U.S. patent application number 10/354375 was filed with the patent office on 2003-09-11 for vehicle seat having a bearing device.
This patent application is currently assigned to KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Bohmer, Michael, Braun, Martin, Buck, Peter, Schilling, Jurgen.
Application Number | 20030168897 10/354375 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7679356 |
Filed Date | 2003-09-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030168897 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Braun, Martin ; et
al. |
September 11, 2003 |
Vehicle seat having a bearing device
Abstract
A vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, has a
bearing device (11) between two components (7, 9) which are at
least slightly moveable relative to each other. The bearing device
(11) has at least one elastic fastening element (21) for connecting
the two components (7, 9) transversely to the direction of
movement.
Inventors: |
Braun, Martin; (Winnweiler,
DE) ; Schilling, Jurgen; (Lug, DE) ; Buck,
Peter; (Imsbach, DE) ; Bohmer, Michael;
(Rockenhausen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALSTON & BIRD LLP
BANK OF AMERICA PLAZA
101 SOUTH TRYON STREET, SUITE 4000
CHARLOTTE
NC
28280-4000
US
|
Assignee: |
KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
|
Family ID: |
7679356 |
Appl. No.: |
10/354375 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10354375 |
Jan 30, 2003 |
|
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|
PCT/EP02/02938 |
Mar 16, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/325 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2205/20 20130101;
B60N 2/682 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/325 |
International
Class: |
A47C 001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 28, 2001 |
DE |
101 15 243.4 |
Claims
That which is claimed:
1. A vehicle seat, comprising: a bearing device mounted between
components such that the components are, via the bearing device, at
least slightly moveable relative to each other in a direction of
movement, the bearing device having at least one elastic fastening
element connecting the components transversely to the direction of
movement.
2. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the fastening
element is elastically deformed, and thereby stressed, while the
fastening element is connecting the components.
3. A vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the fastening
element is a spring clamp.
4. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein: the components
include a first component and a second component, the second
component is mounted, by the bearing device, for pivoting about a
pivot axis relative to the first component, the first component
forms the pivot axis, and the fastening element is fastened to the
second component and at least partially surrounds a circumference
of the first component.
5. A vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the fastening
element is attached directly to the second component.
6. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the bearing device
further includes at least one bearing shell positioned between the
fastening element and the first component, with the bearing shell
being positioned radially with respect to the first component.
7. A vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein the bearing shell
is a first bearing shell and the bearing device further includes a
second bearing shell formed separately from the first bearing
shell, and the first and second bearing shells together virtually
completely surround a circumference of the first component.
8. A vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein the bearing shell
is integrally formed and virtually completely surrounds a
circumference of the first component.
9. A vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein the bearing shell
is attached to the fastening element.
10. A vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein the bearing shell
is manufactured from a material different from the components.
11. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein a first of the
components and the bearing device together substantially completely
surround a circumference of a second of the components.
12. A vehicle seat according to claim 5, wherein the fastening
element includes a hook that extends through an opening in the
second component for attaching the fastening element to the second
component.
13. A vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the bearing device
further includes at least one bearing shell positioned between the
fastening element and the first component, with the bearing shell
being positioned radially with respect to the first component.
14. A vehicle seat according to claim 3, wherein the bearing device
further includes at least one bearing shell positioned between the
fastening element and the first component, with the bearing shell
being positioned radially with respect to the first component.
15. A vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the bearing device
further includes at least one bearing shell positioned between the
fastening element and the first component, with the bearing shell
being positioned radially with respect to the first component.
16. A vehicle seat according to claim 15, wherein the bearing shell
is a first bearing shell and the bearing device further includes a
second bearing shell formed separately from the first bearing
shell, and the first and second bearing shells together at least
nearly completely surround a circumference of the first
component.
17. A vehicle seat according to claim 15, wherein the bearing shell
is integrally formed and at least nearly completely surrounds the a
circumference of the first component.
18. A vehicle seat according to claim 15, wherein the bearing shell
is manufactured from a material different from the two
components.
