GB2235752A

GB2235752A - A switch group for the adjustment of a vehicle seat

Info

Publication number: GB2235752A
Application number: GB9016096A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruno Sacco; Joseph Gallitzendorfer; Andreas Langenbeck; Murat Gunak; Erich Karb
Original assignee: Daimler Benz AG
Current assignee: Daimler Benz AG
Priority date: 1989-07-22
Filing date: 1990-07-23
Publication date: 1991-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2010-07-23
Also published as: JPH03178839A; SE9002382L; IT1241492B; FR2649940A1; FR2649940B1; GB9016096D0; IT9048153A1; JPH0637153B2; SE9002382D0; SE508158C2; GB2235752B; IT9048153A0; DE3924292C1

Abstract

Two switching elements (5, 6) which represent a seat cushion and a backrest, respectively, of the vehicle seat, arranged on a surface (3) so as to correspond in an obvious way to the position of the actual seat, and so as to be accessible to the user from above. Switching element (5) which represents the seat cushion is mounted on a horizontal portion of the bearing surface (3). To make the switch group suitable for expansion by providing additional switching elements the switching element (6) which represents the backrest is mounted separately from switching element (5) on a surface portion which is angled obliquely upwards, there is sufficient space for grasping the switching elements at both sides. The additional switching elements (8, 9) may control a lumbar support and a headrest, respectively. A mode change-over switch (10), a memory store button (11) and a memory store indicator (12) may also be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

t....:

1 A switch group for the remote adjustment of a vehicle seat 1 The invention relates to a switch group for the remote adjustment of a vehicle seat, adjustable via actuating drives, the group having two switching elements, which symbolize respectively a seat cushion and a back-rest of the vehicle seat, held in a position relative to one another which corresponds to the use position of the seat, the elements being arranged so as to be accessible from above on a bearing surf ace reachable by a user of the seat, the switching element symbolizing the seat cushion being mounted on a horizontal surf ace portion of the bearing surf ace and a f ree space f or operation suf f icient f or grasping the switching elements at the sides being present on both sides next to the switch group.

A switch group of this kind, which is made in imitation of the appearance of the vehicle seat even as regards its proportions, is already known, for example, from German Utility Model 8,516,069.

The switch group here comprises two cuboid switching elements, which represent a seat cushion and a backrest of a vehicle seat and are swivellably connected to one another via a spindle. This switching element unit is mounted in lateral guides extending parallel to one another I and horizontally so as to be longitudinally displaceable on the spindle, a relative mobility of the switching elements, said mobility corresponding to the vehicle seat, thereby being provided. since in their rest position, the switching elements are held in a stable central position and, to control the adjustment functions of the vehicle seat, can be moved in opposite directions starting from this central position, a particularly obvious adjustment operation of the vehicle seat is possible via the switch group.

However, over and above the adjustment of the inclination of the backrest, contemporary vehicle seats 1 1 2 have further adjustable seat parts, such as the now obligatory head restraint or a lumbar support integrated into a lower portion of the seat back.

Due to an increasing awareness of comfort of the car driver, it should be possible to perform these furtherreaching adjustment functions via switchcontrollable servo motors too.

At the same time, for reasons of clear association, it would be advisable to control the additional functions via the switch group associated with the vehicle seat too. However, the already known switch group can hardly be employed to assume further control functions if a comparably obvious operating facility for the additionally adjustable seat parts is being aimed for.

The present invention seeks therefore to improve a switch group such that it is more suitable for expansion by additional control functions and obvious operation of the switch group should remain possible even in the case of expansion.

According to the present invention there is provided a switch group for the remote adjustment of a vehicle seat adjustable via actuating drives, the group having two switching elements, which symbolize respectively seat cushion and a back-rest of the vehicle seat, held in position relative to one another which corresponds to the use position of the seat, the elements being arranged so as to be accessible from above on a bearing surface reachable by a user of the seat, the switching element symbolizing the seat cushion being mounted on a horizontal surface portion of the bearing surface and a free space for operation sufficient for grasping the switching elements at the sides being present on both sides next to the switch group, wherein the bearing surface for the switch group merges behind the switching element symbolizing the seat cushion into a surface portion angled obliquely upwards and the switching element symbolizing the backrest is mounted h Q, J l- 3 on an angled surface portion of the bearing surfaceseparately from the associated switching element symbolising the seat cushion, the bearing surf ace being formed by a stepped shoulder, extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, on a cladding arranged laterally next to the vehicle seat.

Thus, according to this arrangement, an inclination of the bearing surface of the switch group is utilized in order to hold the two switching elements relative to one another in a position corresponding to the use position of the seat.

