阅读说明：本技术 用于车辆座椅的间断式斜倚器 (Intermittent recliner for vehicle seat ) 是由 坎·于斯廷贝尔克 路易吉·斯帕尼奥利 于 2019-04-17 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及用于车辆座椅的间断式斜倚器(1)。根据本发明,间断式斜倚器(1)包括一个或更多个锁定棘爪(7)和单个致动元件(9),该致动元件构造成将所述锁定棘爪从锁定位置驱动至解锁位置并且从解锁位置驱动至锁定位置。由于提供了这种单个致动元件(9),本发明的间断式斜倚器(1)的部件的总数相对于现有技术显著减少。这允许获得更轻、更易于组装且更可靠的间断式斜倚器。(The invention relates to an intermittent recliner (1) for a vehicle seat. According to the invention, the intermittent recliner (1) comprises one or more locking pawls (7) and a single actuating element (9) configured to drive said locking pawls from the locked position to the unlocked position and from the unlocked position to the locked position. Due to the provision of such a single actuation element (9), the total number of components of the intermittent recliner (1) of the invention is significantly reduced with respect to the prior art. This allows a lighter, easier to assemble and more reliable discontinuous recliner to be obtained.)

1. An intermittent recliner (1) for a vehicle seat, said intermittent recliner (1) comprising a first disc plate (2) and a second disc plate (3) of substantially the same diameter such that they can be coupled to each other, wherein said first plate (2) comprises a peripheral rim (2a), said peripheral rim (2a) being oriented towards said second plate (3) and being provided with teeth on an inner surface of said peripheral rim (2a), and wherein said second plate (3) is provided with one or more locking pawls (7), said locking pawls (7) having an outer surface (7a) in a radial direction, said outer surface (7a) being provided with teeth, and said locking pawls (7) being movable in said radial direction from a locked position to an unlocked position and from an unlocked position to a locked position, -in the locking position, teeth on an outer surface (7a) of the locking pawl (7) engage teeth on an inner surface of the peripheral edge of the first plate, -in the unlocking position, teeth on an outer surface (7a) of the locking pawl (7) are spaced apart from teeth on an inner surface of the peripheral edge of the first plate, characterized in that the discontinuous recliner (1) is provided with a single actuating element (9), said actuating element (9) being used to drive the locking pawl (7) from the unlocking position to the locking position and to drive the locking pawl (7) from the locking position to the unlocking position.

2. The intermittent recliner (1) of claim 1, wherein said actuating element (9) has a flat disc-shaped body (9a), said disc-shaped body (9a) being located on a surface of said first plate (2) oriented towards said second plate (3).

3. The intermittent recliner (1) of claim 1 or 2, wherein said actuating element (9) comprises a plurality of protrusions (11), one said protrusion (11) corresponding to each of said locking pawls (7), said protrusions (11) protruding towards said second plate (3), wherein an outer surface (11a) in said radial direction of each protrusion has a shaped profile, and wherein an inner surface (7b) in said radial direction of each locking pawl (7) has a corresponding shaped profile, said shaped profile of said outer surface (11a) of said protrusion (11) of said actuating element (9) cooperating with the shaped profile of said inner surface (7b) of said locking pawl (7) for urging said locking pawl (7) to said locking position.

4. The intermittent recliner (1) of claim 3, wherein said intermittent recliner comprises one or more return springs (19), said return springs (19) being for biasing said actuating element (9) towards: in said position, said shaped profile of said outer surface of said projection of said actuating element pushes said locking pawl to said locking position.

5. The intermittent recliner (1) of claim 4, wherein said intermittent recliner comprises a single return spring (19) having a spiral shape, said return spring (19) having a first outer end (19a) inserted into a hole provided in said second plate (3) and a second inner end (19b) wound in a rectangular shape and fitted on a rectangular boss (13), said rectangular boss (13) being provided on said actuating element (9).

6. The intermittent recliner (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said actuating element (9) comprises a plurality of slots (15), one said slot (15) corresponding to each of said locking pawls, said slots having a first portion (15a) distal from the center of said actuating element and a second portion (15b) extending progressively closer to the center of said actuating element, and wherein each of said locking pawls (7) is provided with a pin (17), said pin (17) protruding towards said first plate and being arranged to penetrate into the corresponding slot (15) of said actuating element and engage the edges of said slot.

7. The intermittent recliner (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said locking pawls (7) are equally spaced along the periphery of said second plate (3).

8. The intermittent recliner (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second plate (3) is provided with one or more radial guide slots (5), each of which receives and guides a respective locking pawl (7).

