阅读说明：本技术 一种锁紧装置和车辆座椅 (Locking device and vehicle seat ) 是由 彼得·米勒 沃尔克·温德克 埃里克·乌尔默特 于 2020-02-12 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种特别是用于将车辆座椅(1)的可摆动的靠背(4)与车辆结构(6)锁紧的锁紧装置(10),所述锁紧装置(10)具有通过操作元件(80)能够在锁紧位置和解锁位置之间摆动的限动偏心块(30)以及具有能够在打开位置和关闭位置之间摆动的定位爪(40),其中,通过处于锁紧位置的所述限动偏心块(30),所述定位爪(40)被锁止在其关闭位置上,其中,所述定位爪(40)具有至少两个容纳部(42、44)并且在所述定位爪(40)的关闭位置上,锁紧元件(70)能够可选择地容纳在其中一个所述容纳部(42、44)中,其中,所述定位爪(40)通过支撑在所述锁紧装置(10)的壳体部件(16)上的弹簧元件(46)被朝着所述定位爪(40)的关闭位置方向预紧。本发明还涉及一种车辆座椅(1),特别是机动车辆座椅,所述车辆座椅(1)具有相对于车辆结构(6)可摆动地支承的靠背(4),其中,所述车辆座椅(1)为了将所述靠背(4)与所述车辆结构(6)锁紧而具有根据本发明的锁紧装置(10)。(The invention relates to a locking device (10), in particular for locking a pivotable backrest (4) of a vehicle seat (1) to a vehicle structure (6), said locking device (10) having a movement-limiting eccentric (30) which can be pivoted by an actuating element (80) between a locking position and an unlocking position, and having a locking pawl (40) which can be pivoted between an open position and a closed position, wherein the locking pawl (40) is locked in its closed position by the movement-limiting eccentric (30) in the locking position, wherein the locking pawl (40) has at least two receptacles (42, 44) and in the closed position of the locking pawl (40) a locking element (70) can be selectively received in one of the receptacles (42, 44), wherein the locking pawl (40) is held against the locking pawl (10) by a spring element (46) supported on a housing part (16) of the locking device (10) (40) Is pretensioned in the direction of the closed position. The invention further relates to a vehicle seat (1), in particular a motor vehicle seat, the vehicle seat (1) having a backrest (4) which is mounted so as to be pivotable relative to a vehicle structure (6), wherein the vehicle seat (1) has a locking device (10) according to the invention for locking the backrest (4) to the vehicle structure (6).)

1. A locking device (10), in particular for locking a pivotable backrest (4) of a vehicle seat (1) to a vehicle structure (6), the locking device (10) comprising:

a stop eccentric mass (30) which can be pivoted between a locking position and an unlocking position by means of an operating element (80),

a positioning pawl (40) which can be pivoted between an open position and a closed position,

wherein the positioning pawl (40) is locked in its closed position by the movement-limiting eccentric (30) in its locking position,

wherein the positioning pawl (40) has at least two receptacles (42, 44) and in the closed position of the positioning pawl (40) a locking element (70) can be selectively received in one of the receptacles (42, 44),

the positioning pawl (40) is biased in the direction of the closed position of the positioning pawl (40) by a spring element (46) supported on a housing part (16) of the locking device (10).

2. Locking device (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the first receptacle (42) is delimited in a direction away from the second receptacle (44) by a wall having a safety profile (42 a).

3. Locking device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the first receptacle (42) is delimited in the direction towards the second receptacle (44) by a wall having an operating contour (42 b).

4. Locking device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the second receptacle (44) is defined by two wall portions of substantially parallel orientation, each having a safety profile (44 a).

5. Locking device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the locking device (10) has a control pawl (50).

6. Locking device (10) according to claim 5, characterised in that the control pawl (50) has a start-up profile (50a), which start-up profile (50a) transfers the stop eccentric (30) into its unlocking position when loaded by the locking element (70).

7. Locking device (10) according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the control pawl (50) has a stop (50b), the stop (50b) projecting beyond the actuating contour (42b) of the positioning pawl (40) into the first receptacle (42) in the closed position of the control pawl (50).

8. Locking device (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that a control movement device (60) is provided, the control movement device (60) being connectable with the movement-limiting eccentric (30) and being coupleable with the control pawl (50).

9. Locking device (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that the control movement device (60) has a first lever (62), a second lever (64) and a third lever (66).

