Vehicle seat with a support device and a vehicle with such a vehicle seat

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat (2) for a vehicle (1), comprising a seat frame (3), a seat surface (4) arranged on the seat frame (3), and a support device (6) which can be moved between a rest position (R) and at least one first use position (N1), with a base plate (10), a support support (20) which can be extended relative to the base plate (10), and a drive device (30) which can move the support support (20) relative to the base plate (10), characterized in that the support support (20) comprises at least a first support support member (22) and at least one further support support member (24), in that the first support support member (22) can be driven by the drive device (30) between the rest position (R) and the at least one use position (N1) and can be moved relative to the base plate (10),that the further support member (24) is movable by a mechanical coupling device (40) between the rest position (R) and the at least one use position (N1) relative to the base plate (10) and relative to the first support member (22).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle seat according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and a vehicle according to patent claim 11.

[0002] Supports for vehicle seats are often used as foot, calf, or leg rests to improve blood circulation in the legs while driving and enhance seating comfort for passengers, especially on long journeys. This also reduces lower leg fatigue and relieves strain on the spine. To allow adjustment to the height of the driver or passenger for an ergonomic seating position, the support devices are designed to be longitudinally adjustable.

[0003] Since the support device should also be designed to be foldable for storage and to free up the footwell, the support device is usually stowed vertically under a seat in a resting position. Due to this positioning, the length of the base plate is predetermined by the available vertical space, especially in low-profile vehicles.

[0004] Furthermore, the support devices should be able to be operated automatically by the passengers, if possible, in order to further increase comfort.

[0005] For example, support devices are known that allow the support device to be adjusted to the passenger's needs by means of a swivel joint kinematics with additional longitudinal adjustment by decoupling a support beam from a base plate. A disadvantage of these support devices, particularly in low-profile vehicles with equally flat footwells, is that only a limited travel range is available to move the support device from a rest position to a use position. This also limits the length of the support devices in the flat installation space within the vehicle.

[0006] To achieve automatic adjustment, an electric motor is often installed on the base plate, which can move the support beam relative to the base plate. The motor's adjustment range is defined by the length of the base plate, so in a flat footwell, the motor's adjustment range is also disadvantageously limited.

[0007] US 2007 / 0024101 A1 shows and describes a footrest assembly for a massage chair. This footrest assembly has a base frame pivotally mounted on the front of a massage chair, which base frame is provided with first rails in which a first displaceable support frame can be moved translationally. The first displaceable support frame is provided with a second rail assembly, in which a second support frame is mounted translationally. A drive device is provided on the pivotable base frame, which drives a worm shaft of a linear actuating element. The first displaceable support frame is provided with a shaft sleeve that can be moved longitudinally along the worm shaft, so that the drive is designed to move the first displaceable support frame translationally relative to the pivotable base frame.A multi-part toggle lever mechanism with a link control couples the second translationally movable support frame with the pivoting base frame.

[0008] US 2012 / 0267921 A1 shows and describes a leg and footrest for a reclining armchair. This leg and footrest has a pivoting base body, a first support structure that can be moved translationally along this base body, and a second support that can be moved translationally relative to the first support. The two translationally movable supports are each coupled to the pivoting base body via a scissor mechanism.

[0009] KR 10 2014 0 076 782 A and JP 2004 - 135928 A each show and describe a footrest device for a seat, wherein the footrest device has a pivotable base body and two support bodies that can be moved in a telescopic manner relative thereto by means of a respective linear drive.

[0010] DE 201 20 958 U1 shows an armrest for a motor vehicle which has a translationally adjustable armrest.

[0011] The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat with a support device whose longitudinal adjustability is improved.

[0012] This object is achieved by a vehicle seat having the features of patent claim 1. Furthermore, a vehicle having the features of patent claim 11 is proposed.

[0013] A vehicle seat according to the invention for a vehicle comprises a seat frame, a seat surface arranged on the seat frame, and a support device that can be moved between a rest position and at least one first use position. The support device has a base plate, a support support that can be extended relative to the base plate, and a drive device that can move the support support relative to the base plate. The support support comprises at least one first support support member and at least one further support support member, wherein the first support support member is movable by the drive device between the rest position and the at least one use position relative to the base plate, wherein the further support support member is movable by a mechanical coupling device between the rest position and the at least one use position relative to the base plate and relative to the first support support member.The vehicle seat according to the invention is characterized in that the coupling device couples the base plate, the first support member and the second support member to one another and is prestressed by a spring of a prestressing device in the direction of the rest position or in the direction of the at least one use position, wherein the spring is supported on the one hand on a spring receptacle arranged on the base plate or on the first support member and on the other hand is supported on the coupling device.

