Abstract: A panel intended for the cockpit of a vehicle is conductive so that a large number of electrical and electronic devices can be installed inside the cockpit. The panel has a structure consisting of a plurality of layers of substantially equal shape and size, superimposed and firmly coupled to one another. One of the layers consists of a flexible printed circuit board that extends substantially over the entire surface of the panel, or at least over a substantial portion thereof, and that is provided with electrical connectors arranged at positions where the electrical and electronic devices associated with the dashboard are to be subsequently installed. Wired connections of electrical and electronic devices associated with the dashboard are eliminated. This entails a considerable simplification when making electrical connections to these electrical and electronic devices, as well as in the case of subsequent maintenance and/or repair work.

Abstract: A sound transmission system for a headrest has a bone conduction speaker and bone conduction microphone mounted on the same printed circuit board. Additional components of the bone conduction two-way sound transmission system, such as a control unit, contact sensors or proximity sensors, and an antenna for communication with external electronic devices can be mounted on the same printed circuit board.

Abstract: A sliding device for a vehicle seat is provided. The sliding device includes a pair of parallel slideways, each of which comprises a lower rail, an upper rail slidably mounted to the lower rail and a latch for allowing/preventing a movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail. A releasing member is provided for driving the latches to a position in which the upper rails are free to move relative to the lower rails. Each latch has a rear portion which is bent into a “U”-like shape and comprises a lower leg carrying latching elements configured to cooperate with corresponding latching elements provided in the lower rail and an upper leg configured to engage the releasing member. The design of the latches improves the reliability of the sliding device.

Abstract: A headrest having a bone conduction two-way sound transmission system is provided. The system has a bone conduction speaker and bone conduction microphone mounted on the same printed circuit board. Additional components of the bone conduction two-way sound transmission system, such as a control unit, contact sensors or proximity sensors, and an antenna for communication with external electronic devices can be mounted on the same printed circuit board. Assembling the components of the system is easy and subsequent assembling the two-way sound transmission system inside the headrest is simpler, faster, and less subject to human errors, thus increasing the quality of the final product while keeping the manufacturing costs low.

Abstract: A vehicle cockpit component (10, 12, 14, 16, 18) with a heating device that comprises a polyurethane-based foam charged and/or impregnated with an electrically conductive filler (1) which is directly connected to means for generating a potential difference (7a, 7b; 11a, 11b; 13a, 13b) for generating heat by Joule effect is provided. The polyurethane-based foam charged and/or impregnated with an electrically conductive filler (1) is used for manufacturing the padding or the upholstery of the vehicle cockpit component (10, 12, 14, 16, 18) or one or more portions of the padding or upholstery. The heating device is intrinsic to the vehicle cockpit component and does not require the provision of additional, separate components.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sliding device for a vehicle seat provided with an improved locking arrangement. Said locking arrangement comprises a pair of locking assemblies (101a, 101b; 201a, 201b), one for each track of the sliding device, each including a plurality of locking pins (105a, 105b; 203a, 203b) suitable for locking the upper rails of the tracks to the respective lower rails. Said locking arrangement further includes a releasing assembly for driving said locking pins to an unlocking configuration for adjusting the position of the vehicle seat. According to the invention, for any selected positions of the vehicle seat, all the locking pins (105a, 105b; 203a, 203b) of the locking assemblies simultaneously or quasi-simultaneously penetrate into corresponding apertures of the lower rails. Therefore, the invention advantageously allows to optimize the locking effect of the locking arrangement, as all the locking pins give their contribution to said locking effect.

Abstract: A smart cover for a vehicle seat is provided that is able to detect biometric data of the user occupying the vehicle seat. A vehicle seat comprising the cover is also provided. The vehicle seat cover comprises one or more yarn sensors and one or more yarn supercapacitors. The yarn supercapacitors are being electrically connected to the yarn sensors for powering them. Accordingly, an arrangement for the detection of biometric data of the user occupying the vehicle seat is provided with the arrangement being integrated in the cover of the seat. As a result, the provision of the biometric data detection arrangement does not adversely affect the production time and complexity nor the overall weight of the cover of the vehicle seat.

