EP1697164A1

EP1697164A1 - Trim panel, suitable for attaching to a displaceable seat and seat

Info

Publication number: EP1697164A1
Application number: EP04803708A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Volkmar Schulz; Thomas FÖLSTER; Thorsten Helbig; Thomas Heckmann
Original assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
Current assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
Priority date: 2003-12-15
Filing date: 2004-12-10
Publication date: 2006-09-06
Also published as: WO2005056331A1; US20070252423A1; DE10359019B4; JP2007513837A; DE10359019A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a trim panel (10) that is suitable for attaching to a displaceable seat and to a seat, in particular a vehicle seat (1). According to the invention, the seat comprises a seat component (3) that can be displaced in relation to a seat substructure (2) and the trim panel (10) largely conceals the seat substructure (2) and can be displaced together with the displaceable seat component (3).

Description

Cladding device, suitable for attachment to an adjustable seat, and seat

The invention relates to a cladding device suitable for attachment to an adjustable seat, in particular a vehicle seat, the seat having a seat component that is adjustable relative to a seat substructure.

Such seats are generally known. In conventional vehicle seats, parts of the structure or the adjusting device of the seat can be seen laterally below the seat cushion by design. Since these metal elements do not offer a beautiful sight, they are often covered, especially in high-quality vehicles. For this purpose, covers or panels are provided on the structure and / or the cushion shell, which are fastened to the structure or on the seat adjuster in complex and expensive assembly work steps by means of fastening elements. Panels are often damaged and have to be removed and reassembled in a time-consuming manner. For example, a seat is known from the publication DE 3623634 C2, which has a support frame, a spring system attached to the support frame, a cushion arranged above the spring system, a side panel and a cover covering the cushion, the cover to achieve a spring preload towards the support frame is tense. Here it is so that resilient, ie. H. movable parts, for example the cover or the panel, are connected to structurally fixed or vehicle-fixed parts, so that during movement or spring deflection such a component, which connects the movable and the fixed components of the vehicle seat, has extraordinarily high mechanical loads and therefore also is exposed to high wear. In the case of an adjustment, for example an inclination adjustment, the aperture is then deformed, for example.

Furthermore, it is generally known in the prior art to equip a vehicle seat with a, in particular lateral, covering with a structurally fixed cover, against which a seat cushion can move, in particular adjustable in height and inclination. The problem that arises here is that at the transition between the movable seat cushion and the structure-fixed or vehicle-fixed Aperture is subject to very high wear due to constant friction. This creates gaps and abrasion points that either have an aesthetic effect or have a negative impact on the service life. In addition, it is the case with such known structurally fixed covers that they must have an extremely great fit, especially at the transition to the seat cushion part, and can therefore only be produced in a very complex and expensive manner.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a cladding device suitable for attachment to an adjustable seat and a seat, in particular a vehicle seat, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a cladding device suitable for attachment to an adjustable seat, the seat having a seat component that is adjustable relative to at least a first part of a seat substructure, the first part of the seat substructure relative to a second part of the seat substructure together with the adjustable seat component is essentially horizontally displaceable, the covering device covering at least the first part of the seat substructure to a large extent and being adjustable together with the adjustable seat component. Due to the free mobility of the covering device together with the adjustable seat component, there are no such excessive mechanical loads inside the covering device that can be attributed to the fact that the covering device would have to elastically absorb or compensate for approximately the entire adjustment of the adjustable seat component. In this respect, the cladding device has to meet lower requirements with regard to stability and wear resistance compared to material tensions that occur elastically, which are caused by the adjustment and which have a comparatively large amplitude. Nevertheless, the cladding device must of course absorb forces, for example those caused by a user by sitting on the edge of the seat part of the seat. Here, however, it is advantageously possible according to the invention to design the cladding device in a simple manner so stiff and stable that such forces caused by a user are easily absorbed can be because the lining device need not be designed at the same time in such a way that it has a high elasticity over comparatively large deformation amplitudes and this over the entire life of the vehicle. Because the cladding device largely covers the seat substructure, it is possible that comparatively large tolerances can be provided between the cladding device and the seat substructure or structural or vehicle-fixed parts or components, so that the requirements for the accuracy of fit of the cladding device can be comparatively low , which reduces the production cost of the lining device. The covering device is also referred to below as a carrier part.

