Abstract:
A fixing device secures components, such as fan devices, heating devices and other air-conditioning devices, to padding foams of vehicle seats. A method produces the fixing device. The component has at least one adhesive fastening part ( 22 ) which, together with at least one corresponding adhesive fastening part ( 24 ) connected to the padding foam ( 12 ), forms a releasable adhesive fastening with which the component is held in a fixed manner in contact with the padding foam ( 12 ). The adhesive fastening formed then provides a releasable connection between the component and the foam.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a fixing device for fixing components such as fans, heating units and other climate control units to padding foam parts of vehicle seats, and to a method for producing the same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Modern and comfortable vehicle seats increasingly require insert or attached parts such as fans, heating units and other air conditioning units (e.g., cooling loops) for proper climate control of the seat. If necessary, other components can be attached, such as seat recognition systems, acceleration sensors for airbag units, actuators as power transmission means and the like. It has already been suggested that speakers be integrated into the padding foam parts especially in the region of the headrests. 
     In all these solutions, generally recesses are cut into the already produced foam part, in a size corresponding to the installation size of the component as an insert part. To fasten the insert part in the foam, generally a special plastic cement is used which captively connects the insert part to the foam. For dismounting of the insert part from the foam, for example, to replace it with a new device in case of maintenance, separation, is possible only destructively, in which generally large parts of the foam material are torn out at the same time. This tearing results in the new installation becoming a problem. The plastic adhesives are often objectionable in processing so that the corresponding exhaust systems must be provided which in turn increase production costs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an improved and reliable attachment of the component in or on the foam, such that installation and maintenance processes are facilitated and the production costs for placing the components in foams can be reduced. 
     This object is basically achieved by a fastening device where the component has at least one adhesive fastener part forming a detachable adhesive fastener with at least one corresponding adhesive fastener part connected to the padding foam. The component is held stationary on the padding foam in contact. A detachable connection between the component and foam via the adhesive fastener is formed in this way and often referred to as the mark “Kletten® [hook and loop fastener]”. The component in the initial outfitting can be connected to the foam and later replaced by a corresponding new component in maintenance and repair processes by hand with low engagement forces, without using special adhesives which may be environmentally harmful. By using adhesive fastener parts for attaching an insert part to an associatable foam, especially in the form of padding foam, the production costs can be reduced compared to the prior art adhesive treatment. 
     The object is also basically achieved by a production process that produces a receiving space in a foam molded part matched to the geometry of a receiving space in a foaming mold having magnetic insert parts to which the respective adhesive fastener part adheres. Via its back, a connection to the foam takes place. The interlocking parts located on the front remain at least for the most part free of foam. In this way, upon foaming in the foaming mold, the receiving or contact space for the component can be directly produced without later having to cut notches for recessing of the foam material, as in the prior art. This clearly helps reduce production costs. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the fastening device according to the present invention, the component is designed as an insert part enclosed at least partially by the foam. The adhesive fastener the insert part holds the component in the foam in the insert position in contact. In this way, the component can be accommodated in a space-saving manner in the foam material, preferably without protruding. 
     In an altered embodiment of the fastening device according to the present invention, preferably the component is designed as an attached part which by the adhesive fastener is at least partially in contact with the outside surface of the foam. Preferably, the attached part to the outside is equipped with a cover having at least one access opening. In this way the component can be placed from the outside on the padding foam material so that the thickness of the foam material can be kept small. Vehicle seats already in use can then be retrofitted with the required attached parts. 
     Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring to the drawings which form a part of this disclosure and which are schematic and not to scale: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fastening device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention with an insert part in the form of a fan unit and an associated foam part with a receiving space for the insert part to be inserted into the foam; 
         FIG. 2  is in a perspective top view a tool for producing the fastening device as shown in  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a fastening device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which an attached part in the form of a fan unit can be placed from the outside on the foam part of a backrest. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The first exemplary embodiment of a fastening device shown in  FIG. 1  is used to fix insert parts in foams. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the insert part can be a fan unit  10  to be inserted into padding foam  12  of a vehicle seat (not detailed). The padding foam  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 1  is shown essentially as a square block for the sake of simplicity, and therefore, constitutes only a sectional cutout from a larger padding foam part, as conventionally forms the seat part or the backrest part of a vehicle seat. The padding foam  12  is shown without covering material. The padding foams used in the regions of vehicle seats generally are formed of PU foam foamable into molded parts. 
     The fan unit  10  has a rectangular fan housing  14 , preferably of plastic material, in which there is a fan wheel  16  driven by an electric motor (not detailed). This electric motor (not detailed) can be connected via an electrical connecting cable  18  to a power supply source (not detailed) for its operation. In the padding foam  12 , a rectangular receiving space  20  is made which in terms of its geometry, especially its outside contour, is chosen to be somewhat larger than the outer periphery of the fan housing  14 . The insert part in the form of the fan unit  10  should be enclosed in the installed state by the foam and conversely has at least one adhesive fastener part  22  in the form of a fleece or matted fiber material. This adhesive fastener part  22  in the installed state of the insert part with the corresponding adhesive fastener part  24  tightly connected to the foam  12  forms a detachable adhesive fastener also referred to as a “hook and loop fastener”. By the two adhesive fastener parts  22 ,  24 , a detachable fastening is formed, and, the insert part can be held stationary in the form of a fan unit  10  in the foam in the installation position. 