19. A vehicle seat, comprising: a seat shell carrying a seat
cushion; a seat frame including an elongate component that extends
along an axis and at least partially carries the seat shell; and a
bearing device by which the seat shell is mounted to the seat frame
for pivoting about the axis, wherein: the bearing device has at
least one elastic fastening element extending transversely to the
axis and connecting the seat shell to the elongate component, the
fastening element is elastically deformed, and thereby stressed,
while the fastening element is connecting the seat shell to the
elongate component, and the bearing device and the seat shell
together substantially completely surround a circumference of the
elongate component.
20. A vehicle seat according to claim 19, wherein the fastening
element includes a spring clamp that is elastically deformed and
thereby exerting force, the force at least partially causes the
spring clamp to be fastened to the seat shell in a manner that
connects the seat shell to the elongate component.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation of PCT/EP02/02938, which was filed
Mar. 16, 2002, published in German, and is entirely incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, in
particular a motor vehicle seat, having a bearing device between
two components which are at least slightly moveable relative to
each other, with the bearing device having at least one fastening
element for connecting the two components transversely to the
direction of movement.
[0003] In the case of a vehicle seat of this type, a seat shell is
mounted pivotably at the front on a transverse tube of a seat frame
and resiliently at the rear on the seat frame. When loaded by an
occupant, the seat shell pivots slightly about the transverse tube.
A rigid fastening clamp is provided as the bearing device, with the
clamp surrounding the transverse tube from below and being fastened
to the seat shell by means of clips. From above, the seat shell
rests on the transverse tube via a counterbearing. This design
leaves something to be desired.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] One aspect of the present invention is the provision of an
improved vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, having a
bearing device between two components which are at least slightly
moveable relative to each other, with the bearing device having at
least one fastening element for connecting the two components
transversely to the direction of movement, and the fastening
element being of elastic design.
[0005] The elastic design of the fastening element allows it to
bear in a play-free manner against at least one of the parts to be
supported. The fastening element is preferably also fitted under
prestress in the bearing device in order to simultaneously
compensate for tolerances and be rattle-free in the driving mode,
i.e. to prevent annoying noises in the bearing device. The
fastening element is preferably designed as a spring clamp, another
spring element or as another elastic element.
[0006] The design according to the invention is particularly
advantageous if the fastening element at least partially surrounds
the first component of the bearing device in the circumferential
direction, with the first component forming the axis for a pivoting
movement, and the fastening element being fastened to the
pivotable, second component. In order to simplify the installation,
the fastening element is attached directly, i.e. without screwing
or clips or other additional fastening elements, to the pivotable,
second component.
[0007] A bearing shell provided for reducing the friction is
preferably made of a different material than the components which
can be pivoted relative to each other. The bearing shell can be
arranged between the fastening element and/or the pivotable, second
component, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the first
component, in the radial direction thereof, the component forming
the axis for the pivoting movement, and can virtually completely
surround the first component. The bearing shell may be of
multi-part or single-part design. A bearing shell of this type can
be attached to the fastening element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The invention is explained in greater detail below with
reference to three exemplary embodiments illustrated in the
drawings, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a perspective, sectioned partial view of the
first exemplary embodiment,
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the vehicle seat,
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a vertical section through the bearing device
according to the invention along the line III-III, in FIG. 1,
[0012] FIG. 4 shows an illustration of the spring clamp according
to the invention and of the bearing shell corresponding to FIG. 3,
but in the unstressed state before installation,
[0013] FIG. 5 shows an illustration corresponding to FIG. 3 for the
second exemplary embodiment, and
[0014] FIG. 6 shows an illustration corresponding to FIG. 3 for the
third exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] A vehicle seat 1 for a motor vehicle has in its seat part a
seat frame 3 which supports a seat cushion 5 in the manner
described below. The directional details used refer to the
customary arrangement of the vehicle seat 1 in the motor vehicle
and its customary direction of travel (x-direction). In its front
region, the seat frame 3 has, as a first component, a hollow
cylindrical transverse tube 7 which runs horizontally and
transversely to the direction of travel (i.e. in the y-direction)
and to which the front region of the seat shell 9 is fastened, as a
second component. The seat shell 9 in turn supports the seat
cushion 5. In order to connect the seat shell 9 to the transverse
tube 7, a bearing device 11 is provided on both end sections of the
transverse tube 7. The bearing device 11 can be used to pivot the
seat shell 9 at least over a certain angular region relative to the
transverse tube 7 if, for example, the rear region of the seat
shell 9 is mounted resiliently and is pivoted by an occupant.