The seat component preferably comprises a seat cushion and / or a seat shell. In this case, the covering device is attached to the seat cushion, for example on the cushion frame or spring frame of the seat surface of the seat, or on the seat shell and is elastically secured within limits. As a result, it is advantageously possible for the cladding device to be fitted at a location on the seat which allows a maximum amount of installation space or space for accommodating the seat substructure which is covered by the cladding device. As a result, the seat substructure can be provided in such a way that both a large range of functions with regard to the adjustment possibilities of the adjustable seat component can be realized, and the seat substructure can be manufactured simply and robustly.

It is further preferred that the first part of the seat substructure has at least one frame which essentially surrounds the seat shell, the frame preferably running essentially in the plane of the seat shell. As a result, it is advantageously possible in a simple manner to design the seat substructure in a simple and stable manner and yet to provide the seat shell with a comparatively large possibility of movement.

It is further preferred that the seat component at least partially has a decorative surface, the decorative surface at least partially covering the cladding device. This makes it possible to give the lining device together with the seat a uniform exterior, which is aesthetic Overall impression of the seat improved. This furthermore makes it possible for the cladding device to be manufactured considerably more simply and cost-effectively, for example because the cladding device is not directly visible or viewable by a user, at least in his normal line of sight. Such a cladding device can therefore be produced more cost-effectively and with less logistical effort because its surface does not have to be designed as a decorative surface, for example, and because, for example, the same color design can be used for all decorative surfaces used.

It is further preferred that the cladding device has locking elements for locking the decorative surface. This makes it possible in a simple manner to design the decorative surface in an aesthetically pleasing manner in such a way that there are no excessively large areas of the decorative surface which are in contact with the surface of the cladding device but are not locked in a direction perpendicular to this surface.

It is further preferred that the cladding device has stiffening elements, in particular in the form of ribs, which give the cladding device a particularly high level of stability and durability.

It is further preferred that the cladding device covers at least the first part of the seat substructure at least partially like an apron and in the normal direction of view of a user. As a result, the cladding device can be fastened to the seat in a particularly simple and stable manner.

The invention further relates to a seat, in particular a vehicle seat with a seat substructure and an adjustable seat component, the seat having a covering device according to the invention. According to the invention, such a seat can be made more cost-effective and more aesthetically pleasing.

It is further preferred that the adjustable seat component can be tilted and / or adjusted in height relative to the first part of the seat substructure. This ensures that the seat offers a user a maximum of comfort and adjustment options. It is further preferred that the covering device covers at least on one side of the seat at least the first part of the seat substructure from a lateral viewing direction. In this way, it is advantageously possible according to the invention that the covering device gives the seat a particularly appealing appearance, so to speak, "at first glance", because a side view of the seat is usually the first thing about a vehicle or a vehicle seat after one Opening a vehicle door is visible.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing.

Figure 1 shows a part of a conventional vehicle seat in a perspective view.

Figures 2 and 2a show parts of a seat according to the invention with the seat cushion removed.

Figure 3 shows an overall perspective view of a seat according to the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view from below of a covering device according to the invention.

Figure 5 shows a detailed view of a cladding device according to the invention from above.

Figure 6 shows a sectional view of part of a vehicle seat according to the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of the lining device according to the invention from a direction laterally above. Figure 8 shows a detailed view of the lining device according to the invention from the side.

In Figure 1, a conventional and known vehicle seat 100 is shown at least in parts. A panel or a panel 110 is arranged around a known seat part 103, the panel 110 being attached to the substructure 102 of the seat 100 in a structurally fixed manner. The seat part 103 or the cushion 103 moves relative to the panel 110, for example in a height and / or incline adjustable manner. Naturally, this results in increased abrasion or wear at the contact points or contact points (possibly depending on the set inclination or height) between the cushion 103 and the cover 110. If the cover 110 consists of several parts, these must be manufactured with a very high accuracy of fit to each other, which makes them more expensive and furthermore reduces the service life.

Parts of a vehicle seat 1 according to the invention or a lining device 10 according to the invention are described in the following FIGS. 2-6.

