Support element for a lumbar support device, lumbar support device and seat with a lumbar support device

Abstract

Support element (2) for a lumbar support device (30), comprising a plate-like body (4) with a first side (6) and an opposite second side (8), wherein the first side (6) serves to support at least one air cushion (32) that can be filled with air, wherein the support element (2) has at least one fastening device (14) for the at least one air cushion (32), wherein the first side (6) of the support element (2) has, at least in a first region (10), a surface structure (12) with an average roughness between 0.4 µm and 20 µm and / or a surface modification that reduces static friction.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a support element for a lumbar support device, a lumbar support device and a seat with a lumbar support device.

[0002] Lumbar support devices are known in the art, comprising a plate-like support element and at least one air cushion. The plate-like support element serves as a support for the at least one air cushion. When filling and emptying the air cushion, the air cushion moves relative to the support element. To prevent a so-called slip-stick effect, it is common practice to place a layer of material on the support element, allowing the air cushion(s) to slide easily. Felt or fleece are particularly well-known for this purpose.

[0003] The known solution has the disadvantage that the use of felt or fleece as the cover layer results in a material that is different from the support element, which leads to increased effort in recycling due to the necessary separation of materials. Furthermore, such a cover layer requires increased effort during assembly and thus increases material and cost requirements.

[0004] From DE 10 2019 004 009 A1, a vehicle seat with a bladder carrier, which is designed as a mat and into which the bladders to be pressurized are integrated, is known.

[0005] DE 41 06 863 C2 discloses a motor vehicle seat with a backrest comprising a flexible support mat to which partially overlapping air cushions are releasably attached. The support mat is made of a textile material, in particular felt.

[0006] DE 10 2022 109 335 A1 discloses a backrest of a vehicle seat with a support plate and at least one vibration device, which is attached to the support plate by means of at least one damping element. Lumbar support cushions or inflatable bags for a massage function can be attached to the support plate.

[0007] The object of the invention is to at least partially remedy the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0008] The object of the invention is achieved with regard to the support element by the subject matter of claim 1, with regard to the lumbar support device by the subject matter of claim 9, and with regard to the seat by the subject matter of claim 10. Useful embodiments emerge from the respective subclaims.

[0009] The support element according to the invention for a lumbar support device comprises a plate-like body with a first side and an opposite second side, wherein the first side serves to support at least one air-fillable air cushion. The support plate has at least one fastening device for the at least one air cushion.

[0010] The first side of the support element has, at least in a first region, a surface structure with an average roughness between 0.4 µm and 20 µm. Alternatively or additionally, the first region has a surface modification that reduces static friction.

[0011] The first region is understood to be an area in which the air cushion, or a shell of the air cushion, can be in contact with the first side of the support element in the assembled state. The surface properties according to the invention with an average roughness between 4 µm and 20 µm are provided, for example, by surfaces with a surface structure in accordance with VDI 3400 Ref. 12 to 45. The surface structure can have uniformly structured unevenness, e.g. in the form of a repeating pattern, or randomly distributed unevenness. The surface structure expediently has a maximum surface roughness depth of between 1.6 µm and 65 µm.

[0012] “Surface modification” is understood to mean structuring, post-treatment or coating of the surface of the plate-like body, whereby the plate-like body is one piece before and after the surface modification.

[0013] The surface structure is in particular formed in one piece with the plate-like body.

[0014] The surface structure expediently has a roughness between 1 µm and 20 µm, in particular between 5 µm and 15 µm, in particular between 8 µm and 10 µm. In particular, the surface structure has a maximum roughness depth between 18.5 µm and 65 µm, in particular between 30 µm and 45 µm. According to the invention, it can be, for example, a surface structure in accordance with VDI 3400 Ref. 38 to 40.

[0015] In one embodiment, the support element is formed from a plastic injection-molded part. In particular, this is a single-component injection-molded part or a one-piece molded part with a uniform material composition. Examples of suitable materials include polypropylene or other plastics known to those skilled in the art for injection molding. In particular, an injection mold with a suitable surface structure can be used for production. Alternatively, surface structure can also be added subsequently.

[0016] In a further embodiment, the first side of the support element has the same average roughness in the first region and at least partially, in particular completely, in a second region. A second region is the region of the surface of the first side that does not normally come into contact with the air cushion, i.e., a shell of the air cushion.

[0017] In a further embodiment, the support element is designed for the attachment of multiple air cushions, e.g., two air cushions, three air cushions, or more air cushions, which are arranged in particular in a row. In particular, a fastening device or a pair of fastening devices is provided for the attachment of each air cushion.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the support element has one or more guide elements, in particular for guiding lines to be connected to the air cushion(s).

[0019] Furthermore, the support element may comprise one or more further fastening devices for attaching further components of a lumbar support device and / or clips.

[0020] The lumbar support device according to the invention comprises a support element according to the invention and furthermore at least one air cushion, which rests at least partially on the support element in a first region and which is fastened with the at least one fastening device. In particular, the static friction and the sliding friction between a shell of the air cushion and the first region of the support element are of similar magnitude, so that no slip-stick effect or stick-slip effect occurs and, in particular, noise generation is avoided.

[0021] Such a lumbar support device comprises, in particular, several air cushions, each of which can be filled, preferably individually, with a desired amount of air and has a pressure-retaining function. It is also possible to reduce the amount of air in individual air cushions. For this purpose, the air cushions are connected to a controllable air supply.

