ANTI-WHIPLASH VEHICLE SEAT

Abstract

The invention relates to an anti-whiplash vehicle seat for a motor vehicle, with a rear backrest covering, wherein the rear backrest covering includes a fixed side part and a central part, wherein the central part is mechanically fastened to the vehicle seat by a resilient element, and wherein the resilient element is fastened to the vehicle seat by a hook.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle, with a rear backrest covering, wherein the rear backrest covering comprises a fixed side part and a central part, and wherein the central part is mechanically fastened, in particular at least in its lower region, to the vehicle seat by means of a resilient element. The vehicle seat is to be suitable for reducing or avoiding whiplash, in particular in the event of an impact from the rear.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In a passive anti-whiplash system, seat components, even the rear panelling parts, contribute to carrying out the anti-whiplash function. In the event of an impact from the rear, the rear wall of the seat component is subjected to a severe loading by the occupant plunging a small distance into it. However, an increased plunging-in distance is desirable if an occupant's head is to whip as little as possible to the rear. A simultaneous and uniform interception of an occupant's body and head is particularly desirable.

This gives rise to the requirement, for a rear seat panelling, that it as far as possible does not obstruct an occupant's body from plunging into the backrest. It should assist the plunging-in operation by providing only a slight or at least defined resistance to the body without becoming lost or ejected itself. The same applies to flexible lumbar supports or internal seat components which are of flexible design and strike against the backrest covering.

DR 101 14 385 B4 discloses a motor vehicle seat with a backrest, a head restraint and a pivotable lever device arranged in between, the backrest surrounding one end of the lever device, the head restraint surrounding the other end of the lever device, and the pivot axis for the lever device being arranged within the backrest, the pivot axis being arranged in the upper region of the backrest, and the backrest bearing, on its rear side, a rigid lining shell which at least partially opens if there is a crash-induced action upon one end of the lever device. In this case, it is provided that the lining shell or an opening part of the lining shell can be hinged about a hinge axis in the lower region of the backrest.

JP 11048841 A discloses a shock-absorbing vehicle seat.

It is the object of the invention to provide an improved anti-whiplash vehicle seat. It is a further object of the invention to reduce the production costs for an anti-whiplash vehicle seat.

SUMMARY

The abovementioned object is achieved by a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle, with a rear backrest covering, wherein the rear backrest covering comprises a fixed side part and a central part which is in particular dimensionally stable, wherein the central part is mechanically fastened, in particular at least in its lower region, to the vehicle seat by means of a resilient element, and wherein the resilient element is fastened to the vehicle seat by means of a hook.

The central part is advantageously surrounded at the top and laterally by the side part. However, it may also be provided that the central part comprises an essential part of the rear backrest covering or is essentially the rear backrest covering.

In a further more advantageous refinement of the invention, the hook comprises an inwardly directed lug. In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the hook comprises a hook-side supporting surface which, when the resilient element is subjected to a tensile loading, is pressed against a vehicle-seat-side supporting surface. In this case, it is advantageously provided that, when the resilient element is not subjected to a load, the hook-side supporting surface is inclined, in particular by at least 20°, in relation to the vehicle-seat-side supporting surface.

In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the resilient element is elastic only in one spring direction. In this case, the resilient element is essentially inelastic in the directions orthogonal to the spring direction. Essentially inelastic is to be understood here in particular as meaning that the elasticity of the resilient element in the directions orthogonal to the spring direction is negligible, in particular significantly negligible, in relation to the elasticity in the spring direction.

In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the resilient element comprises a U spring or is configured as a U spring, with the U spring, in a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, comprising a rib for preventing the U spring from being compressed.

In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the resilient element and the central part, or the resilient element, the hook and the central part, are configured as a single piece, in particular as an injection-moulded part.

In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the central part is fastened in its upper region to the vehicle seat in the manner of a hinge and/or such that it is pushed in.

The abovementioned object is also achieved by a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle, with a rear backrest covering, wherein the rear backrest covering comprises a fixed side part and a central part which is in particular dimensionally stable, wherein the central part is mechanically fastened, in particular at least in its lower region, to the vehicle seat by means of a resilient element, and wherein the resilient element comprises a U spring or is configured as a U spring, and/or the resilient element is elastic only in one spring direction.

The central part is advantageously surrounded at the top and laterally by the side part. However, it may also be provided that the central part comprises an essential part of the rear backrest covering or is essentially the rear backrest covering.

In this case, the resilient element is essentially inelastic in the directions orthogonal to the spring direction. Essentially inelastic is to be understood here in particular as meaning that the elasticity of the resilient element in the directions orthogonal to the spring direction is negligible, in particular significantly negligible, in relation to the elasticity in the spring direction.

In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the resilient element comprises a U spring or is configured as a U spring, with the U spring, in a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, comprising a rib for preventing the U spring from being compressed.

In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the resilient element and the central part, or the resilient element, the hook and the central part, are configured as a single piece, in particular as an injection-moulded part.

In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the central part is fastened in its upper region to the vehicle seat in the manner of a hinge and/or such that it is pushed in.

