Vehicle seat

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat (9) having a decoupling module (10) for detachably connected components of the vehicle seat (9), comprising at least one first locking unit (1), which is movably supported in order to detachably lock two components (7.1, 8.1) to one another in an initial state, a second locking unit (2), which is movably supported in order to detachably lock two components (7.2, 8.2) to one another in the initial state, and a pyrotechnically drivable drive unit (3), wherein the two locking units (1, 2) and the drive unit (3) are designed and arranged to cooperate such that on ignition of the drive unit (3) the two locking units (1, 2) are moved abruptly from the initial state, in particular in opposite directions, in order to decouple in each case the two components (7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 8.2).

Description

[0001] vehicle seat

[0002] Description

[0003] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, which in particular comprises a seat part and a backrest.

[0004] The height of the vehicle seat can usually be adjusted by the occupant. It is also generally possible for the occupant to tilt the entire vehicle seat within certain limits. Furthermore, it is known that the occupant can adjust the angle of the backrest and / or the seat cushion. The occupant can thus position the vehicle seat in a comfortable position.

[0005] However, this has the disadvantage that in an accident situation the occupant is in a position where the safety systems, such as airbags and seat belts, are not ideally adjusted to the occupant in the comfort position.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a vehicle seat with which the safety systems can better fulfill their safety function.

[0007] One possible solution to the problem is given by the vehicle seat with the features of the independent claim. Further solutions and advantageous embodiments are given in the following description and in the dependent claims, whereby individual features of the advantageous embodiments can be combined with one another in a technically meaningful way.

[0008] The problem is solved in particular by a vehicle seat with a decoupling module for detachably connected components of the vehicle seat, comprising at least a first locking unit which is movably mounted and detachably locks two components together in an initial state, a second locking unit which is movably mounted and detachably locks two further components together in an initial state, and a drive unit having a pyrotechnic drive, wherein the two locking units and the drive unit are designed and arranged to interact in such a way that, when the drive unit is ignited, the two locking units are abruptly moved from their initial state in preferably opposite directions in order to decouple the two components from each other.

[0009] The first component associated with a locking unit can, for example, be a seat rail along which the seat part and the

[0010] The backrest is longitudinally adjustable within the vehicle. The component assigned to the other locking unit can, for example, be an element of an adjustment unit that allows the orientation, position, and / or tilt of the seat cushion and / or backrest to be changed. Alternatively, the first component assigned to the first and second locking units can be a component of the backrest and / or a component of the seat cushion, while the second component assigned to each of the second locking units is a component of an adjustment unit that allows the tilt of the backrest relative to the seat cushion to be set.

[0011] The present invention is therefore directed in particular to vehicle seats in which two components are locked to each other at two independent points, and in which the locking mechanism is to be released upon detection of an accident situation.

[0012] In other words, the invention proposes, in its basic concept, that exactly one drive unit, in particular one comprising a gas generator, can simultaneously release two locking units acting at different locations from their initial state, which connects two components, thus enabling relative movement of the two previously connected components. It is therefore not necessary to provide a separate drive unit for each locking unit, so that, on the one hand, fewer drive units are required, and on the other hand, no temporal coordination of the release or ignition of multiple drive units is necessary.

[0013] In particular, a mechanism, for example in the form of a gearbox, can be provided between a drive element driven by the pyrotechnic gas generator and the locking units, by which a movement of the drive element is translated into the movements of the two locking units, wherein it is particularly provided that the directions of movement of the two locking units are parallel but opposite. The drive element is in particular designed and arranged such that it is accelerated by the gas generator into a linear movement in one drive direction.

[0014] In one embodiment, for example, it is proposed that at least one transmission element is formed between the drive unit and each of the two locking units, which is in particular designed as at least one rod or at least one cable. The respective transmission element is directly connected to the respective locking unit.

[0015] The drive unit comprises, in particular, a pyrotechnic gas generator and a drive element driven by the pyrotechnic gas generator. To create a mechanism for transmitting the motion generated by the drive unit to the locking units with as few components as possible, it can be provided that the drive unit, in particular with its drive element, acts directly on a transmission element connected to each locking unit.

[0016] In this context, it may be provided in particular that the directions of movement of the first locking unit and the second locking unit are parallel (or opposite) to the direction of drive.

[0017] In a specific embodiment, it may be provided, for example, that a rigid drive element designed as a rod is attached to or supported on a housing of the drive unit, and that a second locking element designed as a rod, connected to the second locking unit, rests against or is connected to the drive element, so that when the pyrotechnic gas generator is triggered, the transmission elements and thus the locking units are moved in opposite directions, particularly if corresponding stops are provided that limit movement of the locking unit and / or the transmission elements.

[0018] In a further specific embodiment, it is provided that the drive element or a transmission element directly accelerated by the drive element in the drive direction is rotatably connected to two transmission elements (for example, transmission elements designed as rods), so that the transmission elements, which in turn are rotatably connected at their other ends to the respective locking unit, move the locking units out of their initial states, wherein the movement of the locking units is directed in particular in opposite, parallel directions.

