Patents Assigned to Keiper GmbH & Co.
  • Patent number: 9827877
    Abstract: A release device for the upper rail and the lower rail of a longitudinal seat adjustment system of a motor vehicle seat, the release device having a lever rotatably supported on the upper rail of the seat. An end of the lever interacts with the locking means and optionally releases the locking means. A handle is provided at the other end. If the handle is operated, the lever moves relative to the upper rail from a passive position to a release position and moves the locking means from a locking position to a releasing position. So the release device automatically moves into a passive position of the release device, a spring element is provided, which preloads the lever into the passive position of the lever. The spring element additionally supports the lever on the upper rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Falko Jähner, Georg Ruess, Jürgen Krebs
  • Patent number: 9649954
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, has a seat part and a backrest which is provided with a backrest frame which runs all around as a load-bearing structure. The backrest frame has a lower crossmember, two side parts and an upper crossmember. The backrest can pivot relative to the seat part by at least one fitting which is attached to the backrest frame. At least one corner piece is provided as part of the backrest frame, which corner piece connects the lower crossmember to one of the seat parts. The fitting is attached to the corner piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian Markel, Thomas Dill, Wolfgang Pluta
  • Patent number: 9623772
    Abstract: In a method for producing a vehicle seat fitting, in which a plain bearing bush (28) is pressed in the axial direction into a receptacle of a first fitting part (11), wherein the pressed-in plain bearing bush (28) has a radially protruding securing region (28b), the securing region (28b) is formed before or after the pressing-in operation by material of the plain bearing bush (28) being displaced uncut, and the wall thickness (b) of the plain bearing bush (28) being less than 1.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Keiper GMBH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Christian Jokiel
  • Patent number: 9592749
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a basic structure, a backrest support which is articulated on the basic structure in a lockable manner by at least one fitting, a backrest structure a backrest that has the backrest support and the backrest structure, the backrest being movable in relation to the basic structure by a kinematic system in order to transfer the vehicle seat from at least one use position, in which it can be sat on, into an out-of-use position or into a further use position and back again. A four-bar linkage temporarily exists the four-bar linkage controlling the kinematic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: André Boehm, Georg Fischer, Ralph Recktenwald
  • Patent number: 9533606
    Abstract: A locking device for a vehicle seat has a latch which is mounted pivotably about a second axis and is intended for locking a counter element, with a clamping eccentric which is mounted pivotably about a first axis parallel to the second axis and, by interaction with a first functional surface of the latch, secures a locked state of the latch. In the locked state, the clamping eccentric acts in a spring-loaded manner on the first functional surface via a clamping surface. The clamping eccentric is moveable from the locking position thereof into the unlocking position thereof. A pretensioned compression spring is provided, which is supported at one end thereof on an arm of the clamping eccentric in a manner spring-loading the latter into the locking position thereof and, at the other end thereof, acting upon the latch in the unlocking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Mueller, Volker Windecker, Stefan Haber, Kadir Yasaroglu, Silke Labuk
  • Patent number: 9475406
    Abstract: A locking device for a vehicle seat has a catch which is mounted such that it can be pivoted about a second axis and is intended for locking a mating element, and has a clamping eccentric which is mounted such that it can be pivoted about a first axis, between a locking position and an unlocking position and secures a locked state of the catch by interaction with a first functional surface of the catch. In the locked state, the clamping eccentric acts on the first functional surface via a clamping surface. An unlocking element is mounted such that it can be pivoted about the second axis by an actuating device, counter to a spring force, out of a locking position into an unlocking position. The unlocking element and the clamping eccentric have arranged between them a bias spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Mueller, Volker Windecker, Stefan Haber, Kadir Yasaroglu, Silke Labuk
  • Patent number: 9469221
    Abstract: A fitting system for a vehicle seat having a fitting (10), which has a first fitting part (11) and a second fitting part (12), which fitting parts can be locked to one another and can be rotated relative to one another about an axis (A). A transmission rod (7) rotates during an unlocking process to unlock the fitting (10) against the torque and follows a characteristic curve (M35) generated by a spring arrangement (35). A hand lever (5) initiates the unlocking process, the actuation of which rotates the transmission rod (7). A shaped spring (61) is active between a first component (63) and a second component (64) which rotate, relative to one another during the unlocking process. The torque generated by the shaped spring follows a non-linear characteristic curve (M61) which, together with the approximately linear characteristic curve (M35) of the spring arrangement (35), produces an overall characteristic curve (Moverall).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Schüler, Bernd Bossmanns, Uwe Assmann