9. The intermittent recliner (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said recliner is provided with an annular cover (4) for coupling said first and second plates (2, 3) together.

10. The intermittent recliner (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said actuating element (9) is provided with one or more convex portions (21) on the surface of said actuating element (9) facing said second plate (3), said convex portions (21) engaging with one or more corresponding windows (23) provided in said second plate (3).

11. The intermittent recliner (1) of claim 10 wherein said male portions (21) are equally spaced along a periphery of said actuating element and said windows (23) are equally spaced along a periphery of said second plate.

12. The intermittent recliner (1) of claim 11, wherein said actuating element (9) is provided with two convex portions (21) on the surface of said actuating element (9) facing said second plate (3), said two convex portions (21) being arranged at 180 ° with respect to each other, and said second plate (3) being correspondingly provided with two windows (23) arranged at 180 ° with respect to each other.

13. The intermittent recliner (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said actuating element (9) is provided with a hub (25) protruding from a surface of said actuating element (9) facing said first plate (2) on said surface of said actuating element (9).

14. A vehicle seat comprising a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally connected to the seat cushion, characterized in that the vehicle seat comprises an intermittent recliner (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein one of the first and second plates is attached to the seat cushion and the other of the first and second plates is attached to the seat back.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an intermittent recliner for a vehicle seat.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an intermittent recliner for a vehicle seat having a simple structure and a limited number of parts.

Background

A vehicle seat generally has a sliding function for pushing or pulling a seat cushion in a forward or rearward direction, a height adjusting function for adjusting the height of the seat cushion, and a reclining function for adjusting the inclination of a seat back relative to the seat cushion.

This reclining function is usually achieved by a reclining device disposed at a joint between the seat cushion and the seat back.

From prior art there are known discontinuous recliners comprising a first disc plate connectable to a first bracket attached to the seat back cushion and a second disc plate connectable to a second bracket attached to the seat back.

In the rest state, the first and second plates are rotationally locked relative to each other and the inclination of the seat back relative to the seat cushion is fixed. However, by applying a torque, the first and second plates may rotate relative to each other, thus effecting a change in the inclination of the seat back relative to the seat cushion.

To this end, the peripheral edge of a first of said plates is provided with teeth on its inner surface, and the second plate is provided with one or more locking pawls movable in a radial direction, and the locking pawls are provided with teeth at their outer surface.

A first cam (or locking cam) biased by one or more springs urges the locking pawls outwardly toward the peripheral edge of the first plate to engage the teeth of the locking pawls with the teeth on the peripheral edge of the first plate to prevent the plates from rotating relative to each other.

By applying a torque sufficient to overcome the resistance of the spring, the second cam (or unlocking cam) rotates and, upon rotation, the second cam pulls the locking pawl inwardly, thereby disengaging the teeth of the locking pawl from the teeth on the peripheral edge of the first plate and allowing the plates to rotate relative to each other and thereby adjusting the inclination of the seat back relative to the seat cushion.

When the torque is removed, the action of the spring on the first cam pushes the locking pawl outward again onto the peripheral edge of the first plate.

Such an intermittent recliner is disclosed, for example, in documents EP 1724149, CN 103507668, CN 202480915 and US 2003/155800.

Typically, such known intermittent recliners include a large number of separate components, which involves several disadvantages.

First, manufacturing tolerances of these components and/or the presence of gaps between these components may cause failure of the recliner.

Second, assembling an intermittent recliner is expensive and time consuming.

Third, the large number of parts results in the weight of the intermittent recliner being considerable, which presents a serious drawback as vehicle manufacturers have been working to reduce the overall weight of the vehicle.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to obviate these disadvantages by providing an intermittent recliner that includes a reduced number of components.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an intermittent recliner that is simpler, lighter and more reliable than prior art intermittent recliners.

These objects and others are achieved by an intermittent recliner as claimed in the appended claims.

Disclosure of Invention

An intermittent recliner according to the present invention includes a single actuating element configured to drive the locking pawls from the locked position to the unlocked position and from the unlocked position to the locked position.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the intermittent recliner includes one or more locking pawls provided with teeth at an outer surface thereof, each of said pawls being provided with a shaped profile at an inner surface thereof and having a pin oriented toward the actuating element.

Correspondingly, the actuating element is provided with a plurality of protrusions, one for each pawl, the protrusions having a shaped profile and being configured to cooperate with a shaped profile of an inner surface of a locking pawl for urging said pawl in a radial direction outwardly towards a locking position of said pawl; the actuating element is further provided with a plurality of kidney-shaped slots, one kidney-shaped slot for each pawl, so that the pin of each pawl penetrates into the slot of the corresponding actuating element and engages with the edge of said slot, whereby said pawl is pulled inwards in the radial direction towards its unlocked position upon rotation of the actuating element.

