Abstract:
A vehicle seat includes a seat part and a partitioned back rest. The back rest has a first segment and a second segment. The segments are each equipped with an inclination adjuster. The adjusters include means for limiting the inclination of one segment relative to the other.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from and the benefit of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2008/002548, filed on Mar. 31, 2008; German Patent No. DE 10 2007 016 379.9, filed on Apr. 3, 2007; and German Patent DE 10 2007 044 096.2, filed on Sep. 14, 2007; all entitled “Vehicle Seat Comprising a Partitioned Back Rest”, which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat part and a partitioned back rest which comprises a first segment and a second segment, said segments being each equipped with an inclination adjuster. 
         [0003]    The generic vehicle seats are known from the prior art, for example from DE 198 19 776. The vehicle seats disclosed therein, however, often have safety deficiencies and or may be used in a manner which is not intended. 
         [0004]    It was, therefore, the object of the present invention to improve the safety of such vehicle seats, in particular rear seat benches and to avoid incorrect use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The object is achieved by a vehicle seat comprising a seat part and a partitioned back rest which comprises a first segment and a second segment, said segments being each equipped with an inclination adjuster and having a means that limits the inclination of the one segment relative to the other segment. 
         [0006]    According to the invention, the vehicle seat comprises a seat part and a back rest. Whilst the seat part may be in one piece or partitioned, the back rest is partitioned into a first segment and into a second segment. Both segments are each equipped with an inclination adjuster, by means of which the respective segment may be adjusted in its angle relative to the seat part. This adjustment may be used for improving the comfort of the vehicle occupants and/or for adjusting the respective segment from a position of use into a stowage position. In the position of use, in which the back rest is substantially upright, a passenger may be seated on the seat part in the region of the respective segment. In the stowage position, the respective segment is arranged substantially parallel to the seat part and this region of the vehicle seat may thus be used as a stowage space and/or to provide the possibility for loading. The inclination adjustment may be oriented both in the direction of the seat part, i.e. generally in the direction of travel and away from the seat part i.e. generally counter to the direction of travel. 
         [0007]    According to the invention, the vehicle seat further comprises a means that limits the inclination of at least one segment relative to the other segment, i.e. the one segment may be inclined differently from the other segment only to a limited degree. 
         [0008]    The vehicle seat according to the invention is considerably safer than vehicle seats according to the prior art, as it is not possible, for example, for a segment of the vehicle seat to be in the position of use and thus able to be moved by a vehicle occupant, whilst the other seat segment, on which for example safety-relevant components are arranged, is in the stowage position and said components are therefore not available. The means ensure, in particular, that an adjustment of each back rest segment is possible independently of one another for improving the comfort, and that, however, one segment may only be moved together with the other segment from the position of use into the stowage position and vice versa. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the means accordingly prevent the first segment from being located in a position of use and the second segment from being located in a stowage position. 
         [0010]    All inclination adjusters known to the person skilled in the art are considered as inclination adjusters, by which the inclination of a back rest may be adjusted relative to a seat part. Preferably, all inclination adjusters of the vehicle seat according to the invention operate according to the latching pawl principle. Preferably, each back rest segment has an inclination adjuster which is particularly preferably located on one side of the respective segment. At a distance therefrom, each back rest segment additionally has a further mounting means, for example a hinge, by which it is additionally mounted on the seat part or on the vehicle bodywork. It is, however, also conceivable for the respective back rest segment, with two inclination adjusters which are arranged to the right and left on the back rest segment, to be mounted on the seat part or the vehicle bodywork. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the inclination adjusters have one respective fitting on the back rest side, on which one respective positive connecting means is arranged, which are formed in a manner complementary to one another. The positive connecting means of the one fitting cooperates with the positive connecting means of the other fitting, so that they restrict the movement of the one fitting relative to the other fitting. At least one positive connecting means of the one fitting is, however, designed such that the complementary positive connecting means of the other fitting has a certain play, before said positive connecting means positively cooperate with one another. In particular, the one positive connecting means is a projection which engages in a recess, the recess preferably being designed to be larger than the projection so that said positive connecting means are able to be moved to a certain extent relative to one another before they cooperate and then may only be moved together in one direction. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the positive connecting means are arranged on annular projections. 