[0022] The air cushions typically have a plastic film shell as well as an air inlet and, if necessary, a separate air outlet. When the air cushions are inflated, they change their shape and their contact surface and / or their contact area on the support element. The air cushion shell can, for example, slide along the support element by a few millimeters to a few centimeters. According to the invention, at least the surface of the support element, in the first region in which the air cushion shell slides along the support element during inflation and deflation, has the surface structure.

[0023] The seat according to the invention, in particular a motor vehicle seat, comprises a lumbar support device according to the invention. In particular, the lumbar support device is arranged in a backrest of the seat.

[0024] The invention will be explained in more detail below with regard to further features and advantages based on the description of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Each of these drawings shows a schematic diagram: Fig. 1: Support element, Fig. 2: Lumbar support device, Fig. 3: Photo of a surface structure of a support element, and Fig. 4A, B: Seat with lumbar support device.

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a support element 2 for a lumbar support device 30. The support element 2 comprises a plate-like body 4. The plate-like body 4 has a first side 6 and a second side 8. The first side 6 and the second side 8 lie opposite one another. The first side 6 serves to support one or more air-fillable air cushions 32. In a lateral region, the plate-like body 4 has fastening devices 14 for the air cushions 32. The fastening devices 14 can protrude laterally from the plate-like body 4, as shown, and can be arranged in pairs at the same height. On the first side 6, at least a first region 10 has a surface structure with an average roughness between 0.4 µm and 20 µm.Due to the increased roughness in the first region 10, in which the air cushion 32 can rest, the friction, in particular the static friction, between the air cushion and the support element is reduced, and a slip-stick effect can be safely and effectively avoided. The entire first side 6 expediently has a uniform surface structure, as this is easier to produce from a process engineering perspective.

[0026] As in Fig. As further illustrated in Figure 1, the support element 2 can have a plurality of through-holes 16 and / or additional fastening elements 20, to which, for example, valve devices can be attached and / or lines can be passed through. Furthermore, the support element 2 can have guide elements 18, for example in the form of grooves, in which lines 34 of the lumbar support device 30 are guided.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows a lumbar support device 30, which has the support element 2 and air cushions 32 arranged on the support element 2. In Fig. 2 also shows two lines 34, which supply the air cushions 32 with compressed air or, accordingly, serve to release the air from the air cushions 32. In the embodiment shown, three air cushions 32 are shown, although more or fewer air cushions 32 are also possible.

[0028] Fig. 3 shows, by way of example, a recording of the surface roughness of the surface structure 12 in a first region 10. The structural element 2 here has a further fastening device 20, which is designed as a through-hole and which is suitable for hooking in a further element, e.g. clips.

[0029] The Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B show a seat 50, e.g. a motor vehicle seat, with filled or unfilled air cushions 32. In Fig. 4A, the lumbar support device 30 is arranged in a backrest of the seat 50. The lumbar support device 30 comprises the support element 2, which extends along the backrest of the seat and is arranged on the side of the lumbar support device 30 facing away from the user.

[0030] Air cushions 32 are arranged on the side of the lumbar support device 30 facing the user. The support element 2 has a first side 6, which faces both the air cushions 32 and the user, and a second side 8, which is opposite the first side 6. The air cushions 32 rest in a first region 10 on the first side 6 of the support element 2. At least this first region 10 has the surface structure 12 according to the invention.

[0031] Fig. 4B now shows the seat Fig.4A with filled air cushions 32. By filling the air cushions 32, the air cushions move relatively along the first side 6 and thus the surface structure 12 in the first region 10. Due to the surface structure according to the invention, the air cushions 32 can slide on the first side 6. List of reference symbols: 2 support element 4 bodies 6 first page 8 second page 10 first area 12 Surface structure 14 Fastening device 16 through holes 18 Guide element 20 additional fastening devices 30 lumbar support device 32 air cushions 34 Line 50 seats

Claims

[1] Support element (2) for a lumbar support device (30), comprising a plate-like body (4) with a first side (6) and an opposite second side (8), wherein the first side (6) serves to support at least one air cushion (32) that can be filled with air, wherein the support element (2) has at least one fastening device (14) for the at least one air cushion (32), wherein the first side (6) of the support element (2) has, at least in a first region (10), a surface structure (12) with an average roughness between 0.4 µm and 20 µm and / or a surface modification that reduces static friction. [2] Support element (2) according to claim 1, wherein the surface structure (12) is formed integrally with the plate-like body (4). [3] Support element (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface structure (12) has a roughness between 1 µm and 20 µm, in particular between 5 µm and 15 µm, in particular between 8 µm and 10 µm. [4] Support element (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support element (2) is formed from a plastic injection-molded part, in particular from a one-component injection-molded part. [5] Support element (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first side (6) of the support element (2) has the same average roughness in the first region (10) and at least partially, in particular completely, in a second region. [6] Support element (2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising fastening devices (14) which project laterally from the plate-like body (4), and / or wherein a pair of fastening devices (14) is provided for each air cushion. [7] Support element (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support element (2) has one or more guide elements (18), in particular for guiding lines to be connected to the air cushion(s) (32). [8] Support element (2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more further fastening device(s) (20), in particular fastening device(s) designed as a through-hole (16), for attaching further components of a lumbar support device (30) and / or clips; and / or comprising one or more through-holes (16). [9] Lumbar support device (30) for a seat, comprising a support element (2) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one air cushion (32) which rests on the support element (2) at least partially in a first region (10) and which is fastened to the support element (2) by means of the at least one fastening device (14). [10] Seat (50) with a lumbar support device (30) according to claim 9.

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