Abstract:
A seat fastening device for fastening a seat or for lashing loads to a fastening rail fastened to a floor includes at least one movable fastening means, which is provided for coupling to the fastening rail, a force accumulation unit, an actuating unit and a gear unit. The gear unit is provided to prestress the force accumulator unit in an unlocking operation and to relieve the stress on the force accumulator unit in a locking operation.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a U.S. national stage application of PCT/EP2011/005277 filed on Oct. 20, 2011, and claims priority to, and incorporates by reference, German patent applications No. 10 2010 049 703.7 filed on Oct. 28, 2010 and No. 10 2011 100 107.0 filed on Apr. 30, 2011. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Prior Art 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a seat fastening device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    There is already known a seat fastening device for fastening a seat or for securing loads to a fastening rail which is secured to a base, having at least one movable securing means, which is provided for coupling to the fastening rail, a force storage unit, an actuation unit and a gear unit. 
         [0004]    In the known solutions, a seat or a load may be secured to a fastening rail by a force storage unit being pretensioned during a fastening operation. An unlocking operation is therefore supported by the force storage unit and, in the event of a defective locking element, leads to automatic and undesirable opening of the seat fastening device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    An object of the invention is in particular to provide a seat fastening device of the generic type, by means of which particularly secure fastening of a seat to a fastening rail can be enabled. 
         [0006]    This object is achieved with a seat fastening device according to patent claim  1 . Other advantageous embodiments of the invention can be derived from the dependent claims. 
         [0007]    The invention is based on a seat fastening device for fastening a seat or for securing loads to a fastening rail which is secured to a base, having at least one movable securing means which is provided for coupling to the fastening rail, a force storage unit, an actuation unit and a gear unit. 
         [0008]    It is proposed that the gear unit be provided to pretension the force storage unit during an unlocking operation and to relax the force storage unit during a locking operation. The term a “gear unit” is intended to be understood in particular to be a unit for transmitting a force and/or converting a movement, in particular a rotational movement, into a linear movement. The term a “force storage unit” is intended in this context to be understood in particular to be a unit which is provided to store energy in the form of a clamping force and in particular to counteract a force which is applied mechanically. As a result of such a configuration, an unintentional or malicious unlocking of the seat fastening device by hand can advantageously be prevented and the safety can be increased for a user. Furthermore, a force required to lock the seat fastening device can advantageously be reduced and use of a locking tool can be prevented. 
         [0009]    In addition, it is proposed that, between the gear unit and the force storage unit, a support means for direct force transmission between the gear unit and the force storage unit be arranged. The term “direct force transmission” is intended in this context in particular to be understood to mean that a force path from the gear unit via the support means, which may also be constructed in several parts, is introduced directly into the force storage unit and that an introduction of the force path from the gear unit into the force storage unit is carried out in particular with force loading of the movable securing means being prevented. A uniform force distribution can thereby advantageously result in reduced wear of components, and requirements with respect to a hardness of surfaces of the components can thereby be reduced. 
         [0010]    If the force storage unit comprises at least one surface which is directed towards the gear unit and which forms the support means for direct force transmission between the gear unit and the force storage unit, a particularly simple and component-saving solution can be provided. 
         [0011]    If the support means and the securing means each have at least one carrier element and the carrier elements act together to carry the securing means during a locking operation, a particularly simple and uniform force transmission from the gear unit to the force storage unit can be achieved. 
         [0012]    If, after an unlocking operation, the carrier element of the securing means rests on the carrier element of the support means, without any loading as a result of forces other than gravitational force, so that the carrier element of the support means forms a retention member for the securing means, non-releasability of the securing means can be ensured in a structurally simple manner. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment, it is proposed that the gear unit be provided to convert a rotation of the actuation unit into a movement of the movable securing means. Particularly simple coupling of the securing means can thereby be achieved with the fastening rail. 
         [0014]    It is further proposed that the seat fastening device have a tool engagement member which is provided to receive an unlocking tool in order to carry out the unlocking operation, whereby uncoupling of the securing means from the fastening rail can advantageously be carried out by means of an auxiliary tool. The term “tool engagement member” is intended in this context to be understood to refer in particular to a recess, preferably an internal hexagon, and/or a continuation, whereby a corresponding unlocking tool can be coupled. 