[0019] In a further embodiment, it can be provided that the drive unit or its drive element is rotatable a mounted transmission element drives the other, each of which is connected to a transmission element with the locking units. For example, one transmission element can be attached to the rotatably mounted transmission element on one side relative to an axis of rotation, and another transmission element can be attached to the rotatably mounted transmission element on the side opposite the axis of rotation.

[0020] Alternatively, it can be provided that the directions of movement of the first locking unit and the second locking unit are aligned orthogonally to the drive direction of the drive unit.

[0021] It can also be provided that at least one, and preferably exactly one, spring is provided to bias the two locking units into their respective initial states. This ensures that the locking units remain in their initial states until the drive unit is triggered. Each locking unit can be assigned a spring. However, it is preferred that a single spring is provided that biases both locking units into their respective initial states, at least indirectly, for example via a transmission element.

[0022] For ease of installation or retrofitting, at least the first locking unit, the second locking unit, and the drive units can be mounted on a module carrier, possibly with a degree of movement. This allows the module carrier, and thus the decoupling module, to be easily installed as part of the vehicle seat.

[0023] The invention and its technical context are explained below using the figures as examples. They schematically illustrate...

[0024] Figure 1: a vehicle seat with a decoupling module in a comfort position,

[0025] Figure 2: the vehicle seat in a safety position after triggering the decoupling module,

[0026] Figure 3: a first embodiment of a decoupling module in an initial state,

[0027] Figure 4: the embodiment according to Figure 3 after ignition of a drive unit,

[0028] Figure 5: a second embodiment of a decoupling module in an initial state,

[0029] Figure 6: the embodiment according to Figure 5 after ignition of a drive unit,

[0030] Figure 7: a third embodiment of a decoupling module in an initial state,

[0031] Figure 8: a fourth embodiment of a decoupling module in an initial state and

[0032] Figure 9: the fourth embodiment according to Figure 8 after ignition of a drive unit.

[0033] Figure 1 schematically depicts a vehicle seat 9, the seat structure comprising a seat part 13 and a backrest 14. The vehicle seat 9 includes a first seat rail, designated as first component 7.1, and a second seat rail, also designated as first component 7.2, to which the seat structure can be movably attached.

[0034] The vehicle seat 9 comprises an adjustment unit 11, with which the position of the seat section 13 and the backrest 14 can be changed. The adjustment unit 11 is indirectly connected to the first component 7.1 and the second component 7.2 via two secondary components 8.1 and 8.2 and by means of a decoupling module 10.

[0035] Figure 2 shows the vehicle seat 9 in a safety position. The vehicle seat 9 is moved from the comfort position shown in Figure 1 to the safety position shown in Figure 2 by triggering the decoupling module 10, as explained in detail below with reference to the other figures. Actuating the decoupling module 10 releases the initial connection between the first component 7.1 and the second component 8.1, as well as between the first component 7.2 and the second component 8.2. This decoupling of the previously existing connection allows the second components 8.1 and 8.2 to move longitudinally along the first components 7.1 and 7.2, thereby changing the inclination of the seat section 13 and the backrest 14 to such an extent that the occupant is brought upright.

[0036] As will be explained in more detail below, a vehicle seat 9 can thus be moved into a safety position by triggering only one drive unit 3.

[0037] The decoupling modules 10 shown in Figures 3 to 9 each comprise a module carrier 6 to which the components of the decoupling module 10 may be movably attached.

[0038] The decoupling modules 10 each comprise a first

[0039] Locking unit 1, with which the first component 7.1 is locked to the second component 8.1. The decoupling modules 10 each also include a second locking unit 2, with which the further first component 7.2 is locked to the further second component 8.2.

[0040] The locking units 1 and 2 each comprise a type of pin which engages corresponding recesses in the initial states shown in Figures 3, 5, 7 and 8 in the first parts 7.1 and 7.2 as well as in the second parts 8.1 and 8.2.

[0041] The decoupling modules 10 each also include a drive unit 3, which includes a gas generator 3.3 and a drive element that can be driven by the gas generator 3.3 in a drive direction 3.2.

[0042] By igniting the gas generator 3.3, the locking units 1 and 2 are moved in opposite directions 12.1 and 12.2, so that the locking units 1 and 2 are each moved out of the recesses formed in the first parts 7.1 and 7.2. The state thus achieved is shown in Figures 4, 6 and 9. In this state, the The second parts 8.1 and 8.2 are moved along the first parts 7.1 and 7.2. Therefore, only one drive unit 3, comprising a gas generator 3.3, is required to release a locking mechanism of two components at two locations simultaneously.

[0043] The four embodiments of the decoupling module 10 now differ only in the way the movement of the drive element 3.1 is transmitted to the first and second locking units 1 and 2.

[0044] The embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4 features a rotatably mounted transmission element 4.2, which can be tilted by the drive element 3.1 of the drive unit 3 against a spring 5. The spring 5 thus pre-tensions the two locking units 1 and 2 in their initial state. A rod, realizing the transmission element 4.1, is attached to the rotatably mounted transmission element 4.2 on the side of a rotation axis of the rotatably mounted drive element 4.2 facing away from the drive unit 3, and this rod is also pivotally connected to the first locking unit 1. A further rod, also acting as a transmission element 4.1, is pivotally connected to the rotatably mounted transmission element 4.2 between its rotation axis and the drive unit 3, and this rod is pivotally connected to the second locking unit 2.

