Covering device for a vehicle seat and vehicle seat

Abstract

A cover device (11) for a vehicle seat and a vehicle seat are described. The cover device has a cover area (14) and a connecting unit (13) connected to the cover area for securing the cover area (14) to a fixed seat structure. The connecting unit (13) has at least one spring-resilient clamping element (15) comprising a central region (16) and two end regions (17, 18) connected to the central region (16). The end regions (17, 18) are configured to have locking regions (19, 20) and are arranged to engage with a receiving portion of the seat structure in a locking manner against preload in the mounting position of the cover device (11) and to establish a form-locking connection between the cover device (11) and the seat structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a covering device for a vehicle seat, the covering device having a covering area and a connecting unit connected to the covering area, the connecting unit being used to fix the covering area to a fixed seat structure. Furthermore, this invention relates to a vehicle seat having a seat structure to which such a covering device is fixed. Background Technology

[0002] DE 100 12 033 A1 discloses a vehicle seat with a seat component frame. A soft cover element is mounted on a bracket in the front area of ​​the seat component frame. The seat component frame is adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The cover element is detachably mounted on the bracket and is formed of leather or textile. For securing the cover element, devices including buttons, passenger systems, fixed retaining systems, or hook-and-loop fasteners are provided in the bracket. The cover element is made of a soft material, particularly leather or textile, and its size can be changed such that the heel area is also covered.

[0003] When the vehicle seat is locked in the extreme locking position of the longitudinal adjustment mechanism, certain components of the linkage mechanism or frame structure of the longitudinal adjustment mechanism protrude from the front side of the vehicle seat. These components are thus only partially covered by soft trim elements, ensuring sufficient seating comfort in the extreme locking position, but the linkage components remain exposed and visible. This obstructs the overall visual impression of the vehicle with the seat and creates the possibility that the vehicle occupant's clothing may come into contact with the linkage components and potentially become soiled or damaged.

[0004] EP 3 486 113 B1 describes a cover element for a seat frame of the seating portion of a vehicle seat with side trim, and a vehicle seat. The side trim element has an inner soft trim member and a cover element disposed on its outer side. The cover element is secured to the inner soft trim member by means of a plurality of stitches. Alternatively or additionally, the cover element is bonded and / or sewn to the inner soft trim member. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a cover for a vehicle seat that can be simply and cost-effectively manufactured and assembled with minimal effort, by means of which the cover covers the area under the seat cushion of the vehicle seat over its entire range of motion. Furthermore, the object of the present invention is to create a vehicle seat having such a cover.

[0006] According to the present invention, this task is solved using a covering device having the features described in claims 1 and 10, respectively, and a vehicle seat.

[0007] The covering device for a vehicle seat according to the present invention includes a covering area and a connecting unit connected to the covering area, the connecting unit being used to fix the covering area to a fixed seat structure.

[0008] According to the invention, the connecting unit has at least one spring-resilient clamping element comprising a central region and two end regions connected to the central region. The end regions are implemented in a cost-effective manner and form as having locking regions and are configured to overcome preload in the mounting position of the cover device and to lock into the receiving portion of the seat structure with minimal assembly cost and structural space requirements, thus establishing a form-locking connection between the cover device and the seat structure.

[0009] In one cost-effective embodiment of the covering device according to the invention, the clamping element is made of wire or implemented as a plastic injection molded part.

[0010] The covered area can be configured to have a central covered area extending laterally and two side covered areas extending longitudinally. It can be specified that the central covered area connects to the side covered areas at its ends. Thus, the area beneath the seat cushion is covered or shielded both from the front and by the side areas of the vehicle seat, thereby achieving a particularly high-quality overall visual impression of the vehicle and preventing damage or soiling of clothing.

[0011] The clamping element may have at least one additional end region extending from the central region to one of the covering side regions and being at least partially and securely connected to the covering side region on its inner side facing the seat structure in the installed position. Thus, it is possible to make the covering side region from a material with low shape stability in a structurally simple manner and form. This is because the covering side region can be supported or tensioned from the inside by the additional end region and provided with the desired shape stability.

