GB2204234A

GB2204234A - Fitting for an automobile vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2204234A
Application number: GB08808702A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Theo Adler; Friedemann Bach; Peter Hendrich; Horst Luley; Dieter Quistorf; Reinhard Schmidt; Bernd Meier
Original assignee: R Schmidt GmbH
Current assignee: R Schmidt GmbH
Priority date: 1987-05-07
Filing date: 1988-04-13
Publication date: 1988-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2008-04-13
Also published as: GB2204234B; DE3715152A1; ES2006567A6; GB8808702D0

Description

FITTING FOR AN AUTOMOBILE VEHICLE, IN PARTICULAR A HEADRtST The invention

concerns a fitting for an automobile vehicle, in particular a headrest, with an opening arranged approximately in the middle, comprising a shape-retaining, hollow central part made of synthetic material strengthened by supports, with at least one connecting means in the form of an insertion opening for the introduction of a carrying support, and at least one covering surrounding the central part.

A head support of this kind known from usual practice is formed hollow to save weight and material and is made as a one piece injection moulded plastic component using a central piece strengthened with supports, and has a plurality of outwardly opening core moulding apertures in the central part limited by relatively thin side pieces and thin wall parts, howeverthe narrow edges of this present a considerable risk of injury, which cannot be compensated for by the arrangement of cushioning, whilst, among other things, the offical testing of head rests for risk of possible injury is performed without any cushioning or covering, for example of flexible cloth or other materials such as leather.

The object of the invention is to improve a fitting of the kind in the preliminary part of claim 1, so that the risks of injury by the central part are very largely excluded.

2 The solution to this task is characterized in that the central part is assembled from two shell-like individual parts, and the latt'er are constructed and arranged together in such a way that together they form, except for the insertion openings, a central part with a closed surface free from sharp edges and corners.

In this way a hollow, light but nevertheless shape-retaining central part, with a smooth surface free from core moulding apertures is obtained, for which the shaping tools are considerably easier and cheaper to produce, since the previously necessary variable central parts of the structure are no longer necessary. Moreover, by not having to make variable central parts, the succession of injections can be improved. Connection of the two individual sections of the central part can be by catches or by clips or by vibration welding.

To reduce the costs of producing the shaped body even more, it is advantageous to make the individual sections of the central part identical to one another, so that only one shaping tool is then necessary for their production. A further advantageous development is characterized in that both shell-like individual sections are each enclosed on the outside by a covering, the edge regions of which reach at 3 least almost as far as the edge regions of the individual' sections of the central part and are fastened to the latter.

This considerably facilitates the drawing of a cover, for example of woven textile material, onto the previously cushioned central part and the fastening of the cover to the central part.

For this it is advantageous, when the edge regions of the covering surround the edge regions of the shell-like individual sections of the central part, to be able to, for example, glue, attach or wedge, the edge regions of the cover around the central part, without having to fear that, for example, the glued connections or the attachment places or edges of the covering are externally visible.

A preferred arrangement for this is characterized in that the edge regions of the covering are fastened to the edge regions of the individual sections of the central part by ultrasonic welding.

In this way a firm connection is immediately made, which can also be obtained more easily and quickly than, for example, a glued connection.

4 Further advantageous arrangements are disclosed in claims 5 to 7.

A preferred, very solid connection of the two individual sections of the central part to one another is characterized in that the individual sections of the central part have, on the sides turned towards one another and within the regions enclosed by the edge regions running round them, immediately adjacent supporting zones and in that these zones of the two individual sections of the central part are fastened to one another especially enclosed by the material.

Further advantageous arrangements for this are characterized in claims 9 to 11.

To simplify the welding of the two individual sections of the central part to one another it is advantageous if, in at least one of the individual sections of the central part, at least one conductor is arranged which can be heated electrically and can heat the zones to be welded together to the welding temperature, whereby in particular the disconnectable electrical supply for this is led through the insertion opening provided for the introduction of a carrying support.

In connection with this, further advantageous developments are characterized in claims 13 and 14 whereby the arrangement according to claim 14 allows simultaneous and equal heating to welding temperature of the welding places of both individual sections of the central part with a single electrically heated conductor.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and is explained in more detail in the following.

Figure 1 shows a part of a central part of a headrest seen along the arrow in Figure 2; Figure 2 shows the same seen in the direction of the line II-II in Figure 1.

In the headrest according to the invention, the hollow shape-retaining central part, with an opening in the middle, is assembled from two shell-like individual sections 1, of which only one individual section is shown.

The second individual section, which is not shown, is formed symmetrical with the individual section shown, at least in the formation of the abutting flange. The individual sections 1 are so assembled that their edge regions lie against one another and form together a hollow body with a smooth surface.