The abovementioned object is also achieved by a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle, with a rear backrest covering, wherein the rear backrest covering comprises a fixed side part and a central part which is in particular dimensionally stable, wherein the central part is mechanically fastened, in particular at least in its lower region, to the vehicle seat by means of a resilient element, and wherein the resilient element and the central part, or the resilient element, a hook of the resilient element and the central part, are configured as a single piece, in particular as an injection-moulded part.

The central part is advantageously surrounded at the top and laterally by the side part. However, it may also be provided that the central part comprises an essential part of the rear backrest covering or is essentially the rear backrest covering.

In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the central part is fastened in its upper region to the vehicle seat in the manner of a hinge and/or such that it is pushed in.

The abovementioned object is also achieved by a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle, with a rear backrest covering, wherein the rear backrest covering comprises a fixed side part and a central part which is in particular dimensionally stable, wherein the central part is mechanically fastened, in particular at least in its lower region, to the vehicle seat by means of a resilient element, and wherein the central part is fastened in its upper region to the vehicle seat in the manner of a hinge and/or such that it is pushed in.

The central part is advantageously surrounded at the top and laterally by the side part. However, it may also be provided that the central part comprises an essential part of the rear backrest covering or is essentially the rear backrest covering.

The abovementioned object is also achieved by a method for producing a vehicle seat in particular comprising one or more of the abovementioned features, wherein the vehicle seat comprises a rear backrest covering, wherein the rear backrest covering comprises a fixed side part and a central part which is in particular dimensionally stable, wherein the central part is pressed, in particular at least in its lower region, against the vehicle seat from the rear in such a manner that a hook which is connected to a resilient element latches into the vehicle seat, with the resilient element being connected to the central part.

The central part is advantageously surrounded at the top and laterally by the side part. However, it may also be provided that the central part comprises an essential part of the rear backrest covering or is essentially the rear backrest covering.

In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the central part is pushed beforehand in its upper region into the vehicle seat. In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the central part is manufactured together with the resilient element as an injection-moulded part. In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the central part is manufactured together with the resilient element and the hook as an injection-moulded part.

The abovementioned vehicle seats may comprise a head restraint which is movable forward passively or actively in the event of being used.

A motor vehicle within the meaning of the invention is, in particular, a land vehicle which is usable individually in road traffic. In particular, motor vehicles within the meaning of the invention are not restricted to land vehicles with an internal combustion engine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a lateral schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an anti-whiplash vehicle seat;

FIG. 2 shows a detail of the anti-whiplash vehicle seat according to FIG. 1 in a rear view;

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a central part;

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a fastening claw in the unloaded state;

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a fastening claw in the loaded state; and

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of the installation of a central part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a lateral schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an anti-whiplash vehicle seat 1. FIG. 2 shows a detail of the anti-whiplash vehicle seat 1 in a rear view. The anti-whiplash vehicle seat 1 comprises a seat surface 3 and a backrest 2. The backrest 2 comprises a rear backrest covering with a fixed (but, if appropriate, soft or upholstered) side part 22 and a dimensionally stable central part 21. Within the meaning of the invention, the side part may be entirely or partially part of a lateral backrest lining. In the present case, the side part 22 is elastic. The anti whiplash vehicle seat 1 is configured—as can be seen in FIG. 1—in such a manner that it allows an occupant 5 or his body to plunge in by a distance S (of between 60 mm and 200 mm depending on the configuration) in the event of an appropriately severe impact from the rear.

FIG. 3 shows the central part 21 from a side which, in the fitted state, faces the anti-whiplash vehicle seat 1. The central part 21, which is configured as an injection-moulded part manufactured as a single piece, comprises push-in elements 42 and 43, by means of which the central part 21 can be pushed or is pushed into the anti-whiplash vehicle seat 1 in the manner of a hinge. The central part 21 also comprises latching hooks 44 and 45, by means of which the central part 21 is clamped to the anti-whiplash vehicle seat 1. Suitable latching hooks can be taken, for example, from US 2005/0248189 A1. In the event of an appropriately severe impact from the rear, of, for example, 1.5 g to 2 g, the latching hooks 44 and 45 are destroyed and/or the latching hooks 44 and 45 are released.

In addition, the central part 21 comprises fastening claws 40 and 41. FIG. 4 shows the fastening claw 41 in the unloaded state and FIG. 5 shows the fastening claw 41 in the loaded state. The fastening claw 41 comprises a resilient element 410 which is configured as a U spring or as a “series connection” of U springs and at the open end of which a hook 412 is arranged. The resilient element 410, which is configured as a U spring or as a “series connection” of U springs, comprises a rib 411 for preventing the U spring(s) from being compressed. The rib 411 may also be arranged on the opposite side.

For the fastening to the anti-whiplash vehicle seat 1, the hook 412 is guided via a shaped part 51 which, in turn, is pulled over a frame part 52. The hook 412 comprises an inwardly directed lug 415 and a hook-side supporting surface 413 which—as illustrated in FIG. 5—is pressed against a (vehicle-seat-side) supporting surface 414 of the shaped part 51 when the resilient element 410 is subjected to a tensile loading. When the resilient element 410 is not subjected to a load, the hook-side supporting surface 413 is inclined by at least an angle α of more than approximately 20° in relation to the (vehicle-seat-side) supporting surface 414 of the shaped part 51.

