Vehicle seat

A vehicle seat comprises a seating portion and a back rest the angle of inclination is adjustable in relation to the seating portion, where at least the back rest is of modular design made of a plurality of upholstered elements, the upholstered elements each comprising a preformed foam part surrounded, at least in part, by a cushion cover, the upholstered elements made in this manner are put together via fasteners in modular fashion to form the back rest adjustable in inclination.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority under to German Patent Application No. DE 20 2019 104 372.5, filed Aug. 8, 2019, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a seat, and particularly to a vehicle seat.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, a modular designed vehicle seat is provided with a tilt adjustable back rest of which is put together in modular fashion from a plurality of upholstered elements with foam bodies arranged therein.

In illustrative embodiments, at least lateral upholstered elements, which form lateral support areas at the modular back rest, comprise an airbag module with an inflatable, unfolding air cushion, the airbag module being fitted in or, respectively, received in a supporting body of the lateral upholstered element and the airbag module being arranged adjacent to the foam part in the lateral upholstered element in such a way that the air cushion, when the airbag module is triggered, can be purposefully guided through an opening that can be formed between the foam part and the supporting body.

In illustrative embodiments, a modular designed vehicle seat is provided the tilt adjustable back rest of which is put together in modular fashion from a plurality of upholstered elements with foam bodies arranged therein, whereby at least lateral upholstered elements, which form lateral support areas at the modular back rest, comprise an airbag module with an inflatable, unfolding air cushion, the airbag module being fitted in or, respectively, received in a supporting body of the lateral upholstered element and the airbag module being arranged adjacent to the foam part in the lateral upholstered element in such a way that the air cushion, when the airbag module is triggered, can be purposefully guided through an opening that can be formed between the foam part and the supporting body.

In illustrative embodiments, a pre-fabricable upholstered element is provided, into which an airbag module can be integrated in a simple manner, whereby the foam part itself remains undamaged in the event of the airbag module being triggered because the air cushion unfolds not through an opening in the foam part. This can also minimize or avoid foam particles from flying around.

In illustrative embodiments, it is very simple to manufacture such a lateral upholstered element for vehicle seat of modular design because no costly adaptations to the foam body and the airbag module in relation to each other are required. Rather, these can be positioned in a simple manner adjacent to one another in the upholstered element and, preferably, surrounded towards the outside merely by the supporting body and by the cushion cover, for example, made of leather, fabric or synthetic leather. Hereby, the foam part can be manufactured in advance in a simple manner in a foam-in-place process or directly adjacent to the airbag module. The supporting body and the cushion cover may be connected to each other in a simple manner along a line of fixation depending on the size of the airbag module so that a variable construction is also possible, where the airbag module and the foam part are protected towards the outside.

In illustrative embodiments, it may be provided that in the cushion cover a tear seam is formed as a predetermined rupture point or, respectively, rated breaking point, whereby the opening for unfolding the air cushion may be formed preferably along the tear seam when the airbag module is triggered so as to purposefully guide the air cushion. Thus, it is possible in a simple manner to predefine a direction for the air cushion, whereby, according to this embodiment, it is preferably provided that the foam part is in planar contact within the lateral upholstered element with a first contact surface on a second contact surface of the airbag module, and the tear seam is arranged approximately on an extension of the first contact surface of the cushion part and the second contact surface of the airbag module. This makes it possible for the air cushion, when the airbag module is triggered, to be guided purposefully through an opening forming between the foam part and the supporting body.

In illustrative embodiments, it is provided that the supporting body, in which the airbag module is fitted in or, respectively, received, is designed as two parts, namely a first supporting body region and a second supporting body region, with the second supporting body region being arranged between the foam part and the airbag module, and the first supporting body region closing, at least in part, the lateral upholstered element outwardly, where the two supporting body regions can be separated from each other in certain regions so that, when the airbag module is triggered, an opening between the two supporting body regions can form such that the air cushion air cushion can be purposefully guided outwards between the foam part and the supporting body.

Thus, in this embodiment, too, the foam part is still arranged adjacent to the airbag module in the lateral upholstered element, however, separated from this by the second supporting body region and thereby protected. When triggered, the inflating air cushion will be guided through the opening by the two supporting body region separating from each other so that here, too, damage to the foam body is avoided. Moreover, the air cushion is not blocked by the foam part upon unfolding because it is guided past this.

