Abstract:
An unlocking lever having a holder for a traction element of a seat adjuster of a vehicle seat. The unlocking lever has a first lever which can be rotated about a first rotational axis and a second lever which can be rotated about a second rotational axis. The first and the second levers are interconnected by means of the second rotational axis in an articulated manner, and the holder for the traction element is arranged between both rotational axis on the second lever.

Description:
[0001]    This nonprovisional application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2015/059642, which was filed on May 4, 2015, and which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2014 208 342.7, which was filed in Germany on May 5, 2014, and which are both herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an unlocking lever for a seat adjuster of a vehicle seat, and a vehicle seat. 
         [0004]    Description of the Background Art 
         [0005]    Unlocking levers are typically provided for actuating seat adjusters of vehicle seats, for example of motor vehicles such as passenger cars, trucks, or buses, or even other vehicles such as aircraft, ships, or trains. Along with the technical design, in particular of the force transmission between the unlocking lever and the unlocking mechanism, operating ergonomics are a primary concern. 
         [0006]    DE 10 2005 003 817 A1 describes a motor vehicle seat with a fold-down backrest that can be folded down by means of an operating lever supported so as to pivot about a rotational axis and transmission through a Bowden cable. 
         [0007]    DE 101 42 833 A1 describes a drive for adjusting devices on vehicle seats wherein an actuating lever supported so as to pivot in a rotational axis is designed as an armrest on the tunnel side. 
         [0008]    DE 20 2008 009 745 U1 describes an actuating device for unlocking a seat backrest with a lever-like actuating element that acts on the unlocking mechanism through a Bowden cable. 
         [0009]    The prior art solutions are not always intuitive to operate, since the pulling or movement of the actuating lever is opposite the adjustment motion of the vehicle seat for one direction of adjustment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is therefore an object of the invention to improve the seat adjustment of a vehicle seat. 
         [0011]    The unlocking lever according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a holder for a tension member of a seat adjustor of a vehicle seat that makes provision that the unlocking lever has a first lever that is rotatable about a first swivel pin and a second lever that is rotatable about a second swivel pin, wherein the first and second levers are joined in an articulated manner by means of the second swivel pin, and that the holder for the tension member is located on the second lever between the two swivel pins. 
         [0012]    The unlocking lever according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention has the advantage that the unlocking lever can be actuated in two directions of actuation thanks to the two swivel pins or tilt axes and the two levers. These two directions can correspond to the direction of travel of the vehicle in which the seat is located. With respect to a pivot axis of the seat adjuster, the two directions can correspond to a raising direction of the seat or a seat part and a returning direction of the seat or a seat part. The user can now choose between the two levers, and thus the two directions of actuation, and intuitively choose the direction of actuation that is best for him. This improves convenience and minimizes the possibility of incorrect operation. The invention thus makes possible a seat adjuster with which the seat or a seat part can be adjusted in parallel with, which is to say in the same direction as, the unlocking lever. In concrete terms, a seat can be moved in the direction of travel by a lever motion in the direction of travel, and can be moved opposite the direction of travel by a lever motion opposite the direction of travel, which permits a very smooth motion. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment of the invention, provision is made that the first lever has a recess for the tension member. This permits a centered arrangement of the tension member, which improves not only the sequence of motion, but also the visual appearance. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment of the invention, provision is made that the recess is designed to accommodate the holder for the tension member. As a result, the second lever can be kept flat, thus saving material and weight, and also improving the visual appearance. 
         [0015]    The holder can be located on a side of the second lever facing the first lever. This improves the leverage ratios and the visual appearance, since the holder is formed on the side facing away from the operator. 
         [0016]    The lengths of the two levers can be approximately equal. This creates a uniform appearance and offers approximately the same required operating force to actuate the lever in each direction on account of equal or at least similar leverage ratios. Alternatively, the forces can be optimized depending on the situation. Thus, a lever used for raising the seat can be shorter than the other lever, which then preferably is used for returning the seat. This has the effect that actuating the lever for replacing is easier than for raising. This provides the adaptation that the action of raising, which tends to be performed from outside and thus with more force, and the action of replacing, which tends to be performed from inside and with less force, now demand approximately the same force from the operator. In this way, the levers or the leverage ratios can be adapted to different situations. 