[0012] When the clamping element is fixed in the lower region of the central region of the cover in the mounting position of the cover device, the cover device can be assembled onto the seat structure of the vehicle seat with minimal cost.

[0013] The connecting unit may include at least one clip element with a C-shaped cross-section, which is securely connected to the upper region of the central area of ​​the cover in the mounting position of the cover device. Here, the clip element may be configured to lockfully surround an area of ​​the seat structure in the mounting position of the cover device and establish a connection between the cover device and the seat structure with minimal assembly effort.

[0014] Between the connecting area of ​​the clip element on the central region of the covering element and the connecting area of ​​the clamping element on the central region of the covering element, the central region may be configured to have a folded area. If the height of the folded area can be changed in the vertical direction of the central region of the covering according to the distance between the connecting areas between the clip element and the central region of the covering and between the clamping element and the central region of the covering, the covering device according to the invention provides the desired gap covering, even if the vehicle seat or its cushion is adjusted upward or downward in the vertical direction of the vehicle seat in the area of ​​the front edge.

[0015] The covered area can be constructed as a nonwoven fabric with a defined wall thickness and a defined component strength.

[0016] The central area of ​​the cover can be configured with a groove containing an adjustable element for the leg support of the vehicle seat.

[0017] In addition, a vehicle seat with a seat structure is proposed, on which a covering device described in detail above is fixed.

[0018] The seat structure may have at least two upper seat tracks that are spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction and extend in the longitudinal direction, preferably a seat shell that is spaced apart in the vertical direction and at least one seat cross brace that extends in the lateral direction and is arranged above the seat tracks in the vertical direction to reinforce the seat structure.

[0019] The upper seat rails may each have a receiving portion, and the clamping element engages with the receiving portion by locking its locking area.

[0020] The seat structure, especially the seat shell and seat cross braces, can be configured to be adjustable in the longitudinal direction using the upper seat track.

[0021] The seating area, and therefore the seat shell and seat cross brace, can be configured to tilt together about a pivot axis relative to the front end of the upper seat track. The tilt of the seat shell and seat cross brace about this pivot axis can change the vertical distance between the front end of the seat track and the seat cross brace.

[0022] The seat cushion can be connected to the seat shell and cover the area facing the seat shell in the vertical direction with a covering device. Thus, the area between the upper edge of the covering device and the seat shell can also be covered in a cost-effective manner and form with minimal assembly costs.

[0023] Further features of the invention can be derived from the claims, drawings, and description of the drawings. The above description of features and combinations thereof, as well as the features and combinations thereof mentioned below in the description of the drawings and / or shown separately in the drawings, can be applied not only in the corresponding combinations, but also in other combinations or individually. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0025] In the picture: Figure 1 A vehicle seat with a removable lower leg support is shown; Figure 2 Showing according to Figure 1 A partial bottom view of the vehicle seats; Figure 3 An internal view of a covering device is shown, the covering device having a covering area and a connecting unit connected to the covering area, the connecting unit being used to fix the covering area according to... Figure 1 On the seat structure of the vehicle seats; Figure 4 Showing according to Figure 3 A front view of the covering device; Figure 5 Another embodiment of the covering device is shown, which is configured without a groove for the adjustment element of the calf support. Figure 6 Showing according to Figure 1 A side view of a portion of the vehicle's seats; and Figure 7 Showing the vehicle seats Figure 6 A magnified view of a portion of the area shown. Detailed Implementation

[0026] Figure 1 A vehicle seat 1 is shown, having a seating area 2 and a backrest area 3 configured to rotate relative to the seating area 2. A headrest 4 is provided at the upper end of the backrest area 3. In the vertical direction Z, a fixed seat structure 5 is provided below the seating area 2, which is connected to two upper seat rails 6 extending in the longitudinal direction X. In the assembled state of the vehicle seat 1, the upper seat rails 6 are connected to lower rails on the vehicle side and extending in the longitudinal direction X, and guide and support the seat on the lower rails in a longitudinally movable manner between a front end position and a rear end position in the longitudinal direction X within the vehicle interior space.