10. Locking device (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that a first end of the second lever (64) is hingedly connected to a second end of the first lever (62) and in particular a second end of the second lever (64) is hingedly connected to the movement-limiting eccentric (30).

11. Locking device (10) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that a first end of the third lever (66) is hingedly connected to the first lever (62), in particular in a middle section between the first end of the first lever (62) and the second end of the first lever (62).

12. Locking device (10) according to one of claims 5 to 11, characterized in that a tension spring (54) acting between an operating element (80) and the control pawl (50) is provided.

13. Locking device (10) according to claim 12, characterised in that the operating element (80) is biased by the tension spring (54) in the direction of an initial position in the event of an operative connection between the third lever (66) and the control pawl (50), and in that the control pawl (50) is biased by the tension spring (54) in the direction of an open position in the event of a deactivated operative connection between the third lever (66) and the control pawl (50).

14. Locking device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the locking device (10) has a clamping eccentric (20) which can be pivoted between a safety position and a release position, in particular for the free play of the control pawl (40).

15. A vehicle seat (1), in particular a motor vehicle seat, having a backrest (4) which is pivotably mounted relative to a vehicle structure (6), characterized in that the vehicle seat (1) has a locking device (10) as claimed in one of the preceding claims for locking the backrest (4) to the vehicle structure (6).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a locking device having a catch eccentric which can be pivoted by an actuating element between a locking position and an unlocking position, and having a locking pawl which can be pivoted between an open position and a closed position, wherein the locking pawl is locked in its closed position by the catch eccentric in its locking position, wherein the locking pawl has at least two receptacles and in the closed position of the locking pawl the locking element can be selectively received in one of the receptacles. The invention also relates to a vehicle seat.

Background

Locking devices for locking a backrest of a vehicle seat, which backrest is foldable relative to a seat surface, to a vehicle structure are well known in the prior art. Such locking devices comprise an operating element, by means of which a rotary latch lock fastened to the vehicle structure or backrest can be unlocked, which rotary latch lock can be locked by means of a corresponding locking element fastened to the backrest or vehicle structure.

DE 102007016409 a1 discloses a locking device for a vehicle seat, which locking device interacts with a locking element in the locked state. The locking device comprises a pawl which can be pivoted about a first bearing pin, a stop element which can be pivoted about a second bearing pin, and a clamping eccentric which can be pivoted about the second bearing pin, the pawl having a receptacle for the locking element and having a functional surface, the clamping eccentric interacting with the functional surface in the locked state of the locking device in order to ensure that the locking device is in the locked state. Such locking devices are also known as deadbolts or simply deadbolts. In the unlocking process of the locking device, the stop element is first pivoted out of the functional surface of the catch. The clamping eccentric is then moved by the stop element or the actuating element of the stop element and is thus likewise pivoted away from the functional surface of the jaw. The jaws open and release the locking element due to the spring pretension.

DE 19928507 a1 discloses a rotary latch lock with a rotary latch which is secured in a locking position against swiveling by means of a catch pawl and which has a first fork-shaped opening and a second fork-shaped opening spaced apart in the direction of rotation, wherein the first fork-shaped opening assumes a catch position for a corresponding closing element in an open position which can be reached by releasing the catch pawl.

JP 2006199131 a discloses a locking device for locking and unlocking a seat back in a vehicle, which has a latch bow mounted on the vehicle body, wherein the blocking bow has a first engagement section on a first end of the blocking bow and a second engagement section on the blocking bow, the locking device also has a locking mechanism mounted in the seat back and having a pawl, the pawl can be placed in engagement with the latch bow, so that the seat back can be held in the upright position, wherein the pawl has a first engagement groove and a second engagement groove, wherein the first and second engagement sections of the latch bow can be engaged into the first engagement groove or the second engagement groove of the pawl, respectively, to enable the seat back to be held in the upright position, the locking mechanism also has an inspection unit for detecting incomplete engagement and disengagement of the blocking bow.

EP 0952288 a1 discloses a locking device having a housing, a cover secured in a structural unit on the housing, a catch plate for locking a striker, and a locking plate, wherein the catch plate and the locking plate are rotatably supported by the housing and the cover, respectively, wherein the locking plate locks the catch plate when it is rotated to ensure locking of the striker by the catch plate, and having an unlocking means to cancel locking of the striker by the catch plate by rotating the locking plate.

