Fitting for a vehicle seat

1. A fitting for a vehicle seat, the fitting comprising:

first and second fitting parts mounted so that there can be relative rotation, about an axis, between the first and second fitting parts;

an eccentric mounted for being rotated about the axis relative to the first and second fitting parts;

a plurality of locking elements that are guided by the first fitting part for moving radially outward, with respect to the axis, in response to rotation of the eccentric, so that the locking elements engage an arrangement of teeth of the second fitting part to lock the fitting in a locked position while the locking elements are positioned radially outwardly, wherein:

the arrangement of teeth extends around, and is radially outwardly from, the axis,

relative rotation between the first and second fitting parts about the axis is restricted while the fitting is locked,

the plurality of locking elements includes first and second locking elements that are adjacent to one another,

while the fitting is locked:

(a) the first and second locking elements are tilted laterally with respect to a radial direction that extends radially with respect to the axis, and

(b) the tilt of the first locking element is opposite from the tilt of the second locking element,

the eccentric includes:

(a) a first pair of eccentric cams for contacting the first locking element, and

(b) a second pair of eccentric cams for contacting the second locking element,

for each pair of the first and second pairs of eccentric cams:

(a) the pair includes a first eccentric cam and a second eccentric cam,

(b) the first eccentric cam differs in radial protrusiveness from the second eccentric cam, and

(c) the first and second eccentric cams are arranged in a sequence with respect to a circumferential direction of the eccentric,

for the first and second pairs of eccentric cams, the sequence of the two eccentric cams within a pair changes from pair to pair in the circumferential direction of the eccentric,

each of the first and second eccentric cams of the first pair of eccentric cams is for contacting the first locking element, and

each of the first and second eccentric cams of the second pair of eccentric cams is for contacting the second locking element, wherein when the eccentric is rotated to an unlocked position, the eccentric cams allow the locking elements to move radially inward and disengage the arrangement of teeth of the second fitting part, allowing rotation between the first and second fitting parts.

2. The fitting as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of locking elements further includes third and fourth locking elements that are adjacent to one another,

the plurality of locking elements is arranged around the axis,

the first, second, third and fourth locking elements are respectively offset with respect to one another, and

while the fitting is locked:

(a) the third and fourth locking elements are tilted laterally with respect to the radial direction, and

(b) the tilt of the third locking element is opposite from the tilt of the fourth locking element.

3. The fitting as claimed in claim 2 , wherein:

the plurality of locking elements consists essentially of the first, second, third and fourth locking elements; and

the plurality of locking elements is arranged around the eccentric;

the first, second, third and fourth locking elements are respectively offset by 90° with respect to one another so that:

(a) the first and third locking elements are opposite from one another and tilt in the same direction as one another, and

(b) the second and fourth locking elements are opposite from one another and tilt in the same direction as one another.

4. The fitting as claimed in claim 3 , wherein:

the eccentric includes:

(a) a third pair of eccentric cams for contacting the third locking element, and

(b) a fourth pair of eccentric cams for contacting the fourth locking element; and

for each pair of the third and fourth pairs of eccentric cams:

(a) the pair includes a first eccentric cam and a second eccentric cam, and

(b) the first eccentric cam protrudes farther radially outward than the second eccentric cam;

each of the first and second eccentric cams of the third pair of eccentric cams is for contacting the third locking element; and

each of the first and second eccentric cams of the fourth pair of eccentric cams is for contacting the fourth locking element.

5. The fitting as claimed in claim 2 , wherein:

the first and fourth locking elements are adjacent to one another,

the second and third locking elements that are adjacent to one another, and while the fitting is locked:

(a) the tilt of the first locking element is opposite from the tilt of the fourth locking element, and

(b) the tilt of the second locking element is opposite from the tilt of the third locking element.

6. The fitting as claimed in claim 2 , wherein:

the eccentric includes:

(a) a third pair of eccentric cams for contacting the third locking element, and

(b) a fourth pair of eccentric cams for contacting the fourth locking element;

for each pair of the third and fourth pairs of eccentric cams:

a) the pair includes a first eccentric cam and a second eccentric cam, and

(b) the first eccentric cam differs in radial protrusiveness from the second eccentric cam;

each of the first and second eccentric cams of the third pair of eccentric cams is for contacting the third locking element; and

each of the first and second eccentric cams of the fourth pair of eccentric cams is for contacting the fourth locking element.

7. The fitting as claimed in claim 6 , wherein for each pair of the first, second, third and fourth pairs of eccentric cams, the first eccentric cam protrudes farther radially outward than the second eccentric cam.

