Vehicle seat with anti-skid support device

Abstract

Vehicle seat (2) with an anti-skid support device (4) with a number of inflatable air cushions (4.1 to 4.4), and at least two of the air cushions (4.1 to 4.4) are fluidically connected to one another and can be reversibly and variably pressurised with air (10), wherein upon identification of an emergency or accident, air (10) from one air cushion (4.1) is or is automatically conveyed into the other air cushion (4.2), characterized in that the air cushions (4.1 to 4.2) are fluidically connected to one another via an actuating unit (8), wherein upon identification of the emergency or accident, the actuating unit (8) can be automatically activated and controlled such that air (10) can be conveyed from one air cushion (4.1) into the other air cushion (4.2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle seat with an anti-skid support device having the features of the preamble of claim 1 and to a vehicle having at least one such vehicle seat.

[0002] From DE 199 38 698 A1, motor vehicle seats are known which have a gas-filled chamber in the seat part and / or in the backrest for better support of the vehicle occupant in the event of an accident, wherein the gas pressure in the chamber can be changed in order to set a desired resilience of the upholstery and / or a desired surface profile on a seat surface of the seat part or the leaning surface of the backrest.

[0003] From DE 10 2005 059 997 B4 a safety device with an airbag and a gas generator is known, wherein when sensor data about an accident or an impending accident are available the gas generator is activated to fill the airbag with gas and to deploy it, wherein the airbag is additionally coupled to an adjustable activator which repeatedly and reversibly fills a volume of the airbag with gas, wherein the gas generator provides a higher airbag internal pressure than the activator.

[0004] DE 10 2016 114 756 A1 discloses a vehicle seat with a number of inflatable air cushions, wherein at least two of the air cushions are fluidically connected to each other and can be reversibly and variably inflated. Upon identification of an emergency or accident, in particular an impact with a vehicle or obstacle, air can be automatically pumped from one air cushion to the other.

[0005] US 11 679 706 B2 discloses a vehicle seat with a number of inflatable air cushions, wherein at least two of the air cushions are fluidically connected to one another.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of providing a vehicle seat with an improved anti-skid support device, which, in particular, has a reduced number of parts. Furthermore, a vehicle with such an improved vehicle seat is to be provided.

[0007] The first-mentioned object is achieved according to the invention by a vehicle seat having the features of patent claim 1. The second-mentioned object is achieved according to the invention by a vehicle having the features of patent claim 9.

[0008] A vehicle seat according to the invention comprises at least one anti-skid support device with a number of inflatable air cushions, wherein at least two of the air cushions (also called volume elements) are fluidically connected to one another and can be reversibly and variably pressurized with air, wherein upon identification of an emergency or accident, in particular an impact with a vehicle or obstacle, air from one air cushion can be automatically conveyed into the other air cushion.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0010] By providing two fluidically interconnected and variably adjustable air cushions (also called airbag modules) as an anti-skid support device in the area of ​​a contact surface of the vehicle seat, for example in a cushioning foam area of ​​the vehicle seat, a corresponding body area, for example a buttocks area, a thigh area, a spine and / or a neck of the user of the vehicle seat can be individually supported in an emergency, for example in the event of an accident, in particular in the event of an impact on the user's own vehicle with the vehicle seat according to the invention, and the user can thus be better protected.

[0011] The air cushions are fluidically connected to each other via an actuating unit. Upon identification of an emergency or accident affecting the vehicle, the actuating unit can be automatically activated and controlled in such a way that air can be conveyed, in particular pumped, from one air cushion into the other. The actuating unit can be designed, for example, as a pump unit, a gas generator, or a flow valve, each of which is controllable.

[0012] Preferably, at least one first air cushion is arranged in a rear seating area of ​​the vehicle seat, for example, in a seating area serving the buttocks area of ​​a user, and at least one second air cushion is arranged in a front seating area of ​​the vehicle seat, for example, in a seating area serving the thigh area of ​​a user. Upon identification of an emergency or accident, such as an impact on the vehicle, the actuating unit is controllable, for example, such that air can be conveyed, in particular pumped, from the first air cushion in the rear seating area into the second air cushion in the front seating area.

[0013] Preferably, upon identification of the emergency or accident, the actuating unit is controllable such that the second air cushion is more powerful and / or more highly inflatable than the first air cushion.

[0014] In particular, upon identifying an emergency or accident, the actuator can adjust the two air cushions so that a support surface in the front seat area is or will be set higher than a support surface in the rear seat area. This ensures that a vehicle seat occupant is adequately supported and held in place in the event of a collision with the vehicle. In particular, "submarining" can be prevented, preventing the vehicle seat occupant from slipping under a lap belt during a collision.