         [0013]    In a preferred embodiment, a seat belt is fastened to the second segment, by means of which a vehicle occupant who is seated in the region of the first segment may be belted-up. In said preferred embodiment, the means prevent the first back rest segment of the first seat region—viewed from the occupant—from being able to be adjusted behind the second back rest segment, which includes the seat belt roller, as satisfactory operation of the seat belt is then impaired. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the vehicle seat is a seat bench which provides space for a plurality of vehicle occupants. Particularly preferably, the seat bench is a rear seat bench which is arranged behind the driver and passenger seat. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the seat bench comprises a back rest with a larger and a smaller part. For example, the partition is 60%/40% or 2/3 to 1/3. Particularly preferably, the first and second segments are parts of the larger part. Particularly preferably, the back rest is partitioned into three, in particular into two larger and one smaller part, quite particularly preferably the smaller part being located between the larger parts. For example, the partition is a 20-40-20 partition. 
         [0016]    A further or a preferred subject of the present invention is a vehicle seat which has a means which only permits a locking of the inclination adjuster when said inclination adjuster is located in a specific position relative to the inclination adjuster. 
         [0017]    By means of this inventive or preferred embodiment it is ensured that one segment, for example of a back rest, may be locked in a position in which it represents a safety risk. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the inclination adjusters adopt the same position for the locking i.e. they are preferably located either in the stowage position or in the position of use. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the inclination adjusters are the inclination adjusters of a central segment and an edge segment of a back rest. 
         [0020]    According to the invention, the vehicle seat has a means which only permits locking of the inclination adjuster when said vehicle seat is in a specific position relative to the inclination adjuster. Preferably, the means is a ramp which prevents the locking as long as the position of the corresponding inclination adjuster does not correspond to the desired position. 
         [0021]    Preferably, the ramp cooperates with a control means. Preferably, the control means moves along the ramp until the desired position is reached. In this position, or shortly before this position, the control means then performs a control movement which permits the locking of the respective inclination adjuster. 
         [0022]    Preferably, the control means also cooperates with the ramp in a locking manner. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The invention is explained hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 1-6 . These explanations are provided merely by way of example and do not restrict the general inventive idea. 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows the vehicle seat according to the invention as a rear seat bench. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows the mounting of the segments of the back rest. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a detail of the mounting according to  FIG. 2 . 
           [0027]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show the means for restricting the inclination of the first segment. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  shows a further embodiment of the vehicle seat according to the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  shows the two inclination adjusters with a ramp located therebetween. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    The rear seat bench  1  shown in  FIG. 1  is, overall, split into a left-hand 60% part  2  and a right-hand 40% part  2 ′, which may be adjusted entirely independently of one another in their inclination and longitudinal position in the vehicle. The part  2 ′ is not considered hereinafter. The rear seat bench may be used by vehicle occupants so that the back rests are located in the so-called position of use. 
         [0031]    The 60% part  2  has a continuous 60% seat part  3  and a back rest  4 , which in turn is partitioned into a first 20% back rest segment  5  arranged centrally in the rear seat bench  1  and a left-hand second 40% back rest segment  5 ′. In this connection, on the right-hand upper edge of the back rest segment  5 ′ a seat belt roller  13  is fastened for an occupant who is seated in the region of the central first back rest segment  5 . The back rest segments  5 ,  5 ′ may be adjusted in their inclination relative to the seat part  3  and also relative to one another. As a result, the comfort of the occupants may be increased. The possibility is, however, also provided to fold the central first back rest segment  5  onto the seat part  3  to provide the possibility of loading the vehicle, so that said back rest segment is located in the so-called stowage position. However, in addition, the second back rest segment  5  may optionally be folded onto the seat part. To this end, as may be seen in  FIG. 2 , inclination adjusters  6 . 2  are provided on the right-hand side of the back rest segment  5 , and spaced apart therefrom in the region of the left-hand side of the first back rest segment  5  a hinge  7  is provided for the central back rest segment  5 , and an inclination adjuster  6 . 3  is provided on the left-hand side of the second back rest segment  5 ′ and spaced apart therefrom a right-hand lateral hinge  7  is provided for the back rest segment  5 ′. The inclination adjuster  6 . 1 , which is also shown, belongs to the 40% part  2 ′ ( FIG. 2 ) which is not relevant to the invention. All inclination adjusters  6 . 1  to  6 . 3  preferably operate according to the latching pawl principle. 
