Chairs and seats – Movable back – Tiltable
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-10
2001-12-04
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Movable back
Tiltable
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325458
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the pivot mechanisms used with vehicle seats and seats fitted with these mechanisms.
More specifically, the invention relates to a pivot mechanism comprising :
first and second rigid frames mounted so as to pivot relative to one another about an axis of rotation,
teeth joined to the first frame and forming at least one circular arc centered on the axis of rotation,
at least one rigid locking member which is movable relative to the second frame between a locking position on the one hand, in which it co-operates with the teeth of the first frame in order to immobilize the first and second frames relative to one another, and, on the other hand, retracted position in which said locking member does not mesh with the teeth of the first frame,
control means designed to place the locking member selectively either in its locked position or in its retracted position,
and at least one rigid stop member which is joined to the second frame and positioned so that the locking member abuts at an angle against said stop member if the pivot mechanism is subjected to a pivot torque in a first direction of rotation whilst the locking member is in its locked position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Document EP-A-0 720 930 describes an example of a pivot mechanism of this type, which is totally satisfactory.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, in view of the way in which safety standards are changing, it would be of interest to make the type of pivot mechanisms described above stronger in order to prevent these mechanisms from breaking in the event of an accident, in which case the pivot mechanisms would be subjected to a particularly high rotation torque.
To this end, the invention proposes a pivot mechanism of the type in question, which also has at least one rigid over-locking member which is movable relative to the second frame between an active position on the one hand, in which it co-operates with the teeth of the first frame so as to immobilize the first and second frames relative to one another, and a retracted position on the other hand, in which said over-locking member does not mesh with the teeth of the first frame, this over-locking member normally being maintained in its retracted position by retaining means designed to give way if the over-locking member is pushed with sufficient force into its active position, and wherein the stop member is designed to be displaced towards the over-locking member and to push said member into its active position by camming action if the pivot mechanism is subjected to a torque higher than a predetermined value in the first direction of rotation.
As a result of these features, the pivot mechanism is considerably stronger in the event of impact without at the same time requiring more complicated control means since the normal control of the locking member does not act on the over-locking member.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, one and/or the other of the following features may be incorporated:
the stop member is designed to be plastically deformed if the pivot mechanism is subjected to a rotation torque greater than said first predetermined value: this plastic deformation allows some of the mechanical energy of the impact to be absorbed in the event of an accident, which attenuates the effects of the impact felt by the passenger occupying the seat;
The locking mechanism also has
at least one additional over-locking member which is able to move relative to the second frame between an active position on the one hand, in which said additional over-locking member co-operates with the teeth of the first frame in order to immobilize the first and second frames relative to one another, and a retracted position on the other hand, in which said additional over-locking member does not mesh with the teeth of the first frame, this additional over-locking member normally being maintained in its retracted position by retaining means designed to give way if the additional over-locking member is pushed into its active position with sufficient force,
and at least one additional rigid stop member joined to the second frame which is positioned so that the locking member abuts at an angle against said additional stop member if the pivot mechanism is subjected to a pivot torque in a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction whilst the locking member is in its locked position, the additional stop member being designed to be displaced towards the additional over-locking member and to push this additional over-locking member into its active position by camming action if the pivot mechanism is subjected to a pivot torque greater than a second predetermined value in the second direction of rotation;
the additional stop member is designed so that it is plastically deformed if the pivot mechanism is subjected to a rotation torque greater than said second predetermined value;
the first and second predetermined values for the rotation torque range between 50 and 200 mdaN;
the teeth of the first frame form a full circle and the pivot mechanism has:
a number n, ranging between 3 and 6, of locking members activated by the control means,
n over-locking members, distributed at an angle between the locking members and the over-locking members,
and 2n stop members distributed at an angle between each locking member and an over-locking member, the locking members being mounted so as to slide radially between the stop members and the over-locking members having pointed ends with an acute angle which are delimited between a front face on the one hand, having teeth designed to mesh in the teeth of the first frame, and a side face on the other hand, arranged in contact with one of the stop members;
the teeth of the first frame are directed radially towards the interior, the locking members, the over-locking members and the stop members being arranged to the interior of said teeth
the retaining means have bosses and matching indentations, some of which belong to each side face of each locking member whilst the others belong to the corresponding stop members, these bosses and indentations co-operating normally in a reciprocal nesting action so that the over-locking member is normally retained in its retracted position.
The invention also relates to a vehicle seat comprising a backrest which is pivotally mounted on a seat by means of a pivot mechanism of the type defined above.
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French Preliminary Search Report, Nov. 9, 1999, Appl. No. FR 9902349.
Cillierre François
Rohee Rene
Betrand Faure Equipements
Cuomo Peter M.
Marshall Gerstein & Borun
White Rodney B.
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