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[0001] The present invention relates to a supplemental locking mechanism for a longitudinal adjuster of a vehicle seat, in particular for a longitudinal adjuster of an automobile seat.
[0002] Longitudinal adjusters of vehicle seats must be dimensioned such that in the event of a crash, paired seat rails do not disengage and locking mechanisms do not open. Otherwise, the vehicle seat will separate from the vehicle structure, and accelerate in the event of a crash. In the case of vehicle seats with a manual lengthwise adjustability, it may further occur that shortly before a crash, the seat user has accidentally released the locking mechanism to readjust the vehicle seat. If a crash occurs, the vehicle seat will be accelerated likewise in this event. Due to the high relative speed, the locking mechanism will no longer be able to engage, even when the locking lever is let go. In this instance, the vehicle seat moves to its end stop and then abruptly stops, which may cause injuries to the seat user. For this reason, DE 35 36 545 A1 proposes to provide a supplemental locking mechanism with a crash-sensitive inertia pendulum as a triggering device. This solution is somewhat expensive in its manufacture, since a high sensitivity requires precision machining of the parts.
[0003] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an improved supplemental locking mechanism is provided. In accordance with this aspect, the supplemental locking mechanism is for a vehicle seat that includes a safety belt system and a longitudinal adjuster, with the longitudinal adjuster having an upper rail mounted for moving relative to a lower rail and for being locked to the lower rail. Further in accordance with this aspect, the supplemental locking mechanism includes a belt adapter secured to the upper rail, and a component of the safety belt system is mounted to the belt adapter. More specifically, the belt adapter is operative to allow movement of the component of the safety belt system relative to the upper rail in the event of a crash. The belt adapter is additionally operative so that the movement of the component of the safety belt system causes at least one part of the belt adapter to move relative to the upper and lower rails as a result of the crash. The supplemental locking mechanism engages as a result of the movement of the part of the belt adapter. While engaged, the supplemental locking mechanism locks the upper rail to restrict movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail. In contrast, the supplemental locking mechanism does not prevent movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail absent a crash
[0004] In the following, the term “locking” refers not only to a formfitting engagement, but also to a frictional engagement, if need arises. By mounting a component of a safety belt system to a belt adapter secured to the upper rail, with the mounted part of the safety belt system moving at least one part of the belt adapter in a definable manner relative to the upper and lower rails, and engaging the supplemental locking mechanism in the event of a crash, a supplemental locking mechanism with a very sensitive crash sensor is made available, which is simple and cost-favorable to make because of the use of already existing components. The defined movement of the belt adapter or of its part sees to a reliable engagement of the supplemental locking mechanism.
[0005] Preferably the part of the belt adapter that is to be moved in the event of a crash is associated with a locking element. The locking element comes, as a result of the movement in the event of a crash, into contact with the lower rail or a component rigidly connected thereto, and cooperates with same while producing a formfitting engagement and/or a frictional engagement for purposes of locking. For a reliable transmission of force, the locking element is made preferably integral to the belt adapter, but may also be made separate and be separately supported, so long as it is rigidly connected to the belt adapter. For a simpler production and a better possibility of retrofitting, the part that is rigidly connected to the lower rail is made as a separate component. Before producing a formfitting and/or a frictional engagement for locking, a deformation of components of the supplemental locking mechanism may occur, which is used for degrading energy or for forming a part of the defined movement. The defined movement of the part of the belt adapter relative to the upper rail occurs in such preferred cases by means of deforming the belt adapter. This is followed by the engagement of the supplemental locking mechanism.
[0006] In a preferred construction, the belt adapter includes a clamp, which surrounds the upper and the lower rails, and which is moved in the event of a crash. The complete or almost complete enclosure of the rails by the clamp provides for a better locking engagement in the event of a crash. When the clamp is made integral with the belt adapter, it is possible to make the belt adapter simply as a stamped and bent metal part. In the event of a crash, the clamp cooperates preferably with a deformable part rigidly connected to the lower rail, so that with the exception of energy degradation, there is still a proper formfitting engagement after the deformation. The clamp itself sees to a suitably shaped engagement with the lower rail. Preferably, the deformable part is designed and constructed as a locking brush with a plurality of projecting locking fingers. This locking brush extends along the lower rail over the entire possible path of travel of the clamp, and has good deforming capabilities. A deformability in sections exists in any possible longitudinal position of the seat, which increases safety.
[0007] Suitable for the defined movement of the belt adapter or its part are, for example, a defined bending, or other deformation of the belt adapter, or a defined rotation, or sliding of the belt adapter. In the case of a defined rotation, the belt adapter is supported, for example, for rotation. During the normal use, it is secured in frictional engagement by a correspondingly great friction torque or spring force, or in formfitting engagement by a pin. In the event of a crash, the belt adapter will rotate only when the crash forces overcome the friction torque or spring force, or when they shear the pin. Stationary stops may limit the movement of the belt adapter or its part. In the case of a defined bending, an additional degradation of energy occurs. In the case of the defined rotation, it is possible to obtain advantageous force ratios by designing and constructing the belt adapter as a rotational lever.
[0008] A vehicle seat of the present invention may include in its longitudinal adjuster a supplemental locking mechanism on only one seat side, preferably that with the belt buckle, or on each side of the seat, i.e., in addition on the side with the pelvic belt mount. It is also possible to retrofit finished vehicle seats with the supplemental locking mechanism of the present invention.
[0009] Having thus described the invention in general terms, in the following, five embodiments of the present invention are described in greater detail with reference to drawings, in which:
[0010]
[0011]
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[0017]
[0018] The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
[0019] In the first embodiment, a vehicle seat
[0020] In case of a crash, the longitudinal adjuster
[0021] The clamp
[0022] The locking brush
[0023] In the event of a crash, a relative movement between the seat user and vehicle seat
[0024] The upward movement of adapter section
[0025] In a modified embodiment of the supplemental locking mechanism, a frictional engagement is produced instead of the formfitting engagement, for example, between the clamp and a correspondingly roughened underside of the lower rail.
[0026] The embodiments two to five correspond substantially to the first embodiment. For this reason, reference numerals, each time increased by 100, have been selected for identical or identically acting components, and only differences are described in the following.
[0027] The supplemental locking device
[0028] In the third embodiment, the supplemental locking mechanism
[0029] The fourth embodiment resembles the third embodiment. However, in the case of this supplemental locking mechanism
[0030] The fifth embodiment is similar to the fourth embodiment. In the case of this supplemental locking mechanism
[0031] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.