Continuously adjustable seat back hinge mounting

Abstract

A seat back hinge mounting has a toothed element firmly connected to the seat back and a detent element associated with the seat carrier. The detent element includes an arcuate region with teeth that are adapted to be brought into engagement with the teeth of the toothed element, a long hole through which the pivot extends making the detent element movable in such a manner that the teeth are movable into and out of engagement with the teeth of the toothed element, and first and second inclined surfaces disposed on the free end turned away from the seat back and disposed diagonally opposite each other and forming a V-like shape that tapers toward the free end of the detent element. The hinge has first and second spring-loaded eccentric discs fastened for rotation about a respective axis of rotation (Y-Y) on the seat carrier.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood with reference to the following Figs. The exemplary embodiment shown in the Figs. is only given by way of example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a seat back hinge mounting of the invention in a view from the top; and

FIG. 2 shows the seat back hinge mounting shown in FIG. 1 in a view from the side.

Claims

1. A seat back hinge mounting for a motor vehicle seat comprising: a seat carrier;a seat back, the seat back being pivotal about a pivot disposed on the seat;a toothed element firmly connected to the seat back and defining a free arcuate end with teeth and is pivotal about a pivot axis (X-X) extending through the pivot;a detent element that is associated with the seat carrier and includes an arcuate region with teeth that is implemented and disposed in such a manner that the teeth of the detent element are adapted to be brought into engagement with the teeth of the toothed element,a long hole through which the pivot extends that is oriented in such a manner and has a length such that the detent element is movable in such a manner that the teeth of the detent element are movable into and out of engagement with the teeth of the toothed element,a first inclined surface disposed on its free end turned away from the seat back and a second inclined surface disposed on its free end turned away from the seat back, with the two inclined surfaces being disposed diagonally opposite and forming together an approximate V-like shape that tapers toward the free end of the detent element; anda first eccentric disc and a second eccentric disc, each being fastened for rotation about a respective axis of rotation (Y-Y) on the seat carrier, the first eccentric disc contacting with its external surface the first inclined surface and the second eccentric disc contacting with its external surface the second inclined surface, the eccentric discs are spring-loaded in such a manner that they urge the detent element over the inclined surfaces toward the toothed element and retain the teeth in engagement.

2. The seat back hinge mounting as set forth in claim 1, wherein the detent element is urged by the force of a spring into the direction leading away from the toothed element.

3. The seat back hinge mounting as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inclined surfaces of the detent element merge into an extended portion that extends between the eccentric discs in the direction leading away from the toothed element.

4. The seat back hinge mounting as set forth in claim 3, wherein a traction spring is fastened to the end of the extended portion and to the seat carrier in order to pull the detent element away from the toothed element.

5. The seat back hinge mounting as set forth in claim 2, wherein the eccentric discs are each firmly connected to a respective lever, with the levers being oriented approximately at right angles with respect to the inclined surfaces in a base position and having, on their side turned away from the respective inclined surface, a free end, and a spring element joining the two levers together and pulling them toward each other, thus urging the detent element over the inclined surfaces toward the toothed element.

6. The seat back hinge mounting as set forth in claim 5, wherein the arrangement and shape of the eccentric discs and of the levers as well as the width of the extended portion between the eccentric discs are chosen such that the levers are disposed at an angle of about 40° with respect to each other.

7. The seat back hinge mounting as set forth in claim 6, wherein there is provided an actuation mechanism by means of which the eccentric discs are rotatable about their axes of rotation (Y-Y).

8. The seat back hinge mounting as set forth in claim 2, wherein the inclined surfaces of the detent element merge into an extended portion that extends between the eccentric discs in the direction leading away from the toothed element.

9. A seat back hinge mounting for a motor vehicle seat comprising: a seat carrier;a seat back, the seat back being pivotal about a pivot disposed on the seat;a toothed element firmly connected to the seat back and defining a free arcuate end with teeth and is pivotal about a pivot axis (X-X) extending through the pivot;a detent element that is associated with the seat carrier and includes an arcuate region with teeth that is implemented and disposed in such a manner that the teeth of the detent element are adapted to be brought into engagement with the teeth of the toothed element,a long hole through which the pivot extends that is oriented in such a manner and has a length such that the detent element is movable in such a manner that the teeth of the detent element are movable into and out of engagement with the teeth of the toothed element,a first inclined surface disposed on its free end turned away from the seat back and a second inclined surface disposed on its free end turned away from the seat back, with the two inclined surfaces being disposed diagonally opposite and forming together an approximate V-like shape that tapers toward the free end of the detent element;a first eccentric disc and a second eccentric disc, each being fastened for rotation about a respective axis of rotation (Y-Y) on the seat carrier, the first eccentric disc contacting with its external surface the first inclined surface and the second eccentric disc contacting with its external surface the second inclined surface, the eccentric discs are spring-loaded in such a manner that they urge the detent element over the inclined surfaces toward the toothed element and retain the teeth in engagement; andan actuation mechanism by means of which the eccentric discs are rotatable about their axes of rotation (Y-Y).

10. The seat back hinge mounting as set forth in claim 9, wherein the detent element is urged by the force of a spring into the direction leading away from the toothed element.

11. The seat back hinge mounting as set forth in claim 9, wherein the inclined surfaces of the detent element merge into an extended portion that extends between the eccentric discs in the direction leading away from the toothed element.

12. The seat back hinge mounting as set forth in claim 11, wherein a traction spring is fastened to the end of the extended portion and to the seat carrier in order to pull the detent element away from the toothed element.

13. The seat back hinge mounting as set forth in claim 11, wherein the eccentric discs are each firmly connected to a respective lever, with the levers being oriented approximately at right angles with respect to the inclined surfaces in a base position and having, on their side turned away from the respective inclined surface, a free end, and a spring element joining the two levers together and pulling them toward each other, thus urging the detent element over the inclined surfaces toward the toothed element.

14. The seat back hinge mounting as set forth in claim 13, wherein the arrangement and shape of the eccentric discs and of the levers as well as the width of the extended portion between the eccentric discs are chosen such that the levers are disposed at an angle of about 40° with respect to each other.