Abstract:
A vehicle seat ( 1 ) includes a structural part ( 3 ) which has a lock connecting plate ( 60 ), and a locking unit ( 10 ) secured to the lock connecting plate ( 60 ). The locking unit ( 10 ) includes at least one bearing bolt ( 51, 52 ) having a through opening ( 55 ) through which a securing device ( 65 ) passes. The at least one bearing bolt ( 51, 52 ) projects through a securing opening ( 61 ) of the lock connecting plate ( 60 ).

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a United States National Phase Application of International Application PCT/EP2014/062307 filed Jun. 13, 2014 and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application 10 2013 211 332.3 filed Jun. 18, 2013 the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a vehicle seat having a locking unit which is secured to the lock connection sheet, wherein the locking unit has at least one bearing pin having a through-opening through which a securing means protrudes, 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    DE 10 2008 051 832 A1 discloses a locking unit for a vehicle seat. Such a locking unit comprises a pivotably supported rotary latch for locking with a pin. A catch detent which is pivotably supported about another pivot axle secures the rotary latch in the locked state. A clamping element which is referred to as a tolerance compensation detent applies a closing torque to the rotary latch and in this manner eliminates a play which is provided between the rotary latch and the pin. 
         [0004]    DE 20 2011 100 040 U1 also discloses a locking unit for a vehicle seat. The rotary latch of this locking unit has a recess which deviates from the circular form and which is approximately in the form of an elongate hole and by means of which it is pivotably supported on a bush or a bearing pin. 
         [0005]    Such locking units are used, for example, to lock a backrest of a vehicle seat to a seat member and/or to a bodywork or structure of a vehicle or to lock the vehicle seat to the bodywork or structure of the vehicle. Engine hoods, rear doors or doors of vehicles can also be locked to the bodywork or the structure of the vehicle using such locking units. 
         [0006]    DE 10 2008 033 304 A1 discloses a generic vehicle seat having a locking unit. In this instance, the locking unit is secured to a structural component, in particular a backrest of the vehicle seat, and serves to lock the backrest to a structure of the vehicle or the bodywork thereof. To this end, the locking unit has a rotary latch which is referred to as a detent and which in the locked state of the locking unit engages around a locking pin which is secured to the structure of the vehicle. 
         [0007]    The locking unit has two bearing pins which are used to pivotably support the rotary latch and two securing elements which are provided to secure the rotary latch in the locked state. The two bearing pins also serve to secure the locking unit to the structural component of the vehicle seat and are constructed in a substantially hollow-cylindrical manner. In order to secure the locking unit to the structural component of the vehicle seat, there are further provided two screws which each engage through one of the two bearing pins and are screwed into the structural component or an additional nut. 
         [0008]    DE 103 08 678 A1 discloses a locking unit for motor vehicle rear seat backrests. This locking unit also has two hollow-cylindrical bearing pins. In order to secure the locking unit to the backrest structure, two screws which protrude through the bearing pins are provided. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    An object of the invention is to improve a vehicle seat having a locking unit of the type mentioned in the introduction, in particular to increase the strength and the stability of the connection between the structural component and the locking unit. 
         [0010]    A vehicle seat of the generic type comprises a structural component, in particular a backrest, which has a lock connection sheet and a locking unit which is secured to the lock connection sheet, wherein the locking unit has at least one bearing pin having a through-opening through which a securing means protrudes. 
         [0011]    According to the invention, there is provision for the at least one bearing pin to protrude into a securing opening of the lock connection sheet. 
         [0012]    As a result of the fact that the at least one bearing pin protrudes into a securing opening of the lock connection sheet, the bearing pin and the lock connection sheet also absorb loads which act on the locking unit, in particular shearing stresses which occur in the event of a crash. Consequently, the load-bearing capacity of the connection between the structural component and the locking unit is increased. Furthermore, the assembly of the locking unit on the lock connection sheet is also simplified since the securing opening of the lock connection sheet constitutes a guide for the bearing pin. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the bearing pin has a first axial portion having a first outer diameter and a second axial portion having a second outer diameter, wherein the second outer diameter is smaller than the first outer diameter. The second axial portion having the second outer diameter thus forms a step with respect to the first axial portion having the first outer diameter. 
