Crossbar for a backrest

Abstract

The proposed solution relates to a cross member (1) for a backrest (21), comprising: a cross plate (10) with a front surface (OV) and a rear surface (OR) facing away from it, and at least one headrest support (11) which is supported on a first support surface (101) on the front surface (OV) of the cross plate (10) and on a second support surface (102) on the rear surface (OR) of the cross plate (10).

Description

[0001] The proposed solution concerns a cross member for a backrest, a backrest for a vehicle seat and a vehicle seat.

[0002] Vehicle seats are regularly equipped with headrests. A headrest allows the seat occupant to rest their head against such a headrest, and in particular, a headrest can support the seat occupant's head in the event of a vehicle crash to prevent injury.

[0003] Since a vehicle crash can involve significant forces and acceleration, the head can impact the headrest with considerable momentum. Headrest mounts are therefore designed to withstand such loads.

[0004] However, such robust designs typically result in relatively high weight and / or a relatively large installation space requirement. This often results in vehicle seat backrests being quite thick. However, the thickness of the backrest has a direct impact on the space available for passengers in the vehicle.

[0005] DE 10 2014 211 527 B4 describes a vehicle seat with a backrest having a cross member. The cross member is formed by a cross plate to which two headrest mounts are attached. Rods of a headrest are accommodated in the headrest mounts. The cross plate of the known vehicle seat is bent into a C-shape and has two aligned openings for each of the headrest mounts, through which the headrest mounts are inserted and to which they are welded. However, the resulting box-shaped design, as already described, takes up a lot of installation space.

[0006] The task is to improve the crossbar of a backrest.

[0007] This object is achieved by an article having the features of claim 1.

[0008] According to this, a cross member for a backrest comprises a cross plate having a front surface and a rear surface facing away therefrom and at least one headrest holder which is supported on a first support surface on the front surface of the cross plate and on a second support surface on the rear surface of the cross plate.

[0009] This is based on the knowledge that loads on the headrest occur at a distance from the headrest bracket, so that a torque is introduced into the headrest bracket at the points where the headrest bracket is supported on the cross plate. By providing support on the one hand on one main side of the sheet metal forming the cross plate and on the other main side of the sheet metal forming the cross plate, two improvements can be achieved at once. Firstly, there is no need to house the headrest bracket because the torque presses the headrest bracket against the respective support surface. The cross plate can therefore expose the headrest bracket on the side opposite the respective support surface. Since the headrest bracket is only in contact on one side at a time, a particularly flat backrest design is possible.Secondly, the support on the surfaces of the cross-member allows for particularly secure support, which, unlike support on the edges of the sheet metal as in the previously known cross-member, is not prone to cracking. Thus, a stable crossmember can be provided with a simple design that also requires less installation space.

[0010] The headrest mount can extend through an opening in the cross member. The first support surface can be positioned above the opening, and the second support surface can be positioned below the opening. This allows for a particularly flat design and also reliably absorbs any torque applied to the rear of a headrest mounted on the headrest mount.

[0011] The headrest mount is welded to the support surfaces, for example, the cross-member. This allows for a particularly secure connection. However, other connections are also conceivable, such as a positive and / or force-fitting fastening. The headrest mount can be made of metal, e.g., steel, although alternatively, it can also be made of plastic, for example.

[0012] For example, the headrest mount is designed in the form of a sleeve extending (e.g., straight) along a longitudinal axis. Such a sleeve can securely and adjustably accommodate a headrest.

[0013] The headrest mount can be designed with a rectangular cross-section. This allows for a large contact area with the support surfaces, further improving stability. Alternatively, a differently shaped headrest mount, e.g., a rounded cross-section, can also be provided.

[0014] The support surfaces can be flat. This allows for particularly secure support in a flat structure. Furthermore, the support surfaces can be shaped to match the headrest mount. For a round headrest mount, for example, a support surface can be provided that corresponds, for example, to a section of a cylinder. It should be noted that other shapes are also conceivable.

