Vehicle seat for warming up and cooling down during sporting activities

Abstract

arrangement (1), comprising - at least one vehicle seat (2) with a seat surface (3) and a backrest (4), each having at least one device for effecting at least one pressure contact (5) and at least one device for effecting a climate effect (6) encompassing temperature and humidity on the body parts of a person sitting on the seat, - a control device (8) designed to control the effect of the pressure contact or the climate effect depending on a sporting activity of the person sitting on the seat, and - an input device (9) for entering instructions, which is connected to the control device (8), characterized in that the control device (8) can control the contact or the climate effect depending on the time of the sporting activity.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement of a vehicle seat with devices for producing pressure contacts and climate effects depending on a sporting activity of a person sitting on the vehicle seat.

[0002] Athletes need to warm up before and often cool down after physical activity. However, due to time constraints, these warm-up and cool-down phases are frequently neglected in training sessions. Furthermore, athletes often travel to their workout location by car, often with cold muscles, increasing the risk of injury. Vehicle seats with massage functions are known, for example, from US 2014 / 0025258 A1. WO 2015 / 127193 A1 discloses a vehicle seat that incorporates massage functions as well as devices for applying heat or cold to parts of the body of a person seated in the seat. A similarly designed vehicle seat is disclosed in DE 102014111554 A1.In the publication DE 102 49 415 B3, a vehicle seat primarily features facilities for medical diagnosis. Its purpose is to provide drivers with a means of effectively warming up before or cooling down after physical activity.

[0003] This problem is solved by a vehicle seat with the features according to claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments and configurations are described in the dependent and subclaims, the figures, and the exemplary embodiments.

[0004] A first aspect of the invention relates to an arrangement comprising at least one vehicle seat with a seat surface and a backrest, each having at least one device for effecting at least one pressure contact and at least one device for effecting a climatic effect on the body parts of a person sitting on the seat.

[0005] Furthermore, the arrangement includes a control device designed to control the effect of the pressure contact or the climate effect depending on a sporting activity of the person sitting on the seat, and an input device connected to the control device for entering instructions.

[0006] A forceful contact is defined as the application of a force to a part of a person's body that is perceived as pressure. Ideally, not just one contact, but multiple contacts are applied to create a massage effect. The device used to apply at least one forceful contact is therefore also called a massage device. This device can be pneumatically, mechanically, or by a combination of both.

[0007] The term "climate effect" refers to temperature and humidity effects transmitted to the body. A temperature effect means that an amount of heat energy is transferred to the body that is either higher or lower than the individual's body temperature. Humidity effects involve the removal of moisture from the skin for drying and / or cooling.

[0008] The term "cool-down" refers to the gradual reduction of physical activity after exercise. This process loosens muscles, accelerates the breakdown of metabolic waste products, and normalizes pulse, blood pressure, respiration, and body temperature.

[0009] Vehicle seats traditionally consist of a seat cushion and a backrest. Here, the term "seat cushion" refers to the part of the seat on which a person sits, although this encompasses more than just the actual top surface.

[0010] The vehicle seat according to the invention is advantageous because a combination of massage and temperature applications can specifically prepare a person for sporting activity even while driving. This saves time for the actual warm-up and is also economically advantageous because, in the case of a paid training session, costs are reduced by shortening the warm-up time.

[0011] In the arrangement according to the invention, the control unit can regulate the contact or the climate effect in relation to the physical activity over time. Temporal dependence here refers to whether the activity occurs before or after a physical activity, and also to the time interval between the start and end of the activity. This is advantageous because the contact and climate effects can be controlled differently before and after a physical activity. For example, the muscles are gradually warmed up before a physical activity and gradually cooled down afterward.

[0012] Preferably, in the arrangement according to the invention, control commands relating to the pressure contact or the climate effect can be manually sent to the control unit via the input device. Advantageously, the person concerned can input whether it is a heating or cooling process, and / or with what force the contacts should be made and at what level or intensity the climate effects should be applied. Particularly preferred is the ability to input person-specific modes regarding the strength of the pressure contacts and / or the temperature level via the input device. In other words, a specific profile regarding the strength of the pressure contacts and / or the temperature level, as well as the duration and also a specific body part to be treated, can be assigned to a specific person, which can be selected via the input device. Several such profiles can also be available to one person.The profile(s) can also be assigned to a specific sport.

[0013] Furthermore, in the arrangement according to the invention, personal parameters can preferably be automatically recorded via connections between the control unit and recording devices. These parameters include body temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and other personal parameters. The recording devices are, for example, portable measuring devices (so-called fitness trackers in the form of watches or chest straps), sensors integrated into the steering wheel, or sensors integrated into the seat according to the invention. Advantageously, the recorded parameters are incorporated into a calculation of effective warm-up and / or cool-down of the seated person by the features of the seat according to the invention. The specific sporting activity can also be included as input, so that the arrangement can advantageously focus on warming up and / or cooling down specific muscle groups.

