the fixing head comprises a first stop portion 21', 21" and a second stop portion 23', 23" at each vertex 59', 59".The first stop portions 21', 21" prevent the rotation of the fixing element 50 relative to the support plate 20 around the fixing axis 55 by forming a stop in one direction and the second stop portions 23', 23" prevent the rotation of the fixing element 50 relative to the support plate 20 around the fixing axis 55 by forming a stop in the opposite direction.

[0064] In the illustrated embodiment, each fastening element 50 has an elongated shape extending along an elongation direction X between a first vertex 59' and a second vertex 59”.

[0065] As illustrated in particular in [Fig.6], the shoulder 56 has a flat bearing face 56a extending perpendicularly to the fixing axis 55 and opposite the second fixing face 20b. More precisely, in the illustrated embodiment, the bearing face 56a is in contact with the second fixing face 20b.

[0066] As illustrated in particular in figures 5 and 6, the rim 53 has a retaining face 53b opposite the first fixing face 20a. More precisely, in the illustrated embodiment, the retaining face 53b is in contact with the first fixing face 20a.

[0067] As can be seen in particular in [Fig. 5], the rim 53 comprises a plurality of disjoint rim portions. In the embodiment, the rim 53 comprises two diametrically opposed rim portions 53', 53" along the elongation direction X. Each rim portion 53', 53" has, perpendicular to the fixing axis 55, a crescent moon shape.

[0068] The end portion 51 projects from the rim 53 along the axial direction Z. The end portion 51 has, perpendicular to the axial direction Z, an elongated shape along the elongation direction X. The end portion 51 has, along the elongation direction X, a length greater than the rod diameter <e>of the rod portion 58. The fixing head 52 has a width 1 along a transverse direction Y perpendicular to the elongation direction X and to the axial direction Z. The width 1 of the fixing head 52 is constant along the axial direction Z and is less than the rod diameter <e>of the stem portion 58.

[0069] Figure 9 illustrates the production of the flange 53 by stamping. The fastening head 52 initially has, perpendicular to the axial direction Z, a constant cross-section along the axial direction Z. The fastening head 52 of each fastening element 50 is inserted into the corresponding fastening hole 22 of the support plate 20, until the bearing face 56a of the shoulder 56 is brought against the second fastening face 20b of the support plate 20. Then, a punch 110 having a cavity 112 and a stamping face 114 is applied against the first end 50a of the fastening element 50, as illustrated by the first arrows 116.The movement of the punch is continued and the punch 110 deforms the fixing head 52 with the stamping face 114 to create the rim portions 53', 53" which come to bear against the first fixing face 20a of the support plate, as illustrated by the second arrows 118, the end portion 51 being received in the cavity 112 is not deformed.

[0070] Thus, the fastening element 50 is held in translation along the axial direction Z relative to the support plate 20 by the flange portions 53', 53" and in the opposite direction by the shoulder 56. More generally, with the support plate 20 clamped between the flange 53 and the shoulder 56, the retaining face 53b bearing against the first fastening face 20a and the bearing face 56a bearing against the second fastening face 20b, the flange 53 and the shoulder 56 only allow each fastening element 50 to pivot about the fastening axis 55 relative to the support plate 20. However, since the rotational movement of each fastening element 50 relative to the support plate 20 around the fastening axis 55 is prevented by the interaction between the intermediate portion 54 and the fastening hole 22, each fastening element 50 is rigidly fixed to the support plate 20.

[0071] As illustrated in particular in figures 6 and 8, the conical portion 57 of one of the fixing elements 55 comes into contact with the retaining hole 32. It is not necessary for more than one fixing element 50 to have a conical portion 57 or at least for the conical portion 57 to come into contact with the fixing hole 22, insofar as the support plate 20 is guided relative to the flange 30 by the cooperation between the annular portion 24 and the bore 34.

[0072] As illustrated in [Fig. 8], perpendicular to the axial direction Z, the retaining hole 32 does not have a circular cross-section. Consequently, the conical portion 57 is in contact with the retaining hole 32 in a plurality of disjoint contact zones 32', 32''. In the illustrated embodiment, perpendicular to the axial direction Z, the retaining hole 32 having a rectangular cross-section, the conical portion 57 is in contact with the retaining hole 32 in two disjoint contact zones 32', 32'', diametrically opposed along the elongation direction X.