[0015] The cross member may have two headrest mounts, each supported on a respective first support surface on the front surface of the cross member and on a respective second support surface on the rear surface of the cross member. This ensures stable support of the headrest.

[0016] It can be provided that the cross plate has an opening for each of the headrest holders, wherein the headrest holders extend through the respective opening and are supported on opposite sides of the opening (along the respective longitudinal axis of the headrest holder) on support surfaces of the cross plate that are arranged offset to the opening (and, for example, parallel to one another).

[0017] The cross plate can have support surfaces for supporting the cross plate on the longitudinal members of the backrest. The cross plate can also have stiffeners, each extending from one of the support surfaces for one of the headrest mounts to one of the support surfaces for one of the longitudinal members. This allows the forces introduced via the support surfaces of the headrest mounts to be dissipated particularly effectively.

[0018] According to a further development, the stiffeners are each designed in the form of an embossed bead. This makes the stiffeners particularly lightweight and can be manufactured without additional components. Alternatively, the stiffeners can also be formed by additional parts attached to the remaining cross-piece (e.g., in the form of wires, sheets, or the like, which can be mounted in a form-fitting, force-fitting, and / or material-fitting manner).

[0019] The stiffeners can be curved, e.g., S-shaped. This allows forces to be dissipated particularly effectively.

[0020] The cross plate, for example, is made from a single piece. This allows for particularly simple and quick production while maintaining high stability.

[0021] Furthermore, the cross plate can be designed as a bent sheet metal part, e.g., made of sheet steel. This allows for rapid production.

[0022] According to one aspect, a cross member for a backrest is specified, in particular according to any of the above-described embodiments, with at least one receptacle for a headrest mount. The receptacle has an opening in which the headrest mount can be arranged or is arranged, and support surfaces arranged offset from the opening and parallel to each other on opposite sides of the opening for supporting the headrest mount. Regarding the advantages, reference is made to the above information.

[0023] According to one aspect, a backrest for a vehicle seat is provided, comprising the cross member according to any embodiment described herein. Regarding the advantages, reference is again made to the above information regarding the adjustment device.

[0024] The backrest, for example, comprises two longitudinal members that are connected, in particular welded, to the cross-sheet at the support surfaces. This creates a particularly stable backrest.

[0025] The longitudinal members each have an edge, and it can be provided that the at least one headrest mount of the cross member is arranged between the two edges and / or at an angle to them. This enables particularly secure support. In particular, it is not necessary to provide the edges with a bend to align the headrest mount(s), thus achieving improved load-bearing capacity.

[0026] For example, the two edges of the longitudinal beams are straight, especially in the area of ​​the headrest mount(s). The two edges of the longitudinal beams, especially in the area of ​​the headrest mount(s), are not bent. This can improve load-bearing capacity, especially in the event of a crash.

[0027] The headrest mount(s) can intersect, or pass through, an imaginary plane spanned by the two edges of the longitudinal beams. This can also further improve load-bearing capacity.

[0028] The two edges of the longitudinal beams, for example, are positioned at the front and face a seat occupant leaning against the backrest as intended. This can improve load-bearing capacity, particularly in the event of a rear-end collision.

[0029] According to one aspect, a vehicle seat is provided, comprising the backrest according to any embodiment described herein. Regarding the advantages, reference is again made to the above information regarding the adjustment device.

[0030] The concept underlying the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures. They show: Fig. 1 a vehicle seat with a seat part and a backrest; Fig. 2 a cross member and two longitudinal members of the backrest of the vehicle seat according to Fig. 1 in a perspective view; Fig. 3 the crossbeam with the longitudinal beams according to Fig. 2 in a plan view; Fig. 4 the crossbeam with the longitudinal beams according to Fig. 2 in a side view; Fig. 5 a through the cross-beam according to Fig. 4 cutaway view; Fig. 6 a view of the section plane according to Fig. 5; Fig. 7 a cross plate of the cross member in a perspective view; and Fig. 8 a longitudinal member of the backrest of the vehicle seat according to Fig. 1 in a side view.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a vehicle seat 2 with a seat part 20 and a backrest 21. The backrest 21 is mounted on the seat part 20, for example by means of an inclination adjustment with a fitting arrangement about a pivot axis. The vehicle seat 2 also comprises, for example, a longitudinal adjustment device 22. The longitudinal adjustment device 22 allows a longitudinal adjustment of the vehicle seat 2 along a vehicle longitudinal direction X. The vehicle longitudinal direction X is oriented perpendicular to a vehicle height direction Z. The longitudinal adjustment device 22 comprises two pairs, each consisting of a floor rail that can be fixed to a vehicle floor FB and is fixed in the example shown, and a seat rail that is mounted thereon so as to be displaceable along the vehicle longitudinal direction X. The rest of the vehicle seat 2 is mounted on the seat rail. A vehicle width direction Y is oriented perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal direction X and perpendicular to the vehicle height direction Z.