[0016] In the first exemplary embodiment, each bearing device 11
comprises an approximately semicylindrical, short plastic bearing
shell 13 which extends virtually half way around the transverse
tube 7 in the circumferential direction thereof, runs in the axial
direction of the transverse tube 7 and bears against the transverse
tube 7 on the lower side thereof. The radius of curvature of the
inner side of the bearing shell 13 approximately corresponds to
that of the outer side of the transverse tube 7. Lying opposite the
bearing shell 13 on the upper side of the transverse tube 7 is an
approximately likewise semicylindrical counterbearing 15 which has
the same radius of curvature of the inner side, but a somewhat
longer length in the y-direction. The counterbearing 15 lies in a
semicylindrically curved socket on the lower side of the seat shell
9 and is fastened to the latter by means of a clip connection. The
counterbearing 15 is thus arranged between the seat shell 9 and the
transverse tube 7, in the radial direction of the transverse
tube.
[0017] As a fastening element extending transversely to the
direction of movement, the bearing device 11 has a spring clamp 21
between the seat shell 9 and transverse tube 7. The spring clamp
keeps the bearing shell 13 in contact with the transverse tube 7,
i.e. with respect to the transverse tube 7 in the radial direction
thereof. The integral, mirror-symmetrical spring clamp 21, which is
formed from spring steel in the manner of a leaf spring, has a
central section 23 and a respective side section 25 laterally
adjoining the central section (in front of it and behind it in the
x-direction). In the fitted, stressed state of the spring clamp 21,
the central section 23 rests on the downwardly pointing (i.e.
counter to the z-direction) outer side of the bearing shell 13 and
in an unstressed state before installation has a slightly larger
radius of curvature than this outer side of the bearing shell
13.
[0018] Each side section 25 is curved upward from the central
section 23 and merges into an inwardly curved hook 27. During
installation, the side section 25 is pushed from below with its
hook 27 through an opening 29 in the seat shell 9, which opening is
situated in front of or behind the transverse tube 7 in the
x-direction, the spring clamp 21 first of all being bent upward
somewhat, i.e. being stressed, until the hook 27 is pushed through
completely and engages behind the seat shell 9 in the edge region
of the opening 29. The spring clamp 217 is relaxed slightly as a
result, but remains prestressed. The seat shell 9 can now rotate
relative to the transverse tube 7, for example in the case of the
above-mentioned loading by means of an occupant. The bearing shell
13 and the counterbearing 15 are kept in contact with the
transverse tube 7 by the spring clamp 21, with tolerances being
compensated for in such a manner that the seat shell 9 is not
mounted too stiffly, but also with no annoying rattling noises
arising.
[0019] A second exemplary embodiment largely coincides with the
first exemplary embodiment, so that parts which are identical and
act in an identical manner bear reference numbers which are
incremented by 100. In the second exemplary embodiment, the bearing
device 111 has the same spring clamp 121 between the transverse
tube 107 and seat shell 109, but the bearing shell 113 and the
counterbearing 115 are designed as a common injection molded
plastic part and are connected to each other by a thin film hinge
117. As a result, the bearing shell 113 is pre-positioned in the
radial direction before the spring clamp 121 is attached.
[0020] A third exemplary embodiment likewise largely coincides with
the first exemplary embodiment, so that parts which are identical
and act in an identical manner bear reference numbers incremented
by 200. In the third exemplary embodiment, the bearing device 211
has the same counterbearing 215 between the transverse tube 207 and
seat shell 209, but the bearing shell 213 is fastened to the
otherwise unchanged spring clamp 221 by means of a clip connection
219. The bearing shell is also already brought into a predefined
position before installation.
[0021] Modifications are also conceivable, in which a suitable
coating of the transverse tube and spring clamp renders the bearing
shells and counterbearings unnecessary.
* * * * *