[0045] By triggering the drive unit 3, the drive element 3.1 is accelerated linearly in the drive direction 3.2, which tilts the rotatably mounted transmission element 4.2, which in turn moves the locking units 1 and 2 in opposite directions via the rods 4.1.

[0046] Directions of movement 12.1 and 12.2 are moved from their initial state.

[0047] In the embodiment according to Figures 5 and 6, the transmission elements 4.1, designed as rods and each connected to a locking unit 1 and 2, are directly attached to the drive unit 3 or actuated by the drive unit 3.1. The drive element is activated by igniting the gas generator 3.3.

[0048] 3.1 in the drive direction 3.2 moved, whereby the transmission elements

[0049] 4.1 in opposite directions 12.1 and 12.2 are moved, which in turn moves the locking units 1 and 2 out of their initial states.

[0050] The embodiment of Figure 7 corresponds essentially to the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6, with the addition of a spring 5, which pre-tensions the transmission elements 4.1 and thus the first locking unit 1 and the second locking unit 2 to their initial states.

[0051] In the embodiment shown in Figures 8 and 9, the drive unit 3 is oriented such that the drive element 3.1, driven by the gas generator 3.3, is aligned with its drive direction 3.2 orthogonally to the directions of movement 12.1 and 12.2 of the first locking unit 1 and the second locking unit 2, respectively. The transmission elements 4.1, designed as rods, are pivotally attached to the drive element 3.1 and to each of the locking units 1 and 2. The locking units 1 and 2 are indirectly returned to their respective initial positions by a spring 5 (Figure 8). Pre-tensioned. By triggering the gas generator 3.3, the drive element 3.1 is accelerated in the drive direction 3.2, whereby the transmission elements 4.1 pull the respective locking units 1 and 2 in opposite directions of movement 12.1 and 12.2 from their respective initial state.

[0052]

[0053] Reference symbol list first locking unit second locking unit

[0054] drive unit

[0055] drive element

[0056] Direction of travel

[0057] Gas generator rigid transmission element rotatably mounted transmission element

[0058] Feather

[0059] Module carrier first component first component second component second component

[0060] vehicle seat

[0061] Decoupling module

[0062] Adjustment unit

[0063] Direction of movement of the first locking unit

[0064] Direction of movement of the second locking unit

[0065] seat section

[0066] backrest

Claims

Claims 1. Vehicle seat (9) with a decoupling module (10) for detachably connected components of the vehicle seat (9), comprising at least a first locking unit (1) which is movably mounted to detachably lock two components (7.1, 8.1) together in an initial state, a second locking unit (2) which is movably mounted to detachably lock two components (7.2, 8.2) together in the initial state, and a pyrotechnically actuated drive unit (3), wherein the two locking units (1, 2) and the drive unit (3) are designed and arranged to interact in such a way that, upon ignition of the drive unit (3), the two locking units (1, 2) are abruptly moved from the initial state, in particular in opposite directions, to detach the two components (7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 8.2) respectively. decouple.

2. Vehicle seat (9) according to claim 1, wherein between the The drive unit (3) and the two locking units (1 , 2) each have at least one transmission element (4.1 , 4.2) which is designed in particular as at least one rod (4.1) and / or at least one rope.

3. Vehicle seat (9) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive unit (3) comprises a pyrotechnic gas generator (3.3).

4. Vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive unit (3) acts directly on each transmission element (4) connected to a locking unit (1 , 2).

5. Vehicle seat (9) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive unit (3) comprises a drive element (3.1) that can be accelerated linearly in a drive direction (3.2).

6. Vehicle seat (9) according to claim 5, wherein the directions of movement (12.1, 12.2) of the first locking unit (1 ) and the second locking unit (2) are orthogonal to the drive direction (3.2).

7. Vehicle seat (9) according to claim 5, wherein the directions of movement (12.1, 12.2) of the first locking unit (1 ) and the second locking unit (2) are parallel to the drive direction (3.2).

8. Vehicle seat (9) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the drive element (3.1 ) is a rotatably mounted transmission element (4.2) drives each of which is equipped with a The transmission element (4) is connected to the locking units (1, 2).

9. Vehicle seat (9) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one spring (5) is provided which preloads the two locking units (1 , 2) into the initial state.

10. Vehicle seat (9) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the first locking unit (1), the second locking unit (2) and the drive unit (3) are mounted on a module carrier (6).

11. Vehicle seat (9) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first locking unit (1) and the second locking unit (2) each form a seat rail of the vehicle seat (9) as the first Component (7.1 , 7.2) with an adjustment unit (1 1) for the alignment of the vehicle seat (9) is at least indirectly locked and decoupled.

12. Vehicle seat (9) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle seat enters a safety position after ignition of the drive unit (3).

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