Driving dynamics pneumatic comfort headrest

Abstract

Pneumatically adjustable headrest, comprising at least one headrest body (100) receiving a support rod (110) and having movable headrest side panels (130), wherein at least one first pneumatic unit is arranged in the headrest body (100) and is operatively connected to the at least one support rod (110) for reversible height adjustment of the headrest relative to the at least one support rod (110), characterized in that the at least one first pneumatic unit is a double-acting pneumatic cylinder, the compressed air cylinder (200) of which is connected to a headbox (140) and the cylinder piston (210) of which is connected to the support rod (110) or vice versa, wherein at least one fluid bladder (180) is operatively connected to the headrest side panels (130) as a second pneumatic unit for reversible adjustment of the headrest side panels (130) relative to a headrest center section (120),which is arranged between a side wing (170) rotatably mounted on a central part (140A) of the headrest (140) and a side part (140B) of the headrest (140), wherein a spring element is arranged which is located on a joint (170A) of the side wing (170), wherein the spring element is supported on one side on the headrest (140) of the headrest and on the other side on a spacer element (170B) of the side wing (170).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a pneumatically adjustable headrest, which has at least one headrest body receiving a support rod and movable headrest side panels.

[0002] It is generally known that height-adjustable headrests in motor vehicles, particularly in passenger cars or trucks, are provided via headrest guides on the vehicle seats. The height position of the headrest is usually adjusted using support rods that are slidably mounted in the headrest guide elements within the seat back. A common solution for height adjustment involves notches in at least one of the headrest support rods that engage with releasable locking mechanisms in the headrest guide element. The support rods move relative to the seat back, allowing the height of the headrest mounted on the support rod to be adjusted relative to the seat back. The height adjustment is usually made manually by the user.

[0003] To enhance comfort, German patent application DE 101 36 827 C1 discloses a pneumatically extendable and retractable inflatable headrest mounted on a frame. A seat occupancy sensor in the vehicle seat cushion ensures that the headrest retracts pneumatically when the seat is unoccupied and extends pneumatically when the seat is occupied. The patent also describes how the headrest cushion is inflated when the frame is extended and deflated when the frame is retracted.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of creating a compact pneumatically adjustable headrest with improved comfort features.

[0005] The starting point of the invention is a pneumatically adjustable headrest which has at least one headrest body receiving a support rod and movable headrest side panels.

[0006] In conjunction with these features, the invention provides that at least one first pneumatic unit for reversible height adjustment of the headrest relative to the at least one support rod and / or at least one second pneumatic unit for reversible adjustment of the headrest side cheeks relative to a headrest center part is arranged in the headrest body.

[0007] This solution creates a compact headrest whose pneumatic units for height adjustment and / or adjustment of the headrest side bolsters are integrated into the headrest body. Such a headrest can be easily attached to any backrest using the existing support rods. Advantageously, the backrest design does not need to accommodate the integration of the pneumatic units. This allows the headrest to be modularly installed on various standard backrest models.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one first pneumatic unit is a pneumatic cylinder, the compressed air cylinder of which is connected to a head box and the cylinder piston of which is connected to the retaining rod or vice versa, whereby the head box is reversibly height-adjustable relative to the retaining rod by actuating the pneumatic cylinder.

[0009] Advantageously, the headrest housing offers the possibility of rigidly connecting either the pneumatic cylinder or the cylinder piston to the headrest. The pneumatic cylinder can be arranged on or inside the headrest housing. Since the support rods are also connected to the headrest housing, an interface is advantageously created between the headrest housing and the support rod, at which the pneumatic cylinder is arranged according to the invention.

[0010] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one second pneumatic unit is a fluid bladder. This fluid bladder is arranged between a side cheek wing, which is rotatably mounted on a central part of the headrest housing, and a side part of the headrest housing. The fluid bladder is supported by a first contact surface of the side part and by a second contact surface of a contact element of the side cheek wing. Further support is provided by a spacer element of the side cheek wing and a retaining element of the side cheek wing, which will be described in more detail below. This design advantageously holds the fluid bladder simply and securely on the headrest housing of the headrest body, even when empty. Since the pressure on the contact surfaces increases further when the fluid bladder is filled, a secure arrangement of the fluid bladder within the headrest body is always ensured.The side bolster of the headrest side bolster can be continuously adjusted to various positions by filling and emptying the fluid bladder. Advantageously, the inflation with compressed air, and thus the increase in volume of the fluid bladder from a first to a third position, occurs in one direction of movement. Return to the starting position is advantageously achieved by an external force applied by a spring element that is compressed during the volume increase. The restoring force stored in the spring element during the adjustment of the side bolster from the first to the third position always pushes the side bolster back to its initial position—the first position with a reduction in the volume of the fluid bladder—as soon as the inflation of the fluid bladder with compressed air is interrupted and a vent is opened. The arrangement of the spring element is explained in more detail in the description section.It becomes clear that this design of the second pneumatic unit is simple and robust in a straightforward manner and requires only a small installation space, so that the second pneumatic unit can also be advantageously accommodated in the installation space of the headrest.