[0032] A headrest 23 is also mounted on the backrest 21. The headrest 23 is arranged at an upper end of the backrest 21, which faces away from the seat part 20.

[0033] The headrest 23 is adjustable relative to the backrest 21. The headrest 23 can be positioned closer to the upper end of the backrest or further away from it. Depending on the set (or fixed in the case of a vehicle seat without tilt adjustment) inclination of the backrest 21 relative to the vehicle floor FB, the headrest 23 on the backrest is adjustable along the vehicle height direction Z.

[0034] Fig. 2 to 5 show different views of the upper end of the backrest 21 of the vehicle seat 2, to which the headrest 23 is attached according to Fig. 1 is mounted.

[0035] As can be seen, the backrest 21 has two lateral longitudinal members 210A, 210B, each extending from a lower end of the backrest 21 adjacent to the seat part 20 to the upper end of the backrest 21. The longitudinal members 210A, 210B are spaced apart from one another. Specifically, the longitudinal members 210A, 210B are spaced apart from one another in the vehicle width direction Y.

[0036] An upper cross member 1 of the backrest 21 connects the longitudinal members 210A, 210B to one another. For this purpose, a cross plate 10 of the cross member 1 is firmly connected to the longitudinal members 210A, 210B. In this case, the cross plate 10 has a plurality of support surfaces 103, 104, which rest flatly against corresponding support surfaces on the longitudinal members 210A, 210B. The support surfaces 103, 104 of the cross plate 10 are welded to the support surfaces on the longitudinal members 210A, 210B.

[0037] The cross plate 10 is made from a single piece of sheet metal, e.g., sheet steel. The cross plate 10 is a bent sheet metal part. The cross plate 10 is manufactured by punching out a sheet metal cutout and bending the sheet metal cutout to form the cross plate 10.

[0038] The transverse sheet 10 thus has a front surface OV and a rear surface OR facing away from it (see e.g. Fig. 5 or Fig. 6). The Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 each show a view of the front surface OV of the cross plate 10. By bending a section of the cross plate 10, it would also be possible in principle to obtain a view according to Fig. 1 or Fig. 2, a portion of the rear surface OR may be visible. The sheet metal cutout bent into the transverse sheet 10 has two opposing main surfaces, which are connected by cut edges. The front surface OV represents one of the two main surfaces, and the rear surface OR represents the other of the two main surfaces.

[0039] The front surface OV and the rear surface OR are spaced from each other at every point on the cross sheet 10 by the material thickness of the cross sheet 10. The front surface OV runs parallel to the rear surface OR. At least over a large part of the surface (e.g., over more than half of the front surface OV or the rear surface OR), the cross sheet 10 has the same distance between the front surface OV and the rear surface OR. The front surface OV is formed by one (large) side of the sheet metal cutout forming the cross sheet 10, and the rear surface OR is formed by the opposite, other (large) side of the sheet metal cutout forming the cross sheet 10.

[0040] In the present case, all support surfaces 103, 104 of the transverse sheet 10 welded to the longitudinal beams 210A, 210B are formed on the rear surface OR. Thus, the transverse sheet 10 rests against the longitudinal beams 210A, 210B with sections of its rear surface OR.