     As  FIG. 1  furthermore shows, the respective adhesive fastener part  24  connected to the foam  12  is made larger in area than the associated adhesive fastener part  22  of the insert part, here in the form of a fan unit  10 . In this way, increased connection reliability is achieved. In the embodiment, more adhesive fastener parts  22  are joined to the foam  12  than there are associated adhesive fastener parts  22  on the insert part. In particular, the receiving space  20  in one plane has adhesive fastener parts  24  diametrically opposite one another in pairs so that the receiving space  20  especially on its front end is provided with a total of four adhesive fastener parts  24 . Conversely, the fan housing  14  has only two adhesive fastener parts  22  diametrically opposite one another. In this respect, this arrangement makes it possible to install the fan unit  10  in the receiving space  20  of the padding foam  12  in an optionally turned arrangement to the fan axis of the fan wheel  16 . 
     The adhesive fastener part  24  of the foam  12  is formed of a microfastener part with individual interlocking elements  26  located on one side in the manner of interlocking mushrooms. They are located on a carrier strip  28  having a cover strip  30  on its back. In the illustrated embodiment, cover strip  30  projects on both sides over or beyond the respective free side edge regions of the carrier strip  28 . The cover strip  30  is provided at least partially with ferromagnetic components or otherwise has a magnet means or components (not shown) with a function detailed below. These adhesive fastener parts  24  are disclosed in different embodiments in DE 100 39 940 and DE 103 41 152. Another embodiment is shown in DE 103 41 151. 
     For detachable installation of the fan unit  10  in the padding foam  12 , the fan unit  10  is inserted by hand into the receiving space  20 , with low actuation forces direct interlocking of the corresponding adhesive fastener parts  22 ,  24  to one another taking place. The fan unit  10  then need only be electrically connected to a supply source via the connecting cable  18  to ensure climate control of the foam  12  of a vehicle seat. For the dismounting process it is sufficient to again remove the fan unit  10  by releasing the adhesive fastener from the receiving space  20 . Instead of the illustrated fan unit  10 , a host of insert parts can be fixed on the foams  12  in this way. In addition to heating and other air conditioning units such as cooling loops, speakers, sensors, seat recognition systems, actuators and the like can be detachably anchored in foam parts of any type. 
     To produce the receiving space  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 , the cubic molded part  32  shown in  FIG. 2  is used. It can be inserted into a foaming mold (not detailed) for producing the padding foam  12 . The molded part  32  in the direction of  FIG. 2 , on its bottom end has magnetic insert parts  34  insertable as magnetic bars into the metal block as a molded part  32 . The respective adhesive fastener part  24  is then fixed on the respective holding regions  36 ,  38  such that the front with the interlocking elements  26  is in contact with the contact surface  40  of each holding region  36 ,  38  and the projecting edges of the cover strip  30  extend over the magnetic insertion parts  34  such that magnetic adhesion occurs and the interlocking elements  26  are sealed against penetration of foam material. If the padding foam  12  is then removed from the mold after the foaming process, the molded part  32  has produced the receiving space  20  and the respective cover strip  30  of the adhesive fastener part  24  is securely joined to the foam material along its back. The interlocking elements  26  project forward in the form of individual mushroom heads and are available for engaging the corresponding adhesive fastener part  22  on the respective insert part. It is within the scope of the present invention to provide the adhesive fastener parts  22  of the insert part in the padding foam  12  and the adhesive fastener parts  24  on the insert part. Mixed forms are also conceivable in which in one part both adhesive fastener parts  22  of one type and also adhesive fastener parts  24  of the other type are used. 
     The second embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  is explained only to the extent that it differs significantly from the preceding or first embodiment. In this connection, the same components are provided with the same reference numbers, as in the preceding embodiment, and the statements made in this respect then also apply to the embodiment described below. 
       FIG. 3  shows a rear view of a backrest  42  connected forward to a conventional seat part  44  of a vehicle or aircraft passenger seat. These seat components are shown only schematically and in the form of padding foams  12 . In the top third of the padding foam  12  of the backrest  42 , an essentially rectangular receiving space  20  is encompassed to its outside at a distance by four individual, strip-shaped padding adhesive fastener parts or sections  24 . They are in turn anchored with their back securely in the padding foam material  12 , with their interlocking or mushroom elements  26  protruding to the outside clear of the padding foam material  12 . The component to be attached in the form of a fan unit  10  is designed as an attached part and has a cover  46  enclosing the actual fan wheel  16  and discharges on the front side into a contact plate  48 . 
     On the free front side of this rectangular, especially square contact plate  48 , four adhesive fastener parts or sections  22  are arranged in a strip. In the attached position, these adhesive fastener parts  22  detachably form the respective adhesive fastener with the adhesive fastener parts  24  on the padding foam material  12 . Preferably, the adhesive fastener parts  22  form a loop or matted fiber material. Fixing is in any case designed such that under a certain contact pressure the adhesive fastener parts  22 ,  24  interact strongly with one another and the edge-side foam material seals the pertinent contact such that air can flow unobstructed from the outside into the receiving space  20  via an access opening  50 . To cover the back of the fan wheel  16 , the pertinent fresh air supply can be provided on the edge side of the cover  46  (not shown). In this way, a component can also be connected later to the seat components from the outside. Furthermore, a padding coating material (not detailed) can enclose the attached fan system from the outside to eliminate the danger of possible injury. 
     The fastening device according to the present invention is versatile and can be produced especially advantageously. In particular, with the fastening device long-lasting use of foams is possible even if the components to be attached in the course of maintenance or repair processes would have to be changed more frequently. 
     While various embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.