6 On the inner side of each of the individual sections 1 a plurality of spaced stiffening ribs 2 are formed. In addition, cavities 3 are formed in the short sides of the frame-like individual sections 1, which together form two insertion openings to accept already known headrest carriers, which are not shown.

The insertion openings open on the lower, long side of the frame-like headrest.

In addition, between the edge regions 10 both individual sections of the central part 1 have, on their sides turned towards one another, spaced from the edge regions, supporting zones 4 which are predominantly made as narrow ribs running in a zig-zag. The supporting zones 4 of the individual section lie opposite and immediately adjacent the supporting zones 4 of the other individual section.

Channels 5 are formed in the zones 4 following the course of the ribs, in which an electrical conductor 6, 7, especially of tungsten, is inserted which can be heated to the welding temperature of the synthetic material, and whose electrical supply wires, not shown, are led through the openings provided to receive the headrest carrying support so that to connect the two individual sections 1 placed correctly against each other to form a material enclosed shape, an electrical 7 voltage must be applied through the conductors 6 and 7 for only a relatively short time.

After successful welding of both individual sections 1 to one another, the end portions of the electrical conductors 6 and 7 remaining in the central part which project into the cavities 3 (shown by dotted lines in the drawing) are cut off to be as flush as possible with the walls of the cavities 3, as can be seen from the drawing.

Preferably, as shown in Figure 2, the conductors 6 and 7 are so arranged that they partly project from the channels 5.

According to Figure 2, the individual sections 1 are each first provided with a shape-enclosing foam cushion coating 8 and then a cover 9, of textile material for example, whereby the edge regions of the cover 9 surround the flange-like edge regions 10 of the individual sections 1 and are permanently fastened to these by ultrasonic welding.

Figure 2 shows only the cushioning and covering of the upper portion of the headrest. Of course all the other parts of the headrest are covered in a similar way leaving only the insertion openings for the headrest carrying support free.

8 The zones 4 and the flange-like edge regions 10 are arranged at least sufficiently flush with one another that, after assembly of the individual sections, the edge regions of cover 9 are additionally stretched between them over the whole perimeter of the edge regions 10.

1

Claims

1. A fitting for an automobile vehicle, in particular a headrest, with an opening arranged approximately in the middle, comprising---a shape-retaining, hollow central part made of synthetic material strengthened by supports, with at least one connecting means in the form of an insertion opening for the introduction of a carrying support, and at least one covering surrounding the central part, characterized in that the central part is assembled from two shell-like individual sections (1) constructed and arranged together in such a way that together they form, except for the insertion openings, a closed surface free from sharp edges and corners.

2. A fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that both shell-like individual sections (1) are each enclosed on the outside by a covering (9), the edge regions of which reach at least almost as far as the edge regions (10) of the individual sections (1) of the central part and are fastened to the latter.

3. A fitting according to claim 2, characterised in that the edge regions of the covering (9) surround the edge regions (10) of the shell-like individual sections (1).

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4. A fitting according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the edge regions of the covering (9) are fastened to the edge regions (10) of the individual sections of the central part by ultrasonic welding.

5. A fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is built as a sun visor.

6. A fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is built as an arm rest.

7. A fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is built as a hand grip.

8. A fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the individual sections (1) of the central part have, on their sides turned towards one another, between their edge regions (10), immediately adjacent supporting zones (4) and in that these zones (4) of the two individual sections (1) of the central part are fastened to one another especially enclosed by the material.

9. A fitting according to claim 8, characterized in that the individual sections (1) of the central part each have several zones (4) connected to one another arranged spaced on the sides towards each other.

10. A fitting according to claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the zones (4) follow at least approximately the shape of the edge regions (10) of the individual sections (1) of the central part, and are arranged at a distance from these, and are in the form of relatively narrow ribs.

11. A fitting according to claim 10, characterized in that the ribs run in zig-zags or wave shapes.

12. A fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in at least one of the individual sections (1) of the central part, at least one conductor (6,7) is arranged which can be heated electrically and can heat the zones (4) to be welded together to the welding temperature, and in that the disconnectable electrical supply for this is led through the insertion opening provided for the introduction of a carrying support.

13. A fitting according to claim 12, characterized in that the electrical conductor or conductors (6,7) are each held, especially by wedging, in a suitable channel (5) which is open to the individual section (1) of the central part lying opposite it.

14. A fitting according to claim 13, characterized in that the or each conductor (6,7) protrudes longitudinally from its channel (5).

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15. A fitting substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 65/71 High Holborn, London WClR 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con- 1/87.

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