[0014] This advantageously creates a support device which, due to the coupling device coupling the base plate, the first support support member and the further support support member, has a greater adjustment range in a longitudinal direction of the support device, wherein only a single active drive is required to telescopically extend the support device into the use position. The pretensioning of the coupling device between the rest position and the at least one use position caused by the pretensioning device achieves a particularly advantageous coupling between the coupling device and the base plate and / or the first support support member. The pretensioning of the coupling device can be caused in particular relative to the base plate or relative to the first support support member.Alternatively or additionally, a coupling mechanism with a gear ratio arranged on the support device can effect a relative movement between the first support member and the at least one further support member to enable the passive movement. The spring can be, in particular, a tension, compression, arc, or spiral spring. The spring can easily achieve preload between the base plate and the first support member.

[0015] The support device serves to support the legs, in particular the calves and / or feet, of passengers sitting on the vehicle seat. The support device can have padding, which is arranged in particular between a cover of the vehicle seat and a respective support support. The padding can be divided into a plurality of separate or interconnected padding elements, wherein in particular each of the padding elements can be arranged on a support support element. The support support can have an unpadded pad, in particular a preferably soft plastic pad. The pad can be divided into a plurality of separate or interconnected padding elements, wherein in particular each of the support elements is arranged on a support support element. A support support element can be formed integrally with a support member. The pad or the padding can be arranged directly beneath a cover.The cover can extend at least over the seat surface and the support device. The cover can be designed as a support cover and, in particular, can be arranged separately from a cover of the seat surface. The support supports can be individually covered by a cover.

[0016] In the rest position, the support device is folded in and is therefore not located in a footwell usable by the passengers, but is advantageously stowed under the seat surface. In order to move from the rest position into the at least one use position, the drive device is activated, which in turn drives the first support member. The drive device is preferably arranged on the base plate. Depending on the type of drive device, parts of the drive device can also be arranged, for example, on the seat frame. It can also be provided that the drive device is arranged entirely on the seat frame and only engages the base plate and thus moves the base plate.

[0017] The coupling device advantageously moves at least one further support member passively, i.e. purely mechanically, in particular without additional electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic or manual drive. In this case, it can be provided that the mechanical coupling device mechanically couples a first travel path between the base plate and the first support member and at least one further travel path between the first support member and the at least one further support member. It can be provided that the first support member is displaced relative to the base plate over a first extension path and that the at least one support member is displaced relative to the base plate over a second extension path which is different from the first extension path. The lengths of the extension paths can be linearly dependent on one another. The extension paths are preferably straight, but can also be curved.

[0018] The extension paths can be formed by rails and / or guides between the base plate and the first support member and between the first support member and the second support member. The extension paths are particularly preferably continuous. In particular, it can be provided that the additional cushion member has a higher speed of movement relative to the base plate between the rest position and the at least one use position than the first cushion member during a movement between the rest position and the at least one use position.

[0019] It can be provided that the mechanical coupling device also causes a retraction movement of the further support member relative to the base plate during a retraction movement of the first support member from a use position into the rest position relative to the base plate, and wherein the mechanical coupling device also causes an extension movement of the further support member relative to the base plate during an extension movement of the first support member from the rest position into a use position. Particularly preferably, the extension and retraction paths can follow a straight direction, in particular in the direction of travel and / or vertical direction. Furthermore, a pivot drive can be arranged between the support device and the seat frame, which pivot drive can particularly preferably be operated independently of the drive device.This advantageously decouples the longitudinal adjustment and pivoting movement of the support device.

[0020] Furthermore, a further support member can be provided, which can be displaced relative to the other support member. Accordingly, further support members can also be provided. A further coupling device is then provided for each support member, which forms an additional passive mechanical coupling either relative to one of the preceding support members or relative to the base plate and is moved by the additional coupling devices when the drive device moves.