Since the switch group can be grasped by the operating hand, the side contour of the switch group can be felt upon grasping said switch group, confusion-proof' operation of the switching elements thereby remaining possible even without looking.

The bearing surface is preferably formed by a shoulder of a stepped cladding which is arranged laterally next to the vehicle seat. Such a shoulder can, for example,, delimit the bottom of a niche in a door panel.

In contrast, in the case of motor vehicles which have a transmission tunnel, it is more advantageous to employ a shoulder in a cover plate of the centre console f or the arrangement of the switch group. Two switch groups can be mounted on the cover plate., in mirror symmetry to the central longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle for instance, one switch group being associated with the driver's seat and the other switch group being associated with the passenger seat. Given favourable positioning, both switch groups are accessible from the driverfs seat, the driver thus being able to take over the adjustment of the passenger seat.

Due to the separate arrangement of the switching element symbolizing the backrest from the switching element symbolizing the seat cushion, the former can be mounted at any desired height above the latter switching element. As i - 4 a result, a further switching element can be arranged below the switching element placed at the higher level, which further switching element symbolizes, for example, a lumbar support. In addition, another switching element, which symbolizes the head restraint, can be mounted above the switching element placed at the higher level.

To ensure that the lateral contour of the switching element secured on the angled surface portion can be felt effortlessly, it should have the same gripping width. In addition. the gripping width should correspond at least substantially to that of the switching element which symbolizes the seat cushion.

To improve the felt association of the switching elements, arranged one above the other, it is furthermore expedient if the switching elements in each case exhibit a vertical spacing from the adjacent switching element.

The appearance of the switch group is more similar to that of the vehicle seat if the switching element symbolizing the seat cushion is mounted in raised fashion on a recessed pedestal.

Favourable conditions as regards installation space can be achieved if the switching elements in each case taper in a wedge shape towards one edge side extending in the direction of the width of the switch group.

In the case of switching elements constructed together with a switch base as a change key, a desired operation is in addition promoted by the wedge shape if a swivelling axis of the switching element extends along the edge side tapered in a wedge shape.

To enable the switching element symbolizing the seat cushion also to be a change key for vertical adjustment of the seat, a sliding key for the longitudinal adjustment of the seat can be integrated into the pedestal.

As a possibly worthwhile expansion of the switch group, a change-over switch can be provided in the bearing plate next to said group.

1 1.

1 k By means of the change-over switch, it is alternatively possible to effect the control of the driver's seat or the control of the passenger seat from one switch group.

Alternatively, the change-over switch can also be intended f or the selection of two dif f erent control programs f or the same vehicle seat.

To further increase the ease of operation, the adjustment of the vehicle seat can be effected automatically in a manner known per se, the adjustment values of several persons being recallable from a seat position memory.

The operating and display elements of this electronic storage device can expediently be arranged next to the switch group symbolizing the seat.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detail below, by way of example, with reference to a drawing.

This drawing shows a view of a schematically represented switch group 1, which is arranged laterally next to the driver's seat on a centre console 2 of a motor vehicle (not shown) and is used for adjusting the driver's seat via servo motors. In accordance with its association with the driver's seat, the switch group I is mounted at the left-hand side on a cover plate 3 of the centre console 2. In a longitudinai region which is accessible to the driver from all seat positions envisaged, the cover plate 3 has a stepped shoulder 4 at which a rear horizontal plane of the cover plate 3 merges into a downward-directed oblique plane, initially at an angle of, here, about 45', bef ore it continues in a vertically of f set horizontal plane situated in front of the oblique plane.

A portion of the width of the oblique plane and an adjoining portion of the width of the lower horizontal plane are here used as bearing surf ace for the switch group i, which, in its overall configuration, has the appearance t- 6 of a miniature seat. The principal elements of the switch group I are two rectangular switch elements 5 and 6 of corresponding width which are intended to symbolize a seat cushion and a backrest of the vehicle seat and the proportions of the surfaces of which are therefore matched approximately to the real proportions of the seat. To ensure that the switching elements 5 and 6 are held in a position relative to one another which corresponds to the use position of the seat, the switching element 5 symbolizing the seat cushion is arranged a short distance in front of the oblique plane of the shoulder 4 on the horizontal surface portion of the bearing surface while the switching element 6 symbolizing the backrest is arranged above switching element 5 on the inclined surface portion of the bearing surface. Since the switching elements 5 and 6 are each held with their rearward surface resting on the surface portions, the angle of incidence of switching element 6 to switching element 5 is principally determined by the angle included between the horizontal and the inclined surface portion of the bearing surface.