[0027] The backrest region 3 is pivotable about the pivot axis 7 in two pivot directions, S31 and S32, relative to the seating region 2. Furthermore, the seating region 2 is configured to pivot about the pivot axis 7 in pivot directions S21 and S22 relative to the backrest region 3 and the upper seat track 6. When the seating region 2 pivots about the pivot axis 7, the inclination of the seating surface 8 of the seating region 2 relative to the upper seat track 6, which extends substantially parallel to the vehicle's horizontal plane XY, changes, and the distance in the vertical direction Z between the front region 2A of the seating region 2 and the front end 6A of the upper seat track 6 also changes.

[0028] Furthermore, a so-called calf support 9 is rotatably fixed to the front area 2A of the seating area 2. The calf support 9 can move in the pivot direction S9 from a stationary position—in which the calf support 9 essentially does not provide support for the calf of the vehicle occupant—to Figure 1 The support position shown is such that the upper side 10 of the calf support 9 forms a support surface for the calf of the passenger sitting on the vehicle seat 1.

[0029] Figure 2 A partial bottom view of the vehicle seat 1 and the leg support 9 in its supported position are shown. Below the seating surface 8 and also below the leg support 9, a cover device 11 is fixed to the seat structure 5. This cover device, together with the seat cushion 12 of the seating area 2, covers the fixed seat structure 5 below the seating area 2 of the vehicle seat 1 throughout the entire adjustment range of the vehicle seat 1. This is because the cover device 11 adjusts with the vehicle seat 1 in the longitudinal direction X. The seat cushion 12 is connected to the seat structure 5 and covers the cover device 11 in the vertical direction Z in the area facing the seat structure 5 or the seat shell of the seat structure 5, such that the gap between the upper side of the cover device 11 and the upper side of the seating area 2 is also completely covered.

[0030] also, Figure 3 and Figure 4 Separate views of the first embodiment of the covering device 11 are shown. Here, in Figure 3 It can be seen that in the installation position of the cover device 11, the inner side 11A of the seat structure 5 facing the vehicle seat 1 is visible, while Figure 4The front side of the covering device 11 can be seen. The covering device 11 has a connecting unit 13 for securing the covering area 14 to the seat structure 5. The connecting unit 13 includes at least one spring-resilient clamping element 15, which is configured as a bent wire and has a central region 16 and two end regions 17, 18 connected to the central region 16. The end regions 17, 18 are configured as locking regions 19, 20 with O-shaped bends, which engage with the receiving portion 21 of the seat structure 5 in the mounting position of the covering device 11 and establish a form-locking connection between the covering device 11 and the seat structure 5.

[0031] The locking regions 19 and 20 are horizontally positioned, and their free regions 19A and 20A face each other. Furthermore, in the unassembled state of the covering device, the distance A1920 between the free regions 19A and 20A of the locking regions 19 and 20 is less than the distance AÜB between the end regions 17 and 18 and the transition regions 1719 and 1820 between the locking regions 19 and 20. Additionally, the distance A21 between the receiving portions 21 is also greater than the distance A1920 between the free ends 19A and 20A of the locking regions 19 and 20.