         [0015]    In an advantageous embodiment, the seat fastening device may have at least two fixedly arranged securing means, which are arranged one behind the other in one direction starting from the movable securing means so that the actuation unit can be constructed in a particularly compact manner, with at the same time a high level of ergonomics. 
         [0016]    It is further proposed that the actuation unit have a pivotably supported actuation lever, whereby a particularly simple structure of the seat fastening device can be achieved. 
         [0017]    In a particularly preferred manner, the tool engagement member is arranged with spacing from a pivot axis of the actuation unit, whereby a particularly simple handling of the actuation unit can be achieved. 
         [0018]    If the unlocking operation is carried out by rotation of the actuation lever through 180° or less, unlocking of the seat fastening device can be carried out in a particularly comfortable manner. The unlocking operation is preferably carried out by rotating the actuation lever through less than 100°. 
         [0019]    If the gear unit has a cam mechanism, by the actuation unit being moved with a few movable components, a movement of the at least one securing means can be achieved. 
         [0020]    If, in at least one operating state, the cam mechanism is operationally connected to a seat frame to be fastened, additional components in the seat fastening device can advantageously be saved. 
         [0021]    It is further proposed that the force storage unit have a spring set, whereby a force can be absorbed and discharged in a particularly simple manner. 
         [0022]    If the spring set is arranged coaxially relative to a movement direction of the securing means, a particularly compact structure of the seat fastening device can be achieved. 
         [0023]    It is further proposed that the actuation lever be recessed in a closed state in a base member. A malicious unlocking operation by hand can thereby advantageously be prevented. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    Other advantages will be appreciated from the following description of the drawings. In the drawings, two embodiments of the invention are illustrated. The description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will also advantageously consider the features individually and combine them to form other advantageous combinations. 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective, schematic view of a seat frame of an aircraft passenger seat having two seat fastening devices, 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a fastening rail, 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a section through a seat fastening device in a locked state, 
           [0028]      FIG. 3A  is a cut-out of the seat fastening device according to  FIG. 3 , with an alternative embodiment of a force storage unit with integrated support means, 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  shows the seat fastening device according to  FIG. 3  in the locked state in an illustration of a plane of section along a line I-I′, 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a section through the seat fastening device according to  FIG. 3  in an unlocked state, 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  shows the seat fastening device according to  FIG. 5  in the unlocked state in an illustration of a plane of section along line II-II′, 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a section through another embodiment of a seat fastening device in a locked state, 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  shows the seat fastening device according to  FIG. 7  in the locked state in an illustration of a plane of section along a line III-III′, 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a section through the seat fastening device according to  FIG. 7  in an unlocked state, and 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  shows the seat fastening device according to  FIG. 9  in the unlocked state in an illustration of a plane of section along a line IV-IV′. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]      FIG. 1  is a schematic, perspective view of a seat frame  10   a  of a seat  64   a  which is constructed as an aircraft passenger seat. The seat frame  10   a  is coupled to a fastening rail  12   a  by means of two seat fastening devices. The fastening rail  12   a  is secured to a base  66   a  of an aircraft cabin. When the seat fastening devices are in an open state, the seat frame  10   a  can be displaced along the fastening rail  12   a.    
         [0037]    The fastening rail  12   a  is illustrated in greater detail in a detailed view in  FIG. 2 . The fastening rail  12   a  terminates flush at the upper side thereof with the base  66   a.  The fastening rail  12   a  is formed by a hollow profile-member which delimits a longitudinal channel  70   a  at the upper side thereof with mutually facing profile flanks  68   a.  The longitudinal channel  70   a,  which extends in a longitudinal direction  72   a  which preferably corresponds to a flight direction, has through-openings  74   a  which expand the free inlet cross-section thereof to a predetermined extent and which have a uniform spacing from each other and which are constructed in a bore-like manner. This embodiment of a fastening rail  12   a  is known in the prior art and is not described here in greater detail. 
         [0038]    A seat fastening device is illustrated in a closed state in  FIG. 3  as a sectioned view. The seat fastening device has a movable securing means  14   a,  a force storage unit  18   a,  an actuation unit  20   a  and a gear unit  22   a.    