         [0017]    A recessed grip for actuating the second lever can be provided between the first and the second levers. For this purpose, one or both of the levers are shaped accordingly, which improves operating convenience without detriment to a quality appearance. 
         [0018]    The two swivel pins can be parallel. This optimizes the sequences of motion and offers improved operating convenience since the pivoting motions of the two levers take place in the same orientation. The swivel pins can be parallel to an axis of pivoting or axis of motion of the seat adjuster, which permits intuitive operation. 
         [0019]    The vehicle seat according to the invention having a seat adjuster that can be operated with a tension member can include an unlocking lever for the seat adjuster as described above. The same advantages and modifications apply as described above. 
         [0020]    In an embodiment of the invention, provision is made that the seat adjustor pivots the entire motor vehicle seat. This comprehensive seat adjustment, and the one that is most difficult to actuate, is ideally suited for simplified unlocking according to the invention. Of course, it is also possible to pivot or incline only a backrest or a part thereof. 
         [0021]    In an embodiment of the invention, provision is made that a recess is designed to accommodate the holder for the tension member. As a result, the first and/or the second lever can be kept flat, thus saving material and weight, and also improving the visual appearance. 
         [0022]    Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes, combinations, and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows an unlocking lever in an unactuated position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows the unlocking lever in a first unlocking position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows the unlocking lever in a second unlocking position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows a vehicle seat being raised; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  shows a vehicle seat being returned. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]      FIG. 1  shows an unlocking lever  10  for a seat adjuster, not shown here, of a vehicle seat. The seat adjuster can pivot the entire vehicle seat as a so-called easy entry function. This typically takes place as a raising in the direction of travel and a returning of the seat opposite the vehicle&#39;s direction of travel. It is also possible to adjust individual elements of the seat, such as, e.g., the backrest or a part of the backrest, with the unlocking lever  10 . 
         [0030]    The unlocking lever  10  is arranged on a base part that can, for example, be part of a housing cover or seat cover. The unlocking lever  10  includes a first lever  14 , which is attached to the base part  12  such that it can rotate about a first swivel pin  16 . The first swivel pin  16  is parallel here to a pivot axis of the seat adjuster. In this example here, these two swivel pins are perpendicular to the vehicle&#39;s direction of travel. The first swivel pin  16  is located in the region of a first end or at a first end  18  of the first lever  14 . With respect to the direction of travel, the first end  18  is located to the rear, so that the first lever  14  can be pivoted in a direction of actuation opposite the direction of travel. 
         [0031]    Opposite the first end  18 , the first lever  14  has a second end  20 . Here, opposite means in a radial direction to the first swivel pin  16 . A recessed grip  22  for actuating the first lever  14  is formed between a side of the first lever  14  facing the base part  12 , here a bottom side, and a formation of the base part  12 . A user can reach into the recessed grip  22 , grasp beneath the second end  20  of the first lever  14 , and pivot the same about the first swivel pin  16  in a raising motion. 
         [0032]    A recess  24  is formed on the second end  20  of the first lever  14  on a side facing away from the base part  12 , here a top side. Located in the recess  24  is a second swivel pin  26 . The second swivel pin  26  is parallel to the first swivel pin  16 . Here, the second swivel pin  26  is rigidly attached in the recess  24 . Alternatively, the second swivel pin  26  can be supported such that it can rotate. 
         [0033]    In a center region  28  of the first lever  14  located between the first end  18  and the second end  20 , or between the first swivel pin  16  and the second swivel pin  26 , this lever rests on a seat  30  of the base part  12 . The seat  30  serves as a stop for the first lever  14  so that the lever can only be raised opposite the direction of travel from the home position or neutral position shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0034]    Arranged on the second swivel pin  26  such that it is rotatable about the same is a second lever  32 . The second lever  32  rests on the first lever  14  in such a manner that a first end  34  of the second lever  32  is located above the first end  18  of the first lever  14 . A second end  36  of the second lever  32  is located in the region of the second swivel pin  26 . A center region  38  of the second lever  32  is located between the first end  34  and the second end  36  of the second lever  32 , or between the first swivel pin  16  and the second swivel pin  26 . 