[0032] The coordination distances A1920, AÜB, and A21 cause the end regions 17 and 18 to bend apart before the locking regions 19 and 20 engage with the receiving portion 21 when the cover device 11 is assembled onto the seat structure 5. Once the locking regions 19 and 20 coincide with the opening 22 of the receiving portion, the locking regions 19 and 20 are shaped-locked into the opening 22 of the receiving portion by their free regions 19A and 20A due to the preload built up in the clamping element 15 during assembly, thus establishing a shaped-locked connection between the cover device 11 and the seat structure 5. During locking, the locking regions 19 and 20 move toward each other. Here, the preload in the clamping element 15 is at least partially released. The remaining preload in the clamping element 15 applies pressure to the locking regions 19 and 20 in the locking direction, thereby creating a durable, shaped-locked connection between the cover device 11 and the seat structure 5 that does not automatically loosen during operation. Therefore, in the installation position of the cover device 11, the end regions 17 and 18 are engaged with the receiving portion 21 of the seat structure 5 by their locking regions 19 and 20 overcoming the preload force and establishing a form-locking connection between the cover device 11 and the seat structure 5.

[0033] Depending on the application, it may be specified that the preload is completely released when the end regions 17 and 18 are locked. To prevent the form-locked connection between the end regions 17 and 18 and the receiving part 21 from automatically disengaging, it may be specified that the clamping element 15 is implemented with a correspondingly high spring stiffness, or that the component dimensions of the locking region and the receiving part 21 are designed such that the locking connection can only be released by applying a correspondingly high release force in a defined direction to the assembler.

[0034] Regardless of whether the preload of the clamping element 15 is partially or completely released in the locked state, the form-locking connection between the locking regions 19, 20 and the receiving part 21 is implemented in such a way that the form-locking connection is maintained throughout the entire operating range of the vehicle.

[0035] The covering area 14 is configured to have a central covering area 23 extending in the lateral direction Y and two side covering areas 24 and 25 extending from the side ends of the central covering area 23 in the longitudinal direction X.

[0036] The clamping element 15 has another end region 26 that extends from the middle region 16 into the side-covering region 25 and is partially and securely connected to the side-covering region 25 on the inner side 27 of the side-covering region 25 facing the seat structure 5 in the installed position. Furthermore, in the installed position of the covering device 11, the clamping element 25 is fixed in the lower region 23A along the vertical direction Z to the middle region 23 of the cover.

[0037] Furthermore, the connecting unit 13 includes a plurality of clip elements 28 to 30 with a C-shaped cross-section, which are securely connected to the upper region 23B of the central region 23 of the cover in the installation position of the cover device 11. In the installation position of the cover device 11, the clip elements 28 to 30 surround and engage the seat cross brace 31 extending in the lateral direction Y. During assembly, the clip elements 28 to 30 snap around the outer contour of the seat cross brace 31 and establish a locking connection between the cover device and the seat structure 5.

[0038] A folding region 32 is formed between the connecting areas of the clip elements 28 to 30 on the central covering region 23 and the connecting area of ​​the clamping element 15 on the central covering region 23. The height H32 of this folding region varies depending on the distance between the connecting areas of the clip elements 28 to 30 on the seat structure and the connecting area of ​​the clamping element 15 on the seat structure 5. When the seating area 2 pivots upward or downward about the pivot axis 7 in one of the pivot directions S21 or S22, the distance between the connecting areas changes. This ensures that when the seating area 2 pivots, or when the front region 2A of the seating area 2 pivots about the pivot axis 7, the lower region of the seating area 2 is completely covered by the covering device 11, and the connections between the clip elements 28 to 30 and the seat cross brace 31, as well as the connections between the clamping element 15 and the receiving part 21, do not loosen. Here, the folded area 32 constitutes a flexible area of ​​the covering device 11, which can be pulled apart and pushed together like a folded bellows.

[0039] Figure 6 Showing according to Figure 3 A front view of the covering device 11. (From according to...) Figure 6 The view reveals that the central area 23 of the cover has a groove 33 at the transition to the side area 25 of the cover, which forms a channel for the adjustment element 34 of the calf support 9 to pass through. The calf support 9 can pivot relative to the sitting area between a supporting position and a resting position via the adjustment element 34.