[0021] Further preferred and advantageous design features of the vehicle seat according to the invention are the subject of subclaims 2 to 10.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the coupling device may comprise a pivot lever, a coupling gear, a slotted guide, and / or a rail guide. These mechanical couplings advantageously allow for an additional passive mechanical drive coupling between the base plate, the first support member, and the at least one further support member in a simple manner.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the vehicle seat, the coupling device is arranged on the first support member in a translationally fixed manner. A coupling device that is translationally fixed on the first support member allows for a particularly reliable coupling of the relative movements of the elements of the support device, with the first support member advantageously serving as a support for the relative movements. The coupling device can, in particular, be a pivoting lever with a guide slot.

[0024] In an improved embodiment of the invention, an abutment is formed on the base plate, against which abutment the coupling device is preloaded. By providing the abutment on the base plate, a stable support device is created overall, which is advantageously always preloaded into sliding contact during movement. The abutment can be a pin protruding from the base plate. The abutment can have a sliding surface in order to reduce friction between the abutment and the coupling device when the coupling device slides along the abutment. It can further be provided that the pivot lever also has a sliding surface, which is formed in particular on the first lever arm and slides along the abutment.By geometrically designing the abutment and the sliding surface of the lever arm, the rotation of the pivot lever and thus the longitudinal movement of the further support member can be easily determined when designing the vehicle seat.

[0025] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive device comprises an electric motor and / or a manual drive. Adjustment can be achieved conveniently, in particular, using an electric motor. A manual drive, for example a crank, can advantageously reduce the costs of the drive device. A combination of an electric motor and a manual drive advantageously reduces the reliability. The electric motor can preferably be attached to the base plate and displace the first support member relative to the base plate.

[0026] Particularly advantageously, the drive device can be designed as a linear drive, in particular as a spindle drive. A linear drive, in particular a spindle drive, advantageously allows for precise, continuous, and low-vibration adjustment. Furthermore, the linear drive can comprise and drive a spindle, with the spindle pushing the first support member.

[0027] Finally, in a preferred, special embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the coupling device is a pivoting lever pivotably attached to the first support member, wherein a first lever arm cooperates with the base plate and a further lever arm cooperates with the further support member.

[0028] A further aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle having at least one of the vehicle seats described above, wherein the seat frame of the vehicle seat is firmly connected to a vehicle body of the vehicle, in particular fastened to a vehicle floor.

[0029] It can be provided that the drive device is simultaneously supported on the seat frame, or that a further drive device is provided on the seat frame or the support device in order to achieve adjustment of the support device relative to the seat frame or the seat surface. A seat backrest can be pivotably connected to the seat frame.

[0030] It is preferably provided that the mechanical coupling device has a pivoting lever which is rotatably mounted on the first support member by means of a rotary joint, and that the pivoting lever is provided with a guide pin which engages in an elongated hole forming a slotted guide in the further receiving member.

[0031] It is particularly advantageous if the pivot lever is provided with a sliding contact surface which is prestressed against an abutment formed on the base plate and can slide along it in such a way that a movement of the first support member relative to the base plate caused by the drive device causes a sliding movement of the sliding contact surface relative to the abutment and thus a pivoting movement of the pivot lever about the pivot joint, whereby the slotted guide causes a relative movement of the further support member relative to the first support member.

[0032] Preferred embodiments of the invention with additional design details and further advantages are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] It shows: Fig. 1 an embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention. Fig. 2 a first embodiment of a vehicle seat according to the invention Fig. 3 a second embodiment of a vehicle seat according to the invention PRESENTATION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a vehicle 1 according to the invention with a vehicle seat 2 arranged in an interior of the vehicle 1. The direction of travel X and the vertical direction Z are shown. The vehicle seat 2 has a seat frame 3 on which a seat surface 4 and an adjustable seat back 5 are arranged. A fold-out support device 6 is arranged on the seat frame 3 below the seat surface 4 and can be moved from a rest position R (shown in dashed lines) into at least one first use position N1.

[0035] The support device 6 is illustrated by means of the representations of two embodiments of two vehicle seats according to the invention in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. The support device 6 comprises a base plate 10, a first support support member 22 and a further, second support support member 24, wherein the two support support members 22 and 24 are arranged to be movable relative to the base plate 10 in the longitudinal direction L of the support device 6 and the base plate 10 is fastened to the seat frame 3 so as to be pivotable by a pivot angle α about an axis y1 running in the transverse direction Y. The seat frame 3 is fastened to a vehicle floor 7. A pivot drive which pivots the support device by the pivot angle α and relative to the seat frame 3 is not shown for the sake of clarity. Such a pivot drive can, for example, be fastened to the seat frame 3 and pivot the support device via a gear. The two support support members 22, 24 can each have a cushion provided under a cover.It can also be provided that all support members 22, 24 share a cushion, which is pulled apart or compressed during movement. A cover can be provided over the cushion or cushions, which can extend in particular over the seat surface 4. Instead of a cushion, a cover made of a particularly soft plastic can be arranged integrally on the support members or as an additional component. Also not shown are rails, which preferably enable low-friction displacement of the base plate 10, the first support member 22, and the second support member 24 relative to one another.

