Locking arrangement of a longitudinal adjustment device of a vehicle seat with locking pins

The invention relates to a locking device for the longitudinal adjustment of a motor vehicle seat, behind a snap bar, which has periodically arranged latch holes and latch connectors, and is assigned to the floor rail of the longitudinal adjustment device, and b) a blocking unit, which is assigned to the seat rail of the longitudinal adjustment device and has at least two, independently latched snap holes and jointed toothed locking pins, each of which has a narrowing area adjacent to the front end, cooperating with the latch connectors and an area of ​​the mandrel adjacent to the narrowing area with the upper end, where the narrowing area, when viewed in profile, narrows with upper point B to lower point A, each of which has a stem axis.

[0002] Such a fixation device is previously known from DE 10242825 A1. Regarding the state of the art, reference is also made to DE 197 09 149 A1 and to DE 27 29 770 C2. Such fixation devices are also referred to as multi-pin fixation devices. They enable secure latching and fine adjustment in the longitudinal direction. In the locked position, two locking pins are located on the adjacent latch connector respectively. The locking pins adhere to the snap connector with their tapering area. The narrowing area is made as a truncated cone area, located between the front area and the pin area of ​​the latch pins. The locking pin only locks in one direction of movement respectively. Both locking pins lock in different directions of movement. The angle with which the tapering area adjoins the snap fastener falls within the self-locking area.

[0003] Since, in general, only one locking pin is responsible for immobilization in the direction of displacement, when loading on this locking pin and on the respective snap connector to which the locking pin adjoins, the combined immobilizing forces act. As a result of loading, the locking pin is positioned obliquely inside the guide in the locking unit, which causes an increase in the angle at which the narrowing area is routed adjacent to the latch connector. In the case of repeated loading, for example when driving over multiple release thresholds or when pressure is applied to the backrest of a motor vehicle seat, the locking pin responsible for immobilization is more or less pushed out of the latch hole in which it is engaged, i.e. it is pushed out in the direction of z. This is unfavorable. Push out does not lead to complete release of immobilization, because at least one further locking pin is hooked in the latch hole, and other locking pins can additionally latch, but leads to a certain movement of the vehicle seat in the longitudinal direction. This effect can be repeated many times.

[0004] It is disadvantageous when the locking pin is pushed out of the lock. The forces that load the locking pin up should be as low as possible. The release of the locking pin from the associated snap fastener should be avoided.

[0005] Here, the solution is an invention. Its purpose is to improve the locking device of the kind mentioned at the outset that the danger of spontaneous, unstoppable pressing of the locking pin upwards is reduced, and in particular the unwanted release of the locking pin from the latching hole is avoided.

[0006] This object is achieved by a locking device with the features of claim 1.

[0007] With this locking device, the narrowing area no longer runs conically. Instead of the straight line according to the state of the art between points A and B, the locking pin has only one narrowing region, which is described by a non-straight line AB. This line never lies outside of AB. It lies at least in a partial area within this section. The angle at which the narrowing area adjoins the snap fastener is not constant. Depends on the position of the locking pin relative to the latch connector. Near point A the angle is smaller than according to prior art. The closer the point along the AB line is to point B, the larger the angle between the narrowing area and the snap connector becomes. The angle near point B reaches values ​​that are larger than in the rectilinear course of the prior art.

[0008] The solution has the following advantage: The more the locking pin is pulled out of the latch hole, the smaller the angle becomes, which narrowing area adjoins the narrowing area to the latch connector. The smaller the force component that can push the locking pin out of the latch hole becomes. Together, this prevents the unwanted release of the locking pin from the latch hole much better than is the case in the prior art.

[0009] The invention maintains a distance between points A and B in projection on the longitudinal direction of the rails. Therefore, the area available for backing up slack is maintained.

[0010] Near the point A, especially in the lower third of the AB section, the angle at which the narrowing area adjoins the snap fastener is certainly smaller than the self-locking angle of the materials used. For example, the angle is below 6 ° and preferably below 5 °. In relation to the angle between the AB line and the axis of the pin, this means an even slightly smaller angle, e.g. below 4.5 °. The pin axis under load is usually set at an angle of about 0.5 ° to the latch holes. The latch holes are at a right angle to the latch bar.

[0011] The AB line may consist of at least two partial elements, and preferably a plurality of partial elements. It can be, for example, a traverse of two, three or more rectilinear partial elements. It may consist of partial elements not running in a straight line. Mixed forms with at least one rectilinear partial element and at least one curved partial element are also possible. When the AB line consists of partial elements, it is continuous, but it is not continuously differentiable.

[0012] Preferably, the AB line runs continuously differentially between points A and B. In this case it consists of a coherent curve.

[0013] Preferably, the slope of the AB line from point A to point B is continuously decreasing. The AB line runs monotonically. There is no turning point. Preferably, the AB line is made of a part of a circular arch, an ellipse, a parabola and the like.

[0014] The narrowing area ensures that the immobilization is free of play. The locking pins go deep enough into the latch hole until two slack pins are obtained free of play.

[0015] The front area is generally defined and / or necessary due to the manufacturing process of the locking pin by cold forming and the like. The front area has proved to be very cylindrical. For example, it has a length of 0.5 to 2 mm in the direction of the pin axis. The cylindrical part finally prevents the locking pin from releasing completely from the latch connector.

[0016] Preferably, the locking pin is at least rotationally symmetrical about the axis of the pin. Preferably, it is together rotationally symmetrical.

