U.S. patent application number 09/730953 was filed with the patent office on 2001-04-26 for vehicle seat with displaceable headrest.
This patent application is currently assigned to GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Heilig, Alexander.
Application Number | 20010000419 09/730953 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26060419 |
Filed Date | 2001-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010000419 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Heilig, Alexander |
April 26, 2001 |
Vehicle seat with displaceable headrest
Abstract
A vehicle seat with a back rest (72) in which a sliding guide
(74) is provided, and with a headrest which is fixed to the back
rest (72) by means of at least one guide rod (76) inserted into the
sliding guide (74), and is provided with a functional unit (20, 23)
which is connectable electrically with a base unit arranged outside
the headrest, is characterized in that the guide rod (76) is used
for the electrical connection of the functional unit.
Inventors: |
Heilig, Alexander;
(Wissgoldingen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell,
Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
1111 Leader Building
526 Superior Avenue
Cleveland
OH
44114-1400
US
|
Assignee: |
GmbH & Co. KG
|
Family ID: |
26060419 |
Appl. No.: |
09/730953 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09730953 |
Dec 6, 2000 |
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09445341 |
Dec 7, 1999 |
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09445341 |
Dec 7, 1999 |
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PCT/EP98/03624 |
Jun 16, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/410 ;
297/217.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/427 20130101;
B60R 2021/01006 20130101; B60R 2021/2074 20130101; B60N 2/888
20180201; B60N 2/818 20180201; B60R 2021/0011 20130101; B60N 2/838
20180201; B60N 2/809 20180201; B60N 2/806 20180201; B60R 2021/2173
20130101; B60R 21/207 20130101; B60R 2021/21531 20130101; B60N
2002/0264 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/410 ; 297;
297/217.3 |
International
Class: |
B60N 002/48 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 16, 1997 |
DE |
297 10 511.6 |
Nov 10, 1997 |
DE |
297 19 937.4 |
Claims
Claims
1. A vehicle seat with a back rest (72) in which a sliding guide
(74) is provided, and with a headrest which is fixed to the back
rest (72) by means of at least one guide rod (76) inserted into the
sliding guide (74), and is provided with a functional unit (20, 23)
which is connectable electrically with a base unit arranged outside
the headrest, characterized in that the guide rod (76) is used for
the electrical connection of the functional unit.
2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the
guide rod (76) serves as guide for a cable (70) by which the
functional unit (20, 23) is connected to the base unit.
3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in
that the guide rod (76) is arranged adjustably on the back rest
(72).
4. The vehicle seat according to claim 3, characterized in that in
the lower end of the guide rod (76), pushed into the back rest
(72), a plug connection element (84) is arranged which engages into
a complementary plug connection element (78) in the back rest
(72).
5. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, characterized in that one
of the plug connection elements (84) is stationary and that the
other plug connection element (78), on insertion of the guide rod
(76) into the sliding guide (74), is displaced after coupling
action of the plug connection elements (78, 84).
6. The vehicle seat according to claim 5, characterized in that the
displaceable plug connection element (78) is biased into a basic
position by a spring (82).
7. The vehicle seat according to claim 6, characterized in that the
spring (82) acts on the displaceable plug connection element (78)
with a force which is greater than the force which is necessary for
the engagement of the two plug connection elements (78, 84) with
each other.
8. The vehicle seat according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in
that the spring (82) allows a displacement path of the displaceable
plug connection element (78) which is at least as long as the
possible displacement path of the headrest.
9. The vehicle seat according to any of claims 6 to 8,
characterized in that the displaceable plug connection element (78)
is arranged in the sliding guide (74).
10. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in
that a contact element (92) is arranged at the lower end of the
guide rod (76) pushed into the back rest (72), and in that a
contact pin (90) is arranged in the back rest, which pin is in
electrical contact with the contact element (92) in each position
of the guide rod.
11. The vehicle seat according to claim 10, characterized in that
the contact element (92) is provided with detent recesses (94) and
the contact pin (90), by engaging into these detent recesses (94),
effects arresting of the headrest.