[0041] The cross member 1 further comprises two headrest mounts 11. Each of the headrest mounts 11 is supported on a first support surface 101 on the front surface OV of the cross plate 10 and on a second support surface 102 on the rear surface OR of the cross plate 10. The first support surfaces 101 are arranged above the second support surfaces 102 in the intended installed state.

[0042] Furthermore, the cross plate 10 has an opening 100 for each of the headrest mounts 11. Specifically, the cross plate 10 has exactly one opening 100 for each of the headrest mounts 11.

[0043] The headrest mounts 11 each extend through the corresponding opening 100 in the cross panel 10. The respective first support surface 101 is arranged above the opening 100, and the respective second support surface 102 is arranged below the opening 100.

[0044] Thus, one of the support points 101, 102 of the cross plate 10 is located in front of the respective headrest holder 11, the other of the support points 101, 102 of the cross plate 10 is located behind the respective headrest holder 11.

[0045] The support surfaces 101, 102 of the transverse plate 10 for the respective headrest mount 11 are arranged on opposite sides of the opening 100. One of the support surfaces 101, 102 is thus arranged on one side of the opening 100, the other of the support surfaces 101, 102 is arranged on the other side through the opening 100. In addition, the support surfaces 101, 102 are arranged offset from the opening 100. Furthermore, the support surfaces 101, 102 of the transverse plate 10 for a respective headrest mount 11 are each flat and aligned parallel to one another. The support surfaces 101, 102 of the transverse plate 10 for a respective headrest mount 11 are also arranged offset from one another perpendicular to their respective plane.

[0046] The cross plate 10 thus forms a receptacle A for each of the headrest holders 11, which receptacle A is formed by the opening 100 in which the respective headrest holder 11 is arranged, and by the support surfaces 101, 102 arranged on the opposite sides of the opening 100 and offset from the opening 100 and parallel to one another.

[0047] The headrest mountings 11 are each in the form of a straight line along a longitudinal axis L (see e.g. Fig. 5). The headrest mounts 11 are each designed to receive a headrest rod of the headrest 23. The respective headrest rod can be inserted into the corresponding headrest mounts 11 along the longitudinal axis L.

[0048] Furthermore, the headrest mounts 11 each have two opposing, parallel side surfaces, which rest flat against the corresponding support surfaces 101, 102. In this case, the headrest mounts 11 each have a rectangular cross-section. However, such a rectangular cross-section is only an example, and other shapes, such as round ones, are also possible.

[0049] The headrest mounts 11 are welded to the cross plate 10 at the support surfaces 101, 102. For this purpose, a slot is formed on each of the support surfaces 101, 102, along which a corresponding weld seam S runs. The weld seams S (and also the slots) are formed diagonally on the respective support surface 101, 102.

[0050] The transverse sheet 10 further comprises stiffeners 105, 106. The stiffeners 105, 106 each extend from one of the support surfaces 102, 103 for one of the headrest mounts 11 to one of the support surfaces 103, 104 for one of the longitudinal beams 210A, 210B. For example, in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 that a stiffener 105 from the first support surface 101 of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 left headrest bracket 11 to the nearest support surface 103 welded to the adjacent longitudinal beam 210A. Similarly, a stiffener 106 runs from the second support surface 102 of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 starting from the left headrest bracket 11 to the nearest support surface 104 welded to the adjacent longitudinal member 210A.

[0051] For the other (those in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 right) headrest bracket 11, the stiffeners 105, 106 are mirror-inverted.

[0052] The stiffeners 105, 106 are each curved in their extension. For example, the stiffeners 106 of the second support surfaces 102 are S-shaped.

[0053] It can also be seen that the stiffeners 105, 106 are each designed in the form of an embossed bead (the stiffeners 105, 106 could, however, also be designed in the form of mounted additional parts). This allows the stiffeners to be easily embossed during the bending of the cross-panel 10. The stiffeners 105, 106 serve as tension struts. The stiffeners 105, 106 extend over curved areas of the cross-panel 10. By being embossed into the curved areas, the stiffeners 105, 106 shorten the path between the support surfaces 101, 102 of the headrest mounts 11 and the support surfaces 103, 104 of the longitudinal members 210A, 210B. The stiffeners 105, 106 thus shorten the connections between the force introduction points and the force dissipation points.