  • Patent number: 9446689
    Abstract: A vehicle seat fitting system has a fitting, by which a backrest can be freely pivoted relative to a seat part and a rotatable memory flag disk coupled to the backrest during the free pivoting and to the seat part in the starting position. The flag disk includes disk toothing and a second toothing is allocated to the backrest. The toothings are engaged during the free pivoting. A control lever with a coupler hinged on the control lever, is coupled to an unlocking lever and moves the toothings into engagement. The flag disk is coupled to the seat part, in the starting position, by a lock receptacle and a control element movable relative to the lock receptacle and the lock receptacle is a section of a control contour by which the control element, arranged on the control lever, holds the control lever directed out during the free pivoting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Christoffel, Heinrich Hammann, Christina Krisch
  • Patent number: 9440557
    Abstract: A locking device for a vehicle seat, includes a pawl for locking a mating element, which pawl is pivotally supported about a first axis, and a tensioning eccentric that is pivotally supported about a second axis, which is parallel to the first axis, between a locking position and an unlocking position and ensures a locked state of the pawl owing to the interaction with a first functional surface of the pawl, the tensioning eccentric acting upon the first functional surface by a tensioning surface when spring-loaded and locked, an unlocking element being pivotable about the first axis counter to a spring force from a locking position to an unlocking position by an actuation device and the tensioning eccentric being pivotally engaged by the unlocking element from its locking position towards its unlocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Müeller, Volker Windecker, Stefan Haber, Kadir Yasaroglu, Silke Labuk
  • Patent number: 9421887
    Abstract: A fitting system for a vehicle seat, has at least one fitting (10) which has a first fitting part (11) and a second fitting part (12), which can be interlocked and rotated relative to one another around an axis (A), transmission bar (7), the rotation of which unlocks the fitting (10), and at least one control element (5, 8), the actuation of which effects the rotation of the transmission bar (7). The fitting system includes a gearbox module (70) that is a differential gearbox, arranged concentric to the axis (A), and as a pre-mounted unit. The gearbox module decouples the rotation of the fitting parts (11, 12) and the rotation of the transmission bar (7) from each other. The components, mechanically actuated by manually operated control elements (5, 8), act on the first fitting part (11) or the second fitting part (12) of the at least one fitting (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Jung, Dirk Dubois
  • Patent number: 9409498
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat, in particular motor vehicle seat, with a seat part, a backrest which, as a supporting structure, has a backrest structure with at least one side part, and at least one fitting by which the backrest is connected to the seat part and can be pivoted relative thereto, wherein a distance is defined in an axial direction between the fitting and the side part, the backrest structure has at least one profile body which is fixedly connected at one end to the side part and at the other end to the fitting and which at least partially has a profile which is constant in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Pluta
  • Patent number: 9393888
    Abstract: A locking device for a foldable backrest of a seat, has a locking housing with a handle, the handle being pivotably between locking and unlocking positions and by which a pawl can be carried between retaining and non-retaining positions, and has a blocking element which is movable by a closable lock manually between a blocking position blocking the handle and a release position releasing the handle. The blocking element is a locking bolt mounted pivotably in the locking housing between the blocking and release positions and having release and blocking recesses. A blocking pin, in the release position of the locking bolt, projects into the release recess and is freely movable between the locking and unlocking positions. The blocking pin, in the blocking position of the locking bolt and the locking position of the handle, protrudes into the blocking recess and is blocked against pivoting into the unlocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Kai Schumann
  • Patent number: 9352667
    Abstract: In a fitting system for a vehicle seat having at least one fitting by which a rest can be pivoted relative to a seat part from at least one use position to a non-use position, the fitting has a first fitting part with a toothed rim, a second fitting part, having at least one moving bolt which locks the fitting in the use position by interacting with the toothed rim, a prestressed eccentric which moves the bolt radially outward to interact with the toothed rim, and a control cam which moves the bolt radially inward in the event of rotation in the opening direction, to terminate interaction with the toothed rim. The control cam can be rotated in the closing direction in a manner uncoupled from the eccentric, to lock the fitting in the non-use position by interaction between the one bolt and the toothed rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Schueler, Ulrich Lehmann
  • Patent number: 9346380