It is further provided for the first supporting body region to be made of metal and the second supporting body region of an elastic material, for example, plastics. Thus a secure fixation and protection against outside influence can be achieved using the first supporting body region, which the second supporting body region enables a resilience of the supporting body when the airbag module or, respectively, the air cushion unfolds. This facilities a reliable unfolding of the air cushion through the opening.

It is further provided that the fastener for modular assembling the upholstered elements, in which airbag module is received and fitted in, is connected to the supporting body. Hereby, a reliable fixation of the pre-fabricated upholstered element as well as a secure hold of the airbag module, in particular, when triggered, ca n be achieved because this is arranged immediately adjacent to the fastener in the upholstered element.

It is further provided for the vehicle seat to be a front seat of a vehicle. In a modular design of the front seat the solution according to the present disclosure creates a simple option for integration of the airbag module into the back rest when only limited installation space is available. By virtue of this solution damage to the foam body is avoided or minimized.

In illustrative embodiments, it is provided for the back rest to be modular composed of two lateral upholstered elements for forming lateral support regions and a central upholstered element for forming a back support regions. Hereby, the upholstered elements of the back rest may be modular affixed to a retaining plate via the fastener, and/or at least some of the upholstered elements are modular affixed to one another directly via the fastener. Thus, the design according to the present disclosure can be utilized in various modular solutions in a simple manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

InFIG. 1a first embodiment example of a modular design vehicle seat1is shown, comprising a seating portion2as well as a back rest3. According to this embodiment, the back rest3is formed from a retaining plate4as well as three upholstered elements5a,5b,5c. The three upholstered elements5a,5b,5ccam be modular affixed to the retaining plate4so as to form the back rest3according toFIG. 3, whereby, in addition, a head rest6may be affixed to the back rest3or, respectively, the retaining plate4.

A central upholstered element5ais arranged centrally on the back rest3and, together with its front side facing the occupant, forms a back support area7athat may be structured accordingly. Lateral upholstered elements5b,5care arranged laterally on the back rest3and form lateral support areas7b,7c, for example, for the shoulders and the arms of the occupant. To that end, the lateral upholstered elements5b,5cprotrude forward a little in relating to the central upholstered element5a. Further, the two lateral upholstered elements5b,5climit the vehicle seat1towards the sides.

The modular designed vehicle seat1according toFIG. 2differs from the modular constructed vehicle seat1according toFIG. 1merely in that the lateral upholstered elements5b,5cforming the lateral support areas7b,7care affixed not to the retaining plate4but directly to the central upholstered element5awhich forms the back support area7a. Thus, the modular construction of the vehicle seat1can be achieves in different ways. In each case, the vehicle seat1is constructed from a plurality of upholstered elements5a,5b,5cwhich can be assembled accordingly so as to form the back rest3. The back rest3may also be formed from more than three upholstered elements5a,5b,5c. The seating portion2, too, may be assembled in this modular fashion.

Each upholstered element5a,5b,5ccomprises a foam part9, and this is shown in exemplary fashion for the lateral upholstered elements5b,5cin the sectional views in theFIGS. 4aand 5a. The foam part9is brought into a pre-determined shape in a corresponding foaming process, e.g. foam-in-place. The foam part9of the respective upholstered element5a,5b,5cis surrounded, at least in part, by a cushion cover10made of, for example, fabric, leather or synthetic leather.

The lateral upholstered elements5b,5cor one of the two lateral upholstered elements5b,5cadditionally comprise or, respectively, comprises an airbag module11. The airbag module11comprises, in a known manner, an inflatable air cushion11ainto which air can be introduced in a burst via a gas generator (not shown) so as to unfold the air cushion11ato protect an occupant, whereby, to that end, a tear seam14in the respective lateral upholstered element5b,5copens up. In its non-unfolded state the airbag module11or, respectively, the air cushion11ais fitted in a supporting body12of the respective lateral upholstered element5b,5clying, at least in part, in contact with an interior wall12aof the supporting body12.

The supporting body12closes the lateral upholstered elements5b,5ctogether with the cushion cover10towards the outside so that the foam part9and the airbag module11are completely surrounded towards the outside by these two elements10,12. The supporting body12and the cushion cover10are connected to one another along a certain line of fixation B (seeFIG. 4a, 5a), the line of fixation B extending, depending on the shape of the supporting body12or, respectively, the size of the airbag module11, along a circumferential line.

