Backrest arrangement for a vehicle seat

Abstract

Backrest arrangement for a vehicle seat with a backrest support frame (2) for the seat backrest, a foam material (3) covering the support frame (2) of the seat backrest, and a cover (4) covering the outer surface of the foam material (3), wherein the cover (4) has a front part (41), side wall parts (42, 42'), an upper part (43), and a rear part (44), wherein the rear part (44) comprises an upper panel (441), a movable middle panel (442), and two side panels (443, 443'), as well as a fastening device for the middle panel (442), characterized in that the middle panel (442) has on its inner side a first set of releasable fastening elements for pulling over and fastening the cover (4) to a wire bracket (12) on the rear of the backrest support frame (2) by means of several J-shaped strips (11b) or hooks on each of its side edges.as well as a further connection of an upper edge of the middle panel (442) with the lower edge of the upper panel (441) and a second set of detachable fastening elements designed as zippers (5) for connecting and tensioning, the respective carriers (6, 6a) of which are arranged on the adjacent side edges of the middle panel (442) and the side panels (443, 443') of the cover (4).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a backrest assembly for a vehicle seat comprising a frame for the seat backrest, a foam material covering the frame of the seat backrest, and a cover covering the outer surface of the foam material, the cover having a front part, side wall parts, an upper part, and a rear part.

[0002] DE 102 50 504 C1 relates to a backrest for a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat. The backrest comprises a backrest frame 12, a cushioned body 11, a cushioned cover 7 covering the cushioned body, a backrest cover 8 for a central region of the rear side of the backrest 2, and a fastening device that accommodates the cushioned cover 7 and the backrest cover 8.

[0003] JP 2002 - 210 270 A describes an arrangement for covering a seat, which includes a wire frame 37 (wire frame) for attaching the covering material panels 25 for the front side of the seat (front panel) and 29 for the rear side of the seat (rear panel). The wire frame 37 is located on the rear side of the seat frame 21. A connection between the wire frame 37 and the seat frame 21 is not removable.

[0004] US 4,643,480 A discloses a structure for securing a seat cover assembly to a backrest. The disclosed structure does not have any fasteners for attaching a rear panel to the side panels, but rather a hook-and-loop arrangement for attachment to the seat frame.

[0005] EP 1 010 573 A2 discloses an interchangeable modular system in connection with a seat unit for vehicles. EP 1 010 573 A2 does not show a rear panel with two fastening arrangements in this context, but rather refers to a backrest with a recess for accommodating interchangeable modules.

[0006] US 5 951 039 A discloses a side airbag deployment unit for vehicle seats and a corresponding installation method. In this context, US 5 951 039 A does not disclose a movable track for a backrest with two mounting arrangements, but rather refers to an airbag module built into the side of a seat.

[0007] JP 2001 - 8 793 A discloses a structure for a cover of a seat backrest, as used in motor vehicles (KFZ). The disclosed backrest has a frame that runs essentially all the way around the backrest. A connection of the frame to the seat support surface (SC) is not specifically provided. The frame is therefore not designed to be self-supporting. Due to the comparatively elongated sides of the frame, a sub-frame consisting of vertical and horizontal struts is also required to ensure sufficient stability of the backrest. The cover is suspended from the vertical struts with a loop. Tension in the cover only occurs when the zipper(s) are closed, since tensile stress is only exerted from the outside on the fixing strap as a fastening means when the zipper of the cover is closed.When the zipper is opened, the tension of the cover is completely lost in all areas. A seat cover machine must be used when re-covering the seat to ensure a wrinkle-free cover in a reasonable amount of time.

[0008] JP 2003 - 116 662 A concerns a vehicle seat that has a cushion and a cover in addition to the upholstery. Buffer elements serve as the connection between the seat frame and the cushion and cover. The cushion is completely finished with the backing.

[0009] FR 2 828 455 A1 discloses a vehicle seat and a protective cover, in particular for equipping such a seat. In addition to a frame for the seat and backrest, a retractable (rear) wall is provided to increase the rigidity of the backrests. This wall is connected to the upholstery via guides.

[0010] JP 2003 - 24 187 A discloses a fitting structure for seat covers, which is intended to optimize the process of putting on and fitting a seat cover onto a seat, minimizing the time and effort required. A section of the seat cover is secured to a vertical frame or the upholstery with hanging wires and then connected to the other sections of the seat cover by closing zippers.

[0011] Further relevant prior art are the documents FR 2 562 055 A1, DE 39 39 301 A1, FR 2 853 288 A1, US 5 586 807 A, FR 2 847 534 A1, FR 2 853 598 A1, JP S60 - 160 765 U, JP H05 - 208 080 A, FR 2 737 991 A1.

[0012] Typically, a backrest assembly for a vehicle seat includes some type of cushioning or filler material supported by a seat frame. The filler material is covered by a decorative cover. The cover is designed as an inverted pocket, with an opening left at the bottom. The opening allows the cover to be pulled over the seat frame, which has already been fitted with the filler material, using a covering machine. To complete the attachment of the cover to the seat frame, the opening can be closed by sewing the open edges of the cover together, or fasteners such as J-shaped strips can be provided to facilitate attachment to the seat frame.

[0013] As vehicle seats, especially front seats, increasingly incorporate electrical components such as airbags or motors located within the seat frame, the ability to access these components for maintenance is becoming increasingly important. However, it is relatively difficult to remove the cover from a seat without damaging the cover itself and to reapply the cover without a cover-replacing machine.

