Abstract:
In an adjuster ( 101 ) for a vehicle seat, particularly an automobile seat, having a first adjuster part ( 105 ) and a second adjuster part ( 108 ) which are pivotable relative to one another, thus allowing the vehicle seat to pivot between at least one use position and one non-use position, a pawl ( 115 ) pivotably borne on the first adjuster part ( 105 ) interacts with at least one single locking element ( 118, 132 ) of the second adjuster part ( 108 ) to lock the adjuster ( 101 ), wherein the pawl ( 115 ) locks the adjuster ( 101 ) in the use position as well as in the non-use position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP02/12926, which was filed Nov. 19, 2002, and is entirely incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention pertains to an adjuster for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, having a first adjuster part and a second adjuster part which are pivotable relative to one another and by way of which the vehicle seat can be pivoted between at least one use position and at least one non-use position. 
   In a known adjuster of this type, used for adjusting the height or passing into a level floor position, the use position and non-use position are secured by locking devices. In practice, desires remain, for example with respect to the number of components and therefore production costs. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is based on the object of improving an adjuster, such as an adjuster of the type mentioned above. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an adjuster for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, has a first adjuster part and a second adjuster part which are pivotable relative to one another and by way of which at least part of the vehicle seat can be pivoted between at least one use position and at least one non-use position, wherein a pawl pivotably borne on the first adjuster part interacts with at least one single locking element of the second adjuster part to lock the adjuster, and the pawl locks the adjuster both in the use position and in the non-use position. 
   By virtue of the fact that a pawl is pivotably borne on the first adjuster part and interacts with at least one single locking element of the second adjuster part, in order to lock the adjuster, a simple locking device is provided. By virtue of the fact that the pawl locks the adjuster both in the use and non-use position, one single locking device can be used for the adjuster. In this way, the number of components and, consequently, the production costs, are reduced. These advantages become even clearer when the pawl falls into the same locking position both in the use position and the non-use position, and is preferably also secured by the same securing elements and/or unlocked by the same activation element, this feature also simplifying and improving operation. 
   The terms “use position” and “non-use position” refer to the possibility of a user sitting down on the seat. This does not exclude the option of placing a load on the forward pivoted backrest of the vehicle seat in the non-use position. The adjuster can be used in all vehicle seats that are pivotable in their entirety or whose backrests can be pivoted into specific positions, e.g. the entire vehicle seat into a level floor position or package position, or the backrest into a forward pivoted table position, a backward inclined or level pivoted lying position or a forward pivoted, swung-free position. There can also be multiple adjusters according to the invention in the vehicle seat, serving different purposes. 
   Preferably, there are a corresponding number of locking elements for the different possible positions of the vehicle seat, such as bolts, each interacting with the same pawl, the latter preferably having one or several mouths depending on the arrangement and geometry of the components. The mouths then clutch at least one of the locking elements. Preferably, the mouths, with reference to the pivoting movement of the pawl, are open in the same direction. The mouths are preferably arranged on different sides of the pawl so as to simplify the movements of the components. The mouths can also be replaced by hooks, tongues, or similar elements. The locking elements have been conceived as single elements and not as separate parts of a long-stretched toothed element or similar element. Preferably, the locking elements can move the pawl into its locking position, this feature reducing the number of mutual spring loads and thus simplifying production. 
   Securing elements can be installed for securing the locking position of the pawl and for compensating for tolerances, the same securing elements being preferably active in all locking positions of the pawl, i.e. independent of the position of the vehicle seat and therefore for all locking options of the adjuster. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is explained in greater detail below by way of two exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the first exemplary embodiment in a use position of the vehicle seat, with the vehicle seat partially illustrated by broken lines, 
       FIG. 2  is an illustration analogous to  FIG. 1  in a non-use position of the vehicle seat, 
       FIG. 3  is a partially sectional, partial view of the first exemplary embodiment analogous to FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a partially sectional, partial view of the first exemplary embodiment analogous to FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the second exemplary embodiment in a use position of the vehicle seat, and 
       FIG. 6  is an illustration analogous to  FIG. 5  in a non-use position in which the backrest is in a table position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In the first exemplary embodiment, an adjuster  101  is provided as a seat support of a vehicle seat  103  in a rear seat row of a motor vehicle, for example a van. The adjuster  101  has, with respect to the direction of travel, on each side of the vehicle seat  103 , a foot area  104  connected with the vehicle frame, and a front leg  105  pivotably mounted in the front of the foot area  104 , as a first adjuster part. The adjuster  101  further includes, with respect to the direction of travel, on each side of the vehicle seat  103 , a rear leg  106  pivotably mounted in the rear of the foot area  104 , a link  107 , pivotably mounted with its rear end on the rear leg  106 , and an adaption part  108  fixedly attached to the front end of the link  107  and pointing downward, as a second adjuster part which is pivotably mounted on the front leg  105  by way of an adjuster bolt  110 . The two links  107  are connected with one another to form a seat frame bearing the seat pan receiving the seat upholstery. 