[0040] Figure 7 Another embodiment of the covering device is shown. Figure 6 The corresponding view shows that the structural implementation of the covering device is basically the same as that according to Figure 3 The covering device is equivalent to the one provided for covering gaps in vehicle seats without leg supports and is therefore implemented without grooves 33.

[0041] Depending on the application, it is also possible that the end regions 17 and 18, with their locking regions 19 and 20, engage laterally from the inside out in the recess 21, establishing a form-locking connection between the cover device 11 and the seat structure 5. In this embodiment of the cover device 11, in the unassembled state, the distance A1920 between the free regions 19A and 20A of the locking regions 19 and 20 is greater than the distance AÜB between the transition regions 1719 and 1820 between the end regions 17 and 18 and the locking regions 19 and 20. Furthermore, the distance A21 between the receiving portions 21 is also smaller than the distance A1920 between the free ends 19A and 20A of the locking regions 19 and 20.

[0042] During the assembly of the cover device onto the vehicle seat 1 or the seat structure 5, a clamping connection is first established between the clamping elements 28 to 30 and the seat cross brace 31. Here, the assembler applies appropriate pressure to establish a locking connection between the cover device 11 and the seat cross brace 31. The clamping element 15 is then connected to the recess 21 of the seat structure 5. Advantageously, the locking areas 19 and 20 can be guided into engagement with the recess 21 of the seat structure 5 in a essentially defined manner and form, without the assembler needing to observe or examine the areas of the seat structure 5 and the cover device 11 to be engaged. In other words, the design of the cover device 11 of the seat structure 5 enables so-called "blind assembly" of the cover device 11 on the seat structure 5, which significantly simplifies assembly and, additionally, allows the cover device 11 to cover gaps while obscuring the view.

[0043] Depending on the application, it is also possible that the clamping connections between the clamping elements 28 to 30 and the seat cross brace 31, and between the clamping element 15 and the recess 21, can be established simultaneously, or the clamping element 15 can be connected to the seat structure 5 first and then the clamping connection between the clamping elements 28 to 30 and the seat cross brace 31 can be established subsequently.

[0044] List of reference numerals

[0045] 1. Vehicle Seats

[0046] 2 Seating Area

[0047] 2A Front area of ​​the seating area

[0048] 3 Backrest Area

[0049] 4 headrests

[0050] 5. Seat Structure

[0051] 6. Upper seat rail

[0052] 6A Front area of ​​the upper seat track

[0053] 7 Pivot axis

[0054] 8. Take a seat

[0055] 9. Lower leg support

[0056] 10. Support surface of the lower leg support

[0057] 11 Covering device

[0058] 11A Inner side of the covering device

[0059] 12 seat cushions

[0060] 13 Connection Units

[0061] 14 Covered Area

[0062] 15 Clamping elements

[0063] 16. Middle area of ​​clamping element

[0064] 17. End area of ​​clamping element

[0065] 18. End area of ​​clamping element

[0066] 19. Locking area of ​​end region 17

[0067] 19A Locking Area 19 Free Area

[0068] 20. Locking area of ​​end region 18

[0069] 20A Locking Area 20 Free Area

[0070] 21 Seat structure receiving part

[0071] 22 Receiving opening of receiving part 21

[0072] 23. Cover the central area

[0073] 23A Covering the lower part of the central area

[0074] 23B Covers the upper part of the central area

[0075] 24. Cover the side areas

[0076] 25. Cover the side areas

[0077] 26. The other end region of the clamping element

[0078] 27. Cover the inner side of the side area

[0079] 28 to 30 clip components

[0080] 31 Seat cross brace

[0081] 32 Folding area of ​​the covering device

[0082] 33 Grooves

[0083] 34 Adjustment elements

[0084] 1719 The transition area between the end region 17 and the locking region 19 of the clamping element.

[0085] 1820 The transition area between the end region 18 and the locking region 20 of the clamping element.

