U.S. patent application number 11/507837 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-15 for vehicle seat comprising lateral cheeks.
This patent application is currently assigned to RECARO GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Alexander Kammerer, Jurgen Lachenmann, Matthias Strecker.
Application Number | 20070057551 11/507837 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34960986 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070057551 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lachenmann; Jurgen ; et
al. |
March 15, 2007 |
Vehicle seat comprising lateral cheeks
Abstract
In the case of a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle
seat, comprising at least one pair of lateral cheeks provided on a
seat cushion and/or a backrest, the lateral cheeks contain at least
one chamber unit (15) with an inflatable chamber which is enclosed
by flexible walls (19), at least one firm plate (27) is arranged
within the chamber.
Inventors: |
Lachenmann; Jurgen;
(Nurtingen, DE) ; Kammerer; Alexander; (Stuttgart,
DE) ; Strecker; Matthias; (Plochingen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE, PLLC
ATTN: PATENT DOCKETING 32ND FLOOR
P.O. BOX 7037
ATLANTA
GA
30357-0037
US
|
Assignee: |
RECARO GmbH & Co. KG
|
Family ID: |
34960986 |
Appl. No.: |
11/507837 |
Filed: |
August 22, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/EP05/01490 |
Feb 15, 2005 |
|
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11507837 |
Aug 22, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/284.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/99 20180201; B60N
2/914 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/284.9 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/14 20060101
A47C007/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 26, 2004 |
DE |
10 2004 014 881.3 |
Claims
1. A vehicle seat, comprising: a seat cushion; a backrest; and at
least one pair of adjustable lateral cheeks operatively connected
to at least one of the seat cushion and the backrest, so that the
lateral cheeks are capable of being adjusted with respect to at
least one of the seat cushion and the backrest, wherein at least
one lateral cheek of the lateral cheeks contains at least one
chamber unit, and wherein the chamber unit includes an inflatable
chamber that is enclosed by flexible walls, and at least one firm
plate positioned within the chamber.
2. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the walls
include (a) a first wall having an edge, and (b) a second wall
having an edge; and the chamber is formed by the first wall and the
second wall being connected to one another, whereby the chamber
unit comprises a connection between the first wall and the second
wall; the connection extends along the edge of the first wall; and
the connection extends along the edge of the second wall.
3. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the chamber
unit comprises two wings, and the wings are configured for being
folded with respect to one another about a common central axis.
4. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein: the chamber
unit further includes a connecting tab; the two wings includes a
first wing and a second wing; the first wing includes an edge that
is spaced apart from the central axis; the second wing includes an
edge that is spaced apart from the central axis; and the connecting
tab is between the edge of the first wing and the edge of the
second wing.
5. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein: the two wings
includes a first wing and a second wing; the plate is a first
plate; the first plate is positioned in the first wing; the chamber
unit further includes a second plate positioned within the chamber;
and the second plate is positioned in the second wing.
6. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein the chamber
extends continuously into both wings.
7. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein: the wings are
in a folded together configuration with respect to one another
during an uninflated state of the chamber unit, and the wings are
in an at least partially unfolded configuration with respect to one
another in an inflated state of the chamber unit.
8. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the walls
include (a) a first wall having an edge, and (b) a second wall
having an edge; the chamber is formed by the first wall and the
second wall being connected to one another, whereby the chamber
unit comprises a connection between the first wall and the second
wall; the connection extends along the edge of the first wall; the
connection extends along the edge of the second wall; the first
wall is positioned inwardly from the second wall during the
uninflated state of the chamber unit; and the first wall is
configured for bulging within the chamber unit during inflation of
the chamber, so that the bulging first wall pushes the wings
apart..
9. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 8, wherein: the two wings
includes a first wing and a second wing; the first wing includes an
edge that is spaced apart from the central axis; the second wing
includes an edge that is spaced apart from the central axis; and
the chamber unit further includes a tab operatively connected
between the edge of the first wing and the edge of the second wing
for restricting more than a predetermined amount of unfolding of
the wings with respect to one another about the common central
axis.
10. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein a tube for
inflating the chamber communicates with the chamber at a position
that is proximate the central axis.
11. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the chamber
unit comprises two wings, and the wings are configured for being
folded with respect to one another about a common central axis.
12. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein the wings are
operatively connected to one another in a manner that restricts
more than a predetermined amount of unfolding of the wings with
respect to one another about the common central axis.
13. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 4, wherein the connecting
tab is adapted for restricting more than a predetermined amount of
unfolding of the wings with respect to one another about the common
central axis.
14. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 4, wherein: the plate is a
first plate; the first plate is positioned in the first wing; the
chamber unit further includes a second plate positioned within the
chamber; and the second plate is positioned in the second wing.
15. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 4, wherein the chamber
extends continuously into both wings.
16. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 5, wherein the chamber
extends continuously into both wings.
17. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 4, wherein: the wings are
in a folded together configuration with respect to one another
during an uninflated state of the chamber unit, and the wings are
in an at least partially unfolded configuration with respect to one
another in an inflated state of the chamber unit.
18. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 5, wherein: the wings are
in a folded together configuration with respect to one another
during an uninflated state of the chamber unit, and the wings are
in an at least partially unfolded configuration with respect to one
another in an inflated state of the chamber unit.
19. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 6, wherein: the wings are
in a folded together configuration with respect to one another
during an uninflated state of the chamber unit, and the wings are
in an at least partially unfolded configuration with respect to one
another in an inflated state of the chamber unit.
20. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 6, wherein a tube for
inflating the chamber communicates with the chamber at a position
that is proximate the central axis.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation of International
Application PCT/EP2005/001490, which was filed Feb. 15, 2005. The
entire disclosure of International Application PCT/EP2005/001490,
which was filed Feb. 15, 2005, is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, in
particular a motor vehicle seat, having at least one pair of
adjustable lateral cheeks provided on a seat cushion and/or a
backrest, with each of the lateral cheeks containing at least one
chamber unit having an inflatable chamber that is enclosed by
flexible walls.
[0003] In the case of a known vehicle seat of the type described
immediately above, sheet-metal wings are coupled to the structure
in the lateral cheeks. In order to adjust the lateral cheeks, the
sheet-metal wings are pivoted by inflating bubbles that serve as
chamber units. The production of adjustable lateral cheeks of this
type is complicated. Furthermore, a vehicle seat is known in which
the bubbles are provided without the pivotable sheet-metal wings.
In this case, greatly localized bulging of the lateral cheeks
arises during the inflation.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is based on the object of improving a
vehicle seat of a type mentioned above. In accordance with one
aspect of the present invention, a vehicle seat, in particular a
motor vehicle seat, includes a seat cushion, a backrest, and at
least one pair of adjustable lateral cheeks. The lateral cheeks are
operatively connected to the seat cushion and/or the backrest, so
that the lateral cheeks are capable of being adjusted with respect
to the seat cushion and/or the backrest. At least one of the
lateral cheeks contains at least one chamber unit. The chamber unit
includes an inflatable chamber that is enclosed by flexible walls,
and at least one firm plate that is positioned within the
chamber.
[0005] Because at least one firm plate is arranged within the
chamber, i.e. the flexible walls of the chamber enclose the firm
plate, firstly an extensive enlargement of the lateral cheek is
achieved during inflation of the chamber, and, secondly, the
production of the vehicle seat is simplified because of the
omission of the pivotable sheet-metal wings, which reduces the
costs for the vehicle seat. The plate is arranged loosely in the
chamber. The chamber unit is designed as a unit and can therefore
be fitted in a simple manner. The chamber unit fits gently into the
padded material of the lateral cheek, even in the inflated state,
because of the flexible walls of the chamber. The chamber unit is
produced preferably by means of connection of two walls along their
edge, so that the plate can be inserted before the connection takes
place.
[0006] For a simple enlargement of the chamber unit, the chamber
unit has two wings that can be folded with respect to each other
about a common central axis. In order to restrict an unfolding
movement, a connecting tab is provided between those two edges of
the wings which are spaced apart from the central axis. In order,
firstly, to achieve the extensive enlargement of the lateral cheek
and, secondly, to obtain a good support, one plate is preferably
arranged in each wing. The chamber extends continuously into both
wings so that the chamber can be inflated at both wings. The wings
are folded up preferably flat in an empty state (e.g., uninflated
state) of the chamber unit, and the wings are unfolded in an
inflated state of the chamber unit. The wall which is situated on
the inside in the empty state of the chamber unit bulges within the
chamber unit during inflation of the chamber, in order to push the
wings apart. The inflated state is to be understood as meaning the
state in which the chamber is inflated completely or to the
maximum. A tube for inflating the chamber is guided into the
chamber preferably in the region of the central axis, since the
central axis does not change its position during unfolding of the
wings.
[0007] Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The invention is explained in more detail below with
reference to an exemplary embodiment that is illustrated in the
drawings, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a chamber unit,
[0010] FIG. 2 shows an end view of the chamber unit in the empty
state with the profile of the cover indicated by dashed lines,
[0011] FIG. 3 shows an end view of the chamber unit in the inflated
state with the profile of the cover indicated by dashed lines,
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic front view of an example of a
vehicle seat, and
[0013] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the chamber unit in the lateral
cheek which has been sectioned longitudinally.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0014] In a vehicle seat 1, which is designed as a sports seat for
a motor vehicle, each of the seat cushion 3 and backrest 4
respectively include a pair of adjustable lateral cheeks 5. All of
the lateral cheeks 5 provided are in principle of identical
construction and so only a lateral cheek 5 provided on the seat
cushion 3 is described below as an example.