12. The vehicle seat according to any of claims 6 to 11,
characterized in that a device is provided which permits a
displacement of the guide rod (76) in the sliding guide (74) only
after closing of the plug connection.
13. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in
that at least one contact track (110, 112) is provided at the lower
end of the guide rod (76) pushed into the back rest (72), and that
at least one associated sliding contact (116, 118) is arranged in
the back rest (72).
14. The vehicle seat according to claim 13, characterized in that
the sliding contact (116, 118) has a corrugated surface.
15. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in
that a part (100) of a device for inductive signal transfer is
arranged at the lower end of the guide rod (76), pushed into the
back rest (72), a complementary part (102) arranged in the back
rest (72) being associated therewith.
16. The vehicle seat according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that two guide rods (76) of electrically
conductive material are provided, one of which serves as a forward
line and the other as a return line.
17. The vehicle seat according to claim 16, characterized in that
the guide rod (76) consists of metal.
18. The vehicle seat according to claim 17, characterized in that
the guide rod (76) is coated with an electrically conductive
material.
19. The vehicle seat according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the guide rod (76) serves as housing for a
gas generator.
20. The vehicle seat according to claim 19, characterized in that
the gas generator is constructed in several parts so that after its
activation only one part has to be replaced.
21. The vehicle seat according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that an intelligent periphery unit (100) as
connection to a data bus system is arranged in the guide rod (76)
or in the sliding guide (74).
22. The vehicle seat according to claim 21, characterized in that
the periphery unit (100) is arranged directly before or after an
electrical contact point between the electrical line sections which
are associated with the guide rod (76) and with the sliding guide
(74).
Description
1. The invention relates to a vehicle seat with a back rest in
which a sliding guide is provided, and with a headrest which is
fixed to the back rest by means of at least one guide rod inserted
into the sliding guide, and is provided with a functional unit
which is connectable electrically with a base unit arranged outside
the headrest.
2. Inter alia in the case of a rear impact, the headrest prevents
the head of a vehicle occupant from being thrown rearward relative
to the vehicle. In order to be able to develop its restraining
effect optimally, the headrest must be adapted suitably to the
position of the head of the vehicle occupant with respect to the
back rest, in particular vertically. For this purpose, the headrest
is arranged displaceably on the back rest by means of usually two
guide rods.
3. Recently, the headrest also increasingly serves to receive
various types of functional units such as, for example, a restraint
device which is provided with a gas generator and which can provide
for an active adjustment of the headrest in the case of an
accident, or activates a gas bag which can restrain the head of the
vehicle occupant. These functional units, in particular in the case
of a unit to be activated in the case of a vehicle accident, must
be connected with a particularly high degree of reliability to a
base unit, for example an activating device for the gas generator.
A particular problem is ensuring the connection of the functional
unit with the base unit reliably over the entire possible
adjustment range of the headrest with the possible extreme
conditions which can occur, namely on the one hand with a headrest
which is adjusted extremely frequently in the course of its
lifespan, and on the other hand with a headrest which always
remains in one position, once selected, in the course of its
lifespan.
4. The necessary reliable connection is ensured according to the
invention in a vehicle seat of the type initially mentioned in that
the guide rod is used for the electrical connection of the
functional unit. In contrast to the hitherto intended solutions, in
which the functional unit is controlled or activated remotely, i.e.
without direct electrical connection to the base unit, the use of
the guide rod allows to achieve a connection of the functional unit
with the base unit which is very reliable in operation. The
electrical connection, however, can not only serve to control a gas
generator but also to control other units accommodated in the
headrest, e.g. loudspeakers of a mobile radiotelephone.
5. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision
is made that the guide rod serves as a guide for a cable by which
the functional unit is connected to the base unit. In this way, a
connection between the functional unit and the base unit can be
achieved which is very secure with respect to mechanical
influences.
6. Preferably, the guide rod is arranged adjustably on the back
rest.