FIGS. 2 and 2a each show a perspective view of a part of the seat 1 according to the invention with the seat cushion removed. A covering device 10 according to the invention is also shown in FIG. The covering device 10 according to the invention is not shown in FIG. 2a. It can be seen more clearly from FIG. 2a that a seat according to the invention in particular has an adjustable seat component 3, for example a seat shell 32, which is adjustable, in particular only tiltable, relative to at least a first part 25 of a seat substructure 2, it also being possible to provide it that the adjustable seat component 3 is both inclinable and height-adjustable relative to the first part 25 of the seat base 2. Here, the first part 25 of the seat substructure 2 has in particular a frame 24 which extends essentially in the plane of the seat shell 32 or the adjustable seat component 3. For the sake of simplicity, the illustration in FIG. 2 is carried out without a seat cushion or a seat cushion. The seat 1 comprises the seat base 2 and the adjustable seat component 3. The adjustable seat component 3 is height-adjustable and / or longitudinally adjustable and / or relative to at least parts of the seat base 2 adjustable angle. The cladding device 10 is used according to the invention for the lateral covering or cladding on the seat 1 or in the vehicle seat 1. The cladding device 10 thus fulfills the function of a carrier part, which enables or brings about a visual protection against normal viewing directions of a user of the vehicle seat towards the seat substructure 2. In the case of a vehicle seat 1 according to the invention, parts of the structure or an adjusting device of the seat 1 are in fact arranged, in particular laterally below the seat cushion.

FIG. 3 shows an overall perspective view of a seat 1 according to the invention with a lining device 10 according to the invention. In the embodiment in FIG. 3, the entire seat 1, including the cladding device 10, is covered by means of a decorative fabric or by means of a decorative surface 33, so that the seat 1 as a whole can be given a uniform exterior and thus a very advantageous appearance.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the lining device 10 according to the invention from a direction from below the seat 1 or the seat shell 32. The lining device 10 is fastened to the seat shell 32 by means of fastening elements 11, for example screws, clips, rivets and the like. Instead of the seat shell 32, a seat frame or a spring frame of a seat surface of the seat 1 can of course also be provided according to the invention as the attachment location of the covering device 10. The cladding device 10 covers the seat 1 (or in particular the substructure 2 of the seat 1) in a side (but possibly also front and / or rear) area 12 in a skirt-like manner, so that on the one hand there is sufficient space below the seat shell 32 for the adjustment mechanism of the seat 1 is present and, on the other hand, this adjustment mechanism or the parts of the seat substructure 2 are aesthetically protected from the sight of a user from a normal line of sight. Furthermore, stiffening elements 14 of the cladding device 10 are visible in FIG. 4, which are embodied as ribs or stiffening ribs 14 in the exemplary embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a detailed illustration of the lining device 10 on a seat 1 from above, but the seat cushion is not shown for the sake of simplicity. The lining device 10 is in turn attached to the seat shell 32 or the cushion frame of the seat 1.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional illustration of a vehicle seat 1 with a lining device 10 according to the invention. Again, the seat shell 32 is shown with the cladding device 10 attached to it via fastening elements 11. Various parts or components of the seat substructure 2 can also be seen. The seat substructure 2 is here collectively designated by the reference number 2. However, it is clear that the first part 25 of the seat base 2, together with the adjustable seat component 3 or together with the seat shell 32, can be moved or moved horizontally, in particular in a vehicle longitudinal direction, relative to a second part 26 of the seat base 2 or relative to the vehicle body is.

Different contours in different cross-sectional planes of the seat cushion 31 are also shown in FIG. 6. The seat cushion 31 is covered overall by means of a decorative surface 33, the decorative surface 33 also covering or covering the covering device 10 in addition to the seat cushion 31, so that according to the invention a particularly uniform and aesthetic design of the seat 1 is possible. All customary decorative materials such as, for example, fabrics, leather, knitted fabrics, foils and the like can be used as the decorative surface 33. The material of the cladding device 10 in particular comes into question: plastics as they are used as molded plastic parts in the interior of a motor vehicle. It is particularly advantageously possible according to the invention to lock or fasten the decorative surface 33 on the lining device 10. This is advantageous because in this way excessively large areas spanned by the decorative surface 33 are avoided. Such surfaces can on the one hand have an aesthetically poor effect and on the other hand such surfaces can cause the decorative surface 33 to curl, ie not to lie smoothly against the covering device 10, and to fold. To avoid such disadvantages, it is provided in an advantageous embodiment of the invention to provide locking elements 13 on the lining device 10 by means of the the decorative surface 33 is locked at least in one direction perpendicular to the spanned surface. For this purpose, it is advantageously provided according to the invention if the decorative surface 33 has a locking means 34 that is complementary to the locking elements 13, for example forms a loop into which a wire 35 extends in the longitudinal direction of the seat or the vehicle (ie, perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 6) is sewn in, the sewn-in wire 35 being lockable by means of the locking elements 13, for example by clipping in, pushing in, snapping in or the like. The locking elements 13 can be designed, for example, as fastening hooks or fastening clips. At the lower end 15 of the lining device 10, the decorative surface 33 is connected to the lining device 10 in a conventional manner, for example by means of fastening holes or fastening hooks by means of a hanging strip.