         [0035]    Located between the first end  18  of the first lever  14  and the first end  34  of the second lever  32  is a recessed grip  40 . The user can reach into this recessed grip  40  and thus lift or raise the second lever  32 . The direction of actuation of the second lever  32  here is in the same direction as the vehicle&#39;s direction of travel. The second lever  32  can also be actuated without a recessed grip  40 , but the grip facilitates the motion or the gripping of the second lever  32 . Here, the first lever  14  is shaped to be tapered or angled at its first end  18  in order to thus form the recessed grip  40 . 
         [0036]    It is evident that the two levers  14  and  32  can be actuated in opposing directions. Using the two levers  14  and  32 , it is possible to actuate a tension member  42  of the seat adjuster. The tension member  42  can be, for example, a connecting rod that is connected to a Bowden cable of the seat adjuster, or the tension member  42  can be the Bowden cable itself. The attachment and actuation of the tension member  42  is explained in detail in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0037]    The raising of a vehicle seat  44  will now be described using  FIGS. 2 and 4 . The second lever  32  is actuated for this purpose. A holder  48  for the tension member  42  is located on a side of the second lever  32  facing the first lever  14 , here a bottom side  46 . The holder  48  is located in the center region  38  of the second lever  32 , which is to say between the first swivel pin  16  and the second swivel pin  26 . Moreover, the holder  48  is located approximately in the center of the second lever  32  in an axial direction of the swivel pins  16  and  26 . Alternatively, the holder  48  can also be located laterally on the second lever  32 . 
         [0038]    Formed in the first lever  14  is a recess  50 , for example an opening or a through hole. The recess  50  corresponds to the holder  48  and permits passage of the tension member  42  and/or accommodation of the holder  48 . Consequently, the tension member  42  can be moved independently of the first lever  14  with an actuation of the second lever  32 . 
         [0039]    If the second lever  32  is now raised in the direction of travel in the manner shown, the tension member  42  is pulled, resulting in activation of the seat adjuster. As is shown in  FIG. 4 , the seat is now raised to provide an entry function. In this process, the seat  44  is moved in the direction of travel, as well. The direction of actuation of the second lever  32  is thus the same as the direction of adjustment of the seat  44 , permitting intuitive operation. 
         [0040]    The lengths of the two levers  14  and  32  are identical or at least approximately identical, permitting balanced leverage ratios. The length can be understood here to mean the distance from the applicable first end to the applicable second end, or the distance from the applicable swivel pin that holds the lever to the opposite end. 
         [0041]    The unlocking lever  10  is located in a lower side region of the vehicle seat  44 , as shown. Alternatively, it is also possible to locate the unlocking lever  10  further up in the region of the backrest. 
         [0042]    The return of the seat from the entry function back to the seat function will now be described using  FIGS. 3 and 5 . For returning the seat  44 , the first lever  14  is now actuated, as shown, in a direction opposite the direction of travel. In this process, the first lever  14  carries the second lever  32  with it. Because the holder  48  for the tension member  42  is located on the second lever  32 , raising the first lever  14  also actuates the tension member  42  and hence the seat adjuster. As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the holder  48  also extends through the recess  50  of the first lever  14 . Accordingly, another corresponding recess  52 , through which the tension member passes and/or that accommodates the holder  48 , is formed in the base part  12  so that the two levers  14  and  32  can be made relatively thin and can rest snugly one upon the other. 
         [0043]    To return the seat, the unlocking lever  10 , here specifically the first lever  14 , is moved opposite the direction of travel. As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , this matches the direction of adjustment of the vehicle seat  44 , which is likewise replaced opposite the direction of travel. Consequently, intuitive operation is also possible for returning. 
         [0044]    Due to the division of the unlocking lever  10  into the first lever  14  and the second lever  32 , the direction of actuation of the unlocking lever  10  can match the direction of adjustment of the vehicle seat  44  in each case, permitting intuitive operation. In addition, the user has the option to freely choose the direction of actuation of the unlocking lever  10 , since both levers  14  and  32  move the tension member  42  in the same direction and by at least approximately the same amount. Thus, the user can also accomplish the raising of the vehicle seat, which is shown in  FIG. 4 , by actuating the first lever  14 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Similarly, return of the seat  44 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , can also be accomplished by actuating the second lever  32 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In this way, the unlocking lever  10  permits completely flexible operation of the seat adjuster of the vehicle seat  44 . 
         [0045]    The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.