7. According to the preferred embodiment, provision is further made
that in the lower end of the guide rod, pushed into the back rest,
a plug connection element is arranged which engages into a
complementary plug connection element in the back rest. The use of
a plug connection makes it possible to connect the functional unit
with the base unit almost automatically on insertion of the back
rest into the sliding guide, or to separate it from the base unit
on removal of the headrest, when the two plug connection elements
of the plug connection are suitably arranged. In addition, the
headrest can also be completely separated from the seat without
extra expenditure.
8. According to the preferred embodiment, provision is further made
that the plug connection element arranged in the guide rod is
stationary relative thereto and that the plug connection element
arranged in the back rest is displaceable relative to the sliding
guide. In this construction, the plug connection element arranged
in the back rest follows the movements of the plug connection
element arranged in the guide rod and hence at the headrest, so
that the possibility of adjustment for the headrest is in no way
impaired.
9. According to this preferred embodiment, provision is further
made that the plug connection element arranged in the back rest is
biased towards the upper end of the back rest by a spring. The plug
connection element arranged in the back rest is therefore always
biased towards the plug connection element arranged in the guide
rod, so that an unintentional loosening of the plug connection is
prevented.
10. According to this preferred embodiment of the invention,
provision is further made that the spring acts on the plug
connection element arranged in the back rest with a force which is
greater than the force which is necessary for the engagement of the
two plug connection elements with each other. In this way, it is
ensured that on mounting the headrest to the back rest, the two
plug connection elements are reliably connected with each other by
means of the force which is necessary for overcoming the spring and
for pressing down the plug connection element arranged in the back
rest by the plug connection element arranged in the guide rod.
Furthermore, of course the displaceable plug connection element can
also be arranged in the guide rod and the stationary plug
connection element in the sliding guide. In addition, it is
possible to provide a device which permits pushing the guide rod
further into the sliding guide only after closing of the plug
connection. Thereby, it is to be prevented that the guide rod is
introduced deep into the sliding guide although the plug connection
has not materialized.
11. Advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent
from the sub-claims.
12. The invention is described hereinbelow with reference to the
enclosed drawings, in which:
13. FIG. 1 shows a perspective exploded view of a headrest as part
of the vehicle seat according to the invention;
14. FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically a longitudinal section through a
guide rod and the associated sliding guide according to a first
embodiment of the invention;
15. FIG. 3 shows diagrammatically a longitudinal section through a
guide rod and the associated sliding guide according to a second
embodiment of the invention;
16. FIG. 4 shows diagrammatically a longitudinal section through a
guide rod and the associated sliding guide according to a third
embodiment of the invention; and
17. FIG. 5 shows diagrammatically a longitudinal section through a
guide rod and the associated sliding guide according to a fourth
embodiment of the invention.
18. In FIG. 1, a headrest is shown diagrammatically, which can be
used as part of a vehicle seat according to the invention. The
headrest comprises a front padding part 56 and a rear padding part
58, over which a fabric cover 60 can be slipped. Between the
paddings a body 50 is arranged which carries the two padding parts
and can be connected with a back rest (not illustrated) of a
vehicle seat by means of two guide rods which are constructed as a
U-shaped guide part 14. A gas generator 23 and a gas bag 20 are
arranged on the body 50 by means of a clamp strap 52 and a screw-
and clip-connection 54. The special construction of the gas
generator and of the gas bag are of no importance here; the only
relevant factor is that the functional unit formed from the gas bag
and the gas generator can be connected to a base unit (not
illustrated) by means of the diagrammatically illustrated cable 70,
this base unit in the present case being able to activate the gas
generator when required.
19. In FIG. 2, the upper section of a back rest 72 of a vehicle
seat is shown diagrammatically. Provided on the back rest is a
sliding guide 74 into which a guide rod 76 of the U-shaped guide
part 14 for the headrest can be inserted. Beneath the sliding guide
74 a plug connection element 78 is arranged, which is held
displaceably in a tube 80. The plug connection element 78 is biased
towards the sliding guide 74 into a position of rest by means of a
spring 82. The plug connection element 78 can be moved in the tube
80 over such a path that the possible adjustment range of the
headrest is not impaired. To establish the alignment of the plug
connection element 78 in circumferential direction, radial
extensions 79 of the base project through slits in the tube 80. In
the upper region the tube 80 is no longer slitted, to form an upper
stop.