The intermittent recliner also typically includes one or more return springs for biasing the actuating element to the following configurations: in this configuration, the locking pawl is in its locking position.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the intermittent recliner comprises a single return spring and the actuating element comprises a seat for said return spring. The actuating element can therefore also be considered as a spring disk.

Since the actuating element of the present invention drives both the locking pawls to their locked and unlocked positions and also provides a seat for the return spring, the total number of parts of the intermittent recliner is significantly reduced relative to the prior art.

This involves a number of significant advantages.

First, the risk of recliner failure due to manufacturing tolerances and/or clearances between components is significantly reduced.

Second, the reduction in the number of parts results in a reduction in the time required for the assembly sequence cycle.

Third, the overall weight of the intermittent recliner may be reduced relative to known recliners, which is a significant advantage to vehicle manufacturers.

Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is an exploded view of an intermittent recliner according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a front view of the intermittent recliner of fig. 1 with the first plate removed for ease of understanding;

fig. 3 is a front view of the intermittent recliner of fig. 1 with the first plate and the actuating element removed;

fig. 4 is a perspective view of the intermittent recliner of fig. 1;

fig. 5 is a perspective view of the actuating element of the intermittent recliner of fig. 1-4;

figure 6 is an exploded view of an intermittent recliner according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

figure 7 is a perspective view of the actuating element of the intermittent recliner of figure 6;

figure 8 is a perspective view of the second disc plate member of the intermittent recliner of figure 6;

figure 9a shows the intermittent recliner of figure 6 in a locked position;

figure 9b shows the intermittent recliner of figure 6 in an unlocked position;

figure 10a shows the intermittent recliner of figure 6 in a locked position;

figure 10b shows the intermittent recliner of figure 6 in an unlocked position;

FIG. 11a is an enlarged view of the central portion of FIG. 10 a;

FIG. 11b is an enlarged view of the central portion of FIG. 10 b;

fig. 12 is a perspective view of the actuating element of the intermittent recliner of fig. 6 from a different angle.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1 to 4, there is shown an intermittent recliner 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In a manner known per se, said discontinuous recliner 1 comprises: a first disc plate 2, the first disc plate 2 being provided with first engagement means for connection to a first bracket, which may be attached to a seat cushion (or a seat back); a second disc-shaped plate 3, which second disc-shaped plate 3 is provided with second engagement means for connection to a second bracket, which second bracket may be attached to the seat back (or seat cushion).

The first plate 2 and the second plate 3 have substantially the same diameter so that they can be coupled to each other. To this end, the intermittent recliner 1 may further include a cover 4, i.e., an annular cover, for coupling the first and second plates 2, 3 together.

The first plate 2 comprises a peripheral rim 2a, the peripheral rim 2a being oriented towards the second plate 3, and the peripheral rim 2a is provided with teeth on its inner surface, or at least on a part of its inner surface.

The second plate 3 comprises a plurality of radial guide grooves 5 on the surface of the second plate 3 directed towards the first plate, said plurality of radial guide grooves 5 receiving respective locking pawls 7 (three in the embodiment shown), along which the locking pawls 7 are movable in a radial direction. The guide slots 5 and the locking pawls 7 are preferably equally spaced along the circumference of the second plate 3 (i.e. they are arranged at 120 ° with respect to each other in the embodiment shown).

The locking pawl 7 has a curved outer surface 7a, which outer surface 7a has substantially the same radius of curvature as the first and second plates, and which outer surface 7a is provided with teeth. Thus, when said locking pawl is moved in the radial direction to its outermost position (locking position), the teeth of the locking pawl may engage the teeth of the inner surface of the peripheral edge 2a of the first plate 2, thereby preventing any relative rotation between the first and second plates. On the other hand, when the locking pawls 7 move inward in the radial direction and away from the peripheral edge 2a of the first plate 2 (unlocked position), relative rotation between the first plate and the second plate is permitted.

According to the invention, the intermittent recliner 1 is provided with a single actuating element 9 (shown in more detail in fig. 5), which actuating element 9 is used for driving the locking pawls 7 from their unlocked position to their locked position and for driving the locking pawls 7 from their locked position to their unlocked position.

The actuating element 9 is located on the surface of the first plate 2 oriented towards the second plate 3, and the actuating element 9 has a flat body 9a, preferably with a disc-like overall shape. Correspondingly, the first plate 2 is provided with a circular seat 10 receiving the actuating element 9.