[0054] The support surfaces 101, 102 for the headrest holders 11 are offset from the surrounding areas of the cross plate 10 (see in particular Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. 6). This provides additional stiffening of the support points 101, 102 and ensures the flat contact therewith.

[0055] With reference to the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 shows that the headrest mounts 11 (with their respective longitudinal axes L) are at an angle to the longitudinal beams 210A, 210B. This allows for an optimized position of the headrest 23 relative to the head. Due to the described design of the transverse plate 10, however, this is possible with a particularly flat construction of the cross member 1, as can be seen in particular from Fig. 5. Furthermore, it is not necessary, as is otherwise usual, to introduce a bend or a kink into the longitudinal beams. Instead, a front edge 211 of the longitudinal beams 210A, 210B (facing the seat occupant) is straight, in particular at the height of the headrest mountings 11. This is particularly evident from Fig. 8. A kink or bend in such front edges, which has been a regular feature in practice, often becomes bent open in the event of a crash, which means the seat occupant is no longer optimally supported. Since straight front edges 211 are possible in the design described here, this can be effectively prevented.

[0056] The headrest mounts 11 are arranged between the two edges 211 and at an angle thereto. They extend through a plane defined by the two edges 211.

[0057] The front edges 211 of the longitudinal beams 210A, 210B extend, for example, in a straight line over a length corresponding to at least half the length of the longitudinal beams 210A, 210B. Instead of a straight line of the front edges 211, it is also possible to provide a (slight) curvature of the edges 211, which, however, does not, for example, have a local kink. Regions of the edges 211 below the headrest mounts 11 run parallel to regions of the edges 211 at the height of the headrest mounts 11, or at an angle that is at least one order of magnitude smaller than the angle of the headrest mounts 11 to the two edges 211 at the height of the headrest mounts 11.

[0058] The cross plate 10 has a step, i.e. is stepped, and extends through the step on both sides of the headrest brackets 11.

[0059] With reference to Fig. 6, the shape of the cross-plate 10 in the area of ​​the support surfaces 101, 102 for the headrest mounts 11 will now be explained in more detail. Starting at an upper edge, the cross-plate 10 initially describes a bend which, in this case, is approximately semicircular. This bend serves to stiffen and protect the end edge, but could also be omitted. This is followed by another bend, after which the cross-plate 10 merges into the first support surface 101. There, the cross-plate 10 runs in a straight line in the cross-section shown. The cross-plate 10 then describes a bend out of the surface, away from the corresponding headrest mount 11, and then a bend in the opposite direction. This is followed by the opening 100, after which the cross plate 10 describes a further bend towards the headrest holder 11, followed by a bend in the opposite direction, which merges into the straight course of the second support surface 102.The cross plate 10 is then bent away from the headrest bracket 11 again and has a further bend in the opposite direction, so that the lower end edge points backwards and forms a stiffener.

[0060] In Fig. 6 further illustrates by means of arrows that, as a result of a force acting on the headrest 23 through the head, the headrest mount 11 is pressed against the support surfaces 101, 102 of the transverse plate 10 in opposing support directions R1, R2. These contact the support surfaces 101, 102 perpendicularly. Thus, an improved section modulus is achieved.

[0061] As shown by Fig. As can be seen in Figure 7, the openings 100 in the transverse plate 10 for the headrest mounts 11 are essentially rectangular. Furthermore, it can be seen that two of the support surfaces 103 for the longitudinal beams 210A, 210B are formed on laterally projecting tabs. Fig.7, the first and second support surfaces 101, 102, which are arranged parallel to one another and offset, can also be clearly seen. List of reference symbols 1 crossbeam 10 cross plate 100 opening 101, 102 support surface 103, 104 support surface 105, 106 stiffening 11 Headrest mount 2 vehicle seats 20 Seat part 21 Backrest 210A, 210B longitudinal beam 211 Edge 22 Longitudinal adjustment device 23 Headrest A recording FB vehicle floor L Longitudinal axis OR back surface OV front surface R1, R2 support direction S Weld seam X Vehicle longitudinal direction Y Vehicle width direction Z Vehicle height direction QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2014 211 527 B4