DE 10354161 a1 discloses a device for locking a vehicle backrest in at least two different backrest positions, comprising a rotary latch having a first fork-shaped opening and at least one second fork-shaped opening for providing a first locking position and at least one second locking position for a locking element, in particular for a locking pin, and comprising a locking lever which projects into the path of movement of the locking element and can be actuated by the locking element and, when actuated, enables the rotary latch to fall into its retaining position, wherein a holding claw is provided for fixing the rotary latch in its release position, wherein only one of the locking positions of the locking element is designed as a comfort position, wherein a stop face for the locking element is assigned to the comfort position, wherein, after the locking element has entered the region of the fork-shaped opening providing the comfort position, the trip lever cooperates with the holding pawl to release the rotary latch.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to improve a locking device of the type mentioned at the beginning, in particular to provide a locking device for locking a pivotable backrest of a vehicle seat to a vehicle structure in at least two different tilting positions, and to provide a corresponding vehicle seat.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a locking device, in particular for locking a pivotable backrest of a vehicle seat to a vehicle structure, having a catch cam which can be pivoted by an actuating element between a locking position and an unlocking position, and having a catch pawl which can be pivoted between an open position and a closed position, wherein the catch pawl is locked in its closed position by the catch cam in its locking position, wherein the catch pawl has at least two receptacles and in the closed position of the catch pawl a locking element can be selectively received in one of the receptacles, wherein the catch pawl is pretensioned in the direction of the closed position of the catch pawl by a spring element which is supported on a housing part of the locking device.

By virtue of the positioning pawl having at least two receptacles and the locking element being able to be selectively received in one of the receptacles in the closed position of the positioning pawl, two different stop positions for the locking element can be defined by the receptacles spaced apart from one another, wherein the backrest can be locked in two different inclined positions.

The controlled displacement of the locking element from the inner into the outer of the two receptacles of the locking pawl is achieved in that the locking pawl is biased in the direction of the closed position of the locking pawl by a spring element supported on the housing part of the locking device.

The positioning pawl may be at least partially surrounded by the housing. The housing may be made of plastic. The housing may help reduce noise. The housing may be adapted to the outer shape and/or contour of the positioning pawl. The housing may be injection molded over the detents.

The first receptacle may be defined by a wall portion having a safety profile in a direction away from the second receptacle. The wall in the region of the safety contour can be oriented substantially perpendicular to the path of movement of the locking element relative to the locking device.

The first receptacle may be defined by a wall portion having a manipulation profile in a direction toward the second receptacle. The actuating contour can be arranged at an angle, preferably at an oblique angle, in particular at an angle in the range from 105 ° to 125 °, relative to the movement path of the locking element. The actuating contour can be arranged at an angle to the movement path of the locking element, so that a movement of the locking element along its movement path exerts an opening moment on the positioning pawl when it comes into contact with the actuating contour.

The second receptacle may be defined by a wall portion having a safety profile in a direction towards the first receptacle. The second receptacle can be bounded on both sides by two substantially parallel-oriented wall sections each having a safety contour. The wall in the region of the safety contour can be oriented perpendicular to the path of movement of the locking element relative to the locking device.

The locking device may have a control pawl. The control pawl can have a start-up contour which, when loaded by the locking element, shifts the catch eccentric mass into its unlocking position. The activation profile can be arranged at an angle, preferably at an oblique angle, in particular in the range 125 ° to 145 °, relative to the movement path of the locking element. The control pawl can have a stop which, in the closed position, projects into the first receptacle relative to the actuating contour of the positioning pawl. The activation contour can be arranged at an angle to the movement path of the locking element, so that a movement of the locking element along its movement path exerts an opening torque on the control pawl when in contact with the activation contour.

A control movement device can be provided, which is connected to the limiting eccentric mass and can be coupled to the control pawl. The control motion device may have a first lever. The first end of the first lever can be rotatably supported on a housing part of the locking device.

The control motion device may have a second lever. The first end of the second link may be rotatably connected with the second end of the first link. The second end of the second rod may be rotatably connected with the motion limiting eccentric block. To connect the second rod with the restraining eccentric, the restraining eccentric may be provided with a pin.

The control motion device may have a third lever. The first end of the third link may be rotatably connected with the first link. The first end of the third rod may be connected in an intermediate section between the first and second ends of the first rod.

The connection of the first end of the third lever to the first lever may be arranged in a section between the connection of the first lever to the second lever and the connection of the first lever to the housing part of the locking device.

