Vehicle seat, method for simplified seat height adjustment and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat (1) with a seat height adjustment (5). To simplify the seat height adjustment (5) on the vehicle seat (1), the seat height adjustment (5) comprises a pre-tensioned spring device (20) which is combined with a locking mechanism and an operating lever in such a way that the vehicle seat (1) can be locked in at least two different seat heights (31, 32) by actuating the operating lever.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle seat with a seat height adjustment mechanism. The invention further relates to a method for simplifying the seat height adjustment of a vehicle seat. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle with a vehicle seat.

[0002] American patent application US 2014 / 0070067 A1 discloses a vehicle seat attached to a vehicle body shell, wherein the seat height can be varied by means of an arrangement of spacers of different heights. American patent application US 2005 / 0035248 A1 discloses an adjustable seat bracket for bolting a vehicle seat to a vehicle body shell. German patent application DE 198 01 655 A1 discloses a vehicle seat attached to a vehicle body shell by means of spacers.

[0003] The object of the invention is to simplify the seat height adjustment on a vehicle seat, in particular of a weight-optimized sports car.

[0004] The problem is solved in a vehicle seat with height adjustment by the fact that the height adjustment mechanism comprises a pre-tensioned spring device combined with a locking mechanism and an operating lever in such a way that the vehicle seat can be locked in at least two different seat heights by actuating the operating lever. The pre-tensioned spring device, in combination with the locking mechanism, constitutes an adjustment system for seat height adjustment that is manually operated via the operating lever. The seat height adjustment of the vehicle seat in question advantageously functions in the same or a similar way as that of a conventional office chair. The vehicle seat is preferably arranged in a motor vehicle, for example as a driver's seat or passenger seat. In this case, the vehicle seat is a motor vehicle seat.The motor vehicle is preferably a weight-optimized sports car with at least one manually adjustable seat. It is particularly advantageous that the vehicle with the specified seat does not require a complex mechatronic adjustment system for the seat height.

[0005] A preferred embodiment of the vehicle seat is characterized in that the pre-tensioned spring assembly is combined with the locking mechanism in such a way that the seat height is continuously adjustable. This significantly improves the ease of use of the vehicle seat with its height adjustment. Depending on the design of the pre-tensioned spring assembly and the locking mechanism, it may be helpful or necessary for the person sitting in the vehicle seat to actively change their seating position in order to bring about the weight shift required for seat height adjustment.

[0006] Another preferred embodiment of the vehicle seat is characterized in that the locking mechanism comprises at least one detent device with which discrete seat heights can be adjusted. The detent device reliably prevents the locking mechanism from unintentionally releasing during operation of a motor vehicle equipped with the vehicle seat.

[0007] Another preferred embodiment of the vehicle seat is characterized in that the locking mechanism comprises at least one pawl. The pawl is pre-tensioned, for example by means of a further spring device, into a detent position that corresponds to one of the adjustable discrete seat heights.

[0008] Another preferred embodiment of the vehicle seat is characterized in that the pre-tensioned spring mechanism of the seat height adjustment can be manually locked and released using the operating lever. This significantly simplifies the design effort required to implement the seat height adjustment in a motor vehicle equipped with the vehicle seat.

[0009] Another preferred embodiment of the vehicle seat is characterized in that the pre-tensioned spring assembly comprises exactly one gas spring. The gas spring is preferably arranged substantially in a vehicle height direction. The vehicle height direction is also referred to as the z-direction. Analogously, a vehicle longitudinal direction is also referred to as the x-direction. A vehicle transverse direction is also referred to as the y-direction. The gas spring is preferably designed and centrally arranged in the same way as in a conventional office chair.

[0010] Another preferred embodiment of the vehicle seat is characterized in that the pre-tensioned spring assembly comprises several gas springs. The pre-tensioned spring assembly comprises, for example, four gas springs, all aligned in the z-direction. The gas springs are advantageously located at the corners of a rectangular support frame of the vehicle seat.

[0011] Another preferred embodiment of the vehicle seat is characterized in that the gas springs are combined with a synchronization mechanism, which allows the gas springs to be locked and released together with the operating lever. This provides a very stable seat height adjustment that is, however, easy to implement in terms of design and manufacturing.

[0012] Further preferred embodiments of the vehicle seat are characterized in that the seat height can be adjusted whether the vehicle seat is occupied or unoccupied. Depending on the embodiment, the vehicle seat can only be adjusted when unoccupied. This offers the advantage of requiring lower spring forces. Furthermore, this variant can be implemented with a lower mass. Depending on the embodiment, the vehicle seat height can also be adjusted when the vehicle seat is occupied. This is naturally more convenient when operating a vehicle equipped with this seat. An embodiment is also included in which the vehicle seat height can be adjusted both when the vehicle seat is occupied and when it is unoccupied.

[0013] In a method for simplified seat height adjustment of a previously described vehicle seat, the problem stated above is solved alternatively or additionally by allowing the vehicle seat to be locked in at least two different seat heights by actuating the control lever. The seat height adjustment of the vehicle seat in question is advantageously carried out in the same or a similar manner as in a conventional office chair. A mechatronic adjustment system is advantageously not required.

[0014] The problem described above can also be solved by a motor vehicle, in particular a weight-optimized sports car, with a previously described vehicle seat. Advantageously, the motor vehicle does not need to have a mechatronic adjustment system for seat height.

[0015] The invention may also relate to a spring assembly, a locking mechanism, or an operating lever for a previously described vehicle seat. The aforementioned parts are available for separate sale.

