Patent Application
20110278895
This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102010020561.3, filed May 14, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The technical field generally relates to an adjustment device for adjusting an inclination angle of a backrest of a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle.
In general, continuous and non-continuous adjustment devices are known from the prior art. The continuous adjustment devices allow an absolutely precise adjustment of the backrest. In addition, they are also lighter and more cost-effective than the non-continuous adjustment devices. However, in order to be able to operate a hand wheel for adjusting the backrest, a minimum distance must be provided between the hand wheel and a B column. Since the non-continuous adjustment devices are always adjusted using an operating lever and the actuation of the operating lever can be performed using a relatively flat hand, the distance between the operating lever and the B column can be rather small, so that the limited space available in the vehicle interior can be used better.
DE 3126142 A1 describes a continuous adjustment device for adjusting a backrest of a vehicle seat. To adjust the backrest, an operating lever is actuated, which pivots a disengagement cam, so that a locking latch is raised from a friction surface and a person can adjust the backrest using the pressure of his back or by decreasing the pressure of the back. This adjustment device locks the backrest in a friction-locked manner. In particular in the case of heavy persons, however, the backrest can adjust itself in an undesired manner due to the strong pressure of the back. Undesired adjustment of the backrest is also possible by children, for example, who kick with their feet solidly against the backrest from the backseat. Since a specific pressure is to be applied by the person when adjusting the backrest, is difficult to operate for weaker or older persons in particular.
In view of the foregoing, at least one object is to provide an adjustment device which can be adjusted without the pressure of the back. In addition, other objects, desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.
An adjustment device is provided for adjusting an inclination angle of a backrest of a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle, the adjustment device being able to be actuated by a ratchet mechanism. The ratchet mechanism can be operated using the fingers of one hand, since it only requires an extremely small application of force for actuation. This is particularly comfortable in particular for weaker or older persons. The backrest can expediently be locked in a formfitting manner in its set position, so that it reliably maintains the set position even upon the action of greater pressures or impact loads. The inclination angle of the backrest can preferably be adjusted continuously, so that a very precise adjustment is possible. However, the inclination angle of the backrest can fundamentally also be adjusted in larger or smaller steps.
To actuate the ratchet mechanism, an operating lever can be situated laterally on the vehicle seat. It may be operated not only comfortably with little use of force, but rather also allows an optimal utilization of the vehicle interior, since the distance between operating lever and the B column can be relatively small, in order to nonetheless allow comfortable actuation of the operating lever. In order that the inclination angle of the backrest can be increased and decreased using the adjustment mechanism, the action direction of the ratchet mechanism can be switched over.
In an embodiment, the ratchet mechanism can be switched over using at least one cable pull. The cable pull can be actuated easily using an operating knob or the like from the operating lever for the switch over, for example. In an alternative embodiment, the ratchet mechanism can be switched over using a rotatable handle. For this purpose, the handle can be rotatable around its longitudinal axis, so that the at least one cable pull is actuated by a slight rotation to the left or right and the action direction of the ratchet mechanism can thus be changed. The ratchet mechanism can expediently be situated on a drive rod which drives the adjustment device.
A vehicle seat, in particular for the motor vehicle, is also provided having an adjustment device in accordance with the embodiments. In addition, a motor vehicle is provided having this vehicle seat.
The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and:
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or summary or the following detailed description.
An alternative embodiment is shown in
Although at least one exemplary embodiment was explained in greater detail in the summary and detailed description, a large number of further embodiments must nonetheless exist. It must be emphasized that the at least one exemplary embodiment does not have the purpose of restricting the scope of protection, the field of use, or the precise design of the invention in any way. Instead, the preceding summary and detailed description are merely to give a person skilled in the art an orientation aid, in order to be able to implement at least one exemplary embodiment. Of course, many alternatives are possible with respect to the function and the configuration of the described elements, without leaving the scope of protection of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102010020561.3 | May 2010 | DE | national |