The cladding device 10, which is also referred to below as anchoring part 10, is fastened according to the invention to the seat shell 32 or the cushion shell 32 in the course of the seat assembly, for example with rivets as fastening elements 11. In a preferred manner, the seat cushion 31 or foam part 31 is then placed on top and then the decorative surface 33 or the cover 33 is placed over the seat cushion 31 and fastened to all the necessary fastening points, in particular by means of the locking elements 13 or at the lower end 15 of the covering device 10. In this situation according to the invention, the covering device 10 always moves with the seat shell 32, so that no abrasion or the like arises. Since the surface of the cladding device 10 is covered by the decorative surface 33, it is immaterial whether scratches are produced on the cladding device 10 when it is installed. Furthermore, due to the comparatively high (dimensional) tolerance of the soft decorative surface 33, a high accuracy of fit of the cladding device 10 is advantageously not required, so that the requirements in this regard are comparatively low, which makes the cladding device 10 cheaper. If the cladding device 10 is made of plastic, an integration of fastening elements 11 or locking elements 13 is facilitated. According to the invention, the covering device 10 advantageously makes it possible for the seat cushion 31 to be given good support or a good base, in particular when getting on and off represents a stable substructure from the vehicle and prevents the seat cushion 31 or the seat foam 31 from tipping over. As an alternative to designing the cladding device 10 from plastic, it is of course also possible according to the invention to provide the cladding device 10 as a sheet metal part - in particular riveted or screwed or welded onto the seat shell 32. Furthermore, it is possible according to the invention to provide the covering device 10 in one piece with the seat shell 32. It is particularly preferred that an adjustment switch (not shown) for the seat adjustment is integrated in the covering device 10.

FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of the lining device 10 according to the invention from a direction from the side from above, and FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of the lining device 10 according to the invention seen from the side. The seat cushion 31 can be seen in both figures and, in addition, the course of the locking means 13 or the complementary locking means 34 of the decorative surface 33 in the longitudinal direction of the seat or of the vehicle can be seen in FIG.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 vehicle seat 2 seat base 3 adjustable seat component 10 cladding device 11 fastening elements 12 area 13 locking elements 14 stiffening elements 15 lower end of the cladding device 24 frame 25 first part of the seat base 26 second part of the seat base 31 seat cushion 32 seat shell 33 decorative surface 34 complementary locking means 35 wire 100 known vehicle seat 102 known Substructure 103 known seat part 110 known panel

Claims

Expectations

1. Cladding device (10) suitable for attachment to an adjustable seat (1), in particular a vehicle seat, the seat (1) having a seat component (3) that is adjustable relative to at least a first part (25) of a seat substructure (2), wherein the first part (25) of the seat base (2) opposite a second part (26) of the seat base (2) _. is substantially horizontally displaceable together with the seat component (3), characterized in that the covering device (10) largely covers at least the first part (25) of the seat substructure (2) and is adjustable together with the adjustable seat component (3).

2. Lining device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the seat component (3) comprises a seat cushion (31).

3. Covering device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seat component (3) comprises a seat shell (32).

4. Cladding device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first part (25) of the seat substructure (2) has at least one frame (24) which essentially surrounds the seat shell (32).

5. cladding device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (24) extends substantially in the plane (34) of the seat shell (32).

6. cladding device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seat component (3) at least partially has a decorative surface (33), the decorative surface (33) at least partially covering the cladding device (10).

7. cladding device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cladding device (10) has locking elements (13) for locking the decorative surface (33).

8. cladding device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cladding device (10) has stiffening elements (14), in particular in the form of ribs.

9. cladding device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cladding device (10) at least partially covers at least the first part (25) of the seat base (2) like an apron and in the normal direction of view of a user.

10. Seat (1), in particular vehicle seat, with a seat substructure (2) and an adjustable seat component (3), characterized in that the seat (1) has a cladding device (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

11. Seat (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the adjustable seat component (3) relative to the first part (25) of the seat substructure (2) is adjustable and / or adjustable in height.

12. Seat (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the covering device (10) at least on one side of the seat (1) covers at least the first part (25) of the seat base (2) from a lateral viewing direction.