         [0014]    In this instance, the second axial portion advantageously protrudes into the securing opening of the lock connection sheet. The lock connection sheet is then positioned on the step formed by the second axial portion and is consequently fixed in an axial direction. 
         [0015]    If the second outer diameter, at least substantially, corresponds to the inner diameter of the securing opening, the locking unit is secured to the lock connection sheet in a radial direction in a positive-locking manner, whereby the assembly is further simplified and the strength is increased. 
         [0016]    According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the bearing pin has a third axial portion having a third outer diameter, wherein the third outer diameter is smaller than the first outer diameter. The third axial portion having the third outer diameter consequently forms another step with respect to the first axial portion having the first outer diameter. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the first axial portion is arranged in an axial direction between the second axial portion and the third axial portion. The third axial portion can then protrude into a bearing hole of a side plate of the locking unit opposite the lock connection sheet. The side plate is then positioned on the step formed by the third axial portion and is consequently fixed in an axial direction. 
         [0018]    When the inner diameters of the axial portions are identical, the production of the bearing pin is relatively simple. 
         [0019]    Advantageously, the third axial portion protrudes into a bearing hole in a side plate of the locking unit facing away from the lock connection sheet. 
         [0020]    The length of the third axial portion is preferably greater than the thickness of the side plate which faces away from the lock connection sheet so that the third axial portion protrudes through the side plate which faces away from the lock connection sheet. 
         [0021]    In order to support the bearing pin, the locking unit advantageously has a side plate which is in abutment with the lock connection sheet and which comprises at least one bearing hole in which the first axial portion is inserted. 
         [0022]    According to an advantageous development of the invention, there is arranged around the bearing hole a hollow cylinder which extends in the direction away from the lock connection sheet and which at least partially surrounds the first axial portion. 
         [0023]    Preferably, the first axial portion has in a central region a flange-like expansion whose outer diameter is greater than the first outer diameter, wherein the end face of the hollow cylinder facing away from the lock connection sheet is in abutment with the flange-like expansion. The side plate is then fixed in an axial direction between the flange-like expansion and the lock connection sheet. 
         [0024]    A spring which pretensions a rotary latch of the locking unit is placed around the hollow cylinder. 
         [0025]    The securing means is preferably constructed as a screw which has a head and a shaft. 
         [0026]    The shaft of the screw engages through the bearing pin and the lock connection sheet. 
         [0027]    The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to an advantageous embodiment which is illustrated in the Figures. However, the invention is not limited to this embodiment. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    In the drawings: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a vehicle seat; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is an exploded illustration of a locking unit according to the state of the art; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view through a bearing pin of a locking unit according to the invention; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is the bearing pin of the locking unit according to  FIG. 3  with a securing means. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    In a motor vehicle, a locking unit  10  for connecting a structural component, in this instance a backrest  3 , of a vehicle seat  1 , in particular a rear seat, is provided on a vehicle structure. The backrest  3  is in this instance fitted to a seat component  5  so as to be able to be pivoted from a position for use into a position for non-use. 
         [0034]    The locking unit  10  can also be used at other locations, for example, for securing the seat member  5  of the vehicle seat  1  to the base structure of the motor vehicle or in a door lock. 
         [0035]    The arrangement of the vehicle seat  1  within the vehicle and the conventional travel direction thereof define the directional indications used below. In this instance, a direction which is orientated perpendicularly to the ground is referred to below as the vertical direction and a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and perpendicular to the travel direction is referred to below as the transverse direction. 
         [0036]    The locking unit  10  has a lock housing which comprises a first side plate  16  and a second side plate  18 . The base faces of the side plates  16 ,  18  are in this instance constructed in a substantially flat manner and arranged in a plane defined by the travel direction and the vertical direction, that is to say, perpendicularly to the transverse direction. 
         [0037]    The first side plate  16  comprises two first bearing holes  13  which are constructed in this instance in a circular manner and the second side plate  18  comprises two second bearing holes  14  which are constructed in this instance in a circular manner. There is arranged around the second bearing holes  14  a respective hollow cylinder  15  which extends in the direction toward the first side plate  16 . The hollow cylinder  15  is in this instance constructed integrally with the second side plate  18  and constructed as a plunged collar. It is also conceivable to construct the hollow cylinder  15  as a separate sleeve. 