         [0039]    The securing means  14   a  is arranged in a base member  24   a  of the seat fastening device so as to be linearly movable in a movement direction  36   a.  At one end of the securing means  14   a,  there is arranged a securing foot  26   a  which is provided for coupling to the fastening rail  12   a.  At an end opposite the securing foot  26   a,  the securing means  14   a  has a carrier element  16   a  which is formed by a lateral face of a recess and is coupled to a support means  28   a  which is formed by a support ring. The support ring also has a carrier element  32   a  which is formed integrally on the support ring and which forms an upwardly open shoulder. The support means  28   a  is arranged between the gear unit  22   a  and the force storage unit  18   a  in order to form a direct force transmission between the gear unit  22   a  and the force storage means  18   a,  as will be described below. To this end, the support ring partially surrounds the securing means  14   a  and provides a support face  30   a  for the force storage unit  18   a.  The support face  30   a  and a lower side of the carrier element  32   a  of the support ring are in alignment. 
         [0040]    The base member  24   a  further has two fixedly arranged securing means  54   a  which are arranged one behind the other in one direction starting from the movable securing means  14   a.  The movable securing means  14   a  is consequently secured to a lateral end of the base member  24   a.    
         [0041]    The force storage unit  18   a  has a spring set  34   a  which abuts the base member  24   a  and the support ring. A force applied to the support ring is absorbed by the spring set  34   a.  The spring set  34   a  is formed by disk springs which are arranged coaxially relative to the movement direction  36   a  of the securing means  14   a.    
         [0042]    In principle, an alternative embodiment of the force storage unit  18   a  is also conceivable in which, as illustrated in  FIG. 3A , a disk spring  80   a  which is arranged closest to the gear unit  22   a  is provided with a carrier element  82   a  and in which a surface of the disk spring  80   a  facing the gear unit  22   a  forms a support means  84   a  for direct force transmission between the gear unit  22   a  and the force storage unit  18   a.    
         [0043]    The actuation unit  20   a  is arranged on the base member  24   a  and has an actuation lever  38   a  which is located in an initial position illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The actuation lever  38   a  is constructed at one end as a rigid fork with two arms  40   a,    42   a  ( FIG. 4 ) and is supported at center points of the arms  40   a,    42   a  pivotably about a pivot axis  44   a  which is arranged in the base member  24   a  perpendicularly relative to the plane of section of  FIG. 3 . The actuation lever  38   a  extends over a large portion of the base member  24   a  above the fastening rail  12   a.  In the closed state shown in  FIG. 3 , the actuation lever  38   a  is recessed in the base member  24   a.    
         [0044]    On the actuation unit  20   a,  there is arranged the gear unit  22   a  which has a cam mechanism  46   a.  The cam mechanism  46   a  comprises two cam disks, which are each integrally formed with one of the arms  40   a,    42   a  of the rigid fork of the actuation lever  38   a.  However, embodiments which are constructed separately and which appear advantageous to the person skilled in the art are also conceivable. 
         [0045]    In order to further secure the base member  24   a  against displacement along the fastening rail  12   a,  the seat fastening device has a second cam mechanism  58   a  which moves a longitudinal securing means  60   a  in recesses of the fastening rail  12   a.    
         [0046]    When the actuation lever  38   a  is rotated, the cam mechanism  46   a,  without touching the securing means  14   a , moves laterally past the securing means  14   a  into contact with the support means  28   a  formed by the support ring ( FIG. 6 ). The rotation of the actuation lever  38   a  is converted into a linear movement of the movable support ring, the securing means  14   a  remaining unloaded in terms of force as a result of the cam mechanism  46   a.    
         [0047]    During an unlocking operation, the actuation lever  38   a  is rotated through approximately 95°. The gear unit  22   a  thereby presses, with the cam mechanism  46   a  thereof at two support locations  50   a,    52   a  which face each other in a perpendicular direction relative to the movement direction  36   a,  against the support ring which is moved in a movement direction  36   a  towards the fastening rail  12   a.  The spring set  34   a  is subject to a compression between the base member  24   a  and the support ring and is consequently pretensioned. 
         [0048]    In order to unlock the seat fastening device counter to a resilient force of the spring set  34   a,  the actuation lever  38   a  has a tool engagement member  56   a.  Owing to the use of an unlocking tool (not illustrated) which engages in the tool engagement member  56   a,  the seat fastening device can be unlocked. The tool engagement member  56   a  is arranged with spacing from the pivot axis  44   a  of the actuation lever  38   a  of the actuation unit  20   a,  whereby the actuation unit  20   a  can be handled in a particularly simple manner. In order to carry out the unlocking operation with an unlocking tool, other embodiments which appear advantageous to the person skilled in the art are also conceivable, such as in particular a screwdriver engagement member in the base member  24   a.    