In order to achieve an appearance which is more similar to the seat despite this obtuse angle of about 135", switching element 5 is arranged raised on a pedestal 7 which is recessed relative to the edge sides of switching element 5 and thereby gives the impression of a seat underframe. In addition, the switching elements 5 and 6 taper in a wedge shape over their entire longitudinal extension, switching element 5 tapering from the front towards the rear and switching element 6 tapering from the top towards the bottom. The angle included between the upward-facing surface of switching element 5 and the forward-facing surface of switching element 6 is as a result markedly steeper than the angle of incidence predetermined by the bearing surface. Since the switching elements 5 and 6 are mounted separate from one another, switching element 6 can be arranged vertically offset above v 11 1 7 1 switching element 5 to such an extent that a further switching element 8 can be arranged between them on the inclined surface portion. This switching element 8 symbolizes a lumbar support and in imitation of its real extension on the vehicle seat, comprises a narrow bar element which extends in the direction of the width of switching element 6, parallel to the lower edge of the latter.

As seen over its constant cross-section,, switching element 8, the length of which corresponds to the width of switching element 6, likewise has a wedge shape and is secured independently of switching elements 5 and 6, between the latter.

Arranged on the inclined surface portion of the bearing surface, above switching element 6, likewise separated from the latter, is a further narrow switching element 9 which, with a length corresponding to the width of switching element 6, extends along the upper edge of the latter.

As seen over its constant cross-section, switching element 9 also has a wedge shape, switching element 9 tapering from the bottom towards the top.

Since switching element 9 is intended. to symbolize a head restraint of the vehicle seat, its vertical extension is matched approximately proportionately to the vertical extension of head restraint. The operation of the switch group 1 symbolizing overall a vehicle seat is thus obvious since switching element 8 for the lumbar support and switching element 9 for the head restraint are situated in an arrangement within the switch group 1 which corresponds to their position of installation on the vehicle seat. The operating action is from above. the thumb and the index finger of an operating hand having to be spread f ar enough to allow each of the switching elements 5, 6, 8 and 9 to be grasped on both sides. Since the end faces of all the switching elements 5, 6, 8 and 9 t - S;.

k, 8 lie in a common vertical longitudinal plane on both sides, grasping is possible without problems. The operating action accordingly presupposes a sufficient free space for operation on both sides next to the switch group 1.

The association can be made without even looking at the switch group 1, by touch, it being possible for the switching elements 5, 8, 6 and 9 in each case to exhibit a vertical spacing, thereby making it easier to distinguish the switching elements 5, 8, 6 and 9 from one another.

The obviousness of switch operation is further increased by the fact that the switching elements 5, 8, 6 and 9 are movable in the same direction of movement as the associated parts of the vehicle seat, in each case for controlling the adjustment functions. For this purpose the switching elements 5, 8, 6 and 9 are pivoted on an associated switch base Sa, Sa, 6a and 9a, respectively, in each case along their tapered edge side extending in the direction of the width of the switch group 1, and held in a stable central position. From this central position, they can be optionally depressed in the direction of the bearing surf ace or swivelled up in the opposite direction, of movement. With their respective switch bases 5a, 8a, 6a and ga, they thus form change keys of known design. A sliding key switch having a stable central position via which the seat adjustment in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle can be controlled is furthermore provided between switch base 5a and the pedestal 7. Thus, switching element 5 can be used for the longitudinal adjustment of the vehicle seat by longitudinal displacement relative to the pedestal 7 and for vertical or slope adjustment of the vehicle seat by swivelling up or down.

By swivelling switching element 8 forwards out of its central position, it is possible to move the lumbar support out and, when it is swivelled back, to retract the latter again or to adjust its amplitude steplessly.

When switching element 6 is swivelled up, a i 1.

9 steeper inclination of the seat back is approached and when it is swivelled down a shallower inclination of the seat back is approached. Finally, by swivelling switching element 9 up and down, an advance of the head restraint in the same direction can be effected.

In order to be able to make use of additional adjustment functions of the vehicle seat via the switch group 1, a change-over switch 10 is integrated into the horizontal surface portion of the bearing surface on the right-hand side next to the pedestal 7 at a sufficient distance. This change-over switch 10 is a change-over switch of customary slidably guided design via which two different function programs can be selected.

In one switch position, a so-called standard. program is selected, which here comprises all the adjustment functions described apart from the lumbar support. By switching over the change-over switch 10, a special orthopaedic program is selected which only then activates switching element 8 and in which the adjustment functions of switching elements 5 and 6 are overlaid by other adjustment functions.

Instead of the longitudinal seat adjustment, in the course of a sliding movement of switching element 5 the height of the seat cushion is now adjusted and, instead of the inclination of the back an extendable shoulder support or the avance of sice wings arranged on the side of the seat back is now adjusted via switching element 6.