         [0038]    The first side plate  16  and the second side plate  18  form a receiving member which opens in the direction of a locking pin  12  in order to receive it for locking. In this case, the locking unit  10  is secured to the backrest  3  and the locking pin  12  is secured to the vehicle structure. It is also conceivable for the locking unit  10  to be secured to the vehicle structure and the locking pin  12  to be secured to the backrest  3 . The portion of the locking pin  12  intended to be received by the receiving member generally extends horizontally in a transverse direction. 
         [0039]    A rotary latch  20  is pivotably supported on a first bearing pin  51 . The rotary latch  20  has for this purpose a rotary latch hole  24  which is constructed in this case as a circular opening and through which the first bearing pin  51  extends. The rotary latch  20  further has for cooperation with the locking pin  12  a hooked aperture  21 . By means of a first spring  71 , the rotary latch  20  is pretensioned in the opening direction. 
         [0040]    The rotary latch  20  has a functional face  22  which partially laterally delimits the hooked aperture  21 . In the locked state, the functional face  22  is substantially directed in the direction of a second bearing pin  52  which is arranged parallel with the first bearing pin  51  and consequently also extends in the transverse direction. The functional face  22  is in this instance constructed in a planar manner, but may, for example, also be constructed to be curved in the manner of a circular arc and convex or concave. 
         [0041]    At the side of the hooked aperture  21  facing away from the rotary latch hole  24 , opposite the functional face  22 , the hooked aperture  21  is laterally delimited by a protrusion of the rotary latch  20 . 
         [0042]    The rotary latch  20  has a base member which is delimited in an axial direction by a planar base face in each case. The width of the functional face  22  corresponds to the thickness of the base member of the rotary latch  20 , that is to say, the extent of the base member in an axial direction. 
         [0043]    The first bearing pin  51  is inserted into a first bearing hole  13  of the first side plate  16  and into a second bearing hole  14  of the second side plate  18  and protrudes from the base faces of the side plates  16 ,  18  in a perpendicular manner. The first bearing pin  51  consequently extends horizontally in a transverse direction. The second bearing pin  52  is also inserted into a first bearing hole  13  of the first side plate  16  and into a second bearing hole  14  of the second side plate  18  and protrudes perpendicularly from the base faces of the side plates  16 ,  18 . The second bearing pin  52  consequently also extends horizontally in a transverse direction. 
         [0044]    The locking unit  10  is in this instance secured, in this case screwed, to a lock connection sheet  60  which is part of the backrest  3 . The lock connection sheet  60  is constructed in a substantially flat manner and extends in a plane perpendicular to the transverse direction. In this instance, the second side plate  18  of the locking unit  10  is in abutment with the lock connection sheet  60 , whilst the first side plate  16  is located facing away from the lock connection sheet  60 . 
         [0045]    The first bearing pin  51  is constructed in a substantially hollow-cylindrical manner and has a through-opening  55  which extends in an axial direction and which has a substantially constant inner diameter. 
         [0046]    In a first axial portion A 1 , the first bearing pin  51  has a first outer diameter D 1 . The first axial portion A 1  extends, beginning at the lock connection sheet  60 , away from it in an axial direction as far as the first side plate  16 . In a central region of the first axial portion A 1 , the first bearing pin  51  in this instance has a flange-like expansion  81  whose outer diameter is greater than the first outer diameter D 1 . 
         [0047]    The first axial portion A 1  is inserted into a second bearing opening  14  of the second side plate  18  and is surrounded in this instance by the hollow cylinder  15 . The end face of the hollow cylinder  15  opposite the lock connection sheet  60  is in abutment with the flange-like expansion  81  of the first axial portion A 1 . The first spring  71  is placed around the hollow cylinder  15 . 
         [0048]    At the side of the flange-like expansion  81  facing away from the hollow cylinder  15 , the rotary latch  20  which is supported on the first axial portion A 1  is in abutment, in this instance with little play in the axial direction. 