By means of fasteners13the lateral upholstered elements5a,5bincluding the airbag module11and the foam part9can be affixed to any element, in particular, to the retaining plate4(FIG. 1) or, respectively, the central upholstered element5a(FIG. 2). To that end, mounting holes8may be provided in the respective element4,5ainto which the fasteners13can be inserted to allow modular assembling of the back rest3.

In this embodiment, the fastener13is disposed in the region of the supporting body12or, respectively, the airbag module11. This can achieve, by an attachment of the lateral upholstered element5b,5cvia the fastener13, at the same time, also a secure positioning and fixation of the supporting body12with the airbag module11contained therein, in particular, when the air cushion11aunfolds in a burst upon triggering of the airbag.

In the embodiment ofFIGS. 4aand 4b, a first contact surface9aof the foam part9is in immediate contact with a second contact surface11bon the air cushion11ainside the lateral cushion part5a,5b. According to this embodiment, a tear seam14is provided in the cushion cover10the tear seam being arranged approximately on an extension of the first contact surface9aof the cushion part9or, respectively, of the second contact surface111bof the airbag module11. The tear seam14serves as a predetermined rupture point in the cushion cover10which is biased to rupture upon triggering of the airbag module11or, respectively, upon the air cushion11aunfolding in a burst, thereby predefining a preferred direction for unfolding of the air cushion11a. Thus, the air cushion11aescapes the lateral upholstered element5a,5bthrough an opening15formed so as to protect the occupant from impact, in a known fashion.

According toFIG. 4b, in which the airbag is shown when it has been triggered, the foam part9is merely slightly pushed forwards towards the occupant and, possibly, deformed upon unfolding of the air cushion11a. By virtue of the arrangement of the tear seam14a way along the first contact surface9aat the foam part9is predefined for the air cushion11a, where the air cushion11adoes not penetrate the foam part9itself and merely deforms it, if even that. Thus, the foam part9remains undamaged upon triggering of the airbag, and foam parts flying around is avoided.

For manufacturing a lateral upholstered element5b,5caccording toFIG. 4aandFIG. 4bit may be provided, for example, to place a provided airbag module11into the supporting body12so that this is in contact with the interior wall12aof the supporting body12and is fitted in therein. Thereafter, the foam part9is manufactured in a foaming process, for example foam-in-place, with a corresponding shape and placed in contact with the second contact surface11bof the air cushion11aor foamed directly onto this. Subsequently, as shown inFIG. 4a, the cushion cover10is placed around the previously formed foam part9as a cover and connected to the supporting body12along the line of fixation B. The tear seam14is formed in advance or later.

In the embodiment of theFIGS. 5aand 5b, the foam part9is not in immediate contact with the air cushion11a. Rather, a supporting body12is provided which completely surrounds the airbag module11. To that end, the supporting body12is designed, for example, as two parts, whereby a first supporting body region12bis provided which may be made, for example, of a metal, and a second supporting body region12cwhich may be made from an elastic material, for example, plastics or a reinforced fabric. The two supporting body regions12a,12bare connected to one another and can be affixed to the respective element4,5avia the fastener13.

The foam part9with the first contact surface9ais in contact with the second supporting body region12cso that, in contrast to the embodiment example according toFIGS. 4aand 4b, the second supporting body region12clies between the foam part9and the airbag module11. Here, too, the foam part9in enclosed by the cushion cover10, whereby, likewise, the cushion cover10is affixed to the supporting body12, made of two parts here, via the line of fixation B.

In this embodiment example, too, a tear seam14may be provided serving as predetermined rupture point and being biased to rupture upon triggering of the airbag module11or, respectively, upon unfolding of the air cushion11ain a burst, thereby predefining a preferred direction for unfolding for the air cushion11a. In the alternative, the tear seam14may also be omitted. The direction for unfolding of the air cushion11aof the airbag module11will then be predefined in that, as shown inFIG. 5b, the two supporting body regions12b,12care automatically pushed apart or, respectively, fold open upon triggering of the airbag module11so as to form an opening15. The opening15is disposed opposite the fastener13on the lateral upholstered element5b,5cand allows focused unfolding of the air cushion11ain a lateral direction so as to achieve side impact protection for occupants. In this embodiment example, too, the foam part9does not impede the air cushion11aunfolding towards the side. Moreover, the foam part9is protected from damage by the second supporting body region12c.