[0011] Finally, another advantage is that the pneumatic units can be used to control the headrest side bolsters in particular, depending on the driving dynamics signals of a vehicle.

[0012] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show:

[0013] Figs. 1. A perspective view of the exterior of a headrest;

[0014] Figs. 2 a perspective interior view of the headrest;

[0015] Figs. 3. Make a cut AA through the headrest.

[0016] One possible embodiment of the invention is explained below in an exemplary embodiment. For the purposes of this description, the direction along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle shall be designated by “x”. The direction in the horizontal plane of the vehicle perpendicular to the x-direction shall be designated by “y”, and the direction in the vertical plane of the vehicle perpendicular to the x-direction shall be designated by “z”. This designation of the spatial directions in Cartesian coordinates corresponds to the coordinate system generally used in the automotive industry.

[0017] Figs. Figure 1 shows a perspective exterior view of a headrest, which includes a headrest body. 100 and handrails 110 includes the headrest via the support bar. 110 connected to a backrest (not shown in detail). The backrest structure usually incorporates recesses in which the headrest is mounted in a height-adjustable and releasably locked position.

[0018] The headrest body 100 includes a headrest center section 120 and headrest side panels 130 The headrest provides a support surface for the back and sides of the head of a user seated in a vehicle. This support surface includes the mirror surface. 120A of the headrest center section 21 and the two inner side cheek surfaces 130A .

[0019] Figs. Figure 2 shows the headrest body 100 also in a perspective view, with the headrest body 100 Its transparent representation schematically provides a view into the interior of the headrest body. 100 made possible. The headrest body 100 has a headbox 140 on.

[0020] At the headbox 140 or in the headbox 140is at least one first pneumatic unit, a pneumatic cylinder, arranged which includes at least one compressed air cylinder 200 and at least one cylinder piston 210 preferably, the pneumatic cylinder is designed as a double-acting cylinder, whereby the force is applied by compressed air in both directions, thus making the height adjustment reversible in both directions without the need for externally acting restoring forces.

[0021] The at least one pneumatic cylinder 200 or the at least one cylinder piston 210 is with the headbox 140 connected. The other part is connected to the support rod(s). 110 connected. In the exemplary embodiment, each support rod is connected. 110 a pneumatic cylinder 200 and a cylinder piston 210 arranged, wherein the support bars 110 in the exemplary embodiment with one cylinder piston each 210are connected. Through a relative movement of the cylinder piston. 210 compared to the pneumatic cylinder 200 is the headbox 140 of the headrest body 100 , which in the exemplary embodiment is connected to the respective pneumatic cylinder 200 is connected, opposite the support bars 110 Reversibly height-adjustable in the z-direction, as shown in the Figs. The double arrow P1 shown in point 2 clarifies this.

[0022] The associated fluid lines for supplying the pneumatic cylinder(s) 200 The system, containing fluid, preferably air, and the associated compressor for generating compressed air are not shown in detail. Advantageously, the first pneumatic unit, the compressed air cylinder(s), is located... 200 and the cylinder piston(s) 210 within the headrest body 100, so that no installation space is required for the first pneumatic unit – apart from the compressor for generating the compressed air – outside the headrest, in particular in the backrest, as disclosed, for example, in the aforementioned publication DE 101 36 827 C1. There, for example, a pneumatic drive is arranged inside the backrest.

[0023] The comfort therefore lies in the fact that, with the help of the first pneumatic unit, which is located inside the headrest body 100 is arranged by filling and emptying the compressed air cylinder(s). 200 A reversible height adjustment of the headrest is possible.

[0024] Provided the headrest is above the grab rails 110 Manually height-adjustable and attached to the structure of the backrest, one possible design allows for convenient pre-setting of the headrest height. 100The adjustment is made opposite the backrest, while the height adjustment is made using the first pneumatic unit, for example, for fine-tuning the height of the headrest body. 100 opposite the backrest.

[0025] It is understood that, in a different configuration, the overall height adjustment can only be made via the first pneumatic unit in the headrest without manual pre-adjustment.

[0026] In addition to the arrangement of a pneumatic unit for adjusting the height of the headrest relative to the backrest, the headrest also has a second pneumatic unit that adjusts the headrest side bolsters. 130 is assigned.

[0027] With the help of this second pneumatic unit, the headrest side panels can be adjusted. 130 in every position between a first position I and a third position IIIadjust, which will be discussed in more detail below. The first position I is considered the normal position and the third position III is referred to as the slumber position, in which the headrest side bolsters 130 in the slumber position they are brought very close to the sides of the user's head, which will be discussed in more detail later.