Abstract: A smart cover for a vehicle seat is provided that is able to detect biometric data of the user occupying the vehicle seat. A vehicle seat comprising the cover is also provided. The vehicle seat cover comprises one or more yarn sensors and one or more yarn supercapacitors. The yarn supercapacitors are being electrically connected to the yarn sensors for powering them. Accordingly, an arrangement for the detection of biometric data of the user occupying the vehicle seat is provided with the arrangement being integrated in the cover of the seat. As a result, the provision of the biometric data detection arrangement does not adversely affect the production time and complexity nor the overall weight of the cover of the vehicle seat.

Abstract: A panel intended for the cockpit of a vehicle is conductive so that a large number of electrical and electronic devices can be installed inside the cockpit. The panel has a structure consisting of a plurality of layers of substantially equal shape and size, superimposed and firmly coupled to one another. One of the layers consists of a flexible printed circuit board that extends substantially over the entire surface of the panel, or at least over a substantial portion thereof, and that is provided with electrical connectors arranged at positions where the electrical and electronic devices associated with the dashboard are to be subsequently installed. Wired connections of electrical and electronic devices associated with the dashboard are eliminated. This entails a considerable simplification when making electrical connections to these electrical and electronic devices, as well as in the case of subsequent maintenance and/or repair work.

Abstract: A sliding device for a vehicle seat is provided with a locking arrangement including a pair of locking assemblies, one for each track of the sliding device. Each track has an upper rail and a lower rail, and each of the locking assemblies includes a plurality of locking pins for locking one of the upper rails to a respective one of the lower rails. The locking arrangement further includes a releasing assembly for driving the locking pins of the locking assemblies to an unlocking configuration. The releasing assembly comprises a releasing member and a pair of connecting members, each of which is connected in a force transmission connection with the releasing member and the plurality of locking pins of one of the locking assemblies. Each of the connecting members is entirely received inside a respective one of the tracks, whereby the locking arrangement has a very compact design.

Abstract: A sliding device for a vehicle seat includes a pair of tracks, each having a lower rail and an upper rail, and a locking arrangement having a pair of locking assemblies, each including locking pins for locking a respective one of the upper rails to a respective one of the lower rails. The locking arrangement includes a releasing assembly for driving the locking pins of each of the locking assemblies to an unlocking configuration. The releasing assembly includes a releasing member and a pair of connecting members. The connecting members are each in a force transmission connection with the releasing member and with the locking pins of a respective one of the locking assemblies. The connecting members are entirely received within the tracks, and the releasing assembly is configured to convert rotational movement of the releasing member into linear movement of the locking pins of each of the locking assemblies.

Abstract: A sliding device for a vehicle seat is provided. The sliding device includes a pair of parallel slideways, each of which comprises a lower rail, an upper rail slidably mounted to the lower rail and a latch for allowing/preventing a movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail. A releasing member is provided for driving the latches to a position in which the upper rails are free to move relative to the lower rails. Each latch has a rear portion which is bent into a “U”-like shape and comprises a lower leg carrying latching elements configured to cooperate with corresponding latching elements provided in the lower rail and an upper leg configured to engage the releasing member. The design of the latches improves the reliability of the sliding device.

Abstract: A reclining device for a vehicle seat of the kind comprising a first plate carrying an internal gear and a second plate carrying an external gear cooperating with the internal gear is provided. The reclining device includes first and second wedge elements for preventing undesired rotation of the external and internal gears relative to each other. The reclining device further includes a lock spring comprising one or more locking teeth intended to engage a ring gear which is integral with one of the first and second plates for inhibiting relative rotation of the plates, and one or more spring arms, which elastically urge the locking teeth toward the ring gear. The spring arms outwardly extend from the outer perimeter of the body of the lock spring.

Abstract: A sliding device for a vehicle seat is provided with a pair of tracks and an improved releasing assembly. The sliding device comprises a pair of locking assemblies, one for each track, each including a plurality of locking pins for locking upper rails of the tracks to lower rails of the tracks. The sliding device further includes a releasing assembly for driving the locking pins to an unlocking configuration for adjusting the position of the vehicle seat. The releasing assembly comprises a releasing member having a pair of substantially parallel arms pivotally connected to the tracks, a crossbar extending transversely to the tracks and provided at each end with an engaging assembly for engaging the locking pins of the respective locking assembly, and a pair of connecting members configured to convert a rotational movement of end portions of the arms into a translational movement of the crossbar.

