Chairs and seats – Movable back – Tiltable
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-04
2001-12-11
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Movable back
Tiltable
C297S366000, C297S216130, C297S216140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328383
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the pivot mechanisms used with vehicle seats and seats fitted with these mechanisms.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
More specifically, the invention related to pivot mechanism comprising:
first and second rigid frames mounted so as to pivot relative to one another about an axis of rotation, said first and second rigid frames forming a closed circular housing,
teeth joined to the first frame and forming at least one circular arc centered on the axis of rotation inside said housing,
at least one rigid locking member which is movable relative to the second frame inside said housing, between a locking position in which said locking member meshes with the teeth of the first frame in order to immobilize the first and second frames relative to one another, and a retracted position in which said locking member does not mesh with the teeth of the first frame,
a single cam pivotally mounted inside said housing around the axis of rotation between said first and second frames, said cam being elastically urged toward a rest position, in which said cam places said locking member in the locking position, and said cam being movable toward an unlocking position in which said cam enables said locking member to be placed in the retracted position.
The invention proposes a pivot mechanism of the type in question wherein said cam is elastically urged by a single spring which is rolled around the axis of rotation and mounted inside said housing, in an indentation provided in the second frame, said spring and said indentation being covered by the cam.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, one and/or the other of the following features may be incorporated:
the cam is actuated by a control shaft which goes through said indentation, the spring acting on said control shaft, the spring being rolled around the control shaft;
the pivot mechanism further includes:
at least one rigid stop member which is joined to the second frame and which is arranged 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,
and at least one rigid over-locking member which is movable relative to the second frame between an active position in which said over-locking member meshes with the teeth of the first frame to immobilize the first and second frames relative to one another, and a retracted position in which said over-locking member does not mesh with the teeth of the first frame, this over-locking member normally being retained in its retracted position by retaining means designed to give way if the over-locking member is pushed toward its active position with sufficient force,
the stop member being designed to be displaced toward the over-locking member and to push said over-locking member into its active position by camming action if the pivot mechanism is subjected to a torque greater than a first predetermined value in the first direction of rotation;
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 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 operated by control means,
n over-locking members, distributed at an angle between the locking members,
and 2n stop members distributed at an angle between the locking members and the over-locking members, 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 provided with teeth designed to mesh with the teeth of the first frame, and a side face arranged in contact with one of the stop members;
the teeth of the first frame are directed radially inwardly, the locking members, the over-locking members and the stop members being arranged inwardly of said teeth; 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 race or each locking member whilst the others belong to the corresponding stop members, these bosses and indentations cooperating 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 a pivot mechanism of the type defined above.
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Cillierre François
Rohee Rene
Bertrand Faure Equipements SA
Cuomo Peter M.
Marshall Gerstein & Borun
White Rodney B.
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