INERTIAL BLOCKING UNIT, ESPECIALLY FOR ELEMENTS OF VEHICLE INTERIOR EQUIPMENT

Abstract: The invention solves the problem of ensuring unalterability of position of elements of vehicle interior equipment that influence user's safety, for example, the headrests, in case of a car accident. The inertial blocking unit according to the invention is situated near the element, which is to be blocked, and it consists of the inertial element (5) placed in a seat (7) and it also is mounted on the axis (8) in the rotational way and of appropriately formed walls (6) of the seat (7). The inertial element (5) is in a form of a flat profile resembling a circular sector and the working surfaces (9) are situated on the periphery. The working surfaces (9) of the inertial element (5), the walls (6) of the seat (7) and the surfaces connected with the axis (8) fulfil the wedging condition. In the second version, wedging of the inertial element (5) takes place directly on the blocked element-the spring (3").

Description: Inertial blocking unit, especially for elements of vehicle inteπor equipment The object of the invention is the inertial blocking unit that can be used m the elements of vehicle interior equipment such as a headrest, and that is to prevent changing the position of e g headrest in case of car accident There is an inertial blocking unit known from e g Polish application description no P- 334432, which is an inertial element situated in a shdeable way in the appropriately formed seat in the direct neighbourhood of the element that is to be blocked in case of a car accident The inertial element is in a form of flat oblong element with its bases built of parallel planes and its working surfaces are in a shape adjusted to the surface of the side wall of the seat and the element to be blocked that are mating with them and moreover, the wedging condition must be fulfilled, 1 e , the angle between at least two tangents to the mating surfaces in their contact points lying on the opposite sides of the inertial element is smaller than the mmimal friction angle for a pair of mating surfaces of a bigger friction angle The inertial element is maintained in the passive position with the established force by a catch that is connected with a seat and is mating with the relevant recess on one of the flat bases Furthermore, also Polish application description no P-334435 informs about an inertial blocking unit used for a tiltable car seat headrest, which contains an inertial element assigned to the mechanism of changing headrest inclination, where the inertial element relocates with a plane motion from the rest position to the blocking position The relocation of the inertial element from rest position to the blocking position m both mentioned examples is implemented under the influence of inertial force affecting that element after exceeding the established acceleration in the frontward or backward direction The purpose of the invention is to prepare a reliable inertial blocking unit that does not pose any technical problems The essential idea of the invention is the construction of the inertial blocking set with the inertial element in a form of a flat element close to a circular sector and situated near the element that is to be blocked in the established position in the seat on the axis with a possibility of implementing rotary motion around that axis The working surfaces of the inertial element are situated on the perimeter of the circular sector and they are matmg with appropriately formed fragment of the seat or in the second version - directly with the blocked element, in both cases fulfilling the wedging condition The working surfaces are separated with the area corresponding with the rest position of the inertial element The unit of the inertial blocking according to the invention can be used for immobilising various elements of car equipment in the established position in case of an accident It can be placed in the guiding sleeve of a headrest bracket having recesses A spring inserted in that sleeve is mating with those recesses In that case, relocation of the inertial element from the passive position to the active one - the blocking position prevents the uncontrolled release of the spring from a recess on the bracket Similarly, the blocking unit can be used for blocking the angular position of the tiltable headrest The object of the invention has been more precisely described in the example products in the drawing, where Fig 1 shows the section of a flange of the bracket guidmg sleeve of the headrest, Fig 2 - vertical section of the tiltable headrest created by a plane crossing the longitudinal axes of the brackets, Fig 3 - A-A section of the headrest of Fig 2, and Fig 4 presents B-B section of the headrest of Fig 2 The inertial blocking unit is situated in the flange 1 of the guiding sleeve near the bracket 2 having a number of recesses corresponding to different positioning of headrest height The spring 3 that adjust headrest height stepwise is placed in the recess The inertial blocking unit, situated near the spring 3_. consists of the inertial element 5 and appropriately formed walls 6 of the seat 7 in the flange 1 of the sleeve The inertial element 5 is situated in a way that enables rotary motion on the axis 8 The inertial element 5 is in a form of flat profile close to a circular sector, and the working surfaces 9 are located on the periphery and are separated with the area J_0. of a smaller distance to the axis of rotation 8, which corresponds with the passive position of the inertial element 5 The working surfaces 9 of the inertial element 5 and the walls 6 of the seat 7, which are matmg with them, together with the surface connected with the axis 8, fulfil the wedging condition The inertial element 5 is maintained in the passive position with the established force by the catch if, connected with the seat 7, which is mating with the proper recess produced on the inertial element 5 The sleeve with an inertial blocking unit functions as follows In order to change the height of headrest position and slid the spring 3 out of the recess in the bracket 2. the headrest cushion is relocated into the desired position At the same time the inertial element 5 is maintained in the rest position by the catch ϋ, and the area JO is placed opposite to the spring 3 without touching it In case of car accident, when the acceleration exceeds the established value, the inertial element 5 is released from the catch ϋ and it performs a rotary motion around the axis 8 and one of its working surfaces 9 approaches the appropriate wall 6 of the seat 7 and it wedges itself between the wall 6 and the surface connected with the axis 8. Simultaneously, the other working surface 9 approaches the spring 3 and decreases the clearance between the spring 3 and the bracket 2 ^ In this position the spring 3 is blocked and it prevents any changes of headrest position, which protects man's head in a car accident. The second version of the solution of the inertial blocking unit in the tiltable headrest example is presented by the figures 2 - 4 in the drawing. The headrest brackets 2 are permanently mounted on the car seat and at least one of the brackets has the positioning recesses. Inside the headrest cushion there is a slideable framework J_2 and the rotary framework 13. The system of headrest height adjustment is connected with the slideable framework 12, and the system of headrest angular setting is connected with the slideable framework 12 and the rotary framework T3. The slideable framework 12 includes slideways of the brackets 2 and springs 3 connected with them, which enter the recesses of the brackets 2. Near at least one spring 3_1 there is the inertial blocking unit consisting of a part of spring 3_1 and inertial element 5_1 situated in a way that enables rotary motion on the axis 81, which is maintained in the passive position with the established force by the catch HI connected with the slideable framework 1 1 mating with the appropriate recess on the inertial element 5_\ The inertial element 51 is in a form of a flat profile close to a circular sector, and the working surfaces 9_1 are placed on the periphery and they are separated with the area 10_1 of a smaller distance to the axis of rotation 81, which corresponds with the passive position of the inertial element 5\ The working surfaces 9_1 of the inertial element 51 and the part of the spring 31 that is mating with them fulfil the wedging condition. The system of the cushion angular adjustment contains a toothed setting element 14, which is connected with the rotary framework 13. The positioning spring 15 mounted in the slideable framework _12 is mating with the notches of the toothed setting segment 14. Near the toothed setting segment M there is the inertial element 5H. It is situated on the horizontal axis 8" in a way that enables rotary motion and it is maintained in the passive position with the established force by the catch 1 1 ". The inertial element 5_H is in a form close to a flat circular sector and its working surfaces 9_H are separated by the area of passive position 10". The working surfaces 9_H are mating with the positioning spring 15, when they are in the active position. The inertial blocking units function as follows. In order to change the height of the headrest position, the headrest cushion is relocated into the desired position and its remains in that position when the spring 31 enters the notch of the bracket 2. At the same time the inertial element 5_1 is hold in the rest position by the catch HI and the area 101 is placed opposite to the spring 3 without touching it. In case of exceeding the established limiting acceleration, the catch HI releases the inertial element 51, which rotates around the axis 81 and one of its working surfaces 91 contacts the spring 31 situated in the notch of the bracket 2 and at the fulfilled wedging condition, it blocks itself between the spring 31 and the surface connected with the axis 81, then it presses the spring 31 to the notch and prevents leaving it. In case of exceeding the established acceleration, also in the system of angular setting, the catch 1 1 " releases the inertial element 5"_, which rotates in relation to the axis 811 and one of its working surfaces 9_H contacts the positioning spring 15 and at the fulfilled wedging condition, it prevents the positioning spring 15 from leaving the notch of the setting segment 14. The examples described above do not present all possible applications of inertial blocking units according to the invention.