[0014] Furthermore, in the arrangement according to the invention, the control device is connected to a navigation system of the vehicle. This advantageously allows the time of arrival at the location of the sporting activity to be determined and the duration of, for example, the warm-up and the degree of intensity of the effect of the seat's features to be adjusted to the time.

[0015] Furthermore, it is preferred if the device for generating pressure contact and at least one device for generating a climate effect are controllable in such a way that treatment of a specific sports injury is possible. The effect of the seat's devices can, for example, be manually directed to a specific affected body part via the input device. Alternatively, a specific effect profile of the devices can be assigned to a particular injury and recalled as needed.

[0016] Preferably, the vehicle seat of the arrangement according to the invention includes various devices for producing a climate effect, both for heating and cooling. This allows certain devices to be specifically designed for heating, i.e., for generating a temperature higher than body temperature, and other devices specifically for cooling, i.e., for generating a temperature lower than body temperature. This advantageously reduces the energy required when switching from heating to cooling. Furthermore, this allows certain devices to be advantageously used for heating and others for cooling.

[0017] Preferably, in the vehicle seat of the arrangement according to the invention, different devices for effecting a pressure contact are provided for warming up before a sporting activity and for cooling down after a sporting activity.

[0018] A second aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle with an arrangement according to the invention.

[0019] A third aspect of the invention relates to a method for warming up before and / or cooling down after a sporting activity of a person using an arrangement according to the invention, comprising the steps: - Providing the order, - Entering a selected personal mode regarding the strength of the pressure contacts and climate effect into the input device, - Starting the operation of the device to create at least one high-pressure contact and the device to create a climate effect, - Adapting the operation of said facilities to specific needs by manually entering personal data and / or automatically reading personal data transmitted by measuring devices to which the person is connected.

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail using the figures. They show Fig. 1 a schematic representation of an embodiment of a vehicle seat according to the invention. Fig. 2 a flowchart of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0021] In Fig. Figure 1 shows an arrangement 1 according to the invention. The arrangement comprises a seat 2. The seat 2 is a conventional vehicle seat, particularly of a motor vehicle, and has a seat surface 3 and a backrest 4. The material of the seat 2 comprises, for example, fabric and / or leather.

[0022] The material of the seat 3 and the backrest 4 each incorporates, by way of example, two devices for creating pressure contact 5, hereinafter referred to as massage devices 5. More than two massage devices 5 each can also be present in the seat 3 and backrest 4, e.g., three, four, five, or a greater number, to ensure an effective massage of a person sitting on the seat. The massage devices 5 can be pneumatically operated, e.g., by gas or a liquid, or mechanically, or by a combination of both.

[0023] The material of the seat 3 and the backrest 4 each incorporates, by way of example, two devices 6 for producing a climate effect. These include devices for producing a temperature effect, e.g., a heating mat, and for producing a humidity effect, e.g., a ventilation component suitable for wicking away moisture. A climate control system (CCS) can also be used, for example, to fine-tune a desired temperature, whereby actively heated or cooled air can be directed towards people using Peltier elements. More than two such devices 6 can also be present in the seat 3 and backrest 4, e.g., three, four, five, or a greater number, to ensure effective application of heat or cooling to body parts of a person sitting on the seat 2.The devices 6 can each be configured to produce a temperature higher than, or lower than, the person's body temperature. However, the devices 6 can also be functionally different; that is, some devices can be configured only to produce a higher temperature, others only to produce a lower temperature, and still others to produce a humidity effect. In other words, the devices for controlling climate effects can be arranged in different, independent zones.

[0024] Furthermore, two different sensors 7 are arranged in the seat, which determine personal measurement data, e.g., pulse, temperature, body moisture, and weight of a person. The sensors 7 are connected to a control unit 8, to which the measurement data is transmitted. Sensors for determining personal measurement data can also be arranged in other components of the vehicle in which the seat 2 is located. For example, pulse sensors can be arranged in the steering wheel, which can be used to determine a person's pulse.

[0025] The massage devices 5 and the climate control devices 6 are also connected to the control unit 8, which controls the function of devices 5 and 6. The control unit 8 is configured to control devices 5 and 6 according to instructions it receives from an input device 9. The signal paths of the control instructions between input device 9, control unit 8, devices 5 and 6, and sensors 7 are indicated by the directions of the arrows.