The third lever can have a fork on its second end, which can be brought into operative connection with the control pawl. The fork of the third lever can have a substantially semicircular opening which can be brought into operative connection in particular with a connecting pin of the control pawl. The control motion device can realize the speed increasing transmission ratio or the speed reducing transmission ratio between the control claw and the motion limiting eccentric block.

The locking device can have a clamping eccentric which can be pivoted between a safety position and a release position. The clamping eccentric acts in the safety position on the positioning pawl in the closed position without play.

The "locking position" of the movement-limiting eccentric can be understood in the present invention as meaning, in general, a position, in particular an angular position, in which the movement-limiting eccentric fixes the positioning pawl in the closed position against rotation. The "unlocked position" of the movement-limiting eccentric mass can be understood in the present invention in general as the position, in particular the angular position, in which the movement-limiting eccentric mass releases the positioning pawl in order to rotate the positioning pawl.

The "safety position" of the clamping eccentric can be understood in the present invention as a position, in particular an angular position, of the clamping eccentric in which the positioning pawl is free of play in the closed position. The "release position" of the clamping eccentric can be understood in the present invention in general as the position, in particular the angular position, in which the clamping eccentric releases the positioning pawl in order to rotate the positioning pawl.

Advantageous embodiments which can be used individually or in combination with one another are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the object is also achieved by a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, having a backrest which is pivotably mounted relative to a vehicle structure, wherein the vehicle seat has a locking device according to the above description for locking the backrest to the vehicle structure.

Drawings

The invention will be described in detail below with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments. In the drawings:

figure 1 shows a schematic view of a vehicle seat according to the invention,

figure 2 shows an exploded view of a locking device according to the invention of a vehicle seat as in figure 1,

figure 3 shows a perspective view from a first side of the locking device according to figure 2 in an assembled state,

figure 4 shows another perspective view from the second side of the locking device of figure 2 in an assembled state,

figure 5 shows a further perspective view from a first side of the locking device according to figure 2 in an assembled state,

figure 6 shows a further perspective view from the second side of the locking device according to figure 2 in an assembled state,

figure 7 shows a sketch of the locking device in the locked state with the positioning pawl and the control pawl closed,

figure 8 shows a sketch of the locking device in an unlocked state during opening by the locking element,

figure 9 shows a sketch of the locking device in the unlocked state during entry of the locking element,

figure 10 shows a sketch of the locking device in the locked state with the locking element in the first accommodation,

figure 11 shows a sketch of the locking device in the unlocked state in which the positioning pawl and the control pawl are closed,

figure 12 shows a sketch of the locking device in an unlocked state before the locking element transitions from the first receptacle to the second receptacle,

fig. 13 shows a sketch of the locking device in the unlocked state during the transition of the locking element between the first and second receptacle, an

Fig. 14 shows a sketch of the locking device in an unlocked state with the locking element in the second receiving portion.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a vehicle seat 1 with a seat part 2 and a backrest 4, which vehicle seat 1 is mounted on a vehicle structure 6. The backrest 4 can be pivoted about a backrest pivot axis a relative to the seat part 2. The backrest 4 can thus be swung back from a use position suitable for transport of persons to a largely horizontal non-use position. Fig. 1 shows the position of use. In order to fix the backrest 4 in the use position against unintentional pivoting forward, a locking device 10 is fastened to the backrest 4, which locking device 10 can receive and lock a locking element 70, which is fixedly connected to the vehicle structure 6 and is embodied as a wire bow. In a variant of the embodiment shown, the arrangement of the locking device 10 and the locking element 70 can also be replaced such that the locking device 10 is fixedly connected to the vehicle structure 6 and the locking element 70 is fixedly connected to the backrest 4.

The backrest 4 can be selectively locked in a first inclined position or a second inclined position, which is different from the first inclined position, of the backrest 4 of the vehicle seat 1 by means of the locking device 10.

Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of a locking device 10 according to the invention according to a preferred embodiment. The locking device 10 has two opposite housing parts 16, which housing parts 16 are connected by a first bearing pin 12 and a second bearing pin 14 spaced apart from and parallel to the first bearing pin 12. The clamping eccentric mass 20 and the limiting eccentric mass 30, which is arranged adjacent to the clamping eccentric mass 20 in the axial direction of the second bearing pin 14, are each pivotably mounted about the second bearing pin 14.

