Supplemental locking mechanism for a longitudinal adjuster of a vehicle seat

Abstract

In a supplemental locking mechanism ( 11 ) for a longitudinal adjuster of a vehicle seat, in particular for a longitudinal adjuster of an automobile seat, wherein an upper rail ( 4 ) extends for sliding movement in a lower rail ( 5 ) and is adapted for being locked with same, the supplemental locking mechanism ( 11 ) being inactive in the normal case, and locking the upper rail ( 4 ) with the lower rail ( 5 ) only in the event of a crash. A part of a safety belt system is arranged on a belt adapter ( 12 ), which is secured to the upper rail ( 4 ), with the mounted component of the safety belt system moving in the event of a crash at least one part ( 12′″ ) of the belt adapter ( 12 ) in a defined manner relative to the upper rail ( 4 ) and to the lower rail ( 5 ), thereby engaging the supplemental locking device ( 11 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A supplemental locking mechanism for a vehicle seat that includes a safety belt system and a longitudinal adjuster, with the longitudinal adjuster having an upper rail mounted for moving relative to a lower rail and for being locked with respect to the lower rail, the supplemental locking mechanism comprising: 
 a belt adapter secured to the upper rail, wherein a component of the safety belt system is mounted to the belt adapter and the belt adapter is operative: 
 to allow movement of the component of the safety belt system relative to the upper rail in the event of a crash, and  
 so that the movement of the component of the safety belt system causes at least one part of the belt adapter to move relative to the upper and lower rails as a result of deformation of a part of the belt adapter, with the movement of the part of the belt adapter causing the supplemental locking mechanism to become engaged and thereby lock the upper rail to restrict movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail, and  
   wherein the supplemental locking mechanism does not prevent movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail absent a crash.    
     
     
         2 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the part of the belt adapter that moves relative to the upper and lower rails is associated with a locking element that is operative, as a result of the crash, for formfittingly or frictionally engaging the lower rail or a component integral with the lower rail to restrict movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail.  
     
     
         3 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the part of the belt adapter that moves relative to the upper and lower rails is associated with a locking element that is operative, as a result of the crash, for formfittingly and frictionally engaging the lower rail or a component integral with the lower rail to restrict movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail.  
     
     
         4 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the part of the belt adapter that moves as a result of the crash is associated with a locking element that is operative, as a result of the crash, for engaging a component that is integral with the lower rail to restrict movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail, and wherein the component that is integral with the lower rail is operative for undergoing a deformation in response to the engaging.  
     
     
         5 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the belt adapter comprises a clamp that surrounds the upper and lower rails and is moved as a result of the crash.  
     
     
         6 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 5 , wherein the clamp engages a deformable part, which is rigidly connected to the lower rail, as a result of the crash.  
     
     
         7 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 6 , wherein the deformable part rigidly connected to the lower rail is designed and constructed as a locking brush with a plurality of projecting locking fingers, and the locking brush extends along the lower rail over an entire possible path of travel of the clamp.  
     
     
         8 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the part of the belt adapter that deforms is positioned between, and has less stability than, a part of the belt adapter that is mounted to the upper rail and the part of the belt adapter that moves relative to the upper and lower rails as a result of the crash.  
     
     
         9 . A supplemental locking mechanism for a vehicle seat that includes a safety belt system and a longitudinal adjuster, with the longitudinal adjuster having an upper rail mounted for moving relative to a lower rail and for being locked with respect to the lower rail, the supplemental locking mechanism comprising: 
 adapter means secured to and rotatable relative to the upper rail, wherein a component of the safety belt system is mounted to the adapter means and the adapter means is for allowing movement of the component of the safety belt system relative to the upper rail substantially solely in the event of a crash of at least a predetermined magnitude, so that the movement of the component of the safety belt system causes the adapter means to rotate relative to the upper and lower rails, with the rotation of the adapter means causing the supplemental locking mechanism to become engaged and thereby lock the upper rail to restrict movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail, and    wherein the supplemental locking mechanism does not prevent movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail absent a crash.    
     
     
         10 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 9 , wherein the adapter means is a rotational lever with a shorter lever arm and a longer lever arm that is longer than the shorter lever arm, wherein the component of the safety belt system is mounted to the shorter lever arm.  
     
     
         11 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 9 , wherein the adapter means is mounted for pivoting about an upright axis relative to the upper and lower rails.  
     
     
         12 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 9 , wherein the adapter means is associated with a locking element that is operative, as a result of the crash, for engaging the lower rail or a component integral with the lower rail to restrict movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail.  
     
     
         13 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 9 , wherein the belt adapter comprises a clamp that at least partially surrounds the upper and lower rails and is moved as a result of the crash.  
     
     
         14 . A vehicle seat, comprising: 
 a longitudinal adjuster having an upper rail mounted for moving relative to a lower rail and for being locked with respect to the lower rail;    seat structure mounted to the upper rail and movable with the upper rail relative to the lower rail; and    a supplemental locking mechanism including adapter means secured to the upper rail, wherein a component of a safety belt system is mounted to the adapter means and the adapter means if for allowing movement of the component of the safety belt system relative to the upper rail substantially solely in the event of a crash of at least a predetermined magnitude, so that the movement of the component of the safety belt system causes at least one part of the adapter means to move relative to the upper and lower rails, with the movement of the part of the adapter means causing the supplemental locking mechanism to become engaged and thereby lock the upper rail to restrict movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail, and    wherein the supplemental locking mechanism does not prevent movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail absent a crash.    
     
     
         15 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 14 , wherein the movement of the part of the adapter means that moves relative to the upper and lower rails causes deformation of a part of the adapter means.  
     
     
         16 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 14 , wherein the adapter means comprises a clamp that at least partially surrounds the upper and lower rails and is moved as a result of the crash.  
     
     
         17 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 14 , wherein the part of the adapter means that moves as a result of the crash is associated with a locking element that is operative, as a result of the crash, for engaging a deformable component of the lower rail to restrict movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail, and wherein the deformable component of the lower rail is operative for undergoing a deformation in response to the engaging.  
     
     
         18 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 17 , wherein the deformable component of the lower rail is designed and constructed as a locking brush with a plurality of projecting locking fingers.  
     
     
         19 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 14 , wherein the adapter means is secured to and rotatable relative to the upper rail, so that the movement of the component of the safety belt system causes the adapter means to rotate relative to the upper and lower rails, with the rotation of the adapter means causing the supplemental locking mechanism to become engaged and thereby lock the upper rail to restrict movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail.  
     
     
         20 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 19 , wherein the adapter means is a rotational lever with a shorter lever arm and a longer lever arm that is longer than the shorter lever arm, wherein the component of the safety belt system is mounted to the shorter lever arm.  
     
     
         21 . A supplemental locking mechanism according to  claim 19 , wherein the adapter means is mounted for pivoting about an upright axis relative to the upper and lower rails.