Abstract:
A device for the releasable fastening of seats, bench seats or other objects on a floor of a motor vehicle, comprising a locking part, and a mating locking part which can be fastened to the floor. The locking part is movable by overcoming a spring force from a locking position, in which it cannot be uncoupled from the mating locking part, into a release position in which it can be uncoupled from the mating locking part. A blocking element, upon the uncoupling, retains the locking part in the release position by a positively locking interengagement.

Description:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a device for the releasable fastening of seats, bench seats or other objects on the floor of a motor vehicle, comprising a locking part and a mating locking part which can be fixedly connected to the floor, wherein the locking part can be moved, by overcoming a spring force, from a locking position, in which it cannot be uncoupled from the mating locking part, into a release position, in which it can be uncoupled from the mating locking part. 
     In the case of known configurations available on the market the operation of coupling the locking part and mating locking part, in particular, is laborious since the mating locking part has to be moved into the release position at the same time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a device of the above-mentioned type of user-friendly construction, so as to render easier, in particular, the operation of coupling the locking part and mating locking part. 
     According to the invention there is provided a blocking element which, upon uncoupling, retains the locking part in the release position by positively locking interengagement. 
     Such a development provides a device of the introductory-mentioned type which is of user-friendly construction. If it is desired, for example, to pivot a bench seat in order to increase the loading space within a motor vehicle, first of all the relevant locking parts have to be moved into the release position, whereupon the bench seat can be pivoted, together with uncoupling of the locking parts from the mating locking parts on the vehicle floor. During the uncoupling operation, the blocking element associated with each device passes into the locking part in a positively locking manner with a cooperating form-locking of the locking part and the blocking element and retains the locking part in the release position. This means that, upon bringing about of the coupling position of the locking part and mating locking part, it is not necessary for the locking part to be moved into the release position. As the coupling position of the locking part and mating locking part is brought about, the blocking element is disengaged in the end phase, with the result that the locking part passes, with spring actuation, into its locking position. This likewise ensures that if, in the case of a bench seat, a plurality of these devices are provided, the locking position is only established when the locking part and mating locking part pass into positively locking engagement with one another as intended. It is advantageous to construct the locking part as a locking plate, with the result that high forces which counteract the locking can be absorbed. This is also assisted by the fact that the mating locking part is configured as a clamp which is provided with a mushroom head and interacts with the locking plate by way of an elongated slot connection. In order to bring about the coupling position between the locking part and mating locking part, the locking part is to be displaced in that the mushroom head passes through a cross-sectionally enlarged region of a corresponding slot of varying cross-section. After passing along the mushroom head, the locking plate, which is formed as a locking part, can pass into positively locking connection by spring force. So that, in the uncoupled position, the locking plate cannot advance as the result of its spring loading, the blocking element is a spring-actuated pin which, in the uncoupled, release position, penetrates into an opening of the locking plate and fixes the same. The locking plate is easily prevented from advancing here in that the opening has a transverse niche in which, in the uncoupled, release position, the pin is positioned. In the coupled, locking position, on the other hand, the pin is forced out by a protrusion which engages in the opening. This takes place such that, upon coupling of the locking part and mating locking part, the protrusion pushes the pin out of the transverse niche of the opening and frees the locking plate for spring-loaded advancement. The pin forms a blocking web which is directed toward the locking plate and is intended for passing into the transverse niche. It is only once the blocking web and the transverse niche have been aligned, to be precise following the prior disengagement action of the locking plate, that, upon the following uncoupling action, the blocking web can pass into the transverse niche, while the protrusion releases the opening at the same time. In order that the blocking web and the transverse niche are always correctly aligned, the pin is unable to rotate. The protrusion is formed here by a rivet which is connected to a trapezoidally bent base plate. This base plate stabilizes the clamp, which is connected to the vehicle floor, in that the base plate forms a bayonet slot for the through-passage and support of a collar which is formed by the mating locking part and is spaced apart in parallel from the mushroom head. Accordingly, any loading to which the mating locking part is subjected is also transferred into the base plate, which may be connected to the vehicle floor, with the result that the forces are distributed over a greater area. Finally, it is also advantageous to provide a securing plate which is fixed by the rivet and covers the open free space of the bayonet slot of the base plate. The rivet accordingly fulfills a double function: on the one hand it forms the protrusion, and on the other hand it is used for retaining the securing plate. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With the above and other objects and other advantages in view, the present invention will become more clearly understood in connection with the detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when considered with the accompanying drawings of which 
     FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a device which is designed according to the invention and is intended for the releasable fastening of a bench seat, 
     FIG. 2 shows the section along line II—II in FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 3 shows the section along line III—III in FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 4 shows the section along line IV—IV in FIG. 1, the locking plate assuming the locking position, 
     FIG. 5 shows the section along line V—V in FIG. 1, with a view of the base plate, fastened on the floor panel, for fixing the mating locking part, 
     FIG. 6 shows an illustration like that in FIG. 1, but with the locking part displaced into the release position, the bench seat raised and, in the process, the blocking element passed into the blocking position in relation to the locking part, and 
     FIG. 7 shows an illustration corresponding to FIG. 4, but with the locking plate displaced into the release position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The device is designated as a whole by the designation  1 . For a bench seat, use is made, for example, of six such devices, to be precise three in each case on one longitudinal side of the bench seat. 