Claims: Claims The inertial blocking unit, especially for the elements of vehicle interior equipment, which includes the inertial element of appropriately formed working surfaces that, together with the mating surfaces, fulfil the wedging condition, the element is moveably situated in the seat near the element that is to be blocked after occurrence of acceleration directed frontward or backward that exceeds the established value, maintained in the passive position with the established force by the catch mating with the suitable recess on the inertial element, characterised by the fact that the inertial element (5) is in a form of a flat element close to a circular sector and it is situated on the axis (8) in a way that enables its rotary motion, and the working surfaces (9) are placed on the arched part of the circular sector and they are separated by the area of the passive position (10) of a smaller distance from the axis (8) than the working surfaces (9), moreover, near each of the working surfaces (9) of the inertial element (5) there is a seat (7) provided with the walls (6) of the parameters that, together with the surface connected with the axis (8) ensure fulfilment of the wedging condition. The inertial blocking unit, especially for the elements of vehicle interior equipment, which includes the inertial element of appropriately formed working surfaces that, together with the mating surfaces, fulfil the wedging condition, the element is moveably situated near the element that is to be blocked after occurrence of acceleration directed frontward or backward that exceeds the established value, maintained in the passive position with the established force by the catch mating with the suitable recess on the inertial element, characterised by the fact that the inertial element (5', 5") is in a form of a flat element close to a circular sector and it is situated on the axis (8'. 8") in a way that enables its rotary motion, and the working surfaces (9', 9") are placed on the arched part of the circular sector and they are separated by the area of the passive position (10', 10") of a smaller distance from the axis (8\ 8") than the working surfaces (9 9"). moreover, as a surface mating with the working surfaces (9'. 9") of the inertial element (5', 5") that, together with the surface connected with the axis (8', 8") fulfil the wedging condition, it has a part of the blocked elastic element (3', 15).

Inventors: DE FILIPPO EMILIO, DE FILIPPO, EMILIO
Applicants: GESTIND POLAND SP Z O O, GESTIND POLAND SP. Z O.O.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B60N2
IPC codes: B60N2