[0014] Therefore, the invention is based on the problem of providing a backrest arrangement for a vehicle with a cover in which the described problem is eliminated or reduced. The problem is solved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. Further developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0015] According to the invention, a backrest assembly for a vehicle is provided, comprising a frame for the seat backrest, a foam material covering the frame of the seat backrest, and a cover covering the outer surface of the foam material, the cover having a front part, side wall parts, a top part, and a rear part, and the rear part comprising a movable fabric panel provided with fasteners for securing the cover to the frame of the seat backrest, the movable fabric panel being removable from the frame when the fasteners are released.

[0016] The movable track has a first set of fasteners for cooperating with the seat back frame and a second set of fasteners for attaching the movable track to the cover. The first set of fasteners is attached to a wire bracket located on the seat back frame.

[0017] The invention is explained below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of a seat equipped with the invention; Fig. 2 a horizontal section of the backrest according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a rear cover part of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shown backrest, and Fig. 4 a perspective view from behind of the backrest support frame used in the backrest of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 was used.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a backrest 1 of a vehicle seat with a backrest support frame 2 covered with a foam layer 3, which forms a padding on the forward-facing surface. The outer surface of the foam layer 3 is covered with a decorative cover 4 ( Fig. 2) made of textile material or leather.

[0019] The cover 4 comprises a front part 41, side wall parts 42, 42', an upper part 43 and a rear part 44. The front part 41, the side wall parts 42, 42', the upper part 43 and the rear part 44 are joined together at their edges by linking or sewing in order to form the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 to form the complete reference 4 shown.

[0020] The rear part 44 of the cover 4 comprises an upper panel 441, a movable central fabric or leather panel 442, and two side panels 443, 443', each arranged on one side of the central panel 442. The central panel 442 and the two side panels 443, 443' are sewn together at their edges to the upper panel. The adjacent side edges of the central panel 442 and the side panel 443 or 443' are connected to each other by zippers 5, each consisting of two supports 6, 6a and a slider 7 (for the purpose of description only on the right side of Fig. 2) which is mounted on the supports and which engages or disengages from rows of coupling elements 8 provided on each support when the slider 7 is slid along the support in a known manner. The closed end of each zipper 5 is arranged facing the upper part of the respective side panel 443, 443' so that an opening 9 or 9' is formed in the rear part 44 of the seat cover when the coupling elements 8 disengage from one another. Since the zippers 5 are accessible from the outside of the seat, the outer edge of each side panel 443, 443' adjacent the central panel 442 has a seam 443a, 443a' to conceal the zipper 5 during normal operation.

[0021] The central panel 442 comprises a plurality of J-shaped strips 11 or hooks intended for their attachment to a wire bracket 12 having the shape of an inverted U and arranged at the rear of the backrest support frame 2, as can be seen from the Fig. 4, so that the foam material 3 and the cover 4 are securely held to the backrest support frame 2. Each J-shaped strip 11 comprises a substantially flat portion 13 which is sewn to the edge of the central panel 442 of the cover, as shown by the stitching line. As shown in the Fig. 3, the central panel 442 has a J-shaped strip 11a arranged at its upper edge and two pairs of J-shaped stiffeners 11b at each of its side edges. Therefore, after the rear portion 44 of the cover has been pulled over the top of the foam material 3, all that is required is to pull the J-shaped strips 11 over to secure the cover to the wire bracket 12 of the backrest support frame 2. Then, the sliders 7 of each zipper 5 can be moved to create tension in the cover 4, causing the cover 4 to fit tightly against the foam material 3. It should be noted that in the case where the cover 4 has a map pocket 442a, this may be part of the rear panel 442, which is attached to the seat frame 2 by the J-shaped strips 11. Thus, the tension generated when placing an object in the map pocket 442a is held by the J-shaped strips 11.

[0022] As described above, several practical effects can be achieved by the invention. For example, the cover 4 can be easily removed for maintenance purposes or to access various components integrated into the seat, such as a motor or an airbag, by lifting the central panel 442 of the cover and removing it from the backrest support frame 2 (like a curtain), while its upper edge remains connected to the upper panel 441 of the rear part. Furthermore, since the cover 4 is attached to the seat frame 2 by hand, the use of a cover-fitting machine is not required.

Claims

[1] Backrest assembly for a vehicle seat, comprising a backrest support frame (2) for the seat backrest, a foam material (3) covering the support frame (2) of the seat backrest, and a cover (4) covering the outer surface of the foam material (3), wherein the cover (4) has a front part (41), side wall parts (42, 42'), an upper part (43), and a rear part (44), wherein the rear part (44) comprises an upper panel (441), a movable central panel (442), and two lateral panels (443, 443'), as well as a fastening device for the central panel (442), characterized bythat the middle panel (442) has on the inside a first set of releasable fastening elements for pulling over and fastening the cover (4) to a wire bracket (12) on the back of the backrest support frame (2) by means of a plurality of J-shaped strips (11b) or hooks on each of its side edges, as well as a further connection of an upper edge of the middle panel (442) to the lower edge of the upper panel (441) and a second set of releasable fastening elements designed as zippers (5) for connecting and tightening, the respective supports (6, 6a) of which are arranged on the adjacent side edges of the middle panel (442) and the side panels (443, 443') of the cover (4). [2] Backrest arrangement for a vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized by that an upper edge of the middle panel (442) is sewn together with the upper panel (441). [3] Backrest arrangement for a vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized bythat a connection of an upper edge of the middle panel (442) to a lower edge of the upper panel (441) is made by J-shaped strips (11a) or hooks. [4] Backrest arrangement for a vehicle seat according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the zip fasteners (5) each consist of two supports (6, 6a) and a slider (7) fastened to these, which engages in or detaches from rows of coupling links (8) on each support (6, 6a) by sliding. [5] Backrest arrangement for a vehicle seat according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the rear part (44) of the cover has seams (443a, 443a') arranged so that the zippers (5) are concealed during normal operation.

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