Abstract:
In the case of a vehicle-seat subassembly, in particular in the case of a motor-vehicle seat adjuster, having a first component ( 11 ) which defines an axial direction, and a second component ( 20 ) which is fixed in the axial direction at a certain point of the first component ( 11 ), the two components ( 11, 20 ) being subject to tension or compression in the axial direction during use of the vehicle-seat subassembly, the two components ( 11, 20 ) are connected to each other by displacement of material ( 17′ ) of at least one component ( 11 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to connecting components of a vehicle-seat subassembly and, more particularly, to connecting components of a motor-vehicle seat adjuster.  
           [0002]    In the case of a known vehicle-seat subassembly, which is used as a longitudinal adjuster for a motor-vehicle seat, a claw-shaped locking element is provided for locking the seat rails. The locking element is fixed on a bolt. At a certain point, a securing ring is pushed onto the bolt. The securing ring is guided along the bolt in the axial direction of the bolt. The securing ring is used to introduce the closing force, which is produced by a compression spring, into the bolt and therefore into the locking element. Exact positioning of the securing ring is desirable so as not to cause either an excessively high minimum stroke, against which unlocking is impossible in an extreme case, or an excessively small closing force, which results in play, which produces rattling noises. However, the exact positioning is labor-consuming and therefore costintensive.  
           [0003]    There is also the risk of the two components, i.e., the securing ring and the bolt, being displaced relative to each other after installation, for example during transportation. An increase in the radially acting force which fixes the securing ring in order to avoid this risk would lead to difficulties during installation.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    One aspect of the present invention is the provision of an improved vehicle-seat subassembly that includes first and second components, with displaced material of at least one of the first and second components connecting the first and second components to each other so that the second component is fixed in the axial direction of the first component at a predetermined point of the first component. In accordance with this aspect, the connected-together first and second components are subject to tension or compression in the axial direction during use of the vehicle-seat subassembly.  
           [0005]    Because the two components are connected to each other by displacement of material of at least one component, exact positioning at a certain, defined point of the first component, which is of elongate design, is achieved, which point can be highly loaded and is also simple to fit. Relative displacements are prevented. The resistance to forces acting on one side is increased. The dimensions required for use are kept exact. Relative rotation is preferably also prevented. The connection of the two components is preferably interlocking on both sides in the axial direction, in order to keep the exact dimensions irrespective of the loading direction.  
           [0006]    The two components are preferably connected by riveting, for example by annular riveting, center-punch riveting or wobble riveting. As a preferred support, a shoulder which is effective in the axial direction is formed in an end section of the first component. The second component, which is designed as a disk or saucer, bears against the shoulder and is riveted on the side facing away from the shoulder. A symmetrical design of the disk prevents installation errors due to mirror-inverted assembly. The material displaced during the riveting process preferably comes from the end section, for example from an annular wall, a section of material which has been cut out, or from another region of the end section. The displaced material, which grips behind the second component, is preferably pressed into a bevel or other pocket of the second component in order to leave the external dimensions of the interconnected components unchanged, in particular in order not to enlarge the axial length of the subassembly by means of a rivet head. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to two exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the drawings, in which:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 shows a view of a bolt according to the first exemplary embodiment before the riveting process,  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 shows a section through the bolt of FIG. 1 after the riveting process,  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 shows a partially cut-away view of a bolt according to the second exemplary embodiment before the riveting process,  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 shows a section through the first exemplary embodiment in the region of the bolt, and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 shows a modification of the first exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.  
         [0014]    In the exemplary embodiments, a vehicle-seat subassembly  1  is designed as a longitudinal adjuster for a motor-vehicle seat. The vehicle-seat subassembly  1  has an inner lower rail  3 , which is fixed on the vehicle structure, and an outer upper rail  4  which is fixed on the seat structure and is guided in a sliding manner on the lower rail  3 . A claw  6 , which is arranged moveably transversely to the rails  3  and  4 , is provided for locking the rails  3  and  4 . The claw  6 , in the locked state, penetrates with a plurality of fingers the walls of both rails  3  and  4 , which walls are provided with corresponding openings or cutouts.  
         [0015]    For guidance and application of force, the claw  6  is fastened on a bolt  11 . The bolt  11 , which can be characterized as a first component, is guided in the axial direction in the upper rail  4  (e.g., the bolt  11  extends through an opening in the upper rail  4  so that the bolt can be moved in the axial direction of the bolt relative to the rails). At the end of the bolt  11  facing away from the claw  6 , outside the upper rail  4 , a disk  20 , which can be characterized as a second component, is provided in a manner described below. A prestressed compression spring  12 , which is arranged between the outside of the upper rail  4  and the disk  20 , subjects the claw to a closing tensile force via the bolt  11 . In order to unlock the claw  6 , the claw  6  is pushed back via the bolt  11 , which is to be moved in the axial direction, until it releases both rails  3  and  4 .  
         [0016]    In the first exemplary embodiment, the bolt  11  has a cylindrical basic shape over the majority of its length, which shape defines the directional details which are used. A flange  13  projecting in the radial direction is integrally formed on one axial end of the bolt  11 . In the region of its other axial end, the bolt  11  has a step. The step includes an annular shoulder  15  which extends in the radial direction. The step defines a cylindrical end section  17 .  
         [0017]    The annular disk  20  has a respective bevel  22  of 45° in the transition region between its opening situated on the inside and the end sides. The diameter of the disk  20  is greater than the diameter of the bolt  11 , for example is as large as the diameter of the flange  13 .  
         [0018]    The disk  20  is pushed onto the end section  17  of the bolt  11  and is brought to bear against the shoulder  15 . By means of annular riveting, the material is cut into annularly on the end side of the end section  17  and the region situated further to the outside is displaced outward so that a section  17 ′ of material grips in an interlocking manner behind the disk  20 , with the result that the disk is fixed in the axial direction. The gripping-behind action takes place in the region of the bevel  22  which is arranged further outward axially, with the result that material does not protrude in the axial direction over the end side of the end section  17  and of the disk  20 . The shoulder  15  therefore defines, on the bolt  11  as a first component, a certain point at which the disk  20 , as a second component, is fixed in the axial direction.  
         [0019]    In a modification, illustrated in FIG. 5, of the first exemplary embodiment, instead of the disk  20  (e.g., second component) a saucer  20 ′, the edge of which is drawn in the direction of the flange  13 , is provided. The compression spring  13  is then seated with a number of coils within the saucer  20 ′, which brings about more favorable behavior during compression. Otherwise, the modification corresponds to the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0020]    The second exemplary embodiment largely corresponds with the first exemplary embodiment and so elements which are identical and act in an identical manner bear reference numbers which are higher by  100 .  
         [0021]    Apart from the flange  113 , the shoulder  115  and the end section  117 , the bolt  111  also has a conical center socket  119 . The center socket  119  is formed centrally in the end-side end section  117  and tapers into the interior of the bolt  111 .  
         [0022]    The disk  120  having the bevels  122  is placed on the bolt  111  in the same manner as described for the first embodiment. By means of center-punch riveting, the material of the end section  117 , which forms the wall of the center socket  119 , is at least partially displaced outward where it grips in an interlocking manner behind the disk  120 , in the region of the corresponding bevel  122 , and fixes the disk in the axial direction.  
         [0023]    Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.