   The vehicle seat  103  can be switched between a use position, suitable for a user sitting in the vehicle seat and mainly characterized by upright legs  105  and  106 , and a flat floor position as the non-use position and characterized by a maximum approach of the link  107  to the foot area  104 . 
   A cover sheet  112  fixedly connected to the front leg  105  is arranged between the adaption part  108  and the front leg  105  in such a way as to form an at least partially closed mounting space. A pawl  115  is pivotably borne on a bearing bolt of the front leg  105  that is parallel to an adjuster bolt  110 , and shall hereinafter be called pawl bearing bolt  113 , and is arranged obliquely behind and below the latter in the use position. In the use position of the vehicle seat  103 , the pawl  115  clutches from above, with its first hooked mouth  117 , a first locking bolt  118  that protrudes parallel to the adjuster bolt  110  from the lower end of the adaption part  108 , reaches through a mouth-shaped cut-out in the cover sheet  112  and the front leg  105  and is arranged below the adjuster bolt  110  when in use position. 
   A clamping cam  123  and a catching element  125  are pivotably borne on the adjuster bolt  110  between the front leg  105  and the cover sheet  112 . In the use position of the vehicle seat  103 , the clamping cam  123  being spring loaded against the pawl  115  secures the pawl  115  in the described locking position. The catching element  125  is pretensioned towards the pawl  115  by way of an active pull spring  126 . The catching element  125  is normally arranged at a slight distance from the pawl  115 . The catching element  125  supports the pawl  115  in the event of a crash so as to keep the pawl from opening. A Bowden cable  127  is attached to a carry-along bolt  129  of the catching element  125  as an activation element. The carry-along bolt  129  also serves to attach the pull spring  126 . When unlocking, once a certain pivoting angle of the catching element  125  is exceeded, the catching element  125  carries the clamping cam  123  along by way of a finger or a protruding area of the latter, thus releasing the pawl  115 . 
   On the side which, when the pawl  15  is opened, moves ahead, i.e. on the side facing away from the first hooked mouth  117 , the pawl  115  has a second hooked mouth  131 . The adaption part  108  has a second locking bolt  132  protruding through a slide-shaped cut-out in the cover sheet  112 , in the area which is located behind the adjuster bolt  110  in the direction of travel. 
   To switch from the use position to the floor position, the catching element  125  and the clamping cam  123  in both fittings  101  are pivoted back by means of the Bowden cables  127 , and the pawl  115  is pivoted clockwise with reference to the figure. Thus the pawl  115  releases the first locking bolt  118 . 
   The adjuster  101  conceived as a quadruple joint can now be flatly pivoted, with the front leg  105  pivoting forward counter-clockwise with reference to the figure, and the first locking bolt  118  of the adaption part  108  thus moving away from the pawl  115 , and the pawl  115  approaches the second locking bolt  132  at the same time. In an intermediate position that is not illustrated in the figures, the second locking bolt  132  comes to bear against the pawl  115 , presses it, during another pivoting movement of the adjuster  101 , in the direction of its original, locking position, in a counter-clockwise direction with reference to the figure. The second locking bolt  132  eventually moves into the second hooked mouth  131 , thereby locking the adjuster  101  again. 
   A shown in  FIG. 4 , the pawl  115 , in the non-use position of the vehicle seat  103 , takes a locking position again, identical, with reference to the front leg  105 , to the locking position represented in  FIG. 3  for the use position, the pawl thus having identical functions. In particular, the pawl  115  is secured again by means of the clamping cam  123  and the catching element  125  as securing elements. The geometry chosen, i.e. the dimensions and radii of the second hooked mouth  131  and the distances to the pivoting axles, ensure that the pawl  115  is not opened, in the pivoted position, by a momentum of the securing elements. 
   The return to the use position is initiated again by activating the Bowden cables  127  which unlock the adjuster  101  in the manner described above. When pivoting the adjuster  101  from the position in  FIG. 4  to the position in  FIG. 3 , first the pawl  115 , released from the safety elements  123  and  125 , is opened via the second locking bolt  132 , and then the second locking bolt  132  is released from the pawl  115 . As soon as the first locking bolt  118  comes to bear against a protruding rim area of the first mouth  117 , it presses the pawl  115  in a counter-clockwise direction with reference to the figure, so that the pawl, once the use position has been restored, resumes its locking position again in which the first hooked mouth  117  clutches the locking bolt  118 , and in which the pawl  115  is secured by the securing elements  123  and  125 . 