         [0049]    In  FIG. 5 , the seat fastening device is illustrated in an unlocked state. At the end of the unlocking operation, the carrier element  16   a  of the securing means  14   a,  without any loading from forces other than gravitational force, rests on the carrier element  32   a  of the support means  28   a,  which thereby forms a retention member for the securing means  14   a  which prevents a loss of the securing means  14   a.  The movable securing means  14   a  is released from the fastening rail  12   a,  can be moved freely within limits which are determined by the coupling with respect to the support means  28   a  and enables a displacement of the seat fastening device along the fastening rail  12   a,  when in addition the longitudinal securing means  60   a  is raised by the second cam mechanism  58   a.    
         [0050]    A locking operation is initiated by means of an actuation of the actuation lever  38   a  back into the initial position. The actuation lever  38   a  pivots through approximately 95°. The resilient force of the spring set  34   a  supports the locking operation. An unlocking tool can therefore be avoided for the locking operation. By means of a rotation of the actuation lever  38   a  back into the initial position, the cam mechanism  46   a  of the gear unit  22   a  shortens a spacing  48   a  of the support means  28   a  formed by the support ring with respect to the pivot axis  44   a,  allows a movement of the support ring counter to the movement direction  36   a  and thereby partially relaxes the spring set  34   a  of the force storage unit  18   a.  In the initial position, the cam mechanism  46   a  is lifted from the support means  28   a.  After the partial relaxation of the spring set  34   a,  the securing foot  26   a  of the securing means  14   a  is pressed against a lower side  76   a  of the profile flanks  68   a  of the fastening rail  12   a  ( FIG. 4 ) by a remaining resilient force of the spring set  34   a  resulting from joint action of the carrier element  16   a  of the securing means  14   a  and the carrier element  32   a  of the support means  28   a,  by means of which the securing means  14   a  is carried by the relaxation movement of the spring set  34   a.    
         [0051]    Another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 7 to 10 . The following descriptions are limited substantially to the differences between the embodiments, reference being able to be made to the description of the other embodiment, in particular of  FIGS. 3 to 6 , with regard to components, features and functions which remain the same. In order to differentiate between the embodiments, the letter a in the reference numerals of the embodiment in  FIGS. 3 to 6  is replaced by the letter b in the reference numerals of the embodiment of  FIGS. 7 to 10 . With regard to components which have the same designation, in particular with regard to components with the same reference numerals, it is also possible in principle to refer to the drawings and/or the description of the other embodiment, in particular of  FIGS. 3 to 6 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  show a seat fastening device on a fastening rail  12   b  having a gear unit  22   b  and an actuation unit  20   b  which has an actuation lever  38   b  in a locked state. The actuation lever  38   b  is pivotably supported on a linearly movable securing means  14   b.  A force storage unit  18   b,  which is constructed as a spring set  34   b,  applies a resilient force counter to a movement direction  36   b.  The actuation lever  38   b  is constructed integrally with a cam mechanism  46   b  of the gear unit  22   b.    
         [0053]    In order to unlock the seat fastening device counter to a resilient force of the spring set  34   b,  the actuation lever  38   b  has a tool engagement member  56   b.  By an unlocking tool (not illustrated) which engages in the tool engagement member  56   b  being used, the seat fastening device can be unlocked. 
         [0054]    In the event of a rotation of the actuation lever  38   b , the cam mechanism  46   b  moves into operational connection with a support face  62   b  of a seat frame  10   b  which is to be secured. The spring set  34   b  is pressed together in the movement direction  36   b,  the securing means  14   b  is released at a lower end which is constructed as a securing foot  26   b  from a lower side  76   b  of the profile flanks  68   b  of the fastening rail  12   b  and moves relative to the seat frame  10   b  in the movement direction  36   b  towards an inner side of a base  78   b  of a hollow profile-member which forms the fastening rail  12   b.    
         [0055]      FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  show the seat fastening device in an unlocked state. The securing means  14   b  is released from the lower side  76   b  of the profile flanks  68   b  of the fastening rail  12   b  and enables a movement of the seat fastening device along the fastening rail  12   b.