[0015] For example, in the event of a minor rear-end collision or in other emergencies, such as unusual acceleration of the vehicle, the first air cushion (also called the first air bladder) in the rear seat area, in particular the buttocks area, can be deflated or at least partially deflated and the second air cushion in the front seat area, in particular the area near the thighs, can be inflated accordingly, so that the user of the vehicle seat or passenger in the vehicle seat is well supported and the air from the first air cushion is conveyed, in particular pumped, into the other second air cushion.

[0016] Additionally, at least one third air cushion can be arranged in a headrest area of ​​the vehicle seat and at least one fourth air cushion can be arranged in a backrest area of ​​the vehicle seat and can be controlled such that, upon identification of an emergency or accident, such as a rear-end collision or frontal collision, air can be conveyed, in particular pumped, into the third air cushion and / or the fourth air cushion in order to reduce the distance between a corresponding support surface and a user of the vehicle seat. This allows the user of the vehicle seat to be better supported in the area of ​​their head and / or back in the event of a rear-end collision.

[0017] The emergency or accident, in particular a rear-end collision, side-end collision, or front-end collision, affecting the vehicle can be determined, in particular monitored or tracked, for example, by an environmental sensor system, in particular by distance sensors on the vehicle, for example at a rear end and / or at a front end of the vehicle. The environmental sensor system can be configured, for example, to measure a relative speed and / or the distance between vehicles, in particular between the host vehicle and a vehicle traveling ahead or between the host vehicle and a vehicle traveling behind.

[0018] In the event of a rear-end collision, the environmental sensors, for example, one or more distance sensors, can detect this impact and generate a corresponding safety signal representing an impending impact. This signal is then sent to a control unit or other suitable assistance system. The control unit or assistance system, in turn, can use the safety signal to generate a control signal to activate and control the actuator for conveying air, in particular for the controlled inflation of the relevant air cushion, and control the drive unit accordingly to reduce the distance between the vehicle seat and body areas, such as the buttocks, thighs, back, and / or head of a vehicle seat occupant.

[0019] In addition to adjusting the head support and the back support, the anti-skid support device can comprise one or more third air cushions (also called air bladder modules) in the headrest area and one or more fourth air cushions in the backrest area in order to reduce the distance between the head of the user or the passenger and the support surface of the headrest or the distance between the back of the user or the passenger and the support surface of the backrest, in particular a backrest cushion, and thus to better protect the neck and / or the back of the user, in particular to reduce the risk of a neck injury and / or a back injury.

[0020] For example, the third air cushion and the fourth air cushion can be pressurized with air such that the third air cushion extends further away from a contact surface toward a occupant of the vehicle seat than the fourth air cushion. Furthermore, the third air cushion and the fourth air cushion can be pressurized with air independently of one another.

[0021] In one possible embodiment, a separate device for filling the air cushions with air, in particular a separate gas generator or a separate pump unit, can be provided for each of the third air cushion and the fourth air cushion.

[0022] Furthermore, the respective air cushion can have multiple air chambers. The air chambers of the respective air cushion can be fluidically connected to each other. In particular, the air chambers can be supplied with air one after the other.

[0023] A vehicle according to the invention comprises one or more of the vehicle seats described above, each having an anti-skid support device with a plurality of air cushions.

[0024] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0025] Showing: Fig. 1 schematically shows a vehicle with a vehicle seat with an anti-skid support device in the area of ​​a seat surface in the non-deployed state, Fig. 2 schematically shows the vehicle with the vehicle seat with the anti-skid support device in the area of ​​the seat in the triggered state, Fig. 3 schematically shows the vehicle with the vehicle seat with an anti-skid support device in the headrest area and backrest area in the triggered state, and Fig. 4 schematically shows an air cushion comprising several air chambers for the anti-skid support device.

[0026] Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0027] Fig. 1 schematically shows a vehicle 1 with a vehicle seat 2 with an anti-skid support device 4 in the region of a seat surface 6 in a non-deployed state.

[0028] The anti-skid support device 4 comprises, in particular, a number of inflatable air cushions 4.1, 4.2. The two air cushions 4.1, 4.2 (also called volume elements, airbags, airbag modules, or the like) are arranged in a contact surface of the seat surface 6 of the vehicle seat 2.

[0029] By providing the two air cushions 4.1, 4.2, for example in a cushion foam area of ​​the seat surface 6, a corresponding body area, for example a buttock area and a thigh area of ​​a user 14 of the vehicle seat 2, can be improved in an emergency or in the event of an accident, in particular in the event of an impact on the vehicle 1.

[0030] The two air cushions 4.1 and 4.2 are fluidically connected to one another. For example, they are fluidically connected to one another via an actuating unit 8 and a respective flow line 8.1. The two air cushions 4.1, 4.2 can be reversibly and variably pressurized with a medium, in particular air 10, by means of the actuating unit 8. If an emergency or accident is identified, in particular an impact on the vehicle 1, air 10 can be automatically pumped from one air cushion 4.1 to the other air cushion 4.2.