Thus, in both embodiment examples, for a modular designed vehicle seat1, it is possible each to provide a lateral upholstered element5b,5cfor the back rest3of the vehicle seat1into which an airbag module11can be integrated in a simple manner. Upon triggering the airbag the air cushion11acan be made to unfold in a focused manner towards the side without the foam part9being an impediment hereby or, respectively, being damaged upon unfolding. Moreover, since the airbag module11is not arranged inside the foam body9, rather, the foam part9lying in planar contact therewith or being separated there from by the second supporting body region12b, it is easy to manufacture such a lateral upholstered element5b,5c.

Comparative vehicle seats comprise a seating portion and a back rest which can be adjusted in the angle of inclination in relation thereto, whereby both the seating portion and the back rest comprise a foam part surrounded by a cushion cover, which is formed into the corresponding shape in advance, for example in a foam-in-place process. The back rest and the seating portion may be designed, for example, as one piece einstückig and form, correspondingly, various upholstered support areas for the back, the arms, the shoulders, as well as the legs and the buttocks of the occupant.

In a comparative modular design, the back rest is put together from a plurality of individual upholstered elements. Hereby, a central upholstered element may form a back support area and lateral upholstered elements lateral support areas for the arms and the shoulders of the occupant. By assembling these individual, prefabricated upholstered elements using fasteners the back rest can be formed, whereby individual allocation enables a modular and flexible design. In principle, it is also possible to have a modular design of the seating portion made up of a plurality of upholstered elements in a similar manner.

It is a disadvantage of such a comparative modular design that it is cumbersome to integrate airbag modules for protecting occupants into such pre-fabricated upholstered elements that are part of the modular design back rest. In particular, when arranging an airbag module inside the lateral upholstered elements forming the lateral support region, there will be very little assembly space making its incorporation difficult.

In a comparative vehicle seat, an inflatable air cushioning is arranged in a lateral upholstered element of a vehicle seat. Therein, it is provided to form a side impact element with an air cushion which will be inflated within a foam body in the lateral upholstered element in the event of an impact so as to provide for additional cushioning for an occupant. Hereby, a slot is introduced into the foam part which, when the side impact element is triggered, leads to the foam body to rip apart at a pre-determined spot thereby purposefully forming an opening for unfolding the inflatable aircushion. Hereby, it is a disadvantage that the foam part itself is damaged and, therefore, cannot be re-used, and that parts of the foam part may fly around when the side impact element is triggered. Moreover, such a lateral upholstered element with the side impact element is costly to manufacture.

A comparative vehicle seat may integrate an airbag module into an upholstered element which is arranged adjacent to the vehicle seats in the rear section of a vehicle as side panel of the car body. Hereby, occupants seated in a back seat can be protected in case of an impact by means of the inflating air cushion of the airbag module.

A vehicle seat in accordance with the present disclosure is modular designed and easy to manufacture, and which maximizes the safety of the occupants.

According to the present disclosure, a modular designed vehicle seat is provided the tilt adjustable back rest of which is put together in modular fashion from a plurality of upholstered elements with foam bodies arranged therein, whereby at least lateral upholstered elements, which form lateral support areas at the modular back rest, comprise an airbag module with an inflatable, unfolding air cushion, the airbag module being fitted in or, respectively, received in a supporting body of the lateral upholstered element and the airbag module being arranged adjacent to the foam part in the lateral upholstered element in such a way that the air cushion, when the airbag module is triggered, can be purposefully guided through an opening that can be formed between the foam part and the supporting body.

A pre-fabricable upholstered element is provided, into which an airbag module can be integrated in a simple manner, whereby the foam part itself remains undamaged in the event of the airbag module being triggered because the air cushion unfolds not through an opening in the foam part. This can also prevent foam particles from flying around.