In order to drive the locking pawls 7 from their unlocked position to their locked position, the actuating element 9 comprises a plurality of projections 11 projecting towards the second plate (one projection 11 for each locking pawl 7, i.e. three projections 11 in the embodiment shown); the outer surface 11a in the radial direction of each projection 11 has a shaped profile (e.g. a cam-shaped profile) and correspondingly the inner surface 7b in the radial direction of each locking pawl 7 has a corresponding shaped profile (e.g. a cam-shaped profile), whereby the shaped profile of the outer surface 11a of the projection 11 of the actuating element 9 cooperates with the shaped profile of the inner surface 7b of the locking pawl 7 for pushing said locking pawl 7 to its outermost locking position.

The return spring 19 biases the actuating element 9 towards: in this position, the profiled contour of the outer surface 11a of the projection 11 of the actuating element 9 pushes the locking pawl 7 into said locking position.

In the embodiment shown, the return spring 19 has a spiral shape, in which a first outer end 19a is inserted in a hole provided in the second plate 3 and a second inner end 19b is wound to form a rectangle and fitted on a rectangular boss 13, which rectangular boss 13 is provided on the actuating element 9.

In order to drive the locking pawls 7 from their locking position to their unlocking position, the body 9a of the actuating element 9 comprises a plurality of kidney-shaped slots 15 (one kidney-shaped slot 15 for each locking pawl 7, i.e. three kidney-shaped slots 15 in the embodiment shown); each slot 15 has a first portion 15a remote from the centre of the body 9a of the actuating element 9 and a second portion 15b extending progressively closer to the centre of said body 9a of said actuating element. Correspondingly, each locking pawl 7 is provided with a pin 17, which pin 17 protrudes towards the first plate and is arranged to penetrate into the corresponding slot 15 and to engage the edge of said slot. More specifically, with the locking pawl in its locking position, the pin 17 of the locking pawl 7 engages the edge of the respective slot 15 at the first portion 15a of said slot.

By applying a torque in the appropriate direction (in the direction of arrow F in the embodiment shown) the actuating element 9 rotates, overcoming the resistance of the return spring 19.

As the actuating element 9 rotates, the pins 17 of the locking pawls 7 slide along the corresponding slots 15 of said actuating element. When the pin 17 enters the second portion 15b of the slot, the locking pawl 7 is gradually pulled inwards and away from the peripheral edge of the first plate; correspondingly, the shaped profile of the outer surface 11a of the projection 11 of the actuating element 9 and the shaped profile of the inner surface 7b of the locking pawl 7 are adapted to such inward movement of the locking pawl. The locking pawl 7 is thus brought to its unlocked position, in which the teeth on the outer surface 7a of said pawl no longer engage with the teeth on the inner surface of the peripheral edge of the first plate.

With the pawls in such an unlocked position, the first and second plates may be rotated relative to each other so that a user may adjust the inclination of the seat back relative to the seat cushion.

When the torque is removed, the return spring 19 will force the actuating element 9 to rotate in the opposite direction, so that the locking pawl 7 returns to its locking position.

Since a single actuating element 9 is provided and this actuating element 9 is capable of driving the locking pawls 7 from their locked position to their unlocked position and the locking pawls 7 from their unlocked position to their locked position, the total number of parts is much smaller than in known intermittent recliners (i.e. two plates, one actuating element, one spring, one or more locking pawls).

Thus, the risk of failure of the intermittent recliner 1 due to manufacturing tolerances and/or clearances between components is significantly reduced.

Moreover, the intermittent recliner 1 of the invention may be assembled in an easier and faster manner than known intermittent recliners.

Last but not least, the overall weight of the discontinuous recliner 1 can be reduced with respect to known recliners.

The actuating element may be made of any suitable material, such as steel. The actuating element may be manufactured by any suitable technique, such as casting or sintering.

Referring now to fig. 6 to 12, there is shown an intermittent recliner 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The structure and operation of the intermittent recliner 1 illustrated in figures 6 to 12 is very similar to the structure and operation of the intermittent recliner 1 illustrated in figures 1 to 4.

Therefore, the same or similar components as those already described with reference to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and will not be described in detail hereinafter.

In this second embodiment, the intermittent recliner 1 also includes a first disc plate 2 and a second disc plate 3 coupled to each other.

To this end, the intermittent recliner 1 may further include a cover 4, i.e., an annular cover, for coupling the first and second plates 2, 3 together.