[0026] The input device 9 is designed for entering commands. For this purpose, the input device 9 has various switches 9a and / or buttons for switching it on or off, as well as for activating or deactivating certain settings. Furthermore, the input device has a keyboard 9b, via which written instructions can be given. The instructions are visible on the display 9c of the input device 9. The instructions can, for example, be given as answers to a questionnaire displayed on the display 9c. The display 9c can also be a touchscreen; in this case, the entire operation of the input device 9 can be carried out via the display 9c, in which case the switches 9a and the keyboard 9b may not be present. The input device 9 can also have a microphone, so that spoken instructions can also be given; for this purpose, voice control is integrated into the control unit 8.

[0027] The use of the in Fig. The arrangement shown in 1 can be achieved by means of an embodiment of a method according to Fig. 2 will be illustrated. In a first step S1 of the procedure, an arrangement 1 is created according to the representation of Fig.1. In a second step, S2, a personalized mode is entered into the input device via the intensity of the pressure contacts produced by the massage device 5 and the temperature to be achieved by the device to produce a climate effect. This can be done, for example, by entering the settings via the keyboard. A specific user-specific profile can be selected, which has already been created and stored in a memory location of the input device 9 or the control device 8. Different users can each have their own profile. A single user can also have multiple profiles. Alternatively, a specific contact intensity or temperature can be directly programmed.

[0028] Display 9c can, for example, show a form with input fields or questions and corresponding boxes that must be filled out or activated by ticking a box. The input fields or questions could be, for example: - User identity? - User profile? - Time of day (before / after the sporting activity)? - Type of sporting activity (sport)?, - Focus on specific body parts or muscle groups? - Existing injury?

[0029] In other words, in the second step S2, a predefined procedure relating to warming up or cooling down before or after a sporting activity is selected, or a specific desired procedure is manually programmed. Then, in a third step S3, the operation of facilities 5 and 6 is started.

[0030] In a fourth step, S4, the activity of devices 5 and 6 is adapted during operation to specific needs, such as warming up for training preparation or cooling down after physical activity. The function of devices 5 and 6 can be manually adjusted using the input device. Alternatively or additionally, the function of devices 5 and 6 can also be adapted to current requirements based on automatically read personal data, such as pulse or temperature, which is transmitted to the control unit 8 by sensors 7 connected to the person. For example, it can be set to warm certain body parts while cooling others. The devices for creating a climate effect are controlled accordingly.

[0031] In another embodiment of the method, other vehicle components can also be involved in the warming and cooling process before and after sporting activities. For example, the steering wheel or armrests of the vehicle can be heated or cooled. Reference symbol list 1. Arrangement 2 vehicle seats 3 Seating area 4 Backrest 5. Device for creating a forceful contact 6. Device for producing a climate effect 7 sensors 8 Control unit 9 Input device 9a Switch 9b keyboard 9c Display

Claims

[1] Arrangement (1), comprising - at least one vehicle seat (2) with a seat surface (3) and a backrest (4), each having at least one device for effecting at least one pressure contact (5) and at least one device for effecting a climate effect (6) encompassing temperature and humidity on the body parts of a person sitting on the seat, - a control device (8) designed to control the effect of the pressure contact or the climate effect depending on a sporting activity of the person sitting on the seat, and - an input device (9) for entering instructions, which is connected to the control device (8), characterized by , that the control device (8) can control the contact or the climate effect in a temporal dependence on the sporting activity. [2] Arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein control commands relating to the pressure contact or the climate effect can be manually transmitted to the control device (8) by means of the input device (9). [3] Arrangement (1) according to claim 2, wherein person-specific modes relating to the strength of the pressure contacts and / or the climate effect can be entered via the input device (9). [4] Arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein personal parameters can be automatically recorded via connections of the control device (8) to recording devices (7). [5] Arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (8) is connected to a navigation device of the vehicle. [6] Arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device for producing at least one pressure contact (5) and at least one device for producing a climate effect (6) are controllable in such a way that treatment of a specific sports injury is possible. [7] Arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein different devices for producing a climate effect (6) are provided for producing a warm-up before a sporting activity and for producing a cooling effect after a sporting activity. [8] Arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein different devices for effecting a pressure contact (5) are provided for effecting a warm-up before a sporting activity and for effecting a cool-down after a sporting activity. [9] Motor vehicle with an arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims. [10] Method for warming up before and / or cooling down after a sporting activity of a person using an arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1-8, comprising the steps: - Providing the order (1), - Entering a selected personal mode via the strength of the pressure contacts and climate effect into the input device (9), - Starting the operation of the device to produce at least one high-pressure contact (5) and the device to produce a climate effect (6), - Adapting the operation of said facilities (5, 6) to specific needs by manually entering personal data and / or automatically reading personal data transmitted by measuring devices (7) to which the person is connected.

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