         [0049]    In a second axial portion A 2 , the first bearing pin  51  has a second outer diameter D 2 . The second outer diameter D 2  is in this instance smaller than the first outer diameter D 1  of the first axial portion A 1 . The second axial portion A 2  is in abutment with the first axial portion A 1  and extends in the opposite direction, that is to say, away from the second side plate  18 . It is also conceivable for the second outer diameter D 2  to be of the same size as the first outer diameter D 1 . 
         [0050]    The second axial portion A 2  protrudes into a securing opening  61  of the lock connection sheet  60  provided for this purpose. The inner diameter of the securing opening  61  in this instance corresponds to the second outer diameter D 2  of the second axial portion A 2 . In the present embodiment, the second axial portion A 2  protrudes through the lock connection sheet  60 . Therefore, the length of the second axial portion A 2  is in this instance greater than the thickness of the lock connection sheet  60 . 
         [0051]    In a third axial portion A 3  which adjoins the end of the first axial portion A 1  facing away from the second axial portion A 2 , the first bearing pin  51  has a third outer diameter D 3 . The third outer diameter D 3  is in this instance smaller than the first outer diameter D 1  of the first axial portion A 1 . It is also conceivable for the third outer diameter D 3  to be of the same size as the first outer diameter D 1 . 
         [0052]    The third axial portion A 3  protrudes into one of the bearing holes  13  of the first side plate  16 . The inner diameter of this bearing hole  13  in this instance substantially corresponds to the third outer diameter D 3  of the third axial portion A 3 . In the present embodiment, the third axial portion A 3  protrudes through the first side plate  16 . Therefore, the length of the third axial portion A 3  is in this instance greater than the thickness of the first side plate  16 . 
         [0053]    The first axial portion A 1  is consequently located in an axial direction, which in this instance corresponds to the transverse direction, centrally between the second axial portion A 2  and the third axial portion A 3 . The inner diameters of the axial portions A 1 , A 2  and A 3  are in this instance identical. 
         [0054]    The second axial portion A 2  with the second outer diameter D 2  and the third axial portion A 3  with the third outer diameter D 3  in each case form a step with respect to the first axial portion A 1  with the first outer diameter D 1 . 
         [0055]    A portion of the securing means which is constructed as a screw  65  protrudes through the first bearing pin  51  in an axial direction. In this instance, a head  66  of the screw  65  is in abutment with the first side plate  16  of the locking unit  10 . A shaft  67  of the screw  65  engages through the first bearing pin  51  and the lock connection sheet  60 . 
         [0056]    At the side of the lock connection sheet  60  facing away from the locking unit  10 , there is provided a nut which is not illustrated and which has an inner thread and in which a corresponding outer thread of the shaft  67  of the screw  65  is screwed. 
         [0057]    The nut is in this instance welded to the side of the lock connection sheet  60  facing away from the locking unit  10 . Alternatively, the lock connection sheet  60  may also have a plunged collar which extends away from the locking unit  10  and in which an inner thread is produced. 
         [0058]    The second bearing pin  52  is in this case constructed so as to be identical to the first bearing pin  51  and a securing means which is constructed as a screw  65  also extends through it. This screw  65  is also screwed into a nut, which is arranged at the side of the lock connection sheet  60  facing away from the locking unit  10 , or into an inner thread of a plunged collar. 
         [0059]    The locking unit  10  is consequently connected to the lock connection sheet  60  by means of two screws  65 . The screws  65  also protrude through the first bearing openings  13  in the first side plate  16 , the hollow cylinders  15 , the second bearing openings  14  in the second side plate  18  and the securing openings  61  in the lock connection sheet  60 . 
         [0060]    Alternatively, the securing means  65  of the first bearing pin  51  and the second bearing pin  52  may also be constructed as a rivet. 
         [0061]    A clamping element  40  is pivotably supported on the second bearing pin  52 . To this end, the clamping element  40  has an in this instance circular clamping element hole  44 , through which the second bearing pin  52  extends. By means of a third spring  73 , the clamping element  40  is pretensioned in the direction toward the rotary latch  20 . 
         [0062]    In the locked state, when the hooked aperture  21  of the rotary latch  20  receives the locking pin  12 , the clamping element  40  applies as a result of the pretensioning by the third spring  73  as a securing element a closing torque to the rotary latch  20 . To this end, the clamping element  40  has a clamping face  41  which is curved in an eccentric manner with respect to the second bearing pin  52  and which is located in non-self-locking contact with the functional face  22  of the rotary latch  20 . The clamping face  41  is in this instance constructed to be curved in a circular manner and convex. 