[0015] The lateral cheek 5 running in the longitudinal direction of
the seat cushion 3 is provided with a structural element 7, in the
present case a steel bracket, that is attached fixedly at both of
its ends to a seat frame supporting the seat cushion 3. The
structural element 7 supports sheet metal 8 that closes the area
between the structural element and the seat frame. The structural
element 7 is enclosed on all sides by a padded foam part 9 which in
turn is covered by a cover 11 having a textile basis or made from
leather. At least the cover 11 is cut in such a manner that an
enlargement of the volume of the lateral cheek 5 is possible.
[0016] A chamber unit 15 is arranged in a pocket 13 of the padded
part 9. The chamber unit 15 is flat in the empty state and is
arranged at least approximately in a plane. The plane is defined by
the structural element 7 and its area of sheet metal 8, and is
oriented obliquely with respect to the horizontal. From a bellows
(not illustrated) or the like, a tube 17 leads via a valve to the
chamber unit 15. The chamber unit 15 has two film-like, flexible,
but non-expandable walls 19 of soft plastic that are cut
symmetrically with respect to a central axis 21 during production,
rest flat on each other, are pre-positioned by control holes 22,
and are welded to each other at the edge by means of a weld seam
24--with a closed, inherently continuous chamber 23 being
formed--with the outwardly extending tube 17 being welded in at the
central axis 21.
[0017] The central axis 21 defines two wings 25 of the chamber unit
15 that are folded onto each other in the empty state of the
chamber unit 15. The chamber 23 extends into both wings 25. Two
flat plates 27 are respectively arranged loosely within the wings
25, namely within the wings' portions of the chamber 23. The flat
plates 27 are symmetrical to each other, and they are at least
approximately parallel to each other in the empty state of the
chamber unit 15. The plates 27 are composed of a firm plastic. A
connecting tab 29 is provided between those edges of the chamber
unit 15 or of the wings 25 which are spaced apart from the central
axis 21. The connecting tab 29 is welded at its ends to the edge
regions of the walls 19. The connecting tab 29 is folded up in the
center in the empty state of the chamber unit 15. The connecting
tab 29 is made from the same material as the walls 19. Transversely
to the central axis 21, the connecting tab 29 has approximately the
same width as one wing 25.
[0018] The empty state of the chamber unit 15 corresponds to an
outwardly opened position of the lateral cheek 5, which is then as
a rule aligned at a distance from the occupant's thigh. In order to
laterally support the thigh for a sporty driving mode (to laterally
support the upper body in the case of a lateral cheek 5 in the
backrest), the setting of the lateral cheek 5 may be changed, for
which purpose the chamber unit 15 is brought in each case into an
inflated state. To this end, air is supplied to the chamber 23 via
the tube 17, i.e. the chamber 23 is inflated. Owing to the folded
position of the wings 25 and the resultant folding of the wall 19
situated on the inside, the supplied air fills the region of the
chamber 23 between the mutually facing wings 25, i.e. the region
situated on the inside. The wall 19 which is situated on the
outside and is already taut remains virtually unchanged. The wall
19 situated on the inside bulges within the chamber unit 15 during
deployment, so that those regions of the chamber 23 which are
situated on the inside in the respective wings 25 push away from
each other and push the wings 25 apart, i.e. the chamber unit 15
unfolds about the central axis 21 until the connecting tab 29 is
stretched and the unfolding movement is restricted at approximately
60.degree. between the wings 25. The chamber unit 15 has therefore
reached its inflated state.
[0019] The volume of the chamber unit 15 is enlarged with the
inflation of the chamber 23. Because the chamber unit 15 is
supported on the sheet metal 8, the enlarging of the chamber unit
15 simultaneously causes displacement of the padded part 9 on the
inside of the lateral cheek 5 and movement of the cover 11. As part
of evening itself out, the moving cover 11 compresses the padded
part 9 on the outer side of the lateral cheek 5. In the process,
the lateral cheek 5 places itself in a desired manner against the
thigh. Since, because of the plates 27, the chamber unit 15 remains
essentially flat towards the outside, the displacing of the padded
part 9 and the bearing against the thigh take place over a large
area, which improves the support in comparison to a spherical
enlargement of a bubble and feels more comfortable than such an
enlargement.
[0020] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that while
the present invention has been discussed above with reference to
exemplary embodiments, various additions, modifications and changes
can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *