Chairs and seats – Movable back – Tiltable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2001-08-14
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Movable back
Tiltable
C297S36700R, C297S366000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273508
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an inclination adjustment fitting for constituent areas of motor vehicle seats, such as backrests, for example.
In a known inclination adjustment fitting of this kind as described, for example, in DE 197 09 524A1, a first fitting portion is formed by means of a tooth segment that is connected, in rigid fashion, with the backrest. The second portion of the fitting is an arresting catch whose gear toothing may be pivoted into or out of engagement with the gear toothing of the tooth segment. The arresting catch is held in the engagement position by means of a locking catch, which is also capable of being pivoted.
The arresting catch is equipped with a constricted area of diminished width between its axis of pivot and the area of contact of the locking catch, which lies opposite the gear toothing. This constriction serves the purpose of securely retaining the locking position between the meshing teeth, in the case of an elastic deformation such as that which occurs in particular in the case of pulsing stresses.
Retention of the locking effect between the tooth segment and the arresting catch represents a fundamental problem that is difficult to resolve, particularly in conjunction with the stresses of a crash. In the case of a crash, slippage of the gear toothing, and thus, suspension of the blocking effect, can occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing deficiencies in the prior art it is an object of the invention to embody an inclination adjustment fitting such that slippage of the sets of gear toothing that mesh with one another is avoided, even in the case of high stresses associated with a crash. It is a further object to obtain a better fixation even if, when a crash occurs, a tangential shift of the sets of gear toothing that mesh with one another occurs, even if the corresponding deformation is no longer elastic, but rather, plastic.
An inclination adjustment fitting according to the present invention provides an intervening element which has both a finer and a coarser gear toothing, to permit more pronounced shifting, in a tangential direction, of the parts that work together than is possible in the case of a direct engagement between the arresting toothing of an arresting catch and the opposing toothing of the segment firmly attached to the backrest. The movability of the intervening element in a tangential direction holds the sets of gear toothing that work together in mesh across an enlarged pathway of deformation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5138744 (1992-08-01), Coggon
patent: 5150635 (1992-09-01), Hein
patent: 5156439 (1992-10-01), Idlani et al.
patent: 5522643 (1996-06-01), Matsuura
patent: 5590932 (1997-01-01), Olivieri
patent: 5718481 (1998-02-01), Robinson
patent: 5733008 (1998-03-01), Tame
patent: 5788330 (1998-08-01), Ryan
patent: 5813725 (1998-09-01), Robinson
patent: 197 09 524 (1998-09-01), None
Connoly Bove Lodge & Hutz
Cuomo Peter M.
Faurecia Autositz GmbH & Co. KG
White Rodney B.
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