20. A plug connection element 84 is pushed into the hollow interior
of the guide rod 76 and connected with the guide rod 76 by
pressing, the plug connection element 84 being complementary to the
plug connection element 78. When the two plug connection elements
78, 84 engage into each other, an electrical plug connection is
formed. The cable 70 known from FIG. 1 is connected with the plug
connection element 84. Viewed from the headrest, directly in front
of the electrical contact point a so-called intelligent periphery
unit 100 is inserted into the electrical line formed by the cable
70. The periphery unit 100 represents a connection to a so-called
data bus system which has a connection to the base unit and via
which data, e.g. data which are picked up at the igniter of the gas
generator 23, are passed on to the base unit and which also
provides for a reverse signal exchange. Stated more generally, the
periphery unit 100 can be arranged directly in front of or after an
electrical contact point between the electrical line sections which
are associated with the guide rod 76 and the sliding guide 74. An
electrical contact point here means the plug connection shown in
FIG. 2 or the electrical connection described in further detail
with the aid of FIG. 3.
21. The connection between the base unit and the functional unit
arranged in the headrest is effected automatically during mounting
of the headrest on the back rest. The biasing force of the spring
82 is in fact selected such that first the force necessary for
engaging the plug connection elements 78 and 84 with each other is
overcome before the plug connection element 78 is moved out from
the position of rest. During insertion of the guide rod 76 into the
sliding guide 74, the plug connection element 84 is automatically
positioned opposite the plug connection element 78 which is biased
into the position of rest shown in FIG. 2 by the spring 82. When
the guide rod 76 is then pressed into the sliding guide, the two
plug connection elements 78, 84 are inserted into each other.
22. The plug connection also makes it possible to take the headrest
completely out of the back rest. In so doing, the plug connection
is automatically disconnected. As soon as the headrest is inserted
into the back rest again, the connection between the functional
unit and the base unit is produced again.
23. In FIG. 3 a detail of a second embodiment of the invention is
shown diagrammatically. For the connection between the base unit
and the functional unit, a contact pin 90 is used here which is in
electrical contact with a contact element 92, which is arranged in
the guide rod 76. Provided in the guide rod 76 and in the contact
element 92 are recesses 94 which, together with the contact pin 90
biased towards the contact element 92 by means of a spring 96,
serve for arresting the headrest in various heights. With this
design, a contact pin 90 and a contact element 92 are preferably
provided in each of the two guide rods 76, so that a forward line
to and a return line from the functional unit are available.
24. In FIG. 4 a guide element 14 is shown in accordance with a
third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a device for
inductive signal transmission is used, which consists of a coil 100
arranged inside the guide rod 76 and of a coil 102 arranged in the
back rest. The arrangement and the extent of the coils 100 and 102
are of course selected so that the signal transmission is possible
over the entire adjustment range of the headrest. Also in this
embodiment provision can be made that the forward and return lines
are divided on the two guide rods of the guide part 14.
25. In FIGS. 5a and 5b a fourth embodiment of the invention is
illustrated diagrammatically. In this embodiment the guide rod 76
consists of an electrically conductive material, two contact tracks
110, 112 being provided. The contact track 110 is provided directly
on the guide rod 76, whereas the contact track 112 is separated
from the material of the guide rod 76 by means of an insulation
114. Sliding contacts 116, 118 are associated with the two contact
tracks 110 and 112. The sliding contacts can be constructed in a
corrugated shape in order to improve the contact with the sliding
tracks.
26. According to an alternative to the fourth embodiment, provision
can be made that each of the two guide rods 76 is provided with a
single contact track so that forward and return lines are
formed.
27. According to a further development not illustrated in the
drawings, the guide rod 76 can serve simultaneously as a housing
for a gas generator which is provided to cooperate with the gas bag
20. This gas generator can be constructed in several parts so that
after its activation only one part has to be replaced.
* * * * *