         [0032]    As is visible from  FIG. 3 , the inclination adjusters  6 . 2  and  6 . 3  are arranged on both sides of a linking plate  8  for fastening to the vehicle floor and have on their fitting plates  9 . 2 ,  9 . 3  on the back rest side annular projections  10 . 2 ,  10 . 3  which face one another, which are provided with at least one claw-like axial projection  11 , which is arranged in this case on an annular projection  10 . 3 . Said annular projection engages in at least one complementary axial recess  12 , which in this case is arranged on the opposing annular projection  10 . 2 , so that the annular projections  10 . 2 ,  10 . 3  and thus also the back rest segments  5 ,  5 ′ are restricted in their pivotability relative to one another.  FIG. 4   a  is a view from the front;  FIG. 4   b  is a view from the rear. In particular, it is thereby prevented that the lateral back rest segment  5 ′ may be folded onto the seat part  3  when the back rest segment  5  is upright, whereby a safety belt would no longer be available to a seat occupant in the region of the central back rest segment  5 . In particular in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , it is also visible that the projection  11  has a certain play in the recess  12 , so that the fittings  9 . 2 ,  9 . 3  may also be adjusted independently of one another to a certain extent. This is important, in particular, for adjusting the comfort of the two back rest segments  5 ,  5 ′. The person skilled in the art recognizes that a plurality of projections  11  and a plurality of recesses  12  may be arranged on the fitting plates. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows a further embodiment of the vehicle seat according to the invention. Two inclination adjusters  6 . 2 ,  6 . 3  may be seen, by which the inclination of a different back rest segment may respectively be adjusted. In the present case, the inclination adjuster  6 . 2  is arranged on a 20% segment arranged in the center, whilst the inclination adjuster  6 . 3  belongs to a back rest segment located adjacent to the side. In the left-hand view  5   a  the inclination adjuster  6 . 2  is located in front of the inclination adjuster  6 . 3 ; i.e. is pivoted, for example, in the direction of the seat surface. In this position, the inclination adjuster  6 . 2  may not be locked. The locking is prevented by a control means  14 , which is arranged rotatably on the inclination adjuster  6 . 2  and is rotatably pretensioned clockwise. One end of this control means  14  cooperates with a ramp  15  arranged directly or indirectly on the inclination adjuster  6 . 3 , which prevents the control means  14  from rotating clockwise. At its other end remote from the ramp  15 , the control means  14  is connected to a mimic which prevents a latching means, not shown, from locking the inclination adjuster  6 . 2 . In  FIG. 5   b  the inclination adjuster  6 . 2  has been rotated clockwise so that its position has been synchronized with the inclination adjuster  6 . 3 . In this position, the inclination adjuster  6 . 2  may now be locked. This is achieved by the control means  14  carrying out a control movement as soon as it has reached the end of the ramp  15 , in the present case a rotational clockwise movement. The mimic which is also arranged on the control means  14 , which is moved therewith during the control movement, either causes the locking of the inclination adjuster  6 . 2  itself or releases a locking mimic. Moreover, it is visible in  FIG. 5   b  that a stop  16  is arranged on the inclination adjuster  6 . 2  which bears against the ramp  15 . Moreover, it is visible that the control means  14  is not only a control means but also a locking means, the tip thereof cooperating in a locking manner with the ramp  15 . By means of the stop  16 , a clockwise rotational movement of the inclination adjuster  6 . 2  is prevented and by means of the locking means  14  a counter-clockwise rotational movement of the inclination adjuster  6 . 2  relative to the inclination adjuster  6 . 3  is prevented. In the right-hand part of  FIG. 5 , the inclination adjuster  6 . 2  is again shown in a perspective view. Moreover, the stop  16 , the control means  14  as well as the ramp  15  arranged on the inclination adjuster  6 . 3  are visible. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  shows the two inclination adjusters in a perspective view. It is visible that a ramp  15  is arranged between the two inclination adjusters  6 . 2  and  6 . 3 . Moreover, the control means  14  may be seen in  FIG. 6 , which in this view also permits a torque transmission from the inclination adjuster  6 . 2  to the inclination adjuster  6 . 3 .