     Each device  1  has two angled elements  2  which are connected to one another, are bent in the form of a Z and form a housing  3  with their bottom region. The abutting legs  2 ′ of the angled elements  2  are screwed to a foot support  4  of the bench seat (not illustrated). The locking mechanism is located between the legs  2 ″ of the angled elements  2 , said legs being located at a greater distance  7  apart from one another. The locking mechanism comprises a locking part  5  which is guided between the legs  2 ″ and is designed as a locking plate. The locking part is guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner between the legs  2 ″, for which purpose inwardly oriented guide strips  6  extend from the legs  2 ″. The guide strips are covered by means of plastic U-rails  7 . The locking part  5 , or the locking plate, is likewise configured in the form of a U in cross section, such that the U-legs are guided on the U-rails  7 . Provided on the U-legs of the locking part  5  are outwardly oriented angled-off sections  5 ′, which grip over the U-rails  7 . 
     Located in the U-web  5 ″ is a bayonet slot  8  in the form of a keyhole. In specific terms, the bayonet slot  8  is made up of a circular section  8 ′ with a flange section  8 ″ which is directed radially with respect to the section  8 ′ and runs in the direction of displacement of the locking plate  5 . This bayonet slot  8  interacts with a mating locking part  9  which is secured to the vehicle floor. The mating locking part is provided with a mushroom head  11  which projects beyond the vehicle floor  10 . The diameter of said mushroom head is somewhat smaller than that of the circular section  8 ′ of the bayonet slot. The mushroom head  11  is adjoined by a reduced-diameter section  12 , of which the diameter is somewhat smaller than the width of the flange section  8 ″. In the locking position of the locking plate  5 , the section  12  extends within the flange section  8 ″, while the mushroom head  11  grips over that region of the locking plate  5  which is located to the sides of the flange section  8 ″, see FIG.  1 . This is the locking position of the locking plate  5 . The locking plate  5  is actuated by a compression spring  13  into this locking position. The compression spring  13  is accommodated by a cutout  14  of a filler plate  15  which grips over the locking plate  5  and fills the rest of the space, above the locking plate  5 , between the legs  2 ″. Arranged behind the cutout  14  is a stop protrusion  16 , which extends right up to the mushroom head  11  and interacts with a rear border edge  17  of the locking plate  5 . The filler plate  15  is fixedly connected to the housing  3  in a manner which is not depicted. 