         [0063]    A catch detent  30  is arranged on the second bearing pin  52  axially beside the clamping element  40  and is also pivotably supported on the second bearing pin  52 , that is to say, in alignment with the clamping element  40 . To this end, the catch detent  30  has a catch detent hole  34  which is circular in this instance and through which the second bearing pin  52  extends. By means of a second spring  72 , the catch detent  30  is pretensioned toward the rotary latch  20 . 
         [0064]    The catch detent  30  is in this instance arranged adjacent to the first side plate  16  and the clamping element  40  is in this instance arranged adjacent to the second side plate  18 . The catch detent  30  and the clamping element  40  are coupled for entrainment with non-operative travel, for example, by means of a tongue and groove guide or by means of an axially protruding carrier. 
         [0065]    The catch detent  30  has a catch face  31  which is located adjacent to the clamping face  41  of the clamping element  40 . In the locked state, the catch face  31  is positioned with spacing from the functional face  22  of the rotary latch  20 . The catch face  31  is in this instance constructed to be curved in the manner of a circular arc and convex, but may also be planar. 
         [0066]    The width of the functional face  22 , which corresponds to the thickness of the base member of the rotary latch  20 , also substantially corresponds to the sum of the thickness of the catch detent  30  and the thickness of the clamping element  40 . The rotary latch  20  thus has substantially the same material thickness as the catch detent  30  and the clamping element  40  together. 
         [0067]    If, in the event of a crash, the rotary latch  20  is subjected to an opening torque and pushes the clamping element  40  away slightly, the catch face  31  moves into abutment with the functional face  22  of the rotary latch  20 . The catch detent  30  thus serves to support the rotary latch  20  and prevents as an additional securing element a further rotation of the rotary latch  20  in the opening direction. Consequently, the catch detent  30  prevents opening of the rotary latch  20 . 
         [0068]    In the locked state of the locking unit  10 , the locking pin  12  is located in the receiving member formed by the side plates  16 ,  18  and in the hooked aperture  21  of the closed rotary latch  20 . The clamping element  40  secures the rotary latch  20  as a result of the cooperation of the clamping face  41  with the functional face  22 . The catch face  31  of the catch detent  30  is slightly spaced apart from the functional face  22  of the rotary latch  20 . 
         [0069]    In order to open the locking unit  10 , the catch detent  30  is pivoted away from the rotary latch  20 , whereby the catch face  31  of the catch detent  30  moves further away from the functional face  22  of the rotary latch  20 . The catch detent  30  also carries the clamping element  40  as a result of the carrying coupling arrangement so that the rotary latch  20  is no longer secured. 
         [0070]    As a result of the pretensioning by means of the first spring  71 , the rotary latch  20  opens and thus pivots in an opening direction. Alternatively or in addition to the pretensioning by the first spring  71 , the rotary latch  20  can also be carried for opening by the catch detent  30  or by the clamping element  40 . 
         [0071]    As a result of the pivot movement of the rotary latch  20 , the hooked aperture  21  is withdrawn from the receiving member formed by the side plates  16 ,  18  and releases the locking bolt  12 , which moves away counter to the inward pivoting direction of the locking unit  10 . If the locking bolt  12  has left the hooked aperture  21 , the locking unit  10  is located in the unlocked state. 
         [0072]    If, in this unlocked state, the locking pin  12  again reaches the receiving member formed by the side plates  16 ,  18  and moves into abutment with the edge of the hooked aperture  21 , the locking pin  12  presses the rotary latch  20  into the closed position thereof. The clamping element  40  moves as a result of the pretensioning thereof by the third spring  73  along the functional face  22 . In a state carried by the clamping element  40  or as a result of the pretensioning by the second spring  72 , the catch detent  30  pivots toward the rotary latch  20 , wherein the catch face  31  of the functional face  22  moves closer to the rotary latch  20 . Afterwards, the locking unit  10  is located in the locked state again. 
         [0073]    The features disclosed in the above description, the claims and the drawings may be significant both individually and in combination for the implementation of the invention in its various embodiments. 
         [0074]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.