[0028] The Figs. Figure 3 shows a section AA through the headrest, whereby, for the sake of clarity, the representation of the first pneumatic unit for adjusting the height of the headrest has been omitted in section AA.

[0029] Section AA shows the headbox 140 The headbox 140 includes intake openings 141 for the handrails 110 , which are preferably detachably mounted in the backrest. The headboard 140 includes an essentially straight middle section 140A, which, in the usual installation position of the headrest on a vehicle seat, is aligned in the y-direction transversely to the direction of travel in the x-direction.

[0030] From this straight middle section 140A of the headbox 140 Side panels angled diagonally forward in the direction of travel (x-direction). 140B away.

[0031] Before the straight middle section 140A Viewed in the x-direction, it is a foam middle section. 150 arranged. A central axis x1 of the headrest intersects the middle section. 140A and the foaming agent part 150 axially symmetrical.

[0032] Essentially at the end on the front of the straight middle section. 140A of the headbox 140 are two joints 170A trained to be rotatably movable with the headbox 140 are connected. The joints 170Aform pivot axes z1, z2 which run vertically in the usual installation position of the headrest and according to section AA of the Figs. 3 are aligned into the plane of the leaf.

[0033] At the joints 170A Each is a side cheek wing 170 formed. The lateral cheek wings 170 Each includes a spacer element 170B , a plant element 170C and a retaining element 170D .

[0034] The respective spacing element 170B is essentially oriented forward in the x-direction in the direction of travel.

[0035] The investment element 170C runs at a distance that depends on the length of the spacer element 170B depends, essentially parallel to the side panels 140B of the head case 140 .

[0036] End side of the respective side panel 170 Each is a holding element 170Darranged, which are essentially aligned in the y-direction transversely to the direction of travel, and in the first position I the side cheek wing 170 with its end up to the respective side panel 140B of the head case 140 has been introduced.

[0037] This design of the side panels 140B and the side cheek wing 170 forms on both sides between the respective back sides of the two side cheek wings 170 and the respective front of the two side panels 140B Each construction space contains a fluid bubble. 180 is arranged as the second pneumatic unit.

[0038] The in Figs. 3 side cheek wings shown on the right 170 shows the fluid bubble 180 in an unfilled state, in which the side cheek wing 170 in first position I is arranged.

[0039] In contrast, the one in Figs. 3 side cheek wings shown on the left 170 in the first, second and third position I , II , III shown. Belonging to the first and second positions. I , II is the fluid bubble 180 Shown in both unfilled and partially filled states. For clarity, the fluid bubble is shown 180 Not shown when fully filled.

[0040] The fluid bubbles 180 are arranged schematically within the headbox 140 relocated fluid line 190 supplied with compressed fluid, preferably compressed air. For supplying the fluid bladder. 180 Preferably, the compressor located outside the headrest is used, which is also used for the first pneumatic unit for height adjustment according to Figs.2 is used. It goes without saying that a separate compressor is also used for adjusting the side wing panels. 170 can be arranged.

[0041] For adjusting the headrest side bolsters 130 from first position I (Normal position) into the second position II (Intermediate position) or into the third position III The following procedure is used for (sleep mode).

[0042] The description is given as a representative example for both fluid bubbles. 180 , based on a fluid bubble 180 , which in Figs. 3 is shown on the left. In all positions I , II , III the headrest side panel 130 forms the fluid bubble 180 opposite the side panel 140B of the head case 140 a first site area A 140B and opposite the investment element 170C of the side cheek wing 170 a second site area A 170Cout. The remaining surfaces of the fluid bubble 180 are on the one hand by the spacer element 170B and the headbox 140 and on the other hand by the retaining element 170D and the headbox 140 limited.

[0043] First, the fluid bubble 180 in its unfilled state. The side cheek wing 170 and thus the headrest side bolster 130 are in first position I .

[0044] By activating a control element not shown in detail, the compressor is switched on and the fluid bladder is inflated. 180 It is filled with compressed air, so that the filling of the fluid bladder creates 180 the volume of the fluid bubble 180 enlarged.

[0045] Since the fluid bubble 180 at the planting areas A 140B , A 170C The side cheek wing is supported 170 stepless into the second position shown as an example II or the third position III pressed so that the headrest side bolsters 130 assume a position desired by the user.

[0046] By emptying the fluid bladder 180 The adjustment of the headrest side bolsters will 130 This enables the side cheek wings. 170 during the emptying of the fluid bladder 180 To return smoothly to their original position, it is preferably suggested that the adjustment movement should move from the first to the third position. I , III to counteract the force of a spring element (not shown in detail) which is attached to the joint 170A This spring element is arranged in a preferred embodiment and is supported on one side by the headbox. 140 the headrest and, on the other hand, the spacer element 170B off and presses the side cheek wings 170 with the help of the built-up spring tension into the first positionI back.