[0016] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which various exemplary embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematic sectional view of a vehicle seat with a pre-tensioned spring assembly comprising several gas springs and a locking mechanism with an operating lever; Fig. 2 a similar vehicle seat as in Fig. 1 with a spring assembly comprising only a gas spring; and Fig. 3 An enlarged schematic representation of an adjustment system with a pre-tensioned spring device combined with a locking mechanism and an operating lever.

[0017] The Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows schematic sectional views of a vehicle seat 1 of a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle is a sports car in which vehicle weight plays a significant role. Therefore, the claimed vehicle seat 1 is equipped with a seat height adjustment mechanism 5 that is lighter than conventional seat height adjustment mechanisms.

[0018] The vehicle seat 1 comprises a backrest 2 and a seat cushion 4 with a seat surface 3. The seat height adjustment 5 is located in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 indicated by a double arrow. Different seat heights 31, 32 of the vehicle seat 1, 11 can be adjusted using the seat height adjustment 5 and a control lever 8, which is only available in the Fig. As shown in section 3, it can be set manually.

[0019] The seat height adjustment 5 comprises an adjustment system 10 with a spring device 20 and a locking mechanism 30. With the help of the adjustment system 10, the vehicle seat 1 can be manually adjusted in a vehicle height direction, which is also referred to as the z-direction.

[0020] The adjustment system 10 is attached, firstly, at the bottom in the direction of vehicle height, to a vehicle support structure 7. Secondly, at the top in the direction of vehicle height, the adjustment system 10 is attached to a seat support structure 6 of the vehicle seat 1.

[0021] At the in Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the spring assembly 20 comprises several, preferably a total of four, gas springs 25, 26, which are pre-tensioned and aligned in the vehicle height direction. Therefore, the spring assembly 20 is also referred to as a pre-tensioned spring assembly 20.

[0022] The gas springs 25, 26 are connected using a Fig. 1. The synchronization mechanism 28, indicated only by a straight line, is coupled to each other in such a way that the gas springs 25, 26 are jointly controlled via the single operating lever 8, which is only in Fig. 3 shows that 5 can be operated for seat height adjustment.

[0023] At the in Fig. In the vehicle seat 1, 11 shown in Figure 2, the spring assembly 20 comprises only a single gas spring 21. The gas spring 21 is combined with a locking mechanism 30 and operated by a control lever 8, which is located in Fig. As shown in 3, the seat height adjustment can be operated by 5.

[0024] In Fig. Figure 3 schematically shows the adjustment system 10 with the spring assembly 20 and the gas spring 21. The locking mechanism 30, combined with the spring assembly 20, includes a detent device 35. The detent device 35 serves to lock the vehicle seat 1, 11 at the respective seat height 31, 32. For this purpose, the detent device 35 is advantageously equipped with a locking pawl.

[0025] In Fig. Figure 3 also indicates that the adjustment system 10 with the pre-tensioned spring assembly 20 with the locking mechanism 30 comprises two fastening devices 38, 39. The fastening device 38 serves to connect the adjustment system 10 to the seat support structure 6 of the vehicle seat 1, 11. The fastening device 39 serves to connect the adjustment system 10 to the vehicle support structure 7. Reference sign 1 vehicle seat 2 Backrest 3 Seating area 4 seat cushions 5 seat height adjustments 6 Seat support structure 7 Vehicle support structure 8 operating levers 10 adjustment system 11 vehicle seat 20 Spring assembly 21 Gas spring 25 Gas spring 26 Gas spring 28 Synchronization mechanism 30 Locking mechanism 31 Seat height 32 Seat height 35 Locking device 38 Fastening device 39 Fastening device QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] US 2014 / 0070067 A1

[0002] US 2005 / 0035248 A1

[0002] DE 198 01 655 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Vehicle seat (1) with a seat height adjustment (5), characterized by , that the seat height adjustment (5) comprises a pre-tensioned spring device (20) which is combined with a locking mechanism (30) with an operating lever (8) such that the vehicle seat (1) can be locked in at least two different seat heights (31, 32) by actuating the operating lever (8). [2] Vehicle seat (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the pre-tensioned spring assembly (20) is combined with the locking mechanism (30) in such a way that the seat height (31,32) is infinitely adjustable. [3] Vehicle seat (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the locking mechanism (30) includes at least one detent device (35) with which discrete seat heights (31,32) can be adjusted. [4] Vehicle seat (1) according to claim 3, characterized by , that the locking mechanism (30) comprises at least one locking pawl. [5] Vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the pre-tensioned spring device (20) of the seat height adjustment (5) can be manually locked and released using the operating lever (8). [6] Vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the pre-tensioned spring assembly (20) comprises exactly one gas spring (21). [7] Vehicle seat (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the pre-tensioned spring assembly (20) comprises several gas springs (25,26). [8] Vehicle seat (1) according to claim 7, characterized by , that the gas springs (25,26) are combined with a synchronization mechanism (28) which allows the gas springs (25,26) to be locked and released together with the operating lever (8). [9] Vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the vehicle seat (1) can be adjusted using the seat height adjustment (5) when the vehicle seat (1) is occupied. [10] Vehicle seat (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the vehicle seat (1) can be adjusted using the seat height adjustment (5) when the vehicle seat (1) is unoccupied. [11] Method for simplified seat height adjustment (5) of a vehicle seat (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the vehicle seat (1) can be locked in at least two different seat heights (31,32) by actuating the operating lever (8). [12] Motor vehicle, in particular weight-optimized sports car, with a vehicle seat (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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