[0036] In the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the vehicle seat 2 is shown from below. Both exemplary embodiments have in common that a drive device 30 is provided on the base plate 10 and a coupling device 40 is provided which couples the base plate 10, the first and the further support member 22, 24, wherein the respective drive device 30 effects the movement between the rest position R and the at least one use position N1. Further use positions (not shown) can be provided between the rest position R and the use position N1 and can be adjusted, for example, via corresponding catches or other holding means. Furthermore, a pretensioning device 60 is provided in both exemplary embodiments.The rest position R and the first use position N1 are shown for the first support member 22 and the second support member 24, respectively, wherein it can be seen that a travel distance S1 between the positions R and N1 on the second support member 24 is longer than a travel distance S2 between the positions R and N1 on the first support member 22. According to the invention, in addition to the propulsion of the first support member 22, along which the second support member 24 slides, the further, second support member 24 is moved by the mechanical coupling device 40 in the longitudinal direction L of the support device 6, so that the travel distance of the second support member 24 is greater than that of the base plate 10.

[0037] The drive device 30 is designed as a mechanical feed drive in both embodiments. In the first embodiment according to Fig. 2, it is designed as a spindle drive and has a spindle 32 which can be extended against the base plate 10 and which, in the first embodiment, is driven by an electric motor 31. In Fig. 2, the spindle 32 is rotatably mounted on the first support member 22 and can push or retract the first support member 22. The drive device 30 is in the second embodiment according to Fig. 3 is designed as a rack-and-worm drive consisting of a worm 32' and a row of teeth 33 and, in the second embodiment, is driven by a manual drive, which is designed here as a crank drive 34. The worm 32' engages the row of teeth 33, which can also be designed as a rack, and thus ensures continuous propulsion of the first support member 22 relative to the base plate 10.

[0038] Furthermore, in both embodiments, the coupling device 40 has a pivot lever 41 which is fixed in translation to a pivot joint 44 on the first support member 22, is pretensioned against the base plate 10 by a first lever arm 42 and engages in an elongated hole 25 in the second support member 24 by means of a guide pin 45 and thus forms a slotted guide of the coupling device 40.

[0039] The pivot lever 41 is preloaded by a preloading device 60. The preloading device 60 has a spring 61, which is supported on the one hand by a spring attachment 48 of a contact area 46 of the first lever arm 42. On the other hand, the spring 61 is supported on a spring receptacle 62. In the embodiment according to Fig. 2, the spring 61 is formed by a compression spring, wherein the spring receptacle 62 is arranged on the base plate 10. In the embodiment according to Fig.3, the spring 61 is formed by a spiral spring, with the spring receptacle 62 arranged on the first support member 22. In both cases, the spring 61 biases the first lever arm 42, with a sliding contact surface 47 arranged on the first lever arm 42, against an abutment 63 projecting from a surface of the base plate 10. The abutment 63 and the sliding contact surface 47 serve as a positive guide for the pivot lever 41. In the present embodiments, the abutment 63 projects vertically from the side of the base plate 10 facing the support members 22, 24.

[0040] If the first support member 22 is moved relative to the base plate 10 by the drive device 30, the pivot lever 41 on the rotation axis 45 and also the second support member 24 are moved along with it. Due to the preload from the preload device 60, the first lever arm 42 slides with the sliding contact surface 47 past the abutment 63, whereby the pivot lever 41 rotates in a direction of rotation r about an axis of the rotary joint 44 and the second support member 24 is additionally moved relative to the first support member 22 via the slotted guide consisting of the elongated hole 25 and the guide pin 45. The sliding contact surface 47 forms a projection on the first lever arm 42, which determines the rotational movement r of the pivot lever 41. By varying the sliding contact surface 47, the travel distance can be advantageously and easily determined during design.This results in the above-described greater travel distance of the second support member 24 between the rest position R and the at least one, in the present embodiment first, use position N1.