[0047] The adjustment movement of the headrest side bolsters 130 from first to third position I , III and back essentially runs in the y-direction perpendicular to the direction of travel x-direction according to the second arrow P2 diagonally forward (end position).

[0048] To create a uniform, uninterrupted contact surface for the side surfaces or the area of ​​the back of the user's head on the headrest, a foam support part is required. 160 arranged, which the side cheek wings 170 and the foaming agent part 150 spanned, so that a uniform contact surface is formed on the front of the headrest.

[0049] By arranging the first and / or second pneumatic unit(s), the headrest can be positioned on any backrest, regardless of the conditions in the backrest of the vehicle seat.

[0050] It goes without saying that the pneumatic height adjustment and the pneumatic adjustment of the headrest side bolsters 130 can be executed independently of each other or in combination.

[0051] It is proposed to use any compressed air supply that may be assigned to the vehicle seat also to supply the pneumatic units in the headrest until the fluid bladder 180 is emptied.

[0052] It is further advantageously proposed, in particular, to adjust the headrest side bolsters. 130 to be adjusted depending on the vehicle's driving dynamics.

[0053] This means that in a less dynamic driving style, the headrest side bolsters are located 130 for example in the first position I , where the inner surfaces of the side cheeks 130A are located relatively far away from the sides of the head.

[0054] During dynamic driving, the headrest side bolsters 130 controlled via a control unit depending on vehicle dynamics signals (speed, longitudinal acceleration, lateral acceleration, etc.), thereby adjusting the inner side surfaces of the headrest side panels. 130 Depending on the control signals, the third position is automatically and continuously adjusted. III The head is positioned and guided to the sides of the head. This approach not only increases comfort for the user while driving but also enhances the safety of the vehicle occupants.

[0055] Will the third position IIIIndependently of the driving dynamics control, the so-called slumber headrest is available during the journey or for rest breaks, providing a narrow lateral support surface for the user's head. Reference symbol list 100 headrest bodies 110 grab bars 120 Headrest center section 120A mirror surface 130 headrest side bolsters 130A Side panel inner surface 140 headbox 140A middle section 140B Side panel A 140B Site area 141 Intake opening 150 foam center part 160 foam padding part 170 side wings A 170C Site area 170A joint 170B spacer 170C Plant element 170D retaining element 180 fluid bladder 190 Fluid line 200 pneumatic cylinders 210 cylinder pistons I first position II second position III third position x1 Central axis in section AA z1 Swivel axis z2 swivel axis AA Horizontal section P1 first arrow (z-height adjustment) P2 second arrow (y-side cheek adjustment) QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0056] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0057] DE 10136827 C1 [0003, 0022]

Claims

[1] Pneumatically adjustable headrest which includes at least one support bar ( 110 ) receiving headrest body ( 100 ) with movable headrest side bolsters ( 130 ) shows, characterized by , that in the headrest body ( 100 ) at least one with at least one support bar ( 110 ) in operative connection first pneumatic unit ( 200 , 210 ) for reversible height adjustment of the headrest relative to at least one support bar ( 100 ) and / or at least one with the headrest side bolsters ( 130 ) in operative connection second pneumatic unit ( 180 ) for reversible adjustment of the headrest side bolsters ( 130 ) compared to a headrest center section ( 120 ) is arranged. [2] Headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one first pneumatic unit is a pneumatic cylinder, the compressed air cylinder of which (200 ) with a headbox ( 140 ) and its cylinder piston ( 210 ) with the support bar ( 110 ) or vice versa in connection, whereby the headbox ( 140 ) opposite the handrail ( 110 ) is reversibly height-adjustable by actuating the pneumatic cylinder. [3] Headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one second pneumatic unit has a fluid bladder ( 180 ) is, which is located between a rotatable part on a central part ( 140A ) of the headbox ( 140 ) arranged side cheek wing ( 170 ) and a side panel ( 140B ) of the headbox ( 140 ) is arranged, and is attached to a first mounting surface (A 140B ) of the side panel ( 140B ) and at a second installation area (A 170C ) of a plant element ( 170C ) of the side cheek wing ( 170 ) supported, with the side cheek wing ( 170 ) opposite the headbox (140 ) reversible by filling and emptying the fluid bladder ( 180 ) continuously adjustable in different positions ( I , I , III ) is adjustable. [4] Headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the control of the at least one fluid bladder ( 180 ) for adjusting the side cheek wings ( 170 ) the headrest side bolsters ( 130 ) depending on the vehicle's driving dynamics signals via a control unit assigned to the headrest.

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