Also in this second embodiment, the first plate 2 comprises a peripheral rim oriented towards the second plate 3 and provided with teeth on its inner surface or on at least a portion of its inner surface, and the second plate 3 comprises a plurality of radial guide grooves 5 on the surface of the second plate 3 oriented towards the first plate, said plurality of radial guide grooves 5 receiving respective locking pawls 7 (four locking pawls 7 in this second embodiment and arranged at 90 ° with respect to each other).

Also in this second embodiment, the teeth of the locking pawl 7 may engage the teeth of the inner surface of the peripheral edge of the first plate 2 when said locking pawl is moved in the radial direction to its outermost position (locking position), and the teeth of the locking pawl 7 may disengage the teeth of the inner surface of the peripheral edge of said first plate 2 when said locking pawl is moved in the radial direction inwards (unlocking position), thereby allowing relative rotation between the first and second plates.

Also in this second embodiment, the intermittent recliner 1 is provided with a single actuating element 9, which actuating element 9 is used to drive the locking pawls 7 from their unlocked positions to their locked positions and to drive the locking pawls 7 from their locked positions to their unlocked positions: in order to drive the locking pawl 7 from its unlocked position to its locked position, the actuating element 9 comprises a plurality of projections 11 cooperating with the profile of the locking pawl for pushing said locking pawl 7 to its outermost locked position; in order to drive the locking pawls 7 from their locking position to their unlocking position, the actuating element 9 comprises a plurality of kidney-shaped slots 15, and correspondingly, each locking pawl 7 is provided with a pin 17, which pin 17 penetrates into the corresponding slot and engages the edge of said slot.

Also in this second embodiment, a return spring 19 (preferably having a helical shape) biases the actuating element 9 towards the locking position.

As better shown in figures 7 and 8, the discontinuous recliner 1 according to this second preferred embodiment differs from the one of the previous first preferred embodiment in that the actuating element 9 is provided on its surface with one or more male portions 21 oriented towards the second plate 3, the male portions 21 engaging corresponding windows 23 provided in said second plate 3.

Preferably, the male portion 21 on the actuator element and the window 23 in the second plate are equally spaced along the periphery of the actuator element and the second plate, respectively.

In detail, in the embodiment shown, the actuating element 9 is provided, on its surface facing the second plate 3, with two male portions 21 arranged at 180 ° from each other, and the second plate 3 is correspondingly provided with two windows 23 arranged at 180 ° from each other, whereby each male portion 21 engages a corresponding window 23.

Advantageously, the engagement between the convex portion 21 of the actuating element 9 and the window 23 of the second plate 3 allows to protect the discontinuous recliner 1 from excessive loads applied by the user when switching the recliner 1 from the locked position to the unlocked position.

In this regard, in fig. 9a and 9b, there is shown an intermittent recliner 1 according to the present invention and a handle 10 activated by a user to switch the recliner 1 from a locked position to an unlocked position.

Typically, when a user wants to unlock the reclining recliner, the user tends to put excessive load on the handle 10 and such excessive load can damage the internal components of the recliner itself, as they may rotate out of the correct operating range.

According to the present invention, when the user activates the handle 10, the intermittent recliner 1 is brought from the locked position (see also fig. 10a, 11a) to the unlocked position (see also fig. 10b, 11b) and the first and second plates 2, 3 are free to rotate relative to each other. However, since the engagement of the male portion 21 of the actuating element 9 with the window 23 of the second plate 3 advantageously limits the travel of the actuating element 9, excessive loads on the internal components of the recliner 1 are prevented.

Therefore, in the unlocked position, the relative rotation between the first plate 2 and the second plate 3 will be limited to the maximum angle θ set by the length of the window 23, and therefore, by appropriately designing such a window 23, rotation beyond the correct working range due to excessive loads on the handle 10 can be effectively prevented.

In this way, the internal components of the intermittent recliner 1 are effectively protected from excessive loads.

With reference to figure 12, the discontinuous recliner 1 according to this second preferred embodiment differs from the one of the discontinuous recliners 1 of the first preferred embodiment previously described in that the actuating element 9 is provided on its surface with a hub 25 oriented towards the first plate 2, which hub 25 protrudes from said surface of the actuating element 9.

This provision of the hub 25 improves the stability of the intermittent recliner 1 according to the invention.

Moreover, such a hub 25 arrangement improves the synchronicity between the recliners of the same vehicle seat, which avoids potential delays between the two recliners of the same vehicle seat.

The description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been given by way of example only, and several variations and modifications within the capabilities of a person skilled in the art can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

For example, the number of locking pawls may be different from that shown in the illustrated embodiment.

By way of further example, more than one return spring may be provided (e.g., the number of springs equals the number of locking pawls).