Moreover, it is very simple to manufacture such a lateral upholstered element for vehicle seat of modular design because no costly adaptations to the foam body and the airbag module in relation to each other are required. Rather, these can be positioned in a simple manner adjacent to one another in the upholstered element and, preferably, surrounded towards the outside merely by the supporting body and by the cushion cover, for example, made of leather, fabric or synthetic leather. Hereby, the foam part can be manufactured in advance in a simple manner in a foam-in-place process or directly adjacent to the airbag module. The supporting body and the cushion cover may be connected to each other in a simple manner along a line of fixation depending on the size of the airbag module so that a variable construction is also possible, where the airbag module and the foam part are protected towards the outside.

According to one embodiment, it may be provided that in the cushion cover a tear seam is formed as a predetermined rupture point or, respectively, rated breaking point, whereby the opening for unfolding the air cushion may be formed preferably along the tear seam when the airbag module is triggered so as to purposefully guide the air cushion. Thus, it is possible in a simple manner to predefine a direction for the air cushion, whereby, according to this embodiment, it is preferably provided that the foam part is in planar contact within the lateral upholstered element with a first contact surface on a second contact surface of the airbag module, and the tear seam is arranged approximately on an extension of the first contact surface of the cushion part and the second contact surface of the airbag module. Advantageously, this makes it possible for the air cushion, when the airbag module is triggered, to be guided purposefully through an opening forming between the foam part and the supporting body.

According to another embodiment, it is provided that the supporting body, in which the airbag module is fitted in or, respectively, received, is designed as two parts, namely a first supporting body region and a second supporting body region, with the second supporting body region being arranged between the foam part and the airbag module, and the first supporting body region closing, at least in part, the lateral upholstered element outwardly, where the two supporting body regions can be separated from each other in certain regions so that, when the airbag module is triggered, an opening between the two supporting body regions can form such that the air cushion air cushion can be purposefully guided outwards between the foam part and the supporting body.

Thus, in this embodiment, too, the foam part is still arranged adjacent to the airbag module in the lateral upholstered element, however, separated from this by the second supporting body region and thereby protected. When triggered, the inflating air cushion will be guided through the opening by the two supporting body region separating from each other so that here, too, damage to the foam body is avoided. Moreover, the air cushion is not blocked by the foam part upon unfolding because it is guided past this.

Preferably, it is further provided for the first supporting body region to be made of metal and the second supporting body region of an elastic material, for example, plastics. Thus a secure fixation and protection against outside influence can be achieved using the first supporting body region, which the second supporting body region enables a resilience of the supporting body when the airbag module or, respectively, the air cushion unfolds. This facilities a reliable unfolding of the air cushion through the opening.

It is further provided that the fastener for modular assembling the upholstered elements, in which airbag module is received and fitted in, is connected to the supporting body. Hereby, a reliable fixation of the pre-fabricated upholstered element as well as a secure hold of the airbag module, in particular, when triggered, ca n be achieved because this is arranged immediately adjacent to the fastener in the upholstered element.

It is further provided for the vehicle seat to be a front seat of a vehicle. In a modular design of the front seat the solution according to the present disclosure creates a simple option for integration of the airbag module into the back rest when only limited installation space is available. By virtue of this solution damage to the foam body is avoided.

According to a preferred embodiment it is provided for the back rest to be modular composed of two lateral upholstered elements for forming lateral support regions and a central upholstered element for forming a back support regions. Hereby, the upholstered elements of the back rest may be modular affixed to a retaining plate via the fastener, and/or at least some of the upholstered elements are modular affixed to one another directly via the fastener. Thus, the design according to the present disclosure can be utilized in various modular solutions in a simple manner.

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle seat1comprising a seating portion2and a back rest3the angle of inclination is adjustable in relation to the seating portion2, where at least the back rest3is of modular design made of a plurality of upholstered elements5a,5b,5c, the upholstered elements5a,5b,5ceach comprising a preformed foam part9surrounded, at least in part, by a cushion cover10, the upholstered elements5a,5b,5cmade in this manner are put together via fasteners13in modular fashion to form the back rest3adjustable in inclination.

It is provided that at least lateral upholstered elements5b,5cwhich form the lateral support areas7b,7con the modular back rest3comprise an airbag module11with an inflatable air cushion11a, the airbag module11being fitted into place in a supporting body12of the lateral upholstered element5b,5cand the airbag module11being arranged adjacent to the foam part9in the lateral upholstered element5b,5csuch that the air cushion11a, when inflated upon triggering of the des airbag module11, can be purposefully guided through an opening15that can be formed between the foam part9and the supporting body12.