[0086] A1920 Distance between the free areas of the locking region

[0087] AÜB Distance between transition zones

[0088] A21 Distance between the receiving parts 21 of the seat structure

[0089] The height of the H32 folding area

[0090] Pivoting directions of seating areas S21 and S22

[0091] Pivoting direction of the backrest areas S31 and S32

[0092] Pivot direction of S9 calf support

[0093] X Vertical direction

[0094] Y (horizontal direction)

[0095] Z (vertical direction)

Claims

1. A covering device (11) for a vehicle seat (1), comprising a covering area (14) and a connecting unit (13) connected to the covering area, the connecting unit being used to fix the covering area (14) to a fixed seat structure (5), Its features are: The connecting unit (13) has at least one spring-elastic clamping element (15), which includes a central region (16) and two end regions (17, 18) connected to the central region (16). The end regions (17, 18) are configured to have locking regions (19, 20) and are configured to engage with the receiving portion (21) of the seat structure (5) in a locking manner against preload in the mounting position of the cover device (11) and to establish a form-locking connection between the cover device (11) and the seat structure (5).

2. The covering device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping element (15) is made of metal wire or is made of plastic injection molding.

3. The covering device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The covering area (14) is configured to have a central covering area (23) extending in the lateral direction (Y) and two side covering areas (24, 25) extending in the longitudinal direction (X), wherein the central covering area (23) is connected to the side covering areas (24, 25) at the end.

4. The covering device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The clamping element (15) has at least one additional end region (26) that extends from the central region (16) into one of the covering side regions (25) and is at least partially and securely connected to the covering side region on the inside (27) of the seat structure (5) in the installation position.

5. The covering device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The clamping element (15) is fixed in the lower region (23A) of the central region (23) of the covering device (11) in the installation position of the covering device (11).

6. The covering device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The connecting unit (13) includes at least one clip element (28 to 30) with a C-shaped cross-section, which is securely connected to the upper region (23B) of the central region (23) of the cover in the installation position of the cover device (11) and is configured to lockably surround a region of the seat structure (5) in the installation position of the cover device (11) and establish a connection between the cover device (11) and the seat structure (5).

7. The covering device according to claim 6, characterized in that: Between the connecting area of ​​the clamping element (28 to 30) on the middle region (23) of the covering area (14) and the connecting area of ​​the clamping element (15) on the middle region (23) of the covering area (14), a folded area (32) of the middle region (23) is formed, wherein the height (H32) of the folded area (32) varies in the vertical direction (Z) of the middle region of the covering area according to the distance between the connecting areas.

8. The covering device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: The covered area (14) is constructed as a nonwoven fabric with a defined wall thickness and a defined component strength.

9. The covering device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: The central area of ​​the cover (23) is provided with a groove (33) for the adjustment element (34) of the calf support (9).

10. A vehicle seat (1) having a seat structure (5), wherein, A covering device (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is fixed on the seat structure (5).

11. The vehicle seat according to claim 10, characterized in that: The seat structure (5) has at least two upper seat tracks (6) spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction (Y) and extending in the longitudinal direction (X), and at least one seat cross brace (31) extending in the lateral direction (X) and arranged above the upper seat tracks (6) in the vertical direction (Z) to reinforce the seat structure (5).

12. The vehicle seat according to claim 11, characterized in that: The seat structure includes a receiving portion (21), and a clamping element (15) engages with the receiving portion by means of its locking regions (19, 20).

13. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that: The seat structure (5) can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction (X) using the upper seat track (6).

14. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that: The seating area (2) is designed to be inclined about the pivot axis (7) relative to the front end (6A) of the upper seat track (6), wherein the inclination of the seating area (2) about the pivot axis (7) changes the distance in the vertical direction (Z) between the front end (6A) of the upper seat track (6) and the seat cross brace (31).

15. The vehicle seat according to claim 14, characterized in that: The seat structure (5) is connected to the seat cushion (12), which covers the covering device (11) in the vertical direction (Z) in the area facing the seating area (2).

Images