Further adjustment possibilities are also conceivable on switching element 5 and switching element 9.

A sensor control 11 is set into the inclined surface portion of the bearing surface next to switching element 8, likewise at a distance to the right of the switch group 1. By pressing on the sensor control, a socalled memory storage of the present seat position can be achieved, thereby enabling the vehicle seat, after recall, to move automatically into a plurality of stored positions.

4 - 41 j The sensor control 11 is complemented by a monitoring display 12 located above the latter, which numerically indicates the memory location selected.

over and above the advantages already explained, particularly when arranged on a cover plate 3 of a centre console 2, the switch group 1 offers the advantage of simple connection via cables to the vehicle's electrical system. The excessive cable lengths necessary in the case of arrangement on the doors can be markedly reduced.

The switching elements of the switch group 1 can in each case be connected through an associated opening in the cover plate 3, which is covered over by the switching elements themselves after their installation..

In addition, in the case of repair only that switching element of the switch group which is affected need be replaced, with the result that correspondingrepairs can be carried out at a favourable cost.

i.

( I 11

Claims

1. A switch group f or the remote adjustment of a vehicle seat adjustable via actuating drives, the group having two switching elements, which symbolize respectively seat cushion and a back-rest of the vehicle seat, held in position relative to one another which corresponds to the use position of the seat, the elements being arranged so as to be accessible from above on a bearing surface reachable by a user of the seat, the switching element symbolizing the seat cushion being mounted on a horizontal surface portion of the bearing surface and a free space for operation sufficient for grasping the switching elements at the sides being present on both sides next to the switch group, wherein the bearing surface for the switch group merges behind the switching element symbolizing the seat cushion into a surface portion angled obliquely upwards and the switching element symbolizing the backrest is mounted on an angled surface portion of the bearing surface separately from the associated switching element symbolising the seat cushion, the bearing surface being formed by a stepped shoulder, extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, on a cladding arranged laterally next to the vehicle seat.

2. A switch group according to Claim 1, wherein the cladding is a cover plate of a centre console of the vehicle.

3. A switch group according to Claim 1, wherein the upward-angled surface portion of the bearing surface is higher than the switching element symbolizing the backrest and at least one further switching element is mounted in the direction of vertical extension of the switching element symbolising the backrest.

f L 12 5. A switch group according to Claim 3, wherein the switching element symbolizing the back-rest is arranged vertically offset relative to the switching element symbolizing the seat cushion, and a narrow switching element, which symbolizes a lumbar support of the vehicle seat, is mounted on the angled surface portion below switching element..

5. A switch group according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein a narrow switching element, which symbolizes a head restraint of the vehicle seat, is mounted on the angled surface portion above the switching element symbolizing the backrest.

6. A switch group according to Claim 3, wherein the width of all of the switching elements of the switch group which are mounted on the angled surface portion of the bearing surface correspohds at least substantially to the width of the switching element symbolizing the seat cushion.

7. A switch group according to Claim 3, wherein all. the switching elements mounted on the angled surface portion of the bearing surface are mounted at a vertical distance from one another.

8. A switch group according to Claim 1, wherein the switching element-symbolizing the seat cushion rests on a pedestal recessed relative to the edge sides of the switching element.

9. A switch group according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein all the switching elements symbolizing a seat part taper in a wedge shape towards one of their edge sides extending in the direction of the width of the switch group.

1 1 (1 1 13

10. A switch group according to Claim 9, wherein, along their tapered edge sides, the switching elements are pivoted on an associated switch base, being held in a stable central position in the rest condition, and the switching elements, which, in each case together with their switch base, are designed as change keys, can be swivelled out of their central position in opposite directions.

A switch group according to Claim 8, wherein a sliding key switch having a stable central position is integrated into the pedestal.

12. A switch group according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein a change-over switch is integrated into the bearing surface laterally next to the switch configuration.symbolizing the vehicle seat.

13. A switch group according to Claim 12, wherein the change-over switch is a selector switch for two different function programs of the vehicle seat.

14. A switch group according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein a control button and/or a monitoring display of a seat-position memory is set into the bearing surface laterally next to the switch configuration symbolizing the vehicle seat.

15. A switch group for the remote adjustment of a vehicle seat adjustable via actuating drives, substantially as described herein, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

Publ shed 1991 at The Patent Office. State House. 66/71 High Holbom, London WC I R4TP. Further copies may be obtained from i I Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point, CWmiclinfach, Cross Keys. Newport, NP) 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd. St Mary Cray. Kent.