[0041] If the drive device 30 is retracted again, a reverse movement of the components in the longitudinal direction of the support device 6 results.

[0042] The invention is not limited to the above embodiment, which merely serves to generally explain the core concept of the invention. Within the scope of protection, the device according to the invention may also take on embodiments other than those described above. In particular, the device may have features that represent a combination of the respective individual features of the claims.

[0043] Reference signs in the claims, the description and the drawings serve only to improve the understanding of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection. List of reference symbols 1 vehicle 2 vehicle seats 3 seat frame 4 Seating area 5 seat back 6 Support device 7 Vehicle floor 10 Base plate 20 support beams 22 first support member 24 additional support member 25 slot 30 Drive device (linear drive) 31 Engine 32 spindle 32' snail 33 rows of teeth, rack 34 manual drive, crank drive 40 coupling device 41 Swivel lever 42 First lever arm 43 Additional lever arm 44 Swivel joint 45 guide pin 46 Investment area 47 Sliding contact surface 48 Spring fastening 60 pre-tensioning device 61 spring 62 pen holders 63 abutments X Direction of travel Y vehicle transverse direction Z Vehicle vertical direction L Longitudinal direction (of the support device) S running route R Resting position N1 Usage position α swivel angle r direction of rotation y1 axis running in the transverse direction of the vehicle

Claims

[1] Vehicle seat (2) for a vehicle (1), comprising a seat frame (3), a seat surface (4) arranged on the seat frame (3), and a support device (6) which is movable between a rest position (R) and at least one first use position (N1), comprising a base plate (10), a support support (20) which is extendable relative to the base plate (10), and a drive device (30) which can move the support support (20) relative to the base plate (10), wherein the support support (20) comprises a first support support member (22) and at least one further support support member (24), wherein the first support support member (22) is movable by the drive device (30) between the rest position (R) and the at least one use position (N1) relative to the base plate (10), and wherein the further support support member (24) is movable by a mechanical coupling device (40) between the rest position (R) and the at least one use position (N1) relative to the base plate (10) and relative to the first support support member (22) characterized by , that the coupling device (40) couples the base plate (10), the first support member (22) and the second support member (24) to one another and is prestressed by a spring (61) of a prestressing device (60) in the direction of the rest position (R) or in the direction of the at least one use position (N1), wherein the spring (61) is supported on the one hand on a spring receptacle (62) arranged on the base plate (10) or on the first support member (22) and on the other hand is supported on the coupling device (40). [2] Vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized by that the coupling device (40) comprises a pivoting lever (41), a coupling gear, a slotted guide and / or a rail guide. [3] Vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the coupling device (40) is arranged on the first support member (22) in a translationally fixed manner. [4] Vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat an abutment (63) is formed on the base plate (10), against which the coupling device (40) is prestressed. [5] Vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the coupling device (40) can push the further support member (24) via a slotted guide, in particular via a guide pin (44) which engages in an elongated hole (25) in the further support member (24). [6] Vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the drive device (30) has an electric motor (31) and / or a manual drive (34). [7] Vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the drive device (30) is designed as a linear drive, in particular as a mechanical feed drive, particularly preferably as a spindle drive or rack and worm drive. [8] Vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the coupling device (40) has a pivoting lever (41) pivotably attached to the first support member (22), wherein a first lever arm (42) cooperates with the base plate (10) and a further lever arm (43) cooperates with the further support member (24). [9] Vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the mechanical coupling device (40) has a pivoting lever (41) which is rotatably mounted on the first support member (22) by means of a rotary joint (44), and that the pivoting lever (41) is provided with a guide pin (45) which engages in an elongated hole (25) forming a slotted guide in the further receiving support member (24). [10] Vehicle seat according to claim 9, characterized byin that the pivot lever (41) is provided with a sliding contact surface (47) which is prestressed against an abutment (63) formed on the base plate (10) and can slide along it in such a way that a movement of the first support member (22) relative to the base plate (10) brought about by the drive device (30) brings about a sliding movement of the sliding contact surface (47) relative to the abutment (63) and thus a pivoting movement of the pivot lever (41) about the pivot joint (44), whereby the slotted guide brings about a relative movement of the further support member (24) relative to the first support member (22). [11] Vehicle with at least one vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat frame (3) of the vehicle seat (2) is fixedly or movably connected, directly or indirectly, to a vehicle body of the vehicle (1), in particular to a vehicle floor (7).

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