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, has a seat part, a backrest, and at least one fitting, by which the back rest is attached pivotably to the seat part. The fitting has a first fitting part connected to the backrest and a second fitting part connected to the seat part. The fittings are normally located in the force flux between the backrest and seat part. The seat has at least one deformation zone which is deformed in the event of a crash. A supporting element is mounted on the backrest and a supporting element is mounted on the seat part, the supporting elements normally being spaced apart from each other and, in the event of a crash, coming into contact with each other because of the deformation of the deformation zone to provide a further force flux path lying parallel to the fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian Markel, Thomas Dill, Wolfgang Pluta, Viktor Enns, Gerhard Mueller
  • Patent number: 9333881
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a seat shell, includes a first upper rail, which is arranged on the tunnel side and is movably guided in a first lower rail, and a second upper rail, which is arranged on the sill side and is movably guided in a second lower rail. The first upper rail can be displaced relative to the second upper rail, and due to that displacement the seat shell carries out a rotation about a vertically extending pivot axis. A main memory device is provided on the second upper rail, and at least one spring unit is provided, which acts upon the first upper rail relative to the second upper rail in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Roth, Markus Jung
  • Patent number: 9308837
    Abstract: A fitting for a vehicle seat includes a first fitting part and a second fitting part, which can be rotated relative to each other, bolts which, in the locked state, interact with a toothed ring on the first fitting part to lock the fitting, and a rotatably mounted eccentric, which acts on the bolts when changing from the unlocked state to the locked state by rotation in a closing direction. When in the locked state without any external torque, a first eccentric cam and a first locking cam are in contact with each other at a first contact point and there is a gap between the second eccentric cam and a second locking cam. Starting at a specific external torque, the second eccentric cam and the second locking cam are in contact with each other at a second contact point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Christoph Peters
  • Patent number: 9303685
    Abstract: A fitting for a vehicle seat, such as a motor vehicle seat, includes a first fitting part, on which a ring gear is formed, and a second fitting part, on which a spur gear is formed, which meshes with the ring gear. The two fitting parts are in transmission connection with each other. A rotatably supported eccentric rotates in the circumferential direction for driving a relative rolling motion of the spur gear and the ring gear. The outside of the eccentric is arranged in a plain bearing bushing in the radial direction. The plain bearing bushing is arranged in a bearing seat, such as a collar of the first or second fitting part. The plain bearing bushing has a wall thickness of less than 1 mm and is connected to the bearing seat in a bonded manner by laser welding. A running side of the plain bearing bushing is plastic-coated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Grit Scholz
  • Patent number: 9290116
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator (71) for a vehicle seat, comprising a handle (41) for jointly actuating two locks (23), a force transfer between the handle and each lock, a first indicator (51) associated with the first force transfer, and a second indicator associated with the second force transfer, wherein the two indicators each indicate the respective locking status of the associated lock, and the two indicators actuate an overall indicator (61) by means of a logical OR function in order to visibly indicate the unlocked state. The force transfer is preferably formed from Bowden cables (43).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Joachim Kämmerer, Ralph Recktenwald
  • Patent number: 9242582
    Abstract: A fitting (10), in particular for a motor vehicle seat, includes a first fitting part (11), on which a ring gear (17) is formed, a second fitting part (12), on which a gear (16) is formed, which meshes with the ring gear (17), whereby the two fitting parts (11, 12) are in a transmission connection with each other, and a rotatably mounted, revolving eccentric for driving a relative rolling motion of the gear (16) and the ring gear (17). The eccentric is driven by a carrier, wherein during said rolling motion, a tooth flank (16d) of a tooth (16a) of the gear (16) contacts a tooth flank (17d) of a tooth (17a) of the ring gear (17) at a pitch point (W). The radius of curvature (K1) of the tooth flank (16d) of the tooth (16a) of the gear (16) at the pitch point (W) and the radius of curvature (K2) of the tooth flank (17d) of the tooth (17a); of the ring gear (17) at the pitch point (W) are at least approximately equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Thiel
  • Patent number: 9238421
    Abstract: A seat adjustment apparatus for adjusting seat elements of a seat in a motor vehicle comprises a gear mechanism housing of an electric motor/gear mechanism unit attached to a fitting part of a first seat element by an attachment element. A rotation movement can be transmitted to a rotation axis by the gear mechanism unit of the electric motor/gear mechanism unit. The attachment element can be attached to the gear mechanism housing by an end region and has an expansion plug part which projects through a recess in the fitting part, and has a passage opening axial to the recess in the fitting part and an identical cross section. An expansion element, which radially expands the expansion plug part, can be inserted into the passage opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Lars Kramm, Manfred Roseboom