   The second exemplary embodiment is mostly similar to the first exemplary embodiment, for which reason the reference signs for identical components or components having similar functions differ by  100 . The adjuster  201  is conceived as a table-folding fitting of a backrest  202  of a vehicle seat  203  on both sides of the same. A frame bearing sheet  205  defining a first adjuster part is fixedly attached to the seat frame  207 . As before, the seat frame  207  bears the seat cushion, which is not illustrated, in a seat pan. A backrest bearing sheet  208  defining a second adjuster part and movably mounted on the frame bearing sheet  205  by way of an adjuster bolt  210 , is fixedly attached to the structure of the backrest  202 . 
   The backrest  202  is pivotable, by way of the adjuster  201 , between an upright use position of the vehicle seat  203 , suitable for sitting, wherein an additional inclination position can be achieved by means of a backrest fitting that is only hinted at in the figure, and a flat table position as a non-use position of the vehicle seat  203 , suitable for loading. 
   A pawl  215  is pivotably borne on a bearing bolt of the frame bearing sheet  205  arranged parallel to and below the adjuster bolt  210 , hereinafter called pawl bearing bolt  213 . In the use position, the pawl  215 , with its first hooked mouth  217 , clutches a first locking bolt  218  from above, which protrudes parallel to the adjuster bolt  210  from the backrest bearing sheet  208  and being arranged below the adjuster bolt  210  when in use position. 
   Below the pawl bearing bolt  213  and parallel to it, a bearing bolt, hereinafter called cam bearing bolt  221 , protrudes from the frame bearing sheet  205 . A clamping cam  223  and a catching element  225  are pivotably borne on the cam bearing bolt  221 . In the use position, the clamping cam  223  which, being spring-loaded, bears against the pawl  215 , secures the pawl  215  in the described locking position. The catching element  225  is pre-tensioned towards the pawl  215  by way of an active pull spring  226 . The catching element  225  is normally arranged at a slight distance from the pawl  215 . The catching element  225  supports the pawl  215  in the event of a crash so as to keep the pawl from opening. 
   By way of a Bowden cable  227 , an activation lever  228  serving as an activation element, which is pivotably borne on the frame bearing sheet  205 , interacts with an arm of the catching element  225 . When unlocking, the catching element  225 , once a certain pivoting angle is exceeded, carries the clamping cam  223  along to release the pawl  215 . There may be a single activation lever  228  unlocking the adjusters  201  on both sides via a shaft, or each adjuster  201  has its own activation lever  228 . 
   On the side which, when the pawl  215  is opened, moves ahead from the described, locking position, i.e. on the side facing away from the first hooked mouth  217 , the pawl  215  has a second hooked mouth  231 . The backrest bearing sheet  208  has a second locking bolt  232  in the area which is located in front of the adjuster bolt  210  in the direction of travel. To switch from the use position to the table position, the catching element  225  and the clamping cam  223  in both adjusters  201  are pivoted back by way of the activation lever  228 , and the pawl  215  is pivoted counter-clockwise with reference to the figure. Thus the pawl  215  releases the first locking bolt  218 . 
   Now, the backrest  202  can be pivoted around the adjuster bolt  210  towards the front, i.e. the adjuster  201  pivots counter-clockwise with reference to the figure. Thus the first locking bolt  218  moves away from the pawl  215  and, at the same time, the second locking bolt  232  approaches the pawl  215 . In an intermediate position, which is not illustrated, the second locking bolt  232  comes to bear against a protruding rim area of the second hooked mouth  231  of the pawl  215 , pressing it with another pivoting movement of the adjuster  201  in the direction of its original, locking position, i.e. clockwise with reference to the figure. The second locking bolt  232  eventually reaches into the second hooked mouth  231 , thereby locking the adjuster  201  again. 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , the pawl  215 , in the table position, takes a locking position again which, with reference to the frame bearing sheet  205 , is identical to the locking position shown in  FIG. 5  for the use position, the pawl  215  therefore having identical functions. In particular, the pawl  215  is again secured by means of the clamping cam  223  and the catching element  225  as securing elements. In this respect, the exemplary embodiments are completely identical. The geometry chosen, i.e. the dimensions and radii of the second hooked mouth  231  and the distances to the pivoting axles, ensure that the pawl  215  is not opened, in the pivoted position, by a momentum of the securing elements. 
   The return to the use position is initiated again by activating the activation lever  228  which unlocks the adjuster  201  in the manner previously described. When pivoting the adjuster  201  from the position in  FIG. 6  to the position in  FIG. 5 , first the pawl  215 , released from the safety elements  223  and  225 , is opened via the second locking bolt  232 , and then the second locking bolt  232  is released from the pawl  215 . As soon as the first locking bolt  218  comes to bear against a protruding rim area of the first mouth  217 , it presses the pawl  215  in a clockwise direction with reference to the figure, so that the pawl, once the use position has been reached, resumes its locking position again in which the first hooked mouth  217  clutches the locking bolt  218 , and in which the pawl  215  is secured by the securing elements  223  and  225 .