[0031] The actuating unit 8 can be designed, for example, as a pump unit, a gas generator, or a control valve. The actuating unit 8 is designed as an intelligent actuating unit 8 with an integrated controller 8.2, in particular a computing unit or a microprocessor with a communication interface.

[0032] The controller 8.2 can be coupled via the communication interface to an environmental sensor system 12, which is configured to detect an emergency or an accident, in particular a rear impact or front impact on the vehicle 1, and to generate a corresponding warning signal or safety signal as an activation signal for the actuating unit 8 and to supply it to the controller 8.2 via the communication interface, in particular a CAN interface or Bluetooth interface, for activating the actuating unit 8.

[0033] The environmental sensor system 12 can be configured, for example, as a camera, a radar unit, a lidar unit, a distance sensor, or the like. The environmental sensor system 12 can, in particular, be configured to detect an impending accident, in particular an impending impact, based on a detected changing distance to an object approaching the host vehicle 1, such as another vehicle or another road user or another obstacle, and to generate the corresponding safety signal and send it to the controller 8.2, for example, a control unit or another suitable assistance system of the actuating unit 8 or the vehicle 1.

[0034] The controller 8.2 or another control unit or assistance system can in turn use the safety signal to generate a control signal for activating and controlling the actuating unit 8 for conveying the air 10, in particular for the controlled inflation and deflation of the respective air cushions 4.1, 4.2, and control the actuating unit 8 accordingly in order to reduce the distance between the seat surface 6 and the buttocks and thighs of a user 14 of the vehicle seat 2 and thus to support them.

[0035] In addition, it can be checked whether the vehicle seat 2 is being used by the user 14, whereby the actuating unit 8 is only activated if it is determined that the vehicle seat 2 is being used by the user 14.

[0036] In the non-triggered state shown according to Fig. 1, a first air cushion 4.1, which is arranged in a rear seating area 6.1 of the seat surface 6, can be filled more heavily with air 10 than a second air cushion 4.2, which is arranged in a front seating area 6.2 of the seat surface 6.

[0037] In particular, upon identification of the emergency or accident, the actuating unit 8 can be controlled such that air 10 can be or is conveyed from the first air cushion 4.1 in the rear seating area 6.1 into the second air cushion 4.2 in the front seating area 6.2.

[0038] Fig. 2 schematically shows the vehicle 1 with the vehicle seat 2 with the anti-skid support device 4 in the area of ​​the seat surface 6 in the triggered state.

[0039] The second air cushion 4.2 is inflated more strongly than the first air cushion 4.1 by means of the adjusting unit 8. In particular, the adjusting unit 8 can be controlled in such a way that the seat surface 6 (also called support surface) in the front seat area 6.2 is set higher than the seat surface 6 of the rear seat area 6.1, as shown in Fig. 2. This ensures that the user 14 is sufficiently well supported in the event of a possible impact with the vehicle 1.

[0040] For example, in the event of a minor rear-end collision or in other emergencies, such as an unusual acceleration of the vehicle 1 or a rear-end collision with the vehicle 1, the first air cushion 4.1 (also called the first air bladder) in the rear seat area 6.1, in particular the buttocks area, is deflated and the second air cushion 4.2 in the front seat area 6.2, in particular the area near the thighs, is inflated. In particular, the air 10 is conveyed, in particular pumped, from the first air cushion 4.1 into the other second air cushion 4.2 by means of the actuating unit 8. As a result, in the event of a rear-end collision with the vehicle 1, the user 14 is supported in the vehicle seat 2 in the direction of the rear-end collision in a manner that is better than with conventional seats, wherein the vehicle seat 2 is oriented forward in the vehicle 1, as shown.

[0041] Fig. 3 shows schematically the vehicle 1 with the vehicle seat 2 with the anti-skid support device 4 with further air cushions 4.3, 4.4.

[0042] In addition or alternatively to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the anti-skid support device 4 can comprise at least a third air cushion 4.3 in a headrest area 16 of the vehicle seat 2 and at least a fourth air cushion 4.4 in a backrest area 18 of the vehicle seat 2.

[0043] The anti-skid support device 4 is configured and controllable such that, upon identification of the emergency or accident, such as a rear impact or front impact, air 10 can be conveyed, in particular pumped, into the third air cushion 4.3 and / or into the fourth air cushion 4.4 in order to reduce a distance between a corresponding head support surface 16.1 (also called headrest surface) and the head of the user 14 or between a corresponding back support surface 18.1 and the back of the user 14.

[0044] As a result, the user 14 is better supported in the area of ​​his head and / or back, for example in the event of a rear-end collision with the vehicle 1.