[0017] The mandrel area is not relevant to the description of the invention. It can be made according to the state of the art. In the area of ​​the mandrel, typical means are provided, e.g. a collar, to provide an attachment point to the flap. Preferably, the groove area is also in the region of the mandrel, reference is made to the disclosure of DE 102 42 825 A1 for this purpose. Further advantages and features arise from the remaining claims and the following description of embodiments of the invention understood in a non-limiting manner, which are explained in more detail below. The figure shows:

Fig. 1: cross-sectional view of the fixation device according to the prior art, cross-sectional plane in the xz plane,

Fig. 2: a view in the direction as in figure 1 of the lower part of the locking pin according to the state of the art and similar to fig. 1, but with a cylindrical part,

Fig. 3: a side view of a locking pin according to the disclosure of claim 1,

Fig. 4: a side view as in Fig. 3 of a second embodiment of a locking pin according to the disclosure of claim 1,

Fig. 5: a view as in Fig. 3 of a third embodiment of a locking pin according to the disclosure of claim 1, and

Fig. 6: an enlarged view of the right part of the lower part of the locking pin to explain the structure and compared with the locking pin according to the prior art.

[0018] The immobilizing device according to figure 1 for adjusting the longitudinal seat of a motor vehicle has a floor rail 20 which is a latching bar 22. This has

The snap holes 24 arranged in intervals, respectively, between each two snap holes 24 is a snap connector 26. The device for longitudinal adjustment further has a chair rail 28 to which the locking unit 30 is connected. The locking unit 30 has a guide 32 of pins. In addition, it has three locking pins, which have the same design. They protrude through the guide holes of the guide rail 32 pins. Each of the two locking pins 34 adheres to one adjacent latch connector 26 of the latching bar 22, the adhesion is free of play. The central locking pin 34 is inactive, it lies on the latch connector 26. Each locking connector 34 has been assigned a spring (not shown) that preloads it in the position shown. The spring moves the respective locking pin 34 downwards. The locking pins 34 have a collar 36, the collar 36 is the area with the largest diameter of the locking pin 34. Below the flanges 36 of the three locking pins 34 there is a flap 38. It serves to release all three locking pins 34 of the blocking unit 30 together.

[0019] As can be seen in figure 1, the left locking pin 34 lies on the flap 38. The flap 38 lies on the pin guide 32. Therefore, further penetration into the latch hole 24 is not possible for the left locking pin 34. The left locking pin 34 is in the deepest position.

[0020] The description uses a right-handed, rectangular coordinate system with x, y and z axes. The z axis runs parallel to the axis 40 of the pin. The x direction runs in the longitudinal direction of both rails 20, 28 and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the device. The y-axis runs at right angles to the paper plane in figure 1.

[0021] The locking pins 34 respectively have one end region 42 which has a front end 44. From above, the narrowing region 46 connects to the front region 42. The mandrel area 47 joins again from above. All figures show a side view or profile view of the locking pin 34. The profile of the stenosis area 46 has an upper point B and a lower point A. Point B in the case of the locking pin 34 lies on a circular line, similarly point A. The circular lines are concentric and central to the axis 40 of the pin.

[0022] In the embodiment according to Fig. 2, the locking pin 34 has a cylindrical portion. It forms part of the frontal area 42. The cylindrical portion 52 preferably has an axial length of 10 to 30%, and preferably about 25% of the axial length of the constriction region 46.

[0023] In the case of the locking pin 34 according to the prior art, points A and B are connected to each other by a straight line 48. In the case of a locking pin 34 having the features of claim 1, the restriction of the area of ​​narrowing 46 does not lie outside this straight line 48, but at least partly inside, and preferably completely inside. Points A and B are connected to each other by AB 60 line. The profile of the locking pins 34 in the area of ​​narrowing 46 is limited by the AB line. The embodiments of Figures 3 to 5 are constructed so that the AB 60 line lies continuously within the straight line 48. The AB 60 line can be understood as forming, and during rotation about the axis 40 of the mandrel, the actual shape of the side surface of the constriction region 46 is obtained. The terms outside and inside are used to refer to the position of the pin axis 40.

[0024] The AB 60 line does not run in a straight line. In the embodiment of figure 3, it runs in a circular arc. The midpoint of the circular arc lies on the midpoint perpendicular to segment AB. In the embodiment of figure 4, the line AB 60 consists of two partial elements, each of which is made of parts of a circular arc. Where both partial elements are in contact, a continuous but not continuously differentiable place is obtained. In the embodiment of figure 5, the AB line is limited by a partial ellipse element. The AB lines according to figures 3 and 5 are continuously differentiable.

[0025] The locking pins 34 according to Figs. 1 and 2, which were made according to the prior art, have a passage 50 which is located above the narrowing region 46 and is part of the mandrel region 47. This transition 50 is in the form of a relatively short truncated cone. The transition of 50 is conditioned by the production technique. It is beneficial to avoid this kind of transition 50. In the embodiment of the locking pins 34 according to the invention, see Figures 3 to 5, no such passage 50 is provided in the area 47 of the mandrel.

[0026] It is possible to form the locking pin 34 without the front area 42, especially only with the very short front area 42. The front area 42 in the axial direction may shrink practically over a length greater or less than zero. In any case, the front end belongs to the front end 44.

[0027] The structural embodiment is shown in figure 6. The line AB 60 forms an angle 72 at point A with a parallel to axis 40 of the dowel. This is the slope at A. At point B, the tangent to AB 60 forms an angle 70 with a pin parallel to axis 40. This is the angle of inclination at point B.

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