8. The fitting as claimed in claim 6 , wherein:

each of the first, second, third and fourth locking elements includes two radially inwardly oriented locking cams;

the locking cams of the first locking element are for respectively contacting the eccentric cams of the first pair of eccentric cams;

the locking cams of the second locking element are for respectively contacting the eccentric cams of the second pair of eccentric cams;

the locking cams of the third locking element are for respectively contacting the eccentric cams of the third pair of eccentric cams; and

the locking cams of the fourth locking element are for respectively contacting the eccentric cams of the fourth pair of eccentric cams.

9. The fitting as claimed in claim 1 , wherein for each pair of the first and second pairs of eccentric cams, the first eccentric cam protrudes farther radially outward than the second eccentric cam.

10. The fitting as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

each of the first and second locking elements includes first and second locking cams that are radially inwardly oriented;

the first and second locking cams of the first locking element are for respectively contacting the first and second eccentric cams of the first pair of eccentric cams; and

the first and second locking cams of the second locking element are for respectively contacting the first and second eccentric cams of the second pair of eccentric cams.

11. The fitting as claimed in claim 10 , wherein:

in at least one state of the fitting, simultaneously;

(a) the first eccentric cam of the first pair of eccentric cams is in contact with the first locking cam of the first locking element,

(b) the second eccentric cam of the first pair of eccentric cams is not in contact with the second locking cam of the first locking element,

(c) the first eccentric cam of the second pair of eccentric cams is in contact with the first locking cam of the second locking element, and

(d) the second eccentric cam of the second pair of eccentric cams is not in contact with the second locking cam of the second locking element; and

the at least one state is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a state in which at least the first and second locking elements are moving radially outward, and

(b) a state in which at least the first and second locking elements engage the arrangement of teeth of the second fitting part in order to lock the fitting.

12. The fitting as claimed in claim 11 , wherein, when the fitting is locked, each locking element is in contact at three points with other components of the fitting.

13. The fitting as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the three points of contact are:

a first point of contact with a respective first eccentric cam of the eccentric,

a second point of contact with a nearest adjacent guide segment of the first fitting part, and

a third point of contact at a toothed ring of the second fitting part.

14. The fitting as claimed in claim 10 , wherein, in response to a crash, for each locking element tilted counter to a loading direction, the locking element is tilted in the loading direction and is supported at least with one locking cam on the respective first eccentric cam.

15. The fitting as claimed in claim 10 , wherein in response to a crash, for each locking element tilted in a loading direction, each of the locking cams of the locking element are supported on the respective eccentric cams.

16. The fitting as claimed in claim 1 , in combination with a vehicle seat, wherein:

the vehicle seat includes a seat part and a backrest; and

the backrest is attached to the seat part by way of at least the fitting so that the backrest can be pivoted relative to the seat part and can be locked at different inclinations with respect to the seat part.

17. A fitting for a vehicle seat, the fitting comprising:

first and second fitting parts mounted so that there can be relative rotation, about an axis, between the first and second fitting parts;

an eccentric mounted for being rotated about the axis relative to the first and second fitting parts;

a plurality of locking elements that are guided by the first fitting part for moving radially outward, with respect to the axis, in response to rotation of the eccentric, so that the locking elements engage an arrangement of teeth of the second fitting part to lock the fitting in a locked position while the locking elements are positioned radially outwardly, wherein:

the arrangement of teeth extends around, and is radially outwardly from, the axis,

relative rotation between the first and second fitting parts about the axis is restricted while the fitting is locked,

the plurality of locking elements includes first and second locking elements that are adjacent to one another,

while the fitting is locked:

(a) the first and second locking elements are tilted laterally with respect to a radial direction that extends radially with respect to the axis, and

(b) the tilt of the first locking element is opposite from the tilt of the second locking element,

the eccentric includes:

(a) a first pair of eccentric cams for contacting the first locking element, and

(b) a second pair of eccentric cams for contacting the second locking element,

for each pair of the first and second pairs of eccentric cams:

(a) the pair includes a first eccentric cam and a second eccentric cam, and

(b) the first eccentric earn differs in radical protrusiveness from the second eccentric cam,

each of the first and second locking elements includes first and second locking cams that are radially inwardly oriented,

the first and second locking cams of the first locking element are for respectively contacting the first and second eccentric cams of the first pair of eccentric cams,

the first and second locking cams of the second locking element are for respectively contacting the first and second eccentric cams of the second pair of eccentric cams, and

in response to a crash, for each locking element tilted in a loading direction, each of the locking cams of the locking element are supported on the respective eccentric cams, wherein when the eccentric is rotated to an unlocked position, the eccentric cams allow the locking elements to move radially inward and disengage the arrangement of teeth of the second fitting part, allowing rotation between the first and second fitting parts.

18. The fitting as claimed in claim 17 , wherein:

for each pair of the first and second pairs of eccentric cams, the first and second eccentric cams are arranged in a sequence with respect to a circumferential direction of the eccentric; and

for the first and second pairs of eccentric cams, the sequence of the two eccentric cams within a pair changes from pair to pair in the circumferential direction of the eccentric.