[0073] Since the fixing element 50 has a much higher hardness than the flange 30, the conical portion 57 is not deformed by contact with the retaining hole 32, but on the contrary the retaining hole 32 is deformed by the conical portion 57 in the contact areas 32', 32”, when tightening the nut 40.

[0074] As illustrated in particular in figures 4 and 6, the guide plate 60 has guide holes 62 and a bearing hole 64. The guide holes 62 are traversed by the portion of the rod 58 of each of the fixing element 50. The nuts 40 press the guide plate 60 in the axial direction Z.

[0075] As illustrated in particular in Figures 4 and 6, one of the fastening elements 50 passes through an opening 68 in the toothed portion 76. The portion of the rod 58 extends through a spacer 66 and the spacer 66 is interposed between the guide plate 60 and the flange 30 along the axial direction Z. The two other fastening elements 50 hold the guide plate 60 directly against the flange 30 (there is no spacer between the guide plate 60 and the flange 30) by tightening the nuts 40.

[0076] The guide plate 60 further includes a bearing hole 64 forming a bearing for the drive shaft 12. The pinion 14 is thus arranged in a housing of the guide plate 60 extending between the guide plate 60 and the flange 30.

[0077] Obviously, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and provided solely by way of example. It encompasses various modifications, alternative forms, and other variations that a person skilled in the art may consider in the context of this disclosure, and in particular all combinations of the different modes of operation described above, whether taken separately or in combination.< / e> < / e> < / e>

Claims

Demands

1. Control system (1) for a vehicle seat (100) comprising: a control device (10) having a control shaft (12) and a support plate (20), the support plate (20) having a first mounting face (20a) and a second mounting face (20b), the support plate (20) having at least one mounting hole (22) extending between the first mounting face (20a) and the second mounting face (20b), the control shaft (12) configured to rotate about a control axis (15) relative to the support plate (20), at least one fastening element (50), the fastening element having a mounting axis (55) parallel to the control axis (15), the fastening element (50) comprising a mounting head (52) and a portion of a shaft (58), a flange (30) having a first retaining face (30a) and a second mounting face (20b). support (30b), the first support face (30a) extending opposite the second fixing face (20b),The flange (30) includes a retaining hole (32), the retaining hole (32) extending between the first retaining face (30a) and the second retaining face (30b), the rod portion (58) extending through the retaining hole (32), a locking element (40) cooperating with the rod portion (58) to retain the control device (10) relative to the flange (30) in translation along the fixing axis (55), the control system (1) is characterized in that the fixing head (52) includes: a shoulder (56), the shoulder (56) having a bearing face (56a) extending opposite the second fixing face (20b), and a rim (53), the rim (53) having a retaining face (53b) extending opposite the first fixing face (20a), such that the fixing element (50) is held in translation along the fixing axis (55) relative to the support plate (20) between the rim (53) and the shoulder (56),

2. Control system according to claim 1, wherein the rim (53) is formed by a plurality of disjoint rim portions (53', 53").

3. Control system according to the preceding claim in which each portion of rim (53', 53") has, perpendicular to the fixing axis (55), a crescent moon shape.

4. Control system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the rim (53) is made by stamping.

5. Control system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fixing head (52) comprises an intermediate portion (54), perpendicular to the fixing axis (55), the intermediate portion (54) has a non-circular cross-section, the fixing hole (22) has a form complementary to the intermediate portion (54) cooperating with the intermediate portion (54) to maintain the fixing element (50) in rotation about the fixing axis (55) relative to the support plate (20).

6. Control system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fastening element (50) comprises a conical portion (57) coming into contact with the retaining hole (32).

7. Control system according to the preceding claim in which the retaining hole (32) is deformed by contact with the conical portion (57).

8. Control system according to any one of claims 6 and 7 wherein the conical portion (57) is in contact with the retaining hole (32) in a plurality of disjoint contact zones (32', 32").

9. Vehicle seat (100) comprising the control system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Vehicle seat according to the preceding claim wherein the control system further comprises a pinion (14) integral with the control shaft (12) and the seat further comprises: a connecting rod (71) articulated in rotation with respect to the flange (30) about an articulation axis (75), and a toothed portion (76) integral with the connecting rod (71) and cooperating with the pinion (14).

Images