[0005]

Claims

[1] Cross member (1) for a backrest (21), comprising: - a transverse plate (10) with a front surface (OV) and a rear surface (OR) facing away from it and - at least one headrest holder (11) which is supported on a first support surface (101) on the front surface (OV) of the cross plate (10) and on a second support surface (102) on the rear surface (OR) of the cross plate (10). [2] Crossbeam (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the headrest holder (11) extends through an opening (100) in the cross plate (10), wherein the first support surface (101) is arranged above the opening (100) and the second support surface (102) is arranged below the opening (100). [3] Crossbeam (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the headrest holder (11) is welded to the cross plate (10) at the support surfaces (101, 102). [4] Crossbeam (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the headrest holder (11) is designed in the form of a sleeve extending straight along a longitudinal axis (L). [5] Crossbeam (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the headrest holder (11) has a rectangular or round cross-section. [6] Crossbeam (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the support surfaces (101, 102) are flat and / or suitable for the headrest holder (11). [7] Crossbeam (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that the cross member (1) has two headrest holders (11) which are each supported on a respective first support surface (101) on the front surface (OV) of the cross plate (10) and on a respective second support surface (102) on the rear surface (OR) of the cross plate (10). [8] Crossbeam (1) according to claim 7, characterized by in that the transverse plate (10) has an opening (100) for each of the headrest holders (11), wherein the headrest holders (11) extend through the respective opening (100) and are supported on opposite sides of the opening (100) on support surfaces (101, 102) of the transverse plate (10) which are arranged offset to the opening (100) and parallel to one another. [9] Crossbeam (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by in that the transverse sheet (10) has support surfaces (103, 104) for supporting the transverse sheet (10) on longitudinal beams (210A, 210B) of the backrest (21), wherein the transverse sheet (10) further has stiffeners (105, 106) which each extend from a support surface (102, 103) for one of the headrest holders (11) to a support surface (103, 104) for one of the longitudinal beams (210A, 210B). [10] Crossbeam (1) according to claim 9, characterized bythat the stiffeners (105, 106) are each designed in the form of an embossed bead and / or by at least one mounted additional part. [11] Crossbeam (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized by that the stiffeners (105, 106) are each curved. [12] Crossbeam (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the transverse plate (10) is formed in one piece. [13] Crossbeam (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the transverse sheet (10) is designed in the form of a bent sheet metal part. [14] Cross member (1) for a backrest (21), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, with at least one receptacle (A) for a headrest holder (11), wherein the receptacle (A) has an opening (100) in which the headrest holder (11) can be arranged, and on opposite sides of the opening (100) offset from the opening (100) and parallel to each other support surfaces (101, 102) for supporting the headrest holder (11). [15] Backrest (21) for a vehicle seat (2), characterized by the cross member (1) according to one of the preceding claims. [16] Backrest (21) according to claim 15, characterized by two longitudinal beams (210A, 210B) which are connected, in particular welded, to the cross plate (10) at support surfaces (103, 104) of the cross plate (10). [17] Backrest (21) according to claim 16, characterized bythat the longitudinal beams (210A, 210B) each have an edge (211), wherein the at least one headrest holder (11) of the cross member (1) is arranged between the two edges (211) and at an angle thereto. [18] Backrest (21) according to claim 17, characterized by that the two edges (211) of the longitudinal beams (210A, 210B) are straight. [19] Backrest (21) according to claim 18, characterized by that the at least one headrest holder (11) intersects a plane spanned by the two edges (211) of the longitudinal beams (210A, 210B). [20] Backrest (21) according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterized by that the two edges (211) of the longitudinal beams (210A, 210B) are front edges (211) and face a seat occupant leaning against the backrest as intended. [21] Vehicle seat (2), characterized by the backrest (21) according to one of claims 15 to 20.

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