Abstract: A reclining device for a vehicle seat of the kind comprising a first plate carrying an internal gear and a second plate carrying an external gear cooperating with the internal gear is provided. The reclining device includes first and second wedge elements for preventing undesired rotation of the external and internal gears relative to each other. The reclining device further includes a lock spring comprising one or more locking teeth intended to engage a ring gear which is integral with one of the first and second plates for inhibiting relative rotation of the plates, and one or more spring arms, which elastically urge the locking teeth toward the ring gear. The spring arms outwardly extend from the outer perimeter of the body of the lock spring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sliding device (1) for a vehicle seat. The sliding device comprises a pair of parallel slideways (3a, 3b), each of which comprises a lower rail (5a, 5b), an upper rail (7a, 7b) slidably mounted to the lower rail and a latch (21a, 21b) for allowing/preventing a movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail; a releasing member (29) is provided for driving said latches to a position in which the upper rails are free to move relative to the lower rails. According to the invention, each latch (21a, 21b) comprises a rear portion which is bent into a “U”-like shape and comprises a lower leg carrying latching elements (37a, 37b) configured to cooperate with corresponding latching elements (41a, 41b) provided in the lower rail and an upper leg configured to engage the releasing member (29). The design of the latches of the sliding device of the invention allows to improve the reliability of said sliding device.

Abstract: A sliding device for a vehicle seat is provided with an improved locking arrangement. The locking arrangement includes a pair of locking assemblies, each including one or more locking pins suitable for locking upper rails of the seat tracks to respective lower rails. The locking arrangement also includes a releasing assembly suitable for driving the locking pins to an unlocking configuration and comprising a releasing member and a pair of connecting members, which are in a force transmission connection with the releasing member and with the locking pins of a respective locking assembly. The connecting members are entirely received within the respective tracks, and the releasing assembly is configured to convert a rotational movement of the releasing member into a linear movement of the locking pins of the locking assemblies.

Abstract: A discontinuous recliner for a vehicle seat is provided. The discontinuous recliner comprises one or more locking pawls and a single actuating element which is configured to drive the locking pawl(s) both from the locking position to the unlocking position and from the unlocking position to the locking position. Thanks to the provision of the single actuating element, the overall number of components of the discontinuous recliner is significantly reduced. This allows to obtain a discontinuous recliner which is lighter, easier to be assembled and more reliable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sliding device for a vehicle seat provided with an improved locking arrangement. Said locking arrangement comprises a pair of locking assemblies (1a, 1b), one for each track of the sliding device, each including a plurality of locking pins (3a, 3b) suitable for locking the upper rails of the tracks to the respective lower rails. Said locking arrangement further includes a releasing assembly for driving said locking pins to an unlocking configuration for adjusting the position of the vehicle seat. Said releasing assembly comprises a releasing member and a pair of connecting members (7a, 7b), which are in a force transmission connection with the releasing member, on one hand, and with the locking pins (3a, 3b) of a respective locking assembly, on the other hand. According to the invention, such connecting members (7a, 7b) are configured to slide along a substantially linear path and to consequently drive the locking pins along a substantially linear path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reclining device (1) for a vehicle seat of the kind comprising a first plate carrying an internal gear (5) and a second plate carrying an external gear (11) configured to cooperate with the internal gear. The reclining device includes a first and second wedge elements (17a, 17b) for exerting a wedge effect and preventing accidental, undesired rotation of the external and internal gears relative to each other. The reclining device (1) further comprises a lock spring (21). According to the invention the lock spring (21) comprises a wedge engaging element (35) that can be brought to abut and engage a lock spring abutment surface (37a, 37b) of a wedge element. Thanks to this arrangement, the lock spring directly interacts with the wedge elements and directly restricts self-rotation of said wedge elements, which avoids any loss of force and function between said lock spring and said wedge elements.