In the event of an appropriately severe impact from the rear, of, for example, 1.5 g to 2 g, and if the latching hooks 44 and 45 are destroyed or released, the lower region of the central part 21 folds to the rear and is secured by the fastening claws 40 and 41—as illustrated by way of example for the fastening claw 41 in FIG. 5. The fastening claws 40 and 41 are designed in such a manner that they withstand an impact of more than 10 g. The elevating resistance can be set via the number of folds or via the extended length and the material cross section of the resilient elements and via the number of fastening claws. The spring characteristics of the resilient elements of individual fastening claws may differ. The positions of the fastening claws are freely selectable.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of the installation of the central part 1. In this case, the push-in elements 42 and 43 are first of all pushed into the anti-whiplash vehicle seat 1. Subsequently, the lower part of the central part 21 is pressed by a fitter 60 in the direction of the arrow 61 against the anti-whiplash vehicle seat 1 or the shaped part 51, and therefore the hook 41 engages over the shaped part 51 in the direction of the arrow 62.

The elements in FIG. 1, FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are shown with simplicity and clarity being taken into consideration and not necessarily true to scale. For example, the dimensions of some elements are illustrated in exaggerated form in relation to other elements in order to improve the understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• 1 Anti-whiplash vehicle seat
• 2 Backrest
• 3 Seat surface
• 5 Occupant
• 21 Central part
• 22 Side part
• 40, 41 Fastening claw
• 42, 43 Push-in element
• 44, 45 Latching hook
• 51 Shaped part
• 52 Frame part
• 60 Fitter
• 61, 62 Arrow
• 410 Resilient element
• 411 Rib
• 412 Hook
• 413 Hook-side supporting surface
• 414 (vehicle-seat-side) supporting surface of a shaped part
• 415 Lug
• S Distance
• α Angle

Claims

1. Vehicle seat for a motor vehicle with a rear backrest covering the rear backrest covering comprising:

a fixed side part; and

a central part, wherein the central part is mechanically fastened to the vehicle seat by means of a resilient element fastened to the vehicle seat by means of a hook, wherein the resilient element and the spring are configured as a single piece.

2. Vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the hook comprises an inwardly directed lug.

3. Vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the hook comprises a hook-side supporting surface which, when the resilient element is subjected to a tensile loading, is pressed against a vehicle-seat-side supporting surface.

4. Vehicle seat according to claim 3, wherein, when the resilient element is not subjected to a load, the hook-side supporting surface is inclined, in particular by at least 20°, in relation to the vehicle-seat-side supporting surface.

5. Vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the resilient element is elastic only in one spring direction.

6. Vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the resilient element comprises a U spring.

7. Vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the resilient element is configured as a U spring.

8. Vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein the U spring comprises a rib for preventing the U spring from being compressed.

9. Vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the central part is fastened in its upper region to the vehicle seat in the manner of a hinge.

10. Vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the central part is fastened in its upper region to the vehicle seat manner such that it is pushed in.

11. Vehicle seat for a motor vehicle with a rear backrest covering the rear backrest covering comprising:

a fixed side part; and

a central part, wherein the central part is mechanically fastened to the vehicle seat by means of a resilient element, wherein the resilient element is elastic only in one spring direction.

12. Vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the resilient element is configured as a U spring comprising a rib for preventing the U spring from being compressed.

13. Vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the resilient element and the central part are configured as a single piece.

14. Vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the central part is fastened in its upper region to the vehicle seat in the manner of a hinge.

15. Vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the central part is fastened in its upper region to the vehicle seat in the manner such that it is pushed in.

16. Vehicle seat for a motor vehicle with a rear backrest covering the rear backrest covering comprising:

a fixed side part; and

a central part, wherein the central part is mechanically fastened to the vehicle seat by means of a resilient element, wherein the central part is fastened in its upper region to the vehicle seat in the manner of a hinge.

17. Vehicle seat for a motor vehicle with a rear backrest covering the rear backrest covering comprising:

a fixed side part; and

a central part, wherein the central part is mechanically fastened to the vehicle seat by means of a resilient element, wherein the central part is fastened in its upper region to the vehicle seat in the manner such that it is pushed in.

18. Method for producing a vehicle seat having a rear backrest covering comprising a fixed side part and a central part, the method comprising the step of:

pressing the central part in its lower region against the vehicle seat from the rear in such a manner that a hook which is connected to a resilient element latches into the vehicle seat, with the resilient element being connected to the central part.

19. Method according to claim 18, the method further comprising the step of:

pushing the central part in its upper region into the vehicle seat.

20. Method according to claim 18, the method further comprising the step of:

manufacturing the central part together with the resilient element as an injection moulded part.

21. Method according to claim 18, the method further comprising the step of:

manufacturing the central part together with the resilient element and the hook as an injection-moulded part.