Around the first support pin 12, the positioning pawl 40, the housing 48 at least partially surrounding the positioning pawl 40 and the control pawl 50 are each pivotably supported. The positioning pawl 40 and the housing 48 are biased in the direction of the closed position of the positioning pawl 40 by a spring element 46 supported on the housing part 16. In addition, the locking device 10 comprises a control movement device 60, which control movement device 60 has a first lever 62, a second lever 64 and a third lever 66.

Fig. 3 to 14 are described together below.

The positioning pawl 40 has a first receptacle 42 and a second receptacle 44. In the closed position of the positioning pawl 40, the locking element 70 can be selectively received in the first receptacle 42 or the second receptacle 44. The locking device 10 can be unlocked by means of an operating element 80, here a handle. Operating element 80 is connected to eccentric restraint mass 30 here by a connecting rod 82. To connect connecting rod 82 with limiting eccentric mass 30, limiting eccentric mass 30 may have a hole for receiving pin 32. The pin 32 may be designed to be integral with the connecting rod 82. Thus, upon actuation of the actuating element 80, the movement-limiting eccentric mass 30 can be transferred from the locking position into the unlocking position.

The clamping eccentric 20 has a clamping surface which extends eccentrically with respect to the bearing pin so that the positioning pawl 40 is play-free. The clamping eccentric 20 is prestressed by means of a spring element 24, which engages on one of the housing parts 16, in the direction of a position in which the positioning pawl 40 is free of play. The spring element 24 is connected here to the follower 22 of the clamping eccentric 20. Follower 22 is also used to carry clamping eccentric mass 20 by limiting eccentric mass 30 when shifting limiting eccentric mass 30 from a position locking positioning pawl 40 to a position releasing positioning pawl 40. The position at which the eccentric mass 30 releases the positioning pawl 40 is referred to as the unlocking position. The position in which the clamping eccentric 20 releases the positioning pawl 40 is referred to as the release position. The position in which the eccentric mass 30 locks the positioning pawl 40 is referred to as the locking position. The position of the clamping eccentric 20 in which play of the positioning pawl 40 is eliminated is referred to as the safety position or the safety position without play.

The first end of the first lever 62 of the control movement device 60 is rotatably supported on the housing part 16 of the locking device 10. A first end of the second lever 64 is hingedly connected with a second end of the first lever 62. The second end of the second rod 64 is hingedly connected to the stop eccentric 30. The second end of the second rod 64 is here connected in an articulated manner to a pin 32 fixed to the eccentric mass 30. A first end of the third lever 66 is hingedly connected to the first lever 62. The first end of the third rod 66 is connected to the first rod 62 in an intermediate section between the first and second ends of the first rod 62. The connection of the first end of the third lever 66 to the first lever 62 is thus arranged in the section between the connection of the first lever 62 to the second lever 64 and the connection of the first lever 62 to the housing part 16 of the locking device 10.

The control movement means 60, in particular the free end of the third lever 66, is arranged to co-act with a connecting pin 52 mounted on the control pawl 50. The free end of the third lever 66 is designed in the form of a fork 68. The fork 68 of the third lever 66 has a substantially semicircular opening.

In this case, a tension spring 54 is provided which acts between the operating element 80 and the control pawl 50, wherein the operating element 80 is biased in the direction of the starting position in the event of an operative connection between the third lever 66 and the control pawl 50, and the control pawl 50 is biased in the direction of the open position in the event of a disconnection of the operative connection between the third lever 66 and the control pawl 50.

Due to the small angular movement of the control pawl 50, the control movement device 60 pivots the movement-limiting eccentric mass 30 into a position releasing the positioning pawl 40. An angular movement of the control pawl 50 of, for example, 15 ° to 20 ° causes an angular movement of the movement-limiting eccentric mass 30 of, for example, approximately 45 ° to 50 °.

Fig. 7 to 10 show sketches of the movement of the locking device 10 from a state in which the locking element 70 is outside the locking device 10 to a state in which the locking element 70 is locked in the first receptacle 42.

In fig. 7, the locking device 10 is first shown with the positioning pawl 40 and the control pawl 50 in the closed position and the stopping eccentric mass 30 in the locking position and the clamping eccentric mass 20 in the safety position. The locking element 70 is located outside the locking device 10 and can be moved relative to the locking device 10 along a movement path B indicated by a dashed line toward the locking device 10.