     The vehicle floor  10  is profiled trapezoidally in the region of the mating locking part  9  and thus forms a channel  18  which runs in the vehicle direction and into which a trapezoidal base plate  19  is fitted. The base plate is profiled in the form of Z in the longitudinal direction such that the region  19 ′, which is located beneath the compression spring  13 , butts flush against the vehicle floor  10  and respectively against the base of the channel  18 . The region  19 ″ of the base plate  19 , said region being spaced apart in parallel from the region  19 ′, is likewise provided with a bayonet slot  20 . The latter is configured in the manner of a keyhole and has a circular section  20 ′ with a flange section  20 ″ extending radially with respect to the same. The diameter of the circular section  20 ′ is of such a magnitude that the mushroom head  11  of the mating locking part  9  can pass through the same, while the flange section  20 ″ is adapted to the diameter of the section  12 . When the base plate  19  has been fitted, the section  12  extends in the region of the flange section  20 ″. At a distance from the mushroom head  11 , and parallel thereto, the section  12  continues into a collar  21 , which projects beyond said section  12 , projects beneath the border region of the flange section  20 ″ and fills the spacing between the base of the channel  18  and the underside of the region  19 ″ of the base plate  19 . In its position in which it has been pushed into the flange section  20 ″, the mating locking part  9  is retained by securing plate  22 , which has an angled-off tongue  23  which projects into the bayonet slot  20 , above the collar  21 , and extends right up to the lateral surface of the section  12 . The securing plate  22  is wider than the bayonet slot  20  and covers the latter. A rivet  24  fixes the securing plate  22  on the base plate  19 . This makes it possible for the base plate  19 , together with the mating locking part  9 , to be coordinated, as an installation unit, to the vehicle floor  10 , to be precise by way of a screw connection. For this purpose, the mating locking part  9  continues into a screw-pin  25 , which engages through the vehicle floor  10 . The mating locking part  9  is then secured by a nut  26  which, with the interposition of a washer  27 , is braced against the vehicle floor  10 . The front region  19 ′ of the base plate  19  is likewise secured on the vehicle floor  10  by means of a screw  28  and nut  29 . Accordingly, pulling-out forces which act on the mating locking part  9  are absorbed both by the vehicle floor  10  and by the base plate  19 , which is screwed to the latter. 
     The rivet  24  continues into a cross-sectionally circular protrusion  30  which projects beyond the base plate  19  and, in the locking position of the locking plate  5 , engages in one end of a slot-like opening  31  such that the free end surface of the protrusion  30  is located approximately flush with that surface of the locking plate  5  which faces it. The opposite end of the opening  31 , in contrast, continues into a transverse niche  32 . A blocking element  33  interacts with said transverse niche and the protrusion  30 . Said blocking element is a spring-actuated pin  34  which, at its end which is directed toward the locking plate  5 , forms a blocking web  35  for through-passage into the transverse niche  32 . The pin  34  is guided in a bore  36  of the filler plate  15 . Diametrical rotation-prevention protrusions  37  extend radially from the top end of the pin  34  and are guided in radial cutouts  38  of the bore  36 . In the locking position, the blocking web  35  is supported on the protrusion  30 , see FIG.  1 . 
     The invention functions as follows: 
     In order to raise or pivot the bench seat, the locking plate  5  has to be displaced, counter to spring action, in the arrow direction x indicated in FIG.  6 . In this case, the circle section  8 ′ of the bayonet slot  8 ′ passes into alignment with the mushroom head  11 . Furthermore, along with this displacement, the transverse niche  32  has moved into alignment with the blocking web  35  of the blocking element  33 . If the bench seat is then raised or pivoted, the mushroom head  11  of the mating locking part  9  passes through the circular section  8 ′ of the bayonet slot. Furthermore, as a result of spring actuation of the blocking element  33 , the blocking web  35  penetrates into the transverse niche  32  and fixes the locking plate  5  in its release position, see FIGS. 6 and 7. 
     Upon entering the coupling position between the mating locking part  9  and locking part or locking plate  5 , the mushroom head  11  passes into the circular section  8 ′ of the bayonet slot  8 . Furthermore, the rivet protrusion  30  acts on the blocking element  33 , on the blocking web  35 , and displaces the same out of the transverse niche  32 , with the result that, once passage through the circular section  8 ′ is complete, the blocking element  33  is also disengaged from the opening  31  and respectively the transverse niche  32  thereof, whereupon the compression spring  13 , which subjects the locking plate  5  to loading, can go into action, so that the engagement between the locking plate  5  and mating locking part  9  is produced. This ensures that, when a bench seat is placed in position, the locking parts or locking plates  5  correctly assume their rear-engagement position with respect to the mating locking parts  9  associated with them. This operation can be carried out quickly. If there are a plurality of devices provided in a row, it is recommended to disengage the relevant locking plates via a hand grip which is associated with common to all of them.