[0045] For example, the third air cushion 4.3 and the fourth air cushion 4.4 can be pressurized with air 10 such that the third air cushion 4.3 extends further away from the head support surface 16.1 toward the user 14 than the fourth air cushion 4.4 extends from the back support surface 18.1. Furthermore, the third air cushion 4.3 and the fourth air cushion 4.4 can be pressurized with air 10 independently of one another.

[0046] In one possible embodiment, a separate device 20 for filling the air cushions 4.3, 4.4 with air 10, in particular a separate gas generator or a separate pump unit, can be provided for each of the third air cushions 4.3 and the fourth air cushion 4.4. The respective device 20 is configured to both fill the air cushions 4.3, 4.4 with air 10 and to release air 10 from them. A common device 20 can also be provided for synchronously filling the air cushions 4.3, 4.4 with air 10 or for synchronously releasing air 10 from the air cushions 4.3, 4.4.

[0047] Fig. 4 schematically shows a multi-chamber air cushion 4.5 comprising several air chambers 4.5.1 for the anti-skid support device 4.

[0048] Each of the previously described air cushions 4.1 to 4.4 can be formed from a single volume chamber (also called an air chamber). Alternatively, the previously described air cushions 4.1 to 4.4 can be designed with multiple air chambers 4.5.1, similar to the multi-chamber air cushion 4.5.

[0049] The air chambers 4.5.1 of the air cushion 4.5 can be fluidically connected to one another. In particular, the air chambers 4.5.1 can be supplied with air 10 one after the other. List of reference symbols 1 vehicle 2 vehicle seats 4 Anti-skid support device 4.1 Air cushion, first air cushion 4.2 Air cushion, second air cushion 4.3 third air cushion 4.4 fourth air cushion 4.5 Multi-chamber air cushion 4.5.1 Air chamber 6 Seat 6.1 rear seating area 6.2 front seating area 8 Actuator 8.1 Flow line 8.2 Control 10 Air 12 Environmental sensors 14 users 16 Headrest area 16.1 Headrest surface 18 Backrest area 18.1 Backrest surface 20 Filling device

Claims

[1] Vehicle seat (2) with an anti-skid support device (4) with a number of inflatable air cushions (4.1 to 4.4), and at least two of the air cushions (4.1 to 4.4) are fluidically connected to one another and can be reversibly and variably pressurised with air (10), wherein upon identification of an emergency or accident, air (10) from one air cushion (4.1) is or is automatically conveyed into the other air cushion (4.2), characterized by , that the air cushions (4.1 to 4.2) are fluidically connected to one another via an actuating unit (8), wherein upon identification of the emergency or accident, the actuating unit (8) can be automatically activated and controlled such that air (10) can be conveyed from one air cushion (4.1) into the other air cushion (4.2). [2] Vehicle seat (2) according to claim 1, characterized bythat at least one first air cushion (4.1) is arranged in a rear seating area (6.1) of the vehicle seat (2) and at least one second air cushion (4.2) is arranged in a front seating area (6.2) of the vehicle seat (2), and the actuating unit (8) is controllable upon identification of the emergency or accident such that air (10) can be or is conveyed from the first air cushion (4.1) in the rear seating area (6.1) into the second air cushion (4.2) in the front seating area (6.2). [3] Vehicle seat (2) according to claim 2, characterized by that the adjusting unit (8) adjusts the two air cushions (4.1, 4.2) upon identification of the emergency or accident in such a way that a support surface of the front seating area (6.2) is or becomes higher than a support surface of the rear seating area (6.1). [4] Vehicle seat (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat at least one third air cushion (4.3) is arranged in a headrest area (16) of the vehicle seat (2) and at least one fourth air cushion (4.4) is arranged in a backrest area (18) of the vehicle seat (2) and is controllable such that, upon identification of the emergency or accident, air (10) is or can be conveyed into the third air cushion (4.3) and / or into the fourth air cushion (4.4) in order to reduce a distance between a corresponding support surface and a user (14) of the vehicle seat (2). [5] Vehicle seat (2) according to claim 4, characterized by that the third air cushion (4.3) and the fourth air cushion (4.4) can be or are supplied with air (10) in such a way that the third air cushion (4.3) extends further away from a contact surface in the direction of a user (14) of the vehicle seat (2) than the fourth air cushion (4.4). [6] Vehicle seat (2) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized bythat the third air cushion (4.3) and the fourth air cushion (4.4) can be supplied with air (10) independently of one another. [7] Vehicle seat (2) according to claim 6, characterized by that a separate device (20) for filling the third air cushion (4.3) and the fourth air cushion (4.4) with air (10) is provided. [8] Vehicle seat (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the respective air cushion (4.1 to 4.4) is designed as a multi-chamber air cushion (4.5) with several air chambers (4.5.1). [9] Vehicle (1) with at least one vehicle seat (2) according to one of the preceding claims.

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