The control pawl 50 has a start-up contour 50a, which start-up contour 50a generates a moment that opens the control pawl 50 when loaded by the locking element 70. As soon as the moment of opening the control pawl 50 is greater than the resisting closing moment of the restraining eccentric mass 30, the angular movement of the opening control pawl 50 causes the movement of the restraining eccentric mass 30 to the unlocking position by means of the control movement device 60. This state is shown in fig. 8. In this state, the locking element 70 holds the control pawl 50 and the stopping eccentric mass 30 and the clamping eccentric mass 20 in the open state, wherein the positioning pawl 40 can be pivoted freely.

The locking element 70 contacts the housing 48 of the positioning pawl 40. In the region of the contact of the housing 48 with the locking element 70, the positioning pawl 40 has a start contour 40 a. In the same way as the starting contour 50a of the control pawl 50, a moment is generated which snaps open the positioning pawl 40 when the positioning pawl 40 is loaded by the locking element 70.

The locking element 70 can now pass the positioning pawl 40 as shown in fig. 9. Only after the locking element 70 has passed the positioning pawl 40 and reached the region of the first receptacle 42 can the clamping eccentric mass 20 be moved by the loading of the spring element 24 in the direction of its safety position and in the present case the arresting eccentric mass 30 be moved by the follower 22 in the direction of its locking position and the control pawl 50 be closed by the control movement device 60. Due to the pretensioning of the clamping eccentric 20 by the spring element 24, the contact of the clamping eccentric 20 with the positioning pawl 40, in particular the nose of the positioning pawl 40, results in a locked locking device 10 without play.

The first accommodation portion 42 is defined by a wall portion having a safety contour 42a in a direction away from the second accommodation portion 44. Furthermore, the first accommodation portion 42 is defined by a wall portion having a manipulation contour 42b in a direction toward the second accommodation portion 44. The control pawl 50 has a stop 50b, which stop 50b projects into the first receptacle 42 in the closed position relative to the actuating contour 42b of the positioning pawl 40.

The locking element 70 located in the first receptacle 42, as shown in fig. 10, is clamped between the safety contour 42a of the positioning pawl 40 and the stop 50b of the control pawl 50. In this state, the locking element 70 is locked in the first accommodation 42, which corresponds to a first defined inclined position of the backrest 4 of the vehicle seat 1.

Fig. 11 to 14 show sketches of the movement of the locking device 10 starting from the state shown in fig. 10 until the locking element 70 is locked in the second receptacle 42.

To transfer the locking element 70 from the first receptacle 42 into the second receptacle 44, the locked locking device 10 can first be unlocked manually by means of the actuating element 80. Manual actuation of operating element 80 is coupled to eccentric restraint mass 30 via connecting rod 82. The limiting eccentric mass 30 can thus be moved into its unlocking position, wherein the limiting eccentric mass 30 brings the clamping eccentric mass 20 into its release position by means of the follower 22. Here, the control movement device 60 is also controlled by the restraining eccentric mass 30 via the second lever 64, so that the fork 68 of the third lever 66 is out of contact with the connecting pin 52 of the control pawl 50. This state in which the positioning pawl 40 is manually unlocked is shown in fig. 11.

In the event of the functional connection between the third lever 66 and the control pawl 50 being canceled as a result of the manual unlocking of the locking device 10, the control pawl 50 is spring-loaded in the direction of the open position by a tension spring 54 which is tensioned between the operating element 80 and the control pawl 50. The control pawl 50 therefore opens automatically as soon as the required path of movement of the locking element 70, in particular in the region of the stop 50b, is released. Fig. 12 shows such a state that the control pawl 50 of the lock device 10 is opened and the positioning pawl 40 is closed. By pivoting the control pawl 50 upward, contact between the control pawl 50 and the control motion device 60 is reestablished.

The backrest 4 can now be pivoted in the region of the movement of the locking element 70 in the direction of the second receptacle 44 along its path of movement B in the first receptacle 42 of the positioning pawl 40.

The actuating contour 42b of the positioning pawl 40 generates a moment that opens the positioning pawl 40 when loaded by the locking element 70. Once the torque to open the positioning pawl 40 is greater than the resisting closing torque generated by the spring element 46, the positioning pawl 40 moves to its open position. If the positioning pawl 40 is in the open state, the path of the locking element 70 into the second receptacle 44 is released. This state is shown in fig. 13. In this state, locking element 70 keeps control pawl 50 and also stopping eccentric mass 30 and clamping eccentric mass 20 in the open state, wherein manual actuation by operating element 80 is no longer necessary.