19. A fitting for a vehicle seat, the fitting comprising:

first and second fitting parts mounted so that there can be relative rotation, about an axis, between the first and second fitting parts;

an eccentric mounted for being rotated about the axis relative to the first and second fitting parts;

a plurality of locking elements that are guided by the first fitting part for moving radially outward, with respect to the axis, in response to rotation of the eccentric, so that the locking elements engage an arrangement of teeth of the second fitting part to lock the fitting in a locked position while the locking elements are positioned radially outwardly, wherein:

the arrangement of teeth extends around, and is radially outwardly from, the axis,

relative rotation between the first and second fitting parts about the axis is restricted while the fitting is locked,

the plurality of locking elements includes first and second locking elements that are adjacent to one another,

while the fitting is locked:

(a) the first and second locking elements are tilted laterally with respect to a radial direction that extends radially with respect to the axis, and

(b) the tilt of the first locking element is opposite from the tilt of the second locking element,

the eccentric includes:

(a) a first pair of eccentric cams for contacting the first locking element, and

(b) a second pair of eccentric cams for contacting the second locking element,

for each pair of the first and second pairs of eccentric cams, the pair includes a first eccentric cam and a second eccentric cam, and the first eccentric cam protrudes farther radially outward than the second eccentric cam,

each of the first and second eccentric cams of the first pair of eccentric cams is for contacting the first locking element,

each of the first and second eccentric cams of the second pair of eccentric cams is for contacting the second locking element,

for each pair of the first and second pairs of eccentric cams, the first and second eccentric cams are arranged in a sequence with respect to a circumferential direction of the eccentric, and

for the first and second pairs of eccentric cams, the sequence of the two eccentric cams within a pair changes from pair to pair in the circumferential direction of the eccentric, wherein when the eccentric is rotated to an unlocked position, the eccentric cams allow the locking elements to move radially inward and disengage the arrangement of teeth of the second fitting part, allowing rotation between the first and second fitting parts.

20. A fitting for a vehicle seat, the fitting comprising:

first and second fitting parts mounted so that there can be relative rotation, about an axis, between the first and second fitting parts;

an eccentric mounted for being rotated about the axis relative to the first and second fitting parts;

a plurality of locking elements that are guided by the first fitting part for moving radially outward, with respect to the axis, in response to rotation of the eccentric, so that the locking elements engage an arrangement of teeth of the second fitting part to lock the fitting in a locked position while the locking elements are positioned radially outwardly, wherein:

the arrangement of teeth extends around, and is radially outwardly from, the axis,

relative rotation between the first and second fitting parts about the axis is restricted while the fitting is locked,

the plurality of locking elements includes first and second locking elements that are adjacent to one another,

while the fitting is locked:

(a) the first and second locking elements are tilted laterally with respect to a radial direction that extends radially with respect to the axis, and

(b) the tilt of the first locking element is opposite from the tilt of the second locking element,

the plurality of locking elements further includes third and fourth locking elements that are adjacent to one another,

while the fitting is locked:

(a) the third and fourth locking elements are tilted laterally with respect to the radial direction, and

(b) the tilt of the third locking element is opposite from the tilt of the fourth locking element,

the plurality of locking elements is arranged around the axis,

the first, second, third and fourth locking elements are respectively offset with respect to one another,

the eccentric includes:

(a) a first pair of eccentric cams for contacting the first locking element,

(b) a second pair of eccentric cams for contacting the second locking element

(c) a third pair of eccentric cams for contacting the third locking element, and

(d) a fourth pair of eccentric cams for contacting the fourth locking element, for each pair of the first, second, third and fourth pairs of eccentric cams:

(a) the pair includes a first eccentric cam and a second eccentric cam, and

(b) the first eccentric cam differs in radial protrusiveness from the second eccentric cam,

each of the first and second eccentric cams of the first pair of eccentric cams is for contacting the first locking element,

each of the first and second eccentric cams of the second pair of eccentric cams is for contacting the second locking element,

each of the first and second eccentric cams of the third pair of eccentric cams is for contacting the third locking element,

each of the first and second eccentric cams of the fourth pair of eccentric cams is for contacting the fourth locking element,

for each pair of the first, second, third and fourth pairs of eccentric cams, the first and second eccentric cams are arranged in a sequence with respect to a circumferential direction of the eccentric, and

for the first, second, third and fourth pairs of eccentric cams, the sequence of the two eccentric cams within a pair changes from pair to pair in the circumferential direction of the eccentric, wherein when the eccentric is rotated to an unlocked position, the eccentric cams allow the locking elements to move radially inward and disengage the arrangement of teeth of the second fitting part, allowing rotation between the first and second fitting parts.