Only after the locking element 70 has passed further past the positioning pawl 40 and has reached the region of the second receptacle 44 does the positioning pawl 40 close again as a result of the spring force of the spring element 46. Subsequently, the clamping eccentric 20 can be moved by the loading of the spring element 24 in the direction of its safety position and in the process the holding eccentric 30 can be moved by the follower 22 in the direction of its locking position and the control pawl 50 can be closed by the control movement device 60.

The second receptacle 44 is defined by two substantially parallel oriented wall portions each having a safety profile 44 a. The locking element 70 located in the second receptacle 44, as shown in fig. 14, is clamped between the detent 40 or rather the safety contour 44a of the housing 48. In this state, the locking element 70 is locked in the second accommodation 44, which corresponds to a second defined inclined position of the backrest 4 of the vehicle seat 1.

The transition of the locking element 70 from the second receptacle 44 of the positioning pawl 40 back into the first receptacle 42 is once again effected by manual actuation of the actuating element 80. Manual actuation of operating element 80 is coupled to eccentric restraint mass 30 by connecting rod 82. The limiting eccentric mass 30 can thus be moved into its unlocking position, wherein the limiting eccentric mass 30 brings the clamping eccentric mass 20 into its release position by means of the follower 22. Here, the control movement device 60 is also controlled by the restraining eccentric mass 30 via the second lever 64, so that the fork 68 of the third lever 66 is out of contact with the connecting pin 52 of the control pawl 50.

In the event of the functional connection between the third lever 66 and the control pawl 50 being canceled as a result of the manual unlocking of the locking device 10, the control pawl 50 is spring-loaded in the direction of the open position by a tension spring 54 tensioned between the operating element 80 and the control pawl 50. Thus, the control pawl 50 opens automatically. By swinging the control pawl 50 upward, contact between the control pawl 50 and the control motion device 60 is reestablished.

The safety contour 44a of the second receptacle 44 of the positioning pawl 40 generates a moment that opens the positioning pawl 40 when loaded by the locking element 70. The positioning pawl 40 moves to its open position as soon as the resulting moment that opens the positioning pawl 40 is greater than the resisting closing moment produced by the spring element 46. In its movement along the movement path B, the locking element 70 thus pushes the latching pawl 40 apart until the locking element 70 has passed partially over the latching pawl 40.

After the locking element 70 has passed partially over the positioning pawl 40 and has reached the region of the first receptacle 42, the positioning pawl 40 is closed again by the spring force of the spring element 46. Subsequently, the clamping eccentric 20 is moved by the loading of the spring element 24 in the direction of its safety position and the locking eccentric 30 is moved here by the follower 22 in the direction of its locking position and the control pawl 50 is also closed by the control movement device 60. The locking element 70 is now again located in the locked first receptacle 42, corresponding to the first defined inclination position of the backrest 4.

Removal of the locking element 70 from the locking device 10 is accomplished in a similar manner as previously described with respect to the transition of the locking element 70 from the second receptacle 44 back to the first receptacle 42.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, in the claims and in the drawings may be of importance for the implementation of the invention in its various embodiments both individually and in combination.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and exemplary and not restrictive in character. In particular, the choice of the proportions shown in the drawings of the various elements should be interpreted as being neither necessary nor limiting. The present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Other variations to the invention and its implementation will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure, drawings, and claims.

The use of terms such as "comprising," "having," "including," "containing," and the like in the claims does not exclude other elements or steps. The use of the indefinite article does not exclude a plurality. A single device may perform the functions of several units or devices referred to in the claims.

List of reference numerals

1 vehicle seat

2 seat part

4 back support

6 vehicle structure

10 locking device

12 first support pin

14 second bearing pin

16 housing part

20 clamping eccentric block

22 follower

24 spring element

30-position limiting eccentric block

32 pin

40 positioning claw

40a starting profile

42 first accommodation part

42a safety profile

42b steering profile

44 second accommodation part

44a safety profile

46 spring element

48 outer casing

50 control claw

50a starting profile

50b stop part

52 connecting pin

54 tension spring

60 control motion device

62 first bar

64 second rod

66 third bar

68 fork-shaped part

70 locking element

80 operating element

82 connecting rod

A back swing axis

B motion track